Finding the right M&A counterparty, structuring win-win transactions, assessing valuations, successfully integrating, and more.
Karl Wohler, Senior M&A Advisor and Mitch Mafra, Senior Consultant, PSMJ Resources, Inc. 

Gregory Hart, President, PSMJ Resources
We kick off the AEC M&A Summit with an overview and high-level look at the current market for architecture and engineering firm services and bold predictions about where the growth opportunities lie, based on PSMJ research on proposal activity.

• Karl Wohler, AEC M&A Advisor, PSMJ Resources (moderator)
• Bjorn Morisbak,  Executive Vice President, Corporate Development, Stantec
• Paul VanDuyne, PE, President & CEO, IMEG

It's been a busy year for AEC merger and acquisition activity. Will it stay this hot throughout 2025 and beyond? Hear our first-rate expert panel give their candid opinions on the economic, business, and political changes on the horizon that could drive changes to your strategy.

Bill O'Brien, Corporate Client Group Director, Morgan Stanley
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• Mike Mathews, P.E, Senior M&A Advisor, PSMJ Resources (Moderator)
• Kristi Tahmasiyan, Director of Mergers & Acquisitions and Principal, Terracon Consultants
• Trevor Garfield, Director of M&A, Westwood Professional Services
• Amy Squitieri, President and COO, Mead & Hunt
• Joe Viscuso, Senior VP, Director of Strategic Growth, Pennoni

How are the most successful M&A dealmakers finding acquisition targets? How can you avoid duds, and weed out those with unreasonable expectations? 

We are delighted to bring you this candid discussion with top AEC strategic buyers on what they are looking for when reviewing potential acquisition targets, from the most attractive markets served to the performance metrics that indicate great alignment to the red-flags that send them running. Both buyers and sellers will benefit from this look behind the corporate curtain!

Tim Corbett, Founder and President, SmartRisk

Risk assessments in AEC M&A transactions are valuable tools for evaluating essential operational and practice management categories. Based on the extensive review of AEC claims, these are the main drivers leading to disputes, claims and litigation. Weather considering to buy or sell, you'll benefit from the insights of former Bechtel and EG&G risk assessment and mitigation expert Tim Corbett as he explains how risk assessments can allow for a more informed decision related to risk and liability exposures.

• AEC professional liability claims trends
• Understanding enterprise risk management categories
• PwC and Accenture Survey Findings
• Risk assessment process including risk ratings
• Characteristics of the higher performing AEC firms

• Mike Mathews, P.E, Senior M&A Advisor, PSMJ Resources (Moderator)
• Becky Rehorn, Director of Communication, Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson
• Donya Edler, Director of Marketing and Communications, LJA Engineering
• Frank Mangin, Operations President, The Haskell Company

When acquiring an AEC firm, or when yours is acquired, systems, policies, procedures, and one firm’s or the other’s employees will experience significant change. When the main goal of the merger or acquisition is expansion of human capital, a loss of engagement can take years to rebuild, if ever. Our panel of integration experts share essential strategies and practices to ensure a seamless transition during transformative events and mitigate the impact of uncertainty, fear, and resistance among employees, stakeholders, and clients. You get a working toolbox for covering pre-acquisition planning, stakeholder engagement, message consistency, leadership's role, and feedback mechanisms. With some planning and use of basic change management strategies and tools, the integration can meet the administrative needs of the organization and preserve the human capital that was the primary purpose. 

• Assessing the magnitude of change involved in a merger or acquisition.
• Risk of change saturation
• How emotional intelligence in your integration team pays dividends
• How to coordinate change among departments
• Comprehensive communication strategies before acquisition announcements.
• Techniques to maintain trust and morale among employees, customers, and stakeholders.
• Clear, consistent, and aligned messages to prevent misinformation and confusion.
• How leadership can model effective communication and address concerns.
• Channels for receiving and addressing feedback to foster openness and continuous improvement.

• Karl Wohler, AEC M&A Advisor, PSMJ Resources (moderator)
• Austin Carlson, CPA and Attorney, Gray Reed
• Carl Shaw, Executive Vice President, LJA Engineers
• Taylor Dolan, Attorney, Lee Shoemaker

This dynamic session delves into the complex landscape of M&A transactions within the AEC sector, focusing on critical legal and tax considerations that can make or break a deal. Industry experts will explore due diligence best practices, contract assignment challenges, and tax-efficient deal structures specific to architecture, engineering, and construction firms. Learn how to protect intellectual property, manage licensing requirements across jurisdictions, and optimize transaction structure to minimize tax exposure while maintaining operational continuity.

Key Takeaways:

• Master strategies for handling professional licensing transfers and project contract assignments during AEC firm acquisitions
• Understand tax implications of different deal structures, including asset sales versus stock purchases in professional service firms
• Learn critical due diligence steps for evaluating ongoing projects, contingent liabilities, and regulatory compliance
• Discover approaches to protecting and transferring intellectual property rights in design-focused transactions

Dawson Fercho, Partner-Founder/IRS EA, Corporate Tax Advisors

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Ron Kaminski, Former CEO of HBK Engineering, current SVP of Quanta Services, Inc.
In our day one closing keynote address, Former CEO of HBK Engineering, current SVP of Quanta Services, Inc. Ron Kaminski explains why he decided to sell his 500-person company to $30 Billion Quanta Services, and how the deal came together. You get a first-hand account of what it's like to join a massive global AEC corporation, and how the strategic combination of HBK Engineers' specialized infrastructure expertise has blended with Quanta's comprehensive engineering and construction capabilities, and what most surprised him about how his team has reacted to the deal. He explores how the integration strengthens both organizations' ability to deliver innovative solutions for critical infrastructure projects.

