Early Bird Sessions

EARLY BIRD A: THE KEYS TO SUCCESS FOR THE PRACTICING ENGINEER

Come join our panel of experts in a 4-hour interactive, small group setting, as they provide the practicing engineer with the keys to a successful practice, including the essential updates that govern the practice of engineering in the state of Florida, issues affecting federal contractors and subcontractors, and the latest “best practices” to manage professional risk to yourself and your firm. Our experts will help guide you with concrete strategies and tips for managing risks, including work practices, protective contract language, and decipher the complexities of other risk management tools such as insurance and bonding. Additionally, you will receive the latest instruction on any changes to the rules and statutes affecting the engineer, as well as any guidance resulting from individual disciplinary and unlicensed practice cases. Don’t miss this opportunity to tune up your professional practice knowledge and prepare yourself and your firm to manage professional risk. (As a bonus, you will also be satisfying your biennial Laws, Rules and Ethics continuing education requirements in a far more rewarding way than taking another online quiz!) Instructors: Michael Harding, George Powell, Kellie Tomeo

EARLY BIRD B:  SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW –ETHICS AND TECHNOLOGY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS ON THE GO

Join us for a panel discussion on ethics and technology for the modern environmental professional! Even before the pandemic, engineers, lawyers, consultants, and other professionals were evolving their practices to be able to work outside the office with the same levels of efficiency and security as if they were sitting at a desk. After last year, that movement only accelerated. Technology has improved to the point where it is possible to treat modern tools as mobile offices and can help professionals become more organized and effective as practitioners and project managers, but many professionals do not use these tools to their full capabilities. Even as client expectations increase and the ability to work anywhere grows more seamless, practitioners need to remain vigilant about upholding ethical standards and maintaining client privacy in more vulnerable settings.

The first half of the session will start with a discussion of the various ethical requirements for attorneys, engineers, and other environmental professionals, and will transition into a discussion about how those ethical requirements interplay with the increasing use of technology, including a discussion of public records issues.  The panelists will discuss how to use technology to maintain privacy and ethical requirements. Part I of the session will finish with a discussion of practical pointers on how to make the most efficient and effective use of the various tools and technologies professionals have come to rely on.

After the break, the second half of the session will focus on the online technology tools created by environmental agencies and local governments that environmental professionals can use to find answers to client questions and research queries. Part II will explore a variety of database tools to find information such as property ownership, permit status, water quality data, contamination information, and other public records.   The panel will feature agency personnel, software developers and experienced users to learn the latest tips and tricks to make online information searches yield the best results.  This will be an interactive experience and dialogue to explore and hone the skills environmental professionals need to effectively use these online resources. 

The session is designed to educate both the novice and the experienced technology user and is expected to generate Florida Bar CLE credits for ethics and technology.

BYOD – Bring Your Own Device and Follow Along!

Part I – Using Technology to Work Effectively in and out of the Office   Instructors:  Kathryn B. Rossmell, Timothy J. Perry, F. Joseph Ullo, Jr.                    

Part II – Government Agency Resources and Databases Instructors:  Carlyn Kowalsky, Duane Piper, Julia Lomonico, Tom Hughes