Sticking to what you know is considered an important principle of engineering practice and license law. But what is the best measurement of competence? If the feedback on ENR’s Jan. 24 guest commentary is any indicator, engineers’ opinions about the matter are more varied than the criteria currently used to judge engineering expertise. The commentary by Jon A. Schmidt, an associate structural engineer at Burns & McDonnell, Kansas City, Mo., addressed a new two-day exam for structural engineering, slated for an April rollout. The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, Seneca, S.C., is replacing its two eight-hour structural
Schiavone Construction Co. agreed on Nov. 29 to a $22.4-million settlement of a federal probe into its use of phony companies in place of legitimate minority and women-owned subcontractors on big New York City infrastructure jobs. The news recalled the case of Reagan-era Secretary of Labor Raymond Photo: Couretesy of Total Impact Communicaitons Alleged subcontracting fraud by contractor occurred on Manhattan’s South Ferry subway station rehab and other New York City jobs. Related Links: Justice Department Press Release Schiavone No-Prosecution Agreement Joint Statement of Facts Donovan. Before entering the public sector, he was a principal at Schiavone, one of the
In his testimony during a July hearing in Kenner, La., about the Gulf oil spill, BP’s well team leader, Alexander John Guide, was asked about his relevant work experience. In his 10 years at BP, Guide said he had led many well-drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico. He also had regularly refreshed his knowledge of well control in training sessions. Then the attorney asked Guide if he had an engineering license. The answer was a simple no. Lost in the chain of individual decisions that led to the Deepwater Horizon blowout explosion that killed 11 workers and the uncontrolled
The Louis Berger Group’s president, Larry D. Walker, says his company will emerge better from changes made because of investigations that culminated in a $69-million settlement with the U.S. Dept. of Justice announced on Nov. 5. He maintains the company discovered the overbilling targeted by investigators before the company became aware of the federal investigation and that the company began refunding $4 million to federal agencies. New internal controls and compliance and ethics programs will prevent a recurrence, he says. The overcharging “goes back into the 1990s before the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts and was based on a methodology that
Louis Berger Group has agreed to pay $69 million to settle civil charges by the Dept. of Justice that the company systematically inflated its overhead charges in cost-plus work for the federal government from 1999 to 2007. Related Links: Dept. of Justice press conference Criminal complaint against Louis Berger Group Probe Leads to Wolff's Likely Exit from Berger The settlement was announced Nov. 5th in Newark, N.J., by U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman. “Money that could have been used for more good work instead went to LBG’s bottom line,” he said. “It allowed a corrupt few to send a message about
The three-year-long civil and criminal investigation of Louis Berger Group’s billings for federal aid and reconstruction projects came to light on Aug. 9 just as the federal government was ramping up audits and investigations of Afghanistan and Iraq reconstruction contracts looking for possible improprieties. Photo By Michael Goodman For ENR Neither Wolff nor Berger have been charged with any wrongdoing. Photo By Michael Goodman For ENR Fields says his office is conducting numerous criminal investigations and that his staff is working closely with the Dept. of Justice to root out cheating and lawbreaking. Related Links: Probe Leads To Wolff’s Likely
A three-year-long federal investigation of alleged overbilling on reconstruction contracts in Afghanistan by engineer Louis Berger Group appears likely to force Derish M. Wolff, chairman of the firm’s holding company, from his job, according to court documents filed last week. Photo: Michael Goodman For ENR Wolff’s terms of departure from the company are controversial. The company is trying to resolve Wolff’s status as chairman of Berger Group Holdings, it said a statement released on August 16. “We anticipate that the matter of his employment to be resolved by the end of next week,” the company said. Contacted at his New
A three-year-long federal investigation of alleged overbilling on reconstruction contracts in Afghanistan by engineer Louis Berger Group appears likely to force Derish M. Wolff, chairman of the firm’s holding company, from his job, according to court documents filed last week. Photo: Michael Goodman For ENR Wolff’s terms of departure from the company are controversial. The company is trying to resolve Wolff’s status as chairman of Berger Group Holdings, it said a statement released on August 16. “We anticipate that the matter of his employment to be resolved by the end of next week,” the company said. Contacted at his New
In explaining his decision to sell his company, Tishman Construction, to AECOM Technology Corp., Daniel R. Tishman notes that the company lacked the very deep financial resources needed to establish new overseas offices and maintain itself as a major market player. “It’s a very expensive proposition to open an office in the Middle East,” he said onJuly 19 in New York City. Photo: Luke Abaffy for ENR Daniel Tishman moves engineer AECOM further into construction services. And with those words, the respected leader of one of construction’s most famous family-owned companies summed up why AECOM and its competitor, URS Corp.,
In explaining his decision to sell his company, Tishman Construction, to AECOM Technology Corp., Daniel R. Tishman notes that the company lacked the very deep financial resources needed to establish new overseas offices and maintain itself as a major market player. “It’s a very expensive proposition to open an office in the Middle East,” he said onJuly 19 in New York City. Photo: Luke Abaffy for ENR Daniel Tishman moves engineer AECOM further into construction services. And with those words, the respected leader of one of construction’s most famous family-owned companies summed up why AECOM and its competitor, URS Corp.,
