CHARLOTTE BUILD EXPO
December 6 - 7, 2023
Charlotte Convention Center, Hall B
Exhibit Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Classes Start at 9:30 a.m. Each Day
Windows that used to take 7 days in 2020 now take 7 months…maybe. Plywood that costs $11 now demands over $70! Volatility is the new certainty, and contractors must create the discipline to develop a different level of fitness in their business in order to navigate these new waters, with a more robust ship.
This life-changing and engaging 45 minute talk won’t waste your time in empty market predictions, but instead will provide you the tools to build a better business that allows you to navigate a new business reality.
You will be equipped to beat chaos with predictability, and to build a business that weathers volatile changes, and makes time for what matters most.
Learning Objectives
- Learn The 3 Foundational Layers Of EVERY Contracting Business
- Discover The 4 steps all business owners must commit to…regardless of size or scope
- Uncover The Secret To A Well-Oiled Culture
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.
Beating the Price Objection
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room E216C
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Builders, and Remodelers
His DVD series can literally be used as an individual or corporate training program. He's been featured on CNN and in USAToday as well as dozens of media outlets across the country. Tom is extremely entertaining in his approach and well studied in the dynamics that occur in bidding, quoting and developing customer brand loyalty. His high energy approach combined with practical applications can bring results immediately after his seminars.
His corporation, Seal the Deal, is sought after by trade associations, contractors, corporations, suppliers, construction expos and publications regularly. He currently writes for 4 publications, has 20 regular contractor clients and speaks to in excess of 10,000 construction industry individuals a year. Tom turned a Caterpillar rental territory from 2.5Mil to 10Mil in revenue in 18 months while raising margins by 2%! He also trained 325 sales reps for a 750 Mil nationwide equipment firm. In his first sales position at 19 years of age he took a 150K contractor sales territory to 2.5Mil in 1 year. His customized training programs hit areas targeted for improvement head on. He knows how to get people to buy and manage a sales effort to success!
Don't Kill your Golden Goose-Lawsuit Protection, Tax Reduction & Estate Planning Strategies to Protect & Perpetuate your Business
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 111
Discover the tools you can use to become invincible to lawsuits, save thousands in taxes, and achieve financial peace of mind. By the end of the presentation you will know how to:
- Protect 100% of your assets from lawsuits. You will learn how to make yourself so unattractive to a plaintiff attorney that they will never pursue a lawsuit against you.
- Save thousands of dollars each year in taxes. You will learn five tax reduction strategies most people fail to utilize, which could save you more than $10,000 each year in taxes.
- Avoid probate and eliminate all estate taxes.
You will be taken through a checklist of items that are important to every estate and business succession plan. You will learn what you should be doing now to prepare for successful business and estate secession.
Larry Oxenham, Author, Senior Advisor Larry Oxenham is one of America's top asset protection experts, having helped thousands of professionals achieve financial peace of mind by teaching them how to properly structure their assets for lawsuit protection and tax reduction.
He has authored and co-authored several articles and books on the subject including The Asset Protection Bible and How to Achieve Financial Peace of Mind through Asset Protection. His career has been credited with helping thousands of people save millions of dollars. Larry Oxenham is a nationally recognized speaker who has trained thousands of professionals at hundreds of conventions, conferences and seminars across the country.
Senior Advisor, American Society for Asset Protection Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association
Retaining Good Employees: How Homebuilders, Remodelers, and GC’s Can Implement A Predictable Process To Keep The Right Team
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room E216A
1 out of every 4 employees left their jobs in 2021…most voluntarily. The talent squeeze that contractors feel is predicted to continue well into the future.
What is true for sales, namely that repeat customers are far easier to come by than new customers, is also true for employees; retaining and growing existing employees is far easier and more effective than trying to find new ones.
This life-changing, 45 minute workshop will equip your leadership toolbelt with practical, take-home tools to provide for your team that allows each person to thrive in their role, grow to new roles, and align with the mission that you have laid out.
You will be equipped to beat chaos with predictability, and to build a business that weathers volatile changes, and makes time for what matters most.
Learning Objectives
- Learn the 3 layers of purpose that must be written and share frequently
- Discover the 4 tools every existing employee will need to know, see, and hear to gain enthusiastic, long term buy-in
- Uncover The Secret To A Well-Oiled Culture
Target Audience: Homebuilders, Remodelers, Contractors
Google Partner Teaching: Generate More Online Leads With a SEO Driven Website
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room E220BC
Google recently updated a 12yr old algorithm.
If you don't learn about this update your website will be obsolete.
This Class offers Live training, Q&A, and unfiltered discussions on how to…
- Increase your lead flow
- Building your website properly
- INDEFFINATELY rank higher on Google
- Break through the clutter of competitors and increase sales
- Ad Agency / marketing company tricks to watch out for
Attendees will receive access to free marketing tools and reports.
To get the maximum out of this class, bring your laptop or username and passwords to your Analytics, Google Tools, website or anything similar.
