Nashville 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

One of the most common reasons for failed inspections is errors made during the permitting process before construction even begins. Permitting mistakes can create delays, increase project costs, and require corrective work before approval can be granted. Common issues include obtaining the wrong permit type, failing to secure permits for all required trades, submitting incomplete or inaccurate plans, neglecting to obtain required approvals from other departments, and performing work that differs from the approved permit documents. Changes made during construction without permit revisions can also result in failed inspections. Additionally, scheduling inspections before the work is complete or before required previous inspections have been approved often leads to inspection failures.

Proper permit application review, accurate documentation, clear communication with the permitting authority, and adherence to approved plans are critical to ensuring a successful inspection process. By understanding permit requirements and maintaining compliance throughout the project, contractors and property owners can reduce delays, avoid costly corrections, and improve overall project efficiency.

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.

The East Bank redevelopment represents Nashville's next chapter—transforming the Cumberland River waterfront into a connected, walkable district anchored by the new Nissan Stadium, Oracle's technology campus, a new TPAC arts center, affordable housing, and expanded transportation infrastructure. Together with continued citywide investments in mobility, housing, and economic development, these projects position Nashville for sustained growth while enhancing quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

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!

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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.

Recent industry data shows that 59% of construction firms experience a cyberattack each year, and a single incident can delay projects, damage client relationships, and jeopardize future awards. Starting January 1, 2027, the Department of Defense will require CMMC 2.0 compliance for any contractor or subcontractor handling controlled unclassified information (CUI). Most companies need 9–12 months to achieve compliance.

In this session, Amy Yan of C Three Business Consultants—recipient of the 2025 American General Contractor Association (Missouri) Honoree award and recognized by St. Louis Small Business Monthly as a top consulting and I.T. firm—will walk you through the practical steps required to reach compliance efficiently and cost-effectively. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, and other foundational controls, plus insight into how documented cybersecurity maturity is increasingly becoming a differentiator in both government and private-sector bids.

Key Learning Objectives: 

• Understand the CMMC 2.0 framework and timeline requirements 
• Learn proven, phased approaches to compliance used by successful contractors 
• Receive actionable resources and checklists to begin or accelerate your compliance journey

An overview of the outdoor living space and materials used in outdoor living design.

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.

From one market to many. Why scaling into new markets is the next step, how to do it right, and when to make the jump!

Most businesses don’t fail to grow because of a lack of opportunity — they stall because the owner becomes the bottleneck. Expanding into a second market exposes every weakness in leadership, systems, and decision-making. This session breaks down what it actually takes to grow into new markets without chaos, burnout, or losing control. Attendees will learn how to prepare their business for expansion, what must be centralized versus local, how to put the right leader in place, and why tools like AI and virtual assistance only work when the operating model is designed correctly. This is a practical, no-fluff conversation for owners who want to scale intentionally — not accidentally.

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.

Chapter 11 provides for the protection of life and property from the potential fire and health hazards associated with refrigerant chemical and the machinery that contains such chemicals. Some refrigerants are toxic, some are flammable and some are both.

This chapter governs the design, installation, construction and repair of refrigeration systems that vaporize and liquefy a fluid during refrigerating cycle. Permanently installed refrigerant storage systems and other components shall be considered as part of the refrigeration system to which they are attached.

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

• Why most contractors lose 80% of potential reviews
 • The hidden connection between reviews and revenue growth
 • How to capture reviews while the technician is still on site
 • Building a referral engine from every completed job
 • Measuring ROI from reviews and reputation management
 • Creating a repeatable system that scales across every technician

Learning Outcomes

Attendees will leave with a framework to increase review volume, improve online reputation, generate more referrals, and reduce reliance on paid advertising.

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.

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.

A strong estimating process is the foundation of winning more profitable projects. This session is designed to help contractors and subcontractors improve bid accuracy, streamline their workflow, and reduce costly mistakes. Attendees will gain practical insights into project evaluation, takeoffs, pricing strategies, and building a consistent estimating system that drives better decisions and higher win rates in a competitive market.

The permitting process ensures that all proposed construction, development, land use, and property improvements comply with applicable local, state, and federal regulations. Applicants submit permit applications, plans, and supporting documentation for review by Codes and Zoning staff. Plans are evaluated for compliance with zoning ordinances, building codes, land-use requirements, safety standards, and other applicable regulations.

During the review process, staff may coordinate with multiple departments and agencies to address requirements related to zoning, building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, stormwater, fire prevention, and public infrastructure. Applicants may be required to revise plans or provide additional information to achieve compliance.

