Building on our achievements over the past few years, which include a new certification process, significant upgrades and harmonization of our education program, chapter reorganization, membership growth, USAV advocacy events, and international collaborations, it is crucial to maintain our momentum. To that end, I am establishing a two-year vision for my presidency centered around two key elements: Stability and Growth.

Stability will guide our approach to Education and Certification:

1. Education
   • We have dedicated substantial effort to achieve full alignment between our education program and certification, focusing on Core Competencies and the VM Guide
   • We will support the completion and launch of the eLearning courses (VMF1A and VMF2A)
   • We will collaborate with partners to translate educational materials into various languages while safeguarding our intellectual property
2. Certification
   • I would like to acknowledge the certification committee, including Laurie Dennis, Ginger Adams, and Anna Bremmer, for their hard work and commitment to supporting SAVE certification
   • We will assist the certification committee in realizing the envisioned certification program
   • We will enhance the CVS certification application process to facilitate and expedite the review process
   • We will work with the committee and Board of Directors to ensure our certification processes uphold excellence, fairness, and transparency

Growth will be our guiding principle in the following areas:

1. Promoting Value Methodology
   • Focus on improving communication and expanding our digital presence
   • Develop and implement a comprehensive communication plan
   • Create strategies to engage with various universities and colleges
   • Actively participate in events organized by other organizations
   • Revive value methodology in manufacturing and industry
2. Advocacy
   • Support and streamline the USAV committee within SAVE, providing flexibility and resources
   • Replicate USAV advocacy efforts and events across our inter-society organizations
   • Showcase the results of applying value engineering across various sectors and celebrate our achievements
3. Membership
   • Support various chapters and plan for the election of officers
   • Promote leadership development opportunities and provide pathways for growth
   • Work with international partners to strengthen relationships by revitalizing inter-society agreements

I want to thank you for your support and for entrusting me with the leadership of this organization over the next few years. I hope to meet your expectations and uphold the trust you've placed in me. I would also like to express my gratitude to my family for their encouragement and for understanding the significance of my involvement with SAVE.

I look forward to seeing you soon so we can discuss how to promote value engineering at all levels. Please remember to participate in the upcoming 2025 Value Summit in India and next year in Milwaukee. I hope to see you all during the coming year!

• Infuse VE coursework at the undergraduate level along with engineering economics, construction and procurement technologies, and engineering/architectural/group decision-making courses.
• Establish internships addressing the Value Methodology (VM) at the college level.
• Develop early career models where young staff engage in VE while also delving deep into the organization’s technical and advisory services (move it away from only being a second career option).
• Develop an AI-infused series/short film on the hip and exciting world of VE.
• Getting VE adopted earlier which will expand the number of practitioners and acceptance of VE by the public and private sectors.

The above thinking dovetails into the request in this issue of Value World for developing live function analysis and facilitation courses to train new value facilitators while also sharpening the saw for existing ones.

I still want to see a commercial during the Super Bowl that uses the EF Hutton old theme of “When EF Hutton talks, people listen.” - now pivot to a scene at a bar and Steven Paget or April Hiller are talking about what they do and the bar goes quite and all the patrons lean in to hear the nuggets of wisdom that are shared from the last VE study they led. Then I wake up in New Delhi after my paper was accepted by SAVE and have the profound opportunity to present a riveting paper on the impact of VE on X product or Y construction project and the crowd gives a standing ovation and the whole experience is exciting and surreal.

I guess summertime is for dreaming, and these are fun and impactful dreams… Enjoy your summer!

This year’s Summit is being proudly hosted and organized by the Indian Value Engineering Society (INVEST), bringing together thought leaders, practitioners, and changemakers from around the world to explore how the Value Methodology (VM) can drive sustainable growth and impact across industries.

Register for the Summit before July 15 and take advantage of the discounted rate! Your registration fee includes access to keynote speeches, paper presentations, panel discussions, exhibits, award ceremony, and networking opportunities.

To explore more details, including registration timelines, paper/presentation submissions, award nominations, venue information, and more, view/download the conference brochure or visit savevaluesummit2025.com.

We look forward to seeing you to New Delhi for this landmark event!

The 2025 U.S. Advocacy for Value (USAV) Symposium is now history and it was an overwhelming success! On May 13, a number of Value Engineering (VE) professionals participated in Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill where we had the opportunity to meet with representatives in Congress and promote the benefits of VE. Many were not familiar with our industry and were eager to learn more. All our audiences were left with a white paper titled, “A Blueprint for Value: Implementing Value Engineering (VE) Programs in the Federal Government.”

