Author: Alaska Professional Design Council

Photo & Copy courtesy of Matt McGuan, PE (President, ASCE Juneau Chapter)

The Alaska Capital Engineers in Juneau celebrated E-Week with our annual Banquet on Saturday, February 21. Nate Rumsey, Deputy Director of the City & Borough of Juneau Public Works Department delivered the keynote address, which included an extensive update on efforts to protect Juneau’s Mendenhall Valley from annual and increasingly destructive glacial lake outburst flooding from the Mendenhall Glacier.

Brian Nielson of PND Engineers was honored as the Juneau area Engineer of the Year. Brian has dedicated more than 15 years to serving communities throughout Southeast Alaska, developing a deep understanding of the region’s environmental, seismic, and logistical challenges. Through his commitment to constructable, durable solutions, Brian has become a trusted engineering professional and leader. He is an active member in professional engineering organizations, including the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the Structural Engineers Association of Alaska (SEAAK).

To wrap up the evening, proHNS was awarded the Juneau area Project of the Year for their Haines 2020 Flood Damage Repairs project. This complex, multi-year recovery effort began immediately following the devastating December 2, 2020, storm event that caused wide spread damage and casualties throughout Haines and represents one of the most significant coordinated infrastructure reconstruction programs undertaken in Southeast Alaska in recent years. proHNS was engaged early in the response, with staff on the ground assisting the Haines Borough in documenting damages for FEMA eligibility and application submittals. Over the ensuing years, proHNS provided comprehensive engineering services across 11 individual FEMA-funded projects totaling nearly $12 million in construction.

In partnership with Anchorage Design Week and the 50th Anniversary of the Alaska Chapter of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the Alaska Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers + ASLA are hosting Inform 2026.

The Inform/Invest Mini-Conference will be held February 25 at the Seed Lab in Anchorage, with special guests Torey Carter-Conneen (ASLA CEO), and Naomi Ratte, Indigenous Landscape Architect. There will be multiple session options available during this mini-conference, with content targeted to Landscape Architects + Interior Designers. The evening will be capped by a happy hour & screening of the film, “Sitting Still,” a film about Landscape Architect Laurie Olin, who grew up in Fairbanks. Tickets can be purchased here.

Anchorage Design Week February 26th: Public Health x Urban Wellness Workshop, led by Eduardo Piqueiras (UAA) – 1.5 PDH, followed by an Emerging Professionals Happy Hour, and City Nerd Nite, at the Seed Lab

Anchorage Design Week February 27th: Tattoo Design Workshop, Youth Engagement Session, and in the evening a family-friendly outdoor film: Togo, at the Fairview Recreation Center

Anchorage Design Week February 28th: Panel Breaks Illustration Workshop with Tadd Galusha, + Fur Rendezvous activities

Anchorage Design Week March 1st: Alaska Design Forum Tour

Many details are still being planned, so check the museum website for additional details on Anchorage Design Week.

The Anchorage Chapter of MATHCOUNTS is seeking volunteers for the upcoming MATHCOUNTS competition on February 7, 2026 at UAA, Engineering & Industry Building. No experience required – the local chapter will provided answer keys for graders. Coffee & Doughnuts will be provided to sweeten the deal. If you’re interested in helping, please contact LaQuita Chmileowski at lchmileowski@dowl.com.

Multiple volunteer opportunities available, including:

• Set Up: 7:30 – 9:00 AM – 2 Volunteers
• Registration: 8:00 – 9:00 AM – 2 Volunteers
• Graders: 9:30 – 12:00 PM – 8-10 Volunteers
• Proctors: 8:00 – 12:00 PM – 4 Volunteers
• Countdown Round: 12:00 – 2:30 PM – 4 Volunteers

R&M Consultants, along with their Anchorage-based IT Consultant Stratus Services has achieved Level 2 certification under the Department of Defense’s Cyber-security Maturity model Certification (CMMC). This certification strengthens R&M’s ability to continue supporting federal clients and reflects the firm’s commitment to safeguarding sensitive project information.

To read the full press release from R&M, click here.

The phase 1 deadline for the Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) has been extended to December 17th 2025. Phase 1, the “intent to enter,” includes:

1. The Official Entry Form
2. Photo & Summary
3. Entry Fee

These items can be submitted electronically, to fsids2@gci.net. For full instructions on the Phase 1 submission, and the subsequent Phase 2 submission, please review the Entry Guideline document below, or visit the website, here.