AEC THRIVE Speakers

Jennifer is a 25-year-veteran content strategist who has researched, spoken about and written extensively on the strategy, experiential design and marketing. A lifelong learner, Jennifer harnesses the power of storytelling and her innate curiosity to create future-forward, purposeful and compelling brand communications. It’s this passion for storytelling that Jennifer applies across key audiences to communicate the NELSON purpose, brand’s voice, vision and positioning as well as to disseminate focused insights that will inform innovative and disruptive design solutions..

As CEO and Partner of Turner Fleischer, Ellen’s mission is to build and lead a dynamic, results-oriented organization dedicated to client satisfaction and growth. While her accomplished peers inspire and oversee the creative output of the firm, she focuses her executive skills on ensuring the internal engine is running smoothly. The process of successfully leveraging business and architecture is what drives her passion for operational excellence. Ellen joined the firm in 1990, rising to her current role in 2008. She is especially proud of the TF Academy which aims to nurture the firm’s large cohort of young, enthusiastic talent into tomorrow’s industry leaders. TF’s longstanding commitment to generously giving back to the community is another key priority. Her present emphasis is to spearhead the firm’s commitment to be the Canadian leader in Building Information Modeling (BIM), an effort recognized by her recent distinction of being CanBIM’s 2017 Professional Achievement Award winner.

Co-presenting with Jonathan Wilson, PSMJ Resources

Brian Burnett, P.E., F.ASCE,  helps leaders understand and implement best practices for internal leadership and ownership transitions.

As his former company’s senior leader, Brian was responsible for business development, strategic planning, leadership development, and internal transitions for various corporate leader positions. This broad‐based knowledge of design firms’ cultures and operations provides Brian the necessary insight to assist leaders at engineering and architectural firms in integrating the various components of strategic planning and leadership development into a successful internal ownership transition.

Brian helped lead his former firm through four major transitions: in 1985, Brian became a partner and Vice President when the founder of the company retired; in 1997, Brian became President; in 2003, Brian became the President/CEO upon the retirement of a 40-year corporate leader; and from 2013 to 2017, Brian helped the company replace and transition nine major leadership positions, including his CEO position. Overseeing this final transition required extensive planning and leadership development over an eight-year period prior to his retirement.

Brian holds the Harrison Assessments Debriefing/Coaching and Employee Development accreditations. With these accreditations, Brian has demonstrated a competency in delivering high-quality debriefing and coaching to individuals using Harrison Assessments reports. His debriefing sessions create an opportunity for a person taking the assessment to explore their strengths and weaknesses, important traits for their job position, and areas of improvement for their development. Brian can als

Dave Burstein, P.E., is a Director and Senior Consultant with PSMJ. He provides consulting and training on a wide range of management and leadership topics. Prior to joining PSMJ, Dave worked for 26 years at Parsons Corporation, one of the world’s largest and most respected engineering-construction firms. During his tenure at Parsons, Dave held a variety of positions, including President of Parsons’ 1,600-person environmental subsidiary and President of Parsons’ 120-person planning subsidiary.

While serving as President of two subsidiaries of Parsons Corporation, Dave participated in several major strategic planning efforts. Since joining PSMJ, he has facilitated strategic planning retreats for over 100 AEC firms ranging in size from fewer than 10 employees to more than 1,000 employees. Reflecting on this experience, he co-authored Strategic Planning: Preparing Your Firm for Success in the Future, first published in 2004 with a second edition published in 2009.

Andrew Busch is the former 1^st Chief Market Intelligence Officer for the US government and economic futurist. For the CFTC, he was charged with improving and enhancing the government’s understanding of the markets and the economy. His job was to take all the news, information and data on the economy and markets; and filter it into condensed, easily understood research; then communicate it to the government and public.  

Andy provided economic and market briefings to White House, US House, US Senate, the SEC, the Federal Reserve Board and the US Treasury staff on a wide range of issues including interest rates, inflation, China’s influence on trade, and the impact of technology on the economy.

Prior to joining the CFTC, Mr. Busch was CEO and founder of a boutique financial markets and policy research firm, Bering Productions, Inc (BPI). Before BPI, he was the Global Currency and Public Policy Strategist for Bank of Montreal (BMO) in Chicago. He is author of the book “World Event Trading” covering large crises, like infectious disease outbreaks and war, and their impact on the economy and markets.

As President of Pape-Dawson Engineers, Trey Dawson, his leadership has been crucial in shaping the firm’s success, driving its growth to 1,700 employees across six states. Under his guidance, the firm has adopted innovative strategies to ensure operational excellence and long-term growth while maintaining its commitment to unmatched culture. Trey’s vision is leading Pape-Dawson into the future, continuing to build upon the firm’s almost 60-year legacy.

