2026 Minnesota Construction Summit Agenda:
COMING SOON
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 |
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6:30-7:30 am |
Registration Opens/Breakfast with Exhibitors |
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7:30-9:00 am
Aaron Witt |
KEYNOTEWhy Construction's Best are the BestTwo unique factors shape Aaron's message: a global perspective gained from visiting sites across America and five continents, and an online following of millions. He won't tell you how to build better... Rather, he's reporting on the change in the industry driven by the workforce, what the top companies are doing to take advantage of it, and how you can do the same. |
| Time / Speaker(s) | Breakout Session Description |
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9:15-10:15 am
Dyanne Ross-Hanson |
Family Business Transitions: Beating the OddsWhat could be easier than transferring a family business to its natural successor, the heir apparent or offspring? For many family members and their advisers, answers range from world peace in the Middle East to bipartisanship in Congress! Statistics, widely quoted, indicate that "only" one-third of family-owned business are passed on to the second generation, "only" ten percent to the third generation and “only” three percent survive transition to the fourth generation. The reasons cited for failure are numerous. The key is to begin planning well in advance of the parent’s desired departure dates. With professional guidance and time, family ownership transitions can indeed defy the odds. |
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9:15-10:15 am
Shae Birkey |
The Four Domains of Safety Leadership: A Conduit for Overall Operational ExcellenceEmployees make choices every day that impact the safety of themselves and others. The most powerful influence on those choices is the leader, who must inspire safe behavior in employees through their consistent actions. After five years of research, Caterpillar statistically validated exactly what those actions are and how to measure them. To be an effective safety leader requires mastery of four core domains and fourteen elements. The most effective leaders create a strong culture of accountability; develop meaningful connectivity with those they lead; demonstrate credible safety consciousness; and build trust amongst their team. Participants will learn how to begin fostering and measuring these leadership behaviors personally and across their organization as they hear inspirational real-world stories of leaders living out these domains. |
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9:15-10:15 am
Babette Buckner |
Navigating Change Orders with Confidence - A Panel DiscussionJoin industry experts for a dynamic panel discussion on best practices for managing change orders, from documentation and communication strategies to avoiding common pitfalls. Learn practical tips to streamline processes, protect margins, and strengthen client relationships in the field and office. |
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9:15-10:15 am
Mike Schechter |
Negotiations & Behavioral EconomicsThis session begins with an overview of negotiation strategy and tactics, and then pushes the envelope by incorporating negotiation theories with behavioral economic heuristics and nudges. |
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10:15-11:00 am |
Break with Exhibitors |
| Time / Speaker(s) | Breakout Session Description |
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11:00-12:00 noon
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The New Blueprint for Cybersecurity: What Every Construction Executive Needs to KnowFederal contracts, client demands, and escalating cyberattacks have changed the rules for construction firms. Fractional CIOs will cut through the noise and deliver clarity. We’ll explore today’s most pressing cybersecurity challenges, what attackers are really after, and how executives can build a cybersecurity program that’s practical, scalable, and audit-ready—without slowing down business or costing a fortune. |
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11:00-12:00 noon
Shae Birkey |
Accountability for Safety: Is it Really Everyone’s Job?"Safety is everyone’s responsibility” is a slogan that many companies have used for years, yet when we dig into who is responsible for what, how that expectation is communicated, how success is measured, and how we hold people accountable, these same companies struggle to move from intention to action. With today’s focus on changing the mindset of employees at all levels to avoid simply blaming people as a root cause of incidents, the concern is HOW to still hold people accountable. Accountability for safety is no different than accountability for any other business metric, but the devil is always in the details. This discussion will also include lessons learned and best practices in accountability successes and failures using Caterpillar’s four components of a resilient safety culture. Participants will learn what good accountability looks like and how to drive results through a practical and realistic accountability model proven in the field. |