The Symposium was then held May 14-15 in Arlington, VA, just outside of Washington, DC. The Symposium, themed “Maximizing Value Delivery: Efficiency and Effectiveness in the Business of Government,” was attended by nearly 80 people in person and more than 200 people virtually. Once again, we were able to bring the message of VE to a new audience, primarily U.S. federal employees. Though the event was geared toward U.S. governments, we were thrilled to have many international attendees which underscores the passion held within our industry worldwide.

Our next event is the 2025 Value Summit, themed “Value Methodology for Strengthening the Pillars of the Economy,” which will occur September 15-16 in New Delhi, India. It will be the first time the Value Summit is held in Asia and this year’s event is being hosted and organized by the Indian Value Engineering Society (INVEST). Registration and the Call for Presentations are now open! For details about the 2025 Value Summit, including timelines for registration, paper/presentation submissions, award nominations, the venue, and more, visit www.value-eng.org/2025ValueSummit. I hope to see you at this most historic Value Summit!

And speaking of the Value Summit, we have exciting news! SAVE has selected dates and a location for next year’s Value Summit. The 2026 Value Summit will occur June 8-10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Due to popular demand, the Summit has been extended to three days and the planning has already begun. More information will be provided over the coming months, but please save the date!

My responsibilities on the Board of Directors will be complete by the time you read this. Once again, I hope I have served you well and it was my pleasure!

CVS application requires 24 PDUs. Of the 24 PDUs required for facilitation training, a minimum of 16 hours must be live (in-person or via live virtual meeting/Webinar). A maximum of 8 hours may be lecture capture/pre-recorded.

CVS renewal requires a minimum of 56 PDUs (over 4 years), which must be accrued through continuing education, including 8 PDUs in live function analysis training and 8 PDUs in live facilitation training.

Resources and classes currently exist to meet these needs but may not be enough. Facilitation classes are available via other organizations but not function analysis. Here’s an opportunity to develop and teach function analysis.

CVSs are encouraged to submit potential courses for approval of PDUs to meet this critical need via the Event/Course PDU Approval Submission Form found under www.value-eng.org/learnVMresources.

We invite you to explore the new Certification section of the SAVE website. All certification-related documents and forms are available under Certification Resources at www.value-eng.org/CertificationProgramDocuments.

Every government agency, local and state, no matter the size, can benefit from developing and managing an effective value program. If the goal is to deliver value by improving performance, enhancing quality, and fostering the use of innovation to your communities either through the services or the projects you deliver, this white paper can be a valuable tool for your organization as well. Although local agencies are not, in many instances, dictated by the policies and laws of the federal government, you can still benefit from the message. The paper will allow you to gain more information and an understanding of the following:

• What is a value program…
• Value engineering / studies…
• What is value…
• What is function…
• What value engineering is not…
• Why use value engineering…

Additionally, there is other information about the process of developing a value program.  Some of this information is specifically related to the federal policies and laws, but much of it can also aid you in your endeavors within your organization.

Visit the USAV webpage for more information and to download the white paper. The USAV committee is available to aid your organization, so reach out and let us help you discover your path to excellence through embracing value.

A Dynamic Setting at Otto Fuchs

As a host, Otto Fuchs offered more than facilities - it provided a living case study of industrial excellence and value-driven operations. The company’s legacy in precision manufacturing and its strategic commitment to environmental responsibility made it the ideal partner for this year’s conference.

A major highlight of the event was a guided factory tour through the Otto Fuchs production halls. This behind-the-scenes access allowed participants to observe value thinking in practice - witnessing lean, sustainable manufacturing and highly specialized forming technologies that align closely with value management principles.

As a global industrial powerhouse, Otto Fuchs operates not only in Germany but also across international locations - including the United States, where the company runs a 65,000-ton forging press at its U.S. facility. This enormous capability reflects Otto Fuchs’ global footprint and its role as a technological leader in high-performance metal forming.

Strong Program: From Theory to Application

The 2025 agenda featured 14 peer-reviewed paper presentations, showcasing the full spectrum of VA/VE applications across industries. Several papers explored new frontiers in the field - including the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the VM. These pioneering contributions examined AI-supported functional analysis, idea generation, and decision support systems that could significantly enhance workshop productivity and analytical depth.

International collaboration was also a major theme. Two distinguished speakers from the Netherlands enriched the program with fresh, cross-border perspectives on value implementation, further underlining the importance of a European and global dialogue on value management.

The agenda was rounded out with two lively “Value Panels”, encouraging candid exchange and interactive discussion among practitioners. These sessions visibly energized the audience and fostered new connections among professionals from a range of disciplines.

Honoring Excellence in Sustainable Value

A key moment of the event was the presentation of the VM Award, given to two outstanding value practitioners. Their recognized projects demonstrated an exemplary combination of cost reduction and carbon footprint reduction, illustrating how the VM can deliver meaningful contributions to both business performance and environmental stewardship.

