Houston Build Expo 2026 | Keynotes & Seminars

You will hear the true story of how one simple-minded contractor started 2020 thin on cash not realizing what the rest of the year had in store.

Three years later his business is on a sure foot while taking on zero debt. He borrowed no money and has no need to ask his vendors, partners, or subs for additional time for payment. 

You can run a small or large firm on cash. You can stop the constant calls from creditors wondering when they are going to get their money. You can stop living from deposit to deposit. You can stop going to bed every night hoping the next receivable will be in the mailbox tomorrow.

In this life-changing talk, Scott Beebe (CEPA) will share real numbers from a simple contractor that will motivate and inspire you to build a business without being dictated by chaos, and placing you in the driver’s seat. 

Learning Objectives 

1. See how using one or two bank accounts in your business is crippling 

2. Watch real life examples unfold showing the growth of the cash over time…even when a business declines in annual revenue 

3. Walk away with a simple structure you can implement tomorrow and the roadmap to do so 

4. Confront the 4 major roadblocks keeping you from retaining the cash you have already received

Most businesses approach government contracting by searching for posted solicitations and responding to bids. However, successful government contractors understand that the procurement process begins long before an opportunity is publicly released. Agency missions, budgets, market research, acquisition strategies, and stakeholder collaboration all influence purchasing decisions well in advance of a Request for Proposal.

This session provides a practical framework for understanding the government acquisition process from the agency's perspective. Attendees will learn how requirements are developed, who influences buying decisions, why market research and early engagement matter, and how to identify opportunities before they reach the bidding stage. The presentation also explores the growing role of artificial intelligence in market research, opportunity identification, and proposal development, while emphasizing the continued importance of relationships, trust, and strategic positioning.

Whether you're a contractor, architect, engineer, manufacturer, construction professional, or business owner looking to expand into the public sector, you'll leave with a clearer understanding of how government agencies make purchasing decisions and practical strategies to position your business for long-term success in the government marketplace.

Customers often focus on the lowest bid they receive. Contractors spend more time getting as low a number as possible as opposed to making a good profit on projects. Contractors are capable of winning work but struggle in securing a reasonable profit on their projects. The result is focusing on bidding and quoting as opposed to full customer engagement to drive higher profits. There are very effective methods to increase margins within a solid sales effort. These methods will be presented and examples of their success related. Contractors and suppliers alike will benefit from this detailed information.

The most expensive person on most contracting job sites is the owner — and they don't even know it. When the owner is the only one who knows how to make decisions, approve scopes, answer client questions, and solve field problems, the business has a ceiling it can never break through. In this keynote, you'll see live AI examples of how contractor owners across the country are removing themselves as the bottleneck — without losing control, without losing quality, and without adding headcount. This is not theory. You will watch it work.
 Learning Objectives:
 
 

1.     Identify the exact operational chokepoints where owner dependency is silently capping growth — and learn why adding employees without removing yourself as the bottleneck only accelerates chaos.

2.     See live AI examples of how contractor owners are documenting, delegating, and deploying their own decision-making standards into AI systems — so the business runs on their thinking, not their presence.

3.     Leave with a clear first step for building an AI-powered operating layer inside your own contracting business — starting with the one system that is costing you the most time every single week.

In this class we will layout how to determine what associations to join, how to work them and get business from your involvement. The single greatest way to find grouped customers and network contacts is right in your backyard association! Work them to the fullest and you'll never make a cold call again!

https://www.tomwoodcocksealthedeal.com

Discover the three biggest marketing leaks costing contractors revenue: visibility, website engagement, and lead follow-through. Learn how AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude can help fix each leak, improve conversions, and reduce wasted marketing dollars. Leave with practical strategies, real-world examples, and actionable insights to grow your business profitably.

Learn how to build a marketing system that consistently generates qualified leads. Discover the five channels every contractor should understand—Google Ads, Meta, retargeting, SEO, and AI search optimization—and how each supports business growth. Gain practical strategies for allocating your marketing budget, improving ROI, and creating a predictable pipeline of new opportunities.

