Engineering Influence from ACEC

The Market Edge: Navigating Policy & The Economy

Policy is moving fast — and markets are moving with it. In this episode of The Market Edge, Morgan Stanley’s Monica Guerra breaks down the biggest forces set to shape the U.S. economy in 2026. We cover midterms, industrial policy, labor supply, inflation, energy markets, construction financing, housing demand, and the rise of data‑center‑driven digital infrastructure. A must‑listen for leaders navigating the future of the built environment.

Building Tomorrow’s Workforce

How can the engineering industry attract, develop, and retain the next generation of talent? On this episode of Engineering Influence, ACEC sits down with Tera Kaltsas, Designer Initiative Lead and Employee Experience Specialist at Kimley-Horn, to discuss innovative workforce development strategies that are helping shape the future of the profession.
 
Tera shares insights into Kimley-Horn’s and Autodesk's new initiative for talent development, employee engagement, and leadership cultivation, this groundbreaking partnership with two-year colleges to create new pathways into engineering and related careers.
 
Tune in to learn how these initiatives are expanding opportunities, strengthening the talent pipeline, and helping meet the workforce demands of a rapidly evolving industry.
 
Whether you're an engineering leader, HR professional, educator, or student, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on building a stronger, more inclusive workforce for the future.

Connected Data, Better Decisions: The Next Era of Engineering Delivery

In this episode, ACEC’s Jeff Urbanchuk sits down with Jack Hsueh of Autodesk to explore how engineering firms can deliver more with constrained resources through digital project delivery.
From connected data and collaborative workflows to automation and digital twins, they discuss how technology is transforming project execution across the industry. Jack shares insights from major initiatives like the LA28 Olympics and PennDOT, highlighting the importance of object-level data and interoperable systems to reduce rework, save time, and improve outcomes.
The conversation also dives into the evolving role of AI in AEC, including automation, augmentation, analysis, Autodesk’s AEC data model, the Model Context Protocol (MCP), and the Autodesk Assistant bringing context-aware AI directly into design tools.
The episode concludes with practical advice for firms looking to build capacity and resilience: treat digital delivery as a business strategy, invest in digital literacy, create repeatable processes, and pilot AI with clear governance.
🎧 Listen now and learn how firms can unlock greater efficiency, better decision-making, and stronger project outcomes through digital transformation.

Reps. Peter DeFazio and Bill Shuster Discuss the Current State of Congress

On the latest episode of Engineering Influence, former House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders Bill Shuster and Peter DeFazio come together for a candid discussion on the future of America's infrastructure. Drawing on years of bipartisan leadership, they reflect on major transportation investments, lessons learned in Congress, and the opportunities ahead to strengthen the nation's infrastructure and economy. 
Tune in to hear their insights on policy, project delivery, and the vital role engineers play in building a more connected and resilient America.

The River Comes Back to Life | EEA Grand Conceptor Award Winner: McMillen Engineering

What does it take to undo 100 years of harm to one of America's great rivers? In this episode of Engineering Influence, we sit down with the team winner of ACEC's 2026 Grand Conceptor Award, McMillen Engineering.
McMillen, Inc. earned ACEC's top honor for the Klamath River Renewal Project, the world's largest dam removal and river restoration effort. Once the third-largest salmon-producing river system on the West Coast, the Klamath had been blocked for over a century by four aging hydroelectric dams.
McMillen coordinated among six Tribal nations, more than 21 agencies, and dozens of public, private, and nonprofit partners.
They turned decades of division into a unified path forward. The results speak for themselves: within months of final dam removal, salmon and lamprey returned to upstream reaches not accessed for generations.
Hear how precision engineering, Indigenous-led collaboration, and a bold vision for restoration came together to set a new global standard.

Joe Bates Discusses the Q2 Engineering Business Sentiment Survey

In this episode of the Engineering Influence Podcast, we sit down with Joe Bates of the ACEC Research Institute to break down the findings from the Q2 Engineering Business Sentiment Report.
Joe dives into the latest data on how engineering firms are feeling about business conditions, workload, hiring, and the overall economic outlook. Whether you're a firm principal, project manager, or industry observer, this episode delivers the insights you need to understand where the engineering business landscape is headed.
About the ACEC Research Institute: The ACEC Research Institute is the research arm of the American Council of Engineering Companies, dedicated to advancing knowledge and providing data-driven insights for the engineering industry.
📢 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode of Engineering Influence!
Read the Full Report Here: https://www.acec.org/resource/engineering-business-sentiment-q2-2026/

The Politics of the Moment with Jonathan Martin

A big thank you to Autodesk, the sponsor of Engineering Influence at this year's convention. Autodesk partners with the AECO industry and its leaders to shape a more connected, data-driven future, empowering engineers to work more intelligently and to make confident decisions to drive meaningful impact. This enables firms to evolve, stay competitive, and deliver stronger business outcomes, all while designing a better world. So thank you again to Autodesk.
Recording from the 2026 ACEC Convention, Politico's Jonathan Martin discusses congressional culture, the shift from centrist policymaking to polarized primaries, and the need to address gerrymandering. The episode highlights the rise of authenticity and the popularity of long-form media like Martin's "On the Road" podcast and discusses Martin's new book, "This Will Not Pass." 

The Market Edge: Rethinking Water Resources

Communities across the country are facing a new era of water challenges — from shifting climate patterns and extreme rainfall to growing stormwater demands, groundwater stress, and pressure from water-intensive industries. In this episode, we sit down with water‑resources expert Camilla Correll to explore how watershed governance is evolving, what climate trends matter most for the next decade, and how innovative stormwater infiltration, capture, and reuse strategies are reshaping local infrastructure. We also dig into funding gaps, federal policy shifts, and the practical steps engineers and communities can take to build resilient, future‑ready water systems.