M&A Symposium

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lynn has a people‑first mindset as CEO, shaped by more than 20 years in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. He builds strong teams, trusted client relationships, and sustainable long‑term value. His leadership is centered on supporting people, establishing trust, and empathizing with clients, which were key principles during ISG’s recent acquisition integration. Working closely with the firm’s Growth and Strategy team, Lynn connects vision with action to align, engage, and share success across the firm.

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.

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.