Ohio Engineers Legislative Day 

There are up to 5 Continuing Professional Development Hours associated with this seminar.

SCHEDULE

8:00 am
Registration
Coffee & light breakfast provided

8:55 am
Welcome
Steve Day, PE, President, OSPE
Joe Warino, PE, PS, FNSPE, VP, OSPE Legislative & Government Affairs

9:00 am
Welcome ODOT Director / Plans for ODOT
Jack Marchbanks, PhD, Director, ODOT

9:45 am
Insights on the Legislature from a Professional Engineer’s Perspective
Louis W. Blessing, III, PE, State Representative, Ohio House, District 29

10:15 am
10-Minute Break

10:25 am
A Detailed Analysis of Bills that Affect Engineering Practice (with Advocacy Training)
Matt Whitehead, Vice President, Governmental Policy Group, Inc.

11:25 am
5-Minute Break

11:30 pm
Lunch & Speaker
Why Should Engineers Be Involved in Public Policy?
Aaron Castelo, CAE, Director, State Government Relations, American Society of Civil Engineers 

1:00 pm
Deconstructing an Engineering College's Place in a Research University
Dennis Irwin, PhD, PE, Dean, Russ College of Engineering & Technology, Ohio University

2:00 pm
Coal-Fired Power Plant Basics & Overview
Paul Jackson, PE, Asset Manager, Buckeye Power

Power Generation in 2019:  How the Transmission Grid & Energy Markets
   are Adapting to Changing Technology
Ben Wilson, PE, Manager, Power Delivery, Buckeye Power 

TOPICS & SPEAKERS 

Welcome ODOT Director / Plans for ODOT

Participants will learn:

• The Outcome of the Biennial Transportation Budget
• Status of Ohio's Resources and the Condition of our System
• Our Ability to Fund and Maintain Ohio's Transportation System Including Traffic Safety Devices and the Nation's 4th Largest Interstate System and 2nd Largest Inventory of Bridges
• The Challenges of Increased Fuel Efficiencies & Electric Vehicles
• Public Safety Considerations
• Working with Local Partners
• Priority Projects

Jack Marchbanks, PhD, Director, Ohio Department of Transportation

Dr. Marchbanks served as assistant director in business and human resources for ODOT from July 2017 until his appointment as director by Governor Mike DeWine in January 2019.  In his role as assistant director, he was responsible for the overall management of the department’s 5,000 employees and the development of its $3.3 billion budget.  He provided strategic direction to the statewide administrators of the agency’s finance, human resources, information technology, legal, and communications divisions, as well as the opportunity, diversity and inclusion programs.  He is a former member of the Ohio Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC).  Dr. Marchbanks earned his PhD from Ohio University. He also holds an MBA from Xavier University in Cincinnati and a master’s degree from Clark-Atlanta University. He is a graduate of the University of Dayton, with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Insights on the Legislature from a Professional Engineer's Perspective

Participants will learn:

• Update on Tyler's Law - Regarding Amusement Ride Inspections
• Update on House Bill 159 - Indemnity Provisions in Professional Design Contracts Related to Public Improvements
• Insights from the Ohio House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
• Why Engineers Should Run for Office

State Representative Louis W. Blessing, III, PE, Ohio House of Representatives, District 29

Representative Blessing is serving his 4th term in the Ohio House of Representatives. He represents the 29th Ohio House District, which includes portions of western Hamilton County.  With an extensive background in electrical engineering, he works as an engineer at Super Systems, Inc., in Cincinnati.  Previously, he worked at Duke Energy and Nova Engineering.  He earned a BA in mathematics and a BS in electrical engineering at the University of Cincinnati.  The Representative is a licensed PE and a member of the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers.

A Detailed Analysis of Bills that Affect Engineering Practice
(with Advocacy Training)

Participants will learn:

• Occupational Licensure Reform Trends Around the Country & Ohio
• Details about Tyler's Law (Rep. Blessing)
• Details about Senate Bill 1 (Sens. McColley & Roegner) & House Bill 115 (Reps. Riedel & Roemer) - Reducing Regulatory Restrictions
• Details about Senate Bill 7 (Sens. Lehner & Hackett) - Temporary State Occupational Licenses for Military & their Spouses
• Additional Bills Affecting Engineering Practice
• Includes Managerial Training for Working with & Educating Members of the Ohio General Assembly on Engineering Policy Initiatives

Matt Whitehead, Vice President, Governmental Policy Group, Inc.

Mr. Whitehead is a graduate of Xavier University with a degree in political science and minors in business and peace studies.  Prior to joining Governmental Policy Group & RH Resources, Matt served as the legislative liaison for the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, conducting legislative affairs including Controlling Board requests, bill monitoring, testimony preparation and presentation. With Matt’s nearly two decades of extensive experience in the development of public policy, he has worked on a variety of topic areas that touch virtually every aspect of state government.

Why Should Engineers Be Involved in Public Policy?

Participants will learn:

Aaron Castelo, CAE, Director, State Government Relations,
American Society of Civil Engineers

Mr. Castelo is the director of State and Local Government Relations for ASCE, and has more than 20 years of experience in state government relations, most of it with professional and trade associations based in Washington, D.C.  In his role at ASCE, Castelo oversees the association’s program to engage ASCE’s local Sections in efforts to influence state governments on issues affecting civil engineering and to advocate for ASCE priority issues at the state level.  He previously served on the Board of Directors of the Washington Area State Relations Group.  Mr. Castelo is a graduate of Indiana University with a double major in journalism and political science.  He has an MA in political science from Ball State University, and he is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management.

Deconstructing an Engineering College's Place in a Research University

Participants will learn:

• How authority is delegated at a research university
• What resources are available and how is the split of resources among the colleges and other units determined
• How a mismatch of authority and resource allocation can cause confusion

Dennis Irwin, PhD, PE, Dean, Russ College of Engineering & Technology, Ohio University

Dean Irwin joined Ohio University in 1987, coming from the aerospace/defense industry. In 2002 he became Dean of the Russ College of Engineering and Technology.  In July 2019, he will retire as one of the longest serving deans in the history of the Russ College, Ohio University and likely the state.

Paul Jackson, PE, Asset Manager, Buckeye Power                      

Mr. Jackson graduated in 2007 with a BS in engineering physics from The Ohio State University.  He became a PE in 2013.  He has worked in the Power Industry for 12 years, first at American Electric Power and now at Buckeye Power.

Participants will learn:

• Understand how the transmission grid influences energy markets, and vice versa
• Understand the benefits and limitations for solar, wind, and energy storage

Ben Wilson, PE, Manager of Power Delivery, Buckeye Power

Mr. Wilson graduated from Ohio University in 2003 with a BS in chemical engineering.  He received his PE registration in 2008.  Ben completed an MBA from Clarion University in 2018.  He has worked in the Power Industry for 10 years, first at American Electric Power followed by Buckeye Power.