2024 Minnesota Construction Summit Agenda:
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 |
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6:30-7:30 am |
Registration Opens/Breakfast with Exhibitors |
7:30-9:00 am
Thom Mayer, MD |
KEYNOTEChanging Culture and Creating Hope and Resiliency: Leading in Times of CrisisAs the Medical Director for the NFL Players Association, Dr. Mayer was responsible for changing the culture of concussion and emergency response in the NFL. He will share how those experiences translate to the construction industry to create hope and adaptive capacity/resiliency in the face of burnout and the crisis of suicide within the industry. |
Time / Speaker(s) | Breakout Session Description |
9:15-10:15 am
Matthew Semerad |
STP: LeadershipEach Supervisory Training Program (STP) session at the Summit will serve as a sample of the kind of education and training employees will receive when participating in AGC's STP classes throughout the year. Come see how the STP program can develop your field leadership!
The purpose of leadership and motivation is to contribute to a new leader’s professional development. This course is specifically for first line supervisors who are responsible for jobsite work tasks on a construction project. Leadership and motivation will teach the value of effective supervision of workers and improve the construction supervisor’s ability to lead and motivate others on the jobsite. |
9:15-10:15 am
Tim Worke, Laura Ziegler |
(Back by Popular Demand!) Federal Regulatory and Legislative UpdateThe Washington D.C. landscape is ever-changing. Major infrastructure investments and prospective program regulations comes increased obligations, risk and opportunity for contractors. Participants will hear an insider’s perspective from AGC of America Vice President of Government Relations Jimmy Christianson covering everything you must know and be concerned about at the federal government level that will impact your business. Takeaways will include increased knowledge and understanding of new legislative and regulatory details and an enlightened perspective of the importance of industry advocacy at the federal level. |
9:15-10:15 am
Nicole Blissenbach, Mark Becker, Matt DeSarno |
Wage Theft: Law and EnforcementCommissioner of Department of Labor & Industry Blissenbach plus the Assistant Attorney General will provide updates on the new wage theft law, how general and subcontractors face expense and exposure, how to comply and protect against unseen liabilities, and how their office is investigating and enforcing wage theft laws. Attorney Mark Becker will moderate and fill in on other risks including relations between generals and subcontractors, and private enforcement actions. 1.0 CLE Credit Approved |
9:15-10:15 am
Pete Machalek |
Leadership Blueprint 2024 Sneak Peek: Confident Presence for Career AdvancementAs one of AGC’s flagship training programs, Leadership Blueprint offers communication skills to general contractor professionals new to the industry who have been recognized for their potential. In this preview presentation, Pete Machalek of SagePresence will share tips you can use right away to elevate your ability to project confidence under pressure, as well as an understanding of this game-changing cohort program. |
10:15-11:00 am |
Break with Exhibitors |
Time / Speaker(s) | Breakout Session Description |
11:00-12:00 noon
Matthew Semerad |
STP: CommunicationEach Supervisory Training Program (STP) session at the Summit will serve as a sample of the kind of education and training employees will receive when participating in AGC's STP classes throughout the year. Come see how the STP program can develop your field leadership!
This course aims to teach the value of effective worker supervision and improve the construction supervisor’s ability to communicate well – in both one-on-one and group settings. Following this course, participants will be able to Identify/ apply techniques for improving the use of oral and written communication including the use of common forms of electronic communication. |
11:00-12:00 noon
Nancy Daubenberger, Charlie Zelle, Tim Worke |
Conversations with Commissioners: Shared Challenges and OpportunitiesRemote work, navigating market uncertainty, and delivering historic infrastructure investments are just some of the current push points for contractors and governments alike. Join this session for a high level, strategic discussion with the top appointed leaders of the state’s largest public owners and ask them questions about the current state of affairs! |
11:00-12:00 noon
Kurt Erickson, Martin Kappenman |
Marijuana Laws and PracticeCannabis on the construction jobsite, according to AGC, can still be prohibited. This hour will discuss AGC’s position and spend more time discussing how to handle cannabis use among those not on the jobsite (especially those who oversee safety sensitive work or complicated mental work), how to adjust your policies and handbooks and the outlook for an intoxication test. 1.0 CLE Credit Approved |
11:00-12:00 noon
Pete Machalek |
Introducing Building Leaders: Leadership Presence for High PotentialsAGC’s newest training program, Building Leaders provides leadership skills for your transition to leadership. In this preview presentation, you’ll experience techniques you can use right away to inspire team unity as a leader team members would want to follow, along with a preview of this transformative leadership cohort program. |
12:00-1:30 pm |
Lunch with Exhibitors |
Time / Speaker(s) | Breakout Session Description |
1:30-2:30 pm
Matthew Semerad |
STP: Scheduling and ProductivityEach Supervisory Training Program (STP) session at the Summit will serve as a sample of the kind of education and training employees will receive when participating in AGC's STP classes throughout the year. Come see how the STP program can develop your field leadership!
