ACEC NY 2020 Winter Conference: Building connections and success

Albany, NY The 2020 Winter Conference was held for the third year at the Albany Capital Center and Renaissance Hotel on January 26-28. This year’s attendance again broke records, with over 400 engineering and related professionals, as well as agency and authority personnel, in attendance and 25 exhibitor booths. The conference again offered parallel tracks for CFOs/business managers, emerging leaders (engineering professionals preparing to take on top leadership roles in engineering firms), and, for the second consecutive year, HR personnel.

The theme of this year’s conference was “Building Connections,” and Monday’s agency presentations touched on this theme, as well as upcoming projects and capital programs. The following agencies/authorities gave presentations during the conference: NYS Thruway Authority, NYS Department of Transportation, NYS Bridge Authority, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Federal Highway Administration, NYC Department of Design and Construction, NYC Housing Authority, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, NYS Environmental Facilities Corp., NYSERDA, NYC Department of Transportation, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, NYC Economic Development Corp., NYS Office of General Services, State University Construction Fund, NYPA, NYC School Construction Authority, and the Dormitory Authority of the State of NY. 

The conference also featured a number of keynote speakers. During Monday’s anniversary luncheon, Mark McKinnon, creator, executive producer, co-host of Showtime’s “The Circus,” shared exciting anecdotes from his political past and gave some predictions for the upcoming election. On Monday morning, Charles Dougherty, vice president and economist for Wells Fargo Securities, LLC shared insight into the financial and business climate of 2020 and beyond.

During the Monday night Infrastructure Policy Networking event, ACEC New York recognized the Legislators of the Year: Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, 123^rd District and NYS senator Timothy Kennedy, 63^rd District. Lieutenant governor Kathy Hochul was also present and addressed attendees, thanking them for their contributions to the state.

Once again, ACEC New York partnered with the Capital Region CANstruction to showcase a sculpture at the conference, which gave additional exposure to an organization supported by many ACEC New York member firms and added an element of fun to the conference. All told, over $3,000 in cans were donated to the Food Pantries for the Capital District. Monetary donations can still be made via the ACEC New York “donate” button on the Hunger Heroes page of the Food Pantry website. Additionally, Discover Albany partnered with ACEC New York, Mazzone Catering and the Albany Capital Center to donate any unused food that had not left the kitchen to the Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless. 

This event continued the success enjoyed by previous events, and ACEC New York looks forward to continuing this success for the 2021 Winter Conference.

ACEC New York is a proactive coalition representing nearly 300 member firms who engage in every discipline of engineering related to the built environment including civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, environmental, and geotechnical. Our shared goals are to further the business interests of our membership, enhance the quality and safety of the environment we live and work in, and help ensure the vitality of our communities. 

For more information on ACEC New York, visit www.acecny.org.