Complimentary Keynotes & Seminars
Austin Build Expo's lineup of over 30 complimentary keynotes and classes are free to attend with your free, all-access pass.
Wednesday, May 22 | 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
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 borrow 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
- See how using one or two bank accounts in your business is crippling
- Watch real life examples unfold showing the growth of the cash over time...even when a business declines in annual revenue
- Walk away with a simple structure you can implement tomorrow and the roadmap to do so
Target Audience: Homebuilders, Remodelers, Contractors
In this mindset-shifting talk, Scott Beebe, CEPA, the founder of Business On Purpose will walk you through the difference between a "lifestyle business" and a "value creation" business that allows you both unlock the purpose, people, process, and profit of your business while living with real impact and purpose today and tomorrow.
This talk will catapult you from feeling like your business is a burden and chore, and reframe your business into a massive asset that allows for significant value for you, your family, and many others.
You will leave feeling hopeful about the business you already have instead of dreading what you are afraid your business has become.
Want to sell your business someday? This is the talk you need. Yes, even your business.
Discovery points...
- Learn how much of your net worth is locked away in your business
- Determine the most profitable and least profitable systems in your business
- Realize the number one myth in business related to workforce engagement
- Leave with ONE thing that you can implement tomorrow that will build value to either sell, or continue towards meaningful value growth
Target Audience: Homebuilders, Remodelers, Contractors
Wednesday, May 22 | 1:15 p.m.-2:15p.m.
We’re seeing volatile pricing formats, supply chain interruption and rising interest rates. This usually ends in tough economic conditions, resulting in construction industry challenges. Knowing the best way to stay ahead of these changes and keep your business moving forward is difficult. We’ll look at the methods successful contractors use to weather shifting economic conditions.
We’ll cover:
- Increasing your portion of the market pie
- Getting a competitive advantage
- Managing customer expectations
- Structuring your sales effort
- How to balance sales and marketing efforts
You’ll come away from this session with a better understanding of what it will take to grow in both revenue and profitability in these times. Sales is the most important aspect of your business. Everything else simply follows that lead.
Carlotta Thompson
Founder | Tax Strategists of America
How to Legally Pay Zero Income Tax
Wednesday, May 22 | 10:15 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Thursday, May 23 | 10:15 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
- Tax strategy and how it can save you thousands of dollars
- Hidden deductions you are missing
- Common red flags in the construction industry
- What the IRS is not telling you
Target Audience: Business owners
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
4 Blind Spots Preventing Contractors From Retaining Talent and Growing Profit
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Scott Beebe
Founder & Head Coach | Business on Purpose
Most contractor owners cross their fingers and hope for the best when desiring a solid culture, meaningful profit, and a product that they are proud of. Luck is not a strategy!
This highly engaging education program will reveal four critical blind spots sabotaging the growth of your business and your team. You will leave this presentation with ONE action item to immediately implement into your business that will wishing you had heard this talk ten years ago!
After this presentation you will have clarity on why the younger generation “will not listen” and how you can respond, the leadership “RPM’s for a healthy culture, and the one system that will ensure necessary profit that will fuel culture and growth.
Learning Objectives
- Learn the 3 foundational cornerstones of EVERY contractor business
- Understand the 3 non-negotiables of building and leading a vision-centered team
- Discover how an owner's process leadership directly impacts people, profit, and productivity
- Create a proven plan for predicting your profit
Target Audience: Homebuilders, Remodelers, Contractors
Effective Sales Presentations
9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. |
Construction professionals excel in building living and working environments, not necessarily doing a sales presentation. Most have never been formally trained in doing a presentation. Being more effective in presenting your bid, quote, product or
service can be the difference in securing the business. You’ll learn specific presenting tips that can make the difference.
- Managing a lunch and learn
- Effective in home presenting
- Controlling a commercial presentation
- Proper use of presentation tools
Sales is the most important aspect of any business, especially construction. Becoming more proficient in how you present to a potential customer can raise not just your revenue numbers but also profitability. The better you are at presenting, the easier the close!
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Builders, and Remodelers
How Google And Chat GPT Can Boost your Online Lead Flow
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Joshua Ramsey
Google has certain expectations of your website. The number one thing Google wants…. Good User Experience (UX).
In this session learn:
- Exactly how to communicate to Google
- How to track what your user experience
- How to use Chat GPT to communicate better
All of this plus get access to a free marketing/Chat GPT tool, complimentary in part from Build Expo and www.JRcmo.com Joshua Ramsey, Fractional CMO.
