Two hundred state examining board members of the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors and their spouses have come to the Virgin Islands to discuss such items as reciprocity, the trend toward national standards, and other items, which have been developed to regulate engineers and surveyors throughout the United States.
The southeastern region is meeting at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort Thursday through Saturday. This group represents the southern states ranging from Texas to North Carolina.
Bringing words of greeting to the assembly were board members both past and present of the host— Virgin Islands Board of Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors. These individuals included acting commissioner Clement "Cain" Magras who was a member of the local board when he served as commissioner of Licensing and Consumer Affairs, acting DCLA commissioner Andrew Rutnik, Bernard Fabio, James Boschulte, and Justin Berkley. Adding their greetings were Nathan Simmons speaking for Lt. Governor James, local architect Alton Adams, Jr, and John Woods who acted as master of ceremonies.
In his remarks following the welcome by V.I officials, Richard Cottingham, vice president of NCEES, said that he liked the all-inclusive package the group was given by the Wyndham, where they are staying.
The main thrust of state licensure, according to one member of the Oklahoma state board, is the protection of the public's safety and general welfare guaranteeing that state licensed personnel have graduated from accredited schools, passed a suitable internship, and been examined concerning the key issues of their particular field of expertise.
Spotted among the visiting engineers was Pelham Williams, past commissioner for Public Works who is currently chairman of the board and CEO of Williams-Russell and Johnson, Inc. engineers, planners and architects of Atlanta, Dallas, Miami and Nashville.
One of the more interesting comments heard during the evening concerned Edward Thomas, executive director of the West Indian Company Ltd. on St. Thomas. One of the visiting engineers was heard to say he had yet to meet anyone so "dedicated to the development of the Virgin Islands economy and the improvement of his community."