Once all reviews are approved and applicable fees are paid, permits are issued, authorizing the proposed work to begin. Required inspections are conducted throughout the project to verify compliance with approved plans and code requirements. Upon successful completion of all inspections, the project may receive final approval, a certificate of occupancy, or other applicable authorization, depending on the scope of work.

The permitting process promotes public safety, protects property values, supports orderly development, and ensures that construction and land-use activities meet established community standards.

Discussing and breaking down a framework on how to grow, cultivate, and expand your professional network.  Go beyond the collection of business cards and email follow-up.   How do you grow?   Who do you seek to meet?  Who is your best client?  Who is your best referral source?  How do you strain out the noise and find the right connections?   The class will show the basics of networking, but how to dig deeper, find meaningful relationships, and how to connect with anyone.  Networking is an art, and the best way to grow your brand, your business, and your reach. 

Course Outline

• Why most companies collect data but never use it
 • Turning business data into actionable insights
 • Using AI to improve accountability and performance
 • Coaching technicians and teams with real time feedback
 • Building dashboards that drive action
 • Creating a data driven culture

Learning Outcomes

Attendees will learn how AI can help leaders make faster, better decisions while improving team performance.

This module is designed for those new to the EWP industry and includes an introduction to the types of engineered wood products, a discussion of their typical application in light-frame construction and presents benefits of engineered wood products over competing products.

Learning Objectives: 

1.  Upon completing this training students will be able to identify and describe the significant features and benefits of EWP.

2.  Upon completing this training students will be able to identify and describe the appropriate applications (uses) of each engineered wood product.

3.  Upon completing this training students will be able to identify and describe the various types of engineered wood products (EWP).

4.  Upon completing this training students will be able to identify and describe the significant characteristics of EWP.

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 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

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.

Drawing on HRA’s Workforce Crisis research and recent conversations with Lightcast economists Ron Hetrick and Josh Wright, this session gives commercial trades leaders a clear-eyed look at why the labor shortage is structural — not a passing cycle — and a practical, data-driven playbook for competing and winning in a market reshaped by demographics, immigration, and rising costs.

What attendees will learn:

•     Why the shortage is permanent, not cyclical — the demographic math owners can no longer wait out

•     How the changed national landscape — immigration enforcement, cost and wage pressure — has accelerated the crisis for commercial trades specifically

•     How to compete for labor when megaprojects and data centers are bidding wages up next door

•     Why “recruiting is a marketing function,” and how to use labor data and modern outreach to win candidates instead of just outspending rivals

•     How to build your own talent pipeline — and keep it — instead of renting workers in a free-agent market

•     A concrete 90-day action plan owners can put to work immediately

Outline:

•     1. The New Reality. What’s changed since last year — demographics, immigration, and cost pressure — and why commercial trades feel it first.

•     2. The Math That Doesn’t Reset. The structural shortage in plain terms: fewer workers entering, more leaving, and a training pipeline that can’t keep up.

•     3. The Commercial Squeeze. Immigration exposure, subcontractor risk, and competing against premium-paying megaprojects for the same crews.

•     4. Recruiting as Marketing. Turning labor data into a message and a strategy that attracts talent — the HRA approach.

•     5. Build, Don’t Rent. Apprenticeships and pipelines that produce loyal hires, plus the retention moves that keep your best people.

•     6. The 90-Day Action Plan. The highest-leverage steps an owner can start Monday — no enterprise budget required.

Advanced Framing Wood Frame Construction explores energy-efficient framing techniques that maintain strength, durability, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. Participants learn how advanced framing optimizes material use, reduces unnecessary members, minimizes thermal bridging, increases insulation volume, and applies direct load paths. Case studies demonstrate real-world energy and cost savings compared to conventional framing methods in residential wood construction.

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.

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.

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.

Commercial and light industrial projects typically require high-performance coating solutions to provide optimal performance against abrasion, chemicals, moisture and other harsh conditions common to these types of buildings. Technological advancements have created high-performance coatings that not only provide the aesthetics and durability your owners demand – there are also a variety of formulations that can help contribute towards green building certifications. This course provides solutions to the most prevalent challenges found in busy commercial spaces so that you can specify the coatings best suited to the project type and conditions. We will also explore innovative coating technologies that combine performance benefits that meet the demands of commercial spaces as well as emit lower VOCs

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 business can only grow as far as you do. This masterclass challenges owners to recognize personal growth as the foundation of sustainable success. Learn how leadership development, discipline, and intentional self-improvement directly impact business results. Explore practical frameworks that align health, wealth, and relationships—so you build not just a bigger company, but a stronger, more balanced life and lasting impact.