YAECPI 2025

Sponsors

“I’ve been a raving fan of AGC MA’s Young Architects, Engineers and Contractors Professional Institute and Bill Ronco for more than 15 years.  We have always encouraged and enabled members of our staff to participate in this program. This is an excellent opportunity for learning and broadening career potential by introducing our emerging leaders to the fundamental skills needed to succeed.  The format facilitates developing professional relationships that’ll last a lifetime and inspires participants to be actively involved in our industry throughout their career.  Bill Aalerud, Vice President, Columbia and President, AGC MA. 

The YAECPI program has been a tremendous benefit to our individual team members and the overall team performance. Participants have gained knowledge and insight that has accelerated their professional and personal growth. We are now enrolling our 4th team member. I highly recommend this program for all design firms.

Andrew Witkin, FASLA, President / CEO Witkin Hults + Partners, Landscape Architecture & Planning

"Many individuals from TG Gallagher have attended the YAECPI program and benefitted greatly not only from the variety of skills they obtained but, more importantly, from networking with other young AEC professionals.  It’s a reflection of our commitment to continuous improvement with our employees and clients."  

Shawn Gallagher, Chief Operating Office, TG Gallagher 

“Elaine’s support for our employees through in this program is not only a smart investment in our business, it’s a reflection of our commitment to our clients through continuous improvement.

William Morash Executive Vice President, Elaine Construction

Participants

"The YAECPI program was a breath of fresh air. As an architect, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know young professionals from con-sulting and contracting backgrounds. Professional relationships can be contentious within AEC, so the chance to network with and learn alongside non-architects in an inviting space was invaluable. I learned that across AEC, personalities might differ, but our skillsets are highly similar. At the end of the day, everyone just wants to do quality work, be valued for their contributions, and have some fun along the way." 

Calvin Boyd, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP BD+C; Associate, Payette

"The YAECPI program brought to me the understanding of the impact that ou new generation has on developing this world. Our thoughts and ideas matter. I learned that there are no small ideas.   

As a Construction project manager, I enjoyed the presentation skills and networking portion of it as well. The atmosphere was more welcoming and easier to be in touch with people from design & engineering outside of real work. Also, we were almost all from the same generation and we shared many of the same feelings and apprehensions . 

The group project was another endorsement of how AEC people work together and how we all share the same goals on a given project even our roles may be different. After all, we are a team from the same family and our common aim is to be successful and build successful projects.

Lillia Sakher, Project Manager, Walsh Brothers

"Participating in the Young ACE Professionals Institute (YACEPI) has helped me understand my greater role in the next generation of professionals within our industry. The program taught me ways to make my voice heard and that we should not feel overwhelmed and hide in the shadows of the experienced. 

It is essential that the next generation participates and make themselves heard. No matter where we are in this field, in order to be successful with a client, a specific project or in any collaboration, working together and problem solving are crucial activities and skills. 

I enjoyed my time with all the instructors and other young professionals that I had met through the program and hope to collaborate with them in the future."

Thorsten Sterbenz, Project Coordinator, HGA

"Being able to participate in YACEPI was an exciting and unique opportunity to hear from industry professionals with varying backgrounds and perspectives.  In addition, we met and worked with colleagues who are facing the everyday challenges of the AEC field. The program provided me new relationships and contacts that are already paying dividends in expanding my social and professional networks. I’m looking forward to potentially collaborating on future Boston projects and being a driving force in shaping the Boston AEC industry.   

Joe​ Nault, Project Manager, Consigli

"My favorite part of the program was having a forum in which to meet colleagues in the engineering and construction industries. Open, friendly communication between the parties that comprise the AEC industry is key to successful building, and this program sets the stage for just that. Bill thoughtfully organized our sessions, fostering meaningful dialogue between industries and mutual understanding of our various points of view.  Working with the contractors and engineers, we learned how to adapt our own leadership styles to different situations. In addition to learning about the interpersonal skills associated with leadership, we studied financial management, negotiation and IDP. By pushing us to work through personal and work-related challenges, the program strengthened our effectiveness as leaders." 

 Jenny Ratner, Architect, Safdie Architects

"I really appreciated the breadth of topics that were covered over the year.  Looking back on the program, it was nice that we started with a self assessment and ended with a 360 review .  There was a good mix of personal skill development, but also application of that development in a group setting.  It was a great opportunity to gain perspective on a lot of issues that arise in the industry and understand different points of view in how to successfully deal with them.  Being an architect, I found the sessions with clients, contractors, and non-design professionals more interesting because it exposed me to perspectives than I regularly interact with at this stage of my career.  

Chris Winkler, Senior Associate, Sasaki  

"The program introduced me to other AEC professionals in Boston through workshops in small groups where we tackled a problem or discussed a topic. I also met young contractors and learned about their construction companies and how they operate and how their employees think about their work. Every workshop was well structured with regular and guest instructors. The program organizers and participants also adapted well to COVID and remote learning.  though in-person workshops are always best when possible. I found the YDPDI program very valuable and highly recommend it to any young architect or designer.   

