Engineering Influence from ACEC

What do the 2026 midterm elections mean for infrastructure, the engineering industry, and the prospects for divided government in Washington? In this episode of Engineering Influence, recorded live at the 2026 ACEC Fall Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, we sit down with Ambassador Jeff Flake, former U.S. Senator from Arizona and U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, and Bruce Mehlman, one of Washington’s leading political strategists, for a candid, bipartisan look at where the election is headed and what it means for policy in 2027 and beyond.

On this episode of Engineering Influence, CTO Ron Sattan joins host Thomas Grogan to explore how engineering firms are moving beyond time-and-materials toward subscriptions, platforms, and outcome-based pricing. They dig into how data, AI, and agents are opening new service lines, driving efficiency, and creating revenue streams that don’t depend on billable hours. Ron also shares practical steps firms can take now: building the right culture, getting data ready, and starting with focused pilots. For early-career professionals, his advice is simple: stay curious, and bring your problem-solving ideas to the table.

Jessica North digs into why so many engineering firms struggle with friction, rework, slow decisions, and burnout, and why the problem is usually the system, not the team. Unclear decision-making, competing priorities, and messy handoffs quietly drain performance. Jessica shares how leaders can find and fix these hidden barriers: ask the hard questions, really listen, build psychological safety, and look past surface metrics to the full picture of how work gets done. 

How can engineering firms prepare for a future defined by rapid change, evolving client needs, and growing complexity? In this episode of Engineering Influence, we sit down with Hoss Tabrizi, from Ulteig, to explore how engineering firms can remain agile, resilient, and ready for what comes next. Hoss discusses the importance of planning for multiple scenarios rather than relying on a single vision of the future, and how firms can use standardization, automation, and digitization to improve efficiency while preserving the creativity and problem-solving that are essential to engineering. From power and renewables to transportation and water, the conversation examines how changing demands are reshaping the way firms approach their people, projects, and clients. Hoss also discusses one of the industry's most pressing challenges: workforce. They discuss global talent strategies, developing the next generation of engineering professionals, and how technology can help teams accomplish more while maintaining quality and innovation. The conversation also explores resilience in an increasingly unpredictable environment, including preparing infrastructure and organizations for extreme weather, cybersecurity risks, and other emerging challenges. Finally, Hoss shares his perspective on leadership during periods of uncertainty and why trust, transparency, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace change are critical for building strong teams and positioning engineering firms for long-term success.

In this special episode we collaborate with QBS Express and sit down with U.S. Representative Ron Estes of Kansas for a conversation on tax policy, infrastructure, and regulatory reform. About the Guest: Representative Ron Estes has represented Kansas's 4th District in the U.S. House since 2017, following service as Sedgwick County Treasurer and Kansas State Treasurer. An engineer by training with years of private-sector experience, he brings a practical, problem-solving perspective to Congress and has been a key ally to ACEC members on the tax issues that affect engineering firms. What We Cover: - His lead role on the American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act, and the years-long push to restore immediate R&D expensing instead of five-year amortization - Why R&D cash flow matters for startups and small firms, not just big businesses - The outlook for surface transportation reauthorization and shortfalls in the Highway Trust Fund - Why infrastructure means more than roads and bridges: water and wastewater treatment, waterways, and the systems that move goods and services - Regulatory simplification and permitting reform, and why lawmakers with private-sector experience understand that businesses have to live with the policies Congress passes

Artificial intelligence is moving fast and engineering firms are being asked to adopt it just as quickly. But what does that mean for risk? On this episode of Engineering Influence, Jim Compton and Joe Bates dig into new research from the ACEC Research Institute examining how AI adoption is reshaping risk exposure across the engineering industry. They break down what the data actually shows: where firms are seeing the most risk, how leadership is thinking about liability and oversight, and what firms of every size should be considering as they build out their own AI strategies. Whether you're just starting to explore AI tools or already integrating them into your workflows, this conversation offers a data-driven look at where the industry stands and where it's headed.

Water infrastructure is the backbone of how communities survive and thrive in the face of a changing climate. In this episode, we sit down with Walter P Moore to explore what it really takes to build resilient water systems, from aging infrastructure challenges to forward-looking engineering solutions. We dig into: 💧 The state of water infrastructure across the country 🌊 Engineering strategies for resilience and long-term impact 🏗️ How firms like Walter P Moore are shaping the future of water management    Tune in for a conversation about the systems that keep our communities running and the engineers working to make sure they keep running for generations to come.

In this episode of The Market Edge, Diana O' Lare sits down with veteran journalist and broadcaster Llewellyn King to discuss his concept of the "New Weather" and what it means for infrastructure, migration, economic development, and investment. They explore: ✅ The economic implications of a potential Super El Niño ✅ Why heat and water constraints may reshape growth patterns ✅ The growing need for resilient infrastructure ✅ Who pays for adaptation in an era of rising deficits ✅ How AI could help predict and prepare for future risks

In this episode of the Engineering Influence podcast, Sharon Jean-Baptiste, President of Ardmore Roderick, shares her leadership journey in the engineering industry and the lessons that have shaped her career. She discusses the lasting impact engineering work can have on communities, offers advice for young professionals just starting out in the field, and speaks to why mentorship remains one of the most powerful tools for building the next generation of engineering leaders. 🎙️ Some Topics covered: 👉 Sharon's path to becoming President of Ardmore Roderick 👉 Advice for young engineers and professionals entering the industry 👉 How engineering projects shape and strengthen communities 👉 The role of mentorship in developing future leaders

Initially unveiled in Summer 2023, nearly 200 ACEC member firms have participated in the Roadmap — a DEI&B maturity model and benchmarking tool that gives engineering firm executives a comprehensive, data-driven way to assess the maturity of their firm's DEIB program, with actionable suggestions for making further progress. Chad Clinehens brings the data and the on-the-ground perspective from years of benchmarking the AEC industry, and together unpacks what the roadmap recommends, where firms are already making progress, and where the real work still lies ahead. 🔗 Get the Report: https://program.acec.org/diversity-roadmap-acec-research-institute/?hsLang=en#get-report 🔗 Learn More about Diversity Roadmap test: https://program.acec.org/diversity-roadmap-acec-research-institute