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2023 Zone Interim Meeting

Join NCEES leadership from all four zones in Houston for a combined zone interim meeting.

Registration is now open.

General Info  |  Files & Links  |  Registration  |  Hotel & Travel  | About the Meeting  |  Elections

2023 Zone Interim Meeting

Join NCEES leadership from all four zones in Houston for a combined zone interim meeting. Registration is now open.

April 27–29, 2023
Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria
2222 West Loop
Houston, TX 77027

All NCEES-funded attendees must use an individualized registration link provided in an invitation that will come by email. See below for more details.

Meeting Files & Links

Registration

Fees
  • All delegates and guests: March 13 is the registration deadline. The deadline for member boards to name funded delegates was January 18. Substitutions can be made until the registration deadline.
  • Delegate registration fee: $375 for delegates ($425 after March 13) which includes Thursday’s welcome dinner; Friday’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner; and Saturday’s breakfast and awards luncheon.
  • Guest registration fee: $325 without breakfasts ($375 after March 13) or $400 with breakfasts ($450 after March 13). Guest registration includes evening social events on Thursday and Friday, a choice of the guest activity or luncheon on Friday, and awards luncheon on Saturday. The package with breakfasts includes breakfast on Friday and Saturday.
  • Optional Saturday activity: Visit to Space Center Houston ($75). This activity can be added to a delegate or guest registration. The capacity is 110 participants.
Registration process

The method used to register depends on whether you are funded by NCEES to attend the meeting. All NCEES-funded attendees will receive a special invitation via email containing detailed funding information and an individualized link to register.

Online registration should only be used by delegates who are not funded by NCEES. If your board has not yet named its funded delegates, you may wish to wait to register. Check the status of whether your board has already named its funded delegates.

There is no virtual option for this meeting.

Funded delegates should allow two business days after your board has submitted the notification form to receive your invitation. If you have not received an invitation and feel you should have, email [email protected].

Paying Delegate Registration

Hotel Accommodations

The meeting will be held at the Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria. NCEES has negotiated room rates of $164 for standard rooms (king, two queens, or two doubles). The rate includes complimentary Internet access in the guest rooms. The hotel is also providing a limited number of discounted rooms to state government employees. See below for more details.

Current taxes and fees include 17 percent sales tax.

The hotel does not provide an airport shuttle. See the Travel and Local Information section of this page for important ground transportation information. Arrangements should be considered in advance of arrival.

Check-in is after 3:00 p.m.; checkout is at noon.

Register online by March 13.

NCEES will make hotel reservations for NCEES-funded attendees (such as funded delegates, past presidents, and zone officers) based on information provided during registration. A hotel confirmation will be emailed approximately two weeks before the meeting.

Detailed information about hotel funding will be provided in the special invitation sent to each funded individual. Due to limited availability, king beds cannot be guaranteed and will be assigned by registration date. Additional nights may be added at the group rate based on availability of the room type requested.

A block of rooms is available to registered paying delegates at the negotiated rate of $164 for standard rooms. In addition, the hotel has made a small block of rooms available to state government employees at the per diem rate of $122 per night. Staff who reserve at this rate must be prepared to show a valid state government I.D. at check-in.

Delegates not funded by NCEES can make hotel reservations after registering for the meeting. The links will be provided in the registration confirmation email. NCEES may cancel reservations made within the block if there is not a matching registration for the meeting.

Register and reserve accommodations as early as possible before the NCEES room block is exhausted. The NCEES room blocks will close shortly after March 24.

Self-parking is discounted to $12 per night (currently $30) for meeting attendees who stay in the NCEES room block. Valet parking is currently $40 per night.

Travel

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) 28 miles (3­0–45 minutes) from hotel

Airport security wait times can be long at IAH. It is currently recommended that you arrive at the airport three hours before your flight.

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU): 18 miles (30–45 minutes) from hotel

If you are funded by NCEES to attend the meeting, you must book air travel through Travel Inc. The air request will be initiated during the registration process and must be confirmed by the traveler. More information will be provided in the special invitation sent to each funded individual. Airfare will be direct billed to NCEES.

The hotel is approximately 30 minutes from either Houston airport, but it can take longer depending on traffic. Airport security wait times are generally much longer at IAH.

Ride-hailing services, such as Uber and Lyft, can be used to or from either airport. Uber fares are typically $45 from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) or $35 from William P. Hobby Airport (HOU).

Taxis are available at both airports. It is metered and typically costs $65 from IAH or $60 from HOU. Passengers aged 60 and up are eligible for a 10% discount. You must specifically request the discount and be prepared to show proof of age.

Other

NCEES will fund the lodging and travel expenses and meeting registration fees for the designated member board administrator from each member board. When an MBA represents more than one board, the funding will be for the designated MBA only and not for the assistant MBA or for member board staff. In addition, NCEES will fund the lodging and travel expenses and meeting registration fees for three voting delegates from each eligible member board.

NCEES will be direct-billed for airfare and hotel room and tax charges for up to three nights (April 26–28 or April 27–29). For delegates to qualify for this funding, NCEES must be notified of their identity by January 18. Substitutions can be made until the registration deadline. Funded attendees must register for the meeting and make travel arrangements with Travel Inc. by March 13. If you have questions about funding to attend the meeting, email [email protected].