Alex Zink, Architect, Payette (now at Miller Hull, Seattle WA

All Seminars:

• Are  online except Are scheduled 1-4 pm.  Please log on early to test tech connections, etc.
• Are online except Building High Performing Teams, April 2, at Columbia Construction and Improving Everyday AEC NegotiatingMay 28, at Payette
• Involve pre-work that may include readings, interviewing, completing surveys, etc.
• Include presentations and extensive discussion in small, focused groups 
• Are held online on zoom.  For most sessions You may also participate in a small group at the designated "Hosted Online" site.  Two sessions are In Person
• Are facilitated by William Ronco with assistance from Colin Milberg of ASKM Associated and Toni Loiacano, AIA,, TMLW, Planning For People

Session Dates, Topics and Guest Instructors (To be updated 1/15/2024)

1/29  Accelerating Your AEC Career. Clarifying your goals, building habits to fully achieve them.  Recognizing your strengths; addressing your weaknesses.  The 4 keys for long term AEC success.  With Marc Truant, MIT and Sarah Lindenfeld, Payette.  

2/5  What Clients Really Want.  Young AEC professionals’ special dilemmas and problems for building client relationships. How to increase client satisfaction and repeat business.  What clients care about most in 2024.  WithMarc Truant, MIT; Maggie O’Toole, Lab Central;Janet Chrisos, MSCBA; Jonathan Hayward, Mass GeneralBrigham. 

2/19 Managing Finances.  Increasing project cost controls and profit.  Spotting, addressing project financial problems quickly. Company finances, your role and impact as a young AEC professional.With Mike Glynn, Glynn Electric and Jeremy Oberc, Partner, Pacific Horizon 

3/5th  HR Need To Know..  HR core knowledge young professionals must have:  legal rights, boundaries, risks.  Why and how to ask for raise.  Getting the most from your performance appraisal. and mentoring. With  Jess Smith, Bergmeyer; Cherie Comeau, Consigli and Diana

3/19 Improving Writing Skills: From Emails To Blogs.  Increasing your email writing speed, clarity and impact. Understanding, using "lead paragraphs" to organize complex emails.   Why you should write blog posts.  4 steps to writing a compelling blog. 

4/2 Building High Performing AEC Teams.  Why and how to lead meetings so every person participates. Improving group Psychological Safety Building high performing AEC teams: the 4 key skills. With Bill Aalerud, Columbia, Architect, and Jason Nicastro, Isgenuity 

In Person @ Columbia

4/16   Leading Change.  The 5 major AEC changes now and how they impact you.  Why and how Finland excels with AEC innovation. 7 reasons why people resist change.  How, why to initiate change from any position in the organization.  

Siggy Pfendler, Columbia Construction; Shawn Guertin, TG Gallagher; Aarni Heiskanen, Helsinki Finland www.aec-business.com  

4/30 AEC Legal Issues and Ethical Dilemmas  guidelines for writing those “difficult” emails. Why and how to read your project contract. Top 10 issues that trigger AEC legal problems.  

Alexandra Gordon, Esq, Hinckley Allen Rebecca Raphaelson, Esq, Mintz

5/14 Starting Strong With Marketing and BD  Why, how to start strong with BD. 4 easy, effective BD t and marketing tasks.  Thought leader marketing – Why, how to develop a blog that people want to read. With Lisa Quackenbush, AEC Consulting and Karen Robichaud, KR Associates  

5/28 Improving everyday AEC Negotiating.  Recognizing and breaking predictable destructive patterns.  Getting beyond Yes. Negotiating to “win” vs. negotiating for 1+1=3 results.  With Matthew Brett, Mass General Hospital

6/11 Presenting With Confidence and Impact Get Over Yourself! How to win your audience over before you start speaking.. How to identify and respond to your audience's real interests. Presenting effectively on zoom.

6/25 Group Project Presentations.  YAECPI 2025 Project Groups present their topics, facilitate discussion with participants, discuss lessons learned, IMHOs and action steps  

Participants’ invited colleagues, managers and clients 

YAECPI 2025 tuition for members of the Boston Society of Architects, AGC Massachusetts and AIA San Francisco is $3,800 for the first participant from a company and $2,900 for each additional participant.

Non members are also welcome. Tuition for non-members is: $4,800 fpr the first participant and $3,900 for each additional participant.

We  also welcome young AEC professionals from other regions and countries.  Email program Director William Ronco for fee and enrollment information at  wronco@gatheringpace.com

AGC Mass members and other Massachusetts construction companies should enroll at https://members.agcmass.org/events/details/young-aec-professionals-institute-ycpi-4230

Boston Society of Architect members and other Massachusetts architects should enroll at

https://www.architects.org/yaecpi-2025

AIA San Francisco members, other California architects and AEC Young Professionals from other states should enroll by email to YAECPI Program Director William Ronco at wronco@gatheringpace.com  Include your name, job title, company, address, email and phone number.  Dr. Ronco will email an invoice and pre-work information for the Jan 25 first session.