This session helps subcontractors strengthen their bidding process and improve win rates. Learn key steps for preparing accurate bids, estimating costs, identifying the right opportunities, and presenting competitive proposals. Attendees will gain practical strategies to streamline their approach, bid more professionally, and increase their chances of securing profitable construction projects.

 This session provides a comparative analysis of key construction materials and methods, examining strength, structural performance, cost, sustainability, durability, and maintenance. Attendees will explore how each option affects project speed, design flexibility, and long-term outcomes, including the role of digital fabrication. Learn how to evaluate materials strategically to optimize performance, efficiency, and overall project value. 

Discover how to use ChatGPT effectively to reduce marketing costs and generate better leads. Learn the prompts that improve AI visibility, strengthen your website’s credibility, eliminate ineffective marketing messages, and identify hidden opportunities using Search Console. Leave with practical strategies you can implement immediately to attract more qualified customers.

Join Daniel as he shares his journey from swinging a hammer to managing $70M in builds. Learn the common challenges builders face when scaling and the proven systems, strategies, and technologies that streamline operations, improve communication, and protect profit margins. Includes a real case study on how JACK App helps builders scale successfully.

Most contractors, builders, and architects are leaving thousands of dollars in free luxury travel on the table. Learn how to turn everyday business expenses—supplies, advertising, payroll, insurance, rent, and taxes—into first-class flights, five-star hotel stays, dream vacations, and valuable travel rewards using smart, proven strategies you can implement immediately without increasing spending.

In this lively and highly informative discussion, Ann McNeill, the "Master Builder" explains the steps, skills, and strategies needed for construction contractors to successfully bid on and obtain work with governments.

Ann has worked with all levels of government and specializes in helping small businesses thrive.

Today’s building designers are rapidly increasing the use of adhered cladding systems and materials. Thin brick is becoming a popular adhered cladding material and as a result many brick manufactures are beginning to produce more thin brick. This presentation is an introduction to thin brick, its’ characteristics, installation methods and its’ common uses.

 Define thin brick and its characteristics

 Describe the different methods of producing thin brick

 Describe the different installation methods of thin brick

 Comparison of thin brick to face brick

·                     Target Audience: Builders / Architects interested in brick veneer

·                     Company being represented and logo: Acme Brick

·                     Credit given (if any): 1

·                     Class category: LU/HSW

Most contractor owners are either ignoring AI entirely or buying expensive tools that deliver almost nothing — because they're putting ornaments on a tree that doesn't exist yet. In this hands-on workshop, you'll watch a live AI estimating agent run real scope packages in real time — and learn exactly why it works, how it was built, and how to build your own version for your contracting business. No coding. No tech background required. Just a documented process, a $20/month tool, and the right build order.
 Learning Objectives:
 
 

1.     Identify which of the three types of AI your business is currently using — and why only one of them creates a real competitive advantage for contractor owners.

2.     Apply the 10/80/10 Rule to your estimating workflow so AI does the heavy lifting while you stay in control of quality and approval.

3.     Walk away with a blueprint for building your own AI estimating agent — trained on your scope language, your trade packages, and your fixed-cost protection standards.

Cost estimating is one of the most important tasks for any contractor, as these estimates represent a prediction of a future occurrence with so many uncertainties. Being too conservative will reduce the chance of winning a contract, while being too liberal will reduce profitability and may even lead to a loss. Failing to pay attention to certain items can make a big difference in the estimate accuracy.

While no one is perfect, the contractor can follow a few tips to optimize the estimate; minimizing risks and uncertainties and maximizing profit. This seminar takes a chronological tour from project inception to completion, providing valuable tips that tend to reduce risks and uncertainties and draw the contractor’s attention to issues that optimize the estimate and maximize profit.

Upon completion of this course, architects and participants will understand:

• Properties of cellular PVC
• Cellular PVC micro-ingredients
• Key differences between high and low-quality cellular PVC
• Ease of use and adaptability
• Common and unique end-use applications
• Painting, staining, and laminating options
• PVC’s contributions to Sustainability

• Properties of Cellular PVC Trim
• Are all cellular PVC Trims the same?
• Working With PVC
• Uses & Applications:
  • Residential – Exterior & Interior
  • Commercial
  • Multi-Family
  • Historical Preservation

• Dark paint technology for cellular PVC trim
• New trim surface technology - Film Laminates
• PVC’s contribution to Sustainability

This class is an overview of how contractors can utilize the QuickBooks functionality to facilitate job costing, payroll, receivables and the overall benefits of either the online or desktop applications

SESSION OVERVIEW

Construction is facing rising labor costs, shrinking skilled trade availability, longer schedules, and tighter margins. The answer isn’t working harder — it’s working differently.
 
