Engineering Influence: The Podcast of America's Engineering and Design Industry
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October 12, 2026Episode 56715 min
Engineering Isn't Broken-The Flow of Work Is
Jessica North digs into why so many engineering firms struggle with friction, rework, slow decisions, and burnout, and why the problem is usually the system, not the team. Unclear decision-making, competing priorities, and messy handoffs quietly drain performance. Jessica shares how leaders can find and fix these hidden barriers: ask the hard questions, really listen, build psychological safety, and look past surface metrics to the full picture of how work gets done.
October 5, 2026Episode 56621 min
Built to Evolve: Engineering the Future Landscape
How can engineering firms prepare for a future defined by rapid change, evolving client needs, and growing complexity? In this episode of Engineering Influence, we sit down with Hoss Tabrizi, from Ulteig, to explore how engineering firms can remain agile, resilient, and ready for what comes next. Hoss discusses the importance of planning for multiple scenarios rather than relying on a single vision of the future, and how firms can use standardization, automation, and digitization to improve efficiency while preserving the creativity and problem-solving that are essential to engineering. From power and renewables to transportation and water, the conversation examines how changing demands are reshaping the way firms approach their people, projects, and clients. Hoss also discusses one of the industry's most pressing challenges: workforce. They discuss global talent strategies, developing the next generation of engineering professionals, and how technology can help teams accomplish more while maintaining quality and innovation. The conversation also explores resilience in an increasingly unpredictable environment, including preparing infrastructure and organizations for extreme weather, cybersecurity risks, and other emerging challenges. Finally, Hoss shares his perspective on leadership during periods of uncertainty and why trust, transparency, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace change are critical for building strong teams and positioning engineering firms for long-term success.
September 28, 2026Episode 56511 min
The Engineer in Congress: Rep. Ron Estes on Tax Policy and QBS
In this special episode we collaborate with QBS Express and sit down with U.S. Representative Ron Estes of Kansas for a conversation on tax policy, infrastructure, and regulatory reform. About the Guest: Representative Ron Estes has represented Kansas's 4th District in the U.S. House since 2017, following service as Sedgwick County Treasurer and Kansas State Treasurer. An engineer by training with years of private-sector experience, he brings a practical, problem-solving perspective to Congress and has been a key ally to ACEC members on the tax issues that affect engineering firms. What We Cover: - His lead role on the American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act, and the years-long push to restore immediate R&D expensing instead of five-year amortization - Why R&D cash flow matters for startups and small firms, not just big businesses - The outlook for surface transportation reauthorization and shortfalls in the Highway Trust Fund - Why infrastructure means more than roads and bridges: water and wastewater treatment, waterways, and the systems that move goods and services - Regulatory simplification and permitting reform, and why lawmakers with private-sector experience understand that businesses have to live with the policies Congress passes
September 21, 2026Episode 56427 min
Inside the Numbers: AI Risk in Engineering with Jim Compton and Joe Bates
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.
September 18, 2026Episode 56339 min
Living With Water: Insights Into Impact and Resilience
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.
September 14, 2026Episode 56219 min
The New Weather, The New Economy
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
August 31, 2026Episode 56123 min
The Future of Engineering with Ardmore Roderick's Sharon Jean Baptiste
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
August 28, 2026Episode 56014 min
Building a Better Workforce
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
August 24, 2026Episode 55921 min
Congressman Derek Schmidt Talks Infrastructure, QBS, and the Road to D.C.
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.
August 17, 2026Episode 55819 min
FMI'S Five-Year Forecast
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?
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