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


















































































































































































































































































































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
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?
This life-changing and engaging 45 minute talk pulls 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
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. | Room 604
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Builders, and Remodelers
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 602
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.
Google Partner Teaching: Generate More Online Leads With a SEO Driven Website
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 603
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
Introduction to Construction Cost Estimating
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 601

Target Audience: Builders and Contractors
Make Your Business A Lead Generation Machine
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 606
Manage Your Jobs More Profitably - From Estimating to Job Costing and Invoicing
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 600
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
Green Business Certifications and Programs - 1.0 GBCI General CE Credit
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 608
This workshop provides LEED practitioners, project teams, service providers, and developers an overview of the expanding suite of tools offered by the Green Business Certification Inc. Learn about the tools for market transformation: LEED, Arc, WELL, SITES, PEER, Parksmart, TRUE, and LEED for Cities. Receive an overview on each of the green building offerings that builds upon your knowledge of LEED. Discover tools and resources for advancing green buildings, communities and cities as part of your green business strategy. No matter the type, size, scope, or life-cycle phase of your project, GBCI has a system than can work for you.
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Builders, and Remodelers
Lightning Protection System Design - 1.0 PDH/CEU HSW Credit
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 605
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.
This 1 hour presentation provides an overview of electrical grounding, bonding, and lightning protection.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the design principles of lightning protection
- Define what a lightning protection system is
- Explain how lightning is formed
- Identify the different ways one can be struck by lightning
- Use and understand the Risk Assessment in NFPA® 780
- List the various lightning protection standards
- Understand the inspection and maintenance of a lightning protection system
- Discuss UL and LPI Inspection Process
Target Audience: Architects, Engineers, and Contractors
From Amateur to Unforgettable
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 607
In this 1 hour presentation General Manager of BoxBrownie.com, Tabitha Thomas, 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
Electronic Payments 101
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 609
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
Overview of LEED v4.1 Toolkit- 1.0 GBCI General CE Credit
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Room 608
This presentation will provide participants an insight into LEED v4.1 BD+C, ID+C, O+M and the information needed to pursue certification. The focus will be on understanding the goals and outcomes of the newest update to the LEED rating systems, LEED v4.1, which incorporates lessons learned from LEED v4 project teams to update performance thresholds and reference standards.
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Builders, and Remodelers
Lighting Control Illuminated - 1.0 AIA Credit
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Room 605
Lighting control has become a standard in new construction and existing retrofit solutions…those who have it love it and wonder how they ever lived without it! Participants will walk away with a basic understanding of lighting control terminology, and the benefits and solutions related to lighting control- presented in simple, easy to understand language. Additionally, attendees will be active participants in discussion surrounding common misperceptions, features and lighting control design considerations.
Target Audience: Architects and Engineers
Under 10 Minutes – Chief Marketing Officer will give you a Step-By-Step Marketing Plan
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Room 603
In under 10 minutes Fractional CMO, Joshua Ramsey, will give you a marketing plan that he guarantees, if followed, will boost your business over the next 90 days!
Target Audience: All building and construction professionals
Quickbooks for Contractors - Beginner
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Room 601
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
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Room 600
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
3 Proven Ways to Overcome Supply Chain Issues & Avoid Delays
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Room 604
3 Proven ways for construction professionals to avoid supply chain issues they currently face without being overwhelmed, experiencing slow downs, or overspending on jobs.
- How to defeat supply chain issues before they defeat you, so you don't lose profit, jobs, or time
- How to leverage the supply chain climate as a competitive advantage, so you can stand out from other contractors in your market
- How to leverage other construction professions to help you overcome this unpredictable climate, so you don't have to waste your resources
Target Audience: Remodeling or new construction contractors that are facing supply chain issues or want to figure out how to leverage their new skill to defeat the supply chain issues as a market advantage
Retaining Good Employees: How Homebuilders, Remodelers, and GC’s Can Can Implement A Predictable Process To Keep The Right Team
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Room 602
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
ERC a CARES Act stimulus - has your business qualified?
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Room 606
The ERC program was created under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) as part of the federal government’s relief program to encourage and reward business owners that retain employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently the policy was amended to enable business owners to qualify for ERC tax credits even if they received PPP loans. The time-period the program covers was also extended from March 22, 2020, to December 31, 2021. Small businesses with less than 500 employees may qualify for up to $26,000/employee
Target Audience: Business Owners, Managers, Payroll and HR Managers, Businesses with less than 500 W2 employees
HVAC Systems for High-Performance Homes - 1.0 AIA Credit
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Room 607
Designing clean and efficient Home Comfort Systems for today’s home buyer. From indoor air quality, to zoned comfort, power backup, and incorporating renewable energy.
Target Audience: Architects, Designers, Raters, and Builders, Custom and Semi-Custom Specifically, as well as MultiFamily.
Common Construction Sales Mistakes
9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. | Room 604
Target Audience: Architects, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Builders, and Remodelers.
Contractor's Cash Flow: Preparation and Management
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 601

