Diane Mika Presenting at Society for Design Administration (SDA) EDSymposium23

Posted by & filed under Events.

Managing Risk Through Effective Contracts

Presented by:
Diane P. Mika, Senior Vice President, Risk Management Officer, Berkley Design Professional

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Diane Mika, senior vice president and risk management officer, will be speaking at the Society for Design Administration (SDA) EDSymposium23.

Mika will present on “Managing Risk Through Effective Contracts” as part of the conference’s Project Administration Workshop.

More details on the event below.

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Everyone practices project management. Whether getting a building out of the ground, planning a health care open enrollment, an office move, or working a marketing plan, the skills needed to reach your goal rely on project management:  budgeting, scheduling, communicating, and managing people. The role of the project administrator (PA) in managing A/E projects also requires an understanding of project phases, contract administration, document control, financial management, and risk management.

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Free Webinar: Real-Life Ethical Situations in Design and Construction

Posted by & filed under Events.

Presented by:
Mike Bilderbeck, PE, FASHRAE, Principal Emeritus, Chief Mechanical/Fire Protection Engineer, Pickering Firm, Inc.
Andrew D. Mendelson, FAIA, Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Management Officer, Berkley Design Professional
Jennifer Leach, PE, LEED AP, Associate, BR+A
Kristin L. Schaefer, P.E., PhD candidate, University of Houston, Schaefer Engineering 

Thursday, June 22, 2023
10:00 am – 11:30 am Pacific Time
1.5 AIA Learning Units
1.5 RCEP Professional Development Hours

Berkley DP policyholders who participate in this program can qualify for a 15% Risk Management Education credit. Contact your agent for further information*

Register Now

As construction projects, project delivery, and owner expectations become increasingly complex, it is more important than ever for design professionals to make proper decisions based on professional standards and codes of ethics. In this webinar, presented by a panel of experts, you will review the process of ethical decision-making and explore actual ethical situations and decisions rendered by review boards. 

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Be a Good Neighbor: Strategies to Mitigate Risk of Damage to Adjacent Properties

Posted by & filed under BDP Blog.

By Andrew Mendelson, FAIA
Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Management and CX Officer
Berkley Design Professional, a Berkley Company

May 9, 2023

One of the emerging 21st Century perils for design professionals, particularly for structural and geotechnical/CMT engineers and architects, is the potential impact of new projects on the condition and even the integrity of adjacent properties.

An architect or engineer’s legal duty is to their client according to the scope and terms of the professional services agreement as well as the responsibilities embodied in state statutes for licensed professionals. However, consideration should be given to adjacent property owners during the planning stages and efforts should be undertaken to protect against claims that could be made by other “injured parties” on adjacent properties.

In states where the applicable law embodies the principle of “joint and several liability,” disproportionate responsibility and financial exposure can be allocated to the design professional—even if their actions had very little to do with the cause of damages to an adjacent structure.

Trends in design and construction claims and litigation indicate the casting of an ever-widening net with plaintiffs seeking defendants with deep pockets, such as the professional liability insurance policy and the assets of a firm. Therefore, it’s prudent for design professionals to be proactive in managing risk with respect to potential exposure for damages beyond the property line of the project, especially in dense urban or suburban areas.

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Andy Mendelson Presenting at ACEC Illinois Alternative Project Delivery Workshop

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Overview of Types of Alternative Delivery Models

Presented by:
Andrew D. Mendelson, FAIA, EVP, Chief Risk Management Officer, Berkley Design Professional

Monday, May 15, 2023

Andy Mendelson, FAIA, executive vice president and chief risk management officer, will be presenting at the ACEC Illinois Alternative Project Delivery Workshop with IDOT and Tollway on Monday, May 15.

Andy will give an overview of varying types of Alternative Delivery Models in his presentation. The workshop is located in Lombard, Illinois at Harry Caray’s Ballroom. The workshop will last from 8:30am to 6:30pm.

For more information on the workshop HERE.

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