Closing Breakfast with NECA Leadership Presentations • 7:30 am

The closing breakfast will take place Thursday morning before the District Council meetings and features remarks from NECA’s national leadership and executives.

All full registrants are invited to attend the breakfast. Location: TBD

District 6, 7, 8 & 9 Meetings

Invitation Only Location: TBD

Mind Your Business

First Plenary Session • 4:00-5:00pm

Monday, April 01, 2019

Individuals who think better, perform better. Drawing on the psychology of decision making, motivation, and mindset, David shows how some very small changes can make biggest difference to our ability to succeed. He shares the science of persuasion and the proven principles of getting engagement and buy in for your new ideas or approaches, before exploring the real secrets behind the mindset of world class business performers.

Speaker: David Meade

David Meade is a first-class honours graduate from Ulster Business School, and his work as a lecturer and researcher in International Business and Strategy with the University of Ulster, has built his reputation as one of Europe’s most sought after motivational and organizational speakers, trainers, and facilitators. He’s worked with organizations such as: Apple, PwC, BT, Saba, Harvard in Boston, the Cabinet Office in Westminster, Bombardier, and the Bank of America. David works with clients to help them improve business operations and performance, by working with all levels within an organization. He does that by drawing on decades of cutting edge research on management, organizational culture and leadership to build scientifically sound and evidence based development programs, that create demonstrable improvements. David receives acclaim from clients that recognize the strong business value he offers organizations.

Networking Reception & Dinner

April 1 • 6:30 pm • La Puesta Del Sol

Transport will be provided and will depart at 6:00 pm from the main lobby.

Take part in our first night of festivities in Phoenix at the La Puesta Del Sol Indian Reservation where we’ll have a reception, dinner, interactive entertainment, an open bar and much more! Perched atop a cactus-dotted mesa, attendees can experience stunning 360º views of Phoenix from La Puesta’s vantage points.

Location: La Puesta Del Sol

Closing Reception:

Neon Lights + Electric Nights

April 3 • 8:00-10:00 pm

Sponsored by Milwaukee Tool

Join NECA for an electric night as we close out NECA Now 2019 with dancing, an appearance from the Milwaukee Tool Shed Band, open bar and decadent desserts all under a blanket of neon lights.

Location: Sunset Lawn  • JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort

About the Milwaukee Tool Shed Band

Bringing the largest group of gifted musicians together in a single band anywhere (14 people) The Milwaukee Tool Shed Band will take you on a musical journey through all the hits you know and love!

After Party

April 1 • 10 pm – Midnight More information coming soon!

Location: Sunset Lawn  • JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort

Golf Tournament • Wildfire Golf Club

April 1 • 8:00 am • Fee: $202.40

NOTE: Due to popularity, we have added a second course!
Attendees will be assigned to play at the Faldo Championship or Palmer Signature Courses.

You can request your foursome or we can place you in one based on your handicap. For any questions please contact Katie Nolan McCormick, katie@necanet.org.

Fee: $202.40 to play; $71.50 equipment rental

Location: Faldo Championship Course & Palmer Signature Course at Wildfire Golf Club 

Be The Difference: Recognizing and Preventing Harassment in the Workplace

Morning Breakout Session • 8:30 – 9:45am

Harassment is not a sexy subject and ethics are more than words. Harassment can have a negative impact on both the employer and employee, causing lower employee morale, increased absenteeism, lower productivity, decreased commitment to the employer and decreased motivation. This session will raise awareness of harassment and provide guidance on how to define, recognize and prevent workplace harassment, creating a respectful workplace for everyone.

Speaker: Chuck Gallagher

In the middle of a soaring career, Chuck Gallagher lost everything as a result of his improper ethical choices—and he’s paid greatly for his crimes. After repaying his debt to society, he rebuilt his career and his life back to immense success. With more vulnerability than the average speaker, he shares with audiences his fascinating life’s journey, the consequences of his unethical decisions and how second chances come when you make the right ones. The go-to guy when it comes to ethics and ethical leadership, his unique insights are frequently called upon by CNN, CBS, NPR and other national media outlets. He is also the host of the radio program Straight Talk, tackling pressing issues from Main Street to Wall Street in a spirited, entertaining manner with guests from all walks of life. Chuck’s focus is business, but his passion is empowering others. Connecting the dots between ethics and success, he delivers like no other speaker, revealing what’s needed to turn concepts into actions and actions into results. In fact, Chuck’s new book, SECOND CHANCES: Transforming Adversity into Opportunity, has received numerous endorsements and has been described as one of those rare books that effectively bridges the gap between personal accountability and business success. Currently vice-president in a public company, Chuck is an industry professional sharing practical, time-tested methods for enhancing personal and professional performance—without sacrificing one’s principles.