Target Audience: All building and construction professionals
A Google Certified Partner, Joshua teaches interactive conferences based on material received from Google. Plus hear real-life stories of success and failures that business owners have had. These powerful, interactive conferences are jammed packed with information that Joshua received during weekly meetings with Google. This is information every business owner needs to know.
Before becoming a Google Partner, Joshua was an outsourced CMO for several large U.S. based companies. As a CMO over the last 9 years, Joshua has managed over $2.5 million in AdWords and Digital Marketing Budgets and managed more than 2,800 campaigns. As a Bing Partner and Google Certified Partner, Joshua attends national conferences with some of the other great minds that influence SEO, digital marketing, and social media. Today, Joshua speaks all over the country helping businesses improve every element of their marketing.
Automating your Processes with QuickBooks and Apps for Contractors - Level 1
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 106
We are living in a time that requires efficiency and organization. Having tons of paperwork and loose ends that take up your time and effort to grow and be more efficient is not the ideal picture. Join my class and learn all about being financially efficient with QuickBooks and the Apps. Learn what is the right QuickBooks for you and the different apps that are available for your builder's business. Learn the solutions that can completely change your perspective about accounting and project management.
Target Audience: • Architects • Engineers • Designers • General Contractors • Subcontractors • Commercial Builders • Home Builders • Developers • Real Estate Professionals • Building Managers • State Planners • Spec Writers • Government Agencies • Municipalities • Facility Managers • Property Management Firms • Military/ Corp. of Engineers • and any business owner in the construction industry
Vanessa Vasquez superpower is to bring solid financial education and strong strategies to Entrepreneurs and Accountants. Destroying the kryptonite of small business, which is lack of financial knowledge, Vanessa presents the correct tools and processes for businesses to grow and expand.
Her main focus has always been helping her clients streamline their small business financial management processes through education and the application of technology.
With 20+ years of experience and as a Latina Entrepreneur Wonder Mom, Vanessa recognizes the importance of providing learning opportunities and financial solutions for the rapidly growing small business community all around the globe.
Español
El superpoder de Vanessa Vasquez es brindar educación financiera y estrategias sólidas a empresarios y contadores. Destruyendo la kriptonita de las pequeñas empresas, que es la falta de conocimiento financiero, Vanessa presenta las herramientas y los procesos correctos para que las empresas crezcan y se expandan.
Su enfoque principal siempre ha sido ayudar a sus clientes a optimizar los procesos de gestión financiera de sus pequeñas empresas a través de la educación y la aplicación de tecnología.
Con más de 20 años de experiencia y como una emprendedora latina Mama Maravilla, Vanessa reconoce la importancia de brindar oportunidades de aprendizaje y soluciones financieras para la comunidad de pequeñas empresas de habla hispana en rápido crecimiento.
Electronic Payments 101
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 116
An inside look and accepting electronic payments - Credit Cards, Debit Cards, E-Checks, ACH, etc.
Using technology to simplify paying vendors and suppliers electronically.
Target Audience: Business Owners, Operations, Financial Managers
In my professional work experience I have spent the last 15 years in executive leadership roles in the financial services industry. I have forged partnerships with Merchant Processing Banks, Authorization Networks, Payment Gateways and Consumer Lending Institutions.
We then present these partnerships to prospective clients to facilitate the collection of payments, paying suppliers and vendors, allow clients to offer consumer loans for their services and save clients money on all of their financial service needs.
Previously I spent 30+ years working in the sporting goods and athletic footwear and apparel industries in several executive management positions including District Sales, Regional Sales, Director and VP of Planning, Allocation, Distribution, Pricing and Inventory Control for major corporations such as Foot Locker, FootAction, and Nike. I held similar VP level positions as Bombay and Kirkland’s.
From Amateur to Unforgettable
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 118
In this 1 hour presentation General Manager of BoxBrownie.com, Alannah Silva, will walk you through the ways to harness the power of visual marketing to increase interest and sell properties faster!
BoxBrownie.com is fast, reliable, and provides an affordable convenient service to help clients achieve professional photos in no time at all. The system is easy to use and with a 24-hour guarantee, top-quality edited photos are within reach.
Target Audience: Construction Business Owners
Materials Mgmt. & Procurement: Navigating Broken Supply-Chain
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room E216D
This session format is a round table discussion that specifically tackles Supply Chain Management and addresses a wide range of topics:
- What are the main material issues affecting projects right now?
- How has Covid impacted Supply Chains?
- What are companies currently doing to manage this process?
- What can they do to manage this process more effectively?
- What stakeholders are being affected and how are they reacting?
- What challenges come with introducing new technology? How to manage?
- What are some of the ROI of Material Management & Procurement software? What about software in general?
- What is an ideal material management & procurement process?
- What is the future Supply Chain outlook?
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Builders, and Remodelers
Rob Salvador is the visionary driving force behind DigiBuild, an experienced builder, project manager and construction technologist.
After watching his father struggle as a small subcontractor in the construction industry, Robert eventually started his own construction company that grew into a nationwide commercial contractor. Rob’s experience and passion for construction eventually lead him to search for a better way to manage construction projects using technology. He started DigiBuild in early 2018 to revolutionize construction projects, profits, and people. He has managed over $500M in construction projects and was recently named to the list of “25 Rising Stars in Tech” By Crain’s Chicago Business. He is a frequent speaker and educator for groups like BuiltWorlds and the Construction Institute.
