Plan Your Convention Experience

Explore the full schedule for the Annual Convention & Legislative Summit and design a week that fits your goals. Use filters to browse by day, topic, or session type, and select individual sessions for full details. Build a personalized agenda and stay focused on what matters most to you.

May 2

May 2, 2026

Time
12:00 pm–5:00 pm	Registration Your gateway to everything AC26
1:30 pm–5:30 pm	Pathways to Executive Leadership A private leadership lab for the next generation of firm executives
2:00 pm–4:00 pm	NAECE Meeting I A leadership forum for ACEC’s MO executive community
4:00 pm–5:00 pm	Planning Cabinet Committee Where strategy and governance come together
5:00 pm–6:00 pm	ACEC/NAECE Staff Reception An evening of connection across the ACEC federation

May 3

May 3, 2026

Time
8:00 am–5:00 pm	Pathways to Executive Leadership A private leadership lab for the next generation of firm executives
8:00 am–6:30 pm	Registration Your gateway to everything the 2026 Annual Convention and Legislative Summit has to offer
8:30 am–10:00 am	Leadership Breakfast Central A regional leadership forum for ACEC Board of Directors members
8:30 am–10:00 am	Leadership Breakfast Mid-Atlantic A regional leadership forum for ACEC Board of Directors members
8:30 am–10:00 am	Leadership Breakfast Mid-West A regional leadership forum for ACEC Board of Directors members
8:30 am–10:00 am	Leadership Breakfast Northeast A regional leadership forum for ACEC Board of Directors members
8:30 am–10:00 am	Leadership Breakfast Northwest A regional leadership forum for ACEC Board of Directors members
8:30 am–10:00 am	Leadership Breakfast Southeast A regional leadership forum for ACEC Board of Directors members
8:30 am–10:00 am	Leadership Breakfast Southwest A regional leadership forum for ACEC Board of Directors members
10:15 am–1:15 pm	Board of Directors Meeting Where the direction of ACEC takes shape
10:30 am–11:30 am	Geoprofessional Coalition (GEO) Executive Committee The GEO Executive Committee serves as the leadership body guiding the coalition’s priorities across education, advocacy, and member engagement. If…
1:00 pm–2:00 pm	Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Engineers (MEP) Coalition Executive Committee The MEP Executive Committee is the leadership group responsible for shaping the coalition’s direction and advancing initiatives in education, advocacy,…
1:15 pm–2:15 pm	ACEC Board and New Attendee Luncheon Open to members of the Board of Directors, Past Chairs, NAECE and all registered First Time Attendees. Navigate and maximize…
1:30 pm–2:30 pm	Risk Management Committee Open to all Full and Sunday Daily attendees. The Risk Management Committee assists Member Firms in understanding and managing risk…
2:15 pm–4:15 pm	CEO Roundtable – Large Firm (201-500 employees) A strategic forum and leadership exchange for large firm CEOs
2:15 pm–4:15 pm	CEO Roundtable – Medium Firm (51-200 employees) A strategic forum and leadership exchange for medium firm CEOs
2:15 pm–4:15 pm	CEO Roundtable – Small Firm (1-50 employees)Moderated by SFC A strategic forum and leadership exchange for small firm CEOs
2:15 pm–4:15 pm	CEO Roundtable – Very Large Firm (501+ employees) Moderated by DPC A strategic forum and leadership exchange for very large firm CEOs
2:15 pm–4:15 pm	NAECE Meeting II A leadership forum for ACEC’s MO executive community
4:00 pm–6:00 pm	Fellows Scholarship Committee Guiding the future of the Fellows Scholarship
4:45 pm–5:45 pm	Coalition Leaders Executive Committee Open to members of the Coalition Leaders Executive Committee only.
4:45 pm–5:45 pm	Engineering Excellence Awards Committee Open to members of the Engineering Excellence Awards Committee. The Committee ensures ACEC delivers a distinguished and premier Engineering Excellence…
4:45 pm–5:45 pm	Nominating Committee Open to members of the Nominating Committee Only.
4:45 pm–5:45 pm	Transportation Committee Open to all Full and Sunday Daily attendees. The Transportation Committee develops and promotes industry priorities on transportation infrastructure issues…
4:45 pm–5:45 pm	Workforce Committee Open to all Full and Sunday Daily attendees: The Committee will offer best practices to recruit the next generation while…
5:45 pm–6:45 pm	DPC Reception An evening for the Design Professionals Coalition community
5:45 pm–6:45 pm	Nominating Committee Reception Nominating Committee Members and National Officer Candidates only.
6:30 pm–7:30 pm	Welcome Reception The official start of the Convention experience
7:30 pm–10:00 pm	Welcome Dinner Carl Wockner, John Rathke, Linda Bauer Darr A show-stopping night of music, dining, and celebration

