HOUSTON BUILD EXPO
June 28-29, 2023 | NRG Park Center (Hall E1/E3)
Exhibit Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Classes Start at 9:30 a.m. Each Day
As a Division 1 Football player in the powerful Southeastern Conference (SEC) Scott has seen first hand the behind-the-scenes system that is being constantly updated and refined to ensure that athletically talented 16 and 17 adolescents choose the right team.
Remodeler and home builder owners are in a season of work where they have a choice: see the next generation as a hindrance with excuses like “they won’t work”, or to see this new generation as an opportunity to pivot with a renewed mindset like “I’m excited to see how they own the mission!”
There is a shortage of workers for the old-school methodologies but there is not a shortage of people willing to work…towards the right mission.
This life-changing and engaging keynote pulls from our work with hundreds of owners and gets you on the path to building a powerhouse team.
You will be equipped to beat chaos with predictability, and to build a business that brings stability, life, and time for what matters most.
Learning Objectives
- Learn The 3 Foundational Layers Of EVERY Contracting Business
- Understand the 5 Non-Negotiables Of Building And Leading A Vision-Centered Team
- Discover the key elements of powerhouse recruiting that will have you speaking to a younger generation the way they wish to be spoken to!
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Builders, and Remodelers
People, people, people! How do we find the right people to hire? How do we find ANY people to hire?
The Boomers retired early, and the emerging generations are much more selective in the work they choose. How can you find the right people, recruit them the right way, share the right vision, and then onboard them the right way that aligns with the right mission?
Reimagine the business of your contracting firm with this engaging keynote talk drawing from our work with hundreds of contractor owners that led to our proprietary and proven roadmap.
This roadmap will equip you to beat chaos with predictability, and to build the team that will build the business to make time for what matters most.
Learning Objectives
- Learn the one culprit that keeps us from experience the deep work and flow that we want but can’t see to find
- Discover the 4 systems that all business owners must implement…regardless of size or scope
- Uncover the secret to a great culture that keeps and promotes great people
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Builders, and Remodelers
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.-11:00 a.m. |
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Builders, and Remodelers
The Secret Gen Z Language: Getting the Next Generation Excited To Work And Lead
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
We’ve been led to buy the myth that a “good” custom homebuilding company is more “luck of the draw” and less “intentional sowing and fertilizing”.
This eye-opening educational workshop will help to uncover what the next generation really wants and what elements lead to business health versus disease. You will leave empowered with a tool that you can implement immediately providing a clear roadmap to multi-generational engagement in the custom homebuilding workplace.
After this workshop you will have clarity on the true difference within the generations, how to listen and speak to your team with a compelling language, and what elements are needed for each team member to thrive day to day.
Learning Objectives
- Learn the one action you can take to connect with someone younger than you immediately
- Understand what “mistakes” all new generations are looking to correct…and how to not be offended
- Discover the language of multi-generations so your words are heard
Target Audience: Homebuilders, Remodelers, Contractors
PVC101 – The Benefits & Uses of Cellular PVC - 1.0 AIA Credit
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
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.
Sustainability and resiliency: How it applies within the Built World - 1.0 AIA Credit
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
1 Hour and attendees will receive 1 LU credit from AIA, and the objectives are as follows:
- Learn about vinyl's resiliency
- Learn about cladding and facades’ roles in sustainability and resilience
- Learn about material sustainability - and the environmental impact
- Learn about environmental impact measures and how everything impacts the environment
Target Audience: Architects and Developers
How a Coating Application Can Fail: Ways to Prepare for a Positive Result
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Director of Technology | Coval Technologies
Dr. Mueller will address ways to avert a coating application failure, with advice on correctly preparing and testing a surface. He will discuss the tools to determine whether a substrate is coating ready, and the factors that can and cannot be adjusted for a successful application.
