Engineering Influence from ACEC

Artificial intelligence is moving fast and engineering firms are being asked to adopt it just as quickly. But what does that mean for risk? On this episode of Engineering Influence, Jim Compton and Joe Bates dig into new research from the ACEC Research Institute examining how AI adoption is reshaping risk exposure across the engineering industry.
They break down what the data actually shows: where firms are seeing the most risk, how leadership is thinking about liability and oversight, and what firms of every size should be considering as they build out their own AI strategies.
Whether you're just starting to explore AI tools or already integrating them into your workflows, this conversation offers a data-driven look at where the industry stands and where it's headed.

Water infrastructure is the backbone of how communities survive and thrive in the face of a changing climate. In this episode, we sit down with Walter P Moore to explore what it really takes to build resilient water systems, from aging infrastructure challenges to forward-looking engineering solutions.
We dig into:
💧 The state of water infrastructure across the country
🌊 Engineering strategies for resilience and long-term impact
🏗️ How firms like Walter P Moore are shaping the future of water management 
 
Tune in for a conversation about the systems that keep our communities running and the engineers working to make sure they keep running for generations to come.

In this episode of The Market Edge, Diana O' Lare sits down with veteran journalist and broadcaster Llewellyn King to discuss his concept of the "New Weather" and what it means for infrastructure, migration, economic development, and investment.
They explore:
✅ The economic implications of a potential Super El Niño
✅ Why heat and water constraints may reshape growth patterns
✅ The growing need for resilient infrastructure
✅ Who pays for adaptation in an era of rising deficits
✅ How AI could help predict and prepare for future risks

In this episode of the Engineering Influence podcast, Sharon Jean-Baptiste, President of Ardmore Roderick, shares her leadership journey in the engineering industry and the lessons that have shaped her career. She discusses the lasting impact engineering work can have on communities, offers advice for young professionals just starting out in the field, and speaks to why mentorship remains one of the most powerful tools for building the next generation of engineering leaders.
🎙️ Some Topics covered:
👉 Sharon's path to becoming President of Ardmore Roderick
👉 Advice for young engineers and professionals entering the industry
👉 How engineering projects shape and strengthen communities
👉 The role of mentorship in developing future leaders

Initially unveiled in Summer 2023, nearly 200 ACEC member firms have participated in the Roadmap — a DEI&B maturity model and benchmarking tool that gives engineering firm executives a comprehensive, data-driven way to assess the maturity of their firm's DEIB program, with actionable suggestions for making further progress.
Chad Clinehens brings the data and the on-the-ground perspective from years of benchmarking the AEC industry, and together unpacks what the roadmap recommends, where firms are already making progress, and where the real work still lies ahead.
🔗 Get the Report: https://program.acec.org/diversity-roadmap-acec-research-institute/?hsLang=en#get-report
🔗 Learn More about Diversity Roadmap test: https://program.acec.org/diversity-roadmap-acec-research-institute 

In this special episode of the QBS Express — recorded in Washington, D.C. — host Scott Heidner (Executive Director, ACEC Kansas) and co-host Rob Krewson (President, ACEC Kansas) sit down with U.S. Representative Derek Schmidt of Kansas for a wide-ranging conversation on infrastructure, policy, and public service.
About the Guest: Congressman Derek Schmidt has spent his career in Kansas public service — as a legislative staffer, ten years in the Kansas State Senate, three terms as Kansas Attorney General, and now representing Kansas in the U.S. House of Representatives. A licensed attorney, he brings a practicing professional's perspective to the policy conversation.

In this episode of The Market Edge, ACEC's Vice President of Market Intelligence, Diana O'Lare, speaks with FMI Chief Economist Brian Strawberry on What markets are growing? Which sectors are cooling? And what does the rapid rise of data centers and energy infrastructure mean for the future of the AEC industry? 

In this episode of Engineering Influence, we sit down with Boris Martin, CEO of Engineers Without Borders USA, to talk about how purpose-driven engineering is reshaping careers and communities alike. Boris shares how EWB-USA partners with communities around the world and here at home to solve real infrastructure challenges. Volunteering on meaningful projects builds stronger, more fulfilled engineers. We discuss how firms can support purpose-driven work to boost retention and engagement, and what the next generation of community-focused engineering leadership looks like.
For more information or to connect, email CEO@ewb-usa.org.