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11:00-12:00 noon
Alex Etchen |
Federal Advocacy UpdateThe last year has brought big changes to Washington D.C. - with the new Republican congress and the Trump administration. Attendees will hear an insider’s perspective from AGC of America’s VP of Government Relations, Alex Etchen, covering everything you need to know about what is happening in Washington and how AGC of America is engaging to protect your interests. 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. |
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11:00-12:00 noon
Josh Peterson |
Contracts: BiddingThis session will analyze the benefits, disadvantages, risks, and legal issues attendant to bidding, including projects that are evaluated on low bid and value bid, impact of responsible contractor law, importance of scope, review of Spearin Doctrine (and latest court case that AGC appeared as amicus), and relation with change orders. |
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12:00-1:30 pm |
Lunch with Exhibitors |
| Time / Speaker(s) | Breakout Session Description |
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1:30-2:30 pm
Speaker |
Business Continuity: What’s the Back Up Plan?As a business owner, you plan your business’s growth, success, and future. Hopefully, this includes your plans for transitioning ownership. But what happens if a “triggering event” forces ownership transition prematurely, i.e., disability, death, divorce, disagreement (the 4 “D’s). What are the vital issues that need to be addressed including stock transfer, loss of financial resources/talent and loss of key employees and customers? What about Real Estate? Do these issues differ between sole owned and multiple owned businesses? |
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1:30-2:30 pm Sam Bloedow |
From Chaos to Clarity: Why Construction Firms Need Executive-Level IT LeadershipConstruction companies are hemorrhaging time and margin due to random tech purchases, poor system integration, and lack of strategic IT leadership. This session exposes the hidden cost of treating IT as a support function instead of a business driver—and makes the case for embedding a Fractional CIO at the executive table. Through real-world examples and candid dialogue, we’ll show how forward-thinking firms are using targeted IT leadership to eliminate inefficiencies, unify office and field operations, and drive scalable growth. |
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1:30-2:30 pm
Mark Becker |
Contract ManagementThis session will analyze the benefits, disadvantages, risk and legal issues related to contract management including CM, CMAR, Design-Build, how contracts should be customized for different relationships, and potential terms needed to comply with certain laws including retainage/indemnification, labor, IRA, and worker misclassification. |
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2:30-2:45 pm |
Break with Exhibitors |
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2:45-3:45 pm
Melissa DeLay |
Before It Blows Up: A Leader’s Guide to Preventing Crisis Through CommunicationIn construction, it’s not just the crisis you see coming—it’s the one you don’t. This session is for leaders who want to stay ahead of the explosion. You’ll learn how to recognize early warning signs of conflict, misalignment, or disappointment and stop issues before they escalate. We’ll cover practical, jobsite-tested strategies for delivering difficult messages without sparking defensiveness, plus the subtle communication habits that quietly build trust across crews, clients, and contractors. Walk away with phrases, timing techniques, and tactics that make you the calm in the chaos—no matter what’s coming next. |
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2:45-3:45 pm
Henning Roedel |
Robots on the Jobsite: Navigating the New Landscape of Construction SafetyRobots are increasingly touted as solutions for construction’s toughest challenges, but what does that mean for jobsite safety? This session moves beyond the marketing and delves into the practical safety considerations of integrating robotics onto construction sites. We'll explore real-world near misses, clarify the crucial differences between industrial robots and collaborative robots ("cobots"), and discuss relevant safety standards evolving in other industries—and what they might mean for construction. Join us to learn from real-world experience and navigate new challenges for the workforce of tomorrow. |
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2:45-3:45 pm
Jevon Bindman |
Contracts: Negotiating with Owners, General Contractors, and Specialty ContractorsNegotiating construction contracts can seem tricky with each party having distinct worries and hopes. Understanding which issues can be discussed, how hard to push them, and when to relent is the line between lesson and art. This session features an expert panel who will role play each role and challenge whether you can tell the dancer from the dance. |
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3:45-6:00 pm |