Todd Buchholz, Economist and Former Head, Tiger Investment Fund
Renowned economist, White House advisor, and best-selling author Todd Buchholz connects the dots between Wall Street, Main Street, and financial capitals throughout the world. An internationally known consultant on global markets and winner of Harvard’s annual teaching prize, Buchholz advises the world’s leading companies and "lights up economics with a wickedly sparkling wit."  We get to tap into Todd's frontline experience as White House director of economic policy and managing director of the Tiger investment fund to get a better sense of where opportunities lie in the near term.  

• Discover how demographics, technology, and globalization are reshaping the economy and our future
• Pinpoint the signs of stock market rallies, and the warning signs of slumps
• Identify the political pressures on trade, debt, and interest rates from the U.S. to the E.U. to China

• Karl Wohler, Senior M&A Advisor, PSMJ Resources (moderator)
• Kenny Nickens, Principal, Kaltroco and former VP, Comvest
• Ahmed Abdel-Saheb, Managing Director, Signal Hill Equity
• Ira Starr, Partner, Long Point Capital
• Norm Scherr, Managing Partner, Providus Capital Partners

Private equity's growing interest in the AEC sector marks a significant shift from traditional strategic acquisitions. Hear key PE investors explain advantages of bringing sophisticated financial expertise and operational efficiency to AEC companies, and how it unlocks the potential for accelerating growth through strategic add-on acquisitions. While some AEC firm owners and Principals are wary of loss of firm culture, PE partners increasingly understand the relationship-driven nature of AEC businesses. The discussion highlights how PE's longer holding periods and focus on operational improvements, rather than pure financial engineering, have made them more attractive partners for AEC firms seeking capital for expansion and succession planning.

• Why PE firms are now offering more flexible deal structures, including retained ownership options for key principals, helping preserve company culture and client relationships
• How PE investors in the AEC space maintain existing management teams and focus on providing growth capital rather than radical restructuring
• How AEC leaders can carefully evaluate PE partners' industry expertise and track record of growing similar professional services firms
• How to predict alignment on growth strategy, investment timeline, and preservation of core company values

Michael Cherock, P.E., Founder and CEO, AE Works
Dave Andros, Chief Operating Officer, AE Works
Acquiring an AEC firm through an asset transaction introduces unique and often unexpected challenges that require thorough preparation. Learn the “hidden costs” that can arise post-close, from licensure cleanup and liability management to IT infrastructure upgrades, all of which require time, planning, and resources to unlock the full value of the acquired firm.

Drawing on real-world experiences, we’ll share lessons learned from the buyer’s perspective, including essential questions to ask early in the transaction process to anticipate the level of effort and costs associated with post-close obligations. You gain insights into key areas often overlooked, such as ensuring regulatory compliance, assessing contractual liabilities, and integrating operational systems.

Additionally, we’ll discuss strategies for keeping the integration process energized well beyond the initial “honeymoon” period, maintaining momentum, and supporting a seamless cultural and operational transition after the first 60-90 days. You leave equipped with practical strategies and questions to guide preparations for asset transactions, better manage costs, reduce unforeseen complications, and fully realize the value promised in firm acquisitions.

• Hidden costs associated with asset transactions in A/E firm acquisitions and how they differ from equity transactions.
• Key questions to ask during the acquisition process to better anticipate the time, effort, and costs needed for a successful transition.
• Strategies to improve transparency and collaboration in pre and post-close activities.
• How to sustain integration efforts beyond the initial honeymoon period
• Ways to align acquired assets with your firm’s strategic goals to maximize the long-term value of the transaction.

David Laugtug, Principal, CLA Tampa 

Discover how Quality of Earnings (QoE) analysis can make or break your firm's valuation during M&A. This session unpacks key QoE metrics buyers scrutinize, including revenue recognition practices, project profitability trends, backlog quality, and working capital management. Learn actionable strategies to strengthen your QoE through improved project controls, streamlined operations, and optimized resource allocation. CPA David Laugtug shares real-world examples of how AEC firms have enhanced their valuations by addressing QoE concerns proactively. Walk away with a practical tools to position your firm for maximum value in future transactions.

• Critical QOE metrics buyers scrutinize, including recurring revenue streams, client concentration ratios, and project margin consistency
• Proven systems to improve earnings quality through better project selection, resource utilization, and backlog management
• How to identify and address potential QOE red flags before they impact your valuation
• Elements of a strategic roadmap for strengthening your firm's QOE profile 12-24 months before going to market

Michael "Mick" Renshaw, CEO, Trilon Group
We are delighted to welcome back Mick Renshaw to lead a dialogue around consolidation in the AEC space and a discussion of how smart strategic buyers and platforms create additional opportunity and value for staff, clients, and shareholders through a carefully designed and implemented playbook. Mick’s vast M&A experience from a variety of perspectives (buyer, seller, public, private) provides a unique viewpoint on all aspects of the M&A process; what buyers are looking for, what options exist for ownership transition, and what key considerations leadership should account for when determining the best course of actions for their company’s future.

• How A/E/C industry tailwinds and ownership transition headwinds are affecting investment interest and causing rapid consolidation at an unprecedented pace
• How Private Equity is changing the AEC landscape by prioritizing growth, resulting in increased M&A activity and opportunity for business owners
• What options exist for AEC firms evaluating ownership transition and how to identify what best suits your business
• How to ensure integration of M&A opportunities result in value creation and opportunity expansion for all stakeholders (staff, clients, and shareholders)
  
  

Brian Kirkpatrick, Operating Partner at Palm Beach Capital and NMS Capital

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