Plan Your Conference Experience

SaturdayOct 24 SundayOct 25 MondayOct 26 TuesdayOct 27 WednesdayOct 28

SaturdayOct 24

October 24, 2026

Time
12:00 pm–5:00 pm	Registration & Badge Pickup Your Fall Conference experience starts here. Pick up your badge, add ribbons that help tell your conference story, and make…
1:00 pm–5:00 pm	Pathways to Executive Leadership Open to registered Pathways to Executive Leadership attendees only. Pathways to Executive Leadership is a 5-session program designed for mid-career…
2:00 pm–4:30 pm	NAECE Meeting I Open to members of NAECE and invited guests only. The National Association of Engineering Council Executives (NAECE) is comprised of…
4:30 pm–5:30 pm	Planning Cabinet Meeting Open to Planning Cabinet members only. The Planning Cabinet advises the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors on strategies…
5:00 pm–6:00 pm	ACEC/NAECE Staff Reception Open to members of NAECE and invited guests only. The National Association of Engineering Council Executives (NAECE) is comprised of…

SundayOct 25

October 25, 2026

Time
8:00 am–5:00 pm	Pathways to Executive Leadership Open to registered Pathways to Executive Leadership attendees only. Pathways to Executive Leadership is a 5-session program designed for mid-career…
8:00 am–6:15 pm	Registration & Badge Pickup Your Fall Conference experience starts here. Pick up your badge, add ribbons that help tell your conference story, and make…
8:30 am–10:00 am	Leadership Breakfast Central The Leadership Breakfast Central brings together ACEC Board of Directors members for discussion around shared challenges, opportunities, and regional priorities.…
8:30 am–10:00 am	Leadership Breakfast Mid-Atlantic The Leadership Breakfast Mid-Atlantic brings together ACEC Board of Directors members from across the region for focused conversation and connection.…
8:30 am–10:00 am	Leadership Breakfast Mid-West The Leadership Breakfast Mid-West convenes ACEC Board of Directors members for a working conversation on regional priorities and leadership across…
8:30 am–10:00 am	Leadership Breakfast Northeast The Leadership Breakfast Northeast brings together ACEC Board of Directors members for a focused regional conversation on leadership, policy, and…
8:30 am–10:00 am	Leadership Breakfast Northwest The Leadership Breakfast Northwest gathers ACEC Board of Directors members from across the region for conversation and connection around key…
8:30 am–10:00 am	Leadership Breakfast Southeast The Leadership Breakfast Southeast convenes ACEC Board of Directors members for conversation around regional priorities, leadership challenges, and opportunities for…
8:30 am–10:00 am	Leadership Breakfast Southwest The Leadership Breakfast Southwest brings together ACEC Board of Directors members from across the region for focused conversation and connection.…
9:00 am–10:00 am	Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) Coalition Executive Committee Open to members of the Executive Committee for the Coalition of American Mechanical and Electrical Engineers and invited guests only.…
10:00 am–1:00 pm	Board of Directors Meeting The Board of Directors Meeting brings together ACEC’s elected leadership to discuss priorities, initiatives, and the future direction of the…
10:30 am–11:30 am	Coalition of American Structural Engineers (CASE) Executive Committee Open to members of the Executive Committee for the Coalition of American Structural Engineers and invited guests only. If you…
1:15 pm–2:15 pm	ACEC Board and New Attendee Lunch Open to members of the Board of Directors, Past Chairs, NAECE and all registered First Time Attendees. Navigate and maximize…
2:30 pm–4:30 pm	Large Firm CEO Roundtable (201-500 employees) Open to all Full and Sunday Daily attendees. CEOs and senior executives from large firms come together to discuss business…
2:30 pm–4:30 pm	Medium Firm CEO Roundtable (51-200 employees) Open to all Full and Sunday Daily attendees. Medium firm CEOs and senior executives gather for an interactive conversation on…
2:30 pm–4:30 pm	NAECE Meeting II Open to members of NAECE and invited guests only. The National Association of Engineering Council Executives (NAECE) is comprised of…
2:30 pm–4:30 pm	Small Firm CEO Roundtable (1-50 employees) Moderated by SFC Open to all Full and Sunday Daily attendees. Designed for small firm CEOs, this interactive roundtable offers a candid, peer-to-peer…
2:30 pm–4:30 pm	Very Large Firm CEO Roundtable (501+ employees) Moderated by DPC Open to all Full and Sunday Daily attendees. Very large firm CEOs and senior executives engage in a focused, interactive…
4:45 pm–5:45 pm	Coalition of Professional Surveyors (COPS) Executive Committee Open to members of the Executive Committee for the Coalition of Professional Surveyors and invited guests only. If you are…
4:45 pm–5:45 pm	DPC Reception This private event is only open to the individual DPC member, Alternate with their plus ones, and invited guests.
4:45 pm–5:45 pm	Engineering Excellence Awards Committee Open to members of the Engineering Excellence Awards Committee only.
4:45 pm–5:45 pm	Fellows Connect: New Fellows Orientation & Business Meeting Open to all Full and Sunday Daily attendees. Whether you are a new Fellow, a current member of the College,…
5:00 pm–6:00 pm	Risk Management Committee Open to all Full and Sunday Daily attendees. Engineers, attorneys, and Professional Liability Insurance specialists meet to discuss the pressing…
5:15 pm–6:15 pm	Women’s Leadership Forum Reception Open to all Full and Sunday Daily attendees.
6:00 pm–7:00 pm	Welcome Reception The Welcome Reception kicks off the Conference with an evening of networking, conversation, and celebration. It is a chance to…

