Lead, Grow, Thrive: Advancing Your Career & Practice

WED-A08: Designing Your Exit: A Small Firm Succession Blueprint

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

8:30 AM - 9:45 AM PT

1.25 PDH, LA CES/non-HSW

Speaker(s)

Kimberly A. Tryba, ASLA, AIA (she/her/hers)

Co-Founder + Managing Director
LILA Studio LLC
New York, New York
Thomas R. Ryan, FASLA (he/him/his)

Founder
Ryan Associates
Waltham, Massachusetts
Scott Rice, ASLA, PLA, LEED AP, CASp (he/him/his)

President / Managing Principal
Community Works Design Group
Riverside, California

Most small firms will transition ownership—yet few know how, or lack a clear succession plan. This session delivers a detailed, actionable guide to internal succession, offering a step-by-step roadmap for ownership transfer—from both founder and successor perspectives—to help small firm leaders move from intention to implementation with clarity and confidence.

Learning Outcomes:

Outline the step-by-step process required to transition ownership in a landscape architecture firm of 10 employees or fewer.
Evaluate valuation methods, financing structures, and advisor roles appropriate for small firm internal ownership transfers.
Compare founder and successor perspectives to anticipate financial, operational, and cultural adjustments throughout defined transition milestones.
Develop a 30-day action plan to initiate a structured, small-firm succession process.