 This session explores how construction automation is transforming residential and commercial building. From robotic layout and automated masonry to additive concrete systems, modular construction, panelization, and AI-driven scheduling, this class breaks down what’s real, what’s hype, and what builders can implement today.

 WHAT ATTENDEES WILL LEARN

• The core categories of construction automation

• Which technologies are scalable right now

• Where automation actually saves money (and where it doesn’t)

• How to evaluate ROI before investing

• What the next 5–10 years of jobsite evolution will look like

It is paramount that contractors realize that the most important aspect of their business is sales. Without them you have nothing. Yet, the amount of attention given to sales by most contractors is minimal. This results in low profits and the ups and downs of revenue. It doesn’t matter how good your marketing is or how efficiently you run your business if you’re not closing deals. We’ll get you closing more projects at higher profits.

The class will talk about the different options available of smart toilets and bidets for residential and commercial , event spaces and for travel. We will also over the automation and features , hygiene , sustainability, affordability, and installation. 

Most marketing doesn’t fail because of a lack of effort—it fails because there’s no clear structure behind it.

Many businesses are running ads, posting on social media, or updating their website, but everything feels disconnected. The result? Wasted time, inconsistent results, and no clear path to growth. Without a solid foundation, even the best tactics won’t perform the way they should.

In this session, you’ll learn how to bring structure and clarity to your marketing using a proven framework designed to align every part of your strategy. We’ll walk through how to identify gaps that may be holding your business back, how to build a strong foundation that supports growth, and how to leverage AI to work smarter and move faster.

If your marketing feels scattered or underperforming, this session will give you the structure you need to build a system that actually works.

Property emergencies can escalate quickly, causing costly damage, tenant disruption, and liability risks. This session equips property owners and managers with proactive strategies to prepare for mechanical failures, water incidents, and service disruptions. Learn how to strengthen emergency readiness, evaluate service partners, improve response coordination, and protect asset value and tenant confidence.

How to put AI to work in your business this week. The mindset shift (treat it like an employee, not a search bar), how to set up a workspace with roles and your real company docs, a simple prompt framework, and two starter plays: reviewing sub bids in 90 seconds and drafting a scope of work in two minutes. Everyone leaves with something they can run Monday.

Course outline:

1. Mapping the end-to-end customer journey to eliminate bottlenecks

2. Implementing standardized digital workflows for scheduling, budgeting, and change orders

3. Turning project data into marketing assets that generate referrals and new leads

4. Action-ready tools and templates attendees can deploy immediately

Tired of losing good jobs to "bad" (over priced) financing? In this fast, fun, and practical session, we'll show you how to use the Figure Loan to help your customers say "yes" faster - and to bigger projects. Whether you're a remodeler, roofer, painter, or jack-of-all-trades, this talk will break down how you can grow your revenue without adding a single dollar of dealer fees.

We'll keep it simple and real. You'll walk away with:

• Why traditional financing doesn't always work (and what to do instead)

• How to present Figure's 100% digital Loan in plain English

• What to say when customers say, "We need to think about it..."

• Real-life examples of contractors using this tool to close more deals

• How to get started in less time than it takes to eat a burrito

This session is for residential contractors who want to make more money without being a finance expert. No jargon. No fluff. Just tools you can use right away.

The construction industry is facing a growing leadership gap as experienced foremen retire 

and fewer workers are prepared to step into leadership roles. Many skilled tradespeople 

are promoted into foreman positions without the tools needed to lead crews, 

communicate expectations, and manage jobsite pressure.

This session introduces practical leadership concepts designed specifically for the 

construction environment. Attendees will learn simple visual frameworks that help 

diagnose jobsite challenges, improve communication, and develop leadership skills 

among tradespeople.

