CEM Newsbreak - Fall 2007
Message From the CEM President
CEM President Bill Brant, P. Eng. , delivers his President's Strategy at the CEM AGM in May, 2007.
This is my first opportunity to communicate electronically with the CEM membership since assuming the presidency in late May. First, for those who do not know me [or at least not well], a thumbnail sketch may be in order. I am a civil engineering graduate from U of M, class of '73. I have been in consulting practice since I joined Alf Poetker in a small partnership back in 1981. Our firm merged with Cochrane Engineering in 1990, which in turn was acquired by GENIVAR six months ago. Since becoming the company's Vice President for Manitoba in 2001, administrative responsibilities mean that I do not have as much time to spend on projects. However, I am still able to be involved to some degree in my field of specialisation [rural municipal infrastructure], and particularly on public water supply projects.
On a personal level, I am an immigrant, born a British citizen in the Netherlands. I won't clarify further due to space and time limitations, but if you are interested, ask me about it over a glass of Irish whiskey! I live in Ile-des-Chenes, have been married for 25 years [my wife Bert seems to have been part of the package of becoming a consultant] and have four children. My volunteer commitments include being a Warden at the Anglican Parish Church of St Luke [nine years out of the past 25], President of the La Verendrye Constituency Association [three years] and founder and Editor for 11 years of Western Canada Water magazine [a consequence of having been president of the Western Canada Water & Wastewater Association 10 years ago]. I have previously held senior volunteer positions with the Western Canada Section--American Water Works Association and with the Canadian Water & Wastewater Association.
My objectives for the coming year--during which CEM will be celebrating its 30th anniversary--include following through on many of the initiatives of past presidents, including acting on the results of the membership survey undertaken earlier this year. Specifically, the following is the list of priorities that I presented to the members who attended the AGM:
- Closer relations with Architects: Healing any wounds remaining from our 2005 dispute and working together to improve the business climate for design professionals.
- Provincial Government relations: Improving visibility with the legislators and especially members of Cabinet . Improving departmental procurement policies [especially promoting "Best Practices" for hiring consultants, using qualifications- based selection criteria]. This also includes moving toward more reasonable limitations on liability.
- Improving our image with Winnipeg City Council and senior bureaucrats: We are design professionals, much different from management consultants, image consultants, advertising consultants and others who specialise in matters far less valuable to society than infrastructure.
- Diversifying our Board: More representation from industrial and buildings disciplines and smaller firms.
- Establishing the Bill Evans Scholarship: Making good on the promises we made last year to memorialise an outstanding member and Director who lost his life far too young.
- Nurturing the development of our U of M Student Chapter: Promoting consulting careers to ensure a supply of new blood to sustain our firms
Many of these were initiated in the past, and will move ahead without much effort. For instance, with respect to #4, I am pleased that we have a mechanical engineer as a new Director (Steve Reaburn), but we are still dominated by Civils and larger firms. All these items, and our more routine business, will require time and energy on the part of not just me, not just the Board of Directors, and not just the Chairs of our committees: we all need to play a role in furthering our objective of advancing the business interests of consulting engineers in Manitoba. I look forward to reporting regularly to you on our progress. We have come a long way, and have much to celebrate, as we approach our 30th anniversary as an association and the September Homecoming to mark the centennial of the U of M Engineering Faculty.
Bill Brant, P. Eng.
President
Consulting Engineers of Manitoba Inc.
