Complimentary Keynotes & Seminars
Charlotte Build Expo's lineup of over 30 complimentary keynotes and classes are free to attend with your free, all-access pass.
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
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.
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
Effective Sales Presentations
9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. |
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Builders, and Remodelers
4 Blind Spots Preventing Contractors From Retaining Talent and Growing Profit
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
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
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.
How Google And Chat GPT Can Boost your Online Lead Flow
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
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 users 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 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
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
How to Work with the City
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
In this lively and highly informative discussion, Ann McNeill, the "Master Builder" explains the steps, skills, and strategies needed for construction contractors to successfully bid on and obtain work with governments.
Ann has worked with all levels of government and specializes in helping small businesses thrive.
Frame for Success – Avoid Callbacks | 1 AIA Credit
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Based on hundreds of job site inspections, APA staff have identified the most common wood construction framing and sheathing errors found in today’s construction market. This session will examine the consequences of these common errors and provide practical solutions for avoiding them.
Target Audience: Builders, Designers, Architects, and code officials
Certify & Prosper: Unlocking Billions in Government Contracting Opportunities
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Unlock access to billions of dollars in government contracts by strategically pursuing Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE), Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE), Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB), and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certifications. By leveraging these certifications effectively in your government contract bids, you can elevate your competitiveness and tap into a vast array of contracting opportunities. These opportunities span across local, state, and federal government entities, presenting a lucrative avenue for business growth and expansion.
Join our comprehensive class where we delve into the intricacies of certification requirements, the diverse range of certification options available, and expert strategies for securing both government and non-government contracts. Gain invaluable insights and actionable tactics to position your business for success in the competitive government contracting landscape.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding the different types of certifications.
- Understanding the requirements needed to get certified.
- Knowing where to get certified.
- Where to find opportunities.
- How to leverage your certification.
Target Audience: Women Owned Businesses, Minority Owned Businesses, Veteran Owned Business, Architects, Engineers, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Builders, and Suppliers
Trouble Finding Staff? – Uncommon Methods of Hiring to Get the Work Done
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Contractors, Remodelers, Home Builders, & Professional Trades today have many challenges. Finding and keeping quality employees can be hard.
Learning Objectives
- Evaluating the Gaps in your Staffing Needs
- Creating a Hiring Pipeline for Positions
- How to Reduce Churn in your Organization
- Increase Profitability with Non-traditional Hiring Methods
Target Audience: All Business Owners including: Contractors, Remodelers, Home Builders, as well as any HR Managers
Be Seen, Get Leads: Is Your Google Business Profile Holding You Back?
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
In the competitive world of the home services industry, a strong online presence is essential. This presentation will guide you through the fundamentals of Google Business Profiles (GBP), demonstrating how to optimize your profile to attract more clients, build trust, and enhance your visibility in the local market. The presentation will be structured in five parts:
1. Introduction:
- Understanding Google Business Profiles:
- - An overview of what Google Business Profiles are and their significance for home services companies.
- Why GBP Matters in the Home Industry:
- - How GBP enhances local search visibility, builds credibility, and attracts new clients to your business.
2. Key Components of Google Business Profiles:
- Business Information:
- - The importance of accurate details: name, address, phone number (NAP), and operating hours.
- - How to ensure your business information reflects your brand and services.
- Photos & Videos:
- - The role of high-quality visual content in showcasing your projects and craftsmanship.
- - Best practices for adding and managing photos and videos to engage potential clients.
- Posts & Q&A:
- - Using posts to highlight new projects, promotions, and services.
- - Managing the Q&A section to address client concerns and demonstrate your expertise.
- Client Reviews:
- - The impact of reviews on your reputation and rankings.
- - How to encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews and best practices for responding to feedback.
3. Securing and Managing Customer Reviews:
- The Power of Reviews in Home Building & Renovation:
- - Why reviews are crucial for establishing trust in the home industry.
- - Strategies for encouraging clients to share their experiences and tips on managing reviews effectively.
- - Demonstrate how responding to reviews (both positive and negative) can enhance your reputation.
4. Simple Optimization Techniques for the Home Industry:
- Keeping Information Updated:
- - The importance of keeping your GBP details current to reflect your latest projects and services.
- - Show how consistent updates can improve your profile’s performance in local search.
- Utilizing Industry-Specific Keywords:
- - Integrating keywords related to home building and renovation into your business description and posts.
