SAVANNAH POST

In this issue . . .

It’s that time of year again where we celebrate the Christmas

spirit by giving back to the community and wrapping up

another successful year! This year’s event will be held

on Monday, December 3 at the Jepson Center from

5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Do not forget to bring TWO Christmas

presents this year. One gift needs to be for a boy or

girl at $25 or less, unwrapped, and it will go toward

our charity Toys for Tots which we support each

year. The second present will be part of a gift

exchange at the Christmas party itself.

We look forward to seeing everyone there

to celebrate the Christmas season!

2012 SAME Savannah Post Christmas Party is Upon Us!

ISSUE 15December 2012

Letter from Col. Jeffery Hall

November MeetingHighlights

Save the date

Sustaining Member Listings

Sustaining MemberHighlight

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2012 SAMESavannah Post

Officers & Committee ChairsCol Jeffrey Hall

President

Joel Burke1st Vice President

Gwen Parker2nd Vice President

Scott VeenstraSecretary

Gavin CareyTreasurer

Bob PickardAssistant Treasurer

Sally RikerChairman of the Board of

Directors and past president

Justin ArnsdorffProgram Chair

Maureen HokeLeadership & Mentoring

Streamer

Anna LucasEducation & Training

Streamer

Adam RagsdaleRelationships & Recognition

Streamer

Kelly HayesEmergency Preparedness & Homeland Security Streamer

Frank RandonScholarships & Camps

Hugh GigglemanSustaining Members

Hollie DupesNew Members

Heather WishartFellow

Chryse JohnsonPost Web Page

Larry ChristopherNewsletter

Greetings SAME Teammates:

Just over a month ago I was facing a crowd of frustrated

lake stakeholders who sought an impossible solution. Here

was the unsavory truth: The Savannah River Basin has been

experiencing a sustained period of drought and a less-than-

hopeful weather forecast. In fact, consistent rain deficits

over the last 15 years suggest a new normal is being established

in our basin. Rain just isn’t falling as it once did and there is

no easy or low cost engineering solution that can increase

inflows to lakes. The challenge will be learning to adapt to

the new weather patterns and finding other holistic solutions to water quality and water

quantity needs throughout the Savannah River Basin.

A similar challenge is emerging in the Department of Defense (DoD), if it is not already here.

We all are fully aware that this challenge involves fewer dollars and a less-than-hopeful budget

forecast. Just like in the Savannah River Basin, we are faced with adjusting to a new normal

in light of our evolving economic reality, a reality defined by fiscal limitations. Therefore, the

theme for the SAME Savannah Post in 2013 is “Operating in the New Normal.”

For nearly 11 years we have operated in a period of Military Transformation which

required extensive construction and updates to military infrastructure. Global events such

as 9/11 changed the Nation’s security needs and the Base Realignment and Closure initiatives

were also unfolding in this period. As a result, the Army underwent a massive reorganization

focused on modular units (such as brigade combat teams) to fight different kinds of battles

in new conditions and environments. The Military Transformation created a demand for

engineering solutions and required a renaissance in construction and infrastructure design.

After a decade of transformation, we know the pendulum is swinging in the opposite direction.

Currently DoD is experiencing $470 billion-plus in budget cuts through 2020. A portion of

these cuts has been taken in the services Military Construction (MILCON) and Sustainment,

Restoration and Modernization (SRM) programs which were reflected in briefings at our

Annual Programs Conference. With sequestration and the “fiscal cliff’ looming, the services

could experience even greater budget cuts. Current sequestration numbers reflect DoD

and non-DOD discretionary spending programs could be cut by $1.2 trillion between 2013 and

2021— roughly $140 billion a year. It remains unclear how sequestration will affect USACE’s

Civil Works program. Even with the budget cuts the Corps of Engineers will continue to be

required to help the Army meet Small Business goals.

We can expect our business to shift from many high-dollar projects to fewer and smaller

projects making the most out of dollars spent. What can the SAME Savannah Post Sustaining

Members do to be successful in this new operating environment? (continued on page 5)

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Gwen Parker, AECOM Director of Federal Small Business Programs, was recognized with the Regional

Vice President’s (RVP) medal at the November meeting. Col. Jeffrey

Hall (left) and Bill Bersson (right,) SAME South Atlantic Regional

Vice President, presented Gwen with this prestigious honor.

