SMPS: Same Desk, New Name: Mergers & Acquisitions — What AEC Professionals Need to Know
Cost: Members – $35.00 | Non-members – $45.00
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are happening across the AEC industry at a steady pace. For many staff — from principals and project managers to marketing and business development professionals — a merger or acquisition can feel disorienting. This session brings together people who have lived through it to share what actually happens, what to expect, and how to adapt.
This session isn’t about deal-making or finance. It is a practical conversation about navigating AEC firm transitions, the real-world impact of M&A teams and individuals, and how to stay effective and positioned for success.
Moderated by Scott Butcher, this interactive panel brings together industry leaders who have navigated transitions firsthand, including Jessie Lernmark (Colliers Engineering & Design), Elizabeth Pierce (Corgan), and Courtney Van Ostran (Fremont-Wright), to share lessons learned from the front lines of AEC integration.
Attendees will leave this session able to:
- Understand what typically happens to firm culture, brand, and operations after a merger or acquisition
- Know what questions to ask when leadership announces a transaction
- Recognize the common challenges marketing and BD teams face during firm transitions
- Learn how to protect and reposition client relationships during an ownership change.
Who Should Attend: Owners, principals, seller-doers, project managers, marketing and business development staff, and anyone whose firm has been acquired, merged, or is anticipating a transaction.