Will Foret is the Founder and CEO of Spot Migration, a managed IT and cybersecurity partner purpose-built for growing Architecture, Engineering, and Construction firms. With a background supporting enterprise giants like Walgreens, the FDIC, and Citadel, Will brings Fortune 100-level tech strategy to companies that can’t afford to be slowed down by IT.He also serves on the advisory board of The 20, a disruptive business development co-op for IT leaders nationwide. Will is known for his practical, people-first leadership and quotable maxims like “Trust but verify” and “Be prepared.” 

 Tim Griffin, P.E., has published numerous management articles and trained thousands of design firm principals across North America in best business practices. He also authored the best-selling book Winning With Millennials: Attracting, Retaining, and Empowering the Next Generation of Design Firm Professionals.

He currently serves as Principal-in-Charge at RMF Engineering, an engineering consulting firm with international projects. Tim is responsible for offices in Raleigh and Charlotte, NC, and Atlanta, GA, and has also served on RMF’s Board of Directors for 12 years. 

Tim’s philosophy, which has developed over more than 30 years, is that everything rises and falls with leadership and that leadership is both accountable and responsible for a firm’s highs and lows. Tim has led RMF’s leadership development university for six years, where he has trained mid-level leaders to understand the business side of leadership.
He is also experienced at helping firms develop their own in-house leadership universities, and he gives keynote presentations on millennials nationally and internationally.

If there’s one thing Bill Harbeson knows, it’s construction. He started by installing HVAC after high school, spent years in construction management, and smoothly transitioned to tax consulting with a construction focus. Bill attributes part of his success to the sheer volume of Energy Studies he’s overseen in the last decade – he’s seen every scenario, addressed every nuance, and left no dollar behind. But more than that, Bill believes in a client-centric approach, striving to create the positive service experiences that taxpayers – and tax professionals — deserve.  

As Senior Director of Product Marketing, Lucas leads go-to-market strategy for Unanet’s AEC solutions—shaping messaging, influencing product direction, and connecting with what AEC firms truly need.

His perspective is shaped by more than 15 years working directly with architecture, engineering, and construction firms. And that hands-on experience helps him bridge the gap between product and the people who use it.

With PSMJ, Bill Hinsley has trained thousands of AEC professionals across the globe.

Bill formerly served as a Senior Management Analyst for two governors’ commissions and the Associate Vice President of renowned international firms ARCADIS and Atkins, where he spearheaded projects from $1 million to $11 billion.

He has had success in many different areas, including business development, leadership training, branch office optimization, and strategic planning and growth.

He is experienced in the coordination and direct opening of multiple regional offices, the M&A of branch offices, and decision-making in determining the future success of a branch office. Bill had the unique experience of opening a branch office on his own at just 29 years old.

At his own branch office, Bill attracted more than $200 million of work. He knows what is required to make a successful transition to a new market or geographical area. At his branch office, he led marketing success through a decentralized “inform and empower” model, instructed hundreds of practitioners on how to leverage others’ overall marketing philosophy to achieve success in the competitive AEC marketplace. and used innovative business development strategies as an instrument to break into new services and attract new clients.

As a National Director, Bill pioneered a successful $30 million business development plan. With this multi-million dollar strategy, Bill took risks—breaking into new services and attracting new clients—and as the client development lead on the project, the buck (all $30 million of it) proverbially and literally stopped with him.

With extensive project management experience in the planning, engineering, procurement, and management of large civil works projects, Bill has served as Senior Project Manager, Principal PM, and Principal-in-Charge.

Bill truly believes that project management is where ultimate success is generated, and he has become one of PSMJ’s most popular Project Management instructors. Bill has trained more than 5,000 PMs and Principals in Project Management Bootcamps across the globe, conducted dozens of in-house bootcamps for AEC firms that desire more customization and specialization in their training, and developed tailored PM training models for each client from two-day bootcamps to four-hour training sessions and one-hour webinars.

eff advises and assists professional organizations in mitigating and managing professional and business risk. His goal is to help clients reduce their overall cost of risk and improve company performance. He accomplishes this by providing tools and resources needed to reduce, transfer and prevent loss. The same process concurrently helps performance and profitability.

Jeff serves on the Board of Directors for the Professional Liability Agents Network (PLAN), a North American network of insurance professionals who specialize in serving the design community. The network has representative in every US state and Canadian province. Jeff services as a President of PLAN from 2012-2013.

Jeff is often called upon to speak for professional associations and societies on topics related to professional liability and risk management. The associations and societies include: the American Institute of Architects Utah, the American Council of Engineering Companies Utah, Utah Chapters of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Utah Council of Land Surveyors and the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools.

Wally is a BD expert who currently leads business development, major pursuits, and proposals for HDR’s Federal program. His career spans nearly 40 years in technical, operations, and marketing positions with small to very large firms. Wally combines his experience in management, leadership, and training to develop and share creative approaches while advancing the business development practice in the AEC industry.