May 4

May 4, 2026

Time
6:45 am–6:00 pm	Registration Your gateway to everything the 2026 Annual Convention and Legislative Summit has to offer
7:00 am–8:00 am	Networking Breakfast with Exhibitors Start the day with the people and products shaping the industry
8:00 am–10:00 am	Opening General Session Jon Meacham, John Rathke, Linda Bauer Darr, Joe Bates A powerful beginning to a week of ideas and impact
10:00 am–10:30 am	Networking Break with Exhibitors Recharge and reconnect on the show floor
10:10 am–10:25 am	Rapid-Fire Presentation – Algorithms and Empathy: Blueprint for the Next-Gen Firm Leader The era of siloed leadership in the engineering industry is over. The engineering firm of the future cannot survive with…
10:10 am–10:25 am	Rapid-Fire Presentation – State of the Consulting Engineering Industry Morrissey Goodale's Trishank Hansrajani will reference proprietary and up-to-the-minute market research and intelligence to share how the AE industry is…
10:30 am–11:30 am	ACEC/PAC Champions Committee Biannual meeting of the ACEC PAC Champions Committee, open to committee members or their alternates, as well as MO executives.…
10:30 am–11:30 am	ACEC Three Trusts Meeting Open to Trustees and program representatives for the ACEC Business Insurance Trust, ACEC Life/Health Trust and ACEC Retirement Trust.
10:30 am–11:30 am	A New Era for USACE Civil Works USACE leaders will discuss how they are empowering district commanders to take informed risks, leveraging smarter contracting, and accelerating...
10:30 am–11:30 am	Aligning AI and Talent: Building the Engineering Workforce of the Future Joe Bates Explore how engineering firms can strategically integrate AI into their workforce through upskilling, organizational redesign, and talent planning, featuring ACEC Research Institute findings and industry leader insights on managing the human-technology convergence.
10:30 am–11:30 am	Committee of Past Chairs Open to members of the Committee of Past Chairs only. The Committee of Past Chairs is a distinguished group of…
10:30 am–11:30 am	Geoprofessional Roundtable Join fellow geoprofessionals, including geotechnical, subsurface, and geoengineering practitioners, for an open and engaging discussion on the issues shaping your…
10:30 am–11:30 am	Member Engagement and Belonging Committee Open to all Full and Monday Daily attendees. All convention attendees are welcome to join the Member Engagement and Belonging…
10:30 am–11:30 am	The Seller-Doer Shift: AI’s Impact on the Future of BD and Marketing Molly Foley, Rohan Jawali, Brian Smalkoski, Troy Meyer AI is opening new opportunities for engineering firms to rethink how they win work. For firm leaders, this shift is…
11:45 am–2:00 pm	General Session Lunch Sean McMaster, Gary Raba, Steve Hall, Jordan Baugh, Matt Reiffer, Nando Gomez, Bill Shuster, Jonathan Martin, Peter DeFazio Big ideas, bold voices, and a powerful midday reset
2:00 pm–2:30 pm	Networking Break with Exhibitors A lively pause to connect and explore
2:10 pm–2:25 pm	Rapid-Fire Presentation – Agents for the Rest of Us: The AI Revolution Nobody Told You About For three years, we've heard that AI will transform everything. But for most small and mid-sized A&E firms, the reality…
2:30 pm–3:30 pm	Building Your Workforce Pipeline: Proven Partnerships That Deliver Talent J. Nick Otto, Tera Kaltsas, Randy Landry Attracting the new workforce requires new methods of recruitment; come learn how member firms are doing it in 2026
2:30 pm–3:30 pm	Energy & Market Intelligence Joint Committee Meeting As data center development surges nationwide, this joint session of the Market Intelligence Committee and the Energy Committee bring a…
2:30 pm–3:30 pm	Fellows Committee Open to members of the Fellows only. This session will include updates on current initiatives, committee reports, and upcoming plans…
