LEAP

About

The Leadership in Engineering Administration Program (LEAP) is a career development program for upwardly mobile young professionals working in Arizona’s consulting engineering industry. LEAP is a program that develops successful business leaders who consistently please our clients and create value in our firms. Where Arizona's most promising engineers become the leaders their firms are counting on.

Presented by

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Arizona (ACEC Arizona)

Office: 3550 N Central Ave, #1140, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Office Phone: 602-995-2187
Email: administration@acecaz.org

LEAP Session Schedule

Eleven sessions will be presented on Fridays from January to June 2027. Sessions will be held at the ACEC Arizona office at 3550 N Central Ave, #1140, Phoenix, Arizona 85012, from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.* (Breakfast will be served at 8:00 AM)

Receive Sixty-Three Professional Development Hours Cost - $3,500 Inclusive

Qualifications of Candidates: The ideal candidate for this program will have 5–10 years of experience in the consulting industry and be in, or approaching, a transition from primarily technical to supervisory and management responsibilities.

Registration in one of the professions regulated by the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration, including Engineer-in-Training, is preferred. Consideration will be given to other business personnel employed by member firms, subject to the recommendation of a sponsoring principal.

Nomination Letter from Principal: A nominating letter, two-page maximum, prepared by a principal of the firm, describing why this candidate should be selected. The nominator should explain why the candidate would benefit from the program and what contributions the individual will provide to the industry. A statement should also be included that the member firm will support the candidate’s participation and ensure the candidate is available for all training sessions.

The nominator should also be prepared to attend a portion of several work sessions with the candidate. Support of a candidate will be an essential key to the candidate’s and the program’s success. The candidate will have assignments throughout the program, and receiving coaching from a principal or mentor will enhance their ability to complete tasks.

NO TEMPLATE OR FORM LETTERS, PLEASE.

Application Letter from Candidate: An application letter, two-page maximum, prepared by the nominated candidate, stating why the candidate wants to participate in the program and what their future goals are in the industry. The candidate should also provide a statement confirming their commitment to the program and their intention to attend all training sessions and complete all work assignments.

NO TEMPLATE OR FORM LETTERS, PLEASE.

*Dates and times are subject to change due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts with our presenters; however, ample notice will be provided should such a situation occur.

Member firms should nominate one or more individuals at the point in their careers when they are about to transition from performing day-to-day technical duties to assuming project or section management responsibilities within the firm. The candidates should be at a point where they can utilize the skills and knowledge they gain from this program.

Submit your application here!

LEAP Sessions

January 22nd, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM 

LEAP Kick-Off Event

We will be celebrating the kickoff of a new LEAP cohort with a networking mixer bringing together LEAPers of all ages, the ACEC Arizona Board, and session instructors.

January 29th, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Session One: Welcome; Introductions; Understanding Yourself & Others

ACEC Arizona Staff will lead a session covering program goals, curriculum highlights, ground rules, and networking objectives to set the stage for future classes. This is LEAP’s great “Icebreaker” session where attendees will gain a better understanding of themselves and the other members of their class through an organized and structured self-assessment evaluation and feedback process. Attendees will learn how to apply Real Colors in various scenarios, such as client coaching and team management. We will tailor exercises for internal work teams and external relationships., the session will be facilitated by a leadership professional from the National Curriculum & Training Institute.

February 5th, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Session Two: Marketing and Business Development-How to Win Work

This session provides strategies and tools for marketing and selling consulting engineering services. It emphasizes actionable insights on client decision-making, compelling storytelling, and persuasion techniques to help participants secure profitable projects and strengthen their firm's competitive edge. Participants will learn how to build strong client relationships, navigate the business development process, and develop winning proposals. A new segment explores how AI can enhance marketing efforts, while additional resources for the engineer's toolbox will offer practical support for ongoing success. One of the session's highlights is the sales call exercise, where we apply business development skills with guest clients. The entire day's discussions will also help attendees prepare for a real-world interview exercise that begins in Session Four and culminates in Session Five. Barbara Shuck will lead this session.

February 19th, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Session Three: Transitioning to Leadership (AM) and Winning Work- Keys to Project Interview Success (PM)

Morning Session. This morning session will help attendees understand how to transition to leadership and will include discussions on setting company boundaries, delegation, providing feedback, and thinking like a leader rather than an engineer. We will hear from industry veteran Lisa Freestone, who will share interesting perspectives. A second portion will be dedicated to a deeper discussion and exercises about Leadership in Your Professional Practice. Barbara Shuck will lead this session.

Afternoon Session. Building on strategies discussed in the marketing and business development session, this class focuses on applying storytelling and persuasion tactics to deliver compelling project interviews. Participants will learn to strategically differentiate their team, align their presentation with client needs, and create a narrative that resonates with selection panels. The session includes practical exercises to refine verbal communication techniques, structure engaging content, and deliver with clarity and confidence. Teams will collaborate to prepare for the real-world interview scenario introduced in Session 2, applying the skills and insights gained throughout the program. This session, led by Barbara Shuck, ties the marketing and business development strategies together, emphasizing how preparation and strategy lead to successful project wins.

March 5th, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Session Four: Communicating to Lead

Communication is at the heart of every activity a leader is involved in. Whether it’s written, verbal or non-verbal, your communication style makes an impact.

This session is packed with useful tools and insights to help you make an impact. These skill-building activities will challenge you to grow and develop your personal presence and composure as you and your LEAP peers enjoy a fun, memorable session.

March 19th, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Session Five: Team Interviews 

Morning Session. This exciting session culminates the Marketing and Business Development How to Win Work and extends the Communicating to Lead sessions. The engineering teams will deliver their project presentations to a selection panel, including the guest clients from the sales call exercise, as shortlisted competitors. Each team will have a chance to put communication and strategy skills to the test as they stand and deliver their well-developed strategies and responses. The guest clients will have questions, and the LEAP team members will be challenged to respond confidently and clearly. The best part of this interview session is gaining valuable, candid feedback from the guest clients.

Afternoon Session: Following the Team Interviews, Hilari Weinstein and Barbara Shuck will facilitate an in-depth debrief, building on the communication, marketing, and business development principles introduced throughout earlier LEAP sessions. Drawing from each team's interview performance, they will provide individualized and team-based feedback, highlighting strengths, identifying opportunities for improvement, and offering practical strategies for continued growth.

This interactive session is designed to reinforce the critical role that effective communication plays in successful leadership, business development, and client engagement. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions, seek targeted coaching, and receive personalized guidance on strengthening their presentation style, messaging, and executive presence.

April 2nd, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Session Six: AI-Enhanced Leadership: Practical Tools & Techniques for Transformative Results

AI has the potential to transform how leaders work — streamlining routine tasks, unlocking data-driven insights, and enhancing creative problem-solving. When leveraged mindfully, AI becomes more than a tool; it becomes a strategic thought partner in decision-making, planning, and innovation. This timely, hands-on workshop is designed to equip leaders with the confidence, skillsets, and mindsets to integrate everyday AI into their professional workflows.

Through structured practice, tailored leadership examples, and the CRAFTing Framework, this session empowers leaders to improve decision-making, communication, and strategy through responsible AI use. This seminar delivers practical tools and powerful frameworks for immediate application. This session led by Tyler Moberg. 

Actionable Outcomes

• Discover high-impact AI applications in leadership, planning, and communication.
• Identify and avoid common pitfalls that reduce AI effectiveness.
• Apply the Leadership CRAFTing Framework to generate more effective AI outputs.
• Build leadership-specific prompt libraries designed to support everyday workflows.
• Practice with tools like Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, and Gemini through guided exercises. 

April 16th, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Session Seven: Project Management- Wearing Many Hats without Losing your Mind

Attendees will build on their existing skills as they apply leadership knowledge to project management, managing multiple projects, managing people, and managing time. This session will provide tips and tools on how to prepare a proposal that will set you up for financial success, predict if your project is on budget, how to talk to clients about schedule delays and additional services, how to work with staff to keep them on task and under budget, and why your role is really a client “manager”. This session will be led by Bill Carroll.

Project Manager’s Toolbox for ease of Delivery

• Work breakdown structure (WBS)
• Your project execution plan.
• Logical sequencing of work packages in the WBS,
• Assigning labor and costs to each,
• Resource-loaded schedule
• Adjusting the schedule for available resources.

April 30th, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Session Eight: Active Listening - Negotiation Skills

What if engineers could negotiate like an FBI-trained hostage negotiator? Come and see what excellence in communication, listening, and building relation-based agreements looks like in a consulting engineering environment! Dan Oblinger, a longtime friend of ACEC Arizona, has built a complete system for our emerging leaders that uses proven, people-centric principles and methods to forge strong relationships with colleagues and clients. When it comes to the business of engineering and design, this is the gold standard for leadership skills and we are excited to offer Dan's high-energy, immersive workshop to our LEAP participants! This session will be led by Dan Oblinger.

May 14th, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Session Nine: Legislative Updates and Business Leadership-Contracts, HR, and Ethics (AM)The Business of Engineering (PM)

Morning Session An update from the ACEC Arizona lobbyist, Tom Dorn. Understand professional liability insurance. Avoid litigation! This session introduces professional service contracts. Learn fundamental risk management principles and how to deal with risk. Define level of performance and rising above the standard of care. Learn about constructibility reviews and design quality management to reduce risk. What are your construction responsibilities? Know how to respond to indemnity demands and joint defense arrangements. This session will be led by ACEC Arizona Legal Counsel.

Financial Fundamentals for A/E Consultants

Afternoon session We do cool engineering projects, why do we need to know about money stuff?!? Like it or not, cash is still king – even in the world of engineering. Firms that make good financial decisions make money, stay in business, and keep you employed. So, how do engineering firms make money? How do they lose money? What are the key financial metrics, how are these calculated, and how do these define success or failure? How can engineering project manager’s help their firm, and themselves, better succeed? This session will address these questions with a lively, entertaining dive into the murky world of A/E finance. This session will be led by Elijah Williams 

May 28th, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Session Ten: Human Resources and People Management

The work of an engineering firm is completed by people, regardless of the tools used to complete the work products. It requires people skills to help attract and retain the talent, provide the necessary training and development, and supervise and delegate to support sustained firm growth. This session is led by Brian Smalkoski and Kara Rosseaux.

Human Resources and People Management explores the skills needed to effectively support the growth of a firm through its most valuable resource—its people. Participants will learn about the life cycle of human resources from recruiting through management.

1. Recruiting and Talent Acquisition. Explore your role in attracting, evaluating, and selecting the right talent for the organization. This session focuses on defining what success looks like in a role, conducting effective interviews, and making thoughtful hiring decisions that consider both capability and long-term potential.
2. Training and Development. Learn how you can intentionally develop employees by identifying skill gaps, creating meaningful learning opportunities, and supporting growth through experience, coaching, and development conversations. The focus is on building capability for both current performance and future responsibilities.
3. Supervision. Explore what it means to effectively supervise others, including setting clear expectations, establishing accountability, monitoring performance, providing support, and adapting your approach to individual needs. Participants will explore the balance between managing the work and leading the person.
4. Delivering Feedback. Build the skills and confidence to provide feedback that is timely, specific, candid, and constructive. This session explores how to reinforce effective behavior, address performance concerns, and navigate difficult conversations in a way that preserves trust while maintaining accountability.
5. Retention. Explore the factors that influence whether strong employees choose to stay, grow, or leave an organization. Participants will consider their role in creating meaningful work, building connection and trust, recognizing contribution, supporting growth, and identifying retention risks before they become resignations.
6. Delegation. Learn how to move from simply assigning tasks to intentionally transferring responsibility and developing capability. This session focuses on choosing what to delegate, matching responsibility to an employee’s readiness, establishing clear expectations and decision-making authority, and maintaining accountability without micromanaging.

June 11th, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Session Eleven: Modern Leadership: Leading People, Progress & Purpose

Engineering leadership requires more than technical expertise. It requires the ability to influence people, navigate complexity, make thoughtful decisions, build trust, and move teams toward meaningful results.

Modern Leadership: Leading People, Progress & Purpose explores what it means to lead effectively in today’s evolving workplace. Participants will examine their own leadership mindset, strengths, and growth opportunities while exploring the practical responsibilities and challenges that come with leading others. This session will be led by Jeff Kennedy.

1. The Leadership Mindset. Shifting from technical expert or manager to leader and understanding the mindset required to influence people and progress.
2. The Responsibility of Leadership. Navigating the opportunities, challenges, and decisions that come with being responsible for people and results.
3. Authentic Leadership. Exploring management versus leadership, transformational versus transactional leadership, character-centered leadership, and servant leadership.
4. The Qualities of Great Leaders. Identifying the behaviors and characteristics that inspire trust, engagement, ownership, and results.
5. Your Leadership Profile. Using a personal leadership assessment to identify strengths, blind spots, and opportunities for growth.
6. The Role of Risk-Taking. Understanding when thoughtful risk is necessary for innovation, problem-solving, and progress, and how leaders can create an environment where calculated risks are possible.
7. Your Leadership Philosophy. Defining the principles and beliefs that will guide how you lead people, make decisions, and create impact.

June 25th, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Graduation PARTY!

A graduation ceremony and party (LEAP sponsors, colleagues, family, and friends are encouraged to attend), we want to celebrate your achievement!

Submit your application here!

Speakers