After a successful career of over 20 years with AEC firms, Jared Jamison, P.E., shifted gears to pursue his passion for helping other firms succeed through consulting and teaching. Jared is an accomplished engineering executive with extensive experience in engineering management, operations, financial management, and business strategy.

Jared spent most of his career at Hankins and Anderson, a full-service AE firm of approximately 200 people that specialized in federal building design. Jared served as a Senior Vice President and Director of Operations where he was responsible for overseeing and directing the operations of the firm. He was heavily involved with strategy, management, and finance and was also responsible for developing and implementing the firm’s strategic management system and improving its quality management system.

After Hankins and Anderson was acquired by Mason & Hanger, Jared was responsible for leading the integration of the two firms’ operations and was responsible for developing and monitoring Mason & Hanger’s strategic plan. He also served as Mason & Hanger’s Vice President of Operations. Jared also served as a Department Head, Chief Structural Engineer, and Senior Structural Engineer at Hankins and Anderson.

Almost 20 years ago, Rashod Johnson, PE, set out to build a successful infrastructure engineering firm. Starting with a few industry contacts  he grew Ardmore Roderick into a $200MM+ firm that is now one of the best and most respected infrastructure firms in the US.

Ardmore Roderick has risen from a local leader to a multistate, multimillion-dollar powerhouse. The company’s Strategic Planning Committee has enacted aggressive plans for expansion through organic growth, strategic partnership and M&A.

In 2024, Ardmore Roderick was listed as the 21st largest Program Management firm in the US by ENR. Ardmore Roderick’s key services are planning, design, procurement, construction, and project/program management for public and private infrastructure clients, including transportation, facilities, utilities, rail and aviation. As Program Managers, its currently overseeing $30B+ in construction across the US.

Brian Kirkpatrick is an Operating Executive Partner with Palm Beach Capital, supporting PBC across the AEC & Infrastructure sectors. He currently serves on the boards of PBC portfolio companies Pape-Dawson Engineers and United Design Group - MBI Companies. Collectively, the partners at Palm Beach Capital have grown several large engineering consulting practices across the United States, including Pape-Dawson Engineers, Earth systems, MBI Companies, and Universal Engineering Sciences (UES), the fastest growing engineering firm in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. 

AI is getting a lot of press in AEC circles for breakthroughs in iterative and generative design. But is your firms leveraging the “quick wins” that come from more basic, yet no less important, applications?

Shepley Bulfinch, a 200 person national architecture and design firm, has been running practical AI experiments to unlock knowledge, streamline workflows, improve data quality, and improve individual effectiveness. In this session, their CIO shares three real-world applications of AI that are creating tangible value for the firm:

AI-Powered Knowledge Search – Using AI search tools to access a decade of knowledge sharing on the firm’s intranet, including video content from learning sessions, town halls, and firm-wide discussions.

AI for Contact Data Validation – Enhancing the accuracy of a CRM by using data and AI to validate and maintain clean, reliable contact data.

Lessons from a CoPilot Beta – A year long Microsoft CoPilot beta group revealed practical use cases, challenges, and strategies for maximizing AI’s impact in daily workflows.

This session delivers actionable strategies for leveraging AI in your own firm—proving that practical, immediate value is well within reach with even the most modest investment of time and resources. You will:

• Explore real-world AI applications in knowledge management, operations, and data integrity.
• Learn how AI search unlocks institutional knowledge from recorded content.
• Discover how AI can streamline meeting documentation and free up time for higher-value work.
• See how AI improves CRM data accuracy and business development.
• Gain first-hand actionable intelligence on the application of Microsoft CoPilot to optimize AI adoption and productivity.

About James Martin

Drawing on over 25 years of Information Technology experience, Jim leads the development of strategies for technology tools that support and advance design, delivery, and collaboration at Shepley Bulfinch. He has been particularly successful at creating an innovation center inside of Shepley Bulfinch's IT department, focusing on new technologies and how they affect the design process. Jim is a frequent speaker at information technology and knowledge management conferences, he is also a Six Sigma Green Belt and holds a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Roger Williams University.

Ready to imagine a fundamentally better way of working? Beyond the potential of AI, our industry is hungry for real-world innovation that solves for real pain points. Drawing from decades of experience developing foundational technologies for the design industry, Brian focuses on the urgent reality: architects and engineers continue to use outdated digital tools while the buildings they create become increasingly complex and ambitious. He shares Motif's vision for a cloud-native platform that brings together open data, seamless collaboration, and responsive modeling to address the most pressing challenges facing design teams today. See a new future of AEC workflows and a practical path to reimagine how architects and engineers work together to shape our world.

