AEC Project Management Executive Roundtable
Designed to meet that moment.
This is a highly interactive, peer-driven working session built for candid dialogue, shared experience, and practical strategies you can apply immediately.
Over two focused days, you engage with senior firm leaders and executives tackling the same challenges and opportunities you face today.
Who Should Attend
This Program is for Senior Leaders Responsible for Project Delivery Performance in AEC Firms, Including:
- Chief Operating Officers and Principals overseeing delivery
- PMO Directors and VP-level project management leaders
- Directors of Project Delivery and Operations
- Senior leaders tasked with building or evolving a PMO function
What you walk away with
Built around four critical pillars of PMO effectiveness, this Roundtable equips you with the frameworks, benchmarks, and peer insights needed to elevate project delivery at scale:
✓ Position the PMO as a strategic driver of performance, growth, and client satisfaction
✓ Build and sustain a high-performing pipeline of project leadership talent
✓ Strengthen financial performance, forecasting accuracy, and risk discipline across projects
✓ Drive real adoption of standards, tools, and processes across your organization
Whether you are building a PMO from the ground up, evolving an established function, or improving performance across a growing firm, you will leave with actionable strategies and meaningful connections.
The Four Pillars of High-Performing PMOs
You are not just learning best practices. You are benchmarking against peers, pressure-testing ideas, and building relationships with leaders who understand the realities of AEC project delivery.
This is where strategy meets execution and where real progress begins.
PMO Identity and Strategic Position
Define the role of the PMO within your firm. Explore governance models, decision rights, and organizational positioning that elevate the PMO from a compliance function to a strategic business driver.
Building and Retaining Project Leadership Talent
Address the AEC talent gap with proven strategies for developing, mentoring, and retaining project managers. Build a sustainable pipeline of leaders ready for complex, high-risk work.
Financial Performance and Risk Discipline
Improve scope control, forecasting accuracy, and change management. Learn how leading firms implement early warning systems and use technology to drive measurable financial outcomes.
Driving Adoption and Behavioral Change
Ensure your standards and tools actually get used. Explore change management strategies, accountability structures, and adoption metrics that create lasting organizational impact.
AEC Project Management Executive Roundtable Agenda
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Welcome Dinner
Monday, October 19, 2026
6:00PM – 8:00PM
Welcome Dinner
We kick off the program at our Welcome Dinner in The Meritage Resort’s exclusive Estate Cave, where exceptional food and great company set the tone for the evening. Connect with fellow attendees, exchange perspectives on the state of the AEC project management, and begin laying the groundwork for the conversations and insights that will shape the days ahead.
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Roundtable Day 1
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
7:30AM – 8:00AM
Networking Breakfast
- 8:00AM – 9:00AM
Kickoff and Introductions
We kick things off with a lay of the land on Project Management trends, blind spots, and uncertainty that lies ahead. We also get to know each other and respective challenges, questions, and concerns about AEC project management.
- 9:00AM – 12:00PM
Pillar No. 1: PMO Identity and Strategic Position
We explore governance models, decision rights, and organizational positioning that elevate the PMO from a compliance function to a strategic business driver.
- 12:00PM – 1:00PM
Networking Lunch
- 1:00PM – 5:00PM
Pillar No. 2: Building and Retaining Project Leadership Talent
We address the AEC talent gap with proven strategies for developing, mentoring, and retaining project managers. Build a sustainable pipeline of leaders ready for complex, high-risk work.
- 5:30PM – 7:30PM
Winemaker's Reception
We wrap up the day on the Vineyard Deck at our Winemaker's Reception, where great wine and great company come together. Enjoy a relaxed evening connecting with fellow attendees while taking in the beauty of Napa.
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Roundtable Day 2
October 21, 2026
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Networking Breakfast
- 8:30AM – 12:00PM
Financial Performance and Risk Discipline
We explore how to improve scope control, forecasting accuracy, and change management. Learn how leading firms implement early warning systems and use technology to drive measurable financial outcomes.
- 12:00PM – 12:30PM
Networking Lunch
- 12:30PM – 2:30PM
Driving Adoption and Behavioral Change
Ensure your standards and tools actually get used. Explore change management strategies, accountability structures, and adoption metrics that create lasting organizational impact.
- 2:30PM
Program Concludes
MEET THE FACILITATOR
Tom Bacus
Tom Bacus is a highly experienced planning and design professional with over 25 years in the transportation, land development, and sustainability fields. He has extensive experience in business development, operations, project delivery, program management, training, leadership development and strategic planning.
Over his career, Tom has managed projects at all scales from $10K planning studies through $100M design build programs. Many of his projects have been large scale and have focused on making positive impacts on communities and the environment through major infrastructure investments.
Tom has held various leadership roles throughout his career, including office and market leadership, executive leadership, and companywide operations, and is particularly skilled at developing business strategy, opening new markets and geographies, implementing business processes and post-merger integration of acquired firms.
Throughout his career, Tom has worked in a range of firm sizes from small founder-led startups like Sherwood Design Engineers, privately held firms like Carter & Burgess and Nelson\Nygaard (Perkins Will), large publicly traded firms like IBI Group and private equity backed firms like HW Lochner (Egis). He has led multidisciplinary teams of engineers, planners, architects, and landscape architects.
He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at Texas A&M University and his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Utah.
Go From Idea to Action Faster with this Exclusive Benefit.
It isn’t what you learn that matters… it is what you do with what you learn. To maximize the return on your investment at this program, participants are entitled to a complimentary confidential virtual 45-minute one-one-one discussion with the Roundtable facilitator after the event. You can exercise this benefit up to a year after the event!
Perhaps a question or challenge pops into your head when you return to the office or you just have a question that is best explored outside of the group setting. This valuable benefit ensure that you don’t let unanswered questions get between you and success.
VENUE & LOCATION
The Meritage is Your Destination for Everything Napa
A sprawling escape unlike anywhere else. Uncover the essence of wine country with ease, with the finest food, wine & wellness at your fingertips.
AEC Project Management
Executive Roundtable
October 19–21, 2026 | The Meritage Resort | Napa, CA
MEET THE FACILITATOR
Tom Bacus
Tom Bacus is a highly experienced planning and design professional with over 25 years in the transportation, land development, and sustainability fields. He has extensive experience in business development, operations, project delivery, program management, training, leadership development and strategic planning.
Over his career, Tom has managed projects at all scales from $10K planning studies through $100M design build programs. Many of his projects have been large scale and have focused on making positive impacts on communities and the environment through major infrastructure investments.
Tom has held various leadership roles throughout his career, including office and market leadership, executive leadership, and companywide operations, and is particularly skilled at developing business strategy, opening new markets and geographies, implementing business processes and post-merger integration of acquired firms.
Throughout his career, Tom has worked in a range of firm sizes from small founder-led startups like Sherwood Design Engineers, privately held firms like Carter & Burgess and Nelson\Nygaard (Perkins Will), large publicly traded firms like IBI Group and private equity backed firms like HW Lochner (Egis). He has led multidisciplinary teams of engineers, planners, architects, and landscape architects.
He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at Texas A&M University and his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Utah.