Are You Taking Full Advantage of CEU Opportunities?
Are you investing in your future or wasting your time and money on CEUs? CEUs are an investment in your future and, like all significant purchases, should be taken seriously. …
Author Archives : Barry Arnold, S.E., SECB
Barry Arnold, S.E., SECB (barrya@arwengineers.com), is a Vice President at ARW Engineers in Ogden, Utah. He chairs the STRUCTURE magazine Editorial Board, is the Immediate Past President of NCSEA, and a member of the NCSEA Licensure Committee.
Fundamental to every engineering degree is the requirement for advanced mathematics courses. Far beyond basic arithmetic, algebra, and trigonometry, the engineering curriculum requires, at a minimum, courses in differential, integral, and multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. With such stringent requirements with respect to mathematical principles and problem-solving tools, it is interesting that counting structural and professional engineers is difficult for so many. …
Is our Code of Ethics relevant today, or has its strength faded with time? Is our Code of Ethics a powerful tool to assist and guide the engineer in being a professional and in making good and right decisions, or is it outdated dogma?
Recently, an engineer with animated gestures and passion in his voice proclaimed, “We, as professionals, are duty bound and morally obligated to understand, live by, and enforce the Code of Ethics.” With equal commitment, another engineer stated “The Code of Ethics is an outdated albatross that hangs around the neck of the profession and limits opportunities.” …
Theft, and Fraud – Do You Know the Difference?
Stealing is bad. From a young age and throughout life, this principle is reinforced and emphasized. Regardless of whether it is petty theft or grand theft, and regardless of whether it involves burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting, library theft, or fraud – stealing is bad. …
Steel is the foundational material that gave rise to our modern civilization. From its use as piles in deep foundations; as reinforcing bars and anchor rods embedded in concrete and masonry structures; as structural shapes used as beams, columns, and braces; as bolts and light-gauge connectors in wood construction; and as light-gauge steel studs – steel is an essential and important part of our history and the modern built environment. …
After 20 years of loyal and dedicated service, Jeanne Vogelzang has announced her retirement. She will step down as Executive Director of the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA) effective June 30th. Fortunately, Jeanne will continue serving NCSEA until the 2016 NCSEA Summit in September. She will work from Orange Beach, Alabama, where she and her husband, Marc Barter, will reside. …
Have you heard or read about engineers becoming dissatisfied with the profession, their employer, or their career and pursuing employment in other occupations? Some suggest the source of dissatisfaction is a result of a conflict between the work the engineer is engaged in and their values and passions. In his book Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies, author Jim Collins encouraged companies to ask themselves, “What do we stand for and why do we exist?” …
I have never been concerned that three organizations represent structural engineers. So, while attending a recent engineering conference, when one of my tablemates spoke up in an agitated tone and said: “I don’t understand why there are three organizations representing structural engineers! They’re like oil and water – they don’t mix well,” I was taken aback. It is a question and a simile I have heard before, but his tone and abruptness caused me to pause and reflect. …
Jon Schmidt, and the past and present editorial board, did an excellent job of building STRUCTURE magazine into a high-quality, sought-after publication. Under Jon’s leadership and the talent and commitment of the editorial board, STRUCTURE magazine has become a widely-read and well-respected publication. The profession owes Jon, those who served with him, and those who have contributed content to the magazine, our sincere appreciation. …
Your name is probably your greatest asset. Contained in a name are a person’s or company’s brand, identity, and reputation. There was a time when agreements were made based only on a person’s name. Does a name have value? Absolutely! A name is so important that each year, people and companies spend millions to clear their name, protect their name, and promote their name. The following are a few specific examples. …