Designed for engineers, architects, land surveyors, LSPs, geologists, wetland scientists, and other emerging leaders with 8-15 years of work experience, this highly-rated multi- session program imparts specific skills and competencies identified by top ACEC/MA CEOs as critical for leadership success.
Program highlights:
This course features a carefully crafted curriculum that addresses specific needs for individuals committed to developing their leadership abilities.
Course sessions feature these topics:
Course Participation is limited to 30. Limit 2 Employees per firm. Registration is first-come, first-served.
Date
Location & Session Topic
Tuesday, Feb 24, 20263:30 – 7:00 PM
Conference Center at Waltham Woods860 Winter St, Waltham, MA 02451
Fire Side Chat led by Wing Wong, PE (McFarland Johnson) with Ed Baumann, PE (Benesch) and Rebecca Williamson, PE (Jacobs)
This session gives participants the opportunity to meet and engage with each other using fun activities designed to open conversation. In addition, you will be guided in a focused dialogue designed to explore what you hope to gain personally and collectively from the Emerging Leaders Program. Finally, you will participate in a fireside chat with two industry leaders on the responsibilities, perils and benefits of leadership.
Tuesday, March 3, 20263:30 – 7:30 PM
Topic: Leadership in a Professional Services Firm
Colleen Delvecchio, Maxady
The strongest asset for any organization is its people. Maximizing that asset is essential to strong leadership. Learn about key communication and influencing styles, as you communicate more effectively with colleagues, subordinates, senior leaders and clients. We'll cover how you select and develop effective team members and future leaders.
Tuesday, March 10, 20263:30 – 8 PM
Topic: Contracts and Risk Management
Carefully wording contract provisions minimizes risk to design professionals. We'll discuss how contract provisions allocate risks between parties and the legal effect of specific contract provisions. We'll review provisions such as the standard of care, scope of services, indemnification, limitation of liability and consequential damages. Examples will include claims that arose on projects relating to specific contract provisions and how the contract provisions affected resolution of the claims.
Tuesday, March 17, 20263:30 – 8 PM
Topic: Strategic Planning and Business Development for Technical Professionals
Rich Friedman, Friedman & Partners
Instilling and encouraging a strong business development (BD) culture in your firm makes great business sense — it can be an important differentiator and can positively influence your firm's project delivery, recruiting, hiring, and career development processes. Developing a BD culture requires understanding the distinction between marketing and BD, exposing common BD myths as false, recognizing the many ways in which technical staff can contribute to the BD process, and investing in strategies that yield the highest return-on-investment.
Strategic planning is an essential process for assessing and evaluating a business and creating a viable, flexible guide for future success. Critical components of a successful planning effort include preparing and establishing a plan baseline and creating the plan. You'll examine a strategic plan's major elements, including organizational vision, schedule, responsibilities, accountabilities and metrics.
Tuesday, March 24, 20263:30 – 7:30 PM
Aldrich Center, One Walnut St, Boston, MA 02108
Topic: Your Role in Government Affairs and QBS
Kevin O'Shea, ACEC/MA
Elected and appointed government officials influence the overall business climate and an individual firm's success. Business leaders need to know how to participate effectively in the public arena and build consensus. They also need to understand how government affairs activities can help their business succeed and how to encourage active participation at the grassroots level in the firm. This session also includes a discussion with a current Massachusetts legislator, who will provide perspective on how design firms businesses can effectively engage with public leaders.
Tuesday, March 31, 20263:30 – 7:30 PM
Topic: Economics of Practice
David Cohen, EsT., ASA, Matheson Advisors
Understanding the role and importance of financial project management is a critical attribute of emerging leaders. It is equally important that they understand fundamental metrics of successful firms, which financial indicators are important, and what they mean for future growth. In this session, we will discuss these important financial management issues.
Tuesday, April 7, 20263:30 – 7:30 PM
Topic: From Management to Leadership: Secrets for Success
Joanne Linowes, Linowes Development Institute, Facilitator
Network with a diverse panel of leading industry professionals as you participate in role play interactive exercises that give you a chance to put new leadership skills developed throughout the course into action. This popular session is the culmination of the Emerging Leaders Program experience. The facilitated session gives participants a chance to ask industry leaders questions concerning industry, practices, and management. We conclude this session with a Graduation Celebration with ACEC/MA Board Members and the ACEC/MA Leadership Education Committee.
Tuesday, April 14, 20265:00 – 9:00 PM
Professional Development Hours: 28.5 PDHs (not in NY or FL), through RCEP. These PDHs may be accepted for professional license renewal in some states for continuing education for PEs and PLSs. This course is not eligible for PDHs in New York or Florida
Attendees will receive an email from the RCEP system to set up a free account for tracking PDHs after the final course session. For full PDH credit you must attend all sessions.
Workforce Express Grant: Employers with ≤ 100 Massachusetts employees may be eligible for a Workforce Express Grant to assist with tuition for Massachusetts employees after registering with us. Click here for more information or contact acecma@engineers.org for information. This is a reimbursement grant.
Participants are expected to attend every session in pereson unless of an emergency. Sessions will not be recorded. If paying by check, mail check payable to ACEC/MA to One Walnut St, Boston, MA 02108. No phone registrations. No shows will be charged. Cancellations must be received by February 17, 2026. Sessions are not recorded.
Questions? Contact 617-227-5551 or acecma@engineers.org
The Conference Center at Waltham Woods
Most sessions will be held at The Conference Center at Waltham Woods. One session will be held at the Aldrich Center in Boston. See event description for the full list of dates, times, and locations.
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