National Association of County Engineers

What National Association of County Engineers does

The National Association of County Engineers (NACE) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan professional association founded circa 1956 and headquartered at 660 North Capitol Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC. It serves as the unified national voice for county engineers, highway commissioners, public works directors, and road supervisors across the United States and Canada, representing nearly 3,000 professionals who manage the local road and bridge assets that comprise 46% of the nation's roads and 40% of the nation's bridges. NACE's mission centers on federal advocacy for transportation funding, professional development, and peer knowledge exchange, anchored by an annual conference drawing roughly 800 delegates, the NACE Connect webinar series launched during the pandemic, an annual awards program, and a member-exclusive Job Board.

NACE operates a member-facing digital platform built on GrowthZone CMS, with a member portal for exclusive content, a Job Board restricted to member counties, Zoom-delivered webinars, and a monthly NACE News newsletter distributed digitally with archives dating back multiple years. The organization maintains a Safety Resource Center offering toolkits from partners including ATSSA and FHWA, and operates formal committees spanning pavement preservation, structures and environment, safety and technology, legislative affairs, emergency response, unpaved roads, and corporate services. Technology is best characterized as association-management-software standard, not differentiated proprietary IP.

NACE generates revenue through tiered recurring membership dues from three segments. County members (the primary voting bloc) pay $485 to $2,425 annually based on population tier. Corporate members pay $750 (Bronze) to $7,500 (Titanium) annually for networking, visibility, and advocacy access. Associate members (educators, state aid engineers, ex-county engineers) pay $300 annually. A fourth revenue stream comes from the annual conference through registration, exhibitor, and sponsorship fees. Member acquisition is driven through state affiliate associations, direct outreach by Dan Ketelsen, and the annual conference; advocacy fly-ins to Washington DC and partnership with the National Association of Counties (NACo) serve as both member-retention and policy-influence channels.

Name

National Association of County Engineers

Legal name

National Association of County Engineers

Website

https://countyengineers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NACE is a nonprofit professional association representing nearly 3,000 county engineers and road officials across the US and Canada. It advocates at the federal level for funding of county-owned roads and bridges, while providing members with conferences, webinars, an awards program, and a job board.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. County Membership Dues: Counties pay annual membership dues based on population tier. The county is the member entity, with a designee (usually the head of engineering/road department) as the voting member. Additional county employees receive member benefits but cannot vote.
2. Corporate Membership Dues: Corporate members pay annual dues at tiered levels (Bronze through Titanium) ranging from $750 to $7,500 per calendar year. Corporate memberships provide networking, visibility, and advocacy influence with federal officials.
3. Associate Membership Dues: Individual associate members (educators, ex-county engineers, state aid engineers not in private sector) pay $300 per year with all membership rights except voting and holding office.
4. Annual Conference Revenue: Revenue generated from conference registration fees, sponsorships, and exhibitor fees. The 2025 conference in Schaumburg, IL drew nearly 800 delegates, exhibitors, and guests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NACE is a nonprofit professional association that provides federal advocacy, professional development, and networking services to nearly 3,000 county engineers and road officials across the US and Canada. Its core offerings include tiered membership programs (County, Corporate, Associate), an annual conference, continuing education webinars (NACE Connect), a member-exclusive Job Board, the monthly NACE News newsletter, and a Safety Resource Center. The organization serves as the unified national voice for counties, which collectively own 46% of US roads and 40% of US bridges.

Product overview

National Association of County Engineers is a nonprofit, nonpartisan professional association in its 7th decade, serving as the voice of county road officials. The organization offers a membership-based portfolio centered on advocacy for county-owned roads and bridges (which comprise 46% of U.S. roads and 40% of U.S. bridges), professional development through NACE Connect webinars, an annual conference, and the NACE Job Board exclusive to member counties. Additional offerings include the Safety Resource Center with safety tools and guides, an awards program recognizing excellence in county engineering, and multiple membership tiers (County, Corporate, Associate) with varying benefits and pricing structures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Conference Annual gathering of county road and transportation officials featuring networking, technical sessions, committee meetings, and industry exhibitions. The conference rotates locations regionally across the US and is the primary distribution channel for NACE's full suite of services.
• NACE Connect Webinars Distance learning webinar series launched during the pandemic to provide continuing education for engineers and virtual networking opportunities for corporate members. One-hour sessions satisfy continuing education requirements and are hosted by Platinum and Titanium level corporate members.
• NACE Job Board Online job board available exclusively to member counties for posting career opportunities. Non-members may post listings for a fee. Features job postings across county governments for positions such as County Engineer, Public Works Director, Traffic Engineer, and Project Manager.
• NACE News Newsletter Monthly digital newsletter providing regulatory and legislative updates, organizational news, and industry information to members. Archives available for 2023-2026.
• Safety Resource Center Online resource center providing safety tools, guides, and resources for county road officials. Includes worker protection toolkits, grants information, road safety planning guides, and links to FHWA safety programs.
• NACE Awards Program Annual awards recognizing county road officials including Rural Engineer of the Year, Urban Engineer of the Year, Project/Program Manager of the Year, and David P. Brand Safety Award for lifetime achievement in safety.
• County Membership Membership category for counties with dues based on population (ranging from $485 for counties under 50,000 population to $2,425 for counties with 500,000+). Includes voting rights and full member benefits. The county is the member entity with a designee as voting member.
• Corporate Membership Membership tier for corporations supporting county engineering fields, with multiple levels: Bronze ($750), Gold ($1,000), Diamond ($2,500), Platinum ($5,000), and Titanium ($7,500 annually). Includes networking, visibility, and advocacy benefits.
• Associate Membership Membership for individuals whose training, education, or experience supports NACE objectives, including Educators, State Aid Engineers, Ex-County Engineers, and private sector engineers not selling to counties. Dues: $300/year with all membership rights except voting and holding office.

