SPED Annual General Meeting Update

Thomas J. Van Laan, P.E., Senior Vice President, Intergraph, CADWorx & Analysis Solutions has agreed to speak at SPED's 2010 Annual General Business Meeting and Corporate Member Showcase November 4th at the Houston Marriott Energy Corridor. Mr. Van Laan has been extensively involved in the development of products such as CAESAR II, the world's leading pipe stress program, and CADWorx, a suite of AutoCAD-based plant and piping design software. With 28 years of engineering and software experience, Mr. Van Laan is considered to be an expert in the fields of pipe stress analysis and design, having taught over 75 training courses worldwide and having co-authored the engineering text Piping and Pipe Support Systems: Design and Engineering. Mr. Van Laan holds degrees in civil engineering, computer science and business administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York Institute of Technology and Pace University, and is a licensed Professional Engineer in three states. We look forward to his presentation at SPED's Annual Meeting.

In its 30th year anniversary, SPED is expecting to double the participation in the Corporate Member Showcase and attendance at the Annual General Business Meeting held at the Houston Marriott Energy Corridor hotel on the 10th floor, overlooking Houston's west side. Earlier that day from 8 A.M. until 5 P.M., a PPD Review for Level III, and Testing for Levels I and III will be conducted on the 10th floor by Dr. William G. Beazley. Following the Review and Test, a reception will be held beginning at 6 P.M. in appreciation for Level IV Certified Pipers who have participated in the PPD Advisory Committee. Southwest Design Services, Inc. will host the reception in the Lobby Level of the Houston Marriott Energy Corridor. The Corporate Member Showcase - reception and exhibits will begin at 6:30 P.M. The Annual General Business Meeting will follow at 7:30.

Kathey Ferland, Project Manager, Texas Industries of the Future, UT - Austin will present. Since 2008 Texas Industries of the Future has worked with US DOE and the US Council on Energy-Efficient Manufacturing to test the components of a national certification program for plant energy efficiency at four Texas plants.  The program is based on implementation of an international standard for energy management (ISO 50001) and demonstrated improvement in energy intensity over a 3 to 10 year period.  This program will be valuable to any corporation seeking to sustain their energy savings, control energy cost or manage energy-related emissions.  The presentation will cover the results of the pilot project, the structure of the program, and the status of ISO 50001. A third speaker from AVEVA will be announced at a later date.

Blocks of tickets are available to Corporate Members at the special rate of $15 each with a 10 ticket minimum. Individual Professional Member tickets are $25, Students are $10, and guests or non-members are $35. Participation in the Corporate Member Showcase (CMS) requires Corporate Membership. Tickets will on sale in September.

Houston Marriott Energy Corridor sleeping rooms are available at the CMS/Annual Meeting rate. Follow this link to register; the discount code is already entered for you.

To participate in the Corporate Member Showcase or the Review and Test, email Rachel Nichols at spedmgr1@ spedweb.com or call 832.286.7678. if you are PPD Level IV Certified and wish to participate in the PPD Advisory Committee, email Bill Beazley at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . NOTE: Participation principaly involved blogs and emails. We are also seeking Pipers to apply for PPD Level III Certification Test Waiver to obtain PPD Level IV certification. Read more.

"How Suite It is" Plant Event

Join TotalCAD, Inc.'s Plant Expert, Atilio Zelaya, as he shows you how the NEW Autodesk Plant Design Suite 2011 covers increased functionality, interoperability and provides users with a superior user experience through a simpler, more cost-effective purchasing and deployment process. Discover how these solutions, combined into one package, can help you and your organization coordinate with all other designers and disciplines in a single format.

Other features:

The 2010 CADWorx University event presents a unique opportunity for plant design and engineering professionals. Join us at the 2010 CADWorx University, a plant design and engineering event that will give you knowledge to increase both your value and the company you represent. Now in its third year, it will be held on September 27-29, in Houston Texas. Register for CADWorx U by July 31st and SAVE $200.

Whether you need inspiration, networking, certification or Industry information, the SPED Corporate Member Showcase and Annual General Business Meeting provides opportunities to help build a successful career. This year’s event will include a PPD Level III Certification Review, PPD Level I and III Certification Test, and a reception for PPD Level IV certified pipers. Make plans to join us for this year’s events, Thursday, November 4, 2010 at the Houston Marriott Energy Corridor. Our keynote speaker is Kathy Ferland, Project Manager, Texas Industries of the Future at the University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Ferland will focus on "Achieving Superior Energy Performance via a Management System for Energy".

Admission will be $25 for members, $35 for non-members, and $10 for students. information about the review and test to follow.