Join us to:
• Understand how limitations of legacy AEC software reduce collaboration, productivity, and design integrity.
• Overcome structural challenges in how AEC teams share, review, and revise assets in 2D and 3D environments.
• Explore new models of real-time, multi-user collaboration that reduce project risk, time loss, and misunderstanding.
• See practical AI integration in AEC workflows as a meaningful design and collaboration assistant.

About Brian Mathews

Brian Mathews is a technology futurist with over three decades of experience in architecting cloud and desktop software for designers and engineers. He served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Bright Machines, a company specializing in intelligent, software-defined manufacturing.

Prior to his role at Bright Machines, Mathews led a 500-person platform group at Autodesk, overseeing software development, cloud operations, product security, and compliance. His tenure at Autodesk also included leading teams focused on 3D reality capture, computer graphics, augmented reality, and data compression.

AI is rapidly becoming a part of AEC workflows, but firm operations leaders may have questions about the return on investment in new technology. Hear ha first-hand account of a real and practical AI Implementation Case Study at a 250-person interior design firm, where Stjepan Mikulic, founder of training consultancy AI in AEC, helped the company save $4.5 million through optimizing technology. Hear his surprising insights on why BIM isn’t as needed as we might think, but AI and automation are. Stjepan will present his vision for the best applications of new technology in AEC as well as his 9-step process on practical AI implementation applicable to any AEC firm.

• A 9-step process to creating a practical AI Implementation Plan
• Minimizing your firm's software costs by optimizing your tech stack
• How to solve bottlenecks through automation, AI apps and optimized workflows
• Learning about AI solutions in the AEC and why the industry needs it in the first place

About Stjepan Mikulić

Beginning his career as BIM Coordinator at Sweco and later serving as Project BIM Lead at BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, Stjepan found his passion is to empower every AEC professional to solve challenges through learning, implementing, and developing AI and cutting-edge tech.

He does this through his global training platform AI in AEC and sharing insights on LinkedIn, maintaining the AEC AI Hub and consulting AEC companies on AI, BIM, and technology implementation. For AEC professionals who want to go beyond the surface of AI on their own terms, he created two courses to go from zero to AI superhero in short order.

Co-presenting with Sean Bailey, Software Developer, PVE, LLC

Compliance engineering is a complex and rapidly evolving aspect of the AEC industry, encompassing everything from facade and parapet inspections in New York City to decarbonization and code compliance across the nation. In this session, Jamison Morse and Sean Bailey of engineering firm PVE share how they are leveraging automation and AI to transform compliance processes into scalable, efficient, and cost-competitive services. Drawing on real-world examples, including custom tools that positioned PVE as one of New York City’s leading filers of facade reports, they demonstrate how applying AI to existing workflows—not reinventing the wheel—can drive immediate business impact without significant up-front investment. With an in-house innovation team collaborating closely with engineers, PVE’s solutions are built with a deep focus on usability, tested in the field, and designed to meet the real-world challenges of regulatory compliance. This session is highly relevant for AEC leaders exploring practical ways to incorporate AI into their business strategy. Learn how automation can reduce costs, scale operations, and even shift business models from billing by the hour to billing for value delivered.

• Understand the practical applications of AI to compliance-based engineering processes: Learn how to seamlessly integrate AI into existing compliance processes in structural, environmental, and civil engineering, making your business more efficient without heavy upfront investment or disruptive overhauls.
• Understand where AI is most impactful – and where it can fail: Based on real-world applications across AEC disciplines, you see where the current state of AI technology can be most impactful in existing business processes.
• Analyze proven case studies in inspection automation: Discover how PVE’s proprietary parapet and facade inspection tools propelled the firm to the forefront of New York City’s compliance market, demonstrating the power of automation to drive competitive advantage, scalability, and profitability.
• Design and deploy in-house innovation and technology expertise: Gain actionable insights into building internal technology teams that collaborate with engineers, ensuring software solutions are rigorously tested in the field and tailored to meet real-world compliance demands.
• Redefine product delivery and business models with automation and AI: Explore how automation can pave the way for value-based pricing models, moving beyond hourly billing to deliver scalable services that directly align with client outcomes and operational growth.

About Jamison Morse

Jamison Morse, PE, RA, serves as the Principal and Director of Structures at PVE, LLC, a role he has held since May 2009. With a master’s degree in architectural engineering, Jamison has spearheaded numerous innovative structural projects. His expertise blends technical proficiency with architectural acumen, driving advancements in sustainability and design within the engineering field. His leadership at PVE reflects a commitment to excellence and innovation in structural engineering.

AT AEC INNOVATE, Jonathan explains how Populous is applying AI to the global design firm's unique data sets across the business: in design, human resources, finance, operations and more. He also shares the backstory of "The Sphere" in Las Vegas, which Populous created using next-level immersive design. Plus, he demystifies complexities behind AI standards, governance, copyrights and ownership and touches on AI’s power to enhance and provide efficiencies in our roles.

