Chattanooga Engineers Club
P.O. Box 4031
Chattanooga, TN 37405
www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org
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THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM
October 1, 2007
12:00 noon
Construction Management - a new program at Chattanooga State
Tim McGhee, Director of the Building & Construction Institute at Chattanooga State, will present a proposal for a Construction Management baccalaureate program partnership between Chattanooga State, Cleveland State, and UTC. Statistics have shown that the local workforce is aging and the construction industry, like many others, has identified a need to implement a succession plan to educate and train an emerging workforce to meet the needs of future construction and development for the greater Chattanooga economic region. The local construction industry comprised of the Associated General Contractors, the Home Builders Association, developers, architects, and affiliates, have indicated a strong desire to develop a postsecondary academic degree program which is intended to provide a professional standard for those interested in a career in construction and to educate future construction managers, superintendents, estimators, and business owners. Both two year and four year degreed graduates are needed in our area. Chattanooga State and Cleveland State currently offer AAS degree programs in Construction / Civil Engineering Technology and Construction Technology that will potentially serve as feeder programs into a 4-year degree program with UTC. According to the Tennessee Department of Labor, the median salary for a degreed (B.S.) Construction Managers is $58,500 for our area. This partnership could provide a four-year postsecondary educational pathway for students graduating from the Construction Academy at East Ridge High School and any other area high school who offer construction related training programs.
Lunch will be available for $11 beginning at 11:30 am, and will be from the outstanding Cellar Buffet. Location: Tallan Cellar Restaurant, 200 West ML King Blvd, Chattanooga, TN 37402. Parking: use on street meters or the commercial lot in the rear of the Tallan Building, or in one of the commercial lots nearby.
FUTURE MEETINGS
October 8 - Planning and Design of Hurricane Flood Protection for the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal. Maurice Bandy, P.E. and Vice President of Arcadis confirmed to speak on work Arcadis has been doing to assess the status of the systems that protect St Bernard and New Orleans Parishes. The presentation will include results of studies to provide 100 yer hurricane protection to these areas by 2011 with recommendations to provide interim protection for these areas until permanent solutions can be implemented. Maurice has 41 years of experience, mainly in the areas of water resources and flood control projects. Since Hurricane Katrina he has served in a leadership position on a number of high-profile flood control tasks for the Corps of Engineers Hurricane Protection Office.
October 15 - Field Trip scheduled to the Tennessee Valley Railway Museum. Members should plan to arrive at the East Chattanooga Station at 10:45 for a 35 minute tour of the repair shop with a discussion provided by Steve Freer on the challenges of restoring vintage engines and railcars. We will then depart by train from East Chattanooga at 11:25, arriving at Grand Junction at 11:45 where we will enjoy box lunches (provided by the wonderful Little Lunch Box restaurant) in the dining room at Grand Junction. The train will depart at 12:15 returning to East Chattanooga Station at 12:30 where we can view the turntable demonstration. Cost for the train and box lunch will be $20.00. Please rsvp to Ronald-Bailey@utc.edu with your sandwich preference (roast beef, turkey, or ham) so we can have enough box lunches for everyone. See http://www.tvrail.com for a preview of the TVRM.
October 22 - Tom Burnett of Tennessee Valley Authority confirmed to discuss engineering aspects of mercury emissions and the environment.
October 29 - Matthew Huyster, U.S. EPA On-Scene Coordinator confirmed to speak on the role of the Environmental Protection Agency in the wake of an events like hurricanes.
LAST WEEK'S MEETING - Sept 24, Barron Tasker of Floodbloc showed us new on technology for flood control. Floodbloc, LLC was created to commercialize products incorporating two unique absorbent polymers invented by Mr. Tasker. Capable of absorbing hundreds of times its own volume, the super absorbent polymer is packaged in bags that are less bulky and more effective than sandbags. A video demonstration showed the crew diverting the water at the aquarium from 20 feet to 3 feet wide using the new bags. Polymer filled packages can replace traditional sandbags for flood control.
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ITEMS OF INTEREST
Bryan Field was featured in a story about his Java computer certification and family business in the Times Free Press. See the article at http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_113283.asp
- October 17, 2007 Dinner & Presentation, Speaker: Scott McKenzie, March-Adams Engineers, Topic: Engineering Challenges of the Tennessee Aquarium Butterfly Exhibit, UTC Engineering Building, Maytag Room, doors open at 6, program at 6:30. Free parking in Lot 10 (immediately behind Engineering Building) PDH: 1 hour
- November 14, 2007 Presentation & Plant Tour, Speakers: Aaron Haluska & Chad Gentry, Miller Industries, Topic: Pro/Engineer® and the Design of Towing Equipment, Miller Industries, Ooltewah, TN PDH: 1 hour
Contact Ron Goulet ron-goulet@utc.edu or Bryan Eldridge Bryan_Eldridge@mckee.com.
Career Mentors Needed!!! The Alumni Career Mentoring Program is a great way for UTC students to get in touch with other UTC graduates who can provide information or direction about career choices. The program consists of a database of alumni who have volunteered to share their career experiences and advice with students and other alumni. These individuals have diverse academic backgrounds and represent many industries, career fields, job functions and locations. The UTC Alumni Career Mentor Program is sponsored by the Placement and Student Employment Center. The time commitment is minimal and is a much appreciated way for you as an alum to share your expertise in your career area and provide information or direction about career choices with current students. As an Alumni Career Mentor a few of the ways you can participate include: Career contact & networking, Company & industry information, Employment trends (profession or industry), Job function information, Job search strategies, Job shadowing. For more detailed information and to complete the Alumni Career Mentor Participation form visit: www.utc.edu/placement Click on Career Mentor Program under Quick Links on the left side of the page. If you have questions please feel free to contact Stephanie Hollis in the Placement and Student Employment Center at 423-425-4184.
Fire Eye Productions, Inc. has made available many video recordings of events in our community by creating the Local Webcast Network. Several Chattanooga Engineers Club programs are included; you may be on there too! Go to www.localwebcastnetwork.com.
Speaking Opportunities! Volunteers needed to address speaker requests from elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and youth groups to visit classrooms, assemblies, and group meetings. Contact Lulu Copeland, copeland@chattanoogastate.edu.
High school student groups may schedule tours of CSTCC to visit mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical technology classes and other locations of the campus. Contact Shirley Moore at (423)697-2698.
QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS? If you have any questions or suggestions about program items please contact Ron Bailey at 423-425-5536 or by email at Ronald-Bailey@utc.edu. You can find membership application forms, references to future programs, historical data, and other info at http://www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org. To receive future meeting announcements by email, join the Cha. Technology Organization mailing list at http://mail.chattanoogaengineersclub.org/mailman/listinfo/chatech_chattanoogaengineersclub.org