12:00 p.m.

ACEC Research Institute Golf Classic

Sponsored by PKF O’Connor Davies
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 13th 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

Smart M&A and Financial Strategies for A/E Firms  I  Sponsored by J.P. Morgan

Steve Gido, Principal, ROG+ Partners and Melroy Patterson, Jr., Managing Director and Industry Manager, Professional Services, J.P. Morgan

Buyers and sellers today understand the important linkage between successful M&A transactions and incorporating organizational best practices in credit, financing, treasury and risk management solutions. In this integrated session, Steve will first assess the current M&A landscape, what’s influencing buyers, sellers and investors, valuation and deal structure trends, and tips on successfully integrating A/E firms. Melroy will then lead a discussion on how getting ready for M&A means growing professional services firms require a strategic mindset for capital, automation, AI and banking functions.

Welcome Reception and Golf Awards

Sponsored by Ames & Gough
Tiburón Golf Club next to The Ritz-Carlton Tiburón

Registration and Networking Breakfast  I  Sponsored by alliant

Keynote Session

State of the A/E Industry

Steve Gido, Principal, ROG+ Partners
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, the country’s growth and prosperity could not have been accomplished without the dedicated ingenuity and initiative of A/E professionals. In his opening keynote, Steve reflects on these remarkable achievements as well as what’s ahead for the industry. Demographic shifts and technological advances are redefining leadership and staff compositions and how firms effectively operate. Ownership models continue to evolve with the times while rampant industry consolidation has permanently altered the competitive landscape. He’ll also discuss how A/E leaders who embrace a growth mindset are more likely to navigate challenges, inspire their teams, and drive organizational success.

Keynote Session

Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Inspire Any Audience

Terry Szuplat, Former White House Speechwriter & Author of  Say It Well
In this dynamic multimedia keynote, former White House speechwriter and bestselling author Terry Szuplat shares the communication principles he used on the world’s biggest stages and shows how firm leaders can apply them in their own high-stakes moments. For architecture and engineering executives, communication is more than a presentation skill. It is a competitive advantage. Whether you are leading a pursuit interview, aligning partners around strategy, navigating ownership transition, or inspiring the next generation of leaders, the ability to communicate with clarity and authenticity matters. You will leave with practical insights to help you articulate complex ideas, strengthen trust with clients and teams, and confidently express your firm’s vision.

Networking Break  I  Sponsored by Aktion Associates

Keynote Session

Designing Leadership That Performs Under Pressure

Erin Coupe, CEO & Founder, Authentically EC Inc.

The greatest risk to complex organizations is not poor strategy. It is compromised judgment at the top. Senior leaders in architecture and engineering operate in environments defined by growth, deadlines, talent constraints, and layered stakeholders. Over time, constant pressure creates noise, subtle misalignment, and reactive decision patterns that erode performance. This session is about upgrading leadership precision when it matters most. Drawing on her 17-year corporate career at Reuters, Goldman Sachs, and CBRE, and her work advising Fortune 1000 executives, Erin Coupe brings a disciplined outside perspective to the stage. She challenges leaders to slow the noise, sharpen their thinking, and make intentional choices that strengthen both execution and culture. Rather than adding new frameworks, Erin focuses on improving decision quality, alignment, and sustainable energy under pressure.

Leaders will leave with practical ways to:

• Cut through complexity and focus on high-leverage priorities
• Strengthen judgment in high-stakes moments
• Align leadership behavior with strategic intent
• Reduce friction across teams
• Sustain performance without increasing intensity

In complex environments, leadership performance sets the ceiling. This keynote shows how to raise it.

Lunch  I  Sponsored by Deltek

Court of Palms

Keynote Session

Building a Company of Rainmakers

Tim Klabunde, FSMPS, CPSM, Principal | Growth Impact Partners, LLC

Technical excellence may win projects — but a culture of rainmaking sustains growth. In today’s competitive A/E/C environment, firms can no longer rely on a select few to drive business development. This session equips senior architects and engineers with a practical four-step framework to build a companywide culture that embraces networking, relationship development, and opportunity creation. You’ll learn how to break down the cultural and behavioral barriers that limit seller-doer success, implement training that builds confidence across your firm, and establish recognition systems that reinforce revenue-generating behaviors. If you’re ready to transform business development from an individual skill into an organizational strength, this session provides the roadmap.

Networking Break  I  Sponsored by Informed Infrastructure

7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

ROG+ Reception with hors d’oeurves and carving stations 
The Ritz-Carlton Tiburón Ria Restaurant Poolside

Networking Breakfast   I  Sponsored by BST Global

8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Keynote Session
First Brood

Dr. Anirban Basu, Chairman & CEO, Sage Policy Group, Inc.

Everyone is speculating about what 2026 will bring. After an incredibly active 2025, can the U.S. economy maintain its momentum, or will lingering economic uncertainty translate into the next recession? In this fast-paced, data-driven presentation, we will monitor the latest trends in employment, housing, commercial real estate, financial markets, and output. You can expect some surprises, perhaps an insight or two, and maybe even a few laughs as we characterize the present and predict the future.

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 2026 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.

Cultivating Leaders on Purpose: Strengths Based Succession Peer Lab

Chandra Storrusten, CEO & Chief Value Creation Officer, Visible Value

Through a live demonstration of HIGH5®, you’ll see how strengths insights improve decisions across the full succession pipeline—identifying and developing emerging leaders, shaping current leaders for their next role, and informing role design, mentoring, and development plans so readiness is built long before a transition. Then you’ll work with your peers to turn your strategy into the leadership capabilities you need next, pinpoint where your bench is most at risk, and draft a simple operating rhythm to build next‑gen leaders on purpose without adding complexity. Take the HIGH5® in advance of the session or roundtable for even more insights: https://bit.ly/4bHn0Pn. (If you haven’t, you can still fully participate using the provided “strengths lens” prompts.)

12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

ROG + Fishing Outing
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.