Good Afternoon Members
Robert Rice, Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Director of the Division of Land Restoration for the WV Department of Environmental Protection, will be the guest speaker at the ACEC-WV Winter Meeting on Tuesday, December 17, at 11:30 am. at Edgewood Country Club in Charleston.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2022 is providing about $100 million annually for the next 11 years for Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) restoration and oil well plugging projects in West Virginia. With the passage of Senate Bill 439 in 2023, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) has established a Design-Build Pilot Program aimed at delivering a select number of AML projects using the design-build project delivery method. (See the November 1, 2024 Newsletter for details on the four projects selected for the design-build pilot program).
Deputy Secretary Rice will talk about the numerous AML and well plugging engineering design contracts the WVDEP will be advertising and awarding over the next few years. WVDEP is considering changes to the procurement process to expedite both the selection process and the timeliness of design completion to obligate the millions of IIJA dollars available to West Virginia. WVDEP is also reviewing the processes for pre-selection, cost negotiations, and payment. Members will have an opportunity to learn about WVDEP’s proposals and to offer comments and suggestions.
Members are asked to mark Tuesday, December 17, on their calendars. A complete registration packet will be sent to members next week. President Jason Boyd asks members to bring a toy to donate to local toy drives.
President Boyd announced that the ACEC-WV Board of Directors has selected the firm of Kimble Birch to provide management services for the association. Bryan Hoylman, president of Kimble Birch, was introduced to the membership at the September 24 Joint Transportation Forum. He officially began his duties a few weeks ago. Bryan, who has extensive experience in business association management, will be working with the daily operations of the ACEC-WV including membership development, communications, financial functions, and website and social media. He will also provide government relations and lobbying support to the members of ACEC-WV and the industry.
“I am extremely pleased to have Bryan and his team supporting our organization,” stated President Boyd in announcing the selection of Kimble Birch. “Bryan’s knowledge and expertise in association management and government relations made him a clear and unanimous choice for the ACEC-WV Board. We are excited to see the positive impact he can provide and look forward to working together for many years to come.”
“Having worked so closely with the engineering community for over a decade in other capacities, I am grateful for the opportunity to help aid in the efforts of ACEC more directly. We have an exciting opportunity before us with a changing landscape and optimistic leaders focused on building an even brighter and more robust future for West Virginia. I very much look forward to being a part of that effort,” stated Hoylman. Bryan has headed up the Associated Builder’s and Contractors of West Virginia since 2014 and also represents a variety of clients in Energy, Healthcare and Education through his government relations & consulting firm Kimble Birch, LLC. which was established in 2019.
Members are encouraged to contact Bryan and welcome him to the organization. He can be reached at 304-444-2682 and email at bhoylman@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Mike Clowser
Executive Director
304-545-2552