Early Bird Sessions

2022 Early Bird Sessions

EARLY BIRD A:  THE KEYS TO SUCCESS FOR THE PRACTICING ENGINEER – Stay current on laws/rules, Get up to speed on the latest ethics cases, Protect yourself in contracts, and Reduce your exposure to risks

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 deciphering 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. This session will also include a one-hour presentation on Engineer Ethics to fulfill the Florida Board of Professional Engineering Continuing Education requirement for the renewal cycle. During the presentation, we will discuss, in-depth, some specific disciplinary cases related to Ethics and a Case Study in Professional Engineer Ethics.  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, Kellie Tomeo

EARLY BIRD B:  NEW TOOLS, OLD RULES:  ETHICS AND TECHNOLOGY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS 

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 adapting 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. The pandemic accelerated the need to be able to work from anywhere and the practical, ethical, and technological aspects of professional performance had to evolve nearly overnight to accommodate this reality. Many skilled practitioners now treat modern tools as mobile offices, and many of the changes brought about by the pandemic will remain an integral part of professional performance. In this discussion, panelists will offer practical advice to help professionals become more organized and effective by using these tools to their full capabilities while 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