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
Offering Consumer Loans
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 609
Does Your Website Communicate “The Sales Language”?
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 606
No leads coming to your website. Why? Your website could lack this important step into Lead Generation.
In my seminar we will go over the following:
- Good content that communicates “The Sales Language”
- Video Production that impacts your audience
- Funnels that actually work
- Advertising Techniques On Google My Business & Facebook
- Google My Business Tips
Target Audience: Essential Businesses
Lightning Protection System Design - 1.0 PDH/CEU HSW Credit
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 605
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.
This 1 hour presentation provides an overview of electrical grounding, bonding, and lightning protection.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the design principles of lightning protection
- Define what a lightning protection system is
- Explain how lightning is formed
- Identify the different ways one can be struck by lightning
- Use and understand the Risk Assessment in NFPA® 780
- List the various lightning protection standards
- Understand the inspection and maintenance of a lightning protection system
- Discuss UL and LPI Inspection Process
Target Audience: Architects, Engineers, and Contractors
Manage Your Jobs More Profitably - From Estimating to Job Costing and Invoicing
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 600
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
Google Partner Teaching: Generate More Online Leads With a SEO Driven Website
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. | Room 603
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
Quickbooks for Contractors - Advanced
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Room 601
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.
Modern Materials for Traditional Neighborhoods - 1 LU, HSW/AIA 1 LU, APA
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Room 602
The session involves a brief discussion of the basic how-and-why of traditional neighborhoods, including iconic platting elements like small front yards and public spaces, and the design of individual units with an eye on the block-face to achieve harmonious streetscapes. This program will touch on various elements of sustainability, Green, OSHA requirements, fire safety, wind load, and other general code matters associated with vinyl siding and trim.
Target Audience: Architects and Developers
Proper Planning for Residential Electronic Systems - 1.0 AIA Credit
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Room 605
This course details the process used by Technology Integrators during the project planning, design, and installation phases of the electronic systems. Attendees will learn why it’s important to include Integrators from the start to the finish of new construction or remodeling.
Target Audience: Architects and Engineers
How to create certainty in your sales process so you can predictability and profitably sell jobs
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Room 604
- How to attract high-paying, high-quality customers without having to spend money on ads
- How to create a predictable and profitable sales system so you and your customers know what to expect
- How to leverage the construction and design experience to get the increase profit and customer satisfaction, so every job is as profitable as possible and the customer is as happy as possible
Target audience: Contractors, architects, designers, that want to create an improved sales experience
A Better Way to Manage Your Jobs From Start to Finish - JobTread Demo
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Room 600
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
Payroll Credits - What is available and are you receiving the max credits
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Room 606
Self Insured Medical Expense Reimbursement Program, our team will help your business find payroll taxes that you can redirect towards your employees’ benefits. The redirected funds can go into benefits such as life insurance, dental, vision, long-term care, cancer, and heart policies, and cafeteria/125 plans.
Target Audience: Business Owners, Managers, Payroll and HR Managers, Businesses with less than 500 W2 employees
HVAC Systems for High-Performance Homes - 1.0 AIA Credit
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. | Room 607
Designing clean and efficient Home Comfort Systems for today’s home buyer. From indoor air quality, to zoned comfort, power backup, and incorporating renewable energy.
Target Audience: Architects, Designers, Raters, and Builders, Custom and Semi-Custom Specifically, as well as MultiFamily.