Chair's Corner - Florida Board of Professional Engineers

An illustration of experience, showing a head with gears, light bulb, and wrench

Chair’s Corner: Engineering Experience in the Construction Field

June 30, 2020

As life goes on, virtual graduations are everywhere, and newly minted engineers are looking for real jobs. It is important for them to understand the pros and cons of career choices they make and how it affects professional growth. Though most engineers are aware of the four years of required experience for licensure, it appears they are generally not aware of what constitutes acceptable qualifying engineering experience for licensure.

Chair’s Corner: Continuing Education in Uncertain Times

March 31, 2020

NCEES has canceled the April 2020 PE exam as well as the zone meeting. The next FBPE board meeting in April will be a virtual one. It seems most of us have had to switch to working remotely and I am confident we can be up to the task. One possible benefit of being cooped up in the house, is being able to complete the required continuing education courses.

Chair’s Corner: Changes in Chair, Rules, and More

January 7, 2020

I would like to begin by thanking Ken Todd, P.E., (pictured) for serving as Chair of the Board for the past two years, as well as serving two full terms as a member of the Florida Board of Professional Engineers.

Chair’s Corner: 2019 NCEES Annual Meeting Report

October 18, 2019

This past August, several FBPE members and I attended the 2019 annual meeting of the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCEES) in Washington, D.C.

An red exclamation point imposed on a Florida PE license signifying an alert.

Chair’s Corner: Potential Threats to Engineering Licensure

June 28, 2019

During a recent meeting, NCEES encouraged engineers to be more proactive in working to ensure licensure of engineers remains in place across the country.

Illustration of a book titled "Statutes and Rules"

Chair’s Corner: Specific Rules Concerning Government Submittals

April 8, 2019

There is a misunderstanding concerning the interpretation of two rules involving final engineering documents submitted to governments. I hope that this article will clear up the confusion and keep a professional engineer who is licensed in Florida and dealing with government entities from having a complaint filed against her or him.

Chair’s Corner: Looking Forward to a New Year

January 7, 2019

I am very much looking forward to this year, while leaving 2018 behind and all the challenges I had last year. We have now entered a new year, 2019. All Professional Engineers licensed in Florida know what that means. Because it is an odd year, 2019 is a license renewal year. So, I thought it would be helpful to remind all Florida licensed engineers of some key components required as part of the license renewal process.

Chair’s Corner: Remembering the Engineers’ Creed

October 1, 2018

Not too long ago I brought up the Engineers’ Creed to a young engineer, to which he replied, “I didn’t know engineers had one.” I said we did and that it has had an influence on many engineers, myself included, as to how we practice engineering. His comment reminded me that I, too, was unaware there was an Engineers’ Creed as a young engineer until someone pointed it out to me.

Chair’s Corner: Having Good Ethics Is a Must

June 29, 2018

From time to time, it is good to be reminded of the engineer’s responsibility to act in an ethical manner. As the next P.E. renewal cycle approaches, licensed engineers need to have taken one hour of ethics as part of the CEU requirement for license renewal in Florida.

Chair’s Corner: Mentoring Strengthens the Engineering Profession

April 11, 2018

I challenge all experienced engineers: Take time to mentor those young engineers in your company who are recent graduates. They will appreciate it, and it will be quite rewarding for both you as a mentor and your company through increased productivity.

Chair’s Corner: The Next 100 Years

January 5, 2018

The Florida Board of Professional Engineers celebrated a century of existence this past year. In my first order of business as the Board’s new Chair, I would like to thank the previous Chair, Anthony Fiorillo, for the outstanding job he did in leading FBPE through its 100th year.

Chair’s Corner: The Past Year, The Year Ahead

January 5, 2018

It was an honor and a pleasure to serve as the 2017 Florida Board of Professional Engineers’ Chair. I enjoyed my time as Chair, but the distance from Northern Virginia and the demands of a booming economy, made it difficult to allocate sufficient time to serve the position diligently. Therefore, it is time for me to step aside and make way for the new Chair. Mr. Kenneth Todd is that guy!

Hurricane Irma over Florida, September 2017

Chair’s Corner: Dealing With One Storm, Preparing for the Next

October 6, 2017

Hurricane Irma pounded the state in September. The old adage says that hindsight is 20/20, so let’s take a look at a few lessons learned so that we can be better prepared for the next one.

Chair’s Corner: Transportation Infrastructure Growth in Florida

July 18, 2017

Welcome to summer! We are already at the midpoint of the year. I can’t believe how fast this year is moving along! I suppose that means everyone is busy and having a great time! As I drive throughout the state, I see construction activity everywhere. …

Chair’s Corner: Looking Back on Renewal

April 3, 2017

Whew! Licensure and Certificates of Authorization renewals are complete! In total, 31,722 licenses and 4,564 Certificates of Authorization were renewed. Online license renewal opened on Nov. 7 and closed on Feb. 28. More than a third of the total renewals occurred within the final week of the deadline and approximately twice as many as were received in the first two months of the renewal period!

Chair’s Corner: Recognizing Former Board Chair, William C. Bracken, PE, SI, CFM

January 29, 2017

I have had the honor and pleasure of serving on the Florida Board of Professional Engineers with William C. Bracken, PE, SI, CFM since January 2012. During that time, I have grown to admire his diligence, tenacity, and sense of fairness in executing his duties as board member, vice chair, and chair. …

Babu Varghese, PE, SI, CGC, CCC
FBPE Chair (2020)

Chair's Corner 2014-16

In Service to Florida’s Licensees – October 2016
FBPE Committee Updates – July 2016
Two Months Left to Complete “Advanced” Florida Building Code Course CE Requirement – April 2016
Chapter 23, F.A.C.Recent Updates at a Glance- January 2016
Continuing Education Requirements – October 2015
Thank You for Your Input & Assistance – July 2015
FBPE Launches New Phases of Outreach Program – April 2015
Thank You, Warren. – January 2015
FBPE Rules Committee & Continuing Education – October 2014
Engineers as Scientists – June 2014

Chair’s Corner

Babu Varghese, PE, SI, CGC, CCC FBPE Chair (2020)

Babu Varghese, PE, SI, CGC, CCC
FBPE Chair (2020)