INDIANAPOLIS - Although the job outlook is bright for engineers, they face ``daunting challenges'' of corporate downsizing and foreign competition, said Michael R. Cappelletti, executive director of the Society of Plastics Engineers. Cappelletti, who was named to the top post of the 38,000-member society in mid-1995, gave an upbeat financial report May 6 at SPE's Annual Technical Confer-ence in Indianapolis.
``We are a debt-free, cash-strong, energetic organization,'' he said.
The Brookfield, Conn., professional association ended 1995 with a surplus of $396,428. That amount was higher than expected and more than twice the surplus the group ran in 1994, Cappelletti said. Total unrestricted revenues for 1995 were $7.4 million, a 14 percent increase over $6.5 million in 1994.
``The society is in excellent financial condition,'' he told the audience of about 700.
Figures released at ANTEC show membership was fairly flat in 1995. But Cappelletti said the current uncertain times in business should make SPE membership more attractive. He said engineers must take control of their futures, be well-rounded and stay in touch with their peers.
``Indications are that employers have placed exorbitant expectations on engineers,'' he said. ``In a nutshell, they expect you to be a businessperson who happens to be a scientist, an accountant and, by the way, an engineer.''
On the good-news side, Cappelletti said the American Association of Engineering Socie-ties reports there will be 865,000 engineering positions by the year 2000.
Also during the meeting, David Harper, outgoing SPE president, presented charters to the new Caribbean Section and the Texas-based Lower Rio Grande Section.
