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AGENDA

Earn up to 12 CPE Credits

The agenda was created to combine flexibility and maximum impact while also providing unique networking environments.

Wednesday, August 6

  • Welcome Reception

    5:00PM - 7:00PM


    Location: Rosie’s on the Roof @ The Higgins Hotel

Thursday, August 7

  • Registration & Continental Breakfast

    7:30AM - 8:15AM

  • Welcome, General Info, Opening Remarks

    8:15AM - 8:30AM

  • Opening Keynote: "Attracting & Retaining the Next Greatest Generation"

    8:30AM - 10:00AM

    Presentation by: Kristen Scroggin, Gen WHY Communication Strategies

    Session Overview:
    Amid The Great Resignation (or the epic Reshuffle, if you prefer a more dynamic term), the stakes for attracting and retaining talent have reached new heights.  Join us for a riveting presentation where we spill the beans on our top-notch strategies for interviewing, onboarding, and empowering Millennials and GenZs, making them not just stay but genuinely WANT to be part of your organization.

    Discovering the art of assessing “THE TWO T’s” (Teachable and Tolerable) through insightful questions, ensuring your team comprises individuals with the right mindset.  We’ll guide you along the Roadmap to Retaining Rockstars, ensuring you’re equipped to conquer the challenges of retention in today’s dynamic workforce.  Trust us; you won’t want to miss this game-changing session!

    Learning Objectives:
    •    Attendees will be asked to reconsider whether their existing application process might hinder high-caliber applicants from completing it.

    •    Attendees will gain insights into utilizing social media and local non-profit outreach to establish a talent pipeline for their job openings.

    •    Attendees discover the Top 10 “Abilities” to ask about during the Interview Process, ensuring you bring in the right talent from the start.

    •    Attendees will explore the significance of identifying future leaders in their early career stages and learn how to nurture and train them for long-term organizational success.

    •    Explore essential communication skills that new employees might need training on, providing them with the tools to survive and thrive in your dynamic workplace.

    Level: Overview
    1.8 CPE Credits in Specialized Knowledge

  • Break with Exhibitors

    10:00AM - 10:20AM

  • "AI Game Changer"

    10:20AM - 11:10AM

    Presentation by: Kendra Ramirez, KR Digital Agency

    Session Overview:
    Join us  for “AI Game Changer,” an engaging and non technical approach to AI.  Whether you’re just getting started with AI or new to the world of artificial intelligence, this session is tailored to help you harness the power of AI tools for your organization's needs.  We’ll work through real-world examples demonstrating how these AI tools can solve everyday organizational challenges. From routine tasks to generating ideas, you’ll see firsthand how AI can enhance productivity and creativity.

    You’ll leave with practical knowledge and confidence to apply AI solutions in your organization.

    Learning Objectives:
    •    Understand the fundamentals of AI

    •    Learn best practices for crafting effective AI prompts

    •    Real-world business scenarios that you can implement with off the shelf AI tools

    •    Get your AI questions answered

    Level: Overview
    1.0 CPE Credit in Specialized Knowledge

  • "Are you a Control Freak?"

    11:10AM - 12:00PM

    Presentation by: Brad Fisher, Austin-Industries

    Session Overview:
    Risk management means a lot of different things to each organization.  Whether or not you have a dedicated department to monitor and manage risk, various tasks can be performed to proactively highlight potential risks.  This session will highlight risk management strategies involving Accounting, Internal Audit, Risk Management, Compliance, and Project Controls personnel.

    Learning Objectives:
    •    Who is responsible for Risk Management?

    •    How to perform a proactive evaluation of high-risk projects.

    •    Broad risk evaluation within the construction process.

    Level: Overview
    1.0 CPE Credits in Management Services

  • Lunch with Exhibitors

    12:00PM - 1:00PM

  • National CFMA Update

    1:00PM - 1:20PM

    Presentation by:
    Heidi Boe, VP, Member Engagement
    Jennifer Murphy, 2025-2026 Chair

  • "New President - New Taxes? What Construction Companies Need to Know for 2025 and Beyond!"

    1:20PM - 2:35PM

    Presentation by: Jim Lundy, CPA, CBIZ

    Session Overview & Learning Objectives:

    •    Will there be any new taxes on construction companies, or just changes to the old ones?

    •    Tax planning, tricks and traps for construction contractors in 2025.

    •    Interactive discussions related to Federal and State Income Tax strategies for construction contractors and their advisors.

    Level: Overview
    1.5 CPE Credits in Taxes

  • "Behind the Paper Curtain: Surety Secrets for Contractors"

    2:35PM - 3:25PM

    Presentation by: Mike Bond, Markel Surety

    Session Overview:
    Behind the Paper Curtain provides a glimpse behind the curtain into surety underwriting and the surety underwriter's mindset.  The presentation will touch on topics ranging from underwriting hot buttons to financial metrics.  The presentation will also address emerging trends impacting surety, such as AI and bank-fronted surety.  Behind the Paper Curtain will answer some burning surety questions posed to sureties by contractors.  The information provided could help to improve the dialogue between contractors and their sureties and ultimately allow for smoother surety relationships.

