National Society of Professional Engineers
To Hold Annual Convention/Expo in Detroit

The Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center downtown will be headquarters July 26-30 for the National Society of Professional Engineers' 2001 Annual Convention and Exposition. Educational sessions, exhibits, networking opportunities, the society's annual awards presentation, and several special events will be featured at the meeting, which this year is centered on the theme: "Engineering a New Workforce: The Changing Face of Engineering." The Detroit Metro Chapter of the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE) is hosting the convention along with NSPE.

A highlight of the meeting will be the "Gift to the City," which this year will be given to Focus: HOPE. Collaborating with the Michigan Chapter, NSPE's goal is to establish an endowment to support Focus: HOPE with ongoing loans and scholarships for worthy students in manufacturing engineering. NSPE hopes to raise funds for the endowment through a 3K/5K Walk/Run Thursday, July 26, from 6 am to 8 am on Belle Isle. The "Gift to the City" program was developed in 1999 to provide a legacy to the NSPE convention's host city.

Educational sessions at the convention are scheduled on urban development, workforce development, licensure, e-business, and legal issues. A special "Focus on Detroit" session also will be held, and convention participants are within walking distance of Detroit's 300th birthday festivities at Hart Plaza. The exposition will highlight engineering technology and business solutions, with suppliers, contractors, manufacturers, software vendors, and government officials participating. More information and on-line registration is available at the society's Web site, www.nspe.org.