Not sure what a fractional CMO is? Learn more about a fractional CMO by searching ‘JRcmo fractional CMO’
Wondering if this speaker is worth your time? Hear his podcasts, radio show and online teaching by searching 'Joshua Ramsey Marketing’
Target Audience: All building and construction professionals
Quickbooks for contractors- Beginner
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
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.
Target Audience: Contractors, Subcontractors, and anyone curious about the features & benefits of QuickBooks.
Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering
9:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. |
This class introduces Geotechnical Engineering and why the Geotechnical Report is important in construction of any foundation. Below is an overview of topics that will be covered as part of the presentation:
- Why is Geotechnical Engineering important?
- When is the Geotechnical Engineering report needed?
- How is the scope of services determined?
- Project Fee
- Drilling operations and field services
- Laboratory testing methods
- An overview of the Geotechnical Report
- Types of foundations and mitigation techniques
- Construction methods and quality control
- Liability and Protection
- Case studies and lessons learned
- Open discussion and questions
At the conclusion of the presentation, builders, developers, architects and engineers should have a better understanding of the Geotechnical Engineering process and the importance of having a Geotechnical Engineer on the team.
Target Audience: Builders, Developers, and Engineers
Treatment Process for Soil Stabilization Mitigation Via Machine Injection
10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
This class will introduce the audience to the application of ionic soil stabilization mitigation administered via machine injections. Our audience will gain an understanding of how stabilization mitigation processes compare in project budget and timelines, followed by a description in supplementing services and scope of work Universal Injections, Inc offers our clients. By the end of this discussion, our goal is to have advanced the audiences’ education in mitigation abilities of chemical injections, and how Universal Injections, Inc. works to benefit contractors and homeowners, in conjunction with their existent construction alliance.
- Why is expansive soil problematic for Texas builders and homeowners?
- What are the construction method comparisons of soil mitigation techniques? (i.e. financial and time duration comparisons of select fill, moisture conditioning, and soil injection)
- Explanation of the machine injection soil stabilization mitigation procedure.
- Exploration into the theory of environmental effect of soil injections creating rhizosphere bioavailability to plants nearby – resulting in a positive nutrient uptake relatable to fertilizer.
- Introduction to Universal Injections, Inc. and the innovating designs our company introduced to the industry.
- Description of our client services, how our scope of work is determined, and final steps of execution.
- A closer look into the science and studies around the topic of how ionic changes reduce unfavorable PVR and Swell level.
- Understanding post injection testing reports and drillings are conducted with geotechnical engineering groups.
- What the post-injection swell letter represents for the project’s progress to foundation completion.
- Open discussion and Q&A with audience.
Target Audience: Engineers, Contractors, and Architects
Intro to High Performance HVAC Design - Crossroads of Function, Design, and Aesthetic - 1.0 AIA Credit
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Questions Answered:
Form or Function: Which is more important in New Building Design?
How can we meet access requirements, and still make it sexy?
Can we think Outside the box, but Inside the envelope?
Purpose:
To inform today’s building professional to the challenges, and opportunities posed by new HVAC technologies in building design and performance.
Target Audience: Residential and Commercial Architects, MEP's, Builders, Developers
The Power of Corporate Credit
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
In J Galt's transformative speaking engagement, "The Power of Corporate Credit," audiences will be invited to explore the pivotal role that corporate credit plays in revolutionizing the business sector. This topic is a direct reflection of J Galt's mission to serve as industry-disrupting pioneers, steadfast in our commitment to the prosperity, protection, and promotion of business owners across the nation. By focusing on the strategic utilization of corporate credit, this presentation aims to enlighten participants on how to effectively leverage financial tools to ensure their businesses not only survive but thrive in competitive markets. Embodying our core values, this session is designed to inspire, educate, and empower attendees, equipping them with the insights needed to unlock new avenues of growth and stability in their entrepreneurial journeys.
Target Audience: Business Owners.
