New York State Society of Professional Engineers (NYSSPE)

The New York State Society of Professional Engineers (NYSSPE) represents the interests of professional engineers, totaling more than 25,000 licensees in New York State, practicing in all disciplines.

NYSSPE 2025 Annual Conference Recap

By Leave a Comment

At the M Hotel Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
The conference included a variety of technical sessions covering trending topics such as Natural Gas Piping Design, Nuclear Energy, Climate Change, Restoring the Sullivans WWII Destroyer and a tour of the Highmark Stadium, Home of the Buffalo Bills, Niagara Power Vista Plant and a Erie Canal Historical Boat Tour.

NYSSPE had the pleasure of welcoming NSPE’s President Brian Malm PE, F.NSPE
and NSPE’s Vice President Breck Washam, PE, F.NSPE who attended the conference, meetings and activities.

On Friday evening we had our Annual Awards Dinner. The Awards dinner highlighted
NYSSPE Award winners that have impacted the industry through a multitude of disciplines recognizing the following:

Engineer of the Year: Muffett Mauche George, PE

Professional Engineer in Government: Catherine Sheridan, PE

Young Engineer of the Year: Kenneth Rea, PE

Project of the Year: Buffalo AKG Art Museum

Under Construction Project of the Year: Buffalo Bills New Highmark Stadium 

At the conclusion of the conference we held a sightseeing tour and Maid of the Mist boat ride.

Congratulations to our Award Winners!

By Leave a Comment


Completed Project of the Year
Buffalo AKG Art Museum
Click Here

Construction Project of the Year
Buffalo Bills New Highmark Stadium
Click Here

Engineer of the Year
Muffett Mauche George, PE

Professional Engineer in Government
Catherine Sheridan, PE 

Young Engineer of the Year
Kenneth Rea, PE

Our Awards Dinner will take place on Friday evening, June 6th at The M Hotel Buffalo, 2040 Walden Ave., Buffalo, NY 14225 in conjunction with our 2025 Annual Meeting.
Click Here for more information and registration.

The Untold History of STEM

By Leave a Comment

Honoring Beverly Schwartz, for creating the STEM Program
in 1987 and to thank the volunteer STEM board and STEM mentors who participated in the STEM program.

   
In 1990 the STEM program became the first not for profit 501 (C) (3) corporation named STEM in New York State and the U.S. At the reception Beverly Schwartz received from Congressman Paul Tonko a Congressional Commendation from the United States Congress for creating the first STEM program in New York State and the United States. Assemblyman Phil Steck of New State also presented Beverly Schwartz a New York State Citation for creating the STEM Program and creating the first not-for-profit corporation in New York State and the U.S. named STEM.

In October of 1987, while teaching at School 14 in Troy, NY.  Beverly P. Schwartz created a collaborative program with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to help bring the New York State Science syllabus to students in her third-grade class through demonstrations, hands-on lessons, individual projects, and field trips to RPI. Originally called Learn Tech, in 1990, Ms. Schwartz renamed the program Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

After the initial launch in the third-grade classroom, the program was disseminated to other classrooms of School 14. As a result, Ms. Schwartz earned the 1990 Christa McAuliffe Award for New York. The STEM program was filmed by NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, narrated by Ann Curry, and presented by Jane Pauley on November 27, 1990.

Click Here to read more

One of Beverly Schwartz’s first mentors: Donald Aulenbach, PE, Ph.D., F.NSPE
the photo of him with the 3rd graders. Donald Aulenbach was on the first board in 1987 helping create the first STEM program. He created hands-on lessons plans, trained with teachers, helped with Science Fairs and got involved with MATHCOUNTS.
       
Donald served for years as a regional and State coordinator of the New York State MATHCOUNTS, a yearly math competition for middle school students. He was a member of The New York State Society of Professional Engineers (NYSSPE) /National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) for 40 years!

A Celebration of STEM
May 9, 2025 – 3:00pm – 5:00pm – Click Here to RSVP
The Well, Legislative Office Building, 198 State St., Albany, NY 12210

Beverly Schwartz will be receiving a Congressional Commendation from the Congress of the United States presented by Congressman Paul Tonko of New York for the creation the Science, Technology , Engineering, & Mathematics program – STEM.  New York State Assemblyman Phillip Steck will also present a New York Assembly Citation to Beverly Schwartz for the creation and contributions to STEM and education as a whole and for having the first 501(C)(3) not-for-profit corporation in New York State named STEM.

This event will also celebrate all students, engineers, mentors, teachers, administrators, parents, and area businesses that participated in the first STEM program in the Capital District of New York.

All are welcome to attend!  Click Here to RSVP 

Legislative Update

By Leave a Comment

The Society is charged with furthering public health, safety, and welfare by assuring that the critical role played by the licensed professional engineering community is fully recognized by state policymakers. We remain vigilant in advocating for bills advancing the profession and intervening as necessary to defeat or amend bills adverse to the profession and public health and safety. Below are descriptions of bills supported.

