Registration is Open for the Fall 2026 AEC Leadership and Best Practice Roundtables Retreat!

Written By Phil Read

AEC Acoustics: Disconnect and Reconnect!

  • When: Sunday, September 27 - Friday, October 2, 2026

  • Where: Lake Swan Camp. 647 State Road 26, Melrose, FL 32666.

  • Travel: Nearest airport is Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) in Gainesville, Florida (30 MIN) or Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) in Jacksonville, FL (1 HR)

  • Extras: This is a family friendly (and alcohol free) event with counselor lead activities for the little ones ages K-5 during the day.

  • Register: Register via Google Forms.

$999 Early Bird Registration includes all accommodations, meals, sessions and activities. Limited to 50 attendees!

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Who Should Attend?

The AEC Leadership Retreat is for people who manage teams, projects and technology. International attendees from around the world, from C-Level to BIM Manager. This annual event is essential for decision makers and business leaders committed to improving soft skills, while honing technical technology best practices in the fast-paced, rapidly evolving AEC industry

Call for Proposals

Established companies and emerging startups are welcome to present best practices, and solicit honest, real-world feedback. Attendees need know where your technology is most suited as well as real-world limitations. Expect fast-paced feedback and tough questions. We need to understand how your team is committed to creating technology that solves difficult problems, saves time, saves money, and creates better buildings and infrastructure. All discussions and presentations should be specific and lead to actionable, and implementable positive outcomes.

  • Discussions are open topics. Attendees need to plan ahead of challenges, and take advantage of established best practices from other like-minded high-performing professionals. If you need clarity and experienced feedback, start here.

  • Presentations are overviews, discoveries, best practices. This is your opportunity to share your best practice discoveries with demonstrable, positive impacts to your business. Solution providers and start-ups are welcome to present best practices and real-world case studies as well (not a sales pitch).

Professional Leadership Coaching

Randy Benn returns as our event leadership coach. In the video below, Randy’s discusses his unique background in Law, Psychology and Leadership. His training and experience provides an uncommon approach to every leadership session.

AEC Focused

High Stress <> Low Control is frequently experienced while leading teams that design, engineer and construct buildings and infrastructure. Deadlines are tight, reputations at risk, and budgets on the line. Answers are easy, attitude is hard, and the "features" we've developed managing Technology often become "bugs" when leading Teams of people.

We're about the conversations after the presentations. The right answers to challenging workflow and technology depends on context, requirements, goals, and more. High level presentations leave room for conversations, questions, and clarity. One-size-fits-all solutions don't work and we're experienced enough to know why trial and error tail-spins into expensive failure that projects can't afford. Our goal is to present, discuss and develop best-in-class solutions across a variety or software tools, technologies and teams. Experienced, real-world feedback saves time, increases RIO and creates the best buildings possible.

Lake Swan Camp

The AEC Best Practice Roundtables is an "Un-conference". You can leave your dress shoes and high heels at home. T-shirts, shorts and tennis shoes are perfectly appropriate.

For 99 years Lake Swan Camp in Melrose, Florida is still going strong. Relaxed, and welcoming, everyone has their own motel style room or family friendly cabin (with modern touches of air-conditioning, wifi, and espresso)! Expect mid-80s during the day and evenings in the mid-60s.

The 60 acre property borders clear, warm, and spring-fed Lake Rosa. Our late September event is perfect for outdoor activities: swim, paddle, fish and relax before dinner. You'll wake rested in time for sunrise at 7am. Sunset is after dinner at 7pm.

Wonderful Meals, Exquisitely Prepared

Chef Charles Semail, President of Chef Charles Catering, returns! With over 40 years culinary experience, Charles expects us to be pleasantly surprised at each gathering. Take a moment and get to know Chef Charles. He's got a wonderful story and sense of humor.

Here's the link to a previous event menu. Of course there's vegan, vegetarian and other options. Meals are shared family style, in order to facilitate pleasant conversation. As someone wisely remarked, "We're eating Instagram meals on camp plates! :)

Team Building

We'll kick off Monday with an offsite event at Ichetucknee Springs State Park. There's options for all sizes and ages, with hiking trails, boardwalks, and kayaking on pristine spring-fed rivers. Relax after lunch swimming in crystal clear springs. A full list of state park amenities is here.

  • Paddle board or kayak for 3 miles on a calm and clear spring fed river surrounded by abundant wildlife in their native habitat.

  • Hike and/or swim in clear blue springs, shaded and well-marked trails.

Bring your camera but don't touch the manatees!

We'll arrive by motorcoach around 9am at Ichetucknee Springs State Park at the North Launch for hiking and paddling. By noon we'll regroup for lunch followed by an afternoon of hiking, and swimming. Departing by 3pm, we'll return to Lake Swan Camp relaxed, refreshed, and ready to take on three days of leadership and best practice sessions!

Daily Event Schedule

  • Arrive afternoon Sunday, Sept 27. Relax and catchup with your industry peers. Head down to the lake, go for a walk, paddle, or grab one of the rocking chairs on pine deck of the Lake View Lodge.

  • Monday, Sept 28. Offsite team building at Ichetucknee Springs State Park.

  • Tuesday - Thursday. Breakfast at 8am. Then five formal sessions daily at 9am, 10am, 11am, 1pm, and 5pm. Open afternoons from 2pm - 5pm in order let you catch up on a few essential emails before relaxing lakeside. Informal evening gatherings around campfire, lodge porch and game room.

  • Friday, October 2. Breakfast at 8am. Depart by noon. See you next year!

Event Highlights Reel

Propose Your Sessions and Register Today!

$999 Early Bird Registration includes all lodging, meals, sessions and activities. Limited to 50 attendees.

Questions? Please email.

Kind regards -

Phil Read - CEO Read | Thomas / phil@readthomas.com

Phil Read
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