Jerry Horani is the Chief Technology Officer at VCC Construction, a ten-year veteran in the industry. As the CTO, Horani is responsible for developing the overall technology vision for the company, and driving cross-company engineering initiatives and collaboration.
Jerry works in a consultative fashion with other department heads as an advisor of technologies that may improve their efficiency and effectiveness. He provides leadership to department heads in a fashion that supports the company’s culture, mission and values. Jerry conducts research and case studies on leading edge technologies and makes determinations on the probability of implementation.
Introduction to Construction Cost Estimating
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room E220A
Cost estimating is arguably the most important function in construction project management. It may be indeed the difference between winning and losing. The seminar briefly covers the principles of construction cost estimating, direct vs indirect costs, detailed vs approximate estimates, and more.
Target Audience: Builders and Contractors
Construction project management consultant, author, public speaker, and trainer.
B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in civil engineering specialized in Construction Management.
Experience: Over 26 years diversified:
- Industrial: private and public sectors, in the U.S. and overseas. Positions occupied include project engineer/manager, cost estimator, planner/scheduler, project controls manager, cost manager, training manager.
- Academic: faculty member / professor, head of department.
- Extensive experience in continuing education and professional training around the world. Topics are mainly technical but also include soft skills.
Author of:
- Construction Project Scheduling and Control (currently 3rd edition)
- How to Estimate with Means Data: Basic Skills for Building Construction (currently 4th edition)
- Many articles; technical and other
- Many presentations in professional conferences such as PMI, AACE International, Primavera Users Conference. Also, a public speaker in many local, regional, and international events.
- An authority on project planning, scheduling, and project control; was part of the PMI team that wrote the first Project Scheduling certification (PMI-SP) exam in 2007.
- An advocate of holistic healthy living and sports.
Get Visible, Get Credible : Get More Customers
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room E219BC
Word of mouth has always been the foundation for the acquisition of new customers for businesses but in our internet age, word of mouth is transformed because of reviews sites like Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Online reviews are now one of the biggest ranking factors in a local search.
Being credible is only one piece of the puzzle though. Your business also needs to be found online when people are searching for a specific business near them. Are you at the top of the Google Map Pack? If not you are invisible and all of those great reviews are not doing you much good.
In this seminar, we share numerous tips and best practices to not only become credible but visible online. We will also discuss the system that has been tried and tested in many businesses to help take their company to the next level.
Learning objectives:
- Understand the importance of taking control of your online presence
- Learn software programs that help manage your reputation
- See why your business may not be ranking as high as it could be
- Discuss ways in which reviews can manifest online
- Develop strategies for garnering positive reviews
Target Audience: All Building and Construction Professionals
After studying Leadership and Development at Texas A&M University, Javier founded, ran, and sold his own successful valet parking company. This sparked his desire to help start-ups achieve their goals. He has helped dozens of small businesses reach success from launching new items & patents to creating demand for their products. He has an affinity for the construction industry
and helping business owners find new customers through their review management. He now works at Birdeye as an account manager involved in the construction segment. During his free time, he loves playing soccer, traveling, and firing up the BBQ pit.
Behavioral Based Safety Leadership
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room E219D
What is Behavioral Based Safety and why is it vital in your organization?
Behavioral Based Safety identifies the cause of unsafe behaviors and then applies research-based techniques to eliminate this behavior. Whether your organization uses a top-down measure, a bottom-up technique, or a group collective, applying effective behavioral-based applications will reduce hazards and create or enhance your safety culture.
Target Audience: All Managerial Staff and Supervision, Project Managers, and Foreman
Mr. Vick is a career Environmental Safety and Health Administrator. Since September 2001, he has served as a subject matter expert on OSHA, E.P.A., and state safety regulatory matters. Mr. Vick has a proven track record of creating and fostering environments that are vigilant about safety and hazard avoidance, creating safe workplaces that enable the successful completion of large-scale projects. Mr. Vick’s certifications include MESH (Manager of Environmental Safety and Health), Homeland Security III (CHS III), and Security Management and Fire Safety. He is also an OSHA authorized Construction (500) and General Industry (501) outreach trainer. Shiron has a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Health and Safety.
Automating your Processes with QuickBooks and Apps for Contractors - Level 2
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Room 106
Learn how to be efficient with the tools and resources available for automation. When you finish this class, you will know how to use QuickBooks, how to properly set up QuickBooks, and how to troubleshoot for proper job profitability reporting. Join me to unfold the world of apps and how they work for your benefit. Understand the ecosystem available for you and how you can be more productive right now.
Target Audience: • Architects • Engineers • Designers • General Contractors • Subcontractors • Commercial Builders • Home Builders • Developers • Real Estate Professionals • Building Managers • State Planners • Spec Writers • Government Agencies • Municipalities • Facility Managers • Property Management Firms • Military/ Corp. of Engineers • and any business owner in the construction industry
Vanessa Vasquez superpower is to bring solid financial education and strong strategies to Entrepreneurs and Accountants. Destroying the kryptonite of small business, which is lack of financial knowledge, Vanessa presents the correct tools and processes for businesses to grow and expand.