    Learning Objectives:

    •    Understand risk elements (e.g., financial metrics, debt profile, etc.) and emerging trends which are the focus of surety underwriting. 

    •    Provide deep insight into the surety underwriting process and how underwriters are approaching risk.

    •    Explore concrete examples of red flags for surety underwriting and how contractors can address them.

    Level: Overview
    1.0 CPE Credit in Specialized Knowledge

  • Break with Exhibitors

    3:25PM - 3:45PM

  • “Is Your Construction Company Future-Proof? Innovation Best Practices”

    3:45PM - 5:00PM

    Presentation by: Steve Maddox, Forvis Mazars

    Session Overview:
    The construction industry is leveraging technology at an accelerated rate, are you keeping pace?  This presentation explores innovation best practices to ensure your company isn’t just surviving but thriving in the future.

    Learning Objectives:

    •   Learn actionable strategies for technology adoption, user engagement, and process optimization

    •   Learn actionable strategies for talent development to future proof your business

    •   Hear directly from innovative companies who have successfully implemented these strategies

    Level: Overview
    1.5 CPE Credits in Information Technology

  • Closing Remarks & Networking Reception

    5:00PM - 6:45PM

    Location: Kilroy’s Lounge @ The Higgins Hotel Lobby

Friday, August 8

  • Continental Breakfast

    7:15AM - 8:00AM

  • Opening Remarks

    8:00AM - 8:15AM

  • Opening Keynote: "The Power of TALK in an AI World"

    8:15AM - 9:45AM

    Presentation by: Anthony Huey, President, Reputation Management, LLC

    Session Overview:
    In a world where ChatGPT enables everyone to write like a Harvard graduate, the true power to stand out now lies in verbal communication.  Unfortunately, many studies show that the fear of public speaking ranks higher than the fear of death, and those who struggle to talk in front of others will quickly find themselves and their organizations falling behind.  Join Anthony Huey in this lively and thought-provoking keynote as he explores the power of  verbal communication.  Anthony helps his audiences understand the importance of perception and how first impressions are primarily formed when we speak, whether in person, virtually, or on the phone.

    Learning Objectives:

    •   Understand the critical importance of verbal communication in an AI-driven world.

    •   Transform your first impression instantly with three simple strategies.

    •   Discover six key reasons to prioritize verbal communication over written communication.

    •   Explore the importance of small talk in business & life, and how to master it.

    •   Leverage AI to dramatically enhance your verbal communication in meetings, conversations, presentations and more.

    Level: Overview
    1.8 CPE Credits in Specialized Knowledge

  • Break with Exhibitors

    9:45AM - 10:00AM

  • "GC & Subcontractor Couples Therapy: Lets Talk About Finances"

    10:00AM - 10:50AM

    Presentation by: Claire Wilson, Siteline

    Session Overview:
    The billing process in construction is notoriously painful, straining relationships between GCs and subs. It’s time to address those issues head-on and find common ground! In this roundtable, billing expert Claire Wilson will facilitate open dialogue between subs and GCs, exploring the billing and payment dynamic. With equal doses of humor and real talk, Claire will create a safe space for attendees to share frustrations and successes, tackling everything from contracts and change orders to payments and closeouts. The goal? To uncover practical solutions and foster stronger relationships.

    Learning Objectives: 

    •   Identify the main causes of payment delays and actionable solutions to address them.

    •   Recognize billing red flags and learn how to address them before they escalate.

    •   Implement best practices for smoother billing workflows, both internally and with clients.

    •   Understand both GCs’ and subcontractors’ perspectives to foster better communication and collaboration.

    •   Leave with concrete strategies to improve billing processes and strengthen relationships.

    Level: Overview
    1.0 CPE Credit in Business Management

  • "What Keeps Your General Counsel Up at Night?"

    10:50AM - 12:00PM

    Presentation by:
    Moderator - Chris LeMieux, Founding Partner, Riess LeMieux
    Panelists:
    Amanda Messa, General Counsel, LEMOINE Company
    Grant Barone, Attorney/Contracts Administrator, The Newtron Group
    Cherie Pinac, Chief Legal Officer, EXCEL USA

    Session Overview:
    The presentation, moderated by Christopher LeMieux, will delve into the key issues and challenges general counsel face that can ultimately define a construction company's success or failure.

    Learning Objectives:

    •   Learn how to handle Pre-Bid and Contract Management Issues to avoid common pitfalls, successfully negotiate contracts, stay in regulatory compliance and maintain proper licensure.

    •   Learn how to navigate Project Execution and Documentation through knowledge of your contract, knowledge of the jobsite and effective communication with your project and legal team.

    •   Learn how to avoid the pitfalls of Construction Insurance and Bonding, including ensuring adequate coverage, identifying gaps in coverage, understanding captive programs and bonding strategies.

    Level: Overview
    1.4 CPE Credits in Management Services

  • Closing Remarks/Adjourn

    12:00PM