M&A Symposium

Alyson brings over 20 years of expertise in marketing and business development within accounting and professional services to her role as Chief Growth Officer. Prior to joining Stambaugh Ness, Alyson served as Chief Marketing Officer at a Top-15 CPA firm where she spearheaded growth initiatives, including an award-winning client experience program, and achieved impressive double-digit revenue growth.

With her strategic vision and innovative approach, Alyson plays an instrumental role in shaping the future of the firm, executing strategic plans to enhance our market position and fuel growth. She collaborates closely with firm leaders and practice areas, leading our marketing and business development teams to identify new opportunities, expand market presence, elevate the client experience, and build strategic partnerships.

Amanda Kalin is a Partner in the Essential Services vertical at Aphias.

Prior to Aphias, Amanda was a Managing Director at Gryphon Investors, where she helped to launch the firm’s lower middle market private equity Heritage Fund. Amanda previously spent over a decade at H.I.G. Capital after starting her career in investment banking at Salomon Smith Barney.

Amanda earned a B.A. in Economics and International Studies from the University of Chicago (Marshall Scholar) and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Andy Brandel, PE, is Chief Operating Officer at ISG. During his more than 25 years with the firm, he has held a variety of leadership roles and helped guide strategic growth initiatives. Providing direction, strategy, and oversight across ISG’s 12 business units, Andy works closely with leaders throughout the organization to strengthen operational performance and organizational alignment.

As a key leader in acquisition strategy and post-acquisition integration efforts, Andy brings experience navigating the operational and people-related challenges that accompany organizational change. His perspective is grounded in helping teams establish clarity and work effectively through transition.

Bayn Stanchina is an account executive with Ames & Gough focusing on design firm clients. He joined the firm in 2024 and has more than a decade of insurance company experience, including serving as lead underwriter for design firm professional liability insurance at a leading insurer providing this coverage.

Based in the Washington, D.C. office, Bayn works on all aspects of risk and insurance for A/E firm clients throughout the mid-Atlantic region of Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Delaware. 

Prior to joining Ames & Gough, Bayn was with Markel Corporation as a senior underwriter in Markel Specialty’s large risk managed accounts and lead underwriter for design firm professional liability. He joined Markel in 2015 as associate underwriter, was promoted to underwriter two years later and became senior underwriter in 2021. 

Bayn earned a B.S. degree in commerce and business administration from the University of Alabama and holds the Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU) professional designation.

As an accredited business valuator, Becky’s expertise spans many industries, with a specialized focus on architecture and engineering (AE). She understands that the most crucial element in any firm valuation is the employees. This lead-with-people approach can enhance a company’s value and position it for greater success.
In her previous roles as a Partner with TWO CPAs & Consultants, Inc., and a Consultant at PSMJ Resources, Becky developed highly focused and refined skills in valuations, ownership transitions, mergers and acquisitions, and fractional CFO consulting. For Becky, every project involves getting to know the client well and filling in the financial gaps. She views each assignment uniquely and includes industry commentary, as well as highly usable, relevant benchmarking data for the client.
Her love of numbers means Becky leaves no stone unturned in her pursuit of strengthening the big-picture strategies for growth and prosperity. If a financial model can be built to solve a financial question, she will design it.

Brad’s 30+ year career spent working with architecture and engineering (AE) firms includes his most recent role as Partner with TWO CPAs & Consultants, Inc., as well as being a Consultant with PSMJ Resources for 17 years. Additionally, after serving as an outsourced CFO and controller for numerous firms, Brad has deep firsthand knowledge of how to develop and execute successful finance and accounting practices in the AE industry.

Highly skilled at translating accounting terms and best practices into a language his AE clients can easily understand and act on, Brad has a strong track record for helping firms improve profitability, transition ownership, and successfully execute mergers and acquisitions. With enthusiasm and passion, Brad approaches each client relationship holistically, with a focus on understanding overall operations, personal lifestyle goals, and the firm’s future view.

Private Equity investor, Board Member, and Operating Partner for several AEC focused PE firms. Previously President of PE backed firms including, UES, Critica Infrastructure, and Interim CEO of CSL Consulting.  Current portfolio companies include:

• Pape-Dawson – Diversified civil engineering firm, ENR #69 with 2,200 employees
• United Design Partners / Nelson Worldwide – 900-person national architecture firm
• CSL Consulting – leading Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Owners Rep PM/CM firm
• Previously partnered with Palm Beach Capital in the Geotechnical and Construction Material Testing space and grew UES (ENR#40) to a top ranked national firm

Chad Clinehens is the president and CEO of Zweig Group. Passionate about the business side of design and technical service firms, Chad has built a career on leading them through growth and change. He has worked with AEC firms throughout the U.S. on a variety of needs – strategic business planning, turnarounds, partner separations, organizational restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, marketing and sales, growth campaigns, and more.

