Each year, the Structural Engineering Executive Retreat is designed to give firm leaders space to step away from daily demands and focus on the bigger picture: leadership, strategy, and the forces shaping the future of structural engineering. For 2026, NCSEA is bringing that conversation to Amelia Island, Florida, with a program focused on building a community of firm leaders through data-driven insights, peer exchange, and nationally recognized speakers.
The 2026 Structural Engineering Executive Retreat will take place March 18–20, 2026, at the Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa on Amelia Island, Florida. The three-day agenda blends insightful presentations with facilitated roundtable discussions, creating an environment where firm leaders can learn from subject-matter experts and each other.
Featured Speakers for 2026
The 2026 retreat includes perspectives from leaders in structural engineering, economics, organizational development, and business strategy:
Ron Klemencic, P.E., S.E., Hon. AIA, NAE
Chairman and CEO, Magnusson Klemencic Associates
A nationally recognized structural engineer and firm leader, Ron Klemencic brings decades of experience in practice leadership, risk management, and firm strategy.
Bryce Gill
Economist and National Speaker, First Trust
Bryce Gill provides an in-depth look at economic trends affecting the design and construction industry, including inflation, labor markets, capital investment, and market volatility.
Winslow Johnson
Senior Vice President of Talent and Organizational Development, STV
Winslow Johnson focuses on the science behind leadership behavior and talent development, offering insights into how leaders can shape organizational culture and performance over time.
Dean West, FASAE
Founder and President, Association Laboratory, Inc.
Dean West brings a research-based perspective on the structural engineering profession, drawing on NCSEA surveys, benchmarking studies, and strategic planning data.
What’s on the Agenda
The retreat begins Wednesday evening with a welcome happy hour and dinner, offering an informal setting for attendees to connect and set the tone for the days ahead.
Thursday opens with a State of the Structural Engineering Profession briefing led by Dean West, presenting a data-driven snapshot of current market conditions and emerging trends based on NCSEA research, firm leader input, and industry benchmarking. The morning continues with a collaborative session on risk management and professional liability, moderated by Ron Klemencic, combining panel discussion with peer breakouts focused on real-world challenges and practical approaches.
In the afternoon, economist Bryce Gill examines the economic outlook for 2026, exploring inflation pressures, labor market shifts, demographic changes, and the implications of evolving trade and technology trends for firm leadership. The day concludes with facilitated leadership roundtable discussions, grouped by firm size and informed by NCSEA’s pre-retreat conversations, followed by dinner.
Friday’s program focuses on leadership and talent development. Winslow Johnson leads a session on epigenetic leadership, offering a science-based perspective on how leadership behaviors influence organizational culture and performance. The retreat wraps up with a final round of peer exchange discussions before adjournment at noon.
Designed for the Firm Leaders of Today and Tomorrow
The Structural Engineering Executive Retreat is intentionally structured to be small, interactive, and discussion-driven. It’s designed for firm principals, executives, and emerging leaders who want time and space to think strategically, learn from peers, and engage with experts in a focused setting.
More information, including registration details, is available here.