Event Information - (Thursday, Sept. 15, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.)

Track One

Pathways to Firm Management Mike Matthews, P.E., President/CEO, H&A Architects and Engineers and Kevin Kokal, P.E., Founder, Alliance Engineering, Inc.

	Matthews Kokal	Expected Learning Outcomes:  There is no better way to learn than from the experience of those that came before you.  As the next generation of leaders, you are going to be faced with increasing challenges, making important business decisions, analyzing risk and reward and leading and motivating others in your company and industry.  How do you balance home and work life? What personal sacrifices do you have to make to get where you want to be? Do I have to become a Project Manager to succeed in my firm? What pathways are available to firm management? How can I bring about change in my firm or place of employment? Do you have the right people skills for firm management? These and other issues will be discussed.   Company: H&A Architects and Engineers, 4880 Sadler Rd, Ste 300, Glen Allen, VA 23060; 804.285.4171; m.matthews@ha-inc.com; www.ha-inc.com Alliance Engineering, Inc., 9011 Arboretum Parkway, Suite 310, Richmond, VA 23236; phone  804-915-4550 | fax 804-275-2016 Matthews Resume:  Mike Matthews is President and CEO of H&A Architects and Engineers, a 260-person professional services firm with offices in Richmond, Virginia Beach, and San Diego.  He graduated from Old Dominion University in 1982 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and has been honored there as a distinguished alumnus.  He received his MBA from the University of Richmond’s Robins School of Business.   Mike is a two-time past President of American Council of Engineering Companies of Virginia, Past President of the Richmond ASHRAE Chapter and is a member of NSPE.  He was honored as the Engineer of the Year by the Richmond Joint Engineers’ Council in 2009.  His community involvement has included Chairman of the West Point Economic Development Authority, member of West Point Board of Code Appeals and Chair of the West Point Schools Career and Technical Education Advisory Panel and advisor to the state legislatures Commission on Youth for Career and Technical Education.   H&A’s national business rankings as an architecture and engineering firm include 305 overall largest A/E design firm, Top 200 International Design Firm and Top 15 in Government Building design.  The firm has been recognized by Zweig-White as one of the fastest growing A/E firm in the country, by PSMJ as a 2008 and 2009 Circle of Excellence firm, and by Zweig-White as the best multi-discipline A/E firm to work for in the country two years in a row.   Mike has guest lectured numerous times at the University of Virginia’s Engineering School and at graduate and undergraduate business schools at the University of Richmond, Virginia State University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. In the construction industry, Mike speaks frequently on such topics as design/build, Building Information Management System implementation, and Engineering Entrepreneurship. Kokal Resume:  Kevin is the founder and owner of Alliance Engineering which recently celebrated 22 years in business. He graduated from West Virginia University in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, focusing on structural design.   In 1989, Kevin and two partners started Alliance Engineering. He has helped guide Alliance from a start-up company of three employees to today’s company of 80 plus employees, with locations in Richmond, Va., Newport News, Va, and Baltimore, MD.  In addition to business development and overall firm management, Kevin is responsible for the firms construction management division as well as two subsidiary companies; Alliance Biosciences and Alliance Staffing Network.   Alliance was recognized four years in a row as one of the 25 fastest growing companies in Richmond and one of the Fast 50 companies in the state of Virginia. Kevin was one of 60 entrepreneurs selected from across the country to attend the Birthing of Giants program at MIT and is the former president of ACEC of Virginia.