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Are you treating your M&A integration like a rigid building code or a dynamic leadership challenge?

In this episode of AEC Unscripted: M&A Edition, host Jeff Adams, Director of M&A at Stambaugh Ness, sits down with Sandy Matthews, Director of Integration at Salas O’Brien. Sandy shares her unique journey from structural engineer at a 35-person firm to leading post-acquisition efforts for one of the most acquisitive firms in the AEC space.

Sandy brings a refreshingly human perspective to a process often dominated by spreadsheets, explaining why true value creation happens at the intersections of alignment, empathy, and “One Team” collaboration.

This podcast discusses:

• The “E-Bike” Lesson: What a 14-year-old’s request for freedom taught Sandy about listening to the true “why” behind an acquired firm’s needs.
• The One-Team Vision: How to move beyond service pillars to create a cohesive environment where every partner firm is “icing on the cake.”
• The Power of the Pause: Knowing when to “rip the Band-Aid off” and when to hit the pause button on branding or ERP transitions to protect a firm’s unique niche.
• The Cultural Litmus Test: Why the “Dinner Test” remains the most accurate predictor of long-term partnership success.
• Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast: Applying Navy SEAL philosophy to ensure your internal team is ready to scale at the pace of modern M&A.

Whether you are a seller wondering how your legacy will be preserved or a buyer looking to build a scalable integration playbook, this conversation provides a practical roadmap for aligning hearts and minds after the deal closes.

🔔 Don't miss out! Subscribe to AEC Unscripted: M&A Edition on your favorite podcast platform. Let's explore the M&A landscape, unlock growth potential, and achieve deal success. Ready to dive deeper? Let's go! 🤝💰

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Your firm’s balance sheet tells your earnings story, but your data archive is your firm’s memory. If that memory is trapped in an unsearchable digital graveyard, you’re leaving significant deal value on the table.

In this episode of AEC Unscripted: M&A Edition, host Jeff Adams, Director of M&A at Stambaugh Ness, is joined by Nick Decker, Director of AEC at Egnyte, to discuss the critical intersection of AEC valuation and data.

Nick shares a frontline perspective on why “tech-ready” firms are commanding higher multiples and how leadership teams can turn their data environments into a strategic advantage rather than an operational risk.

This podcast discusses:

• The “20% Tax”: Why billable engineers spend one day a week on a “scavenger hunt” for information—and how to fix it.
• The Closing Dinner Snub: Why IT leadership belongs at the table before the deal ink dries.
• The AI Gap: Moving AI past “writing emails” and into actual project delivery, drafting, and closeout.
• Matching Blood Types: Why tech integration is a talent retention issue, not just a software transition.
• The Five-Year Outlook: What will separate the most valuable, scalable AEC firms from the rest of the market.

Whether you’re preparing for a sale or looking to maximize synergies on the buy-side, this conversation explores how to move beyond simple storage to unlock the true intellectual property of your firm.

🔔 Don't miss out! Subscribe to AEC Unscripted: M&A Edition on your favorite podcast platform. Let's explore the M&A landscape, unlock growth potential, and achieve deal success. Ready to dive deeper? Let's go! 🤝💰

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Are you prepared for the moment your internal succession plan meets the reality of a “missing generation” in leadership?

In this episode of AEC Unscripted: M&A Edition, host Jeff Adams, Director of M&A at Stambaugh Ness, is joined by Frank Ternasky and Mike Asaro, former principals of the San Diego-based architecture firm Delawie.

After years of operating as strategic buyers themselves, Frank and Mike share the transparent story of why they pivoted to an external sale. We dive deep into their decision to partner with Hennick & Company —a family office— and Leo A Daly, exploring why this unique model provided the cultural alignment and “long-run” stability that traditional private equity could not.

Listen to learn:

• How being an acquirer prepared them for their own immaculate due diligence (and why “there was no pea” to find).
• The Family Office difference and why a less “heavy-handed” investment model was the key to preserving a 60-year design legacy.
• The strategic reasoning behind The Power of the Pause —hitting the “pause button” on a deal when business growth outpaces valuation.
• Why the “beer test” and cultural fit remain the ultimate deal-breakers, regardless of the financial offer.
• Insights from the first 100 days of integration and the value of a “best practice” conversation over a forced transition.

Join us as we explore M&A, unlock growth potential, and achieve deal success.

🔔 Don't miss out! Subscribe to AEC Unscripted: M&A Edition on your favorite podcast platform. Let's explore the M&A landscape, unlock growth potential, and achieve deal success. Ready to dive deeper? Let's go! 🤝💰