Without a second thought, the public depends on the infrastructure they use every day. The function and safety of the highways, storm water systems, building structures, interior heating and air conditioning, electrical distribution systems, fire protection systems and many other components of daily life are taken for granted. The competency of the engineers that contributed their knowledge and talents is key.

The Georgia Society of Professional Engineers, a state affiliate of the National Society of Professional Engineers, will honor Georgia’s newest Registered Professional Engineers at a reception and banquet at 6:00 PM on October 7^th at the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center in Atlanta. Becoming a Registered Professional Engineer is a significant achievement with ongoing obligations. It is appropriate that the newest PEs be honored and recognized. “Professional Licensure is a major milestone in an engineer’s career,” said Kevin Berry, GSPE State President. “It marks the completion of years’ worth of hard work and studying to pass the PE Exam.  As the state society for professional engineers, GSPE is pleased to host this event to recognize the significant accomplishment of these newly licensed engineers.”

Those who in the past year have become Georgia PEs will be welcomed guests at no costs. They will receive a keepsake photograph of the evening event. The cost those wishing to join the celebration is $55. Honorees and attendees may register by September 25^th online at http://www.gspe.org/newpes.htm or by contacting Carolyn Jones, Executive Director, at [email protected], 404-840-2542. Firms and individuals may support the recognition of the accomplishments through sponsorships. Media representatives may arrange for a complimentary reservation. Contact Carolyn Jones for details.

The keynote address will be delivered by Julia M. Harrod, P.E., F.NSPE, Treasurer of the National Society of Professional Engineers and president of MWM DesignGroup, an interdisciplinary design firm. Ms. Harrod will elaborate on the role of the Professional Engineer, the obligations to society that this license imparts, and the efforts by current Professional Engineers across the nation to improve our communities not only through our engineering work, but also through volunteerism.

Individuals will have the opportunity to solemnly recognize their engineering obligations and responsibility to put the safety and welfare of the public before all else, to take the engineers pledge, and to be inducted into the Order of the Engineer. Members of the order wear a special ring on their working hand as a reminder of the obligations. Luther O. Cox, Jr., PE, and past President of GSPE, will lead an Order of The Engineer induction ceremony. The Order of the Engineer is a national a group of dedicated engineers who believe that they are responsible for making sure that the work they produce will not endanger the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and that this goal is more important than profit. They also consider the environment a part of their responsibility to protect and conserve.  They strive to avoid the tragedies of the Hyatt Regency Kansas City, the Challenger launch catastrophe, the Gulf oil spill and Imperial Sugar explosion and fire.