This session covers how project estimates and schedules are compiled, how to compare actual project controls (cost reports and schedules) with those estimated and how to manage the work accordingly. This session will also detail how productivity is measured, how the supervisor plays a major role in increasing jobsite productivity, how to recover a schedule, and how a small increase in productivity can have a significant impact on the time and cost of a project. |
1:30-2:30 pm
Shae Birkey |
My Brain Made Me Do It: Psychological Drivers of Employee BehaviorThere’s more than meets the eye when an incident occurs. When leaders understand the drivers of human behavior, how the brain works, and how to use biology to our advantage, it’s easier for them to understand the connection between people, culture, and performance. Through specific examples and personal experiences, the presenter will help you achieve an understanding of the psychological mechanics behind risk assessment, human reaction and communicating in a way people will pay attention. |
1:30-2:30 pm
Connie Armstrong, Mark Becker, Kyle Willems |
Construction Contracts 401This hour is intended to be a graduate level deep dive into the most complicated and controversial contract provisions and forms. Not for the faint-hearted. 1.0 CLE Credit Approved |
1:30-2:30 pm
Tina Nazier |
Executive Circle Primer: Building Trust as a Leader - Mastering Tough ConversationsIn this presentation, construction leaders will embark on a journey to enhance their leadership skills by focusing on two critical aspects: building trust within their teams and effectively navigating tough conversations. Trust is the cornerstone of successful leadership, and knowing how to hold difficult discussions is paramount in the construction industry. This session will provide insights, strategies, and practical tips to help leaders foster trust and handle challenging conversations with finesse, ultimately boosting team performance and project success. |
2:30-2:45 pm |
Break with Exhibitors |
2:45-3:45 pm
Matthew Semerad |
STP: Documents/Contracts and Risk Management
Each Supervisory Training Program (STP) session at the Summit will serve as a sample of the kind of education and training employees will receive when participating in AGC's STP classes throughout the year. Come see how the STP program can develop your field leadership!
When an individual is promoted from field personnel to field leadership, there is often an educational disparity between performing the work and becoming a contractor. This session will provide information about contract documents and construction law to help supervisors recognize the roles and responsibilities of all contracted parties, to develop an understanding of how contract documents can be helpful to solve problems and resolve conflicts, and to develop positive relationships between all parties in the construction process. While contracts may vary from project to project, risk also needs to be identified and mitigated. This session will reinforce the foresight required to plan for the worst and identify the pitfalls before they occur. |
2:45-3:45 pm
Barb Cederberg, John Hass |
Where’s the Stuff Underground? The MN Underground Mapping Facilities ProjectImagine it. You submit a one-call ticket and the facility owners share their utility maps within the excavation area mapped on the one-call ticket. Design engineers, locators and excavators are able to view the utility map data as well as understand the quality level of the viewed data. This is what the Minnesota Underground Utilities Mapping Project completed during the Phase 1 prototype in September 2022. Phase 2 development of the open source software is progressing. This presentation will describe the system, provide a demonstration of the system, and describe the next steps for industry testing, verification and adoption. |
2:45-3:45 pm
Justin Bieganek |
The Importance of Branding for Construction: Think Bigger Than Low BidYou’re not just competing for low bid, you’re also competing to attract and retain employees, build trusted and loyal relationships and establish a reputation of success. Branding is an investment that will help differentiate you from your competitors.
