2018 Learn+Earn
An afternoon of professional development hosted by ESS for the civil engineering, construction, and development community. It’s an opportunity to connect with professionals from across the region, LEARN about what’s impacting our industry, and EARN some continuing education credits.
Thursday, January 25, 2018
425 Downtown, 425 W. Walnut St., Springfield, Missouri 65806
12:30 – 1:00 PM // Registration + Networking
1:00 – 3:45 PM // 3 Professional Development Sessions
3:45 – 5:00 // Happy Hour
1:00 – 1:45 PM // Emerging Machine Technology
FOLEY EQUIPMENT + CAT + SITECH team will give an industry update on the latest in grade control, payload systems, and semi automation. The team will also share their predictions on how remote controlled and fully autonomous machines will soon impact safety, efficiency, cost and production.
2:00 – 2:45 PM // Design-Build Panel
A-List Panel will discuss the impacts of Design-Build in relationship to the construction industry.
3:00 – 3:45 PM // 2018 Industry Forecast
Office Leader, Ron Mersch of Olsson Associates; Executive Director, Megan Short of the Springfield Contractors Association; Assistant Director of Public Works, Kirk Juranas of the City of Springfield; and Assistant District Engineer, Andrew Mueller of MoDOT will discuss state, local and private industry trends we will potentially experience in the upcoming 2018 calendar year. Danny Perches of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce will lead our panelist discussion.
Meet the Industry Forecast Panel:
DANNY PERCHES
COORDINATOR BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
THE SPRINGFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Danny is responsible for providing key support to the Chamber’s Existing Business Assistance Program, aiding companies in the region as they grow, and working to facilitate any expansion projects. As he focuses on business retention and expansion, Danny coordinates and executes business visits, ensures businesses are accessing the resources they need for proper growth, makes sure all follow-up items are completed and manages job creation as well as capital investment projects for existing companies. In 2017, Danny was recognized as one of Springfield’s 40 Under 40 honorees.
RON MERSCH
OFFICE LEAD
OLSSON ASSOCIATES
Ron Mersch is office leader of Olsson Associates’ Springfield and Joplin, Missouri offices. He brings nearly 12 years of city management and economic development expertise to the firm. Ron has worked on a variety of municipal projects and brings good working relationships with the Missouri Department of Transportation, the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Community Development Block Grant program, as well as other state agencies.
MEGAN SHORT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
SPRINGFIELD CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
Megan Short currently serves as the Executive Director for the Springfield Contractors Association. Most recently, she was the Communications Coordinator for the City of Springfield’s Department of Workforce Development and the Ozark Region Workforce Development Board.
KIRK JURANAS, P. E.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
Kirk started his engineering career at MoDOT in construction inspection, and 27 years later he retired as a District Engineer. Currently, Kirk serves as the City of Springfield’s Assistant Director of Public Works and is in his seventh year of service, supervising the engineering sections.
ANDREW MUELLER
ASSISTANT ENGINEER, P.E.
MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Andy began working for MoDOT in 1991 after graduating from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, with a degree in Civil Engineering. Andy began his career in the Sikeston district, where he worked in Construction for five years. He spent the next 10 years in various positions around the state before joining the Springfield office as an Assistant District Engineer in 2006. In June of 2011, Andy was appointed as Assistant District Engineer over Operations in the Southwest District and transitioned over to Program Delivery in spring 2015.