Her main focus has always been helping her clients streamline their small business financial management processes through education and the application of technology.
With 20+ years of experience and as a Latina Entrepreneur Wonder Mom, Vanessa recognizes the importance of providing learning opportunities and financial solutions for the rapidly growing small business community all around the globe.
Español
El superpoder de Vanessa Vasquez es brindar educación financiera y estrategias sólidas a empresarios y contadores. Destruyendo la kriptonita de las pequeñas empresas, que es la falta de conocimiento financiero, Vanessa presenta las herramientas y los procesos correctos para que las empresas crezcan y se expandan.
Su enfoque principal siempre ha sido ayudar a sus clientes a optimizar los procesos de gestión financiera de sus pequeñas empresas a través de la educación y la aplicación de tecnología.
Con más de 20 años de experiencia y como una emprendedora latina Mama Maravilla, Vanessa reconoce la importancia de brindar oportunidades de aprendizaje y soluciones financieras para la comunidad de pequeñas empresas de habla hispana en rápido crecimiento.
Manage Your Jobs More Profitably - From Estimating to Job Costing and Invoicing
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room E216B
In today’s highly competitive market, it’s more important than ever to be on top of your numbers. If you can’t price your jobs accurately and don’t have a great process for managing your costs throughout the job, you’re setting yourself up for failure. During this presentation, we’ll discuss common pitfalls, cover lessons learned from real-world experiences, and provide actionable takeaways to improve your processes for everything from estimating to bidding, job costing, purchase orders, vendor bills, customer invoicing, and more.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Learn the common pitfalls for why businesses don’t hit their target profits
- Get better insights on pricing your jobs and the difference between markup and margin
- Identify new business processes you can incorporate into your business
Target Audience: Builders, Contractors, Remodelers, Specialty Contractors, Business Owners
Eric Fortenberry is a passionate entrepreneur who founded JobTread, a construction management software company, in 2019 after serving as interim CEO for a General Contracting company where he built the first version of JobTread to help streamline and remedy their broken processes.
After successfully implementing the platform and increasing their gross profit by 43%, Eric knew he was on to something great! He spent the last two years rehiring many of his former employees, building out the platform, and making it ready for the broader market.
Prior to JobTread, Eric founded OrgSync, a SaaS student engagement platform, in 2007 after quitting his investment banking job where he focused on high growth middle market, web-based technology companies. In 2015, after selling OrgSync to approximately 650 universities and serving nearly 20 million users across 13 countries, the Company was acquired by Leeds Equity.
Eric has been named to Inc. Magazine’s 30 Under 30 List of the World’s Coolest Young Entrepreneurs under the age of 30 and received awards at the White House and United Nations after being named to the Empact 100 List showcasing the Best Companies Started and Run by Young Entrepreneurs. OrgSync was also recognized multiple times as a Best Place to Work and a fastest growing company for its company culture, rapid growth, and innovative solutions.
Eric is an Eagle Scout and holds a BBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin and a Masters in Software Engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas.
PVC101 – The Benefits & Uses of Cellular PVC | 1 AIA Credit
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room E219A
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
Target Audience: Builders, Contractors and Architects in Commercial and Residential applications.
Rich Maurer is the Southeast Regional Sales Manager for Versatex Building Products. The territory spans from North & South Carolina, through Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi.
For over ten years, Rich has grown the territory by developing all aspects of the business. By focusing on distribution and stocking dealer development, he has expanded the business throughout the Southeast Region. By raising the awareness and training builders, remodelers and contractors on the benefits found in using PVC products, Versatex has been able to provide these craftsmen with beautiful products that also offer their clients the benefit of low maintenance.
Most importantly, Rich has worked with the architectural community throughout the region to ensure architects and designers have the facts, knowledge, comfort level, and confidence to use valuable cellular PVC products in their designs.
Rich lives in Greenville, SC, and can’t make a living playing golf…thus, he will be presenting here today!
Marketing / Sales Headaches? Don’t Miss This Class. Get your 10 Minute Consult that will Change Your Life!
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | Room E220BC
Chief Marketing Officer with massive success is teaching on 3 strategies.
- How to deal with marketing ad agencies / What you should expect
- Know how much SEO or Digital Marketing you should be implementing
- Your personalized 10 min marketing plan that will revolutionize your business
Target Audience: All building and construction professionals
A Google Certified Partner, Joshua teaches interactive conferences based on material received from Google. Plus hear real-life stories of success and failures that business owners have had. These powerful, interactive conferences are jammed packed with information that Joshua received during weekly meetings with Google. This is information every business owner needs to know.
Before becoming a Google Partner, Joshua was an outsourced CMO for several large U.S. based companies. As a CMO over the last 9 years, Joshua has managed over $2.5 million in AdWords and Digital Marketing Budgets and managed more than 2,800 campaigns. As a Bing Partner and Google Certified Partner, Joshua attends national conferences with some of the other great minds that influence SEO, digital marketing, and social media. Today, Joshua speaks all over the country helping businesses improve every element of their marketing.
