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October 7-9, 2026 | Houston, TX
The M&A and Capitalization Symposium
Symposium Schedule
Wed, Oct 7
Confidential Connections Meetings
Opening Reception
Networking Dinners
Thu, Oct 8
General Sessions
Reception
Networking Dinners
Fri, Oct 9
Concurrent Panels & Workshops
The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, TX
Agenda
Confidential Connections Meetings
We arrange and curate confidential 30-minute meetings for industry CEOs, M&A executives and investors to discuss strategic options and explore opportunities.
Opening Reception
Networking never felt so good. Make new connections and get reacquainted with old friends as you enjoy some Texas hospitality.
Wednesday Small Group Networking Dinners
On Wednesday evening enjoy quality time with industry CEOs, M&A executives and investors at specially curated small group dinners. Hosted by a Morrissey Goodale team member, each dinner provides a remarkable opportunity to make valuable connections to benefit you and your firm. (Dinners are exclusively for industry CEOs, M&A executives and investors.) We keep these dinners small for a great experience, so register soon to reserve your place.
Agenda
Breakfast
Start your day with breakfast and make valuable connections with industry executives and investors.
Opening Remarks
Nick Belitz, Managing Principal – Morrissey Goodale
State of the Industry
Taking the pulse of the AE industry in the fourth quarter and anticipating what’s in store for 2027.
PRESENTERS
Brendon Cussio, Principal – Morrissey Goodale
Jon Escobar, CM&AA, Principal – Morrissey Goodale
Excellence in Acquisitive Growth Awards Presentation
The recipients of the 2026 M&A Best Practices Award and the 2026 Best Post-Transaction Performance Awards are recognized and celebrated.
Break
Concurrent Panel Discussions
PANEL 1
The 1000 Club
This always popular panel brings together deal advisors and experts who between them have advised on over 1000 AE industry transactions to share their observations on the market, the emerging trends and terms they are seeing in deals in 2026, and their advice for buyers and sellers now.
PANELISTS
To be announced
MODERATORS
Brendon Cussio, Principal – Morrissey Goodale
Sarah Thornhill, Consultant – Morrissey Goodale
• • • • • • • • • • • •
PANEL 2
Building and Sustaining a Generational Firm
The panelists discuss how to build and finance a thriving employee-owned design firm in a rapidly changing industry. They’ll not only cover succession and culture, but also best business practices and what financial levers can be borrowed from the playbooks of publicly traded and private equity backed firms—including sophisticated approaches to tracking and managing profitability, allocating stakeholder rewards, and financing growth—that can be deployed to ensure success.
PANELISTS
To be announced
MODERATORS
Nick Belitz, Managing Principal – Morrissey Goodale
Allie Tepper, Principal Advisor – Morrissey Goodale
• • • • • • • • • • • •
PANEL 3
2027 and Beyond: How Strategic Acquirers and Investors are Viewing the Market
As M&A activity enters its next chapter, the questions shaping the market are becoming more nuanced. Where is capital flowing? What capabilities are commanding premiums? And how are strategic buyers and private equity investors assessing risk, growth, and integration in a changing environment? This panel brings together active acquirers and investors to discuss how they are evaluating opportunities, where they see the greatest conviction, and what firm owners should understand about the market ahead. Expect a candid conversation on valuation, competition, private equity’s evolving role, and the strategic priorities defining the next wave of consolidation.
PANELISTS
To be announced
MODERATORS
Jon Escobar, CM&AA, Principal – Morrissey Goodale
Katharine Van Leer, Consultant – Morrissey Goodale
Networking Lunch
The Big Picture
PRESENTER
Dr. Ray Perryman, President & CEO – The Perryman Group
Called a “genius” by the Wall Street Journal, the “unofficial state economist” by the New York Times, and “the most quoted man in Texas” by Texas Monthly, Dr. Ray Perryman, President and CEO of The Perryman Group, will be addressing the economic outlook for the United States and Texas in his own inimitable way.
Break
AE and Environmental Consulting Industry M&A Trends and Valuations
Jon Escobar and Nate Wentworth team up to bring you the latest M&A trends and deal prices.
PRESENTERS
Jon Escobar, CM&AA, Principal – Morrissey Goodale
Nate Wentworth, CVA, CM&AA, FMVA, Vice President – Morrissey Goodale
Break
The Great Debate
Morrissey Goodale Principals are joined by invited guests on stage in a moderated debate format to discuss the biggest and most timely AE industry M&A and Capitalization topics— including (but not limited to)—(a) AI (value creator, destroyer, or both), (b) the era of Private Equity—is this the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning? and (c) which capitalization model is “better” (and why?). (Note: the bar will be open for this debate with beer and cocktails available.)