Included in the presentation are the following topics:
- Adhesion failure, and various factors that prohibit the adhesion
- Delamination, when there is a loss of adhesion to the pre-painted or primed surface
- Stress cracking, attributed to moisture or lack of flexibility of the coating
- Solvent lifting or Wrinkling, occurring when topcoats with a strong solvent blend react with previous and weaker solvent-based coatings when incompatible paint systems are used, or when overcoating takes place before the previous coat has adequately hardened
- Plus, other visual cues of problems called blistering, blushing, chalking, cratering, fisheyes, and pin holing will be touched upon.
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Commercial Builders, Subcontractors - Flooring professionals, Remodelers, Facilities Managers, Building Owners, Municipalities, Spec Writers, Government agencies
Estimating Direct and Indirect Costs in Construction
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Direct and indirect expenses in construction projects: This presentation takes a quick and comprehensive look at all expenses expected in a typical construction project. We identify direct and indirect expenses and list all types of categories under each type. The presentation makes a brief analysis of labor, materials, equipment, overhead, bonds and insurance, profit, contingency, and other expenses. Knowing and estimating these expenses can make or break the contractor’s business. This presentation is a must for contractors and anyone in the construction industry.
Target Audience: Builders and Contractors
What Google REALLY Wants From Your Website
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
All you really want from Google is clear communication on what you have to do to get leads. No matter what business you own, we all fight for that page 1 placement. But if you take a second to think about it, you probably don’t care about being on page 1 of Google. You really want MORE LEADS!
Google Partner for more than a DECADE, Joshua Ramsey will be teaching you an approach that will have your brain spinning with unique ideas that will increase your conversion rate online (CRO).
Walk away with exact starting strategies to immediately change your business.
- What is CRO and how to apply it
- Build Your USP (unique selling position) that will draw increased engagement
- LIVE website analysis providing pinpointed solutions for YOUR WEBSITE.
Target Audience: All building and construction professionals
Use of Chemical Grout to Stop Water Leaks into Commercial and Residential Structure
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Basic types of chemical grout and their application to stop leaks in commercial and residential structure. Advantages over alternative repair methods. Installed costs and contractor selection.
Target Audience: All building and construction professionals
Contracting Strategy
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
The participant will gain an understanding of strategy within Government and public works contracting as well as understand best practices within project execution.
Target Audience: General and Specialty contractors
Job Costing to Guarantee Profitability
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.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: Builders, Contractors, Remodelers, Specialty Contractors, Business Owners
Latest Trends in Green Building
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
This presentation will focus on a review of the latest trends in the green building industry which contribute in a positive fashion to the built environment. Topics to be discussed include net zero, green roofs, modular construction, retrofitting, renewable energy, human health and well-being, and biophilic design.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize fundamental concepts in green building
- Understand the intended effects of various pathways on the built environment
- Compare multiple approaches to achieve the desired end result
- Identify strategies in your world which positively impact the built environment
This course is eligible for one hour of GBCI general CE.
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Commercial Builders, Subcontractors - Flooring professionals, Remodelers, Facilities Managers, Building Owners, Municipalities, Spec Writers, Government agencies
Chief Marketing Officer LIVE panel Q&A
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
Wondering what the massive global companies are doing to continue to dominate? Hear first hand from a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) that has been the leader in construction based marketing strategies worldwide for nearly a decade!
Come with questions leave with answers. Gain detailed feedback on how you can improve your marketing position. Or simply hear the stories and strategies from the boardroom of global giants. Key strategies that you can also apply to your business.
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.
A Better Way to Manage Your Jobs From Start to Finish - JobTread Demo
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
Get organized, complete your projects on time, and increase your profits. JobTread is 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: Builders, Contractors, Remodelers, Specialty Contractors, Business Owners
Healthy Buildings, Healthy People
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
Everyone deserves to live their best, healthiest life. The WELL Building Standard applies the science of physical and social environments to benefit the health, well-being, and performance of people through air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind, and community. WELL is grounded in a body of medical research that explores the connection between the buildings where we spend more than 90 percent of our time, and the health and wellness of their occupants.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the fundamental concepts of WELL
- Identify systems that contribute to a healthy indoor environment
- List the positive effects on the occupants of WELL practices
This course is eligible for one hour of GBCI general CE.