About Jonanthan Nelson

As global head of digital for design firm Populous, Jonathan is integral in supporting the global holdings board through his development, evaluation and evolution of a technological vision and strategy to develop and enhance all digital services and products.

Co-presenting with Seyedomid Sajedi, Associate AI/ML Engineer of CORE Studio, Thornton Tomasetti

AI is fundamentally altering professional AEC workflows. Given the rapid advancement of AI model capabilities, it is essential to not only adapt but also strategically integrate this technology to not only optimize productivity but ensure competitive advantages. Alex Pollock and Omid Sajedi of Thornton Tomasetti’s CORE Studio are working the frontier where new tech ideas and practical use cases meet, and share their approach to innovation and R&D through their internal incubator. You learn how they are driving adoption of time-saving tools throughout the engineering giant’s global footprint, including the latest R&D findings of the CORE.AI team, focusing on the development of AI-driven tools. Get the best ideas for transforming AEC processes, to enhance creativity and problem-solving through rapid optioneering.

About Alexandra Pollock
Alexandra is the Senior Director of CORE Studio at Thornton Tomasetti. With a focus on research and development, CORE Studio is the firm’s virtual incubator of ideas and provides a valuable interface among design and construction teams, developing new workflows and processes that promote collaboration and enhance building design. A registered Architect and technologist with 20 years of experience in the AEC industry, Alexandra has contributed to a diverse range of projects, from small-scale renovations to super-tall towers, while also providing strategic leadership for both existing and emerging technologies.  She is currently serving on the Virginia Tech School of Architecture Advisory Board and is on the leadership committee for the AIA TAP (Technology in Architecture Practice) knowledge community.

Fostering a culture of innovation within your AEC firm is critical for remaining competitive. Britany explains how multi-disciplinary design firm HFA successfully uses internal AI competition to inspire creativity, engage employees, and accelerate technological advancements. By challenging teams across the enterprise to solve real-world business problems using AI, they tapped into diverse skill sets, nurtured a collaborative spirit, and developed cutting-edge solutions that directly impacted our enterprise. This session explains the strategic planning and execution of the competition, the tools and frameworks used to ensure accessibility and fairness, and the measurable outcomes achieved, including increased employee engagement, cross-functional collaboration, and operational efficiencies. We will also share lessons learned, such as managing diverse skill levels and aligning AI initiatives with business goals, to help attendees replicate our success. Whether you're a leader, innovator, or technologist, this presentation will provide actionable insights into how structured competitions can be a powerful tool for driving innovation, reskilling your workforce, and creating transformative value.

• Understand how internal AI competitions can foster a culture of innovation within enterprises.
• Learn strategies to plan and execute an inclusive, effective AI competition aligned with business goals.
• Explore methods to integrate AI-based solutions from competitions into business operations.
• Discover ways to engage employees and build cross-functional collaboration through gamification.
• Gain insights into overcoming challenges, such as skill gaps and project sustainability, in AI-focused initiatives.

About Brittany Pylant
With a Master of Architecture and nearly two decades in the AEC industry, Brittany is a forward-thinking leader specializing in Design Technology, Business Technology, and Operational processes. As Director of Operations at HFA, she co-leads initiatives to integrate technology and efficiency into every facet of the business. Brittany oversees the Design Technology team, driving advancements in BIM and Visualization standards, automation, and custom workflows. She also collaborates across the enterprise to implement innovative solutions that directly enhance operational processes and organizational impact. Brittany established HFA's first technology-focused community of practice, uniting over 50 rising leaders to foster cross-disciplinary knowledge exchange. Her dedication to innovation and collaboration continues to transform team dynamics, demonstrating how technology and empowered people can shape a more efficient and connected future.

AEC leaders face a pressing challenge: improving productivity in a sector often criticized for lagging behind other industries. While finance, healthcare, and tech have embraced historical data as a core part of decision-making processes, we have yet to unlock the full potential of our archived knowledge. Every firm is sitting on a goldmine of historical data, stored in digital folders, archives, or past project files. This session explores how tapping into this untapped resource can enable firms to make better data-driven decisions, streamline operations, and gain a competitive edge. Drawing parallels with industries like computer science—where open-source projects, APIs, and data inform every decision—we’ll examine practical strategies for using historical project data to reduce inefficiencies, identify patterns, and drive better outcomes. By harnessing data already at your disposal, you can transform decision-making, optimize workflows, and increase profitability. It’s time for the AEC industry to embrace the power of data and become a productivity leader.

