When
Tuesday May 3, 2016 from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM EDT
Check-in begins at 8:00 AM.
Continuing Professional Development Hours
OSPE programs are designed to meet the requirements for Ohio’s continuing professional development (CPD) law and State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors (Board of Registration) rules. However, the Board of Registration does not pre-approve CPD courses nor course-providers. This CPD event also meets CPD requirements in many states. Be sure to consult those states’ licensing authorities. Professionals should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Be sure to sign our on-site attendance sheet for each program so that your attendance may be verified in case of Board of Registration audit. There are 5.0 CPD hours associated with this program.
Where
Sheraton Columbus at Capitol Square
75 East State Street
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 365-4500 1-800-325-3535
Driving Directions
Suggested Parking: The Sheraton is across from the Ohio Statehouse. We suggest you park in the Statehouse underground garage, the Huntington Center Parking Garage entering from Capital Street (off of Front Street) or Columbus Commons Parking Garage off 3rd or Rich Streets. Additional parking options may be found by clicking HERE. Bring payment for parking.
Contact
Pam McClure
Ohio Society of Professional Engineers
614-223-1144
admin@ohioengineer.com
Legislative Visits Are Strongly Encouraged
Following our program, you are encouraged to make legislative visits. We encourage you to schedule in advance an appointment to meet with your State Representative or State Senator. You may want to introduce yourself and/or discuss policy issues relevant to the engineering profession.
Click here to locate your legislator. You will need to mark "Zip Code" and then type in your home zip code with its 4-digit extension.
Ohio Engineers Legislative Day
SCHEDULE
8:00 am Registration
Coffee & light breakfast provided
8:45 am Welcome
Dennis Irwin, PhD, PE, President, OSPE
Joe Warino, PE, PS, FNSPE, VP of OSPE Legislative & Government Affairs
8:50 am ODOT Partners in Looking at Low Volume Roads
James Barna, PE, Assistant Director, Ohio Department of Transportation
9:50 am Water Supply Safety
Craig Butler, Director, Ohio Environment Protection Agency
10:20 am 10 Minute Break
10:30 am Road Quality Challenges for Ohio County Engineers
Mark Zimmerman, PE, PS, Senaca County Engineer
11:30 am Legislative Update
Rep. Louis Blessing, III, PE, District 29
12:00 pm 15 Minute Break
12:15 pm Lunch & Speaker
How Will We Fund Surface Transportation After the FAST ACT
Brian Pallasch, CAE, Lobbyist, American Society of Civil Engineers, Ohio Council
1:30 pm Railroad Grade Crossing Safety
Matthew Dietrich, Executive Director, Ohio Rail Development Commission
2:30 pm Legislative Visits
TOPICS & SPEAKERS
ODOT Partners in Looking at Low Volume Roads
Participants will learn:
- Asset Management
- Scope of oil gas issues
- Current research & efforts
Jim Barna, PE, Assistant Director, Ohio Department of Transportation 
James Barna currently serves as the assistant director of Transportation Policy, which encompasses the divisions of planning, engineering, and construction. He directs all aspects, from “cradle to grave,” of ODOT’s $2.0 plus billion dollar capital program. He also serves as the department’s chief engineer. Mr. Barna returned to ODOT after six years with the private sector, where he served as the Columbus office manager and Director of Transportation for a regional engineering firm. He was responsible for directing the marketing, budget and engineering facets of transportation for the organization. He received his B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1990 from The Ohio State University.
Water Supply Safety
Participants will learn:
- Who's responsible for delivering safe drinking water?
- How local systems fall short and not be detected
- Measures that can be taken to improve the oversight process at the state level
- Measures that can be taken to avoid repeat problems
On February 21, 2014, the Governor appointed Mr. Butler as Director of Ohio the Environmental Protection Agency. Butler has served as interim director of the Agency since early January. He previously served as the Assistant Policy Director for Energy, Agriculture and the Environment in Governor Kasich’s administration. A public servant of more than 24 years, he previously served as District Chief of both Ohio EPA’s Central District Office and its Southeast District Office. He is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Ohio Alliance for the Environment. Mr. Butler graduated Mansfield University in Mansfield Pennsylvania with honors with a BA in Geography and Environmental Science. After receiving a scholarship from Ohio University he also graduated from Ohio University with a Masters in Environmental Science.