Congratulations to Gwen on this well-deserved award!

Col. Jeffrey Hall addresses the crowd as the featured speaker at the November

SAME Savannah Post meeting.

Don’t Forget to Save the Date!The 2013 SAME Savannah Post 2013 E-Week Technical Training Conference is right

around the corner! This year’s conference will be on February 19, 2013 at the Armstrong

Center in Savannah, Georgia. The theme this year is “When Less Become More…

Achieving Success in Challenging Times.”

In recognition of National Engineer’s Week (E-Week), Savannah local professional

engineering organizations are working together to present our Savannah Post members

and local engineering community a one day workshop that provides technical training

and governmental insight that is valuable to all engineering disciplines.

First, we are developing a Government Track with briefings that span the federal,

military, state and local sectors to provide our Post with the very latest economic trends and developments.

We need your help with the Engineering and Environmental Tracks! This workshop is about successes, new opportunities and tech-

nologies. We are asking our Post membership to provide presentations! Please email joel.burke@urs.com if you are interested in presenting.

NOVEMBER MEETING HIGHLIGHTSJeff Hallibruton with Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company attends the monthly meeting.

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JANUARY AECOMAlliant CorporationAMECAmerican StructurepointApplied Engineering Solutions, Inc.ARCADIS AtkinsBarge Waggoner Sumner and Cannon Inc.Bechtel-S CorporationBhate Environmental Assoc. Inc.Brasfield & Gorrie General ContractorsBristol Alliance of Companies

FEBRUARYBrown & Caldwell BRPH Companies Inc.Building & Earth Sciences Inc.Burns & McDonnellCAPECardno TBECarolinas Concrete Masonry AssociationCarothers Construction, Inc.Castle Engineering, LLCCDM SmithCEMS Engineering Inc.CH2MHILLClark Nexsen

MARCHCogdell & Mendrala Architects, P.C.Columbia Engineering & Services, Inc.Cromwell Architects EngineersCrowder Construction CompanyCTI and Associates, Inc.Davis & Floyd, Inc.DewberryDulohery, Weeks & Gagliano Inc.EA Engineering, Science & Technology, Inc.Eaton corporationECCEdifice

APRILElkins Constructors, Inc.Environmental Services, Inc.GEL Geophysics, LLCGolder Associates, Inc.Goodwyn Mills & Cawood, Inc.

Government Services Integrated Process Team LLCGreenhorne & O’MaraGuidon Design, Inc.Harvard Jolly ArchitectureHatch Mott MacDonaldHDRHolocene, LLC

MAYJETC Conference

JUNEAnnual Program Review

JULY Howard W. Pence, Inc.Hussey, Gay Bell & DeYoungIKHANA, LLC.J2 Engineering, Inc.JacobsJE Dunn ConstructionKennedy Engineering & Associates Group, LLC. KBE Building Corporation KBR Government & InfrastructureKnight Architects, Inc.LBYD, Inc.Leetex Construction, LLC.Leo A DalyLG2 Environmental Solutions, Inc.

AUGUSTLindbergh & Associates, LLCLowe EngineersLS3P Associates Ltd.Mason & HangerMcDonough Bolyard Peck, Inc.Merrick & CompanyMicah Group Environmental Contractors, Inc.Michael Baker CorporationMoffatt & NicholMRI Architectural Group, Inc.MWH

SEPTEMBERNorth Wind Inc.O’Brien & Gere ParsonsParagon Environmental Construction, Inc. ParsonsParsons Brinckerhoff

Pinnicle Construction & Development Group, Inc.Pond & CompanyPort City Design Group, LLCProject Management ServicesRamey Kemp & AssociatesR.C. Construction Co., Inc.R2TReeves Construction Company

OCTOBERReynolds, Smith & Hills, Inc.Rosser InternationalQ Solutions, Inc.S&ME, Inc.Science Applications International Corp.Schenkel Shultz Sherlock, Smith & AdamsSiemens Industries IncSmall Business Group, Inc. (DBA SBG-EEG)Southern Energy ManagementSpatial Engineering Inc.SpecPro Environmental Services LLCStanley Consultants Inc.Stantec Inc.