2:30 pm–3:30 pm	Land Development Roundtable Join colleagues from across the land development community for a collaborative discussion on trends, challenges, and opportunities in the field.…
2:30 pm–3:30 pm	Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) and Structural Engineering Roundtable This cross-disciplinary roundtable brings together MEP and structural engineers for a dynamic conversation on coordination, shared challenges, and emerging opportunities.…
2:30 pm–3:30 pm	Membership Committee Open to all Full and Tuesday Daily Attendees. The purpose of this Open Committee is to serve as the Council’s…
2:30 pm–3:30 pm	National AI Policy: What Engineering Firms Need to Know Now Satya Marar, Steve Britt AI is rapidly reshaping the rules of engineering—understand the policies and risks your firm cannot afford to overlook.
2:30 pm–3:30 pm	Promoting U.S. Firms Abroad & Financing Global Infrastructure – Getting to Know ITA, MCC, and USTDA For firms currently working abroad or considering expansion into international markets, this session offers a rare opportunity to hear...
2:30 pm–3:30 pm	Small Firm Coalition (SFC) Executive Committee The SFC Executive Committee leads the coalition’s efforts to support small firms through focused work in education, advocacy, and engagement.…
2:30 pm–3:30 pm	Tax & Regulatory Affairs Committee Open to all Full and Monday Daily attendees. Join the Tax & Regulatory Affairs Committee as it discusses pending tax…
2:30 pm–5:30 pm	Pathways to Executive Leadership A private leadership lab for the next generation of firm executives
3:30 pm–4:00 pm	Networking Break with Exhibitors A lively pause to connect and explore
3:30 pm–5:30 pm	NAECE Meeting III A leadership forum for ACEC’s MO executive community
3:40 pm–3:55 pm	Rapid-Fire Presentation – Why AI Fails AI is all the buzz and all the hype. But it has failed to enhance the day-to-day of engineers. It…
4:00 pm–5:00 pm	Coalition of American Structural Engineers (CASE) Executive Committee The CASE Executive Committee provides leadership and strategic direction for the coalition, advancing priorities across education, advocacy, and member engagement.…
4:00 pm–5:00 pm	Coalition of Professional Surveyors (COPS) Executive Committee The COPS Executive Committee serves as the leadership body guiding the coalition’s work in education, advocacy, and member engagement. If…
4:00 pm–5:00 pm	Cybersecurity Challenges: Risks in the AEC Industry Tamika Bass This session explores why the AEC industry is increasingly targeted by cyber threats, highlights common vulnerabilities, and outlines practical steps organizations can take to strengthen resilience and protect critical assets.
4:00 pm–5:00 pm	Federal Agencies and Procurement Advocacy Committee Open to all Full and Monday Daily Attendees. The purpose of this Open Committee is to undertake advocacy efforts with…
4:00 pm–5:00 pm	From Innovation to Implementation: A Technology Leaders Roundtable Sean Young From concept to impact—see how industry leaders are turning AI and emerging tech into real-world infrastructure solutions.
4:00 pm–5:00 pm	Water & Environment Committee Open to all Full and Monday Daily attendees. Meeting of the Water & Environment Committee to dicuss ACEC's advocacy agenda…
5:15 pm–6:15 pm	Reception with Exhibitors An evening of connection on the show floor
5:30 pm–6:30 pm	ACEC Research Institute Donor Reception Invited guests only.
5:30 pm–6:30 pm	Pathways to Executive Leadership and Senior Executives Institute Reception An evening celebrating the leaders shaping the future of engineering
6:30 pm–7:30 pm	Pathways to Executive Leadership Graduation Celebrating the next generation of firm leaders

