2006 AEI Conference Keynote Speakers

              To open the conference attendees were provided the opportunity to listen to three keynote speakers.  The first presenter was Terry J. Kroeger who is the director of the Omaha World-Harold Company and holds the position of President and Chief Operating Officer.  In recent years he has overseen as project manager the construction and development of the Freedom Center, which serves Nebraska’s largest newspaper.  He retraced how this 325,000 square foot building came about.  The Freedom Center covers four blocks in downtown Omaha, and houses the new shaftless printing presses, material handling center, assembly equipment, and a parking garage. 

              Attendees then listened to Ms. Milagros Kennett an architect who focuses mainly on natural disaster mitigation, building security, planning and implementation of development programs, and management of pilot programs with national and local governments and non-governmental organizations. She is currently the staff architect of the Building Science Branch of FEMA.  She  is also the project officer of the Risk Management Series of publications devoted to how to mitigate potential terrorist attacks against buildings and other hazards.  In her speech Ms. Kennett discussed Multi-hazards and Multi-disciplinary Issues in the Building Community, which tied in closely with the Conference theme of Building Integration Solutions. 

              Ms. Kennett was followed by ASCE Board Member and Technical Region Director Stan Cladwell who spoke about Architectural Engineering: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.  Mr. Caldwell discussed the challenges that face both the discipline of Architectural Engineering and the Institute itself.  Being one of the founding members of the Institute he was able to speak to the growth and challenges that it has faced in its brief 8-year history and the bright future that is possible through continued growth.

              On Friday participants were treated to an Awards Luncheon in which individuals who made the conference possible were recognized along with the winners of the Johnson Controls Student Group and Essay Competitions.  Before the prizes were handed out, attendees were treated to a speech by Richard Bell, CEO, and president of HDR, who discussed some of the key issues that Architectural Engineers face and what has become expected of them.

Terry J. Kroeger opens the 2006 AEI Conference             Richard Bell gives the keynote

                                                                                                          address during Tuesday's

                                                                                     Awards Luncheon