As a registered professional engineer, Chad brings an in-depth knowledge of what makes professional service firms and the people who work for them unique. Working in the industry for more than 20 years, he has been involved in many aspects of the business including design, project management, department management, regional office management, and directional leadership. He holds a MBA and BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Arkansas and is a registered professional engineer in several states.

Chris Kobayashi leads Lynk Engineers’ vision strategy, and long-term growth as CEO. He previously served as President and COO of Spectrum Engineers. Mr. Kobayashi brings 20+ years of electrical engineering experience to complex, multi-phase projects across a broad range of market sectors. His technical foundation spans high- and medium-voltage power distribution, substation design, and SCADA integration. Mr. Kobayashi regularly serves as technical lead on large, multidisciplinary projects, guiding teams to deliver coordinated, reliable electrical solutions. Known for operational discipline and design quality, he brings direct accountability and technical leadership to every project he leads, from pursuit through delivery.

In 2024, Utah Business named Chris an Executive Excellence honoree in recognition of his leadership and impact on Utah’s business community.

Dan Huntington, CE, PE, SE, LEED AP, is a managing principal and IMEG Vice President overseeing the M&A Synergy Team with a focus on onboarding and firm integration.

Dan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Purdue University, a master’s degree in structural engineering from the University of California at Berkeley, and an MBA from the University of Iowa. His master’s degrees help him to bridge the gap between business objectives and the technical constraints of a project. Dan has an impressive history of project management and helping clients with design challenges as well as managing large teams of engineers in multiple disciplines to ensure clients’ expectations are exceeded. He has particular expertise in alternative delivery methods (design-build, integrated project delivery), building information modeling and international operations. Dan is licensed in multiple states and is a member of AISC, SEAOI, ICRI, and SAME.

Eric Von Stroh, a Partner at Long Point Capital, has more than 30 years of experience in private equity, leveraged finance, and operating leadership.  Eric focuses on partnering with founder, family, and management-owned businesses, including architecture, engineering, and other professional services firms, to achieve liquidity, maintain meaningful ownership, support succession planning, and pursue a profitable “second bite of the apple.” Prior to Long Point, Eric was CFO of a private equity-backed company generating revenue of more than $140 million, where he
helped lead a successful turnaround. Eric earned his bachelor’s degree in
economics and political science from Colgate University.

Ernesto is a visionary leader and seasoned Professional Engineer with 30+ years of experience encompassing all aspects of operations, management, business development and project delivery for engineering and consulting.

As CEO, Ernesto is focused on building an employee-centric culture, leading Ardurra’s organic and acquisitive growth strategy, and ensuring the quality of our projects. He brings best practices and lessons learned from serving at the helm of some of the fastest growing firms in the country, compounded by his experience managing private, public and private equity portfolio companies within the AE industry.

Ernesto leads the sourcing, valuation and merging of acquired companies, with an emphasis on integration as the key to building a unified firm. His passion and primary goal is continuing to grow a profitable company that provides exciting opportunities for our employees and impeccable service to our clients.

As the President and founding partner of Third & Arch, Greg leads a team of talented creative professionals, propelling the agency to new heights as a premier branding agency focused on the AEC industry. Under Greg’s direction and leadership, Third & Arch has made a name for itself, delivering strategic branding, design, and digital solutions for notable clients including Apeiro Design, Keating Construction, Hankin Group, and more. Greg plays a pivotal role in planning and implementing processes focused on building long-term partnerships, thus enabling clients to increase brand awareness, boost engagement, and enhance overall marketing efforts.

Hobson has represented many buyers and sellers across the AEC industry for over 15 years as an advisor. His experience includes several deals spanning a variety of markets and geographies involving private firms, publicly traded firms, and private equity firms in North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. He excels at solving complex issues to help clients achieve their growth goals.

With over a decade of experience in the AEC industry, Jeff Adams is a seasoned M&A advisor who helps firms achieve their strategic growth objectives. As Director of SN’s Merger and Acquisitions practice area and Certified M&A Advisor, he leads the M&A team, partnering with architecture, engineering, and construction firms on both the buyer and seller sides to strategically position them for greater future success. Jeff has successfully advised numerous M&A transactions, ensuring smooth and successful transitions for his clients. He also hosts the popular AEC Unscripted: M&A Edition podcast, where he shares insights and best practices with AEC leaders, including executives from ENR Top 500 firms.