PANELISTS AND INVITED GUESTS
Jon Escobar, CM&AA, Principal – Morrissey Goodale
Nick Belitz, Managing Principal – Morrissey Goodale
Additional panelists and invited guests to be announced.
MODERATORS
Katharine Van Leer, Consultant – Morrissey Goodale
Sarah Thornhill, Consultant – Morrissey Goodale
Networking Reception
Thursday Small Group Networking Dinners
On Thursday evening enjoy quality time with industry CEOs, M&A executives and investors at specially curated small group dinners. Hosted by a Morrissey Goodale team member, each dinner provides a remarkable opportunity to make valuable connections to benefit you and your firm. (Dinners are exclusively for industry CEOs, M&A executives and investors.) We keep these dinners small for a great experience, so register soon to reserve your place.
Agenda
Breakfast
Start your day with breakfast and make valuable connections with industry executives and investors.
Concurrent Panel Discussions
PANEL 1
Multiples Don’t Matter!
In this new and somewhat “controversial” discussion, the panelists will cover why multiples tell just a small part of the story of an acquisition – and in many cases disguise what really is happening in a transaction. They’ll cover why less savvy acquirers that believe they could be “overpaying” are actually losing out on great deals because their hyper focus on multiples. Topics to be covered will include “entry multiples” and deal structures, cost of capital, synergies, and how all of these impact exit multiples down the road.
PANELISTS
To be announced
MODERATORS
Brendon Cussio, Principal – Morrissey Goodale
Nate Wentworth, CVA, CM&AA, FMVA, Vice President – Morrissey Goodale
• • • • • • • • • • • •
PANEL 2
Integration Best Practices – Lessons from the Field
Integration experts David and Sarah Thornhill (not related!) are joined by some of the best integrators in the AE industry to discuss what’s working (and what’s definitely not!) when it comes to bringing two or more firms together over a year.
PANELISTS
To be announced
MODERATORS
David Thornhill, Vice President – Morrissey Goodale
Sarah Thornhill, Consultant – Morrissey Goodale
• • • • • • • • • • • •
PANEL 3
Successful Sellers Tell Their Stories
During this interactive panel discussion recent sellers will share the lessons they learned in preparing for and moving through the firm sale process.
PANELISTS
To be announced
MODERATORS
Jon Escobar, Principal – Morrissey Goodale
Katharine Van Leer, Consultant – Morrissey Goodale
Networking Break
Concurrent Let’s Get Down to Business Workshops
WORKSHOP 1
At the Crossroads: Assessing Your Strategic Options
Almost every employee-owned firm CEO, leadership team and board of directors comes to a crossroads where they have to determine which capital structure is optimal for them going forward. Is it an ESOP? A firm sale? A recapitalization by private equity? A merger? Or stay the course? This workshop takes you through the steps on how to best analyze and select the best strategic option for your firm.
Your Let’s Get Down to Business coaches:
Nick Belitz, Managing Principal – Morrissey Goodale
Trishank Hansrajani, Consultant – Morrissey Goodale
• • • • • • • • • • • •
WORKSHOP 2
Ownership Transition Quick Start
Everything you need to know to transition ownership in your firm to the next generation. In this workshop you’ll learn (a) the pros and cons of an internal transition versus a firm sale or recapitalization, (b) the operational pre-requisites, (c) how to build a strong transition plan, (d) how to value and finance the plan, and (e) the next steps to take.
Your Let’s Get Down to Business coaches:
Allie Tepper, Principal Advisor – Morrissey Goodale
Sarah Thornhill, Consultant – Morrissey Goodale
• • • • • • • • • • • •
WORKSHOP 3
Seven Ways to Increase Your Firm’s Value in Seven Months
Learn the seven most impactful things you and your team can do to increase your firm’s value—pronto.
Your Let’s Get Down to Business coaches:
Daniel Allen, FMVA, Consultant – Morrissey Goodale
Nate Wentworth, CVA, CM&AA, FMVA, Vice President – Morrissey Goodale
The reviews are in:
Register Now
Your registration fee includes opening reception on October 7, the full day of events, materials, reception on October 8, and breakfast and half day sessions on October 9.
Engineering Registered Continuing Education Program
Earn up 8 Professional Development Hours
Morrissey Goodale has met the standards and requirements of the Registered Continuing Education Program. Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to RCEP. Certificates of Completion will be issued to all participants. Complaints regarding registered providers may be sent to RCEP at www.RCEP.net