ACEC/MA hosts a variety of events to promote professional development and networking for Massachusetts engineers, land surveyors and related design professionals.
Leadership skills development course for senior management, middle management, and anyone who has been identified as a high potential leader.
Odyssey Class size is limited to 24 people. Only two people per firm can register at this time, but we will have a waiting list.
Program Overview
Odyssey is a comprehensive program of nine monthly sessions addressing the following topics:
Three Self-Discovery Activities During The Program
The three self-discovery activities foster long-term skills development:
The ACEC/MA Odyssey Leadership Program is open to ACEC /MA members and non-members. The 9-session interactive program includes an individual one-on-one coaching session. Students create a personal vision as part of the program.
The Jennings Group
The Jennings Group LLC, specialists in engineering and technical leadership programs, leads Odyssey. Over 2,000 people from 200 organizations and 28 countries have participated in their programs. Faculty includes Kate Kaynak, PhD, college professor and founder of a 40-person publishing industry start-up, and Nicholas Kessler, policy analyst and former Deputy Commissioner of the Virginia Employment Commission.
Who Should Participate: Senior management, middle management and anyone who has been identified as a high potential leader. Typically, participants have 10 to 15 years of experience.
Certificate Requirements: Enrollment in the ACEC/MA Odyssey Leadership Program is a commitment to learning and professional development. To gain the full benefit of the Program and to be recognized as an ACEC/MA Odyssey Leadership Program graduate, you must attend all 9 sessions including the one-on-one session. Any missed sessions require make-up work assigned by the course instructors. At the discretion of the course instructors, those attendees missing more than one session may not graduate. Class members may request to make up missed classes.
PDH Credit: 58 PDHs. ACEC/MA, through the Registered Continuing Education Program, is providing professional development hours to meet certain continuing education requirements for licensure in some states. New York, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Oklahoma require pre-approval of PDH sponsors. This program has not been pre-approved in those states.
S C H E D U L E
Each of the eight full day sessions will be held from 8 AM - 4:30 PM at The Conference Center at Waltham Woods, Waltham, MA.
September 25, 2025: Session 1 - Leadership Principles
October 23, 2025: Session 2 - Understanding Yourself and Others Better
TBD, November 2025: Session 3 - Individual meetings—One-on-One Coaching sessions (Virtual)
December 11, 2025: Session 4 - Communicating to Motivate
January 22, 2026: Session 5 - Leading Strong-Willed/Difficult People and Leading in Conflict Situations
February 26, 2026: Session 6 - Leading Change: Creating Environments For Change and Overcoming Resistance to Change
March 26, 2026: Session 7 - Empowering and Growing Others: Delegating, Coaching, Mentoring, and Empowering
April 16, 2026: Session 8 - Taking & Controlling Personal Risk; Defining Your Personal Leadership Style
May 21, 2026: Session 9 - Inspiring Leadership In Others; Creating A Leadership Culture; Creating a Personal Growth Path; Graduation Reception follows at 5 PM.
If necessary due to weather issues, we will schedule a snow date.
If you have to miss a session due to an emergency, there will also be a separate virtual schedule for 2 half-day afternoon Zoom sessions each month, except in November, with ACEC members in others states.
Workforce Training Express Grants through the Commonwealth Corporation (paused as of 7/8/2025)
Applications for both the Commonwealth Corporation's Express Program and General Program grants have been paused until funds for State Fiscal Year 2026 (July 2025 – June 2026) are available. While specific dates are not yet available, we hope applications can be submitted again in July 2025 for firms with ≤ 100 employees in Massachusetts.
With the Workforce Training Fund Program pause in effect, the Commonwealth Corporation's Express Program grant application will be inactive, but the Express Directory will remain available for planning purposes. New and renewed course submissions from training providers will be accepted throughout the pause, although businesses cannot apply until the application reopens.
Click HERE to stay informed.
Tuition costs include 8 formal sessions, an individual one-on- one evaluation session, program materials, and food. *If your firm is an ACEC/MA member, you are an ACEC/MA Member. If your firm is an ACEC/MA member, but you are based in another state, you may register at the ACEC/MA Member Rate. Please provide the work address where you are based.
Sessions will run 8:30 am-4:00 pm with lunch and several breaks. Instructors will schedule time for the one on one meetings with each attendee. Sessions will move to online if necessary.
Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel
606 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210
If your firm is planning to submit a project for the FY2026 Engineering Excellence Awards, we will provide this information in September 2025.
ACEC/Massachusetts is offering members the opportunity to present a business program at an ACEC/MA. These meetings may be held in conjunction with our Membership Meetings. Note: these programs MUST be educational in nature – no sales pitches.
Final selection for programs will be made by the Program Committee. Proposals will be considered in the order they are received. ACEC/Massachusetts guarantee attendance.
To submit your program for consideration, download the RFP form (to be posted soon) and email completed form to ACEC/MA.
ACEC/Massachusetts offers periodic, non-PDH webinars on timely and relevant business topics for engineering professionals.
Business webinars should be no more than hour and should provide information relevant to our membership (no sales pitches). These webinars does NOT qualify for PDH credit. However, it may meet requirements for other professional development programs. Check with the administrator of your professional program for more information.
For more information or to submit a proposal, contact ACEC/MA.
