The situation
Keller Associates had the same starting point as most mid-market firms: real AI interest, no shared picture. The board wanted a strategy. A technology committee was experimenting. Individual engineers were trying tools on their own. And the firm had seen enough generic AI advice to be wary of anyone who showed up with a pre-built answer.
Larry Rupp, Keller's President & CEO, was clear from the start: show us you understand our firm before you recommend anything.
What we did
Over seven weeks, we ran the full AI Roadmap engagement:
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Listen
Interviews with almost a third of the firm
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Score
Pacemark across six dimensions
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Map
Opportunities ranked by value
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Deliver
Phased roadmap with owners & sequence
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Present
Live keynote to owners & board
- Listened first. Wave-based interviews with almost a third of the firm (principals, project managers, engineers, and support staff across offices) so we could build the plan on how Keller works, with the firm's own workflows and language in it.
- Scored where they stand. A Pacemark assessment across six dimensions to inform discussion about priorities.
- Mapped the opportunities. A prioritized workflow map (proposals, scope documents, project knowledge, reporting) ranked by what each is worth at Keller's billing rates.
- Delivered the roadmap. A phased plan with owners, sequence, and expected returns— the document Keller's leadership took forward.
- Presented to the owners. A live keynote and workshop at the firm's all-shareholder meeting in Boise— so every owner and board member heard the plan at the same time, from the source.
The results
The roadmap gave Keller what the board had been asking for: a shared picture of where the firm stands, a sequenced plan with owners, and governance the firm's licensed engineers could stand behind. The proposal process, the firm's largest single time sink, became the first build, and the shareholder presentation turned a leadership initiative into a firm-wide one.
In their words
"We brought in [Dan Cumberland Labs and Pacemark] to figure out where AI actually fits at a 250-person firm spread across 12 offices. They talked with almost a third of the firm before recommending anything, then handed us a clear, prioritized plan: what to do first, what to do later."
Larry Rupp, PE
President & CEO
"He raised our awareness of what's coming, pushed us to think hard about using AI responsibly, and worked with our team to build a practical roadmap for putting it to work."
James Bledsoe, PE
Board Chair
"I knew AI was something I should be using, but I had no idea where to start. He changed that."
Stillman Norton, PE
Area Manager & Board Secretary
"As an outside board member, I've sat through a lot of presentations. His was engaging and educational… there was a way for every person in the room to take part."
Julie Shiflett
Outside Board Member · Founder, Northwest CFO
What this looks like for your firm
If your board is considering AI priorities, the free AEC assessment offers a reported profile to discuss with your team in about 8 minutes. To see your result, you provide contact and firm details at the end and sign up for follow-up emails. Each email includes an unsubscribe link. You can also book a call to discuss your situation.
