Schedule is subject to change.
Monday, October 21
9:50 am – 10:05 am
Hosted in Exhibit Hall
Rapid-Fire Session — A&E Claims Trends and Drivers of Liability
Presented by Risk Strategies
Learn about problematic project types, geographies and even disciplines that tend to represent heightened risks, as well as the factors that are causing professional liability lawsuits to become much more expensive to defend and, ultimately, resolve.
10:15 am – 10:30 am
Hosted in Exhibit Hall
Rapid-Fire Session — Leveraging Data and Technology to Deliver Effective and Efficient Health Plans
Presented by The Alera Group
You manage your business, including your client deliverables based on data. Given that employees and their benefits are likely one of the top 2-3 line items in your budget, it is critical to manage that in the same format. Join us as we explain how technology and advanced risk indexing allows us to reduce plan spend waste and drive improved “benefit” for your people.
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Education Session — Shaping the Future: Assembling Elite Technology Talent for Your Firm
Hosted by the ACEC Technology Committee
Eric Quinn, C&S; Markus Weidner, Pennoni;
Learn how leading Chief Information Officers are assembling elite teams to manage AI, Automation Cybersecurity and address complex technology issues.
Education Session — Engineering Economics: Assessing the Impact and Forecasting the Future
Joe Bates, ACEC Research Institute; Jon Gray, Rockport Analytics
Join our dynamic discussion on the 2024 Economic Assessment and Forecast, exploring the impact of the U.S. Economy on the Engineering and Design Services sector. The latest findings from the Institute’s annual economic assessment and quarterly Engineering Business Sentiment study will be shared, providing a comprehensive view of industry health and future outlook.
Education Session — The Future of Engineering Leadership: An ACEC/Michigan Study on the Motivations and Expectations of the Next Generation of Firm and Industry Leaders
Melanie Oliver, Mpact Partners; Steven Gravlin, Michael Baker International; Ron Brenke, ACEC Michigan
The AEC consulting industry faces critical challenges amid technological shifts, workforce diversity, and evolving cultural norms. Join this presentation for insights into the next generation of leadership for ACEC member firms.
Partner Presentation — How to Use the New ACEC Business Insurance Trust's Contract Review Checklist
Hosted by The ACEC Business Insurance Trust
Roger C. Guilian, J.D., CRIS, Greyling Insurance Brokerage & Risk Consulting, a Division of EPIC
The ACEC BIT released its Contract Review Checklist as a handy reference guide for engineers when reviewing contracts. Greyling's Roger Guilian, J.D., Co-Program Manager of the ACEC BIT, will provide detailed insight into the Checklist and its fundamentals, and how best to add it to your firm's risk management program.
Partner Presentation — How AI + Big Data Will Transform the AEC Industry
Hosted by BST Global
Brian S. Powell, Senior Account Executive; Nicholas J.A. Baldor, Account Executive
Artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data are changing the face of every industry. In this session, BST Global Senior Account Executive Brian S. Powell and Account Executive Nicholas J.A. Baldor will examine how these technologies can be applied in the AEC industry to foster the data-driven consultancy of the future.
1:35 pm – 1:50 pm
Hosted in the Exhibit Hall
Rapid-Fire Session — Training for Transformation: Building Decision-Making Competence in Engineering
Presented by Zweig
The ability to make swift, informed decisions is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge. Join us for an engaging presentation aimed at tackling the persistent issue of slow decision-making that hampers many firms. We will share concise actionable strategies: defining decision-making roles and creating the right control mechanisms to enhance organizational agility. Learn how to build a deep bench of competence at all levels through effective professional development and training initiatives, empowering your entire team to make informed decisions swiftly. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your firm’s approach to decision-making and drive lasting success.
2:00 pm – 2:15 pm
Hosted in the Exhibit Hall
Rapid-Fire Session — The Profitability of Protection - Boosting Revenues and Client Trust with Cybersecurity
Presented by slashBlue
We have been serving the AEC industry for over 20 years and up until now Cybersecurity has been seen as an expense not as a revenue generator. We will show you how Cybersecurity can support with new client acquisition and protect revenues.
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm
Education Session — AI in Action: Wade Trim’s Blueprint for Innovation and Growth
Hosted by the ACEC Technology Committee
Mehdi Nourbakhsh, Yega Tech; Timothy O’Rourke, Wade Trim
The exploding AI startup ecosystem, now home to over 10,000 startups dedicated to the AEC industry, presents a unique challenge for technology and innovation leaders in the AEC sector: for formidable task of evaluating an overwhelming array of new tools and technologies. This presentation explores the AI journey of Wade Trim, and an internal transformation and culture shift towards innovation and agility. Attendees will learn about the importance of leadership in driving culture change, the benefits of a proactive approach to technology adoption, and the transformative impact of AI on business processes and outcomes.