A Better Way to Manage Your Jobs From Start to Finish - JobTread Demo
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | Room E216B
JobTread brings your entire business together in one software. It's the easiest way to get organized, win your time back, and increase your profits. JobTread is packed with many powerful features you’ll love to improve the way you manage your business.
- Sales & Estimating - Win more jobs in less time
- Project Management & Scheduling - Stay on time and on budget
- Finances & Cash Flow - Track job costs, generate invoices, and get paid faster
- Maximize Profits - Achieve your target profit margins and make more money per job
Now is the time to take your business to the next level. Come learn why so many builders and contractors have given JobTread 5-star reviews and consider adding JobTread to your toolkit.
Target Audience: Builders, Contractors, Remodelers, Specialty Contractors, Business Owners
Rilee’s experience in both construction and software development fuels his passion for using technology to help people build and scale their businesses. He loves setting up contractors with the right tools to make their businesses more organized and profitable.
Holding a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Texas A&M University as well as a Certificate in Fullstack Web Development from Southern Methodist University, Rilee is well-versed in guiding contractors through streamlining processes while maximizing profits.
Internet 101 for Contractors
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | Room E220D
Not sure what to do about your online presence? The Internet has changed consumer behavior. Your potential customers are looking for you online. (Yes, even your referrals!) Can they easily find you? If they can, are they getting a current and professional image of your business? In this informative and casual session, you will learn what matters today and how to use the Internet to build your business - bring your questions!
- How much do websites cost?
- The basics of an effective website
- Why you need a website even if you’re busy
- How Google works and what's new in search
- SEO - Search Engine Optimization made simple
- Q&A: Ask what you want. Learn from an industry veteran
Target Audience: Contractors, Home Builders, Architects, and Small Business Owners
Steve got into the website business in the early days of the Internet and in 1998, he started his first web development company - Z57 Internet Solutions. The company received national recognition including being in Inc. Magazine, Forbes, and Entrepreneur Magazine. Z57 made the Inc. 5000 several times as one of the fastest growing companies in the country. Steve led the growth of the company from start up to over 225 employees. The company was one of the largest web design firms in the nation and built over 40,000 websites in the 14 years Steve was the owner.
After selling the company and taking some time off, Steve started ZDigital. ZDigital offers websites and Internet marketing services to contractors, architects and designers across the US. ZDigital helps business owners with new website design, website redesigns and other Internet marketing services including Google and Facebook ads, social media management, SEO and more. To contact Steve or to learn more about ZDigital, visit www.ZDigital.com
The 60-Minute Marketing Plan
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | Room E216A
How to create a company story that sells.
Target Audience: Residential and commercial contractors
South Carolina 811: The One-Call Center’s Role in Underground Facility Damage Prevention
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | Room E216D
South Carolina 811: The One-Call Center’s Role in Underground Facility Damage Prevention As more infrastructure facilities are being built or relocated underground across the nation, the importance of “calling before you dig” has never been greater. South Carolina 811 is the state’s one-call center connecting excavators to underground utility operators in order to ensure safe and non-damaging digging projects. This presentation is SC811’s standard training for industry stakeholders and the general public. It highlights SC811’s purpose, its process, its role in damage prevention, and the resources it offers. The presentation will conclude with a brief section on gas and pipeline safety.
Target Audience: Excavators, Utility Operators, Locators, First Responders
$2,500 or $5,000 Per Residence
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | Room E216C
Don’t leave money on the table!
From single-family, to multifamily high-rises, let us help you navigate The Federal Energy Efficiency Incentives.
Target Audience: Homebuilders, Retrofitters/Remodelers, and Residential Real Estate Investors.
Travis is the Chief Executive Officer for ICS Inspectors, LLC residing in Houston, Texas. Travis leads his teams of RESNET Raters across the country, building Energy Rating and Consulting programs for homebuilders, retrofitters, and residential real estate developers. For real estate investors, property owners, home builders, and professionals within the construction industry, his vast expertise in tax planning has massively reduced taxpayers’ bills. He has helped with cost segregation studies and fixed asset reviews for building owners in numerous industries. As an advisor, Travis has assisted real estate professionals across our country in every single state, and aided architects, engineers, and contractors with §179D Energy Efficient Commercial Building Deduction for their governmental and public projects.
Travis studied Business Management at St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, North Carolina. While there, he competed in the NCAA Cross Country National Championships. In his free time, Travis fosters pets for animal rescues. Over the years, he’s personally helped more than 500 animals find their forever families.
Rick Stone is the Director of Sales for ICS Inspectors, LLC. Rick has tremendous enthusiasm for building relationships and assisting clients achieve their goals. Prior to ICS, Rick successfully developed platforms and programs as a trusted advisor within Fortune 500 companies throughout his 25 years of leading and developing. As a proven consultant, Rick helps his clients take advantage of wide ranges of lucrative incentives from local, state, and municipal initiatives through Federal EPAct Credits and Deductions for real estate investors, developers, and property owners, to the Employee Retention Tax Credit for businesses and industries impacted by COVID-19.