How to Work With and Lead People Not Like You

Morning Breakout Session • 8:30 – 9:45am

A diverse workforce doesn’t just lead to better decisions and solutions and innovation, it has been proven to grow business and profits. This session takes the topic of work and leadership to a new place, one that is getting more attention every day and will continue to do so.

Speaker: Kelly McDonald

Kelly McDonald is considered one of the nation’s top experts in marketing, customer service and consumer trends. She is the founder of McDonald Marketing, which has twice been named one of the “Top Ad Agencies in the U.S.” by Advertising Age magazine and ranked as one of the fastest-growing independently-owned companies in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine. Kelly was named one of the “10 Most Booked Speakers in the U.S.” and she was also #1 on the list of “26 Hot Speakers” by Successful Meetings Magazine.

Latest Tools for Digital Marketing and Lead Generation

Morning Breakout Session • 8:30 – 9:45am

You can grow your business through digital outreach using the latest and greatest technology. This session will discuss the latest digital trends, tools and tactics being used for marketing and automated lead generation.

Speaker: Ryland Marek, 3M

Teamwork Despite Turnover

Morning Breakout Session • 8:30 – 9:45

Everyone likes a humming economy, but the reality is that when many employers are competing for the same pool of workers, hiring standards can slip. And with lots of turnover, team cohesion can be harder to maintain, which in turn can make it much more difficult to ensure safety and quality standards. This session will discuss safety, teamwork and emotional intelligence.

Speaker: Neil Swidey

Neil Swidey is a narrative nonfiction author and journalist. He is the author of the No. 1 Boston Globe bestseller Trapped Under the Sea, as well as The Assist, and he is the coauthor of the New York Times bestselling Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy. A staff writer for The Boston Globe Magazine, his work has been featured in The Best American Science Writing, The Best American Crime Writing, The Best American Crime Reporting, and The Best American Political Writing. Swidey has been a finalist for the National Magazine Award and is a seven-time winner of the Sigma Delta Chi award from the Society of Professional Journalists. He teaches at Tufts University and lives outside Boston with his wife and three daughters.

The Importance of Proper Estate and Business Succession Planning

Morning Breakout Session • 8:30 – 9:45

Business owners spend a lifetime building a successful company and protecting what you have worked hard to achieve can be a challenge, especially when considering succession and estate planning. This session will discuss ways you can avoid frustration, taxation and litigation when the time comes to exit your business.

Speaker: Mitch McCuistian, Federated Insurance

Mitch D. McCuistian is a transactional and estate planning attorney whose practice encompasses a broad range of business and estate planning matters including corporate transactions, family wealth transfer, asset protection and trust administration. Mitch graduated as Valedictorian from Claremore High School and went on to attend the University of Arkansas on an athletic scholarship. He graduated with a Bachelor’s in Finance and minor in Marketing. Mitch then attended the University of Oklahoma College of Law where he served as Class President and was a member of the American Indian Law Review. While in law school, Mitch was one of twenty students nationwide to receive the prestigious American Bar Association Legal Opportunity Scholarship. In addition, he was awarded the Henry Kent Human Services Award for his exceptional leadership qualities and concern for society’s inequalities.

Stress Management and Self-Care: Setting Boundaries and Saying No Without Guilt

Morning Breakout Session • 8:30 – 9:45

In this fast paced industry, time has become one of our most valuable, yet scarce, resources as we wrestle with taking on too much and finding the time to do it all. The lack of time or the perception of it, can be very stressful. Living with high stress levels on a consistent basis or experiencing chronic stressful events, can have an adverse affect, both personally and professionally. This session will help tap into the skills needed to create balance, lower your stress and develop a self-care strategy that will fuel your mind, body and business.