Education Session — Driving the Bottom Line Through Workplace Culture and Workforce Engagement
Hosted by ACEC Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI&B) Committee
Moderator: Joe Bates, ACEC Research Institute; Speakers: Keith Foxx, FOXXSTEM; Mimi Kronisch, RK&K; Annie Rezac, Ulteig
The ACEC Research Institute has recently completed groundbreaking work focused on the business case for investing in workplace culture and workforce engagement. At this session you will hear the results of these studies that inform our industry on how to drive the bottom line through workplace culture and create an environment where employees are motivated, engaged, and aligned with the company's goals, leading to improved productivity, innovation, and profitability.
Education Session — 2024 Design Professional Claims Study — Insights/Trends & Effectively Managing Your Professional Liability Insurance
Hosted by the Coalition of American Structural Engineers (CASE)
Rob Hughes, Ames & Gough Insurance/Risk Management Inc.; Steve Stephanides, Beazley Insurance Company
Hear about professional liability risk and claims trends and their impact on the broader professional liability insurance market conditions, which helps firms to better position themselves to minimize cost while maximizing coverage. Attendees will walk away with a unique understanding of risks trends, including claim frequency and severity by region, service discipline, and project types.
Partner Presentation — Cloud Technology as a Competitive Advantage
Hosted by Egnyte
Dan Larson, CEO; Phillip Carlisle, VP of IT at Volkert; Nick Decker, Engineering Practice Lead
Join leaders from AET and Volkert as they discuss their transformative journey to the cloud, illustrating how they embraced cloud technology to enhance collaboration, reduce IT costs, and optimize operations across the organization, ultimately driving innovation and operational excellence in the AEC industry.
Partner Presentation — Business Succession Planning - Deep Dive
Hosted by ACEC Retirement Trust
Barry Beal, CAPTRUST
Join Barry as he takes a deep dive into business succession paths available to an owner. As a previous business owner, he will provide insight to the M&A market as both an acquirer and as a seller. He will highlight what is required to prepare your firm for sale along with steps that a business owner should consider personally before and after a transition.
3:20 pm – 3:35 pm
Hosted in Exhibit Hall
Rapid-Fire Session — Bentley's Generative AI Game-Changer for Civil Site Design
Presented by Bentley
Bentley Systems recently unveiled OpenSite+, the first-to-market AI-powered civil engineering software specifically built for site design and land development. During the rapid-fire sessions, the product development team will explore why it addresses site engineering challenges and demonstrate how it equips engineers to deliver higher quality projects up to 10 times faster with their existing workforce.
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Education Session — Empowering Your Team: Essential AI and Tech Training for AEC Professionals
Hosted by ACEC Technology Committee
Kristin Kautz, Zweig Group, LLC
With new AI tools emerging at lighting speed, it’s becoming harder to determine which are most useful. This session will help attendees separate what is needed from what isn’t to find the tools that are most aligned with the needs of an AEC firm. Whether you are looking to enhance your workflow, or aiming to better equip your whole team, this session is for you.
Education Session — Rewards that Resonate: Today's AEC Firm Total Rewards Strategies
Julie Hasiba, Environmental Financial Consulting Group
Take a structured approach to the employee experience and understand strategies firms are implementing to help recruit and retain talent. Panelists will share their journeys in developing a total rewards strategy that resonates with their culture and people and how these approaches have impacted recruitment, retention, and value creation.
Education Session — Avoid the Wrecking Ball Hidden in Acquisitions & Private Equity
DeWayne Ables, Pioneer iQ, LLC
The biggest disruption for many firms in our industry in the coming years is not the economy, project volume, or talent. It's the negative impact on cultures and people in firms that are being acquired by a peer firm or a Private Equity group. This session focuses on how to synchronize the existing purpose, beliefs, and culture post-acquisition, and how to maximize the potential of people, teams, and organizations throughout the process.
Partner Presentation — Overview of A/E M&A Trends and Deal Pricing
Hosted by Morrissey Goodale
Nate Wentworth, Senior Consultant
This session will discuss A/E industry M&A and provide an update on deal activity in the U.S., current trends, deal pricing, and outlook for the rest of 2024 and beyond.
