Engineering Influence from ACEC

Building for the Future: Discussing the Value of Engineering with Ardurra Group's Ernesto Aguilar

In Part 2 of our conversation with Ardurra on Engineering Influence, host Jeff Urbanchuk picks back up with Ernesto Aguilar, President and CEO of Ardurra Group, diving deeper into the topics that matter most to engineering firm leaders right now.
After covering Ardurra's meteoric rise from a small regional firm to a national water and infrastructure leader, Jeff and Ernesto shift the focus to what sustains that growth over the long haul. Ernesto shares his perspective on one of the industry's most pressing challenges: workforce development.
Attracting the next generation of engineers, retaining top talent in a competitive market, and building a culture where people actually want to build their careers. The episode also explores the accelerating role of technology in engineering practice.
From AI to digital delivery tools, Ernesto reflects on how Ardura is approaching innovation. What does it mean to future-proof a firm? What tools are actually moving the needle? And then there's the question of value — perhaps the most important and most underrated conversation in the industry.
Ernesto makes a compelling case for why engineering firms need to start articulating the true impact of their work.
Missed Part 1? Go back and listen to hear how Ardurra grew from a regional firm to a national infrastructure powerhouse: https://youtu.be/BeB7U8SevRM 

ACEC Research Institute's Greg Kelly on the Engineering Workforce Shortage

Greg Kelly, CEO of STV, and Vice Chair of the ACEC Research Institute appeared on WTBQ-AM in New York to discuss the Institute's new research on the national shortage of engineers.  The shortage is being driven by a combination of retirements, visa limits for international graduates, and a shrinking recruitment pipeline. Greg explains how firms use internships, mentorship, and competitive salaries to attract new talent.
The conversation covers how AI will augment—not replace—engineers, the importance of human judgment in safe design, and the lasting legacy of infrastructure projects that connect communities.
Resources such as ACEC scholarships and outreach to schools are highlighted as practical steps to grow and diversify the next generation of engineers. 

Teaching the Teachers: Missouri’s Plan to Fix the Engineering Pipeline

What happens when an industry faces a talent shortage serious enough to threaten its future? You stop waiting and start building the pipeline yourself.
In this episode of Engineering Influence, host Jeff Urbanchuk sits down with leaders from ACEC Missouri, Missouri University of Science and Technology, and SCI Engineering to tackle one of the profession's most pressing challenges: the growing engineering workforce shortage — and what the industry is actually doing about it.
At the center of the conversation is an innovative new Missouri initiative designed to reach students long before they ever set foot on a college campus.
The program takes a "teach the teacher" approach, equipping K–12 educators with hands-on, thematic learning modules they can bring directly into their classrooms — sparking curiosity about engineering careers at the earliest stages of a student's education.
Guests break down how the initiative works in practice, from the summer teacher camp experience to the role private firms play through sponsorships that make the program possible. The discussion digs into the power of industry-academia collaboration — and why partnerships between engineering firms and universities are essential to moving the needle on workforce development.
The episode also looks ahead: what does scaling this program look like, and how can it serve as a model for attracting and retaining the next generation of engineers across Missouri and beyond? Whether you're a firm principal thinking about talent strategy, an educator looking to bring real-world relevance to your classroom, or simply someone who cares about the future of the profession.

The Health Care Transformation: Five Trends Engineering Firms Need to Know

The health care and science+technology market is undergoing profound change — not just in how care is delivered, but in the physical environments where it happens. From AI-powered research labs to rural hospital closures, the forces reshaping this $70 billion sector are creating both urgent challenges and significant opportunities for engineering and design firms. ACEC's Winter/Spring 2026 Market Intelligence Brief identifies five trends that will define the market in the years ahead. 
 