Platinum Sponsor Networking Reception |
Thursday, February 19, 2026
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7:30-8:00 am |
Registration / Breakfast |
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8:00-9:30 am
Zach Giglio |
KEYNOTEHow Construction Companies are Using AI Right Now: A Report from the FieldThis keynote will explore how construction leaders are actually using AI today project management, safety analysis, estimation, subcontractor/vendor management and proposal writing. We’ll share insights from GCM’s work with contractors across the country, including strategies that are gaining traction and practical tips for getting started without needing a technical background. We’ll also cover what to avoid and how to align your AI approach with your business goals. |
| Time / Speaker(s) | Breakout Session Description |
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9:45-10:45 am Zach Giglio |
Live AI Use Cases: Real Workflows You Can Apply Right NowThis breakout will take a deeper dive into specific AI workflows we’ve implemented with contractors, such as pre-construction planning, proposal support, and job cost analysis. We’ll walk through several use cases live and show how small changes to daily workflows can lead to big gains in productivity and accuracy. Attendees will leave with actionable prompts and workflows they can bring back to their teams immediately. |
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9:45-10:45 am
Stacy Arnold
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Construction Safety Best Practices – The Case for Safety ExcellenceConstruction industry has a history of being slow to change, OSHA rulemaking process takes an average of 7 years. The only factor that consistently seems to be moving fast, is schedules, which can have an inverse effect on Safety. As Director of a Construction Health and Safety Excellence (CHASE) program, I evaluate some of Minnesota’s safest contractors, walk their job sites, audit their programs. I will share parameters that the AGC currently uses to define our “Best in Class” contractors, and engage in a discussion to share best practices, with evidence of the benefit to raising the bar. |
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9:45-10:45 am
Amanda Cefalu |
Union Fringe Benefit FundsOverview of the duties, benefits, and decisions made by trustees on union Taft Hartley Funds, with focus on fiduciary duties and the legal obligations in which a fund operates and affects its decision-making, and understanding how to avoid ERISA law penalties from unintended mistakes. |
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10:45-11:00 am |
Break |
| Time / Speaker(s) | Breakout Session Description |
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11:00-12:00 pm
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MN Project Owners As PartnersSessions with project owners are some of the liveliest! Public and private project owners will share their insights into 2026 opportunities and challenges in Minnesota. Here from the most impactful project owners and how they are demonstrating partnership amongst the uncertainties in the marketplace and funding sources. |
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11:00-12:00 pm
Alyx Johnson |
Building a Safer Future: Innovative Approaches to Risk Reduction in Construction ProjectsThis session explores innovative strategies for enhancing safety across construction projects. Topics include the use of leading indicators for continuous improvement, technology-driven advancements in safety training and communication, and tools that support claims defense. Attendees will also learn about equipment innovations, fall protection systems tailored to unique project needs, and recent improvements to drug testing protocols that streamline field operations. |
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11:00-12:00 pm
Erik Williams |
Unlocking the Backlog of Emerging Leaders: How to Identify, Develop, and Activate High-Performance Leadership in ConstructionLabor shortages; retention; mounting backlog; increasing uncertainties. These are just a few of the challenges keeping construction leaders up at night. Yet the greatest challenge facing construction firms: lack of ready-now leaders capable of driving performance through uncertainty. Join us for a rousing session in which you'll learn how to unlock the backlog of emerging leaders in your organization, leverage real-world experiences to activate potential, and drive sustainable, effective development for leaders at all levels. |
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11:00-12:00 pm
Chris Chantry |
Working with Unions: Avoid Pitfalls & Reap BenefitsUnderstanding and working with Unions: The trade unions provide certain advantages or benefits that, when misunderstood, can also cause unintended problems. This panel will explain and differentiate the two, providing best practices to realize the gains and avoid the potential challenges. |
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12:00 pm |
Lunch with Danger Boat Productions: Generations in the Workplace |

















































