Vol. 28 No. 9
SEPTEMBER 2003

Executive Vice President's 
Message
Chapter News

CHAPTER NEWS


SECAUCUS RAIL STATION TOUR
SAN DIEGO CHAPTER
14th CONGRESSIONAL EDUCATION RECEPTION


SAVE International® Awards Top VE Programs; Funds Pentagon 9/11 Memorial

In a September 10th Capitol Hill reception hosted by Representative David Dreier and Senator Carl Levin, the National Capital Chapter of SAVE International® recognized the country’s premier value engineering programs in government and industry. The event was the 14th Congressional Education Reception for Value Engineering. It was held this year in support of P.L. 104-106, which requires each executive agency to establish and maintain cost-effective value engineering procedures and processes.

“Congressman David Dreier and Senator Carl Levin are tonight’s sponsors,” said SAVE International® President John Robinson in opening remarks. “They have demonstrated their support for value engineering once again. Both gentlemen have graciously sponsored this reception for SAVE International® many times over the years, and we sincerely appreciate their consistent support for this methodology.”

More than 200 people attended the evening event, which featured the Golden Shears Awards presentations, exhibits showcasing the successes of value engineering in manufacturing, production, and construction, and a gift to the Pentagon’s Memorial Fund.

Golden Shears Awards were presented for outstanding value engineering programs by Representatives Thomas Petri of Wisconsin, David Hobson of Ohio, and James Moran and Edward Schrock of Virginia.

Golden Shears were awarded to:



Chairman Petri, Administrator Peters, and Mr. Donald Jackson,

FHWA Value Engineering Officer.




General Williams, Congressman Moran, and Katherine Bethany, Value Engineering Manager.




Chairman Hobson and General Johnson.




Congressman Schrock, Mr. Nerger, and Chairman Hobson.




Congressman Moran, General Saunders, and Congressmen Hobson and Schrock.




Mr. Tushar Patel, Raytheon, Mr. Lindsey Gardner, Chairman of the Reception, Mr. Giuseppe Sgroi, CECOM, and Congressman Moran.





Mr. Gardner and Raytheon’s Dennis Carroll, Jim Vickers and Lisa Morris




Lindsey Gardner, Howard Greenfield, and Mary Ann Lewis.




Lindsey Gardner, John Robinson, and Bob Rude.





Lindsey Gardner and Douglas Mitten.





Congressman Schrock and Lindsey Gardner.

Co-chair Janice Daucher, who has coordinated several of the National events, and President John Robinson also recognized the outstanding efforts of Capital Chapter’s Congressional Education Receptions over the years.



President John Robinson and Co-Chair Janice Daucher

Following the Golden Shears Awards presentation, reception chairman Lindsay Gardner made a special presentation to Dr. Jay Mandelbaum of the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. “Tomorrow, we will be remembering the terrible events of September 11, 2001,” said Mr. Gardner. “Dr. Mandelbaum is a supporter and friend of value engineering within the Pentagon. We have asked him to accept a donation from SAVE’s National Capital Chapter, which he will deliver for us to the Pentagon Memorial Fund tomorrow.”


Dr. Mandelbaum and Mr. Gardner.

Earlier in the day, John Robinson and Mary Ann Lewis, reception co-chair, met with Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. They presented him with the Golden Shears Award for his long-term support of value engineering. Representative David Dreier was also awarded the Golden Shears for his continued support of value engineering principles.


Chairman Hobson, SAVE President John Robinson, and Reception Co-chair Mary Ann Lewis.

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Photo Credit: c2003 kaveh sardari/ www.sardari.com

(click here for additional pictures from the reception)

14th CONGRESSIONAL EDUCATION RECEPTION
Mary Ann Lewis, FSAVE
(301) 984-9590
lewisma@lza.com

SAVE International's National Capital Chapter (NCC) proudly sponsors its 14th Congressional Education Reception on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 in the Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill. This opportunity has been offered over the past 20 years to educate our Members of Congress and their staff in the benefits, applications, and success stories of Value Engineering.

We have typically had more than 350 participants at these receptions. Senators and Representatives and their staff visit the exhibit booths and offer their words of encouragement in the formal part of the evening. Congressman David Dreier (R-CA, 26th) sponsors this year's event. He and his co-sponsors will present the Golden Shears Awards to this year's recipients.

Many activities prompt the Chapter's enthusiasm for the Reception this year.

  • The NCC is working with OMB to update OMB Circular A-131, Value Engineering.
  • GAO recently issued a draft report on its review of DoD's VE program. This is SAVE's opportunity to communicate with the MOC and committee staffers who are interested in VE to discuss the report and the next action items.
  • DoD has rejuvenated its Value Engineering Management Advisory Group under the leadership of Dr. Jay Mandelbaum, Defense Systems, Systems Engineering in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. This group includes the programs at the Navy, Army, Corps, and Air Force.
  • VE is being considered for inclusion in the Services Acquisition Reform Act sponsored by Chairman Tom Davis of Northern Virginia.
  • DoD, OMB, and Congress are all considering legislation and regulations for such things as efficiency/shared savings and share-in-savings programs, which would benefit from the value methodology and which could ultimately lead to significant savings for the government and the government contractor; and ultimately to new opportunities for the value consultant.
  • As part of DoD's legislative initiative, language has been proposed to Congress to change the Defense Modernization Account to provide a direct authorization of funds into this account specifically for projects to improve the life cycle cost of new or existing systems. This would provide a source of start-up funds for ownership cost reduction initiatives. It is specifically geared towards VECPs.

In other words, much is happening. With a limited number of exhibit booth spaces, we encourage you to register now. Join the Army, the State Department, the Defense Logistics Agency, the Corps of Engineers, Raytheon Missile Systems, Lewis & Zimmerman Associates, PMSI, and only nine others for this exciting night. The Reception will be by invitation.

Should you wish to volunteer to assist in the preparations, please feel free to call Mary Ann Lewis at 301/984-9590 or email lewisma@lza.com.