Agenda
2025 Program to be announced soon.
Call for Proposals
ROG+ is accepting presentation proposals for our 2025 conference until February 28, 2025. To submit a proposal, please contact Ashley Cristman at acristman@rog-partners.com. Enclose a title, brief description of your session, and reason it would appeal to senior level executives in the A/E Industry.
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
12:00 p.m.
ACEC Research Institute Golf Classic
Sponsored by PKF O’Connor Davies and Autodesk
Tiburón Golf Club next to The Ritz-Carlton Tiburón
1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Pre-Conference Workshops
1:00 – 2:30 pm: Session One
Latest Statistics and Trends on Company Valuations and Transaction Structures
Ian Rusk, Managing Principal and Michael O’Brien, Principal, ROG+ Partners
Using our 11th edition A/E Business Valuation and M&A Transaction Study, this session will highlight the most successful ownership models employed by privately held A/E firms. We’ll explore the various ways that firms handle ownership eligibility, establish their share price, facilitate new investment, manage stock repurchases, handle governance, and more.
3:00 – 4:30 pm: Session Two
Effective M&A Strategies for A/E Firms
Steve Gido, Principal, ROG+ Partners
Steve will assess the current M&A landscape, buyer and seller motivations, private equity influence, valuation and deal structure trends, risks and coverage concerns and the delicate journey from courtship to closing.
Welcome Reception and Golf Awards
Sponsored by Ames & Gough
Tiburón Golf Club next to The Ritz-Carlton Tiburón
Thursday, November 6, 2025
Registration and Networking Breakfast I Sponsored by alliant
Keynote Session
State of the A/E Industry
Steve Gido, Principal, ROG+ Partners
In his opening keynote, Steve will provide an overview of the growth and ownership trends impacting A/E firms in 2025. Topics will also include observations on the overall industry climate and conditions as well as specific opportunities and challenges leaders are facing in yet another busy and buoyant year.
Keynote Session
Build a Workforce Pipeline That Doesn’t Leak
Invited Keynote: Maria Lehman, PE, F.ASCE, ENV SP, Infrastructure Director and Principal, GHD
As our nation works to improve aging and crumbling infrastructure, assembling and retaining the workforce needed to achieve those goals remains a major challenge. Never has the need for civil engineers and all the trades that support them been greater. In the last decade, we’ve witnessed flat enrollments in civil engineering schools for tech associate and bachelor’s degrees as well as in the construction trades. That’s further complicated by the fact that the largest cohort in most of these jobs are baby boomers, many of whom are set to retire soon.
Maria will discuss this as well as findings from my earlier reports; “Where Have All the Workers Gone?”, and “Electrifying the Workforce.” I will speak to these statistics and solutions and explore a scan of some of the country’s best practices in nurturing the current and future workforce. Some of the activities include well-being resource training for leaders that includes guidance on how to address stress, how to have empathetic conversations, tips for avoiding team burnout, and employee resource groups.
Networking Break
Keynote Session
Be Future Ready TM
Simon Anderson, Founder, Venture Foresight, LLC
Today's rapidly evolving business environment requires more than resilience to remain competitive and achieve long-term success. This Keynote Session will help you and your organization become “Future Ready.” This isn't just about bouncing back from new challenges; it's about proactively using foresight tools and practices to identify and capitalize on the opportunities that change creates. Simon's three-step Future Ready Formula™ provides you with the mindset, core skills, and specific actions you can use right away to excel in our ever-changing world.
Lunch I Sponsored by Deltek
Court of Palms
Keynote Session
The Funny Side of …
Don McMillan, Comedian & Former Engineer
What do you get when you cross an Engineer with a stand-up comedian? You get Don McMillan. This former chip designer has been doing his one-of-a-kind, PowerPoint-Driven comedy show for corporate audiences for over 20 years - and now he turns his sights on ROG+ Partners! In his show packed with graphs & charts, Don will show you the funny side of your world that has been sitting right in front of you - you are just too busy working to notice it. Join us for lots of laughs and pick up a few jokes to take back to your job!