PVC101 – The Benefits & Uses of Cellular PVC - 1.0 AIA Credit
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Market Development Specialist | VERSATEX Building Products
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 Lamin
Target Audience: Builders, Contractors and Architects in Commercial and Residential applications
Tips and tricks in Cost Estimating
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Cost estimating for construction projects is a complicated matter that requires knowledge and expertise. It involves so many aspects that a mistake in one of them can be devastating for the contractor. This seminar will provide a group of valuable tips that will improve the accuracy of the cost estimate. The tips include quantity take-offs, identifying individual items, adding waste allowances, pricing items, adjusting cost for productivity fluctuations, additional charges (such as shipping, delivery, taxes, customs, other fees), custom and special items, estimating overhead and profit, and contingency allowance, and putting the estimate together. Other topics include the impact of location and timing on the price and importance of reading the contract and good documentation.
Target Audience: All building and construction professionals
Quickbooks for contractors- Beginner
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
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.
Target Audience: Contractors, Subcontractors, and anyone curious about the features & benefits of QuickBooks.
10 Min Marketing Plan to Avoid Marketing Overspending & Headaches. Plus, Where / How to Generate More Leads?
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
A Fractional CMO (Joshua Ramsey) is going to spend this time together show you how to deal with the most common frustrations of business owners.
- Stop over-spending on marketing campaigns that don’t work
- Use Technology to streamline your prospect funnels
- Don’t let agencies take advantage of you
PLUS – learn how to build a ‘bullet proof marketing plan’ for yourself that big companies use to stay on top.
If you don’t attend this session, your competitors will!!
Target Audience: All building and construction professionals
Unlocking Leverage: How to Secure Reliable Private Capital for Spec Construction
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
In an uncertain market, it can feel like your capital sources are constantly moving the goalposts. In this class, we will pull back the curtain on the lenders that help keep the industry moving. Learn the red flags to avoid when choosing a lender and pick up some tips on how to secure consistent funding for all of your real estate investments.
Target Audience: Spec Builders who own their own company
Tree Smart
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
Tree Smart provides an overview of the rules and regulations the City of Austin has in place to protect the trees in our community. Austin has had a tree protection ordinance, one of the first in the nation, since 1983. However, many people in our community still have questions about the rules, what they are, and how they apply to their trees. Led by experts from the City Arborist program, this program helps residents and developers better understand the tree protection ordinance and how it applies to their trees.
Target Audience: Developers
Job Costing to Guarantee Profitability
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
Have you ever wondered “what went wrong” when your actual profit margin fell short of your target? It’s time to identify the exact sources of the problem. Through accurate and timely job costing, you will be more in control of your finances for each job and find ways to stop your slipping profit.
Target Audience: All building and construction professionals
Thursday, May 23, 2024
Building a Predictable Business Culture that Recruits, Hires, and Retains Great Gen Z Talent
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
“Nobody wants to work anymore!”
That’s the outcry from our modern workplace, and yet we look around and talk with loads of people from younger generations desperate not just for work, but for meaningful work that comes with clarity and predictability.
In the AEC industries clarity is hard to come by and good luck landing in a land of predictability.
In this motivating and mindset-shifting talk Scott Beebe (CEPA) will flip our idea of what a younger generation is looking for and why the AEC industries are the perfect landing spot for young, ambitious, hungry talent to come devote their lives and their work to.
Come ready to think differently and gain insight into a simple and free method that can change the game for the culture and health of your business.
Learning Objectives
- Learn the secret language of Gen Z and what they really want
- Identify the elements of your business that are ripe for new team members to engage with
- Build one simple tool during the workshop that you can implement that afternoon.
Target Audience: Homebuilders, Remodelers, Contractors
Proper Customer Sales Management
9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. |
Construction professionals often struggle with the nuts and bolts of proper sales techniques. This includes closing new targets, maintaining recurring customers and crafting a complete sales effort. Properly managing customer expectations and satisfaction can cultivate further opportunity. Not doing so can result in low revenue and profitability results.
We’ll cover:
- Why customers commit
- Why your close rate is too low
- Winning projects or orders with peak profitability
- Managing commercial and residential customers
Applying these concepts can bring immediate results in your most critical sales efforts. Effectively reading your customers will result in you being in control of the sales process. Making closing work an easier proposition.
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Builders, and Remodelers.
Quickbooks for Contractors - Advanced
9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. |
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.
Target Audience: Contractors, Subcontractors, and anyone curious about the features & benefits of QuickBooks.
How Google And Chat GPT Can Boost your Online Lead Flow
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Joshua Ramsey
Google has certain expectations of your website. The number one thing Google wants…. Good User Experience (UX).