Using tools such as the Power Bicycle leadership model and the Success Formula, 

participants will see how direction, action, and consistency influence crew performance 

and job site culture.

Participants will also receive a practical field workbook designed specifically for the 

seminar. This booklet provides visual frameworks, diagnostic tools, and leadership 

exercises that attendees can immediately apply on their jobsites to begin developing 

stronger foremen and improving crew performance.

In this one-hour course, design professionals will explore advanced blast, forced entry and ballistic-resistant technologies aimed at ensuring comprehensive protection for lives, assets, and buildings. The session will cover relevant standards and testing criteria, along with an overview of security products and materials specifically designed for safety and protection.

By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to apply their newfound understanding of blast and ballistic products when specifying them for various upcoming projects.

Learning Objectives:

•Assess the range of innovative resistance technologies designed to safeguard occupants and assets from threats such as ballistic, forced entry and blasts.

•Investigate the standards organizations responsible for developing criteria and testing methods for resistance technologies, evaluating their effectiveness in protecting lives and securing buildings during blast or ballistic incidents.

•Examine the engineering behind panels, windows, doors, and other physical security products designed to enhance durability and safety against threats to life, buildings, and assets.

Utilize insights from case studies to apply knowledge of anti-ballistic, forced entry and blast technology, showcasing products that offer robust protection and comprehensive security.

Based on real job site inspections, this session explores the most common wood framing and sheathing mistakes seen in construction today. Learn how these errors impact performance, safety, and costs, and discover practical solutions to prevent callbacks. Ideal for contractors, architects, and inspectors seeking to improve quality, ensure compliance, and reduce costly rework on projects.

Course Outline : Reframe the Problem 
Purpose: get the room to stop chasing "more leads" and start chasing booked, profitable jobs.

·       The home services landscape in 2026: more competition, rising click costs, AI reshaping search

·       The real funnel: impressions, to clicks, to leads, to booked jobs, to closed revenue

·       Why "more leads" is the wrong goal: quality, close rate, and crew capacity

·       The one number that changes everything: what a job is actually worth to you, including lifetime value

Learn how to fix the two biggest marketing leaks costing contractors revenue: poor website engagement and slow lead follow-up. Discover how AI can improve website performance, automate personalized responses, re-engage lost prospects, and increase close rates. Build a smarter marketing system that converts more leads without increasing your advertising budget.

This session reveals how hidden back-office bottlenecks quietly drain contractor profits—from slow AR and messy documentation to weak scheduling and client communication. Learn the five core systems that protect margins, why hiring more admins no longer works, and how top contractors use global talent, smarter workflows, and modern processes to scale efficiently and sustainably.

This class is an overview of how contractors can utilize the QuickBooks functionality to facilitate job costing, payroll, receivables and the overall benefits of either the online or desktop applications

Your competitors are already using AI to follow up faster, recruit better sales reps, and run leaner operations. See exactly how — with real tools, real workflows, and real results from inside a future first and active operation. Get a blueprint you can hand to your team Monday morning.

An introductory class explaining "no-bid" pathways in federal contracting, with definitions, eligibility, where they appear, and compliance basics. Participants will learn how relationships and market research factor in, and where to find authoritative rules and examples to capture government contracts.

Level 1 — AI Prompting

·       Drafting emails, scope-of-work language, bid comparisons

·       You are the trigger every single time

Level 2 — Generating Artifacts

·       Outputs a finished work product: PDF proposal, estimate sheet, DocuSign-ready contract

·       5-hour manual estimation process now done in minutes

Level 3 — Connecting Your Systems

·       Reads and writes directly to QuickBooks, ServiceTrade, BuildOps, HubSpot 

·       The agent knows your jobs, your pricing, your customers

Level 4 — Trigger-Based Agents

·       Fires automatically: job hits "to be invoiced," DEF telematics alert, quote email arrives

·       The business event is now the trigger 

Level 5 — Single Autonomous Agent

·       One agent runs end-to-end: intake → estimate → proposal → follow-up, human approves

·       An AI employee embedded in your ops, running 24/7, self-correcting

Level 6 — Parallel Agent Workflows

·       Multiple agents running simultaneously: intake, reconciliation, ops pulling from GPS, time tracking, job-site photos

·       Each hands off to the next — humans only see what needs a decision

Government contracting can provide a steady source of business growth, but success requires more than responding to posted bids. This session will show attendees how to build a repeatable strategy for identifying, pursuing, and winning government contracts at the federal, state, and local levels.