Executive Insight: Otto Fuchs Keynotes

Strategic perspective came from two keynote presentations by Otto Fuchs board members. One addressed the company’s operational structure and industry role; the second focused on the application of the VM within Otto Fuchs, showing how value management is embedded into the company's strategic decision-making processes. These talks provided an essential link between theory and enterprise-level application, emphasizing how value thinking drives innovation at scale.

Reflections from the Chair

As Conference Chair, I was truly honored to lead this year’s event. The engagement, expertise, and openness of the attendees made for a stimulating and rewarding experience. My closing summary was received with warmth and appreciation - reinforcing the sense that our work is not only technically relevant but increasingly vital for a sustainable, competitive future.

Looking Ahead

With the 2025 conference successfully concluded, we are pleased to announce that planning for the 2026 VDI VA/VE Conference is already in motion. We are currently in contact with several potential hosts known for their innovation leadership and commitment to value-based thinking. The VDI community is excited to continue growing this platform for exchange, learning, and progress.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 VDI VA/VE Conference reaffirmed the critical importance of VM as a driver of business and environmental excellence. Our sincere thanks go to Otto Fuchs KG for their generous hospitality and active participation, as well as to all contributors - authors, panelists, and attendees - for making this event a resounding success.

We look forward to welcoming you all to the 2026 conference and continuing our shared mission of delivering more value, more sustainably.

The Lawrence D. Miles Value Foundation (otherwise known as the Miles Value Foundation or MVF) announces its Annual Business Meeting to be held virtually on July 12, 2025 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Eastern Time. Anyone may attend this meeting; however, individuals who have donated at least $25 are considered members and may vote for the slate of Directors or other matters as may be appropriate. This year we have 5 incumbent Directors running for another 3-year term as follows:

• Drew Algase – currently serves as a Director and Chairman and has facilitated and shepherded the Foundation's meetings and missions for a number of years.
• Richard Harrington – currently serves as a Director and has provided input for fundraising and development of member services through the MVF Miles Value Institute.
• Bruce Lenzer – currently serves as a Director and President and has overseen the 2019 MVF virtual Miles Value Institute plan, development and launch of the Institutes teachable site.
• James McCuish – currently serves as a Director and has been invaluable and instrumental helping develop and launch the MVF- virtual Miles Value Institute.
• Istvan Tarjani – currently serves as a Director and our Foundation interface with the EU and Value for Europe.

Drew Algase, MVF Chairman, will chair the meeting. Bruce Lenzer, MVF President, will give an annual report to update the membership and share exciting news regarding the newly launched MVF-Miles Value Institute hosted on the Teachable platform.

Members will be sent a Zoom link; however, others who wish to attend will be able to obtain the Zoom link through the Foundation website at www.valuefoundation.org or by contacting Drew Algase (Algase@valuefoundation.org), Bruce Lenzer (Lenzer@valuefoundation.org), or Ina Merson (Merson@valuefoundation.org). The link will also be posted on other social media.

If you would like to join the Foundation, you can donate through our MVF website at www.valuedfoundation.org.

Lawrence D. Miles Value Foundation Inaugural Virtual Education Forum & Summer Board of Directors Meetings Announcement

On July 19, 2025, the Miles Value Foundation will host its first ever MVF Virtual Education Forum. The Forum is FREE and will be facilitated and hosted by the Foundation on Zoom from 8:00-9:00 am Eastern Time. Drew Algase will kick off the Forum followed by Bruce Lenzer and James McCuish to introduce the MVF-Miles Value Institute site and latest features.

After this presentation, the MVF VP Education, Steve Garrett, will briefly present the MVF Education plan after which a Forum of panelists will address aspects of Value Management in higher education. Panelists include the MVF Education Committee members and other university educators. Listening to the "Voice of the Customer" is an imperative objective of this Forum to determine how the Foundation can support higher education.

Should participation and interest warrant, as well as panel members availability and concurrence to continue, the Foundation is prepared for Forum discussion beyond the formal ending time of 9:00 am Eastern Time. A hard stop is anticipated at 10:00 am Eastern Time as members of the Foundation need to prepare for the Summer Board of Directors meeting to follow at 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Eastern Time. The Summer Board of Directors meeting will also be hosted on Zoom. Anyone may attend; however, as this is an official Board meeting, only Directors of the Foundation may vote on motions.

Information regarding the Forum should be addressed to Steve Garett (Garrett@valuefoundation.org).

Feel free to contact Drew Algase (Algase@valuefoundation.org), Bruce Lenzer (Lenzer@valuefoundation.org), or Ina Merson (Merson@valuefoundation.org) for information regarding the Summer Board Meeting or other general Foundation information.

Information regarding the Foundation can be found at the Foundation Website at www.valuefoundation.org.