Rick and his family reside in Stephenville, Texas. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching football games, and traveling. Rick proudly served his country as a non-commissioned officer in The U.S. Marine Corps.
Common Construction Sales Mistakes
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room E216C
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Builders, and Remodelers.
His DVD series can literally be used as an individual or corporate training program. He's been featured on CNN and in USAToday as well as dozens of media outlets across the country. Tom is extremely entertaining in his approach and well studied in the dynamics that occur in bidding, quoting and developing customer brand loyalty. His high energy approach combined with practical applications can bring results immediately after his seminars.
His corporation, Seal the Deal, is sought after by trade associations, contractors, corporations, suppliers, construction expos and publications regularly. He currently writes for 4 publications, has 20 regular contractor clients and speaks to in excess of 10,000 construction industry individuals a year. Tom turned a Caterpillar rental territory from 2.5Mil to 10Mil in revenue in 18 months while raising margins by 2%! He also trained 325 sales reps for a 750 Mil nationwide equipment firm. In his first sales position at 19 yrs of age he took a 150K contractor sales territory to 2.5Mil in 1 year. His customized training programs hit areas targeted for improvement head on. He knows how to get people to buy and manage a sales effort to success!
Google Partner Teaching: Generate More Online Leads With a SEO Driven Website
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room E220BC
Google recently updated a 12yr old algorithm.
If you don't learn about this update your website will be obsolete.
This Class offers Live training, Q&A, and unfiltered discussions on how to…
- Increase your lead flow
- Building your website properly
- INDEFFINATELY rank higher on Google
- Break through the clutter of competitors and increase sales
- Ad Agency / marketing company tricks to watch out for
Attendees will receive access to free marketing tools and reports.
To get the maximum out of this class, bring your laptop or username and passwords to your Analytics, Google Tools, website or anything similar.
Target Audience: All building and construction professionals
A Google Certified Partner, Joshua teaches interactive conferences based on material received from Google. Plus hear real-life stories of success and failures that business owners have had. These powerful, interactive conferences are jammed packed with information that Joshua received during weekly meetings with Google. This is information every business owner needs to know.
Before becoming a Google Partner, Joshua was an outsourced CMO for several large U.S. based companies. As a CMO over the last 9 years, Joshua has managed over $2.5 million in AdWords and Digital Marketing Budgets and managed more than 2,800 campaigns. As a Bing Partner and Google Certified Partner, Joshua attends national conferences with some of the other great minds that influence SEO, digital marketing, and social media. Today, Joshua speaks all over the country helping businesses improve every element of their marketing.
Contractor's Cash Flow: Preparation and Management
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room E220A
Preparing and managing the contractor's cash flow. What's important for the contractor is not only predicting "how much", but also the timing of the expenses as well as the incoming payments. This helps the contractor both calculate the maximum expected debt (credit line) as well as the time-cost of the money (cost of borrowing). This seminar takes a glance at these topics with some important tips.
Target Audience: Builders and Contractors
Construction project management consultant, author, public speaker, and trainer.
B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in civil engineering specialized in Construction Management.
Experience: Over 26 years diversified:
- Industrial: private and public sectors, in the U.S. and overseas. Positions occupied include project engineer/manager, cost estimator, planner/scheduler, project controls manager, cost manager, training manager.
- Academic: faculty member / professor, head of department.
- Extensive experience in continuing education and professional training around the world. Topics are mainly technical but also include soft skills.
Author of:
- Construction Project Scheduling and Control (currently 3rd edition)
- How to Estimate with Means Data: Basic Skills for Building Construction (currently 4th edition)
- Many articles; technical and other
- Many presentations in professional conferences such as PMI, AACE International, Primavera Users Conference. Also, a public speaker in many local, regional, and international events.
- An authority on project planning, scheduling, and project control; was part of the PMI team that wrote the first Project Scheduling certification (PMI-SP) exam in 2007.
- An advocate of holistic healthy living and sports.
Offering Consumer Loans
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 116
A look at ways to close more business by offering consumer loans for your residential projects.
Target Audience: Business Owners, Operations, Financial Managers
In my professional work experience I have spent the last 15 years in executive leadership roles in the financial services industry. I have forged partnerships with Merchant Processing Banks, Authorization Networks, Payment Gateways and Consumer Lending Institutions.
We then present these partnerships to prospective clients to facilitate the collection of payments, paying suppliers and vendors, allow clients to offer consumer loans for their services and save clients money on all of their financial service needs.
Previously I spent 30+ years working in the sporting goods and athletic footwear and apparel industries in several executive management positions including District Sales, Regional Sales, Director and VP of Planning, Allocation, Distribution, Pricing and Inventory Control for major corporations such as Foot Locker, FootAction, and Nike. I held similar VP level positions as Bombay and Kirkland’s.
Construction Technology Revolution – Panel Discussion
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room E216D
Learn how to implement the latest technology to drive schedule, budget, and safety goals in your company. In this session we will review the latest Construction Technology (ConTech) and explore where the industry is heading. We’ll key in on Material Management, Procurement and Project Management goals that can be driven by simple or advanced technology adoption.