Networking Break I Sponsored by Informed Infrastructure
First Breakout Sessions
Breakout Session 1
2025 Tax Legislation Update and Year-end Planning Strategies for Your Firm
Dave Sullivan, Jr., Partner, A&E Practice, PKF O’Connor Davies LLP
2025 promises to be a busy year for tax legislation. During this session we will be discussing new and pending legislation that will impact your firm’s current and future tax strategies. Expected items to cover include the status of expiring tax provisions, new tax law changes and Section 174 updates. Materials and content will be updated as the year progresses to provide you with the most up-to-date information available as you plan your Firm’s 2025 tax strategy.
Breakout Session 2
Is Your Ownership Transition Plan in Harmony with Your Strategic Plan?
Michael O’Brien, ASA, CM&AA, Principal, Rusk O’Brien Gido + Partners and Drake Nicholas, Partner, Barley Snyder, LLP
Many firms focus on ownership planning apart from its strategic planning. After all, what does one have to do with the other? Everything – aside from the obvious leadership changes, a key element to your strategic plan is your ability to grow and having the funds to grow. Access to capital is required to invest in working capital and fixed assets to fund your growth. Also, as you increase demand for your employees, you may need to be sure that there is adequate funds available for incentive compensation plans. What if your company is using all of its free cash flow to fund its shareholder redemption obligations? Will you be able to meet your growth objectives? This interactive session will address recent trends in ownership planning, what firms can do and should do to invest in their work force in order to remain competitive and how firms are enhancing and protecting shareholder value.
Breakout Session 3
Aligning Tech and Business Strategy to Maximize Impact and Growth
Bret Tushaus, VP, Product Management, Deltek
As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the AE industry, the need for alignment between technology and business strategy has never been greater. The right technology investments can accelerate growth and improve efficiency, while poor alignment can lead to costly inefficiencies. But how do you ensure your firm’s technology decisions actively support business goals rather than become distractions? Join Bret Tushaus to explore how AE firms can bridge the strategy gap by creating meaningful connections between business objectives and technology investments. Learn how to make informed decisions by evaluating emerging technologies beyond the hype and selecting those that drive real business value. Discover strategies for maximizing ROI through alignment, measuring impact, and optimizing resources to ensure innovation enhances project delivery and competitive advantage. Walk away with actionable insights to help your firm successfully navigate the evolving AI landscape, ensuring that technology and business strategy work together to fuel long-term success.
Second Breakout Sessions
Breakout Session 4
AI + Big Data: Exclusive Insights From AEC Visionaries
TBD
Artificial intelligence and big data are changing the face of the AEC industry. So, BST Global brought senior technology visionaries from the world’s preeminent architecture, engineering and environmental consultancies together at BST Global’s second annual AI Summit to share how they’re preparing for an AI-powered, data-driven future. BST Global also launched its groundbreaking AI + Data Survey globally, seeking insights from technology and data leaders of AEC firms around the world. In this session, the speaker will reflect on the AI Summit, a premier event focused on all things AI for the AEC industry, as well as share exclusive insights and data from the company’s industry survey.
Breakout Session 5
Curiosity Kills the Cat…or Does It? Why the Future of AEC Belongs to the Bold, Not the Comfortable
Chandra Storrusten, CEO & Chief Value Creation Officer, Visible Value
In an industry built on enduring legacies and robust structures, this session challenges conventional wisdom and invites leaders to redefine authentic leadership in a rapidly shifting landscape. Drawing inspiration from nature’s timeless lessons, we’ll share models that showcase how merging time-tested strategies with daring innovation isn’t just visionary, it’s essential to thrive.
- Lions: Legacy Leaders
- Strategic, protective, and focused on long-term stability.
- We’ll discover how established firms have leveraged their deep-rooted expertise to sustain growth over decades.
- Cheetahs: Next-Gen Leaders
- Agile, independent, and willing to take bold risks for rapid wins.