May 5

May 5, 2026

Time
6:45 am–7:00 pm	Registration Your gateway to everything the 2026 Annual Convention and Legislative Summit has to offer
7:00 am–8:00 am	Fellows Breakfast An exclusive morning for the College of Fellows
7:00 am–8:00 am	Networking Breakfast with Exhibitors Start the day with great food and even better connections
7:00 am–8:00 am	Technology Committee Open to all Full and Tuesday daily attendees. The purpose of this Open Committee is to raise awareness of the…
8:00 am–10:00 am	General Session & ACEC/PAC Sweepstakes Drawing Brian E. Hill, MD, Mark Van Elden, Dan Larson, Daphne Bryant, Diana O’Lare, Gary Raba, John Donatelli, Gregory Kelly, Keith Molenaar, Ph.D., Michael Morgan A powerful blend of policy, insight, and inspiration
8:00 am–12:00 pm	Legal Counsel Forum: In-House Counsel Roundtable A focused forum for in-house legal leaders
10:00 am–10:30 am	Networking Break with Exhibitors A lively pause to connect and explore
10:00 am–5:00 pm	Capitol Hill Visits Take your voice directly to Capitol Hill
10:10 am–10:25 am	Rapid-Fire Presentation – Retirement Income Strategies – How to Strategically Prepare For and Take Your Retirement Savings In this fast-paced, 20-minute session, ACEC Retirement Trust will deliver clear, actionable guidance for participants approaching retirement as well as…
10:30 am–11:30 am	Building the Future: A Strategic Framework for Data & AI Readiness in A/E/C Firms Nicola Ianeselli Data & AI Readiness for AEC firms
10:30 am–11:30 am	Culture by Design: Embedding Values to Build Connection, Respect, and Engagement Joseph R. Ragusa Jr, PE, Holly Marrone Culture can’t be left to chance especially as engineering firms grow, adapt to hybrid models, and navigate mergers and acquisitions...
10:30 am–11:30 am	Government Advocacy Coordinating Committee Open to members of the Government Advocacy Coordinating Committee only. The purpose of the Committee is to provide strategic direction…
10:30 am–11:30 am	International Committee Open to all registered Full and Tuesday Daily attendees. The purpose of this Open Committee is to assist member companies…
10:30 am–11:30 am	Progressive Design-Build: Risk, Results, and Relationships Keith Molenaar, Ph.D., John Donatelli, Gregory Kelly, Michael Morgan What really makes Progressive Design-Build succeed—or fail—and how your firm can get it right
10:30 am–11:30 am	Surveyors Roundtable This open forum invites surveyors to connect, share insights, and discuss the most pressing topics impacting the profession. The conversation…
11:45 am–12:45 pm	Lunch with Exhibitors Great food and even better connections on the show floor
1:00 pm–2:00 pm	Emerging Trends in A/E/C Marketing and Business Development Julie Huval, FSMPS, CPSM, Sarah Kinard New SMPS Foundation/FMI research reveals the trends, strategies, and hard truths redefining marketing and business development in A/E/C firms as client demands shift and competition intensifies.
1:00 pm–2:00 pm	Land Development Executive Committee The Land Development Executive Committee leads the coalition’s strategic direction, with a focus on advancing education, advocacy, and member engagement…
1:00 pm–2:00 pm	M&A Pitfalls and Lessons Learned: When Good Deals Go Bad and How to Avoid Them Trishank Hansrajani Gain an inside look at a real engineering M&A deal that went off-track—and learn the key warning signs, missteps, and proven strategies to avoid costly pitfalls and achieve post-transaction success.
1:00 pm–2:00 pm	Women’s Leadership Roundtable Open to all Full and Tuesday Daily attendees. Hosted by ACEC’s Women’s Leadership Forum, join this open conversation about advancing…
2:00 pm–6:00 pm	Legal Counsel Forum I A working session for legal leaders in the engineering industry

May 6

May 6, 2026

Time
6:45 am–12:00 pm	Registration Your gateway to everything the 2026 Annual Convention and Legislative Summit has to offer
8:00 am–3:00 pm	Legal Counsel Forum II A working session for legal leaders in the engineering industry
8:30 am–5:00 pm	Capitol Hill Visits Take your voice directly to Capitol Hill

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Plan Your Convention Experience

Explore the full schedule for the Annual Convention & Legislative Summit and design a week that fits your goals. Use filters to browse by day, topic, or session type, and select individual sessions for full details. Build a personalized agenda and stay focused on what matters most to you.

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May 2, 2026