MondayOct 26

October 26, 2026

Time
6:00 am–7:00 am	Fellows Scholarship Walk The College of Fellows Charity Walk raises money for the ACEC Scholarship Fund and is open to all attendees and…
7:00 am–8:00 am	Networking Breakfast with Exhibitors Open to all Full, Monday Daily, and Guest Attendees. The Networking Breakfast with Exhibitors is a high-energy way to kick…
7:00 am–5:00 pm	Registration & Badge Pickup Your Fall Conference experience starts here. Pick up your badge, add ribbons that help tell your conference story, and make…
8:00 am–9:45 am	Opening General Session Kick off Fall Conference with the ACEC community as we set the stage for the days ahead. Hear from industry…
8:00 am–11:30 am	Legal Counsel Forum In-House Counsel Roundtable Open to registered In-house counsel members of the Legal Counsel Forum only. The Legal Counsel Forum brings together in-house and…
9:45 am–10:30 am	Networking Break with Exhibitors Open to all Full and Monday Daily Attendees. The Networking Break with Exhibitors offers a lively pause in the day…
10:30 am–11:30 am	Geoprofessional Coalition Executive Committee Open to members of the Geoprofessional Executive Committee and invited guests only. If you are interested in joining this meeting,…
10:30 am–11:30 am	Ignite Innovation: Moving from AI Skepticism to Organizational Intelligence Most engineering firm leaders know they need to do something with AI. Almost none of them know what that actually…
10:30 am–11:30 am	International Committee Open to all Full and Monday Daily attendees. All conference attendees are welcome to attend the International Committee.
10:30 am–11:30 am	Member Engagement and Belonging Committee Open to all Full and Monday Daily attendees. All conference attendees are welcome to attend the Member Engagement and Belonging…
10:30 am–11:30 am	Risk Management Is a Skill: Practicing Professional Judgment Through Real-World Project Scenarios This session will look at common issues that arise during design and construction that can create disproportionate risk for engineering…
10:30 am–11:30 am	Small Firm Coalition (SFC) Executive Committee Open to members of the Executive Committee for the Small Firms Coalition and invited guests only. If you are interested…
10:30 am–11:30 am	The 2026 Economic Assessment and Forecast of the Engineering and Design Services Industry The engineering and design industry continues to operate in a complex economic environment shaped by shifting market conditions, evolving client…
11:45 am–1:30 pm	General Session Lunch Come together over lunch for a General Session focused on the ideas, issues, and perspectives influencing engineering firms today. Connect…
1:30 pm–2:15 pm	Networking Break with Exhibitors The Networking Break with Exhibitors gives attendees a chance to step onto the show floor, enjoy refreshments, and connect with…
2:00 pm–6:00 pm	Legal Counsel Forum I Open to registered members of the Legal Counsel Forum only. The Legal Counsel Forum brings together in-house and outside counsel…