Quantifiable outcome

• Counties own 46% of nation's roads and 40% of nation's bridges, making them the single largest stakeholder in local road and bridge construction, rehabilitation, expansion, and maintenance
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• National Association of Counties (NACo)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2025NACE partners with NACo to advance county transportation priorities at the federal level. NACE participates in NACo's Transportation Steering Committee, annual conferences, and legislative fly-ins. NACE President provides updates at NACo Transportation Steering Committee meetings, and NACE and NACo jointly advocate for surface transportation reauthorization with Congress. NACE is honored and pleased to partner with NACo in legislative advocacy, bringing technical expertise and local perspectives to the national policy conversation.
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNACE maintains ongoing relationships with FHWA for advocacy on local road and bridge funding, project delivery improvements, and safety initiatives. FHWA Administrator has been invited as keynote speaker at NACE Annual Conference. FHWA has been working to streamline agreements and reduce delays in program administration.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNACE has been building a relationship with FEMA to address slow reimbursement timeframes for county road departments following natural disasters. NACE Executive Committee made it a priority to establish inroads with FEMA. During the 2024 NACE Fly-in, NACE met with FEMA at their D.C. headquarters for the first time. FEMA has addressed NACE Annual Conference, and NACE members from over 15 states participated in an info-gathering session with FEMA on Public Assistance Hazard Mitigation.
• U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNACE meets with USDOT to discuss funding, the next surface transportation reauthorization bill, and ways to improve project delivery and safety on local roads and bridges. NACE has submitted letters to USDOT outlining county priorities for reauthorization.
• National Local and Tribal Assistance Program Association (NLTAPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNACE renewed its partnership agreement with NLTAPA at a meeting in Kansas City. NLTAPA's LTAP and TTAP programs are valuable resources for educating and training county road staff on infrastructure maintenance and improvement.
• American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNACE partners with ATSSA on the ATSSA/NACE Local Road Safety Planning & Implementation Guide and the ATSSA Worker Protection Toolkit, both of which are complimentary to NACE members. ATSSA hosts NACE Connect webinars and participates in safety resource sharing.
• National Center for Rural Road SafetysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNACE is a longtime supporter of a 'Zero' fatality vision and is an original partner of the Road to Zero Coalition. NACE is also a founding member of the Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) national strategy. The National Center for Rural Road Safety hosts forums on safer rural roads where NACE members participate.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNACE met with EPA officials for the first time during the 2026 Fly-in to begin building a working relationship and open lines of communication on issues affecting county transportation projects, including permitting and environmental regulations.
• State Affiliate AssociationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNACE works through state affiliate associations including the Association of County Engineers of Alabama, Iowa County Engineers Association, Minnesota County Engineers Association, Oregon Association of County Engineers and Surveyors, and others to recruit members and promote NACE programs, conferences, and advocacy at the state level.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Local & Tribal Assistance Program Association (NLTAPA): Represents the national network of Local and Tribal Technical Assistance Programs (LTAP/TTAP) that train local road and public works staff. NLTAPA is a formal NACE partner for workforce education, sharing a mission of upskilling county road staff.
• International City/County Management Association (ICMA): Professional association for local government chief executives (city/county managers and administrators). ICMA addresses an adjacent segment of county decision-makers and overlaps with NACE on workforce development and local government capacity-building.
• American Public Works Association (APWA): National nonprofit professional association serving public works professionals, including municipal/county engineers, transportation officials, and infrastructure managers. Most direct comparable to NACE given overlapping member base in local government public works and transportation.
• National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE): National professional society representing licensed Professional Engineers across disciplines, including many county engineers. NSPE competes for engineer membership dues and continuing education demand, while also collaborating on licensure and ethics advocacy.
• American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA): Trade association for the road safety infrastructure industry. ATSSA partners directly with NACE on the ATSSA/NACE Local Road Safety Planning & Implementation Guide, Worker Protection Toolkit, and NACE Connect webinars, with overlapping member interest in county traffic safety.

Broad incumbents

• American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO): Represents state Departments of Transportation, including their chief engineers and planning directors. AASHTO is the natural counterpart to NACE at the state level and the lead organization shaping federal surface transportation reauthorization NACE influences.
• American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC): National trade association for engineering firms, many of which serve as NACE corporate members and exhibitors at NACE's annual conference. Overlapping customer base with NACE in the consulting engineering ecosystem supporting county infrastructure.
• National Association of Counties (NACo): The largest national umbrella organization representing county government officials across all functions. NACo is a broader incumbent that partners with NACE on transportation advocacy while covering all county policy domains beyond NACE's engineering focus.
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): Largest national professional society for civil engineers across all sectors. ASCE overlaps with NACE on infrastructure advocacy and continuing education but serves a much broader engineer population beyond county government.

Others

• Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA): Association for state and local government finance professionals. Adjacent to NACE on the budgeting/funding side of county infrastructure decisions, and a potential collaborator on federal funding advocacy and infrastructure finance best practices.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/engineersnace
• Xx.com/engineersnace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Association of County Engineers