Business Advisory Services

Peer Review Services

ACEC's peer review services program offers design firms a review of their business management practices and procedures through the eyes of objective, experienced practitioners. It is management consulting at a fraction of the typical cost, firm-wide or in a targeted area.

The peer review service offers a highly cost-effective assessment of one or more of a firm's most critical functional areas:

  • General Management
  • Human Resources, Training and Professional Development
  • Project Management
  • Quality Management
  • Computer Systems Management/Information Technology
  • Financial Management
  • Business Development

Conducted by a team or an individual with expertise in your selected area(s), peer review is a confidential process. Because the program is positive and constructive, peer review provides an opportunity for firms to continue to improve their delivery of services to clients, and to motivate their employees in the work they do and in their personal career development.

For more information about the ACEC Business Advisory Services' peer review program, contact Dee McKenna at dmckenna@acec.org or 202.682.4328.


Principal-to-Principal Benchmarking Program

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Principal-to-Principal Benchmarking Program is a gathering of seven to ten CEOs of firms where, with the assistance of a professional facilitator, non-competing leaders can openly review their companies and share information in a focused effort to build breakthrough success for themselves, their families, their employees, and their customers.

Participation in the Principal-to-Principal Benchmarking Program includes:

  • Assignment to Benchmarking groups matched in terms of volume, type of work, and non-competition guidelines.
  • Semiannual, two and half-day meetings with Benchmarking groups focused on professional benchmarking practice, learning, and sharing.
  • Expert facilitation and consultation for Benchmarking meetings.
  • Private consultation for Host Company.
  • The Principal-to-Principal Benchmarking Program online portal:
  • Secure members-only access to your Benchmarking community
  • Member document archive (meeting documents, member agreements, member profiles)
  • Business resources (articles, whitepapers, success stories, podcasts, etc…)
  • Assessment and management tools (buy sell agreements, planning tools, etc…)
  • Discussion forums
  • and More!

Member Highlights Include:

Semi-Annual Meetings
The cornerstone of the Principal-to-Principal Benchmarking Program is the semiannual meeting with your benchmarking group. It is there in a trusting and confidential setting among other successful leaders from non-competing businesses that you will tackle topics such as industry issues, best practices, profit opportunities, and business building strategies.

Industry Focus
What sets Principal-to-Principal Benchmarking Program apart is the industry-specific focus. benchmarking groups are comprised of industry peers that know your industry and serve as an informal board of advisors. You’ll compare key strategic and operational information which allows all members to learn. This is not a review from an academic or consultant perspective. This is a practical exchange between successful business people who face the same challenges you do.

Web-based Community Support
Each benchmarking member is given 24/7 access to their benchmarking group via a secure community website. The online portal offers industry specific news, membership documents, business resources, tools, and discussion forums, all available at the click of a mouse.

Professional Facilitation
The Principal-to-Principal Benchmarking Program is directed by professional facilitators who strategically guide the group through a planned agenda. Facilitators are skilled at cultivating an environment and that is both purposeful and open. That same facilitator supports the members with consultation and follow up prior to and after they host a benchmarking event. The facilitators organize the meetings with the help of a Benchmarking Administrator who handles the details of scheduling and logistics for the session.

Performance Results
In the end, the Principal-to-Principal Benchmarking Program is all about improving members' performance in both business and life. Business success is achieved through increased profitability and expense reduction as a result of new ideas and fresh perspectives of the benchmarking group. 90% of roundtable members report increased company performance as a result of membership. Personal success is achieved through enhanced decision making that frees up their time and allows them to better focus on their strengths and passions.

Get Started!
For information on how to become a member in the Principal-to-Principal Benchmarking Program, contact Jeff Beard at jbeard@acec.org or 202.682.4349.