2:15 pm–3:15 pm	Beyond Backlog: How Talent Shifts and AI Are Reshaping Civil Engineering Firms Civil engineering firms remain busy, but busy doesn’t always mean profitable. Margins tighten, labor costs rise and proposal volume increases…
2:15 pm–3:15 pm	Committee of Past Chairs Open to members of the Committee of Past Chairs only.
2:15 pm–3:15 pm	From Fragmented Data to Intelligent Infrastructure As artificial intelligence, digital twins, and data-driven decision making become integral to infrastructure delivery and management, the strategic value of…
2:15 pm–3:15 pm	Geoprofessional Roundtable Open to all Full and Monday Daily Attendees.
2:15 pm–3:15 pm	Navigating the New Executive Order “Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors” This session will focus on how firms that work for federal agencies can comply with the executive order while protecting…
2:15 pm–3:15 pm	Surveyors Roundtable Open to all Full and Monday Daily Attendees.
2:15 pm–3:15 pm	Water & Environment and Energy Joint Committee Open to all Full and Monday Daily attendees. Join ACEC's Energy and Water & Environment Committees for a joint meeting…
2:15 pm–3:15 pm	Workforce Committee Open to all Full and Monday Daily attendees. The purpose of this committee is to consolidate and organize all the…
2:30 pm–5:30 pm	Pathways to Executive Leadership Open to registered Pathways to Executive Leadership attendees only. Pathways to Executive Leadership is a 5-session program designed for mid-career…
3:15 pm–4:00 pm	Networking Break with Exhibitors The Networking Break with Exhibitors gives attendees a chance to step onto the show floor, enjoy refreshments, and connect with…
3:30 pm–5:00 pm	Government Advocacy Coordinating Committee Open to members of the Government Advocacy Coordinating Committee only.
4:00 pm–5:00 pm	Engineering an Award-Winning Culture In this session, FOXXSTEM will share the principles behind its recognition as one of the Washington, DC region’s best places…
4:00 pm–5:00 pm	Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) and Structural Roundtable Open to all Full and Monday Daily Attendees.
4:00 pm–5:00 pm	NAECE Meeting III Open to members of NAECE and invited guests only. The National Association of Engineering Council Executives (NAECE) is comprised of…
4:00 pm–5:00 pm	Redesigning the Playing Field: Expanding Competition to Deliver Better Infrastructure Public infrastructure investment is at historic levels. Yet across the country, agencies report shrinking bidder pools, rising costs, and limited…
4:15 pm–5:15 pm	Fellows Honorees Reception Join us for an evening of recognition, connection, and shared achievement. This celebratory reception welcomes all ACEC award honorees, scholarship…
5:00 pm–6:00 pm	Reception with Exhibitors Open to all registered Full, Monday Daily, and Guest Attendees. The Reception with Exhibitors brings the exhibit hall to life…
5:15 pm–6:15 pm	Committee of Past Chairs Reception Open to members of the Committee of Past Chairs and invited guests only.
5:30 pm–6:30 pm	SEI/Pathways Reception Open to registered Pathways to Executive Leadership attendees and past Pathways and Senior Executive Institute (SEI) graduates only.

