Schedule

Presenters:
David Gardiner, President, David Gardiner and Associates
Stan Kolbe, Executive Director, Government and Political Affairs, SMACNA

Explore the dynamic landscape of market opportunities awaiting industrial contractors in the ever-evolving energy sector, especially as it moves to decarbonize. Discover the pivotal role industrial contractors play in the emergence of the fast-paced industrial market for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). Carbon capture technology and the mega projects already underway, are drawing record amounts of private capital into the energy sector’s battle to lower carbon emissions, and contractors are at the forefront. Explore the engineering feats involved in capturing and repurposing CO2 emissions, from innovative technologies to large-scale CCUS projects.

Presenter:
Clark Ellis, Principal and Founding Member, Continuum Advisory Group

Where will the Union Sheet Metal Industry’s next leaders come from? 40% of construction workers will retire or leave the industry by 2031. Women and under-represented demographic groups comprise a small percentage of current building trades union members. How can we attract great people to our industry and support our dynamic emerging leaders?

Presenters:
Lee Browning, Regional Sales Manager, Trimble
David Keane, Americas Sales Director, VDC Software Solutions, Trimble

Projects today are moving at ever-increasing paces, and the urgency to streamline communication between the field, shop, and office has never been higher. The risks of broken or lagging communication are apparent: poor productivity, high trucking costs, and constantly being in “React Mode.” Luckily, the advancement and accessibility of technology is providing an answer.

Presenter:
Kris Blankenship, Industry Advisor, ServiceTitan

Join us for an engaging session to explore the transformative power of integrating technologies. Gain valuable insights into the specific strategies employed, challenges overcome, and the measurable impact of integrating your tech stack. 

Presenters:
Aldo Zambetti, Administrator, SMOHIT
Chris Carlough, SMART MAP Program Coordinator, SMART
Jeremy Holburn, Helpline Counselor, SMOHIT

SMOHIT’s SMART Members Assistance Program (MAP) is an awareness and peer member training program for those dealing with problems associated with mental health issues, such as substance abuse. This session will focus on finding quality mental health resources including treatment centers and Employee Assistance Programs for our industry partners.

Presenter:
Roberto Herrera, Senior Product Manager, Split Systems, Daikin Comfort

The session covers the topics of residential heat pumps, energy efficiency, federal funding, and grants available to help contractors tackle the emerging residential heat pump market. It explores the importance of heat pumps in achieving decarbonization and sustainability while empowering contractors to embrace energy-efficient solutions.

We will explore the importance of heat pumps, highlighting their energy efficiency, ability to provide heating and cooling, and their role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It also emphasizes the significance of federal funding, grants, and incentives to support contractors in expanding their service offerings and capitalizing on the growing demand for residential high-efficiency heat pump solutions. Encourages contractors to take the lead in HVAC innovation, positioning them as key players in the energy revolution and contributors to a greener and more sustainable future.

Presenter: 
John Tschohl, President and Founder, Service Quality Institute

John Tschohl, the internationally recognized service strategist and customer service guru, will share a customer service strategy SMACNA members can use to increase sales and build better customer relationships. John will share the Proven Process for Driving a Service Culture. 

Service leaders have mastered this process. It focuses on building passion and strategy. How many of your employees know they are in customer service? Amazon does, and it increased sales by $44 billion in 2022.   

Leadership: Develop your leaders to manage, motivate and lead an empowered customer-driven workforce and reduce the friction that prevents an awesome customer experience. 

Tools: Change attitudes and behaviors and develop Customer Centric employees. Tschohl will share the blueprint to create Customer Service "Rockstars." 

He will cover the 9 Principles of Creating a Service Culture. Service Strategy, Reduce the Friction, Empowerment, Speed, Training, Remember Your Name, Service Recovery, Reduce Costs, and Measure Results.  

John is the author of 8 bestselling books on customer service, including Relentless, his latest book. He has developed over 20 customer service programs available in 9 languages. 

Presenter:
Claire Wilson, Head of Construction Solutions, SITELINE

You would never buy new equipment for your shop without ensuring your team knows how to use it efficiently. So why not put the same effort into new software tools? Construction companies are leveraging software to combat labor shortages, supply chain woes, and increased material costs. But, introducing new software to your team can bring headaches and stress. Implementation often never goes as planned (or as the salesperson promised), taking months or years longer than expected. Why? Software implementation requires a detailed plan, strategic internal communication, and executive buy-in. Here's your game plan on how to implement software the right way.  

