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 business, ethics and technology for the modern environmental professional!
Whether you are an engineer, lawyer, or consultant, and whether you practice in the public or the private sector, your clients rely on you to provide adaptable, ethical, effective, quality work. This panel is designed to help all types of environmental professionals adapt to ever-changing work environments and constantly-updating technologies while working within the existing ethical paradigms and standards of practice.
The first half of this year’s panel will include an increased focus on security and best practices for securing and ensuring access to work outside the office, and will discuss the use of new technology, including chatbots and AI. It will also provide you with tools, tips, tricks, and resources to be able to provide that work whether you work in the office, in the field, or in a coffee shop, and will include a discussion of how the various ethical requirements for attorneys and other environmental professionals interplay with the increasing use of technology. It will also discuss the intricacies of moving between the public and private sectors and analyze various ethical rules related to switching from public to private clients, working in a remote locations, and various public records laws. Panelists will provide practical pointers to address each of these issues and offer tried-and-true advice to help professionals become more organized and effective by using digital devices to their full capabilities in light of ethical responsibilities. Part I of the session will finish with a discussion on troubleshooting your most vexing and everyday annoyances problems encountered using technology. Attendees are encouraged to come with questions for the panelists.
After the break, the second half of the session will focus on the online technology tools created by environmental agencies that environmental professionals can use to find answers to client questions and research queries. Part II will explore a variety of database tools provided by water management districts and DEP including DEP’s Geospatial Open Data Portal and StoryMaps. The panel will feature agency personnel 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, F. Joseph Ullo, Jr., Danielle Irwin
Part II – Government Agency Resources and Databases Instructors: Carlyn Kowalsky, Akin Owosina, Julia Lomonico
EARLY BIRD C: POST HURRICANE RECOVERY/CLEANUP
Hurricane impacts and frequency continue to reinforce the need for Floridians to plan for and implement sustainable, cost-effective measures designed to both reduce the risk to individuals andproperty from future natural disaster events. Hazard mitigation activities are intended to reduce the cost of recovery from a disaster and can be implemented in preparation of the inevitable storms and to expedite recovery and strengthen the community post-storm. State and Federal funding programs aid in critical post storm recovery efforts but require a clear understanding of program requirements and limitations.
The first half of the session we will hear from senior state emergency response and commerce leadership regarding the critical funding resources available to Florida communities, and the requirements for accessing and maintaining disaster recovery dollars. Additional focus will highlight how Florida remains steadfast in its commitment to helping communities recover independent of how the federal framework evolves. The session will also highlight key legislative and state pre/post storm community support and recovery actions.
The second half of the session will explore the vital role utility system’s mutual aid frameworks and the role they play in expediting the resumption of critical water and wastewater functions. Then hear from industry experts on the latest in technology, program management capabilities and CDBG-DR funding for recovering communities.
Part I – State and Legislative resources available to aid planning and recovery. Presenters: Sen Keith Truenow, Kevin Guthrie, Cliff Wilson, Leo Garcia, Kim Perry, Steve Wood, Tom Frick, Justin Wolfe
Part II – Post-storm mutual aid, recovery program administration and support, and recovery technology. Presenters: Alicia Keeter, Ben Blitch, Trevor Noble, Cameron Morris, Allison Leigh, Scott Keller, Ryan Flanery, Jenna Abbey