Live from ElevateAEC 2026

There is something fitting about beginning ElevateAEC 2026 in the mountains of Park City, Utah. Surrounded by peaks that have challenged us for generations, hundreds of AEC industry leaders have gathered to consider a different kind of expedition: navigating an increasingly uncertain future. 

This was the perfect backdrop as the event kicked off with a journey into the uncharted. Hundreds of AEC leaders gathered for the opening keynote, where explorer, architect, and leadership expert Kevin Vallely took us from the mountains of Utah to the icy waters of the Canadian Arctic. 

In 2013, Vallely led an international team on an ambitious journey to row more than 1,800 kilometers through the Northwest Passage in a single season. It was a journey defined by unpredictable conditions, physical exhaustion, and the constant need to make decisions without knowing what lay ahead. 

He connected those experiences to leadership, especially within the AEC industry and its current moment. Fear can be useful information rather than something to overcome. Building teams where people feel comfortable raising concerns allows leaders to recognize risks early, while a shared sense of purpose provides the resilience to keep moving forward. 

For those gathered in Park City, the message was a fitting way to open a conference centered on navigating the unknown. Courage isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about developing the trust, preparation, and confidence to act when you don’t. 

The Courage to Build What Doesn’t Exist 

Innovation took center stage as the 2026 AEC Innovators Award, presented and sponsored by KP Reddy Co., recognized firms pushing the industry forward through technology, new business models, and creative approaches to longstanding challenges.

This year’s ceremony celebrated three firms taking distinctly different approaches to innovation, with Method Architecture earning Bronze, Apex Engineers taking Silver, and Olsson claiming the Gold Award.

Method Architecture demonstrated how AI can strengthen a firm’s culture rather than replace it. The 50-person firm developed Modus, an internal AI platform built around its own standards, project data, and workflows. With 85% staff adoption and a projected 10,000 hours saved annually, Method is showing how purpose-built technology can give employees more time for the work that matters.

Apex Engineers earned Silver for its commitment to building technology from the inside out. What began with two engineers teaching themselves to code has evolved into a dedicated R&D team developing integrated tools for project management, quality control, and structural design. Its Member Design tool, built directly into Revit, can turn hours of repetitive engineering work into minutes.

Taking home the Gold Award was Olsson, whose Built to Innovate initiative has transformed innovation from an occasional exercise into a firmwide system. Through employee training, Innovation Ambassadors, and proprietary platforms like OPIE and Keystone, the 2,500-person firm is creating a framework that turns ideas from across the organization into practical solutions. OPIE alone generated more than 170 submissions in its first 60 days.

Together, the three winners reinforced a central theme of ElevateAEC day one: Innovation isn’t defined by firm size or the technology at your disposal. It’s about creating an environment where new ideas can take shape, gain momentum, and change the way we work.

Beyond the Balance Sheet 

From innovation in engineering to financial leadership, the spotlight shifted to the 2026 Financial Leadership Awards, better known as the Finnies. Presented by Stambaugh Ness in partnership with Zweig Group (now SNZweig), the awards recognize finance professionals whose influence extends well beyond the balance sheet.  

This year’s ceremony honored three leaders across the small, mid-sized, and large firm categories, each demonstrating how financial leadership can shape an organization’s future. 

Taking home the top spot in the small firm category was Maria Silvanna Mori of CSI USA Group, whose cross-functional leadership helped two underperforming operations reverse course and exceed their 2025 budgetary targets. Her work across finance, procurement, and operations has made her a trusted voice in decisions throughout the business. 

In the mid-sized firm category, Amy Strainer of Stahly Engineering & Associates was recognized for her leadership in guiding the firm’s transition to employee ownership, supporting acquisitions and expansion, and strengthening the long-term value of its ESOP. 

Rounding out the winners was Laura Conrad of Lawrence Group, who received the Large Firm Finnie. Since joining the team as an intern in 1986, Conrad has helped guide its evolution into a diversified national enterprise, overseeing geographic expansion, leadership succession, and the development of new business ventures. 

These three leaders proved that financial leadership in today’s AEC industry is about much more than managing the numbers. It’s about helping firms make the decisions that determine what comes next. 

The Biggest Night in AEC is Still Ahead 

As the first day of ElevateAEC 2026 unfolded, the stories shared on stage gave us plenty to think about. From courage to navigate uncertainty to the determination to build something new, the conversations in Park City are bringing this year’s UNCHARTED theme to life. 

But the biggest celebration is still ahead. Tonight, the AEC industry comes together for the Black Tie Awards Gala, where we’ll celebrate the achievements of the 2026 Zweig Group award winners and recognize the people and firms shaping what’s next. The evening will also feature the highly anticipated reveal of the 2026 Jerry Allen Courage in Leadership Award recipient. 

After a day spent exploring what it means to lead into the unknown, there’s no better way to close things out than by celebrating those charting the course.