BQE CORE PRESENTS
People, Process, and Technology:
Human-Centered Innovation in AE Firms
Tuesday, August 19th, 2025
1pm ET | 10am PT
In this webinar, Nick Heim, PE and Brian Sullivan will explore how aligning people, process, and technology drives human-centered innovation in architecture and engineering firms. Drawing on the Iron Man analogy—people as Tony Stark, process as J.A.R.V.I.S., and technology as the Iron Man suit—they’ll show how clear process mapping empowers teams to leverage technology and expertise for improved efficiency, profitability, and client satisfaction. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to assess their firm’s readiness for process mapping and begin eliminating bottlenecks for sustainable growth.
By the end of this session, you will learn how to:
1
Explain the value of benchmarking in architecture practice and how it differs from internal reporting.
2
Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) most relevant to firm operations and strategic growth.
3
Interpret benchmark data to assess firm performance against industry standards and guide goal-setting.
4
Recognize patterns and trends in industry-wide metrics such as revenue per FTE and profitability.
5
Apply benchmarking insights to make data-informed decisions that improve firm performance and resilience.
Nick Heim, PE
BQE Industry Advisory Board
Nick Heim, P.E., is a civil engineer with a specialization in the repair and restoration of existing structures, and host of the AEC Engineering and Technology Podcast (AECTECH), where he brings valuable insights and expertise to listeners worldwide. Nick’s interests lie at the intersection between the built world and technology, and he can be found looking for the ever-changing answer to the question, “How can we do this better?” Nick can be found on LinkedIn, producing content about the use of technology in his civil engineering career and small business.
Brian Sullivan, PE
Trinovate Advisors
In 2010, Brian launched his first business, Sullivan Engineering a building envelope consulting firm focused on providing great services, with fantastic people that shared similar values. Sullivan engineering earned a spot on the Inc5000 list five straight years in a row from 2017 through 2021 as well as the Zweig Hot Firm and Best Places to Work lists. Sullivan Engineering was acquired by Rimkus in 2021.
Brian is now the co-founder of Trinovate Advisors a consulting firm focused on transforming AEC firms through human-centered innovation. Additionally Brian is the founder of GigBench and an advisor to several businesses and professionals
He has a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering and a Masters of Science in Civil Engineering from Manhattan College where he is currently an adjunct professor and member of the Civil Engineering Board of Advisors. He is also a graduate of the Owners Presidents Management program at Harvard Business School.
ABOUT BQE: A PROUD SPONSOR OF THIS SERIES
BQE CORE is the award-winning firm management software, created by architects and engineers for architects and engineers, that project-based firms trust to run their operations for better project outcomes, and more profitable futures. Their fully integrated suite of intuitive tools with 24/7/365 support provides back-office automation to power front-office insights, making firm management more agile, informed, and data-driven. Learn more at www.bqe.com.