01/27/2026

Message from Beth -- January 28, 2026

Advancing Our Long-Range Strategy: Draft 2026–2029 Advocacy Plan Under Review

The ACEC Ohio Advocacy Plan Task Force has completed Draft One of the 2026–2029 Advocacy Plan, marking an important milestone in shaping our organization’s policy and advocacy efforts for the next three years.

Following the member advocacy survey in December, the Task Force worked to focus ACEC Ohio’s efforts where they can have the greatest impact. Based on member input, discussion, and strategic review, the Task Force narrowed the plan to four core advocacy pillars that will guide our work through 2029.

The draft plan is now being reviewed by the Government Affairs and PAC Committees, with the goal of refining and aligning priorities before the plan is presented to the ACEC Ohio Board of Directors in March for final approval.

The Four Core Advocacy Pillars

Over the next three years, ACEC Ohio’s advocacy efforts will focus on:

• Protecting and Strengthening Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS)
  Reinforcing the value of selecting the most qualified engineering professionals to protect public health, safety, and welfare.
• Securing Long-Term Infrastructure Funding
  Promoting predictable, sustainable funding to reduce inefficiencies, control costs, and stabilize the engineering workforce.
• Advancing Procurement & Contracting Reform
  Improving procurement and contracting practices to better align with the realities of professional engineering services.
• Strengthening the Engineering Workforce Pipeline
  Supporting policies and legislation that grow, attract, and retain engineering talent while protecting professional licensure.

Additional updates will be shared as the draft moves through committee review and toward Board consideration in March.

Thank you to the task force members: Andy Walton, Josh Conley, Emily Preston, Scott Knebel, Kevin White, Dave Krock, Nick McCullough, RJ Mancini, and Kevin Futryk for their work and to all ACEC Ohio members who participated in the advocacy survey and helped shape this important plan.

~Beth