The engineers of Central Oregon are united by more than the sunny skies and mountain views of our idyllic high desert location. Available to engineers-in-training and registered professional engineers of all disciplines is the triple membership of National Society of Professional Engineers, the Professional Engineers of Oregon (PEO), and its Central Oregon Chapter.
As a direct link to both the national and state level organizations, the Central Oregon Chapter of the Professional Engineers of Oregon is the local resource for a lifetime of engineering learning, licensure, and leadership.
Learning
The education of a registered Professional Engineer is, by design, intended to continue through their professional life. As technologies and standards change over time, the engineer must maintain a clear understanding of those changes and how the practice of engineering may be affected. Ultimately, this allows the engineer to uphold his or her commitment to the protection of public safety.
The Central Oregon Chapter of PEO hosts monthly meetings on the 4th Monday of each month offering a wide variety of topics to keep local engineers informed. Additionally, upcoming seminars will be offered on local building code updates, asphalt pavement, and project management. The spring of 2015 will see the State PEO conference hosted in Sunriver for several days of technical courses and networking.
Licensure
The stamp of a professional engineer, and the license to practice engineering that it represents, are what bind an engineer to the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare. As a part of the state and national organizations, the Central Oregon Chapter of PEO helps unite the voice of registered engineers as an industry group. It is the responsibility of engineers to halt the erosion of requirements for a professional engineer within state agencies.
The local PEO chapter keeps members informed of relevant legislative and regulatory changes on the horizon. Additionally, the local chapter is available to both engineers-in-training and professional engineering to assist in meeting the requirements of the Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying (OSBEELS) for sustaining the required continuing education.
Leadership
For those engineers who aim to apply their professional knowledge and skills outside of the office, the Central Oregon Chapter of PEO provides opportunities for leadership both within their discipline and beyond. Member involvement is encouraged at all levels, from leading one of the chapter’s monthly presentation meetings on an engineering topic, to volunteering at the annual middle school math competition, MATHCOUNTS, to serving on the local or state executive board. The local chapter fosters an environment of camaraderie among professional engineers from which tomorrow’s leaders can grow.
Central Oregonian engineers have an established and available organization to help them continue their lifelong learning, to stay current and informed of licensure requirements, and to grow their leadership abilities.
The Central Oregon Chapter of the Professional Engineers of Oregon is committed to the following mission: “To be actively involved in promoting professional engineering in Central Oregon; to provide an ongoing opportunity for continuing education in the field of professional engineering; to provide awareness and scholarship opportunities to college-bound engineering students from Central Oregon and to promote and provide assistance to engineers to become licensed while promoting fellowship.” The Chapter welcomes all to the monthly meetings.
Contact Tom Headley, PE with questions theadley@centurywest.com.
Tom Headley, PE, CWRE is a project manager with Century West Engineering and president of the Central Oregon Chapter of the Professional Engineers of Oregon.