During his career, Jeff has gained extensive experience overseeing strategy and operations related to accounting, financial planning, and analysis. Before joining SN, he held an executive leadership role at an engineering firm, where he played a pivotal part in leading his firm through a successful acquisition process.

Jeremy Pelphrey’s background teaching and lecturing in the areas of tax, statistics and labor management relations reflects the depth of knowledge he applies to counseling businesses, fiduciaries and investment funds on employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and other tax-qualified plans, as well as on strategic transactions, ERISA and various fiduciary matters. Jeremy has extensive experience facilitating strategic transactions for corporate clients and advising mature companies on their business succession plans.

KP is the visionary Founder and CEO of Shadow Ventures, a powerhouse in technology and innovation in the built environment. Renowned for his expertise, he authored the definitive guide to Building Information Modeling—“BIM for Building Owners and Developers”, What you know about Startups is wrong.”, and his latest book that is helping companies leverage AI to increase their enterprise value, “Creating the Intangible Enterprise: The Critical Skills Required to Thrive in an AI-Driven World”.

With a remarkable track record, KP has founded and successfully exited three technology companies, achieving IPOs on NASDAQ, NYSE, and through private ventures. He has led Enterprise Transformation at Gehry Technologies, and served as General Manager of ATDC at Georgia Tech, one of the nation’s oldest and most respected technology incubators. KP is not just a leader—he’s a game changer, driving the future of our industry with unwavering confidence and strategic insight. He has become the most influential leader of his generation in driving change in some of the oldest industries in the world.

Leslie is a leader in the wealth management industry for business owners and exceptional families. She has dedicated her career to advising owners on their succession options, including employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). Today, as a multi-credentialed member of The ESOP Group with a diverse professional career in the ESOP industry, Leslie is well qualified to assist owners on the nuances, benefits and challenges of selling their business to their employees.

ESOP sustainability and investment consulting post implementation are also at the core of her team’s service offering to business owners and the companies they operate.

With more than 35 years of experience, she and her team assist clients on the various aspects of estate planning services, retirement planning, asset allocation, insurance solutions, lending and strategic philanthropy. She also advises corporate client relationships and family offices, providing them with cash management, executive compensation and captive insurance company asset management.

She has undergone rigorous training to strengthen her knowledge and proficiency in wealth management to help manage the investment, business, passion and legacy needs of sophisticated, ultra-high-net-worth clients and their families. Leslie understands the complexities of intergenerational wealth and the challenges faced by exceptional clients. She aligns their specific needs to the full suite of RBC Wealth Management capabilities to help them pursue their most important goals.

Her personal interests include golf, travel (50 countries and counting) and spending time with her expanding family of 5 adult children and 7 granddaughters.  She splits her time between Atlanta, Charlevoix and Los Angeles.

Credentials
• Certified Exit Planning Advisor
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certificant
• Chartered Financial Consultant®

Megan is a marketing professional who focuses on developing strategic solutions to increase product knowledge for Deltek clients. Passionate about helping project-focused businesses improve their operations, Megan leverages Deltek’s breadth of technology solutions and thought leadership resources, including the Deltek Clarity report, to drive meaningful impact and growth.

Michael Nunley graduated from Virginia Tech in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.  He also received a Master of Science degree in Engineering from UC Berkeley in 2000.  After over 20 years serving as project engineer, project manager, branch manager, and ultimately as senior operations manager and Vice President for a Fortune 500 consulting engineering firm, in 2012 Michael Nunley started MKN & Associates, Inc., specializing in water, wastewater, and water reuse engineering for public agencies.

MKN was acquired by Ardurra in October, 2025, and Mr. Nunley currently serves as one of Ardurra’s Sector Growth Directors for Water in California, Oregon, and Washington. Mr. Nunley’s technical expertise includes management, planning, and design of water, wastewater, recycled water, and drainage facilities in California, Hawaii, Guam, Washington, North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. 

He currently lives in Carlsbad, CA, and has four daughters aged 13, 15, 20, and 22.

Neil Gray is an accomplished architect with over 30 years of design and leadership experience. As former CEO of JDAVIS Architecture in Raleigh, he led the firm through a successful transition to an ESOP, strengthening employee ownership and long-term stability. He later guided the practice through a strategic acquisition by another employee-owned firm, ultimately resulting in the JDAVIS team joining ISG. His leadership emphasized transparency, team development, and long-term sustainability, all while maintaining a strong and enduring design culture.

