ACEC Nebraska Hosts First-Ever Federal Fly-In to Washington, D.C.

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On March 11, 2024, ACEC Nebraska hosted its inaugural Federal Fly-In, bringing a delegation of members to Washington, D.C., for a day of advocacy, networking, and meaningful conversations with Nebraska’s elected officials.

The trip kicked off with breakfast at Pete’s Diner, followed by a Capitol tour with Congressman Mike Flood’s staff. Members also took part in an issues briefing with ACEC National’s advocacy team — including Dave Bender, Steve Hall, Matt Reiffer, Katharine Mottley, Nando Gomez, and Jen Pugh — and capped the evening with a dinner and reception.

The highlight of the day was a cocktail reception at ACEC’s Capitol Hill residence, where all five members of Nebraska’s congressional delegation attended. The group discussed pressing issues such as workforce development, infrastructure funding, and the importance of restoring the R&D expense deduction.

Members said the event provided a rare opportunity for candid, small-group conversations with policymakers.

“This was an excellent opportunity to have small group discussions with our members of Congress and talk over issues that relate directly to our industry,” said Steve Kathol, Schemmer. “The setting at ACEC’s residence also allowed for plenty of socialization to get to know Congress members on a more personal level.”

“It was amazing to discuss workforce, Nebraska projects, and the R&D tax credit fix in such an intimate setting,” added Mike McIntosh, Lamp Rynearson. “Through communication and action, we can make a difference.”

Others echoed how unique the experience felt compared to larger conferences.

“This was much more personal, with deeper conversation and sharing of insights rather than just talking points,” said Rob Brigham, JEO Consulting Group.

“Having the entire Nebraska delegation attend showed their strong support for infrastructure in Nebraska,” noted Lisa Richardson, HDR.

With enthusiastic feedback from participants, ACEC Nebraska looks forward to hosting future fly-ins and encouraging more members to take part.“Meeting just steps from the Capitol created a relaxed atmosphere for detailed, frank conversations,” said Dan Thiele, Thiele Geotech. “It was a great trip and a great experience.”

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Aaron Buettner

State Director

Aaron Buettner, PE, CVS leads Benesch’s Nebraska structural group, bringing more than 27 years of experience in structural engineering, project management and value engineering to every project he touches. His work spans highway, railroad and pedestrian bridges, and he has delivered public and private projects across the country involving a wide variety of materials and structure types.

Aaron’s technical depth covers the full project lifecycle, from structural design and in-service inspection to forensic evaluation and construction administration. He is proficient in multiple structural design and analysis software platforms and has a keen understanding of load paths and constructability. As a Certified Value Specialist (CVS), Aaron’s Value Engineering work has generated tens of millions of dollars in potential construction cost avoidance for clients ranging from state DOTs to transit agencies.

Notable projects include the Lincoln South Beltway, where his team designed 10 of 21 bridges on the freeway corridor; the N-12 Emergency Bridge Repairs in northeast Nebraska, where biddable plans for three flood-damaged structures were delivered in just three weeks; and the Penny Bridges Replacement in Lincoln, where value planning produced a context-sensitive solution that earned broad community support.

Aaron also serves as a Structures Specialist on Nebraska Task Force 1 (NE-TF1), which is one of 28 FEMA Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) teams located throughout the United States. In this role, he supports the search and rescue mission by assessing damaged structures, recommending structural hazard mitigation within those structures, and monitoring the structure for condition changes during rescue and victim recovery operations. During his tenure with NE-TF1, he has deployed ​on numerous missions within the state of Nebraska and around the nation to assist communities that have been impacted by emergencies or disasters.

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