Participants will learn how to research procurement opportunities, evaluate which contracts best fit their capabilities, understand buyer behavior, and leverage market intelligence to make informed bidding decisions. The session will also cover the importance of business readiness, compliance, relationship building with agencies and prime contractors, and developing a systematic approach that leads to long-term success.

Whether you're new to government contracting or looking to expand your public sector business, this presentation provides practical tools and proven strategies to help position your company for sustainable growth.

Today's builders, contractors, and home service professionals face an increasingly competitive marketplace where referrals alone are no longer enough to sustain consistent growth. While many business owners recognize the importance of digital marketing, they often struggle to determine where to invest, how to measure success, and how to avoid wasting valuable advertising dollars.

During this one-hour session, attendees will learn how to:

·       Select the advertising platforms that best fit their business, including Google, Meta, Yelp, and other digital channels.

·       Avoid the most common advertising mistakes that cost small businesses thousands of dollars each year.

·       Identify the geographic markets that generate the highest-quality leads and maximize return on investment.

·       Build detailed customer profiles that improve targeting, messaging, and conversion rates.

·       Measure campaign performance using the metrics that truly matter.

·       Leverage retargeting strategies to recover lost opportunities and increase conversions while lowering acquisition costs.

The construction and home services industries continue to experience rapid changes in consumer behavior. Buyers now research companies online long before making contact, making it critical for business owners to understand how to effectively reach potential customers while protecting their marketing budgets. This session equips attendees with a clear framework for building a scalable marketing strategy that supports long-term growth.

This class empowers construction entrepreneurs with essential tools to build, grow, and sustain a successful business. Learn industry best practices, project management, marketing, and client relationship strategies. Gain actionable insights and practical skills to thirve in the competitive construction industry. 

Contractors bleed margin in one predictable place: parts bought in the field that never get logged to the job, vendor bills paid twice or paid wrong, and POs nobody reconciles until the job's already closed. This is a live demo to show the AI agents running inside a real commercial contractor's back office today.
 
An agent that reads a vendor invoice straight from the inbox, matches it to the right job, and logs it to your field service management software, without the back-and-forth between accounting, admin and the field. You'll watch the parts-to-PO-to-payment loop close itself, and leave knowing the first agent you could put to work in your own shop on Monday.

This session will include information on the advantages of registering with the Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL) to receive potential bid invitations. It will include how to apply for the CMBL, identify relevant highway districts where products/services are delivered and how to locate and search the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) Commodity Book. This session will also provide an introduction of the Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD) and the Vendor Performance Tracking System (VPTS).

In this one-hour course, design professionals will explore advanced blast, forced entry and ballistic-resistant technologies aimed at ensuring comprehensive protection for lives, assets, and buildings. The session will cover relevant standards and testing criteria, along with an overview of security products and materials specifically designed for safety and protection.

By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to apply their newfound understanding of blast and ballistic products when specifying them for various upcoming projects.

Learning Objectives:

•Assess the range of innovative resistance technologies designed to safeguard occupants and assets from threats such as ballistic, forced entry and blasts.

•Investigate the standards organizations responsible for developing criteria and testing methods for resistance technologies, evaluating their effectiveness in protecting lives and securing buildings during blast or ballistic incidents.

•Examine the engineering behind panels, windows, doors, and other physical security products designed to enhance durability and safety against threats to life, buildings, and assets.

Utilize insights from case studies to apply knowledge of anti-ballistic, forced entry and blast technology, showcasing products that offer robust protection and comprehensive security.

The next level. How to set up AI agents that run on their own every morning (overnight bid intake, job-cost rollups), and the big one — building a single, always-current cost catalog from the invoices and bids you already have. This is where AI stops being a novelty and starts protecting margin.

