MONDAY, JUNE 2
Travel Day 

TUESDAY, JUNE 3
7:30 AM - Registration for Conference
8:00-9:15 AM - Breakfast Program - Speaker: David Merritt P.E., Principal Water Resources Consultant, AECOM
Description:  Hear briefing and welcome from ACEC Colorado Vice President David Merritt.
9:40-11:45 AM - CEO Roundtable Discussion (Small/Medium 1-75 employees & Medium/Large 76+ employees) (2.0 PDHs)
Description:  The purpose of this program is to discuss business practice issues in a roundtable format. Discussion will include areas such as liability, profitability, ownership, human resources, business development, information technology, etc. (We will split into 2 groups by firm size in separate rooms for this discussion.)
12:00-1:15 PM - Lunch Program (.50 PDH) - Speaker: Steve Hall, Executive Vice President - Advocacy, ACEC
Description: Mr. Hall will provide a briefing on key legislative developments in Congress, including the importance of balanced tax treatment for engineering firms, federal infrastructure funding, and recent regulatory actions by the current presidential administration.
1:40-4:00 PM - Delivering Powerful Feedback: Making Impactful Growth Seminar (2.5 PDHs) - Speaker: Ryan W. Bouda, M.S., Professional Development Specialist, Leap Training & Coaching
Description: Feedback is a crucial leadership took, yet delivering it effectively can be challenging. This session introduces an 8-step model for handling tough feedback conversations with confidence. Attendees will learn to prepare their mindset, foster openness, and deliver actionable feedback that drives growth. By combining active listening and clearn communication, attendees will gain strategies to transform difficult feedback discussions into opportunities for connection, trust, and improvement - empowering teams to thrive.
5:00-6:30 PM - Welcoming Reception
6:30-8:00 PM - Dinner at Hotel

8:00-11:50 AM - Relationship Based Negotiations and the Power of Consent-Driven Consultant Cultures Seminar (4.0 PDHs) - Speaker: Dan Oblinger, Founder, Leadercraft
Description: Buckle up and pack your comfortable shoes! Dan Oblinger is a hostage negotiator, consults with ACEC member organizations all over the US on their leadership programs, and serves consulting engineering firms by nurturing cultures of active listening, emotional communication, and negotiation for engineers! Expect the unexpected as Dan uses "game-i-fied" exercises to put powerful communication and negotiation principles into motion with all our attendees. Topics include: Appropriate use of rapport and empathy, active listening skills, storytelling, negotiation practices, bias control, emotional regulation, and scenario-based education centered on the hottest trends in conflict and opportunity in the AEC world.
12:10-1:40 PM - Lunch Program - Speaker:  Steve Wolff, General Manager, Southwestern Colorado River Water Conservation District
Description:  The Southwestern Colorado River Water Conservation District, based in Durango, is one of the regional entities in Colorado responsible for water policy and water development. Steve has been at the core of the discussions and negotiations concerning the operations of the Colorado River system for the next two to four decades.
Afternoon/Evening - ON YOUR OWN

THURSDAY, JUNE 5
8:15-9:30 AM - Hard Conversations – An Ethics Case Study in the Destructive Power of Conflict Avoidance and the Redemptive Power of Honesty Seminar (2.0 PDHs) - Speaker: Aaron Mann, Principal, General Counsel – Risk Management, Terracon Consultants, Inc.
Description:  It began with a nervous call from our client. They suspected that a letter (on state letterhead) that our consultant provided may have been a forgery. And they were right. Thus began a year-long journey into the mind and work product of a former employee who was willing to do nearly anything to avoid confrontation—on this and other projects. In the spirit of open collaboration, we will share an actual incident and response to demonstrate how conflict avoidance can damage the trust placed in your organization—and how transparent honesty can rebuild that trust. We will take the audience through the initial event, our internal investigation, and our discussions with regulators and clients. While we will highlight the pressures and dangers of conflict avoidance, we will also provide tools to manage responses to similar crises. While the process was painful, by being honest and transparent, we were able to demonstrate that the actions did not reflect the culture of Terracon and we emerged with stronger client and regulator relationships than before the incident.
9:45-11:45 AM - ACEC Kansas Meeting
9:45-11:45 AM - ACEC Missouri Meeting
9:45-11:45 AM - ACEC Oklahoma Meeting
Lunch/Afternoon - ON YOUR OWN
5:00-7:30 PM - Reception & Dinner at Lola's Place (725 East Second Avenue, Durango, CO 81301)
Description: Join us at Lola’s Place, Durango’s premier gathering spot, where conference attendees can unwind, connect, and indulge in a vibrant culinary and social experience. Located in the heart of Durango’s Second Avenue District, Lola’s Place offers something for everyone—from gourmet food including authentic Mexican and Japanese cuisine to a coffee bar featuring locally roasted, organic coffee from Desert Sun Coffee Roasters. Entertainment will also be provided.

FRIDAY, JUNE 6
8:00-10:00 AM - Breakfast Program

A printable copy of the schedule of events will be availabe once everthing is finalized.