TuesdayOct 27

October 27, 2026

Time
7:00 am–8:00 am	Fellows Breakfast Start your day with fellow members of the College of Fellows for a morning of connection, conversation, and inspiration. This…
7:00 am–8:00 am	NCEES Scholarship Breakfast Breakfast honoring NCEES Scholarship recipients with ACEC Research Institute and NCEES leadership. Invited guests only.
7:00 am–8:00 am	Networking Breakfast with Exhibitors Open to all Full, Monday Daily, and Guest Attendees. The Networking Breakfast with Exhibitors is a high-energy way to kick…
7:00 am–5:15 pm	Registration & Badge Pickup Your Fall Conference experience starts here. Pick up your badge, add ribbons that help tell your conference story, and make…
8:00 am–9:30 am	General Session & ACEC/PAC Sweepstakes Drawing Start Tuesday with a lively General Session bringing the ACEC community together for fresh perspectives, timely conversation, and the annual…
8:00 am–3:00 pm	Legal Counsel Forum II Open to registered members of the Legal Counsel Forum. The Legal Counsel Forum brings together in-house and outside counsel of…
9:30 am–10:15 am	Networking Break with Exhibitors The Networking Break with Exhibitors gives attendees a chance to step onto the show floor, enjoy refreshments, and connect with…
10:15 am–11:15 am	Coalition Leaders Executive Committee Open to members of the Coalition Leaders Executive Committee only.
10:15 am–11:15 am	Federal Agencies and Procurement Advocacy Committee Open to all Full and Tuesday Daily Attendees. The purpose of this Open Committee is to undertake advocacy efforts with…
10:15 am–11:15 am	Market Intelligence Committee Open to all registered Full and Tuesday Daily attendees.
10:15 am–11:15 am	Survey Says…Read the Contract! – An EJCDC Family Feud Challenge Join your colleagues for a fast-paced Family Feud-style competition focused on EJCDC Contract Documents. Test your knowledge of agreements, general…
10:15 am–11:15 am	Why This Must Be the Year of Agents Do you want to start REALLY using AI? In this fireside chat, we’ll break down why agent adoption is the…
11:30 am–1:45 pm	Awards Lunch Join the ACEC community as we recognize the people whose leadership, service, and achievements are making an impact across our…
1:45 pm–2:15 pm	Dessert in Exhibit Hall Open to all Full and Tuesday Daily attendees.
2:15 pm–3:15 pm	Fellows Committee Join members of the College of Fellows Committee for updates on current initiatives, committee acitivities, and upcoming programs. This meeting…
2:15 pm–3:15 pm	Land Development Coalition (LDC) Executive Committee Open to members of the Land Development Coalition Executive Committee and invited guests only. If you are interested in joining…
2:15 pm–3:15 pm	Tax & Regulatory Affairs Committee All Full and Tuesday Daily attendees are welcome to join the Tax & Regulatory Affairs Committee as we discuss key…
2:15 pm–3:15 pm	Transportation Committee Open to all Full and Tuesday Daily attendees. The Transportation Committee promotes responsible legislation and regulations on transportation infrastructure issues…
2:15 pm–3:15 pm	Your Talent Gap Isn’t a Pipeline Problem. It’s a Leadership Design Problem You’re facing a tighter talent market, accelerating retirements, and real pressure to prepare the next generation of leaders. So, you…
3:00 pm–5:00 pm	Nominating Committee Open to members of the Nominating Committee Only.
3:15 pm–3:30 pm	Networking Break
3:30 pm–4:30 pm	ACEC/PAC Champions Open to ACEC/PAC Champions, their alternates, and MO Executive Directors Only. The biannual meeting of the PAC Champions Committee will…
3:30 pm–4:30 pm	Engineering the Tax Code: How Architecture & Engineering Firms Convert Technical Work Into Cash—Defensibly Architecture and engineering firms tackle technical uncertainty daily—selecting structural systems, designing HVAC under competing constraints, coordinating envelope and MEP decisions,…
3:30 pm–4:30 pm	From Engineer to Leader: Reducing Risk When Promoting Technical Talent Engineering firms invest heavily in developing technical expertise, yet many struggle when top-performing engineers are promoted into leadership roles without…
3:30 pm–4:30 pm	If AI Designs It, Who Signs It? Considering the Legal and Ethical Issues for the Use of AI by Engineers The practice of engineering is facing rapid change and even potential transformation through the use of artificial intelligence. When used…
5:00 pm–6:30 pm	Celebrate Phoenix Reception

WednesdayOct 28

October 28, 2026

Time
7:30 am–8:30 am	Continental Breakfast Open to all Full and Wednesday Daily attendees.
8:00 am–3:00 pm	ACEC/PAC Golf Tournament
8:30 am–9:30 am	Technology Committee Open to all Full and Tuesday daily attendees. The Technology Committee is committed to providing value to our members by…
8:30 am–9:30 am	Unlocking Fast Starters, Last Minuters, & Everyone In Between A lot of people sit at the intersection of creativity, deadlines, strategy, and structure, often working across teams that don’t…
9:30 am–9:45 am	Networking Break
9:45 am–10:45 am	New Strategies for the Next Generation of Engineering Ownership Ownership transition in closely held engineering firms has become significantly more complex. The financial realities, workforce demographics, and expectations of…
9:45 am–10:45 am	“I’m Tired of AI”: Understanding AI Fatigue and How to Manage the Risks It Poses From boardrooms to Superbowl commercials, AI is everywhere, and fatigue is setting in. AI fatigue can stem from the mental,…

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October 24, 2026