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Commercial Builders, Subcontractors - Flooring professionals, Remodelers, Facilities Managers, Building Owners, Municipalities, Spec Writers, Government agencies
Lightning Protection System Design | 1 AIA Credit
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
The purpose of this presentation is to provide electrical engineers, architects, and contractors with the training necessary to understand the fundamentals of facility electrical protection related to Commercial & Industrial applications.
Target Audience: Architects and Engineers
Tree to Table | 1.0 AIA LU/HSW Credit
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
This course serves as a guide to selecting quality, sustainable hardwoods for bespoke furniture and design products by explaining the process of sourcing, harvesting, milling, drying, surfacing, and finishing hardwood materials.
At the end of this course attendees will be able to:
- Understand the origins, importance, and reward of utilizing sustainable resources. Committing to environmentally conscious hardwoods increases the welfare of future generations.
- Identify properly milled and dried hardwoods. Safety risks are minimized when properly dried wood is selected for projects.
- Recognize best practices, treatments, and finishes to maximize longevity of hardwood furnishings. Durable and harmless treatments are important to the health of the clients.
- Ask knowledgeable questions and recognize hardwoods that incorporate sustainability into design.
Target Audience: Builders, Contractors and Architects in Commercial and Residential applications
Your Pathway to ZERO - $2,500 or $5,000 Per Residence | 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
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
Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering
2:30 p.m.-3:00 p.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
3:00 p.m.-3:30 p.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
Common Construction Sales Mistakes
9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. |
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Builders, and Remodelers.
Culture Is NOT An Accident: How To Build Your Culture On One Sheet Of Paper
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
The culture of your business is a DIRECT RESULT of the ingredients that you allow to enter into the building. Good ingredients equal good culture, and vice versa. Culture is more than ping pong tables and bean bag chairs. Culture is about relationships, connection, and communication.
Culture will determine the joy that we find in running our business. We all want a great culture, and we know we have to work for it…but how? Most strategies include a cross-your-fingers approach.
This fun and surprising workshop will remove the confusion around great culture, and provide you the action and clarity you need to build a culture that you are proud of and that all generations want to be a part of.
Learning Objectives
- Clarify the elements of great culture, and identify distracting elements of bad culture so you can focus on the elements of great culture
- Walk away with a one page visual of building great culture in your business starting tomorrow
- Discover the motivation to stop wasting time and money on team outings and bonus plans that rarely move the needle
Target Audience: Homebuilders, Remodelers, Contractors
PVC101 – The Benefits & Uses of Cellular PVC - 1.0 AIA Credit
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
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.
Sustainability and resiliency: How it applies within the Built World - 1.0 AIA Credit
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
1 Hour and attendees will receive 1 LU credit from AIA, and the objectives are as follows:
- Learn about vinyl's resiliency
- Learn about cladding and facades’ roles in sustainability and resilience
- Learn about material sustainability - and the environmental impact
- Learn about environmental impact measures and how everything impacts the environment
Target Audience: Architects and Developers
Productivity Adjustments and its Impact on Cost and Duration
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Productivity adjustments and its impact on cost and duration. Estimating crew (labor and equipment) productivity is crucial to both the cost and duration of the project. This is why the contractor must make proper adjustments to estimated productivity for each work activity, taking into account all impacting factors such as weather conditions. But adjustments must also be considered with schedule updates because things rarely, if ever, go as planned. This presentation takes a quick look at this process with valuable tips for more accurate cost estimates and schedules.
