Future Shock: Shaping the Future of the Capital Projects Business
37th Annual Engineering and Construction Contracting Conference

Houston, Texas (April 27, 2005) -- The Engineering & Construction Contracting Association's 37th Annual Conference will be held on September 7-10, 2005, at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando, Florida. Last year's conference attendees indicated that many of the critical issues they are facing are a result of the dramatic changes in the industry with regard to technology, talent sourcing and contracting relationships. To address these issues, this year's ECC Conference will focus on the transformation of the Capital Project Business and how owners, contractors and suppliers can shape our industry to ensure that it is sustainable and profitable in the future.

In the setting of the spectacular Grande Lakes JW Marriott Resort, attendees will enjoy thought-provoking discussions, a more interactive format and additional opportunities to network with peers. It will be an incredible chance for attendees to interact with colleagues, hear from industry and business experts and innovators, and be a part of Shaping the Future of the Capital Projects Business.

The conference theme, "Future Shock: Shaping the Future of the Capital Projects Business" will be reinforced by the event keynotes including:

Fred Gregory, NASA Deputy Administrator and former Astronaut, who will discuss the many challenges that NASA faces in engineering and designing its programs. NASA has always been a leader in both developing and maximizing the use of technology...every day they are working in the future. As Deputy Administrator, Gregory serves as the chief operating officer for NASA. He is responsible for directing and managing many of the agency's programs as well as day-to-day operations and activities.

Donald Evans, Former Secretary of Commerce (2001-2005), who will share his thoughts on Navigating the Global Economy and the specific implications for the Energy Economy. As a core member of President Bush's economic team, Secretary Evans advised the President on many issues, including pro-growth and job-creating economic policies, international trade, business concerns, and energy policy.

This year's panels and forums will shed light on how many successful organizations are adjusting their strategies and practices to ensure they are viable in the future.
Experts and innovators will share their thoughts on topics such as:

• Engineers and Constructors in 2020: What will your job look like?
• Future Technology and the Transformation of the Capital Projects Process
• Is the Capital Projects Business Model Broken?

The interactive forums will cover such topics as:

• Modularization and Reuse of Design
• Field Delivery and Construction: RFID/Barcodes in the Field
• Plant Layout in Days?: Rule-based Pipe Routing
• Evolving Security Models for Plant Facilities

Presenters will include leaders from organizations such as BP, ABB Lummus, Valero, Technip, Georgia Tech, Dow, DuPont, IPA, and FIATECH.

There will be many opportunities for networking with industry peers, which is rated as one of the top reasons industry executives and managers attend the ECC.

For registration, agenda, venue and general conference information, visit the website at www.ecc-conference.org. Registration is $850 through July 3, and $900 thereafter. A $25 late registration fee will be added after August 18, 2005. Attendees can register spouses for $110. Delegates may register online or phone (1-877-4-The-ECC).

About the ECC
The Engineering & Construction Contracting (ECC) Association (www.ecc-conference.org) is an affiliate of the AIChE, an organization of owners, contractors and suppliers committed to improving the outcome of capital projects and improving the global competitiveness of all members. ECC activities serve interests of a broad cross section of the process, refining, pharmaceutical and power industries as well as general manufacturing. The organization's annual conference, now in its 36th year, brings together key players from leading companies to help delegates discover better ways of improving capital project effectiveness. The ECC board of directors and sponsors include executives from leading companies including ABB Lummus, Arkema Inc., BASF, BE&K, Bechtel Corporation, Berwanger, Burns & McDonnell, BP, Commonwealth Engineering and Construction, Dow Chemical, E.I. du pont de Nemours & Co., ENGlobal Engineering, ExxonMobil, Fluor, Intergraph, Global Performance, Intergraph, Jacobs, KBR, Lyondell/Equistar, Merck & Co., Mustang Engineers and Constructors, OSECO, Pathfinder, LLC, SNC-Lavalin, Trinity Technologies, Washington Group, Zachry Construction.

NOTE TO THE MEDIA: The ECC will waive the conference fee for any press who would like to attend this year's conference. For press registration, please contact Tara Wilson at 713-877-8130 or twilson@hdinc.com.