Optional AEC TALENTMAX Pre-Conference Session
AEC Compensation Workshop: Balance and Benchmark for the New Talent Market
Stop Guessing. Start Benchmarking.
Compensation is one of the biggest investments your firm makes—and one of the biggest factors in attracting and retaining talent.
During this interactive one-day workshop, you’ll learn how leading AEC firms develop competitive salary structures, manage compensation conversations, benchmark pay using real industry data, and build incentive programs that actually work.
You’ll Walk Away With
Instead of the current bullets, use:
- Salary benchmarking data you can immediately apply
- Scripts for difficult compensation conversations
- Practical frameworks for setting fair, competitive pay
- Real AEC compensation benchmarks—not generic HR advice
- A 90-day action plan for improving your compensation strategy
📊 Benchmark
Build competitive salary structures using real AEC data.
💼 Structure
Create compensation systems that support firm growth.
👥 Retain
Reduce turnover with fair, transparent pay.
💬 Communicate
Lead compensation conversations with confidence.
🎯 Incentivize
Design bonus programs that reward performance.
⚖️ Balance
Balance employee expectations with profitability.
Agenda
- 9:30AM – 10:00AM
Badge Pick Up and Networking Breakfast
- 10:00AM – 12:00PM
In Session
- 12:00PM – 01:00PM
Networking Lunch
- 01:00PM – 05:00PM
In Session
- 05:00PM – 07:00PM
Cocktail Reception
Master the Building Blocks of AEC Compensation
From salary benchmarking and incentive plans to difficult compensation conversations, this workshop provides the tools, data, and confidence to make smarter compensation decisions across every level of your organization.
- Millennial and Gen Z compensation expectations
- Three compensation strategies for AEC firms
- Industry salary benchmarks
- Employment trends affecting hiring
- Overtime classifications
- Responding to raise requests
- Regional salary data
- Competitive pay scales
- Salary-setting beyond job descriptions
- Billing rates & multipliers
- Market-based salary structures
- Pay equity
- PM compensation benchmarks
- Executive compensation trends
- Salary increase decisions
- Management compensation policies
- Discuss raises confidently
- Connect performance to compensation
- Financial transparency
- Difficult conversation scripts
- Effective bonus plans
- ROI-focused incentives
- Common mistakes
- Owner compensation
Your AEC Executive Workshop Coach:
Jenifer Navard
CFO, EskewDumezRipple
Jenifer Navard a both a Senior Consultant with PSMJ Resources and Principal and CFO with nationally recognized design firm EskewDumezRipple. As CFO, she works closely with the firm’s partners to ensure adherence to both the design and business values within each project. In addition, she maintains an active role assisting each Project Manager in tracking their individual project performance targets.
She brings over 25 years of experience in business and financial management. Her experience ranges from auditing with one of the top 5 public accounting firms to financial accounting and management of mid-sized companies in a diverse range of industries. This background has provided Jenifer with a broad set of skills to draw from in managing an AEC firm.
Ready to Build a Smarter Compensation Strategy?
Join fellow AEC executives for a practical, data-driven workshop that will help you make better compensation decisions, improve retention, and strengthen your firm’s financial performance.