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2:45-3:45 pm
Scott Chinn, Erik Mosvick |
The Rapidly Evolving DEI LandscapeThe last year has brought significant changes across the nation to DEI programs, from colleges to employment. Attorneys Scott Chinn and Erik Mosvick from Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath will lead a discussion on the rapidly evolving DEI landscape and the particular changes and effects to the construction industry. Topics will include: Recent legal challenges (court decisions, legislative initiatives, AG actions) to DEI programs; Impacts of SFFA on bidding and supplier diversity in public and private construction; and Impacts of DEI challenges to employment and the effects on the construction industry. 1.0 Elimination of Bias CLE Credit Approved |
3:45-6:00 pm |
Platinum Sponsor Networking Reception |
Thursday, January 18, 2024
7:30-8:00 am |
Registration / Breakfast |
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8:00-9:30 am
Facilitator: Tina Nazier |
KEYNOTEStrategies for Successfully Transitioning Your Construction BusinessTransitioning a construction business to new leadership is challenging and complex work that can be fraught with pitfalls, mistakes and re-boots. Success is attainable, but it often takes different forms depending upon the model deployed. Minnesota is home to a large number of successful and generational family-owned and operated construction firms. You will hear from a panel of recognized and experienced industry executives who will share their unique perspectives as they navigate their companies through current and prospective leadership transitions. Learn what to avoid, successful best practices and how to make the process achieve the desired outcomes for all involved parties. |
Time / Speaker(s) | Breakout Session Description |
9:45-10:45 am Thomas Young, MD |
It's a Crisis: What Do I Do?Learn ways that managers can recognize and intervene when employees are in danger. Learn more about new offerings to improve mental health. |
9:45-10:45 am
David Williams, Matt Semerad, Lisa Hollingsworth, Jeff Slusser, Stacy Arnold, Wayne Devoe, Brooke Donnelly |
CHASE Program RoundtableA discussion of the CHASE program, looking back and looking forward. |
9:45-10:45 am
Phillip McGraw
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A Health and Wellness Conversation: How Changing my Diet Improved my Overall Health; Mental, Emotional, and PhysicalDrawing from his personal experiences, Phillip McGraw will offer insights into how transforming his dietary habits significantly improved his overall well-being. This workshop is designed to explore the advantages of embracing a healthy lifestyle, including the incorporation of nutritious practices such as juicing and the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Participants will also gain valuable knowledge on stress reduction techniques, including guided breathing meditation, yoga, and physical exercise. |
9:45-10:45 am Kevin Bright |
No Buying Time For “Buy Clean” – Creating a New Path for Reducing Carbon Footprints in Public ProcurementThe use of lower-embodied carbon materials in vertical and horizontal construction will be integrated into public agency procurement models as early as 2025. |
10:45-11:00 am |
Break |
Time / Speaker(s) | Breakout Session Description |
11:00-12:00 pm
Melissa DeLay |
Crisis-Proof Talking Points: How Construction Leaders Can Communicate Change & Avoid ConflictLeadership can be easy when sales are up, budgets are strong, and morale is high. But throw in a difficult situation such as a disgruntled employee or nasty rumor and suddenly, even the most liked leaders are in danger of ruining their reputations and losing their influence. During Melissa's talk, she will share message design and delivery techniques that are guaranteed to strengthen reputation, inspire change and create brand ambassadors. |
11:00-12:00 pm
Jules Edwards |
Neurodiversity Inclusion in the WorkplaceEmployment is a relationship-based endeavor. A culture of inclusion is an investment into those work relationships. Together, we’ll explore how neurodivergent people and employers can create and strengthen mutually beneficial relationships in the workplace. |
11:00-12:00 pm
Scott Lang |
Building the Future: Unleashing Tech Innovations in ConstructionJoin us for a dynamic panel discussion with local general contractors that bridges the gap between construction and cutting-edge technology. In an industry where tradition often trumps innovation, “Building the Future” is a must-attend event for those ready to embrace transformative technologies. Discover how technology advancements are reshaping the construction landscape. Engage with experts who have successfully integrated technology into their projects, increasing efficiency & visibility. |
11:00-12:00 pm Ron Wirtz, Macrina Wilkins, Tim Worke |
What’s Behind The Numbers? A Deep Dive Into the Construction Market Economy and What’s on The HorizonRon Wirtz Presentation | Macrina Wilkins Presentation The construction economy has experienced wild swings in the post-COVID world. Runaway materials price escalation; supply chain disruption; unsteady financial and regulatory environments; and generationally transformative investment that loom on the horizon. What are the challenges and opportunities contractors face in this ever-changing economy? This session features two well-placed experts that will share key regional and national construction market survey data and provide analysis of economic trends to help make sense of it all. Additional information captured from survey data will be shared that provides a projection of what markets may be expanding and where challenges reside and persist. |
12:00 pm |
Brown Bag Lunch |