Marcel Valois, ACEC-RIProvidence, RI The Rhode Island Consulting Engineers (RICE), a professional association founded in 1991 that has represented the interests of independent engineering consulting firms in Rhode Island for 25 years, are transitioning to the American Council of Engineering Companies of Rhode Island (ACEC-RI), a member organization of the American Council of Engineering Companies based in Washington, D.C. ACEC is a national federation of 52 state and regional organizations.
ACEC-RI will serve as the voice of Rhode Island’s professional engineering community, representing over 30 independent companies engaged in the design and engineering of transportation, environmental, industrial, energy, land development and other infrastructure projects on behalf of clients in both the public and private sectors. ACEC-RI’s mission is to advance the business, education, community engagement, and overall growth and success of member firms.
Marcel Valois has been appointed as the first executive director of ACEC-RI. Valois has most recently served as a senior advisor at the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation and served as a member of the cabinet in Governors Lincoln Chafee’s and Lincoln Almond’s administrations. Valois has extensive experience in the private sector, serving as area vice president of Penske Automotive Group and as executive vice president of the Blackstone Valley Development Foundation, Inc. According to Valois, “Rhode Island is fortunate to have such a deep presence of professional engineering companies that provide world class services. They are an important part of our state’s economy, and I look forward to working with ACEC-RI members in contributing to the prosperity and welfare of the greater Rhode Island region.”
According to John Shevlin, senior vice president at Pare Corp. and president of ACEC-RI, “We are looking forward to Rhode Island’s leading engineering companies being more engaged in helping to propel the Rhode Island economy forward and enhancing and safeguarding the state’s wonderful quality of life. We are eager to demonstrate our member firms’ continuing professional contributions to the state’s safety, health and physical environment.”