Early Bird Sessions

EARLY BIRD “A”: FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY IN 2017 – WHERE ARE WE HEADED?!

You can’t miss this star-studded panel of experts as they review the significant events of the past year that have radically changed the debate over issues as far-ranging as Everglades restoration, sewage spills, septic tanks, fracking, and pollution notification. In 2017, the Florida Legislature aggressively took on these and other environmental issues with legislation that could best be described as ambitious and, at worst, misguided. Regardless of your position on these controversial issues, it should be concerning to all if we have lost our ability to analyze and debate matters of policy using science, facts, and rational thought. We may all be living in a “post-truth” culture, but are we headed into a similar era of environmental policy-setting based on appeals to emotion? This panel of public sector, private sector, and environmental advocates will address these and other issues as they analyze the key environmental legislation that passed, the bills that didn’t, and what it all means for the future.

Instructors: Herschel Vinyard (Moderator), Pete Antonacci, Noah Valenstein, Matt Leopold, Secretary Ryan Matthews (invited), Eric Draper, Temperince Morgan, Stephen James, Rep. Katy Edwards (invited), Rep. Matt Caldwell (invited)

EARLY BIRD “B”: THE KEYS TO SUCCESS FOR THE PRACTICING ENGINEER

This course has been completely redesigned for 2017! 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 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, Brent Anderson, Michael Cavendish