Target Audience: Builders and Contractors
Estimating, Pricing and Increasing Sales with Upgrades & Selections
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
We don’t always need to cut our profit to win the job! Learn how to leverage JobTread to estimate effectively, price jobs to reach target profits, and increase your sales through upgrades and selections.
Target Audience: Builders, Contractors, Remodelers, Specialty Contractors, Business Owners
How a Coating Application Can Fail: Ways to Prepare for a Positive Result
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Director of Technology | Coval Technologies
Dr. Mueller will address ways to avert a coating application failure, with advice on correctly preparing and testing a surface. He will discuss the tools to determine whether a substrate is coating ready, and the factors that can and cannot be adjusted for a successful application.
Included in the presentation are the following topics:
- Adhesion failure, and various factors that prohibit the adhesion
- Delamination, when there is a loss of adhesion to the pre-painted or primed surface
- Stress cracking, attributed to moisture or lack of flexibility of the coating
- Solvent lifting or Wrinkling, occurring when topcoats with a strong solvent blend react with previous and weaker solvent-based coatings when incompatible paint systems are used, or when overcoating takes place before the previous coat has adequately hardened
- Plus, other visual cues of problems called blistering, blushing, chalking, cratering, fisheyes, and pin holing will be touched upon.
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Commercial Builders, Subcontractors - Flooring professionals, Remodelers, Facilities Managers, Building Owners, Municipalities, Spec Writers, Government agencies
What Google REALLY Wants From Your Website
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
All you really want from Google is clear communication on what you have to do to get leads. No matter what business you own, we all fight for that page 1 placement. But if you take a second to think about it, you probably don’t care about being on page 1 of Google. You really want MORE LEADS!
Google Partner for more than a DECADE, Joshua Ramsey will be teaching you an approach that will have your brain spinning with unique ideas that will increase your conversion rate online (CRO).
Walk away with exact starting strategies to immediately change your business.
- What is CRO and how to apply it
- Build Your USP (unique selling position) that will draw increased engagement
- LIVE website analysis providing pinpointed solutions for YOUR WEBSITE.
Target Audience: All building and construction professionals
Your Pathway to ZERO - $2,500 or $5,000 Per Residence | 9:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
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
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.
Chief Marketing Officer LIVE panel Q&A
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
Wondering what the massive global companies are doing to continue to dominate? Hear first hand from a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) that has been the leader in construction based marketing strategies worldwide for nearly a decade!
Come with questions leave with answers. Gain detailed feedback on how you can improve your marketing position. Or simply hear the stories and strategies from the boardroom of global giants. Key strategies that you can also apply to your business.
Target Audience: All building and construction professionals
A Better Way to Manage Your Jobs From Start to Finish - JobTread Demo
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
Get organized, complete your projects on time, and increase your profits. JobTread is 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: Builders, Contractors, Remodelers, Specialty Contractors, Business Owners
Lightning Protection System Design | 1 AIA Credit
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
The purpose of this presentation is to provide electrical engineers, architects, and contractors with the training necessary to understand the fundamentals of facility electrical protection related to Commercial & Industrial applications.
Target Audience: Architects and Engineers
Tree to Table | 1.0 AIA LU/HSW Credit
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
This course serves as a guide to selecting quality, sustainable hardwoods for bespoke furniture and design products by explaining the process of sourcing, harvesting, milling, drying, surfacing, and finishing hardwood materials.
At the end of this course attendees will be able to:
- Understand the origins, importance, and reward of utilizing sustainable resources. Committing to environmentally conscious hardwoods increases the welfare of future generations.
- Identify properly milled and dried hardwoods. Safety risks are minimized when properly dried wood is selected for projects.
- Recognize best practices, treatments, and finishes to maximize longevity of hardwood furnishings. Durable and harmless treatments are important to the health of the clients.
- Ask knowledgeable questions and recognize hardwoods that incorporate sustainability into design.
Target Audience: Builders, Contractors and Architects in Commercial and Residential applications