Road Quality Challenges for Ohio's County Engineers
Participants will learn:
- "Bridging the Gap," a comprehensive look at the state of County Infrastructure and the demands for County Engineers in the 21st Century
- Oversized and repetitive loading effect on roadways and bridges and the incorporation of Road Use Maintenance Agrerements (RUMA's)
- Meeting the needs of an increased public demand for safety and an increased level of service
- Funding challenges for county engineers, including Federal, State and Local Regulations and how they affect the "Bricks and Mortar" of Construction
Mark is currently the President of the County Engineer’s Association of Ohio and the Seneca County Engineer. After graduating from the Ohio State University in 1990 with a degree in Agriculture and Economics, he moved back home to Seneca County where he served as a technician for the Seneca Soil and Water Conservation District. A year later Mark was promoted to the Program Administrator of the District. As Administrator, he worked with other County officials to develop and build the Counties Regional Planning Commission. In 1995 Mark was asked to serve as the first Executive Director of Planning for Seneca County. In 1997 Mark was asked by the then County Engineer to join his team and consider going back to school to obtain his engineering degree. In 2000 Mark graduated, Magna Cum Laude from the University of Toledo in Civil Engineering, and in 2002 completed to required coursework to obtain his Surveying Certificate for Owens Community College. In 2008 Mark was elected as the County Engineer where he serves today some 25 years after joining Seneca County.
Legislative Update
Participants will learn:
- Update on House Bill 17 - Good Samaritan Law
- Progress on House Bill 236 - Engineering Ethics and Rules Education
- House Bill 304 - Water Reservoirs
- House Bill 305 - Dwelling Egress
- Senate Bill 58 - Sewage Systems
- Senate Bill 118 - Household Sewage Systems
Louis W. Blessing, III, PE, State Representative, 29th House District,
131st General Assembly
State Representative Louis W. Blessing, III is serving his second term in the Ohio House of Representatives. He represents the 29th Ohio House District, which includes portions of western Hamilton County. Representative Blessing has an extensive background in electrical engineering. He currently works as an engineer at Super Systems, Inc. in Cincinnati and previously worked at Duke Energy and Nova Engineering. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering at the University of Cincinnati. The Representative is a licensed professional engineer and is a member of the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers. He currently resides in Colerain Township with his wife Heather.
How Will We Fund Surface Transportation After the FAST ACT
(Lunch Speaker)
Participants will learn:
- How roads are currently funded
- Spending does not correspond to road use and value
- Other funding ideas (tolls, mileage fees, congestion pricing)
- $305 billion highway bill
Brian Pallasch, CAE, American Society of Civil Engineers - Ohio Council, Managing Director of Government Relations & Infrastructure Initiatives, Washington, DC Mr. Pallasch has been responsible for managing the ASCE’s government relations department including federal and state legislative affairs, regulatory affairs, grassroots, and policy development, since 1999. Pallasch is currently responsible for managing ASCE’s strategic initiatives regarding infrastructure including development of the Report for America’s Infrastructure. Additionally, Pallasch serves as the Co-Chair of the Water Resources Coalition. Pallasch holds a MA degree in International Affairs from the American University, and a BA in Journalism and International Affairs from the University of Southern California.
Railroad Grade Crossing Safety
Participants will learn:
- The state's role in railroad grade crossing safety
- Safety devices at railroad crossings
- Safety in regards to the pavements used at crossings
Matthew Dietrich was appointed Executive Director of the Ohio Rail Development Commission in 2007. Matt held multiple positions in transportation planning and economic development at the regional and state level prior to joining the Commission in 2000 as Secretary-Treasurer of the Commission, overseeing the administration of loans and grants. Matt holds a Master's Degree from the University of Toledo.