Bjorn Morisbak, EVP & Chief Corporate Development Officer, Stantec
David Richter, EVP, Chief Growth Officer and Chief Legal Officer, Atwell, LLC
Dan Williams, Partner, ARA Service Partners

Join PSMJ’s Karl Wohler as he brings together AEC M&A veterans Bjorn Morisbak, David Richter, and Dan Williams to share how they are sourcing opportunities, assessing value, and structuring transactions in today’s competitive and fast-moving environment. This panel will unpack the key trends shaping AEC M&A in 2025 and offer a forward-looking perspective on what buyers and sellers should expect heading into 2026.

• Identify the dominant trends shaping AEC M&A activity in today’s fast-paced market, including how competitive dynamics and buyer priorities are evolving. 

• Understand how experienced strategic acquirers source, assess, and prioritize opportunities, beyond headline valuation metrics, in order to execute successful transactions. 

• Recognize the different “flavors” of success in AEC M&A, as varied buyer strategies, growth objectives, and integration approaches define what a successful outcome looks like. 

• Apply practical, real-world insights from seasoned AEC M&A leaders to inform their firm’s acquisition, growth, or ownership transition strategy heading into 2026. 

Doug Lake, Founder & Managing Partner, Godspeed Capital Management
Jason Donker, Director of Corporate Development, HFW Companies
Ian Adelson, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Hunter Forest Capital

Moderated by PSMJ's Greg Hart, Doug Lake, Jason Donker, and Ian Adelson examine their unique approaches for building a winning platform in AEC M&A, including emerging trends, strategies for growth, and how to differentiate yourself as a buyer in this competitive space. Buyers and sellers alike can sharpen their 2026 strategies with insights from these industry leaders.

• Identify how private equity buyers are sourcing and screening AEC opportunities today, including the qualitative factors that matter beyond headline multiples. 

• Understand how experienced PE-backed platforms evaluate risk, leadership, and scalability when determining which firms are the right fit for long-term value creation. 

• Recognize the different definitions of “success” in private equity–led AEC transactions, as investment horizons, growth strategies, and partnership models shape deal outcomes for buyers and sellers alike. 

• Apply practical insights from active private equity leaders to better position their firm, whether as a buyer, seller, or future platform partner, heading into 2026. 

Michael Andrisani, Partner, Clairvest Group Inc.
Want to unlock capital for growth while maintaining control of your AEC firm? A minority recapitalization could be the answer. As we enjoy a delicious lunch, Michael Andrisani explains how minority partners structure investments, what makes a firm an attractive candidate, and how this option compares to majority sales or ESOPs. You gain a practical understanding of whether minority recapitalization could be the right path for their firm’s next stage of growth.

• Understand how minority recapitalizations are structured in the AEC industry, including governance, control rights, and capital deployment expectations. 

• Identify the characteristics that make an AEC firm an attractive candidate for a minority investment, from leadership depth and growth profile to risk and scalability. 

• Compare minority recapitalization to alternative ownership strategies, including majority sales and ESOPs, to better evaluate tradeoffs around control, liquidity, and long-term value. 

• Apply practical insights from an active minority investor to assess whether a minority recapitalization aligns with their firm’s growth and ownership-transition objectives. 

Mark St.Germain,

PSMJ's Mitchell Mafra hosts a candid conversation with Mark St.Germain and Jeff Weiler, sharing real-world insights from the seller’s side of the table. This panel will explore each seller’s unique experience and highlight lessons learned about process, culture fit, and value creation. Attendees will learn the perspectives of three different sellers as they share the clarity of having lived through a transaction.

• Understand the seller’s perspective throughout the AEC M&A process, informed by firsthand experiences from firm leaders who have completed a transaction. 

• Identify key lessons learned around process, preparation, and timing, including what sellers wish they had known before going to market. 

• Recognize how culture fit and strategic alignment influence deal outcomes, beyond price and structure, from the seller’s point of view. 

• Apply practical insights from experienced sellers to better prepare for, evaluate, and navigate their own ownership transition, or better understand how to improve the acquisition process as a buyer. 

