The Opening General Session brings the full Convention audience together for a powerful and purposeful start to the week.

The session will begin with a welcome from ACEC’s Chair John Rathke, setting the tone for the days ahead, followed by remarks from President and CEO Linda Bauer Darr, offering perspective on the forces shaping the industry and the opportunities ahead.

Attendees will also receive an early look at the ACEC Research Institute’s latest “Firm of the Future” work, exploring how firms can align AI and talent to build the engineering workforce of tomorrow. This preview will highlight the strategic questions firms must be asking now to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.

The session will culminate with a keynote address from Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Jon Meacham, one of the leading voices interpreting America’s civic and political life. Drawing from his work, including his latest bestseller American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union, Meacham will reflect on the enduring values, challenges, and choices that have shaped the nation. As the country approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, his perspective offers a timely lens on how the past continues to inform the future being built today.

Attendees are encouraged to come ready to engage and to leave with a broader perspective on the moment at hand and the role the profession plays in what comes next.

Open to all Full and Monday Daily attendees.