Partner Presentation — How to Streamline Project Management and Boost Productivity with Generative AI
Hosted by Deltek
Bret Tushaus, VP, Product Management
Discover how engineering, architecture, and consulting firms can leverage AI and emerging technologies to overcome industry challenges like rising costs and a growing skills gap. Learn practical strategies to enhance project management, resource optimization, and decision-making, while overcoming barriers to AI adoption and driving operational excellence in a competitive landscape.
Tuesday, October 22
10:00 am –10:15 am
Hosted in the Exhibit Hall
Rapid-Fire Session — Bentley's Generative AI Game-Changer for Civil Site Design
Presented by Bentley
Bentley Systems recently unveiled OpenSite+, the first-to-market AI-powered civil engineering software specifically built for site design and land development. During the rapid-fire sessions, the product development team will explore why it addresses site engineering challenges and demonstrate how it equips engineers to deliver higher quality projects up to 10 times faster with their existing workforce.
10:15 am – 11:15 am
Education Session — The AI Imperative: A Trailblazer's Perspective
Hosted by ACEC Technology Committee
Eileen Canady, BST Global
Artificial intelligence and big data are changing the face of the AEC industry. Join this session for a reflection on BST Global’s 2024 AI Summit, which brought together 15 senior technology visionaries from the world’s preeminent architecture, engineering and environmental consultancies to share how they’re preparing for an AI-powered and data-driven future. Specifically, the program will address how to strike a balance between the critical priorities you face today and navigating uncharted waters to strategically position your business for future success. The presenter will also explain how traditional business models will be upended with the rise of AI and how to explore new ideas for the future of the industry.
Education Session — Business Succession (Tips, Trends, and New Options)
Michelle Generaux and Michael Murtaugh, Murtaugh Treglia Stern & Deily LLP
Understand the basic principles of business succession, including tips, trends, and new options to consider. Focus areas include key components of a succession plan, considerations for any internal transition plan, as well as the sale of your business to a third-party.
Education Session — Embracing Progressive Design-Build in Modern Engineering
Hosted by CASE and The Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee (EJCDC)
Zachary Jones, Jones Law, PLLC
Explore the transformative potential of progressive design-build in today’s dynamic project delivery landscape by delving into the practical considerations of early collaboration between owners and the design-builder team, the integration of innovative contract practices, and the strategic management of project risks and opportunities. Gain insights into the progressive design build process with real world examples and actionable strategies to apply these principles to achieve superior project outcomes.
Partner Presentation — Implementing Low-Carbon Transportation Materials: An Opportunity for Consulting Engineers
Hosted by American Concrete Pavement Association
Eric Ferrebee, PE, American Concrete Pavement Association; Lawrence Sutter, Sutter Engineering
The FHWA is awarding $2B to state and non-state highway agencies to implement low-carbon construction materials. Most agencies are not technically prepared or staffed for this work, which will include materials selection, mixture design/testing, specification writing, and training. These agencies will rely heavily on consulting engineers and design firms to accomplish these tasks.
Partner Presentation — The AEC Executive's Path to Growing Your Resilient, Scalable Business
Hosted by Unanet
Lucas Hayden, Senior Product Marketing Director
Join Lucas Hayden from Unanet for an engaging session on the 2024 AEC Inspire Report. Discover actionable strategies for AEC firm leaders, helping you operate efficiently today while preparing for future industry challenges and opportunities. Equip yourself with the tools needed to stay ahead in the evolving AEC landscape.
Partner Presentation — From ESOPs to EBITDA: Demystifying What Really Matters for a Successful Ownership Transition
Hosted by FMI Capital Advisors
Brooke Navarro, Managing Director
With rapid industry consolidation, it hard to understand what is happening behind the headlines. In this interactive presentation, we’ll highlight tasks and metrics to focus on that will prepare your company up for a future internal or external sale. We’ll explain finance “jargon” and provide a roadmap for long-term planning.
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Education Session — Mastering AI Adoption: Essential Guidelines for ACEC Members
Hosted by ACEC Technology Committee
Mark Blankenship, Willis – A&E; Catherine Bragg, TRC Companies, Inc.; David Mulholland, VHB
Please join the co-chairs of the ACEC Risk Management Committee’s Subcommittee on Artificial Intelligence for an interactive discussion of the Subcommittee’s recommended elements for artificial intelligence policies specific to engineering firms. The program will start with an overview and purpose of the guidelines, including governance, approvals, and authorizations. This session will also consider unapproved uses of AI.