Key takeaways:  

• Understand how and why software implementation fails and how to overcome implementation roadblocks  
• Identify markers of a great implementation plan  
• Gain strategies to ensure a successful software implementation 

Presenter:

Eli Howard, Executive Director, Technical Services and Research, SMACNA

This fast paced presentation will cover SMACNA’s Technical Services Standards, Manuals & Guidelines Collection of newly revised documents and further research & products for the Sheet Metal Industry. SMACNA’s Technical Staff will also cover the key issues emerging in today’s market for the HVAC & Architectural industry.

Todd Kimmel, Architectural Specifications Manager, ROCKWOOL North America

Curious or confused about what “rainscreen” means or how it relates to wall performance? This seminar provides an overview of rainscreen wall designs, including all the visible and hidden components and important factors in performance. Claddings and attachments, the air cavity and why width matters, water control, structural considerations, fire and combustibility, exterior insulation. All of these topics and more will be touched on during the discussion. 

Presenter:
Guy Gast, Past President, Waldinger Corporation – Iowa Division

Attendees will get an eye-opening presentation on the negative impacts of change orders, with specific advice on cost impacts, recommendations on methods and best practices in calculating and presenting changes successfully.

   James Lawrence

After breaking several Guinness World Records, James wondered if he had truly found his mental and physical limits. He knew there was more. Experience firsthand the remarkable journey of James Lawrence and his family.

Known as the Iron Cowboy, James earned this nickname from the public after he started to wear a cowboy hat during the marathon portion of his Ironman races to be identified by his children quickly. With two Guinness world records under his belt, James and his family attempted to do something every person deemed impossible, 50 full distance triathlons, in 50 states, in 50 consecutive days (aka: 50.50.50).

Sports Illustrated ranked James in the top 50 fittest freaks with Lebron James and Conor McGregor, two of James’ favorite athletes. RedBull declares that ‘when it comes to endurance, he is unstoppable’ and Success magazine named him ‘The Most Enduring Man In The World.’ He has redefined the definition of impossible and shares his journey with audiences around the world.

His combination of energy, humor, determination, and achievements captivates his audience and creates an inspirational and awakening phenomenon for all. James’ story of reaching new limits is one everyone can relate to. He is an ordinary guy, whose extraordinary personal story will make you laugh, cry, reflect, and leave you inspired to reach higher. James has spoken all over the world, on stages in more than 20 countries.

Presenter:
Lauren Wattie, Vice President, Vault Communications

In this presentation, we dive into the fascinating world of Generative AI. Generative AI not only learns from existing data but also possesses the remarkable ability to generate entirely new and original content. It is a powerful tool for unleashing creativity and innovation across various domains, including the sheet metal industry.

Through real-world examples and case studies, we unravel the underlying principles of Generative AI, where advanced algorithms produce new content, such as images, music, text, and even entire narratives. By leveraging the power of Generative AI, you will learn about cutting-edge products to explore in your everyday life.

Presenter: 
John Tschohl, President and Founder, Service Quality Institute

John Tschohl, the internationally recognized service strategist and customer service guru, will share a customer service strategy SMACNA members can use to increase sales and build better customer relationships. John will share the Proven Process for Driving a Service Culture. 

Service leaders have mastered this process. It focuses on building passion and strategy. How many of your employees know they are in customer service? Amazon does, and it increased sales by $44 billion in 2022.   

Leadership: Develop your leaders to manage, motivate and lead an empowered customer-driven workforce and reduce the friction that prevents an awesome customer experience. 

Tools: Change attitudes and behaviors and develop Customer Centric employees. Tschohl will share the blueprint to create Customer Service "Rockstars." 

He will cover the 9 Principles of Creating a Service Culture. Service Strategy, Reduce the Friction, Empowerment, Speed, Training, Remember Your Name, Service Recovery, Reduce Costs, and Measure Results.  

John is the author of 8 bestselling books on customer service, including Relentless, his latest book. He has developed over 20 customer service programs available in 9 languages. 

Presenters:
Rebecca Klein Scott and Keith Scott, TALLsmall Productions

Let’s face it — Baby Boomers (1946-1960), Gen Xers (1960-1980), Millennials (1980-1994), and Gen Z (1994+) require a Communications GPS system for navigating around and avoiding misunderstandings with each other. The session starts with a lighthearted trivia game to see if everyone can identify hip phrases from each generation. This helps everyone open up and prepare for the following conversation and activities as we:

• Examine perceived communication styles by generation. Delve into and debunk stereotypes.
• Troubleshoot hypothetical and real communications challenges faced.
• Learn how simple tweaks to wording and body language help avoid potholes in communication across generational divides and get things done.
• Discuss age-related words and phrases that might be worth avoiding.