Donya Edler, VP, LJA Engineering
Dirk Applegate, CEO and Board Member, Aventia
Jon Kessler, Senior M&A Advisor, PSMJ Resources, Inc. and former EVP and Director of Strategic Development, Gannett Fleming
Joe Viscuso, Senior VP and Director of Strategic Growth, Pennoni
Growth through acquisition can be a powerful strategy, but it comes with challenges ranging from cultural clashes and hidden liabilities to valuation and integration pitfalls. In this fast-paced, interactive session moderated by PSMJ's Mike Matthews, seasoned AEC industry buyers share real-world lessons on how to identify, measure, and manage the risks that can make or break a transaction. From key-person dependence and client concentration to post-close integration and cultural alignment, the panel will offer practical insights on quantifying firm-specific risk, structuring deals to mitigate uncertainty, and protecting both value and people. Whether you’re exploring your first acquisition or refining your approach for your 100th, this discussion will sharpen your risk radar and equip you to move forward with confidence.

• Identify the most common sources of risk in AEC acquisitions, including key-person dependence, client concentration, cultural misalignment, and integration challenges. 

• Understand how experienced AEC buyers assess and quantify firm-specific risk, moving beyond surface-level diligence to uncover value drivers and potential liabilities. 

• Evaluate how deal structures and integration planning can be used to mitigate risk, protect people and culture, and preserve long-term value. 

• Apply practical, real-world risk management insights from seasoned acquirers and advisors to strengthen their acquisition strategy, whether executing a first deal or scaling a repeatable M&A program as a buyer. Potential sellers will better understand how to ensure their firm and people are set up for success with a prospective partner. 

Bernard Baumohl, Chief Global Economist, The Economic Outlook Group 
Bernard Baumohl is well known for being ahead of the curve in assessing the direction of the U.S. and world economy. The Wall Street Journal has twice recognized him (2019 & 2025) as the nation’s top economic forecaster.

He began his career with the Council on Foreign Relations, a think tank specializing in international affairs and national security. He later served as senior economist at European American Bank with responsibilities to monitor the global economy. He was also an award-winning journalist with TIME magazine who covered the White House, Federal Reserve and Wall Street.

In this address, Bernie lays out the opportunities and risks ahead for the U.S. and international economy. It is a topic of tremendous urgency because the economic and geopolitical order of the last century is no more! The Covid pandemic, war in Ukraine and the reversals in globalization are completely transforming the entire business landscape. Adding more complexity to the outlook are interest rates and inflation. As a consequence, every firm is now experimenting, exploring and testing out new strategies on how to survive and prosper in this new, and still evolving, business landscape.

• Where is the economy headed and how might it impact your business?
• What are the implications for consumer and business spending, supply chains, inflation, interest rates and dollar?
• How do you make business decisions when the outlook is so murky and geopolitical tensions keep escalating?
• Who will be the leaders and laggards in the world economy?
• Which economic and geopolitical threats are likely to erupt next?
• How can businesses navigate through a crisis-prone world economy?

Paul VanDuyne, CEO, IMEG Corp.
Ira Starr, Managing Director, Long Point Capital
Casey Bello, M&A Manager, Terracon
Join moderator Greg Hart for a dynamic discussion with industry veterans as they share their insights on the forces shaping AEC mergers and acquisitions today. This session will contrast three successful approaches of firms from across the spectrum of growth strategies, highlighting the nuances of how success can be achieved via M&A. 

• Identify the current forces shaping AEC M&A activity, as seen through the lens of active strategic and financial buyers. 

• Understand how different buyer types open doors, source opportunities, and move deals forward, especially in a fast-moving and competitive market. These acquirers are continuously staying ahead of the curve. 

• Recognize the varied paths to success in AEC M&A, as distinct growth strategies, capital structures, and integration approaches define winning outcomes. 

• Apply practical insights from experienced buyers to refine their firm’s approach to sourcing, negotiating, and closing transactions. Potential sellers will learn what defines some of the most successful acquisition strategies in this space. 