Indemnification Reform (S.4591/A.7379) – Support
This legislation addresses the issue of design professional contractual indemnification respecting public sector projects (state and local) and is strongly supported by NYSSPE. The legislation addresses public sector contracts wherein municipalities, state agencies and other governmental entities have inordinate leverage over the terms of indemnification.  Read more: Click Here

Establishing a Statute of Repose for Design Liability Claims (S.2146/A.4907) – Support
In the United States every state, with the exception of New York and Vermont, has enacted legislation establishing a Statute of Repose applicable to design liability cases.  These forty- eight (48) state laws strike a fair balance between parties injured while using a building, roadway, bridge or other structure and parties who may be held responsible for faulty design, construction, use and maintenance.  It is most unfortunate that New York does not have a Statute of Repose.  Read more: Click Here

NYSSPE Annual Conference – 12 PDHs

By Leave a Comment

 
Location: The M Hotel Buffalo, 2040 Walden Ave., Buffalo, NY 14225
Overnight room: $169 – Room block until May 6th
Call: 716-681-2400 x2

Cost:  25% off if registered by May 7th
Seats are limited for off-site activities – Register Now

Thursday, June 5, 2025
8:30am – 12:30pm – Seminars
8:30am – 12:30pm – Exhibitors
8:30am – 10:00am – The Practicing Institute of Engineering (PIE) Meetings
9:00am – 2:30pm – NYS Board of Engineering, Land Surveying & Geology Meeting
10:30am – 12:00pm – NYSSPE Executive Committee Meeting
12:30pm – Lunch with a PDH seminar on Nuclear Energy
2:30pm – Buffalo Naval & Military Park – Seminar & Tour
4:30pm – Canalside History Boat Cruise – hear the history of the Erie Canal – PDH pending
6:30pm – Dinner at the Original Anchor Bar

Friday, June 6, 2025
8:00am – 4:30pm – Seminars
8:00am – 3:30pm – Exhibitors
8:00am – 10:30am Tour of the Highmark Stadium, Home of the Buffalo Bills
12:00pm – Lunch with a PDH seminar about the construction of the new Buffalo Bills Stadium
2:00pm – Niagara Power Vista Plant tour & seminar
6:00pm – 9:30pm – Awards & Installation reception & dinner

Saturday, June 7, 2025
8:30am – 11:00am – NYSSPE Board of Directors Meeting
11:15am – 12:15pm – NYSSPE Strategic Planning Meeting
1:30 pm – Sightseeing Guided Tour & Maid of the Mist Boat Ride

Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Advertising Opportunities: Click Here

For more information and registration:  Click Here

NYSSPE Memorandum in Opposition – S5392/A483

By Leave a Comment

NYSSPE Memorandum in Opposition to a bill which would authorize Not-for-Profits to provide professional engineering services in NY without requiring managers of the companies to be licensed as design professionals. 

Click Here to read Memorandum

This is inconsistent with the laws pertaining to for profit engineering firms.

S5392/A483 – Authorizing Not for Profits to Provide Professional Engineering Services – Click Here

NYSED PE/LS/PG Board Office is Soliciting Nominations for a PE and Public Board Member.

By Leave a Comment

Engineering candidates must be licensed and currently registered as a Professional Engineer in New York State.

The public member must be a consumer of either professional engineering, land surveying, or professional geology services and may not hold interest in the organization, financing, or delivery of such services. Engineers may consider their clients as potential public members.

Applications for Board membership may be submitted directly by interested individuals, or nominations may come from colleagues, consumer groups, professional associations, or others. For additional information, or to submit nominations, please see the description of State Boards:  Click Here or contact the State Board for Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology at [email protected] or (518) 474-3817 ext. 140.

Official call for nomination Click Here

NYC DOB – Final Rule: Amendment of Rules Relating to Retaining Walls

By Leave a Comment

The proposed rule amendments will clarify inspection procedures and requirements for documenting retaining wall conditions found during required inspections. They will also establish procedures for notifying the Department and the owner of unsafe conditions and for taking measures to safeguard the public.

Amendment of Rules Relating to Retaining Walls will be published in the City Record on 2/21/25.   The effective date is 3/23/25.  Click Here

 

NYC Department of Buildings Adopted Regulations We Oppose

By Leave a Comment

John Sucharski, PE, President of NYSSPE, has requested that the New York City Department of Buildings revisit its recently adopted regulation governing inspections of parapets throughout the City.

The newly adopted regulation will impact approximately a half-million buildings annually. In short, the current regulation allows unqualified parties, including a building superintendent or handyman the power to determine whether a structure is safe.

Letter Sent to Request Corrective Action!  Click Here

NCEES Seeks Licensed Structural Engineers’ Professional Expertise and Advice

By Leave a Comment

NCEES is currently seeking licensed structural engineers to participate in a professional activities and knowledge study, or PAKS, for the PE Structural exam. The results of this online survey will be used to update specifications for the exam, which is used throughout the United States for licensing purposes.

Click Here for news release and link to survey.

Share This