- - Demonstrate keyword usage that resonates with your target audience.
- Leveraging GBP Insights:
- - How to use GBP Insights to track performance and make data-driven adjustments to your profile.
- - Showcase real-life examples of how insights can guide your optimization efforts.
5. Addressing Common Pitfalls & Misinformation:
- Debunking Myths:
- - Address common misconceptions about GBP, particularly within the home building and renovation sectors.
- Avoiding Mistakes:
- - Highlight typical errors and provide tips on how to avoid them to maintain a strong online presence.
6. Q&A Session:
- Open Floor for Questions:
- - Engage with attendees, allowing them to ask questions, seek clarification, or explore specific topics in more depth.
Target Audience: All building and construction professionals
10 Min Marketing Plan to Avoid Marketing Overspending & Headaches. Plus, Where / How to Generate More Leads? | Room 501A
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Fractional CMO, Joshua Ramsey is going to 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" like the big companies use to stay on top.
If you don’t attend this session, your competitors will!!
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.
Unlocking the Power of AI in Project Management Software
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
CEO and Founder | Ressio
Learn the practical applications of Artificial Intelligence when paired with modern project management software. Discover how simple AI tools can take your business to the next level by boosting your team's productivity and delivering a more interactive client experience.
Target Audience: Home builders, remodelers, and contractors
Your #1 Tool to Run a Financially Successful Business
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
CPA & Owner | Unconventional CFO
Imagine this....
- Payroll is no longer an issue every 2 weeks.
- Your take-home salary is predictableand reliable, not just the cash left over.
- You can take a two-week vacationat Disney with your kids without juggling accounts.
- A truck breaks down, but you have a contingency account ready. You're prepared.
- No more rushing jobsjust to get the billing in, because your cash flow is managed efficiently.
Ready to make this your reality?
In this session, I introduce business owners to the #1 tool they need to run a financially healthy and successful business. I believe that when we let our numbers run our businesses we not only minimize the risk of insolvency but we allow our businesses to succeed. You will walk away with:
- A new way of thinking about your numbers
- A clear understanding of the four critical metrics you need to run a successful business
- A new strategy for building their cashflow forecast
You will gain confidence in interpreting financial indicators and enhancing your business decision-making skills.
Target Audience: Owners, CEOs, C-Suite Executives, Finance/Accounting personnel
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.
Building a Predictable Business Culture that Recruits, Hires, and Retains Great Gen Z Talent
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
Quickbooks for Contractors - Advanced
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.
Niche to be Rich in Construction
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Being a general contractor does not mean you should be a general business owner. If you want to have business success, you need to become an expert specialist in your craft.
Join Ann McNeill, the "Master Builder," as she shares the principles, solutions, and plans needed for your business to excel by drilling down and discovering your niche in construction to find your riches.
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
Building Legacy: Preparing Your Business for Sale or Succession
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
CPA & Owner | Unconventional CFO
In this session, we’ll dive into practical strategies to ensure your business is either ready for a successful sale or positioned to be passed down to the next generation. Whether you’re considering exiting the business or keeping it in the family, this workshop will equip you with actionable steps to maximize the value and longevity of your company.
In this session, I introduce business owners to the practical ways to strengthen their business by:
- Learning how to strengthen your financials
- Discover the levers you can pull to boost your company’s market value
- Understand the critical elements of a succession planning
Join us to learn how to secure your business's future!
Target Audience: Owners, CEOs, C-Suite Executives
After the Storm-Lessons Learned about Building for High Wind Resistance - 1 AIA Credit
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
This session will discuss structural failures observed during storm damage assessments and the behavior of wood structures during high wind events. An overview of how high wind forces work, the importance of a complete load path, and how good design and construction practices can improve the storm resistance of buildings will be provided. Both code requirements and APA’s above-code recommendations which contribute to improved overall performance in the structural shell will be discussed. They focus on good connection details and common failure modes seen in storm damage assessments and help builders cost effectively build a safer home. By understanding key code requirements and lateral load concepts, home damage in future storms can be minimized.
Target Audience: Builders, Designers, Architects, and code officials
Navigating Cybersecurity in Construction
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Founder & CEO | C Three Business Consultants
Compliance with regulations is non-negotiable, as failing to meet regulatory requirements can result in significant financial penalties and reputational damage. Understanding and adhering to regulations such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, GDPR, or industry-specific standards like the Construction Industry Institute (CII) Cybersecurity Program is essential.