NOVEMBERSTOA ArchitectsSundt Construction, Inc.Teng & Associates, Inc.TerranearPMC, LLCTetra Tech, Inc.The Louis Berger Group Inc.The Sack Co. & SCM Inc.The Shaw Group Inc.Thompson Engineering Inc.

DECEMBERTidewater Environmental Services, Inc.Toland & Mizell Architects, Inc.Trans SystemsUnited Consulting Group, Ltd.URS CorporationVolkert, Inc.WalbridgeWeston Solutions, Inc.W.G. Yates & Sons Construction CompanyWK Dickson & Co., Inc.Wolverton & Associates, Inc.Woolpert, Inc.

SUSTAINING MEMBER BRIEFINGS 2012For 2012, the Savannah Post SAME is offering Sustaining Member firms the opportunity to submit an article on their company for the monthly newsletter, and to have a two-minute briefing to discuss their firm at the monthly SAME meeting. Each firm will be asked to bring a gift to raffle. A list of all sustaining members is below with each member’s assigned month. We ask that all articles be forwarded to Larry Christopher at lchristopher@brasfieldgorrie.com. Please contact Hugh Giggleman at hgiggleman@cemsengineering.com for more information.

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SAVANNAH POST

DECEMBER SUSTAINING MEMBER HIGHLIGHT

None of what I am going to say is groundbreaking or earth-

shattering, but rather they are the basics. As always if you get

Government, contracts perform exceptionally well and deliver

the project safely, on time, and within budget. Seek and leverage

cost effective, sustainable, and ingenious solutions. Establish

Mentor-Protege relationships with Small Business firms in order

to help fulfill the Army’s requirements. Pursue Joint Ventures to

leverage unique capabilities and talents as well as share the

limited work. Develop and submit competitive proposals.

This new normal requires a cultural shift from accomplishing

high volumes of work to putting the best value into the work we do.

Just like our lake stakeholders who cannot control the

weather, we have little immediate influence on the Nation’s

larger economic reality. We are dealing with smaller pieces

of pie, but this creates opportunities. Therefore we must

adjust to this new normal and focus on doing less, better.

I look forward to working with and serving with you in 2013!

Sincerely,

Col. Jeffrey Hall, Post President

SAME Savannah Post

If you have an article or announcement you want to include in future issues of the newsletter,

please submit them by the end of the previous month to Larry Christopher with Brasfield & Gorrie

General Contractors at lchristopher@brasfieldgorrie.com

WE WANT YOUR INPUThttp://www.same.org/http://samesavannahpost.org/http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/

LINKS TO KNOW

Established in

1911, Woolpert

is a design,

geospatial, and

infrastructure

management

firm that integrates services and applies technologies to benefit

its federal, local and state, and private-sector clients. With more

than 600 professional and technical personnel in more than

20 offices nationwide, we are widely recognized as one of the

nation’s top national design firms and are consistently ranked

among the top 100 design firms by Engineering News-Record.

Woolpert’s staff represents membership at 41 posts, with

representatives assigned to each of the posts. As such, the

firm’s involvement and support spans many years on a variety

of levels. Woolpert has encouraged and supported its staff

in taking on leadership positions within SAME committees,

including the role of Post President as well as several others

such as Programs Chair, members of the Board of Directors and

Director. Many of Woolpert’s staff have acted on committees to

support SAME efforts, including scholarship committees, confer-

ence committees and readiness committees. Recently, Woolpert

was recognized by SAME as a sustaining member firm.

Currently, Woolpert is working with the Savannah District

on a number of projects, including the Ft. Benning Reception

Center Barracks, multiple Starship Barracks renovations and

the Fiske Range as well as multiple Ft. Jackson Starship

Barracks renovations.

(Letter from Col. Jeffrey Hall continued from page 2)