Andrew Busch is the former 1^st Chief Market Intelligence Officer for the US government and an economic futurist. He was charged with improving and enhancing the government’s understanding of markets and the economy by taking news and data and turning it into condensed, easily understood research. Andy provided briefings to White House, US House and 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. At AEC THRIVE, he delivers an engaging and rapid-fire assessment of near-term AEC business opportunities.

Is your AEC firm’s governance structure optimized for current market conditions... and what’s coming?

Hear how a structural engineering firm is meeting strategic objectives by rethinking the relationship between internal leadership, an advisory board, and the board of directors. Whatever your current model is, you benefit from hearing Greg’s revealing and practical
ideas for rethinking the decision-making process and driving growth. 

Architect and AEC tech guru Aya Shlachter gives us reasons to approach AI as an opportunity, not a threat to our profession. Hear her take on the newest tools for visualization, generative design, and drafting, with an impartial and nuanced assessment of those that promise to deliver long-term ROI, and that can be integrated into your existing workflow. We are at a turning point, and the most successful AEC firms will adopt a smart tech strategy.

Brian Kirkpatrick knows that the words Private Equity set off alarm bells for AEC leaders looking to grow through acquisition. What if there was another side to the common narrative of slashed budgets and staff, loss of control, and loss of equity? He's joined by Trey Dawson, PE, President of Pape-Dawson Engineers, for this candid look at how their partnership has exceeded expectations. 

Ellen Bensky, CEO and CFO of Turner Fleischer, shares how a 250-person design studio has restructured its practice by embedding operational teams at the center of firm performance. Departments typically viewed as non-billable—Digital Practice, Marketing, People + Culture, Finance, Knowledge Management, and Learning + Development—are fully integrated into project delivery and business strategy. Their work improves clarity, reduces redundancy, and ensures that design teams are supported by systems that enhance—not interrupt—the creative process.

Bill has trained over 15,000 AEC Project Managers and consulted with hundreds of AEC Principals. At AEC THRIVE he explains how firm leaders are boosting firm performance by treating PM development as a strategic priority, not a side task or simple checklist, with a look under the hood at the KPIs we should be monitoring, the keys to a better culture, and how to spot the PM skills gaps that are costing you critical brand-equity.