In this class, we discuss real-world examples of cyber threats in the construction industry and their consequences. Which can help illustrate the importance of cybersecurity measures. Additionally, we will provide practical guidance on developing and implementing a cybersecurity strategy tailored to the unique needs and challenges of the construction industry to effectively safeguard your assets, data, and reputation.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding the different types of threats both on and offline.
- Understanding the risks of a cyber intrusion.
- Staying on top of current security measures for compliancy.
- Understanding cybersecurity insurance.
- Creating a disaster recovery plan to be proactive rather than reactive.
Target Audience: Architects, Engineers, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Builders, and Suppliers
Maximizing Efficiency with Job Costing & Project Management Tools
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
CEO and Founder | Ressio
Discover estimating and project management software tools that keeps your team, trades, and clients connected, improving efficiency and profitability. We'll discuss the pitfalls of spreadsheet estimating and how software can help you track your expenses in real-time. We'll also explore scheduling tools that allow you to manage your team and trades effectively.
Target Audience: Home builders, remodelers, and contractors
How One Simple Change Saved a Contracting Business Over $100,000/Year – Case Study
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
Contractors, Remodelers, Home Builders, & Professional Trades today have many challenges. Keeping margins and reducing costs while providing a great customer experience is crucial for success.
Learning Objectives
- Evaluating Your Profit Leaks
- Strategies to reduce costs while still providing better customer service than your competitors
- Implementing policy changes that can significantly improve your bottom line
Target Audience: All Business Owners including: Contractors, Remodelers, Home Builders, as well as any HR Managers
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.
Be Seen, Get Leads: Is Your Google Business Profile Holding You Back?
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. |
In the competitive world of the home services industry, a strong online presence is essential. This presentation will guide you through the fundamentals of Google Business Profiles (GBP), demonstrating how to optimize your profile to attract more clients, build trust, and enhance your visibility in the local market. The presentation will be structured in five parts:
1. Introduction:
- Understanding Google Business Profiles:
- - An overview of what Google Business Profiles are and their significance for home services companies.
- Why GBP Matters in the Home Industry:
- - How GBP enhances local search visibility, builds credibility, and attracts new clients to your business.
2. Key Components of Google Business Profiles:
- Business Information:
- - The importance of accurate details: name, address, phone number (NAP), and operating hours.
- - How to ensure your business information reflects your brand and services.
- Photos & Videos:
- - The role of high-quality visual content in showcasing your projects and craftsmanship.
- - Best practices for adding and managing photos and videos to engage potential clients.
- Posts & Q&A:
- - Using posts to highlight new projects, promotions, and services.
- - Managing the Q&A section to address client concerns and demonstrate your expertise.
- Client Reviews:
- - The impact of reviews on your reputation and rankings.
- - How to encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews and best practices for responding to feedback.
3. Securing and Managing Customer Reviews:
- The Power of Reviews in Home Building & Renovation:
- - Why reviews are crucial for establishing trust in the home industry.
- - Strategies for encouraging clients to share their experiences and tips on managing reviews effectively.
- - Demonstrate how responding to reviews (both positive and negative) can enhance your reputation.
4. Simple Optimization Techniques for the Home Industry:
- Keeping Information Updated:
- - The importance of keeping your GBP details current to reflect your latest projects and services.
- - Show how consistent updates can improve your profile’s performance in local search.
- Utilizing Industry-Specific Keywords:
- - Integrating keywords related to home building and renovation into your business description and posts.
- - Demonstrate keyword usage that resonates with your target audience.
- Leveraging GBP Insights:
- - How to use GBP Insights to track performance and make data-driven adjustments to your profile.
- - Showcase real-life examples of how insights can guide your optimization efforts.
5. Addressing Common Pitfalls & Misinformation:
- Debunking Myths:
- - Address common misconceptions about GBP, particularly within the home building and renovation sectors.
- Avoiding Mistakes:
- - Highlight typical errors and provide tips on how to avoid them to maintain a strong online presence.
6. Q&A Session:
- Open Floor for Questions:
- - Engage with attendees, allowing them to ask questions, seek clarification, or explore specific topics in more depth.
Target Audience: All building and construction professionals
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