On Thursday, February 5, 2026, transportation professionals from across the state gathered for the annual MDOT–ACEC/Michigan Partnering Workshop, reinforcing the strong and collaborative relationship between the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/Michigan).

The Partnering Workshop serves as a cornerstone event for Michigan’s transportation community, providing a forum for open dialogue, technical exchange, and relationship-building between MDOT staff and consulting engineering firms. This year’s program delivered a full day of learning, policy updates, and meaningful networking opportunities designed to support the shared goal of delivering high-quality transportation solutions for the State of Michigan.

The Workshop opened with welcoming remarks from Brad Wieferich, Director of MDOT, and Barb Arens, President of ACEC/Michigan, who both emphasized the importance of collaboration, trust, and continuous improvement in advancing Michigan’s transportation program.

Attendees had the opportunity to participate in 46 educational breakout sessions, earning up to 5.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). The sessions covered a wide range of technical, policy, and project delivery topics, offering practical insights and opportunities for discussion across disciplines.

A highlight of the afternoon was the keynote address by John U. Bacon, a New York Times bestselling author and nationally recognized speaker. His engaging presentation challenged attendees to think differently about leadership, accountability, and teamwork—principles that strongly align with the spirit of partnering.

As part of the program, MDOT and ACEC/Michigan formally renewed the MDOT–ACEC/Michigan Partnership Charter Agreement, reaffirming a shared commitment to excellence through partnership, open communication, continuous improvement, innovation, and accountability.

The 2026 MDOT–ACEC/Michigan Partnership Charter Award was presented to the MDOT Ancillary Structures Program and HNTB in recognition of exemplary collaboration and outstanding demonstration of the Partnership Charter principles.

Established in 2020, the MDOT Ancillary Structures Program addressed a critical gap in how non-bridge transportation assets—such as culverts, retaining walls, noise walls, and lighting and signal structures—were inventoried, inspected, and managed. Through this partnership, MDOT and HNTB developed a statewide framework that includes a centralized asset inventory, standardized inspection practices, and risk-based prioritization tools. This approach has enabled MDOT to transition from reactive maintenance to proactive, data-driven decision-making.

The partnership has already produced meaningful results, including improved visibility into asset condition, identification and mitigation of safety-related issues, clearer understanding of long-term capital needs, and more strategic use of limited resources. The program has also become a national model for ancillary structure asset management, positioning Michigan as a leader in this evolving area.

The award was presented by Gregg Brunner, Chief Engineer and Operations Officer at the Michigan Department of Transportation, who recognized the project team for exemplifying what strong public–private partnerships can achieve when collaboration, trust, and innovation are fully embraced.

Pre-Workshop Presentation Materials Now Available

ACEC/Michigan has uploaded PDF versions of all slide decks presented during the 2026 Pre MDOT–ACEC/Michigan Workshop, held on Wednesday, February 4, to the Resources tab of the ACEC/Michigan GrowthZone InfoHub.

To access the materials, members should:

1. Log in to their ACEC/Michigan GrowthZone account
2. Navigate to the InfoHub
3. Click on the Resources tab to view and/or download the slide decks

The available slide decks cover the following topics:

MDOT / ACEC Team Reports
• Contracts – Patrick / Jayson
• Projects – Dee / Tony
• Training & Workforce Development – Kristin / Tyler

Transportation Funding
Presenter: Gregg Brunner
• Current funding landscape
• Projections and priorities for FY 2026–FY 2030
• Impact on MDOT programs and projects
• Reauthorization update

Perceptions and Implications of Road Use Charges
Presenter: Jean Ruestman

DBE / SBE Discussion
Presenter: Nick Sundberg
• DBE policy considerations
• Action steps for compliance and support
• Small Business Program

Local Agency Bridge Inspections
Presenter: Beckie Curtis

Transportation Employer-Led Collaborative Workforce Survey
Presenters: Lauren Roller (ACEC/Michigan), Barb Arens (ACEC/Michigan), and James Fults (MDOT)
• Purpose and objectives of the statewide workforce survey
• Target audience and distribution strategy
• Timeline for deployment and integration into workforce planning

The GrowthZone InfoHub is a valuable member resource that allows users to access shared documents, view upcoming events, manage membership details, and engage more fully with ACEC/Michigan.

The day concluded with a closing ice cream social, giving participants additional time to continue conversations and strengthen professional connections in a relaxed setting.

Continuing Education Reminder
Attendees who participated in educational breakout sessions are reminded to request their CEU transcript through the Conference Beat/Results at Hand app no later than March 5, 2026. Transcripts will not be available after that date.

Save the Date
Plans are already underway for next year’s event. Please mark your calendar for the 2027 MDOT–ACEC/Michigan Partnering Workshop, scheduled for Wednesday, February 3, 2027.

The 2026 Partnering Workshop once again demonstrated the value of collaboration between MDOT and ACEC/Michigan. The renewed Partnership Charter serves not only as a reflection of a long-standing relationship, but also as a roadmap for continued progress in the year ahead. Thank you to all who participated and contributed to another successful Partnering Workshop.