Presenter:
Clark Ellis, Principal and Founding Member, Continuum

Panelists:

• Angie Simon, P.E., Executive Director and Co-Founder, Heavy Metal Summer Experience

• Darrell Roberts, Assistant to the General President, SMART

The New Horizons Foundation will identify practices, strategies, and tactics that have already been proven effective in various aspects of workforce development: focusing primarily on recruitment but including onboarding, training, career path migration, mentoring, and others. It will also validate the effectiveness of these practices so that organizations, companies, and individuals who emulate them will know that they are worthy of their investments of time, money, and people. This research will cast a wide net by evaluating the Sheet Metal construction sector and other building and nonbuilding trade sectors such as high tech, health care, and manufacturing. Finally, the New Horizons Foundation will capture the practices using video, audio, and other visual and written media and make the methods available to the industry as educational content. This project intends to stimulate direct action that will improve workforce development nationwide.

Presenter:
Danielle Quesenberry, Engagement Director, Inclusivv

All humans crave a sense of belonging and connection. This is true in all aspects of our lives, whether that’s at home, at school, at work, with our friends, in our neighborhoods or even online. Unfortunately, many people feel like they don’t belong. Whether through stereotypes, policies or more subtle encounters, messages of exclusion work their way into the wider culture. It’s time to come together to explore our own sense of belonging.

SMAC PAC Dinner & Fundraising Event:  SMAC PACarnival - All things fun and fair!

Were you a high-bidder in the PAC Virtual Auction? Stop by Desert Suite 1 on Tuesday between 9am – noon to pick up your item(s) and arrange for shipping. Please note: due to licensing restrictions, SMAC PAC is unable to ship alcohol; travel bottle protectors will be available for your packing needs.

   Judi Holler

Judi Holler is a keynote speaker, best-selling author, podcaster, and entrepreneur who imagines a world where the word regret has been eliminated from the conversation.

This new feature is guaranteed to be a big hit, and will be serving up complimentary espressos, cappuccinos, bloody marys, and mimosas to everyone in attendance.

Sponsored by Rossi HVAC Hardware

Presenters:
David Flatten - President, Inland Powder Coating
Luke Bland, Director of Specialty Metals, Poynter Sheet Metal  

In this informative session, we delve into the world of powder coating. Join us as we explore the various aspects of this popular finishing technique and discuss its advantages, limitations, and potential challenges. We will shed light on the "good" aspects of powder coating, such as its durability, environmental benefits, and cost-effectiveness. However, we will not shy away from discussing the "bad" and "ugly" aspects that can arise, such as issues with thickness control, texture inconsistency, and maintenance requirements. 

With practical insights and real-life examples, this session aims to equip contractors with a comprehensive understanding of powder coating, allowing them to make informed decisions and deliver high-quality results in their sheet metal projects.

Presenter:
Guy Gast, Past President, Waldinger Corporation – Iowa Division

Attendees will hear how successful contractors manage contract risk, with specific advice on killer contract clauses, tips for negotiating successfully, and how to weave a tighter net to protect their companies from unfair contracts.

Presenter:
Julie Markee, Founder and Managing Director, Key Process Innovations

If you are one of the many companies struggling to attract and retain great talent, now is the time to leverage what is happening in the labor market. In this talk, you will learn the four keys to attract and retain great employees.

Attendees will leave this workshop with greater clarity about the definition of great employees and ensuring those employees have all the tools to thrive in their organization.

Specifically, the participants will learn:

• A process to identify what makes a great person in their unique organization
• Three elements that employees need to succeed
• A system to ensure that management is providing those three elements

Presenters:
Lisa Davis, Administrator, NEMI
Chris Ruch, Director of Education, NEMI
Cassandra Kline, Director of Building Construction Technology, NEMI
Duane Smith, Director of Certification, NEMI

Meet members of the National Energy Management Institute – a jointly managed fund of SMART and SMACNA – and learn what we’re doing to assist the industry in expanding into new and existing markets! Want to organize a Lunch & Learn for stakeholders in your area? Looking to partner with state or local government or school districts to bid on federally funded projects? Trying to find a way to get TABB in project specifications? Looking for academic research or resources to support your organization? Please talk with us about how we can help you through legislation implementation efforts, contractor & supervisor training, industry-recognized certifications, and outreach.

