Joseph W. Wallwork, PE CCE CFCC PSP running for President-Elect
To view Joseph's bio, click
here. |
|
| 1. How would you specifically propose to expand the value and influence of AACE to the corporations and organizations that employ our members? |
| There is a great wealth of technical knowledge and ability within AACE in general and within our membership in particular. Communication of this resource, the AACE Membership, to the industry is the key. We need to communicate with and educate owners, including government and corporations, that AACE through the skills and abilities of its members, supported by AACE technical resources, can help them manage their work and solve their problems. This creates the demand. The owners understanding the value available will seek or prefer employees who are AACE Certified. In turn, those firms including the engineering, contracting, and consulting companies who work for owners will seek or prefer AACE Certified employees in order to enhance their position with or seek new work from owners. |
|
| 2. In order to possibly promote increased attendance, would you be supportive of a more affordable Annual Meeting registration fee scheme for the members? |
I would support any effort to make the Annual Meeting Registration fee as affordable as possible in order to encourage the attendance of as many members (and non-members) as possible. The Annual Meeting has historically been the Associations major source of revenue other than membership dues. By working to increase the Association’s revenue through increased product sales, certification of more members, and increasing the overall number of AACE members, we can insure that the Annual Meeting need only carry only its own weight rather than support other Association programs.
The pricing structure should encourage non-members to attend though at a fee greater than the fee a member pays. Non-members who interact with us at the Annual Meeting represent potential new members and bring a diversity of background and experience that can provide new opportunities for our membership.
|
|
| 3. How would you propose membership be increased in North America and internationally? |
| In my response to question 1, I stated that we can create a demand for AACE members, particularly, those who are Certified, through communicating to and educating owners that we can help them manage their work and solve their problems. When the owners and the companies that work for them understand this, they will create the demand and our membership will grow as a result. In order to create this demand, AACE will reach out to the various owners and the firms that work for them through direct contact marketing and through the use of trade publications to educate their readership. |
|
| 4. What do you see as the two most significant challenges facing your position and how would you address these two challenges if elected? |
The two most significant challenges that I would face as President of AACE International are to maintain the health and growth of the local sections and to elevate the recognition and acceptance of AACE as the leader, and the solution, in Total Cost Management.
The local sections are the heart of the association and the front line in member satisfaction. The burden of organizing meetings and section events falls solely to the local section officers. I would work with the VP Regions and the Regional Directors to offer assistance to the sections to provide interesting meetings and events in order to promote section growth and member satisfaction.
To elevate the status and recognition of AACE, I believe we need to educate the industry that AACE, through its members, is the solution to successfully manage their work and solve their problems and that our members are the way to implement those solutions. Our members in turn demonstrate that they are capable and are part of the solution. Certification and AACE educational programs are the key to demonstrating value to the industry and to the individual member.
I believe that we can make Certification a part of an individual’s career path. Currently the Certified Cost Engineer/Consultant (CCE/CCC) has the Certified Cost Technician (CCT) available as an interim step to full certification. Similar technician level interim steps along the path to full certification should be developed for the other certification paths such as estimating and scheduling providing clear career advancement and indication to employers of the growing competence and commitment of individual members.
|
|
| 5. What are your thoughts on the AACE International membership category of “Emeritus”? |
I believe changes to the Emeritus membership classification are appropriate. I think that any long term member who has concluded their career and retires should have the opportunity to become an Emeritus member. Such a status should allow retired members to still call themselves AACE members and maintain their right to identify themselves using titles such as Fellow and those that they have earned through their AACE certifications.
The Board of Directors can establish criteria (such as minimum duration of active membership) that would allow any member who meets that criteria to apply for designation as an Emeritus member as a matter of right.
An Emeritus member is one who presumably is seeking to maintain contact with the Association and to keep up with events but would no longer need all the services that the Association offers. Thus a reduced level of service from the Association warrants that an Emeritus member pays a reduced annual membership fee.
With this change the Association can still recognize exceptional service and contribution through the Life Membership designation while preserving the right of all qualifying members to become Emeritus members.
|
|
| 6. What do you see is working right with the Association today; in general or specifically? |
| The single most element important element that is working right with the Association is its desire to evolve and improve. The creation of this “Ask Your Candidate” forum which allows members to learn about the nominees is a good example. The Constitution and Bylaws of AACE prohibit campaigning by candidates. While this prohibition has maintained the professionalism of the election process, the addition of the “Ask Your Candidate” program now provides members an opportunity to communicate with the nominees and to learn more about each candidate and their vision for the Association. Other examples of the evolution of the Association include the recognition of the growing importance of international members through the creation of the International Regions and their representation on the Board of Directors. |
|
| 7. What do you see as needing improvement with the association today; in general or specifically? |
| I believe you can summarize the areas where we need improvement in one word, Communication. We need to communicate with our members to make the members fully understand what AACE offers them while also listening to our members to learn what it is that they want from the Association. We need to reach out to both the individual member as well as the Local Sections. Equally important, we need to communicate with the industries we serve to make them aware of what AACE and our members offer as well as to learn from industry how we can enhance the role of AACE and (definitely more importantly) increase the value of our members to the industry. |
|
| 8. For the areas where you see the association needs improvement, how should they be addressed? |
First, I believe AACE has made great strides in the communication with its membership. Membership is on the rise which is the most positive indicator of success. We must continue to work on this communication not only with the members but with the industries, clients, and firms that provide our members with their livelihood. It is equally important that the Association seeks and listens to our members to learn what you, the members, want from AACE. AACE exists for the benefit of its members. This is “Your AACE”!
AACE must renew its commitment to strong sections as the backbone of the Association and act to promote section activities. Regional activities including joint meetings, shared newsletters, speaker exchanges, and interface with other organizations and associations are areas where headquarters through the Regional Directors can assist the local sections.
|
|
| 9. What value to the association does the Approved Education Provider (AEP) program provide? |
The business of AACE is education. Education is the basis for our non-profit status. I see our roll as one to develop the educational materials and recommended procedures utilizing the resources of our member volunteers who are on the front line of the business world.
AACE provides education through published materials and directly through seminars such as those held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting. However, with members across not only North America but across the world, it is impractical for AACE to adequately provide service for all who desire these educational opportunities. Thus, the Approved Education Provider (AEP) program acts as an extension of AACE. The member volunteers and headquarters staff who works to develop our educational materials and products can continue to do what they do best while the AEP’s provide the direct educational service.
|
|
| 10. How would you propose the value of the AEP program to AACE members be increased? |
| Communication to the members and the industry in general about the AEP program including the courses offered and the benefits is essential. This works together with the initiative to educate owners and the firms that work for them about how AACE can help them manage their work and solve their problems. In addition, I would ask the Education Board in conjunction with headquarters staff to develop a means to recognize those who have pursued their individual professional education through AACE and/or AEP courses. This recognition would be in the form of a Certificate of Achievement given to an individual attesting that they had completed the necessary number of CEU’s within a specific area of study to earn the recognition. The areas of study which could include topics such as scheduling, estimating, risk management or others as well as the number of CEU’s required to earn the “Certificate of Achievement” would be determined by the Education Board. |
|
|
| Back to Welcome Page |
Previous Candidate |
| |
 |