The current travel policy can be found on this PDF.

The current harassment and discrimination policy can be found on this PDF.

All registrations for NCEES zone meetings should be submitted with payment by the registration deadline. Only written refund requests as outlined below will be considered.

Written requests should be sent to the NCEES Meetings Department and must include

  • Name of registrant for whom refund is requested
  • Name of member board or other organization represented
  • Name and address of party to whom the refund should be issued (if payment was originally made by check)

Complete requests for refund received at least 31 days prior to the meeting will be granted, less a $35 administrative fee per registration.

Complete requests for refund received 15 to 30 days prior to the meeting will be granted, less a $100 administrative fee per registration.

Refund requests received fewer than 15 days prior to the first day of the meeting will not be granted.

Note: Registration fees may be transferred to the credit of a substitute delegate upon request at no additional charge.

Refund exceptions for medical reason or family emergency

Delegate: A delegate who cancels attendance for a documented medical reason or family emergency will be granted a full refund.

Guest: NCEES is unable to refund any costs already incurred for a guest at the time of cancellation. Individual guest costs (i.e., guest tour, hotel meals, catering, or optional events) are incurred once a guarantee is submitted as required by each vendor. A refund will be granted, less any of these already incurred costs at the time of cancellation. No refund is typically possible within seven days of the event.

About the Meeting

Meeting Summary

The NCEES zone interim meetings are held each spring. This year, the four zones will meet together in Houston. The primary purpose of the meeting is for representatives from the member licensing boards to hear and discuss reports from the NCEES board of directors, CEO, standing committees, and task forces. The work of the committees and task forces results in motions that will be presented for Council vote at the annual meeting in August. Zone meeting delegates can ask questions and discuss possible annual meeting motions, and they are encouraged to take information back to their boards for further discussion. Additionally, each zone will hold the following elections:

  • Central Zone—zone secretary-treasurer
  • Northeast Zone—zone vice president and assistant vice president
  • Southern Zone—zone vice president and assistant vice president and NCEES president-elect nominee (election to be held at the annual meeting in August)
  • Western Zone—zone secretary-treasurer
Attire

Business casual attire is appropriate for all meetings (for example, oxford shirts, polo shirts, slacks).

For evening events on Thursday and Friday, casual attire (including shorts or jeans) is appropriate. Minute Maid Park has a retractable roof so the game will take place rain or shine. Wear dark blue, orange, and white to support the home team on Friday night.

For the guest activity and optional Saturday tour, wear comfortable, casual attire with comfortable walking shoes.

Event Details
  • Welcome event: A welcome dinner will be held at the hotel on Thursday evening. A buffet dinner and drinks will be served. First-time attendees are invited to join zone leadership for a brief reception before dinner.
  • Guest activity (lunch on your own): Guests will travel to Galveston and enjoy a day in The Strand, which is the heart of the island and a National Historic Landmark. Admission to the Galveston Historical Foundation’s new Ship to Shore exhibit is included. The interactive experience allows visitors to follow in the footsteps of early immigrants arriving to the island in the late 19th and early 20th century and learn about life in one of the busiest ports in the United States. There will also be time to explore the shops and art galleries in the Historic Strand District and enjoy lunch on your own.
  • Friday lunch: Delegates will break and enjoy lunch with a special guest speaker. Guests may choose to stay and have lunch with the delegates instead of participating in the guest activity.
  • Friday night event: Delegates and guests will enjoy traditional baseball fare at a private event at historic Union Station before watching the Astros take on the Philadelphia Phillies at Minute Maid Park. A fireworks show will close out the night. Transportation will be provided for everyone. Times will be finalized once the game time is set. More information will be provided on-site.
  • Awards luncheons: Each zone will recognize its Distinguished Service Award recipient at a luncheon on Saturday.
  • Space Center Houston Tour (optional, $75): What visit to Houston would be complete without a visit to Space Center Houston? Participants will have approximately three hours to explore Houston’s top attraction with time included for the 90-minute behind-the scenes tram tour. This optional activity can be added to a delegate or guest registration. The capacity is 110 participants.

Elections

The Central Zone held an election for zone secretary-treasurer. The call for nominations email, which included information about the process and qualifications, was sent by the Central Zone vice president.

Secretary-treasurer winner

  • Jason Suelter, P.E., S.E.

The Northeast Zone held elections for zone vice president and zone assistant vice president. The call for nominations email, which included information about the process and qualifications, was sent by the Northeast Zone vice president.

Vice president winner

  • Samuel Wilson, P.E.

Assistant vice president winner

  • Michael Brinkash, P.L.S.

The Southern Zone held elections for the nominee for NCEES president-elect, zone vice president, and zone assistant vice president. The call for nominations email, which included information about the process and qualifications, was sent by the Southern Zone vice president.

NCEES president-elect winner

  • Andrew Zoutewelle, P.L.S.

Vice president winner

  • James “Jim” Kelly, P.E.

Assistant vice president winner

  • Chimin “Jimmy” Chao, P.E.

The Western Zone held an election for secretary-treasurer. The call for nominations email, which included information about the process and qualifications, was sent by the Western Zone vice president.

Secretary-treasurer winner

  • David Peden, P.E., S.E.