Now serving as a Residential + Mixed-Use Business Unit leader, Neil continues to guide teams in delivering thoughtful, high-quality urban projects. With a focus on residential and mixed-use development, he champions creative problem-solving, collaboration, and context-driven design solutions that align client goals with broader community needs. He is deeply committed to mentoring talent, strengthening teams, and elevating design outcomes across the practice.

Nick Decker is the Global Segment Leader for Engineering at Egnyte. He is responsible for the growth and support of Egnyte’s engineering customers. Nick brings deep experience in the design and field technology space from time at Bluebeam and Dusty Robotics. He originally comes from the construction and engineering industry, having worked for large contractors Kiewit and AECOM Hunt. Nick holds a Civil Engineering degree and MBA from Purdue University.

Phil Keil serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Grace Design Studios, driving strategic growth for the Bernhard Capital Partners–backed architecture, engineering, and consulting firm across 13 states and nine practice areas. He leads the firm’s M&A strategy, AI transformation initiatives, and enterprise-wide strategic planning. Previously, Keil spent seven years as Principal and Director of Strategy at a leading AEC management consulting firm, facilitating over 250 strategic engagements with firms ranging from boutique practices to $1.5 billion enterprises. His background includes U.S. Air Force service, founding a medical device company, and engineering leadership at a Fortune 100 chemical company. Keil holds BS degrees in Chemical Engineering and Physics and an MBA.

Taylor utilizes creative strategy and draws upon past experience to achieve each client’s internal and external ownership transition objectives and to mitigate risk through contract negotiation.

Taylor is an experienced business and corporate attorney that advises design firms in a wide range of mergers and acquisitions and internal ownership transitions. Taylor listens to her client’s goals and guides each transaction from term sheet to closing to ensure both business and personal goals are met. She has hands-on experience in structuring, negotiating, and documenting transactions and advising clients through the integration process. Taylor is uniquely positioned to advise on multi-state licensure compliance, whether in the context of ownership transition or multi-entity consolidation efforts.

Taylor also advises design professionals throughout complex contract drafting and negotiation of both traditional and alternative project delivery agreements. She understands the unique risks and coverage concerns design firms face in design-build and other alternative project delivery arrangements and uses contract negotiation strategies to limit potential exposure. Taylor realizes that design professionals would rather avoid costly litigation and that the best way to do so is through risk allocation and forward-thinking contract drafting.

Tom Marchetti works with clients across the country and across all lines of insurance, building lasting relationships and providing clear, practical solutions to complex risks and M&A due diligence. Based in Washington, D.C., Tom is known for his straightforward, client-first approach and his ability to make complicated issues feel manageable.

Tom joined Ames & Gough in 2010 after beginning his career at United Insurance Consultants in New Jersey, where he led the construction and real estate team. With deep expertise in property, casualty, and professional liability insurance, he often says, “The best solutions start with listening,” a philosophy that guides his work with clients nationwide.

A graduate of Wagner College with a degree in business administration and a concentration in finance, Tom also holds the Construction Risk Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designation. Outside the office, Tom enjoys traveling with his family and cheering on the Washington Commanders. Most
weekends, he can be found on the sidelines watching his two young boys play sports—or up at the lake in upstate New York, where his family loves to unwind together.

Tony Curtis is an engineer and CTO with over 13 years of experience bridging the gap between civil engineering and technology. He currently leads technology strategy for Trilon’s West region, focusing on AI-augmented platforms and data-driven process reengineering to transform client delivery. Previously, Tony served as CTO of Horrocks, where he successfully navigated the firm’s integration into the Trilon Group family. A specialist in modernizing engineering operations, he is dedicated to transforming legacy IT systems into competitive advantages. Tony also serves on the University of Utah’s Engineering Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Will received his BS in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and his MBA from the University of Arkansas with a focus on entrepreneurship. During that time, Will developed financial models and aided in the fundraising for a startup that has raised over 20 million dollars in capital. Will has worked closely with management teams across the US to develop ownership transition plans, ranging from simple one-to-one transactions to complex projects that require a great deal of modeling and stakeholder education. Will analyzes and reports on the data AEC managers need to run successful firms.

From developing benchmarking tools to compensation programs for transition planning, Will builds resources for decision-makers. Prior to joining Zweig Group, Will provided navigation and telemetry services for oil exploration projects, conducting data analysis for the integration of GPS and seismic readouts. Will comes from a long line of architects and has a passion for the industry that is unmatched.