About Manoj Bala Radhakrishna

Manoj is the CEO and Founder of struct.digital, a company focused on empowering the structural engineering and broader AEC industry with software and AI-driven solutions. With hands-on experience working on high-profile projects in London, he has seen first-hand how inefficiencies in traditional workflows can hinder progress and has developed a deep understanding of how historical data and cutting-edge technology can drive meaningful change. Manoj is passionate about helping AEC firms unlock untapped potential through smarter, data-driven strategies.

With AI based solutions flooding the industry at an unprecedented pace, how can AEC firms effectively navigate constant change? What innovations should be explored, implemented, or retired? Architecture and design powerhouse Corgan shares lessons learned by examining key project delivery milestones and evaluating how AI-driven tools enhance efficiency. Through case studies, you learn how to identify the most effective AI applications and highlight specific tools Corgan has categorized as high effort/high impact—along with how these insights are shared across the firm. Beyond the technical advantages, we’ll also address the critical challenges AI presents, from legal issues like copyright and intellectual property concerns to ethical risks such as bias, misinformation, and overreliance. Generative AI, for example, has sparked legal debates while also demonstrating how unchecked systems can perpetuate biases or produce misleading information. We’ll explore how to manage these risks responsibly by setting proper safeguards, balancing expectations, and addressing regulatory and ethical considerations upfront. Attendees will leave with a practical, well-rounded understanding of AI’s potential and limitations—equipped with strategies to integrate AI effectively and responsibly within their firms.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze real-world case studies of both successful and unsuccessful AI
  implementations to identify critical factors that influence project outcomes.
• Apply value assessment methodologies to determine how AI solutions can enhance specific phases of the design exploration process.
• Develop criteria for establishing value assessment methodologies for
  distinguishing between high-value and low-value AI implementation
  opportunities using concrete examples like Notetaker and SWAPP cases.
• Copyright Complexities: Learn how copyright laws apply to AI-generated works, and what protections or exposures organizations may face.
• Bias & Misuse Risks: Understand how biases in training data can lead to unfair or incorrect outcomes and explore steps to mitigate them.
• Regulatory & Legal Landscape: Gain an overview of emerging legal frameworks and compliance requirements related to AI deployment. Discover best practices
  to avoid pitfalls, including thorough review of terms and conditions, responsibledata usage, and continuous monitoring.

Co-Presenting with Alexandra Pollock, AIA, Senior Director of CORE Studio, Thornton Tomasetti

AI is fundamentally altering professional AEC workflows. Given the rapid advancement of AI model capabilities, it is essential to not only adapt but also strategically integrate this technology to not only optimize productivity but ensure competitive advantages. Alex Pollock and Omid Sajedi of Thornton Tomasetti’s CORE Studio are working the frontier where new tech ideas and practical use cases meet, and share their approach to innovation and R&D through their internal incubator. You learn how they are driving adoption of time-saving tools throughout the engineering giant’s global footprint, including the latest R&D findings of the CORE.AI team, focusing on the development of AI-driven tools. Get the best ideas for transforming AEC processes, to enhance creativity and problem-solving through rapid optioneering.

About Seyedomid Sajedi

Seyedomid Sajedi is an Associate AI/ML Engineer at CORE Studio, Thornton Tomasetti, where he studies and creates AI-powered applications for the AEC industry. Prior to joining CORE Studio, Sajedi worked as a structural engineer and later pursued his Ph.D. in earthquake and structural engineering at the University at Buffalo SUNY. During his doctoral studies., Sajedi did research on autonomous structural health monitoring with a particular emphasis on the safe integration of AI in engineering workflows. Apart from contributing to CORE.AI's structural design engines, Sajedi has experience designing custom deep learning architectures in the areas of computer vision, vibration analysis, and natural language processing to support different practices at Thornton Tomasetti.

Your AEC firm’s strategic vision almost certainly has a commitment to keeping pace with the galloping advancements in design and business management tech. And wherever you are on the road to greater integration of digital workflows, you know that there’s no end point where you can say, “Done!” But progress can hindered or accelerated by how well you manage change and make smarter tech adoption decisions. Join us for this free-flowing examination of how some of the most successful design firms are tackling both of these issues with a candid examination of structural, process, and people impediments that must be overcome if our industry is to meet client demands going forward. We explore the human side of digital transformation with experiences of top executives who have successfully navigated organizational change while implementing new technologies and workflows. This panel will move beyond software selection to address the critical people aspects that determine whether digital initiatives succeed or fail, offering practical strategies based on real-world experience. In this session you will:

• Learn proven change management approaches to overcome staff resistance and build organization-wide buy-in for digital initiatives
• Discover effective methods for upskilling teams and fostering a culture of continuous innovation
• Understand how to balance immediate operational needs with long-term digital strategy implementation

