October 26, 2026
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| 10:30 am–11:30 am | Ignite Innovation: Moving from AI Skepticism to Organizational IntelligenceMost engineering firm leaders know they need to do something with AI. Almost none of them know what that actually looks like inside a firm like theirs. This session closes that gap. Felsburg Holt & Ullevig President Holly Buck will share how FHU tackled year five of their five-year strategic plan with a focus on… |
| 10:30 am–11:30 am | Risk Management Is a Skill: Practicing Professional Judgment Through Real-World Project ScenariosThis session will look at common issues that arise during design and construction that can create disproportionate risk for engineering firms. Through practical project scenarios, we will consider how these issues develop, why they are often difficult to recognize in real time, and how firms can help their people slow down, ask better questions, document… |
| 10:30 am–11:30 am | The 2026 Economic Assessment and Forecast of the Engineering and Design Services IndustryThe engineering and design industry continues to operate in a complex economic environment shaped by shifting market conditions, evolving client demand, labor challenges, and ongoing uncertainty about the broader U.S. economy. What does the latest data tell us about where the industry is headed next? Join ACEC Research Institute Chief Economic Advisor Jon Gray and… |
| 2:15 pm–3:15 pm | Beyond Backlog: How Talent Shifts and AI Are Reshaping Civil Engineering FirmsCivil engineering firms remain busy, but busy doesn’t always mean profitable. Margins tighten, labor costs rise and proposal volume increases without matching returns. At the same time, generational transitions and AI-enabled production are changing how firms are staffed, structured, and where value is captured. This session examines how engineering firms generate durable profit and how… |
| 2:15 pm–3:15 pm | From Fragmented Data to Intelligent InfrastructureAs artificial intelligence, digital twins, and data-driven decision making become integral to infrastructure delivery and management, the strategic value of connected data has never been greater. Yet many organizations continue to struggle with fragmented information, disconnected systems, and inconsistent data practices that limit collaboration, reduce efficiency, and reduce the long-term value of infrastructure information. This… |
| 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 their internal culture. Panelists will share how firms can retain components of their culture, such as employee resource groups, while remaining compliant with the executive order and navigating differing requirements from federal, state, and local… |
| 4:00 pm–5:00 pm | Engineering an Award-Winning CultureIn this session, FOXXSTEM will share the principles behind its recognition as one of the Washington, DC region’s best places to work and how those principles are reflected in its tagline: “Building People. Elevating Communities. Engineering Solutions.” The order is intentional. Before a company can deliver projects or strengthen communities, it must first invest in… |
| 4:00 pm–5:00 pm | Redesigning the Playing Field: Expanding Competition to Deliver Better InfrastructurePublic infrastructure investment is at historic levels. Yet across the country, agencies report shrinking bidder pools, rising costs, and limited competition on complex projects. For architecture and engineering firms, this presents both a challenge and a strategic opportunity. This 60-minute panel brings together industry leaders who are rethinking how firms can actively support procurement approaches… |
October 27, 2026
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| 10:15 am–11:15 am | Survey Says…Read the Contract! – An EJCDC Family Feud ChallengeJoin your colleagues for a fast-paced Family Feud-style competition focused on EJCDC Contract Documents. Test your knowledge of agreements, general conditions, change orders, RFIs, submittals, and construction administration while exploring common EJCDC concepts, contractual responsibilities, project challenges, and risk management considerations. Speakers: Julie Daniel, HDR; Jordan Green, GHD; Jane Rozga, GHD Earn 1 PDH |
| 10:15 am–11:15 am | Why This Must Be the Year of AgentsDo you want to start REALLY using AI? In this fireside chat, we’ll break down why agent adoption is the way to adopt and use AI. This session will cover what a leadership-led operating model looks like in practice, including usage analytics to identify internal champions and applying a “start small, scale fast” roadmap that… |
| 2:15 pm–3:15 pm | Your Talent Gap Isn’t a Pipeline Problem. It’s a Leadership Design ProblemYou’re facing a tighter talent market, accelerating retirements, and real pressure to prepare the next generation of leaders. So, you recruit harder. You train more. But the talent gap remains. That’s not a pipeline problem. It’s a leadership design problem. How well leaders perform, and grow is shaped by the leadership system designed around them.… |
| 3:30 pm–4:30 pm | Engineering the Tax Code: How Architecture & Engineering Firms Convert Technical Work Into Cash—DefensiblyArchitecture and engineering firms tackle technical uncertainty daily—selecting structural systems, designing HVAC under competing constraints, coordinating envelope and MEP decisions, and iterating through modeling and analysis. Yet many A/E leaders assume the federal R&D tax credit is "for inventors," or stepped away after 2022's Section 174 changes. This session reframes the topic in engineering-native terms… |
| 3:30 pm–4:30 pm | From Engineer to Leader: Reducing Risk When Promoting Technical TalentEngineering firms invest heavily in developing technical expertise, yet many struggle when top-performing engineers are promoted into leadership roles without the skills needed to manage people, drive accountability, and lead high-performing teams. The result can be decreased employee engagement, higher turnover, reduced productivity, and challenges in project delivery. This session explores how firms can successfully… |
| 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 EngineersThe practice of engineering is facing rapid change and even potential transformation through the use of artificial intelligence. When used well, AI can increase the efficiency, safety, and quality of engineering services. Still, engineers must consider the legal and ethical issues that accompany the use of AI, such as confirming the reliability and accuracy of… |
October 28, 2026
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| 8:30 am–9:30 am | Unlocking Fast Starters, Last Minuters, & Everyone In BetweenA lot of people sit at the intersection of creativity, deadlines, strategy, and structure, often working across teams that don’t operate the same way they do. Whether you’re a fast starter who color-codes your timeline, or a last-minuter who does your best thinking under pressure, there’s often frustration, misunderstanding, and shame around how we work.… |
| 9:45 am–10:45 am | New Strategies for the Next Generation of Engineering OwnershipOwnership transition in closely held engineering firms has become significantly more complex. The financial realities, workforce demographics, and expectations of the next generation have shifted so dramatically that the approaches many firms used just 10–15 years ago often no longer work today. When firms fail to recognize generational and financial misalignment early in the transition… |
| 9:45 am–10:45 am | “I’m Tired of AI”: Understanding AI Fatigue and How to Manage the Risks It PosesFrom boardrooms to Superbowl commercials, AI is everywhere, and fatigue is setting in. AI fatigue can stem from the mental, emotional, and operational burnout caused by the constant, rapid growth of artificial intelligence tools and the pressure to adopt and use them. While AI arguably increases the speed of production, it can also increase the… |