Southern Zone Interim Meeting

Meeting overview

April 4–6, 2024
Renaissance Asheville Downtown Hotel
31 Woodfin Street
Asheville, NC 28801

The deadline for member boards to name funded delegates is January 5.

Registration will open in mid-January. Anyone funded to attend the meeting must use the registration link provided in the invitation.

The registration deadline for funded attendees is February 19. Fees for paying delegates and guests will increase by $50 after this date.

Meeting Files & Links

Meeting summary (includes basic agenda and meeting information for funded attendees, PDF)

Schedule of events (updated 4/4/24 to include revised address for Friday night event, PDF)

List of registered attendees

Draft minutes of August 2023 zone annual meeting (PDF)

Registration

Fees

Delegate registration fee: $375 for delegates, which includes Thursday’s welcome reception; Friday’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner; and Saturday’s breakfast. The registration fee will increase by $50 after February 19.
Guest registration fee: $300 for guests, which includes Thursday’s welcome reception, Friday’s breakfast and dinner, and Saturday’s breakfast. Registered guests may add Friday’s guest activity for $75 or the lunch with delegates for $55. The registration fee will increase by $50 after February 19.
Optional Saturday afternoon activities: More details are provided in the “Meeting and event details” section below. These activities can be added to a delegate or guest registration. Individual ticket sales will be available after February 19 if capacity remains.
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Company tour: $75
- A Visit to Biltmore House: $130

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 if your board has already named its funded delegates.

Funded delegates should allow one week 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 DELEGATES ($375) REGISTER

Meeting and event details

The NCEES zone interim meetings are held each spring. 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, delegates will provide individual board updates and elect a zone secretary.

Registration for these activities is open to registered delegates and guests. Capacity limits are indicated below. Individual ticket sales for events will be available after February 19 if capacity remains. Indicate any special transportation needs (for example, wheelchair-accessible lift) during registration.

Friday

Guest activity: Private trolley tour of Asheville (optional; $75, includes lunch)

Enjoy a 90-minute private narrated driving tour of the Asheville area, including locations such as the Grove Park Inn, the Montford and River Arts districts, and Biltmore Village. Guests will then be dropped off for lunch at Pack’s Tavern in downtown Asheville. Following lunch, choose to walk back to the hotel (0.2 miles) or one block to a trolley stop to continue exploring the area on your own. The tour price includes use of the Gray Line Hop-On/Hop-Off Sightseeing Trolley for the rest of the day on Friday and all day on Saturday. A map and schedule for the trolley are available online here. Capacity is limited to 34 guests.

Barbecue dinner at Wicked Weed Brewing’s Brew Pub

Delegates and guests will enjoy a private barbecue dinner event at Wicked Weed Brewing’s Brew Pub, located in downtown Asheville. The venue is a walkable half-mile from the hotel, but transportation will be available for those who need it.

Saturday

See the schedule of events (link at the top of the page) for detailed information about the timing of these optional Saturday afternoon activities available to registered delegates and guests.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company Brewhouse Tour (optional; $75)

Travel to Sierra Nevada Brewing Company’s Mills River facility, located approximately 30 minutes from downtown Asheville. The group will be split into three smaller groups for a one-hour guided tour of the brewery. The tour will provide an overview of the facility and focus on the efforts that led to it earning LEED Platinum certification. The tour will end with a tasting of six beers. Additional time at the brewery is on your own. Capacity is limited to 50 delegates and guests. No children under 12 are permitted on this tour.

A Visit to Biltmore House (optional; $130)

A visit to Asheville would not be complete without experiencing the Biltmore Estate. This tour includes transportation to and from the Biltmore House and timed admission to the house at 2:15. The tour is self-guided. Individuals who would like to spend time in other areas of the estate, such as the winery at Antler Hill Village or the Chihuly at Biltmore exhibit at Deerpark, can pay an additional fee on-site (currently $15) to use the Biltmore Express Shuttle. Capacity is limited to 50 delegates and guests.

Business casual attire is appropriate for all meetings (for example, oxford shirts, polo shirts, slacks). For the guest activity and optional tours, wear comfortable, casual attire with comfortable walking shoes.

For evening events, smart casual attire is appropriate.

Election

An election was held at the 2024 Southern Zone interim meeting. The term will begin at the conclusion of the annual meeting in August.

2024–26 Southern Zone Secretary

Linda H. Bergeron, P.E.

Hotel

The meeting will be held at the Renaissance Asheville Downtown. NCEES has negotiated room rates of $219 for standard rooms Thursday through Sunday night.

Current taxes and fees include 13 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 4:00 p.m.; checkout is at 11:00 a.m.

Detailed information about hotel funding will be provided in the special invitation sent to each funded individual.

Register online by February 19. 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 about two weeks before the meeting.

Delegates not funded by NCEES can make hotel reservations after registering for the meeting. The link will be provided in the registration confirmation email.

Register and reserve accommodations as early as possible before the NCEES room block is exhausted. The NCEES room block will close shortly after March 1. NCEES may cancel any reservations made within the block if there is not a matching registration for the meeting.

Self-parking is discounted to $10 per night for those who stay inside the NCEES room block. Valet parking is currently $29 per night.

Travel and local information

Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is approximately 20 minutes from the hotel.

If you are funded by NCEES to attend the zone meeting, you must arrange your flight through Travel Inc. Booking instructions are provided in the personal invitations.

Ride-hailing services, such as Uber and Lyft, are available. Fares are typically $30.

Taxis are available. It is metered and typically costs $48.

Consider adding a day or two to your stay to experience more of what Asheville has to offer.

Explore Asheville has suggestions available here.

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 4–6).

For delegates to qualify for this funding, NCEES must be notified of their identity by January 5. Substitutions can be sent to [email protected] until February 19.

Funded attendees must register and make travel arrangements for the meeting by February 19. If you have questions about funding, send an email to [email protected].

The current travel policy can be found here.

The current harassment and discrimination policy can be found here.

All registrations for NCEES zone meetings should be submitted with payment by the registration deadline. Registrations that have not been paid by March 20 will be canceled.

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.