With AI based solutions flooding the industry at an unprecedented pace, how can AEC firms effectively navigate constant change? What innovations should be explored, implemented, or retired? Architecture and design powerhouse Corgan shares lessons learned by examining key project delivery milestones and evaluating how AI-driven tools enhance efficiency. Through case studies, you learn how to identify the most effective AI applications and highlight specific tools Corgan has categorized as high effort/high impact—along with how these insights are shared across the firm. Beyond the technical advantages, we’ll also address the critical challenges AI presents, from legal issues like copyright and intellectual property concerns to ethical risks such as bias, misinformation, and overreliance. Generative AI, for example, has sparked legal debates while also demonstrating how unchecked systems can perpetuate biases or produce misleading information. We’ll explore how to manage these risks responsibly by setting proper safeguards, balancing expectations, and addressing regulatory and ethical considerations upfront. Attendees will leave with a practical, well-rounded understanding of AI’s potential and limitations—equipped with strategies to integrate AI effectively and responsibly within their firms.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze real-world case studies of both successful and unsuccessful AI
  implementations to identify critical factors that influence project outcomes.
• Apply value assessment methodologies to determine how AI solutions can enhance specific phases of the design exploration process.
• Develop criteria for establishing value assessment methodologies for
  distinguishing between high-value and low-value AI implementation
  opportunities using concrete examples like Notetaker and SWAPP cases.
• Copyright Complexities: Learn how copyright laws apply to AI-generated works, and what protections or exposures organizations may face.
• Bias & Misuse Risks: Understand how biases in training data can lead to unfair or incorrect outcomes and explore steps to mitigate them.
• Regulatory & Legal Landscape: Gain an overview of emerging legal frameworks and compliance requirements related to AI deployment. Discover best practices
  to avoid pitfalls, including thorough review of terms and conditions, responsibledata usage, and continuous monitoring.

Each AEC project brings its unique set of challenges with varying team compositions, from developers to architects and various internal stakeholders. Traditionally, insights into how much time staff spent on specific design tasks was anecdotal and subjective. This presents a challenge in optimizing productivity, we are often left to make decisions on a hunch rather than hard data. This approach leaves missed opportunities for process optimization and misallocated training efforts. The software engineers at JB&B developed a solution that leverages artificial intelligence to systematically capture and analyze user interactions within Autodesk Revit. This add-in tracks detailed user activities, including workspace usage, element handling, and project-specific interactions. By aggregating this data, they developed a sophisticated AI model that not only categorizes and clusters these interactions into distinct processes but also predicts efficiency and production rates. More critically, this model identifies anomalies in production—instances where a user's output deviates significantly from their peers on similar projects—which could indicate areas needing intervention. In this session, you:

• Understand the importance of tracking user interactions within design applications to identify patterns and improve workflow efficiency.
• Learn how to segment and classify user transactions into different processes based on the tasks performed in various project stages.
• Explore the application of AI models to predict productivity with multi-dimensional project constraints.
• Identify anomalies in user design patterns and learn how to leverage this data to provide actionable insights for improving performance, live.
• Discover how to utilize data-driven insights to roadmap the production of automation tools and user specific training modules.

Each AEC project brings its unique set of challenges with varying team compositions, from developers to architects and various internal stakeholders. Traditionally, insights into how much time staff spent on specific design tasks was anecdotal and subjective. This presents a challenge in optimizing productivity, we are often left to make decisions on a hunch rather than hard data. This approach leaves missed opportunities for process optimization and misallocated training efforts. The software engineers at JB&B developed a solution that leverages artificial intelligence to systematically capture and analyze user interactions within Autodesk Revit. This add-in tracks detailed user activities, including workspace usage, element handling, and project-specific interactions. By aggregating this data, they developed a sophisticated AI model that not only categorizes and clusters these interactions into distinct processes but also predicts efficiency and production rates. More critically, this model identifies anomalies in production—instances where a user's output deviates significantly from their peers on similar projects—which could indicate areas needing intervention. In this session, you:

• Understand the importance of tracking user interactions within design applications to identify patterns and improve workflow efficiency.
• Learn how to segment and classify user transactions into different processes based on the tasks performed in various project stages.
• Explore the application of AI models to predict productivity with multi-dimensional project constraints.
• Identify anomalies in user design patterns and learn how to leverage this data to provide actionable insights for improving performance, live.
• Discover how to utilize data-driven insights to roadmap the production of automation tools and user specific training modules.

About Mike Taglione

Mike’s passion is in transforming the built space. As an Electrical Engineer at JB&B Engineering, he is also pioneering new tech as a cofounder of Thrux, an MEP design environment. Most recently, he leads all development projects at JB&B, working to transform a technologically underserved industry by mastering the complexities of driving adoption in a fragmented landscape. He is a builder at heart and his driving motivation stems from an excitement to take part in a foundational decade for the new era of AEC technology.

The AEC industry loses billions each year due to change orders, incomplete submittals, and unresolved RFIs—issues that delay projects, increase costs, and frustrate teams. But with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the industry is poised to turn these challenges into opportunities.