Education Session — How to Benefit from Private Investment in the A&E Industry — Even if you Don't Take a Dollar
Brooke Navarro, FMI Capital Advisors
Learn about profiles of businesses participating in the mergers and acquisitions market and gain practical tips to position your firm for investment and to attract buyers, as well those seeking creative ways to stand out against the competition in the fast-changing landscape. Discover the themes underpinning investment activity, including untapped opportunities to drive exponential growth in their firms, as well as which markets show the most long-term growth potential.
Education Session — Light & Human Health
Hosted by Coalition of American Mechanical and Electrical Engineers (CAMEE) and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
Kimberly Mercier, Lighting Design Innovations
This session will focus on the integration of lighting systems into built environments to support human health and wellness, enhance functionality, and improve the efficiency and sustainability of the places we occupy. Participants will explore the technical and collaborative aspects of lighting design, its impact on building and human performance, and best practices for implementing effective lighting solutions in vertical spaces.
3:45 pm – 4:45 pm
Education Session — AEC Tech Ventures: Empowering Client Decisions with Innovative Solutions
Hosted by ACEC Technology Committee
Timothy Miller, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
This discussion focuses on how designing technology solutions helps empower clients to make better decisions. Faced with staff turnover and brain drain, public agencies often confront the reality of needing to deliver a growing list of capital projects without enough resources. Our goal as consultants and design professionals is to give clients an easy button, which leads to high levels of client service and increased profitability. Participants will learn how developing software and technology solutions, for both internal and external partners, can add value while enhancing and expanding consulting services and ow to use those tools to provide the data and actionable intelligence to support an agency’s decision-making process.
Education Session — Transitioning to NAPGD 2022 and NATRF 2022: Understanding the Future of GEO Spatial Systems (GPS)
Hosted by Coalition of Professional Surveyors (COPS)
David Doyle, National Geodetic Survey
This presentation will discuss the foundations for the new and improved horizontal and vertical geodetic and tidal datums delivered by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) and the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS). This session will demonstrate datum transformation and coordinate conversion tools to estimate the magnitude of these changes across the country.
Education Session — Building Shareholder Value: Understanding the Link Between Financial Performance and Enterprise Value
Matthew Fultz, Matheson Financial Advisors; Tom Pace, Thomas & Hutton
Explore the link between financial performance and enterprise value and how to build shareholder value. Our panel of AEC industry experts will discuss strategic growth, increasing profits, maximizing profit margins, cash flow, and capitalization that enhance shareholder value.
Wednesday, October 23
8:30 am – 9:30 am
Education Session — Unlocking Business Growth in AEC: Harness AI for Success
Hosted by ACEC Technology Committee
Jen Newman, Elevate Marketing Advisor; Joy Guinn, Guinn Consulting Engineers
Explore AI's transformative role in the A/E/C industry and how it can revolutionize business development. Gain insights into techniques for AI, all aimed at driving sustainable growth and strategic innovation within the industry. Through real-world examples, the program will demonstrate the operation and strategic benefits of integrating AI into business development efforts.
Education Session — Soft Skills for Engineers: Building the Necessary Skills for the Future of the AE Industry
Sarah Thornhill, Morrissey Goodale LLC
As AI and technology continue to evolve and take on a greater share of the analytical workload, the role of an engineer will progressively emphasize more soft skills. These essential abilities are crucial for engaging with clients, collaborating effectively with team members, and communicating project details to the public.
9:45 am – 10:45 am
Education Session — Seller-Doer Business Development Best Practices & Strategies for A/E/C Professionals
Julie Wanzer, Business Rewritten, Inc.
Create value for your clients, where trust becomes your currency to win more work through strategic A/E/C business development best practices. This presentation includes strategies for seller-doer time management, client development, networking with a purpose and how to create ongoing relationships in the A/E/C industry. Learn more about what to do before, during, and after business development events like large client meetings, professional happy hours, industry-association events, and conferences.
Education Session — Burnout: How to Recognize and Respond
Geri Boyer, Kaskaskia Engineering Group, LLC
Burnout stands out as one of the foremost issues confronting the workforce today, with people grappling with exhaustion and the weight of constant virtual interactions. Yet, employers can wield significant influence in mitigating its effects. Learn how to pinpoint burnout, address underlying organizational stressors, formulate responsive interventions, and develop proactive measures to prevent its recurrence. By nurturing the mental well-being of employees, businesses can not only enhance productivity and engagement but also foster a culture of holistic health and wellness.