Learning Objectives:
- Walk away with broader understanding of the innovation taking place in the construction industry
- Industry pain points and how technology solves them (i.e., Supply Chain Software)
- How to evaluate what technologies are right for you and how they will drive ROI
- Staff buy-in. Project stakeholders buy-in.
- VR, FTX, Blockchain and AI, OH MY!
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Builders, and Remodelers
Rob Salvador is the visionary driving force behind DigiBuild, an experienced builder, project manager and construction technologist.
After watching his father struggle as a small subcontractor in the construction industry, Robert eventually started his own construction company that grew into a nationwide commercial contractor. Rob’s experience and passion for construction eventually lead him to search for a better way to manage construction projects using technology. He started DigiBuild in early 2018 to revolutionize construction projects, profits, and people. He has managed over $500M in construction projects and was recently named to the list of “25 Rising Stars in Tech” By Crain’s Chicago Business. He is a frequent speaker and educator for groups like BuiltWorlds and the Construction Institute.
Jerry Horani is the Chief Technology Officer at VCC Construction, a ten-year veteran in the industry. As the CTO, Horani is responsible for developing the overall technology vision for the company, and driving cross-company engineering initiatives and collaboration.
Jerry works in a consultative fashion with other department heads as an advisor of technologies that may improve their efficiency and effectiveness. He provides leadership to department heads in a fashion that supports the company’s culture, mission and values. Jerry conducts research and case studies on leading edge technologies and makes determinations on the probability of implementation.
Behavioral Based Safety Leadership
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room E219D
What is Behavioral Based Safety and why is it vital in your organization?
Behavioral Based Safety identifies the cause of unsafe behaviors and then applies research-based techniques to eliminate this behavior. Whether your organization uses a top-down measure, a bottom-up technique, or a group collective, applying effective behavioral-based applications will reduce hazards and create or enhance your safety culture.
Target Audience: All Managerial Staff and Supervision, Project Managers, and Foreman
Mr. Vick is a career Environmental Safety and Health Administrator. Since September 2001, he has served as a subject matter expert on OSHA, E.P.A., and state safety regulatory matters. Mr. Vick has a proven track record of creating and fostering environments that are vigilant about safety and hazard avoidance, creating safe workplaces that enable the successful completion of large-scale projects. Mr. Vick’s certifications include MESH (Manager of Environmental Safety and Health), Homeland Security III (CHS III), and Security Management and Fire Safety. He is also an OSHA authorized Construction (500) and General Industry (501) outreach trainer. Shiron has a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Health and Safety.
Internet 101 for Contractors
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room E220D
Not sure what to do about your online presence? The Internet has changed consumer behavior. Your potential customers are looking for you online. (Yes, even your referrals!) Can they easily find you? If they can, are they getting a current and professional image of your business? In this informative and casual session, you will learn what matters today and how to use the Internet to build your business - bring your questions!
- How much do websites cost?
- The basics of an effective website
- Why you need a website even if you’re busy
- How Google works and what's new in search
- SEO - Search Engine Optimization made simple
- Q&A: Ask what you want. Learn from an industry veteran
Target Audience: Contractors, Home Builders, Architects, and Small Business Owners
Steve got into the website business in the early days of the Internet and in 1998, he started his first web development company - Z57 Internet Solutions. The company received national recognition including being in Inc. Magazine, Forbes, and Entrepreneur Magazine. Z57 made the Inc. 5000 several times as one of the fastest growing companies in the country. Steve led the growth of the company from start up to over 225 employees. The company was one of the largest web design firms in the nation and built over 40,000 websites in the 14 years Steve was the owner.
After selling the company and taking some time off, Steve started ZDigital. ZDigital offers websites and Internet marketing services to contractors, architects and designers across the US. ZDigital helps business owners with new website design, website redesigns and other Internet marketing services including Google and Facebook ads, social media management, SEO and more. To contact Steve or to learn more about ZDigital, visit www.ZDigital.com
Manage Your Jobs More Profitably - From Estimating to Job Costing and Invoicing
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room E216B
In today’s highly competitive market, it’s more important than ever to be on top of your numbers. If you can’t price your jobs accurately and don’t have a great process for managing your costs throughout the job, you’re setting yourself up for failure. During this presentation, we’ll discuss common pitfalls, cover lessons learned from real-world experiences, and provide actionable takeaways to improve your processes for everything from estimating to bidding, job costing, purchase orders, vendor bills, customer invoicing, and more.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Learn the common pitfalls for why businesses don’t hit their target profits
- Get better insights on pricing your jobs and the difference between markup and margin
- Identify new business processes you can incorporate into your business
Target Audience: Builders, Contractors, Remodelers, Specialty Contractors, Business Owners
Eric Fortenberry is a passionate entrepreneur who founded JobTread, a construction management software company, in 2019 after serving as interim CEO for a General Contracting company where he built the first version of JobTread to help streamline and remedy their broken processes.