Each year the federal government awards more than $150 billion in construction-related contracts through set-aside and sole-source programs, yet a significant portion remains unclaimed by local firms or is awarded to out-of-state competitors. In this data-driven session, Amy Yan of C Three Business Consultants will examine 2025–2026 award trends across the five most active programs: 8(a) Business Development, HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB/VetCert), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB/EDWOSB), and emerging state-level preferences.

Drawing from real contract awards and case studies of construction firms that have successfully transitioned from commercial work to predictable federal revenue streams, you’ll see which industries and regions are receiving the largest dollars right now and which certifications are producing the fastest results.

Key Learning Objectives: 

• Review current federal spending data by certification category and NAICS code 
• Learn more about Federal Government Certification and Programs

Understand eligibility requirements, application timelines, and common pitfalls for each program 

A candid, practitioner-led panel on real-world AI in construction and government contracting: what's changing in workflows, compliance, bidding, and client expectations. Leaders share wins, stumbles, and practical guardrails so small and midsized firms can evaluate where AI fits-today and in the next 12 months.

Good marketing is meaningless if you don’t know how to close leads. Contractors spend significant dollars on marketing to produce leads. It’s necessary to use all the vehicles in regard to social media, A.I., web and e-newsletter marketing to gain leads. We’ll teach you how to raise your close rate and improve your ROI on that marketing investment. Marketing is NOT sales but can effectively lead to sales if leads are worked properly. Find out how.

"Nobody wants to work anymore" has been said for over 100 years — and it has never once been the real problem. The real problem is that contractor owners are trying to grow a culture without a recipe, hiring without a process, and leading without a playbook. In this workshop, you'll learn how to build the cultural ingredients that make people want to work for you — and how AI is now being deployed to find, screen, onboard, and retain the talent your competitors can't keep.
 Learning Objectives:
 
 

1.     Understand why culture is not luck, not ping pong tables, and not a generational problem — it is a direct result of the ingredients you intentionally put into your business, and how to start controlling those ingredients immediately.

2.     Build a repeatable, AI-assisted hiring and onboarding process that runs even when you're buried in jobs — so your best candidates don't disappear while you're putting out fires.

3.     Deploy the culture calendar framework to create a predictable, communication-rich environment that makes the next generation of workers not just show up — but stay.

This session provides construction professionals with a practical look at how modern software and technology are transforming the industry. Learn how to evaluate different software, avoid common pitfalls, and determine when custom software solutions may provide greater value.  

Attendees will also explore cybersecurity considerations, ROI strategies, and real-world examples of how technology can reduce manual work and streamline operations across construction and property management teams.  

Main Course Objectives:

1.      Understand the Construction Technology Landscape. Learn how modern software and emerging technologies are impacting construction operations.

2.      Implement Technology Strategically Explore adoption strategies, cybersecurity concerns, ROI evaluation, and common implementation pitfalls.

3.      Apply Technology to Real Operational Challenges Review real-world case studies and frameworks for selecting, building, and optimizing software solutions.

1.      Current construction hiring landscape - the job market

2.      How good are you at darts? Finding applicants

3.      Old school hiring philosophy, is it smart?

4.      What is "modern" hiring?

5.      Cost of recruiting = Time and $$$

6.      Growth and hiring, construction specific

7.      Embracing your turnover - Hire and fire fearlessly

8.      AI involved in hiring and recruiting - what works and what doesn't

9.      Questions

Operable wall systems connect indoor and outdoor spaces while creating flexible interior layouts without increasing a building’s footprint. This AIA-approved course explores different types of operable wall systems, their role in sustainable design, and key considerations when selecting the right system to improve daylighting, ventilation, functionality, and overall building performance.

Contractor schedules shape project planning, cash flow, procurement, and resource management—but CPM schedules often rely on assumptions that can create risk. This session offers practical tips for building and maintaining accurate, optimized schedules from day one through execution. Learn how to strengthen forecasting, improve reliability, and use your schedule as a powerful tool for project control and performance.

This course explores the growing use of engineered wood products (EWPs) in modern construction. Learn how to properly select, install, and detail materials such as plywood, OSB, glulam, I-joists, and structural composite lumber. Understand key benefits, performance considerations, and best practices to ensure efficient, durable, and code-compliant applications across a variety of building projects.

This class is an overview of how contractors can utilize the QuickBooks functionality to facilitate job costing, payroll, receivables and the overall benefits of either the online or desktop applications.