- We’ll explore how quick decision-making and flexibility have led to breakthrough successes.
- The Leopard Approach: Harnessing the Best of Both Worlds
- Harness lion-like wisdom and cheetah-like agility to build adaptive, resilient organizations.
- We’ll share case studies and best practices that you can integrate into your firm’s strategy, culture, and leadership development.
Join us for an engaging session that will spark vibrant conversation and equip you with practical strategies for rethinking leadership in our industry. Ensure that you’re not just watching the future unfold but actively shaping it!
Breakout Session 6
M&A Integration Champions: Thriving in Post-Merger Reality
Joy Taylor, Managing Director, alliant
What makes this offering particularly valuable for ROG attendees is how we've combined alliant's intimate knowledge of the A&E industry with Joy's specialized service expertise. This powerful combination delivers guidance that addresses both the technical and human elements of strategic growth. Joy's approach recognizes the distinctive culture and goals of each firm. Her work helps organizations navigate complex transitions while preserving their unique market position and values. Whether you're considering selling your practice, acquiring new capabilities, or planning for succession, Joy's insights help transform these challenges into opportunities.
7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
ROG+ Reception with hors d’oeurves and carving stations
The Ritz-Carlton Tiburón Ria Restaurant Poolside
Friday, November 7, 2025
Networking Breakfast I Sponsored by BST Global
8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Keynote Session
Monetary Masala
Dr. Anirban Basu, Chairman & CEO, Sage Policy Group, Inc.
With the presidential and congressional elections of 2024 in the rearview, our eyes turn to 2025. Has the Federal Reserve engineered a soft landing, or is stagflation on the way? Can America continue to pace the advanced world, or will expanding indebtedness, policy uncertainty, and over-extended asset values prove our collective undoing? This presentation focuses on US and regional economic performance with an eye toward discussing emerging risks to what has thus far been an economy that has surprised to the upside.
9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
ACEC Research Institute Panel Discussion
Moderator: Steve Gido, Principal, ROG Partners
Join our dynamic panel discussion on the 2025 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.
NEW!
Round Table Discussions
Round Table Discussion 1
The Future Favors the Bold—Are You Ready to Be Curious and Take the Leap?
Moderated by Chandra Storrusten, CEO & Chief Value Creation Officer, Visible Value
The built environment is changing, and the nature of leadership is evolving. Some leaders pave the way for the future, while others—often unintentionally—become roadblocks to progress. Which one are you? This interactive roundtable is designed for executives who are ready to take an honest look at their leadership style and firm culture. Through a guided self-assessment on legacy, courage, and curiosity, as well as facilitated peer discussions and real-world insights and case studies, we’ll explore whether you’re leading with lion-like wisdom, cheetah-like agility, leopard-like strategic foresight and flexibility, or inadvertently stuck in the past.
We’ll discuss:
- Legacy vs. Innovation: Are you protecting what matters or resisting necessary change?
- Courage vs. Comfort: Are you making bold decisions or playing it safe?
- Curiosity vs. Control: Are you open to new ideas or shutting them down too soon?
- Action vs. Inertia: Is your firm evolving, or is it at risk of being left behind?
You’ll walk away with actionable strategies to blend tradition with innovation in a way that best serves your firm and equips you with the tools needed to boldly shape your firm’s future.
Round Table Discussion 2
TBD
12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
ROG + Fishing Outing I Sponsored By Emissary
Plan on boarding an open air trolley in front of the Ritz-Carlton at 12:30 p.m. for a 15-minute ride to Port-o-Call Marina.
Those fishing will grab lunch and beverages and board the nine fishing vessels with experienced and fun captains for some backwater sport fishing. After the 3½ hour outing (from 1:00 to 4:30) we will reconvene back at the marina and head back to The Ritz-Carlton, Tiburón. Limited to 52 anglers.
November 5-7
2 0 2 5
In Partnership with
2025 Sponsors