After successfully implementing the platform and increasing their gross profit by 43%, Eric knew he was on to something great! He spent the last two years rehiring many of his former employees, building out the platform, and making it ready for the broader market.
Prior to JobTread, Eric founded OrgSync, a SaaS student engagement platform, in 2007 after quitting his investment banking job where he focused on high growth middle market, web-based technology companies. In 2015, after selling OrgSync to approximately 650 universities and serving nearly 20 million users across 13 countries, the Company was acquired by Leeds Equity.
Eric has been named to Inc. Magazine’s 30 Under 30 List of the World’s Coolest Young Entrepreneurs under the age of 30 and received awards at the White House and United Nations after being named to the Empact 100 List showcasing the Best Companies Started and Run by Young Entrepreneurs. OrgSync was also recognized multiple times as a Best Place to Work and a fastest growing company for its company culture, rapid growth, and innovative solutions.
Eric is an Eagle Scout and holds a BBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin and a Masters in Software Engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas.
PVC101 – The Benefits & Uses of Cellular PVC | 1 AIA Credit
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room E219A
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
Target Audience: Builders, Contractors and Architects in Commercial and Residential applications.
Rich Maurer is the Southeast Regional Sales Manager for Versatex Building Products. The territory spans from North & South Carolina, through Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi.
For over ten years, Rich has grown the territory by developing all aspects of the business. By focusing on distribution and stocking dealer development, he has expanded the business throughout the Southeast Region. By raising the awareness and training builders, remodelers and contractors on the benefits found in using PVC products, Versatex has been able to provide these craftsmen with beautiful products that also offer their clients the benefit of low maintenance.
Most importantly, Rich has worked with the architectural community throughout the region to ensure architects and designers have the facts, knowledge, comfort level, and confidence to use valuable cellular PVC products in their designs.
Rich lives in Greenville, SC, and can’t make a living playing golf…thus, he will be presenting here today!
A Better Way to Manage Your Jobs From Start to Finish - JobTread Demo
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | Room E216B
JobTread brings your entire business together in one software. It's the easiest way to get organized, win your time back, and increase your profits. JobTread is packed with many powerful features you’ll love to improve the way you manage your business.
- Sales & Estimating - Win more jobs in less time
- Project Management & Scheduling - Stay on time and on budget
- Finances & Cash Flow - Track job costs, generate invoices, and get paid faster
- Maximize Profits - Achieve your target profit margins and make more money per job
Now is the time to take your business to the next level. Come learn why so many builders and contractors have given JobTread 5-star reviews and consider adding JobTread to your toolkit.
Target Audience: Builders, Contractors, Remodelers, Specialty Contractors, Business Owners
Rilee’s experience in both construction and software development fuels his passion for using technology to help people build and scale their businesses. He loves setting up contractors with the right tools to make their businesses more organized and profitable.
Holding a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Texas A&M University as well as a Certificate in Fullstack Web Development from Southern Methodist University, Rilee is well-versed in guiding contractors through streamlining processes while maximizing profits.
The 6 Videos Contracting Companies Need To Stand Out Amongst Their Competition
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | Room E216A
Build a strong foundation in video marketing with these 6 videos that will separate your company from the competition.
Target Audience: Residential and commercial contractors
$2,500 or $5,000 Per Residence
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | Room E216C
Don’t leave money on the table!
From single-family, to multifamily high-rises, let us help you navigate The Federal Energy Efficiency Incentives.
Target Audience: Homebuilders, Retrofitters/Remodelers, and Residential Real Estate Investors.
Travis is the Chief Executive Officer for ICS Inspectors, LLC residing in Houston, Texas. Travis leads his teams of RESNET Raters across the country, building Energy Rating and Consulting programs for homebuilders, retrofitters, and residential real estate developers. For real estate investors, property owners, home builders, and professionals within the construction industry, his vast expertise in tax planning has massively reduced taxpayers’ bills. He has helped with cost segregation studies and fixed asset reviews for building owners in numerous industries. As an advisor, Travis has assisted real estate professionals across our country in every single state, and aided architects, engineers, and contractors with §179D Energy Efficient Commercial Building Deduction for their governmental and public projects.
Travis studied Business Management at St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, North Carolina. While there, he competed in the NCAA Cross Country National Championships. In his free time, Travis fosters pets for animal rescues. Over the years, he’s personally helped more than 500 animals find their forever families.
Rick Stone is the Director of Sales for ICS Inspectors, LLC. Rick has tremendous enthusiasm for building relationships and assisting clients achieve their goals. Prior to ICS, Rick successfully developed platforms and programs as a trusted advisor within Fortune 500 companies throughout his 25 years of leading and developing. As a proven consultant, Rick helps his clients take advantage of wide ranges of lucrative incentives from local, state, and municipal initiatives through Federal EPAct Credits and Deductions for real estate investors, developers, and property owners, to the Employee Retention Tax Credit for businesses and industries impacted by COVID-19.
Rick and his family reside in Stephenville, Texas. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching football games, and traveling. Rick proudly served his country as a non-commissioned officer in The U.S. Marine Corps.