This presentation explores how AI is transforming project delivery by tackling three of the biggest documentation pain points: change control, submittals, and RFIs. Attendees will learn how AI-powered tools can automatically detect design changes, generate fully compliant submittals, and help resolve questions before they become RFIs—streamlining the entire decision-making process during construction.

Attendees will also learn how AI empowers teams to create smarter workflows, reduce uncertainty, and ensure project delivery on time and within budget. With real-world examples, we’ll show how contractors and design teams are using AI to reduce rework, accelerate approvals, and build with greater confidence.

Join us to see how smarter tools are enabling better builds—with fewer surprises, fewer delays, and fewer change orders.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the Cost of Inefficiency Across Change Orders, Submittals, and RFIs: Learn how mismanaged documentation impacts project timelines, budgets, and team dynamics.
• Explore AI’s Role Across the Full Documentation Lifecycle: Discover how AI automates and enhances change detection, streamlines submittal approval, and RFI prevention to reduce friction and manual workload.
• Build Your AI Integration Roadmap: Gain actionable steps for adopting AI into your existing workflows, from pilot projects to full implementation.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the architecture and engineering landscape, yet many firms find themselves overwhelmed by the multitude of tools and technologies available. This session offers a pragmatic approach to AI integration, guiding attendees through a structured method to assess their firm’s current position and identify actionable steps forward. We’ll explore key pillars essential for successful AI adoption and conclude with both some practical use cases to consider as a starting point as well as a look at how Deltek is leveraging AI within its solutions. Join us to get some ideas on how to demystify AI and discover how to advance your firm’s AI journey.

About Bret Tushaus

As Vice President of Product Management, Bret Tushaus is responsible for leading the product strategy, roadmap and product management teams for Deltek’s Vision, Maconomy, Ajera, People Planner, PIM, ConceptShare and WorkBook. Prior to joining Deltek, Bret spent 15 years at Eppstein Uhen Architects and holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee.

AI is poised to transform the AEC industry by eliminating tedious processes and boosting productivity, but you've got to prepare your firm. Sean Young of NVIDIA's AEC initiative discusses new AI solutions for planning, design, and AEC firm operations, with a deeper dive into your firm’s AI training for leveraging uses of Fine Tuning, RAG, Inference, Generative AI, Data Science, and NeRF. He also shows us how to use a Digital Twin for aggregating AI data, training synthetic data, and simulating projects before deployment in the real world.

• Learn why AI is relevant and how it will impact your practice, including the new job skills that AEC firms are looking for.
• Explore relevant AEC industry use cases across disciplines to understand the transformative capabilities of AI.
• Discover key AI technologies and software solutions, and how to get started implementing them
• Explore the future of digital twins for the AEC industry, and the frameworks for discussions with clients.

About Sean Young

Sean is Director of AECO, Geospatial, and AI Solutions Industry Marketing at NVIDIA. Sean has 25 years of 3D visualization and simulation experience in AEC, Automotive, and Manufacturing. He has been deeply involved in software and hardware technologies that shaped the AEC visualization industry. Prior to his current role Sean led Omniverse sales at NVIDIA, AEC business development at HP, and 3ds Max product management at Autodesk.

Your challenge as an AEC firm leader is not just to keep pace with technology but to redefine how your tech and your talent will co-exist in an AI-driven work environment. This isn't just about surviving the changes but creating workplaces prioritizing well-being, innovation, and a sense of purpose. As AI reshapes our lives and work, we have a unique opportunity to adapt and thrive together, embracing these changes while ensuring the human element remains at the heart of AEC project execution. In her timely keynote, Dr. Sam Zolfagharian explores the future of work in AEC, offering practical insights and inspiration for how people and technology can work together to succeed in the era of AI. You learn how to:

• Navigate and alleviate your employees’ fear of being replaced by AI.
• Develop strategies to attract and retain your top talent in the era of AI.
• Move from traditional workflows to AI-augmented workflows that enhance productivity and creativity.
• Integrate AI tools in ways that keep teamwork, creativity, and the human element at the heart of your organization and projects.
• Create workplaces prioritizing employees' well-being, innovation, and purpose to foster engagement and resilience in the AI era.

Join us to explore the coming shift from traditional work models to a future where AI handles routine tasks, enabling AEC firms to unlock the full potential of their talent. This transition frees individuals to focus on creativity, empathy, and strategic thinking, skills that are uniquely human and invaluable in the workplace of tomorrow. The discussion will emphasize how nurturing these qualities can enhance talent retention, attract top talent, and maximize your employees' contributions. By building workplaces where designers, architects, engineers, and project managers are valued for their unique contributions rather than just the hours they log, we can create a future that’s both technologically advanced and deeply fulfilling for everyone.