This session explores how AI and automation transform the construction industry by streamlining operations, reducing manual work, and enhancing project profitability. This session dives into AI agents and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) with real-world use cases in accounting, project management, and procurement. Attendees will learn practical tools, actionable strategies, and a fresh perspective on identifying and implementing AI automation successfully. The session emphasizes that AI is affordable, accessible, and critical to staying competitive in today's rapidly evolving construction landscape.

AI is already showing up across construction and design—often through free tools employees try on their own. That can drive quick wins, but it can also expose bids, client details, plan sets, and photos to systems you don’t control. This session keeps it simple: we’ll walk through practical, real-life examples of AI that save hours (estimating, RFIs, submittals, punch, safety) and show easy guardrails that protect your business. Attendees leave with a short list of “do this, not that,” sample policy language, and a rollout plan that boosts productivity without risking IP or client trust.

COURSE OUTLINE

1.      What’s Working Now

·       Real examples: quicker takeoffs, draft RFIs/submittals, schedule look-ahead, safety observations

·       Where teams see time savings and cost benefits

2.      Where Things Go Wrong 

·       Common leaks: pasting bid numbers into free chatbots, sharing plan details, using personal accounts

·       Hidden risk: photos, client names, and specs living in tools you don’t own

3.      Simple Guardrails That Stick 

·       Plain-language “do/don’t” rules for staff

·       Approved tools list and safe prompts

·       Easy settings to turn on: single sign-on, “don’t train on my data,” basic logging

4.      Quick Wins by Role 

·       Field: safety notes, toolbox talks, punch descriptions, daily reports

·       Office: bid writing, submittal cover letters, meeting minutes, change-order narratives

·       Design: concept options, code summaries, client-friendly narratives

5.      Rollout Plan 

·       30/60/90-day steps: pilot, train, standardize

·       Communication kit: one-pagers, lunch-and-learns, champions

6.      Q&A + Takeaway Toolkit 

·       Handouts: simple policy, approved tool checklist, safe prompt starters

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

·       See practical AI use cases that save time on real project tasks.

·       Spot the most common ways proprietary info leaks into free AI tools.

·       Apply simple, non-technical guardrails your team will actually follow.

·       Build a 90-day rollout plan that balances productivity and protection.

This session helps subcontractors strengthen their bidding process and improve win rates. Learn key steps for preparing accurate bids, estimating costs, identifying the right opportunities, and presenting competitive proposals. Attendees will gain practical strategies to streamline their approach, bid more professionally, and increase their chances of securing profitable construction projects.

This course examines the role of silicone in fluid-applied air barrier systems. Participants will learn the fundamentals and benefits of air barriers, compare different fluid-applied chemistries, and understand why silicone is often preferred. The session also covers performance advantages and key installation considerations to ensure effective building envelope protection and long-term durability.

 Identify the characteristics that make a facade code-compliant and high-performance.

 Understand how moisture management strategies affect building envelope durability and occupant protection.

 Compare the durability and performance of various cladding systems used in contemporary facade design.

 Leverage state of the art technology to design a facade with natural aesthetics that will last upwards of 40 years.

This class is an overview of how contractors can utilize the QuickBooks functionality to facilitate job costing, payroll, receivables and the overall benefits of either the online or desktop applications.

Getting seen is one thing—turning that visibility into real jobs is another.

Many contractors and service-based businesses are showing up online, getting some traffic, and even generating interest—but it’s inconsistent, hard to manage, and not translating into steady work. Without the right systems in place, opportunities slip through the cracks and competitors win the job.

In this session, you’ll learn how to turn your marketing into a reliable pipeline of qualified leads and booked projects. We’ll break down how to get found when customers are actively searching, how to build trust quickly so you get chosen, and how to implement simple systems that capture and convert leads—automatically.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start generating predictable work, this session will show you how to build a marketing engine that drives real results.

PE firms aren’t just buying tech companies anymore — they’re buying roofing companies, HVAC businesses, and restoration contractors. But the window is closing fast.  In this session, we’ll break down exactly why this happens, how the math works, and what you need to do today to make your business exit-ready. The window is still open.