In this session learn:
- Exactly how to communicate to Google
- How to track what your user experience
- How to use Chat GPT to communicate better
All of this plus get access to a free marketing/Chat GPT tool, complimentary in part from Build Expo and www.JRcmo.com Joshua Ramsey, Fractional CMO.
Not sure what a fractional CMO is? Learn more about a fractional CMO by searching ‘JRcmo fractional CMO’
Wondering if this speaker is worth your time? Hear his podcasts, radio show and online teaching by searching 'Joshua Ramsey Marketing’
Target Audience: All building and construction professionals
Construction Schedule Updating: What is my percent complete, anyway?
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Contractors have to update the projects’ schedules periodically. This update is so important not only because it provides the contractor and the owner with an idea of where the project stands at this point, but also because progress payments from the owner to the contractor depend on information in these updates, specifically amount of work performed this period on each activity. This amount of work is usually expressed in percent complete. However, there are many types of percent complete, based on physical estimates (units), cost, time, manhours, or other. It is also important to calculate both baseline and actual percent complete for the activity, in order to determine if work is on, ahead, or behind schedule. This seminar takes a quick look at different types of percent complete, explains them, and discusses what they represent and when to use them.
Target Audience: All building and construction professionals
The Power of Corporate Credit
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
In J Galt's transformative speaking engagement, "The Power of Corporate Credit," audiences will be invited to explore the pivotal role that corporate credit plays in revolutionizing the business sector. This topic is a direct reflection of J Galt's mission to serve as industry-disrupting pioneers, steadfast in our commitment to the prosperity, protection, and promotion of business owners across the nation. By focusing on the strategic utilization of corporate credit, this presentation aims to enlighten participants on how to effectively leverage financial tools to ensure their businesses not only survive but thrive in competitive markets. Embodying our core values, this session is designed to inspire, educate, and empower attendees, equipping them with the insights needed to unlock new avenues of growth and stability in their entrepreneurial journeys.
Target Audience: Business Owners.
From Subcontractor to General Contractor (Spanish Class)
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
It will be explained what it takes to go from Subcontractor to General contractor in the commercial construction industry and the importance of knowing the Building Codes to avoid violations and delays on site.
The importance of having a legally established company and what do I need to have.
What are construction documents?
How to identify if a project is viable or not?
Target Audience: Hispanic Contractors
A Better Way to Manage Your Jobs From Start to Finish - JobTread Demo
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Get organized, complete your projects on time, and increase your profits. JobTread is an end- to-end construction management software that helps you manage all of your business processes, from sales and estimating through to project completion. Learn why contractors give JobTread a 5-star review and consider adding JobTread to your toolkit.
Target Audience: All building and construction professionals
The First Step in BIM/VDC: Overcoming Obstacles in Adopting BIM for MEP Projects
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Founder & CEO | Diasphere
Founder, COO | Diasphere
Embarking on the journey of adopting BIM and VDC for the first time in MEP projects can seem daunting, but it's a transformative step towards unparalleled project efficiency and collaboration. In this speaking session, we'll begin by addressing the elephant in the room: the challenges of initial adoption. We understand the apprehensions around the upfront investments in software, training, and the cultural adaptation required within teams.
However, the focus of our narrative will quickly shift to the compelling advantages that BIM and VDC bring to the table. We'll highlight how these technologies enable a seamless, integrated approach to MEP design and construction, drastically reducing errors and rework. Through vivid examples, we'll illustrate the power of real-time collaboration and 3D modeling in solving complex engineering challenges, leading to more accurate, efficient, and sustainable project outcomes.
Our pitch will not only showcase the tangible benefits but also lay out a clear, step-by-step strategy for successful BIM and VDC adoption, tailored for those taking their first steps. We aim to demystify the process, offering guidance on training, workflow integration, and the cultivation of a forward-thinking organizational culture. By the end of our presentation, the initial hurdles will appear surmountable, overshadowed by the promise of innovation, enhanced project delivery, and a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving construction landscape.
Target Audience: MEP’s, Trade Contractors, Subcontractors
Quickbooks for Contractors - Advanced
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
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.
Target Audience: Contractors, Subcontractors, and anyone curious about the features & benefits of QuickBooks.
PVC101 – The Benefits & Uses of Cellular PVC - 1.0 AIA Credit
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
Market Development Specialist | VERSATEX Building Products
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 Lamin
Target Audience: Builders, Contractors and Architects in Commercial and Residential applications
Over 170 Exhibitors