Download the Market Intelligence Brief: https://www.acec.org/resources/market-intelligence/

From Regional Roots to National Platform: How Ardurra Is Reshaping Water Infrastructure

What does it take to grow a small regional engineering firm into a nationally recognized, private equity-backed water infrastructure platform — in just nine years?
In this episode of Engineering Influence, Ernesto Aguilar, CEO of Ardurra, takes us behind the scenes of one of the most intentional growth stories in the AEC industry. Ernesto walks through Ardura's evolution from its early days as a focused regional practice to a multi-market firm operating across what he calls the "Big Smile" markets — a strategic geographic arc where population growth, aging infrastructure, and capital investment are converging to create enormous demand for water-focused engineering services.
Ernesto speaks candidly about the discipline behind their selective M&A strategy — why they pass on deals that don't fit, what they look for in a cultural match, and how they structure integrations to make sure acquired firms don't lose what made them great in the first place. Central to that effort are employee councils, an internal mechanism Ardura uses to maintain connection, trust, and continuity as the firm scales.
The conversation also pulls back the curtain on what it's actually like to work with a private equity partner. Ernesto challenges some of the industry's assumptions about PE-backed firms, explaining how the right capital partner can accelerate mission-driven work rather than undermine it — and what engineering leaders should understand before entering that kind of relationship.
Beyond Ardura's own journey, Ernesto offers a broader perspective on the state of water infrastructure in America — the funding landscape, the urgency of reinvestment, and why the engineering profession must get better at communicating the value of its work. He makes a compelling case for advocacy and innovation as twin imperatives: that the firms and professionals who will define the next decade are those who not only deliver excellent technical work, but who actively shape the policy environment and public understanding around infrastructure investment.
Whether you're a firm leader thinking about growth strategy, an engineer curious about the PE landscape, or simply someone who cares about the future of water systems in this country, this episode is packed with insight.

America’s Engineering Shortage: 18,000 Workers Missing in 2022

Joe Bates, Senior Researcher at the ACEC Research Institute, sits down with WSVA-AM/FM Harrisonburg, VA Radio Station to discuss the engineering shortage that the U.S. faces.
In 2022 about 184,000 engineers retired or left while only 166,000 new engineers entered the workforce, creating an 18,000‑person shortfall.
The radio interview covers causes (retirements, career changes, and restrictive H‑1B visa caps that block many international graduates from staying), the economic impact on projects and companies, and solutions like boosting recruitment in K–12, updating university programs (including AI skills), and policy changes to retain trained international engineers.

Industry Strength Heading into 2026 — ACEC Q1 Business Sentiment

How confident are engineering firm leaders heading into 2026? In this episode of the Engineering Influence Podcast, Jeff Urbanchuk sits down with Joe Bates, Senior Researcher at the ACEC Research Institute, to break down the findings from the newly released Q1 2026 Engineering Business Sentiment Report. This quarterly report captures insights from CEOs and senior executives at ACEC member firms across the country, offering a real-time look at engineering industry outlook, economic confidence, workforce trends, AI adoption, and federal policy impacts.
Key Topics Covered:
📈 Engineering Industry Outlook 2026 – Why firms are entering the year from a position of strength
💼 Business Sentiment & Economic Confidence – U.S. economy sentiment jumps 11 points to +45
👷 Workforce & Hiring Trends – 9 out of 10 firms still have open positions
💰 Wage Growth Trends – Compensation increases easing from double digits to 6–7%
🏛️ Federal Policy & Government Shutdown Risks – How funding uncertainty is impacting firm confidence
🤖 AI Adoption in Engineering Firms – Nearly half of firms now have an AI strategy in place
📐 Small vs. Large Firm AI Implementation – Why smaller firms may have competitive advantages
🚀 The Firm of the Future Initiative – New research on AI, workforce strategy, value-based pricing, and risk management
Learn more at www.acecresearchinstitute.org.
Download the Full Report: https://www.acec.org/resource/engineering-business-sentiment-q1-2026/

Engineers Week: Transforming The Future of Engineering

How is engineering evolving — and what does the future demand from today’s leaders? Host, Molly Tuttle is joined by Rodney Chester and Kathy Renzetti for an engaging Engineering Week discussion on resilience, mentorship, and the power of engineering to strengthen communities. From lessons learned to what’s next for the industry, this conversation highlights the people and purpose driving engineering forward.
From the devices in our pockets to the bridges we drive across, from clean water systems to lifesaving medical innovations, engineering touches every part of our lives. That’s why each year, Engineers Week is a time to celebrate the people who make all this possible—and to inspire the next generation of problem-solvers.
This year’s theme, Transform Your Future, is a powerful reminder that engineering doesn’t just shape our world—it shapes our opportunities, our communities, and the futures we can imagine for ourselves and our children. Check out ACEC's resources and toolkit to celebrate Engineers Week: https://www.acec.org/news/engineers-week-2026/