Noah Tolson, Principal and President, Array Architects
Justin Ramirez, Director of Strategic Growth, RTM-EC
Curt Peitzman, Senior VP/Director of Strategy and Growth, Horner & Shifrin

Growth through acquisition can be a transformative path for privately held AEC firms, but success starts with a clear strategy and disciplined execution. Moderated by PSMJ's Mike Matthews, this session brings together firm leaders who have navigated the acquisition process firsthand to share what it really takes to grow through M&A. From defining a firm’s growth objectives to identifying and evaluating potential partners, each panelist will reveal lessons learned, best practices, and common pitfalls to avoid. Whether you’re exploring your first acquisition or refining your playbook, this discussion will provide practical guidance on how to align vision, resources, and leadership to achieve successful, sustainable growth through acquisition.

• Define a clear acquisition strategy aligned with their firm’s growth objectives, leadership capacity, and long-term vision. 

• Understand how experienced AEC leaders identify, evaluate, and select acquisition partners, drawing on real-world lessons from completed transactions. 

• Recognize common pitfalls and execution challenges in growth-through-acquisition strategies, and learn how successful firms avoid them. 

• Apply practical insights from peer firm leaders to strengthen their firm’s readiness and approach to executing acquisitions successfully.

Bill O'Brien, Managing Director, Corporate Client Group, Director, Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley
Paul VanDuyne, CEO, IMEG Corp. 
Learn how Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and the 1042 exchange can create powerful outcomes in AEC firm acquisitions. This discussion will unpack the financial, tax, and cultural benefits of ESOP structures, offering firm owners a practical look at how this approach can maximize value while preserving company legacy.

• Understand how ESOPs are used in AEC acquisitions, including the role of the 1042 exchange in facilitating tax-efficient transactions. 

• Identify the financial and tax advantages of ESOP structures for sellers and acquiring firms, and how these benefits can impact overall deal value. 

• Recognize the cultural and legacy-preservation benefits of ESOP ownership, particularly in professional services firms. 

• Apply practical insights from ESOP practitioners and experienced acquirers to evaluate whether an ESOP-based acquisition strategy aligns with their firm’s ownership and growth objectives. 

Jon Kessler, Senior M&A Advisor, PSMJ Resources and former EVP and Director of Strategic Development, Gannett Fleming
Post-AEC merger integration planning is important… and difficult to really get right. That's because there is no single “right” answer, but there are some wrong ones. In more than 15 years at Gannett Fleming (now GFT), Jon held roles including Chief Financial Officer and, most recently, Director of Strategic Development where he was directly involved in virtually all facets of the firm’s acquisitive growth strategy. He has seen a lot when it comes to integration planning and is ready to help you create more value after the closing.

As a PSMJ Senior M&A Advisor, Jon brings his unique experience and perspective to share an inside look at how to: 

• Ask the right questions before the Letter of Intent to spot potential integration issues early
• Think like a client when prioritizing and structuring integration activities
• Know where you want flexibility and where you don’t want it in integration
• Avoid costly morale killers in dealing with post-transaction staffing and org structure

• Understand how effective integration planning begins before the Letter of Intent, including how to surface potential issues early in the deal process. 

• Identify how to prioritize integration decisions by thinking like a client, ensuring continuity, service quality, and value creation post-close. 

• Recognize where flexibility is essential and where discipline is required in integration, particularly around systems, leadership, and operating models. 

• Apply practical, real-world integration insights from a seasoned AEC acquirer to avoid common morale killers and maximize value after closing. 

PGA Resort’s Fazio Course • 18 holes • Shotgun start • White tees 

Cap off your Summit experience with 18 unforgettable holes at PGA Resort’s legendary Fazio Course! Tee off at 2:30 PM with a shotgun start and white-tee format designed for fun, fast play, and easy connection. The Fazio Course’s championship layout delivers just the right mix of challenge and relaxation—perfect for friendly competition and on-course deal-making.

Soak up the sunshine, swap stories with fellow AEC leaders, and turn casual conversation into lasting connections. From first drive to final putt, this exclusive outing combines networking, fresh air, and a little friendly rivalry—the ultimate way to wrap up your AEC M&A Summit experience.