Moderator:
Angie Simon, P.E., Executive Director and Co-Founder, Heavy Metal Summer Experience

Panelists:

• Carmen Koo, Applied Air Conditioning
• Shasta Erickson, Miller Bonded
• Kathy Kerber, KSM Metal Fabrication
• Maria Ford, DeWalt
• Melissa Barbour, SMACNA of Long Island

The Women in Construction session will feature a panel discussion on some of the most critical topics regarding women taking on leadership roles in the industry. The panelists will leverage their diverse experience and expertise on how leaders can turn potential obstacles into opportunities, in addition to building a workplace that is inclusive to their peers and empowers them to take charge and successfully advance their professional careers.

Dr. Anirban Basu

Dr. Anirban Basu, SMACNA’s Chief Economist, is recognized as one of the foremost strategic analysts in the construction world. His presentation will leverage his knowledge of current market forces and past economic trends to inform SMACNA contractors about what to expect not only for the remainder of 2023, but 2024 and beyond. He will outline how factors such as inflation, the supply chain, and governmental monetary policy will influence corporate decision making from a micro and macro level.

Presenter:
Mike Coleman, SMART General President

Moderator:
Jason Watson, Executive Director Labor Relations, SMACNA

SMART General President Mike Coleman will deliver an industry update with adequate time for a question and answer session. General President Coleman will recap the last 12 months and share SMART’s priorities heading into 2024. Jason Watson, SMACNA Executive Director of Labor Relations, will moderate the program.

Sponsored by ServiceTitan

Presenters:
Mike Harris, Administrator, ITI
Ronald McGuire, Director, VDC and Technology Training, ITI                           

JATC Management Trustee Panelists:

• Rich Bonner, Big B Contracting, Toms River, NJ   
• John Sickle, Duct Fabricators Inc., Cleveland, OH
• Bill Blakely, Blakely Sheet Metal, St. Louis, MO
• Dan Durphy, Peters Eichler Mechanical, St. Louis, MO

This session will give an update on initiatives and resources available to JATCs from the International Training Institute (ITI). ITI Administration will explain potential strategies on how a JATC can utilize various programs, materials, resources, and other fund offerings to expand training opportunities for members within the sheet metal industry. There will also be a panel of JATC management trustees to discuss how their JATCs have utilized some of these resources to enhance or expand their training.

Presenters: 
Stan Kolbe, Executive Director of Government and Political Affairs
Erykka Thompson, Assistant Director, Legislative Affairs

Get ready for an interactive panel discussion focusing on the Congress, federal agencies, and the White House with a review and prognosis of the Senate and House campaigns and the upcoming 2024 elections. The panel will feature a wide-ranging commentary on politics, economics, and issues that matter to our industry, as well as those with national importance impacting contractors and the construction industry in general. Attendees are encouraged to bring their questions, comments, and energy to engage over national, state, and local issues and political developments.

Presenter:
Dan Kelly, Legal Counsel, Felhaber Larson

Managing a small office can often be more challenging than a large one for the person in charge of HR. Small offices often mean close quarters and frequent interactions between coworkers that cannot be mitigated easily. Labor and Employment expert Dan Kelly of Felhaber Larson will teach chapter executives how to navigate the myriad of HR laws applicable to small businesses while also maintaining a productive and welcoming workplace for all.

Presenter:
Maria Davidson, CEO & Founder, KOJO

How a contractor purchases, tracks, and pays for their materials impacts the efficiency of their team, the accuracy of their books, and ultimately, their projects’ margins. In this session, attendees will team up to map a contractor’s typical materials procurement process - from procurement to payment and identify gaps or inefficiencies. Following a brief presentation on best practices, teams will then optimize their materials management processes and calculate the impact that best practices can have on their cost and time savings.

Key takeaways:

Learning Objectives

1. How to accurately track materials spend vs. budget throughout a job
2. Identify ways to remove manual data entry and eliminate errors from job costing
3.  Learn how to quickly catch billing errors by automating invoice matching with POs and delivery receipts
4. How to reduce overhead costs and find material cost savings by implementing procurement management best practices

Presenters:
Don Campbell, CHST, P1 Group
Ryan Hayes, General Manager of Home Office Claims, Federated Insurance

This session will determine how best to work through the days, weeks, months, and years that follow a tragic workplace fatality or severe injury.  In addition, the program will discuss in great detail the three aspects of an incident from a Business, Emotional, and Litigious standpoint. The session also includes a true case study that explores a recent steel piping system pressure testing incident that resulted in a fatality and the tools necessary to manage this type of crisis.