Professional Ethics for Contractors

This 2-hour course explores your professional responsibilities as a contractor as they relate to your clients, your peers, your employer, your employees, and your profession. We will begin our discussion by examining the role of ethics in the everyday practice of your profession. We will explain why ethical behavior is a professional and legal imperative and makes good business sense. We will then look at how the concept of professional ethics developed from the most basic notions of right and wrong to the current professional standards.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: 

• Explain the phrase Standards of Behavior
• Describe the importance of Rules of the Game and how it is derived
• Distinguish between morality and ethics
• List the characteristics of a profession versus an occupation
• Explain the Ethical Behavior Three Step Process
• Describe how Murphy’s Law enters into the Ethics thought process
• Explain Rationalization as it applies to Ethics
• Give examples on why fraternization may cause ethical dilemmas
• Describe why attending a free business seminar is not usually considered an ethical violation
• Explain the meaning of the phrase Advantageous Comparison
• List several methods of Rationalization
• Distinguish between Principle and Expediency
• Explain the Principle of Reciprocity
• Explain why the excuse of “Hurting No One” doesn’t hold up to ethical scrutiny
• Describe the correct ethical view of bid-peddling
• List groups affected by a construction bribery scheme

GEORGE MAZZEO
George Mazzeo holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the NJ Institute of Technology and a MS in Systems Management from the University of Southern California. He is also a graduate of the US Naval War College. Mr. Mazzeo has presented dozens of ethics seminars to Professional Engineers and other professionals nationwide.

He is a retired US Air Force Colonel and served as the Department Chair and Professor of Aerospace Studies at the University of Florida. While at UF, he presented courses in leadership, strategic planning, management, ethics, team building, quality/continuous improvement and communications. He is the author of "Sleeping Dogs… Ethics in the Workplace." Mr. Mazzeo currently is the Executive Director for the North Central Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross.