PSMJ The Pathway to AEC Professional Success
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Event Logistics:
Program Date: February 10, 2026
Time: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Program Location: ACEC Virginia – 8600 Mayland Dr., Richmond, VA 23294
PDHs: 7.5 hours
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Registration Fees:
- ACEC Virginia Member - Early Bird (register by January 8, 2026): $895
- ACEC Virginia Member: $995
- Prospective Member: $1,295
Register here: https://members.acecva.org/ap/Events/Register/QZFOGdMidCnC0
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations received on or before January 23, 2026, are eligible for a full refund. After this date, refunds will not be issued; however, registrations may be transferred to another individual.
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Session Information:
Too often, architecture and engineering firms slow new-hire return on investment because of an onboarding process that fails to teach 3 critical lessons:
- How to perform in a professional setting
- How the firm turns a profit
- How to add value and accelerate career growth
That means they can go years before they fully understand your AEC business model, how they can contribute to strategic goals, and how to really work productively with others.
PSMJ Resources' The Pathway to AEC Professional Success training program uses decades of AEC business education experience – including teaching thousands of Project Managers and first-hand insight into what the most profitable firms do to maximize ROI in their entry-level talent – to get your firm’s newest and least-experienced employees more engaged, more productive, and more dialed-in to how they can increase their professional value.
This fast-paced, action-oriented course focuses on:
- The math behind how your AEC firm operates and makes money.
- The KEY role entry-level employees play in client satisfaction and winning new work.
- Communication tips and tricks to avoid huge liabilities and angry clients.
- What Project Managers need from new hires, and how to exceed expectations
- The project lifecycle (from proposal to closeout) and everyone’s role in it.
- How to add the most value and make the best decisions when on the receiving end of task delegation.
- Critical problem-solving skills that demonstrate true task ownership and initiative.
- Plus much more!
This course is for anyone with less than five years of professional experience in an architecture or engineering firm…from Engineers to Architects to Scientists to Marketing Coordinators to anyone you want to add more value!
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Are Any Meals Included in My Registration Fee?
Breakfast snacks, lunch, and refreshments are included with your registration.
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Recommended Hotel:
- Richmond Marriott Short Pump- https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1708558233875&key=CORP&app=resvlink
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About Your Instructor:
Duane Lindner has been actively engaged in the consulting engineering industry for over 25 years, having worked for several firms of varying sizes and disciplines. He is a senior Project Manager for Associated Engineering in Ontario, Canada, where he built a successful branch office in new geographic territory from the ground up. More recently, he has handed off his management roles to focus purely on his passion: project delivery. Duane has served as Project Manager and Lead Engineer for many civil engineering projects relating to public infrastructure as well as both commercial and residential developments. He is a two-time recipient of the Consulting Engineers of Ontario “Award of Excellence” for Project Management on complex projects. He is a steward of environmental protection; actively promoting sustainable design to address the need for climate change adaptation and building resiliency through his role in delivering public infrastructure projects. Business development and leadership have been core features of Duane’s career, and while he has always been actively engaged in managing projects, he has also fulfilled many corporate leadership roles. As an executive Vice President, he was instrumental in helping a small civil engineering firm grow from 40 people to a multi-discipline firm of over 200 staff that ultimately joined PSMJ’s Circle of Excellence. He was responsible for the implementation of corporate Project Management and Cost Accounting systems (Axium / Deltek) for multiple organizations. He has also developed and delivered in-house project management training programs and served on numerous committees focused on enhancing leadership skills and improving project delivery. Duane has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Waterloo, and is a registered professional engineer. He is formally trained in Value Engineering and is a certified Envision Sustainability Professional. He is an accomplished speaker and facilitator, proven through numerous stakeholder workshops, design charrettes and training programs
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Virtual Session Options
If you are unable to make the in-person class, PSMJ offers live 2-day virtual sessions throughout the year.
As an ACEC Virginia member you will receive a $50 discount if you register for a virtual session by using the registration code, ACECVA50.
You can find more information about the live virtual sessions and the calendar of upcoming classes here.