President’s Message: October 2025
ACEC Florida President Richard G. Acree, PE
To the ACEC Florida Community,
Fall is always a busy and exciting time for ACEC Florida, and this season is no exception.
I was fortunate enough to attend the 2025 ACEC National Conference in San Diego, CA, where engineers from across the nation came together to share ideas, innovations, and best practices. I want to highlight a few things from the conference: 1) I participated in the ACEC National Board meeting and got to see our very own, Florida-based, Peter Moore, in action. Peter is a Vice Chairman on the ACEC National Board. (2) At the board meeting, they announced that Florida is second in PAC dollars in the country. California is first, and Texas is third. A huge congratulations to Peter Sheridan, ACEC Florida PAC Chairman, and everyone who contributed to our ACEC Florida PAC; and 3) Many thanks to Shahin Hekmat for organizing a group dinner for the Florida folks.
One of the best ways to get involved at the national level is to join a specialty group known as ACEC Coalitions. ACEC national members are eligible to join these dedicated communities organized by practice area or firm size. The coalitions provide a range of practical, day-to-day resources to enhance the operation of your business and make it more profitable by sharing knowledge and best practices with peers in your area of specialization:
- Geoprofessional Coalition (GEO)
- Land Development Coalition (LDC)
- Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Coalition (MEP)
- Professional Surveyors Coalition (COPS)
- Small Firm Coalition (SFC)
- Structural Engineers Coalition (CASE)
For more information on joining a Coalition, click here.
Getting involved at the local level is equally important, so I encourage you to attend our 2025 Legislative Committee Weeks Update Calls. Led by our lobbying team, Jon Johnson, Darrick McGhee, and Jeff Littlejohn, these calls provide concise updates on this fall’s committee meetings and offer an inside look at what’s to come for the 2026 Legislative Session. These updates are distinct from the weekly updates during Session and are a valuable opportunity to stay informed and engaged.
Advocacy continues with the 2026 Professional Engineer Legislative Days, scheduled for January 23–24, 2026. This is your opportunity to meet directly with lawmakers and help shape policies that affect our profession. Staying involved now strengthens our voice in Tallahassee and ensures that engineering expertise is recognized in every decision that impacts Florida’s infrastructure. More details to come soon.
Equally important is your professional growth, which ACEC Florida makes convenient and accessible. Our webinar series kicks off on October 21 with ‘Insurance Contracts from Hell‘ and continues through year-end, with each session covering a different topic. Designed for busy engineers, these webinars can be attended from the comfort of your home or office and help you earn the required PDHs for maintaining your PE license. Similarly, the New Stormwater Rule Series concludes its final two sessions on October 22 with ‘Integrating LID & Green Stormwater Infrastructure in Rule-Compliant Design‘ and November 19, providing critical technical updates in a flexible format.
Networking and community remain at the heart of ACEC Florida. You won’t want to miss the 2025 Infrastructure Night at Florida Atlantic University on Wednesday, October 22, for an evening highlighting the vital role of the building and design industry and hear from keynote speaker FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue. Region 3’s “Evening with the Industry” on October 28 provides a perfect local opportunity to connect with colleagues and industry partners. Looking further ahead, I’m personally excited for the Geotechnical and Materials Engineers Committee (GMEC) Conference in Clearwater, April 8–10, 2026. With the theme “Beyond the Bedrock: Technical Expertise and Business Leadership in the Geotechnical and Materials Industry,” the conference will bring together professionals, researchers, and industry leaders to share insights and innovations. We encourage those interested to apply to be speakers and contribute to shaping the discussion.
From learning and advocacy to networking and leadership, this fall offers a wealth of opportunities to grow and engage with your peers. I hope you take full advantage of these events, whether in person or online, and I look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events.
Best regards,
Rick Acree, PE
Terracon, Director of Florida Transportation and Infrastructure
Senior Principal – Vice President