Speaker: Amanda King

Stockton, California native, Amanda King is a motivational speaker and professional leadership coach. She holds both a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, and a Master’s degree in Education, with a concentration in Administration and Leadership from University of the Pacific. In addition, Amanda is a certified Energy Leadership Index, Master Practitioner. She has a unique approach that inspires people to move forward to establish and achieve their goals. Her focus is to assist you in identifying what’s keeping you from reaching your full potential. More importantly, Amanda’s Energy Leadership program will support you in developing self-awareness, with knowledge and skills to lead confidently with a sustainable plan for you and your team. Amanda has a passion for working with electrical contractors who are ready to create the climate they want, to have the culture they need to be successful. The way an individual feels at work, will indeed impact the way they perform. In addition, the company culture either enhances or impedes productivity. Amanda is dedicated to helping your organization become more productive. As a leadership coach, Amanda creates workshops designed to support executive leadership teams, top tier managers, field supervisors, project managers and frontline leaders as they evaluate their leadership style. The Energy Leadership Program will provide tools that will transform you into a coach, and less of a boss. These leadership classes will enable you to lead more and manage less.

TBD

Description TBD

Morning Breakout Session • 8:30 – 9:45

Speaker: Tess Vismale

Tess is passionate about smart technology for hospitality professionals. She’s always on the road educating event professionals on the latest and greatest technologies, as well as practical tech solutions that can make their lives easier and more efficient. Tess is Event Evangelist with DAHLIA+ AGENCY, Chief Event Executioner for iSocialExecution, Inc.; and Speaker. She is the former Senior Event Lead, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Tech Evangelist with The Meeting Pool and Conference Center Manager, Atlanta Technical College; where she served on the President’s Leadership Team. Tess is a CMP (Certified Meeting Professional), DES (Digital Event Strategist), a member of Skål International; stage manages for TEDxPeachtree; “Meetings Trendsetter 2014” & awarded the GaMPI Shining Star Award. A native Chicagoan by way of Atlanta, she holds a BA from Spelman College enjoys social media, creative visionary thinking, tennis & watching mixed martial arts (MMA).

Tuesday Interactive Break • 9:45-10:30am

Short, small group sessions on the most current topics affecting you. Breaks are a great time to network and catch up with friends and colleagues, but the learning never ends at NECA Now. Interactive breaks will offer you the chance to explore new topics and get insight on what’s important to you.

Tuesday Interactive Break • 3:00-4:00pm

Short, small group sessions on the most current topics affecting you. Breaks are a great time to network and catch up with friends and colleagues, but the learning never ends at NECA Now. Interactive breaks will offer you the chance to explore new topics and get insight on what’s important to you.

Wednesday Interactive Break • 10:00-10:15am

Short, small group sessions on the most current topics affecting you. Breaks are a great time to network and catch up with friends and colleagues, but the learning never ends at NECA Now. Interactive breaks will offer you the chance to explore new topics and get insight on what’s important to you.

Every Choice Has a Consequence

Morning Breakout Session • 10:30am-11:45am

Your choices define who you are and the outcomes you will live. While your employees may be aware of this on some level, do they truly realize the power behind the choices they make on a daily basis? More importantly, what’s the risk to the company if they don’t? This session will discuss how easy it is for ethical people to make unethical choices and the impact of those choices on your performance.

Speaker: Chuck Gallagher

In the middle of a soaring career, Chuck Gallagher lost everything as a result of his improper ethical choices—and he’s paid greatly for his crimes. After repaying his debt to society, he rebuilt his career and his life back to immense success. With more vulnerability than the average speaker, he shares with audiences his fascinating life’s journey, the consequences of his unethical decisions and how second chances come when you make the right ones. The go-to guy when it comes to ethics and ethical leadership, his unique insights are frequently called upon by CNN, CBS, NPR and other national media outlets. He is also the host of the radio program Straight Talk, tackling pressing issues from Main Street to Wall Street in a spirited, entertaining manner with guests from all walks of life. Chuck’s focus is business, but his passion is empowering others. Connecting the dots between ethics and success, he delivers like no other speaker, revealing what’s needed to turn concepts into actions and actions into results. In fact, Chuck’s new book, SECOND CHANCES: Transforming Adversity into Opportunity, has received numerous endorsements and has been described as one of those rare books that effectively bridges the gap between personal accountability and business success. Currently vice-president in a public company, Chuck is an industry professional sharing practical, time-tested methods for enhancing personal and professional performance—without sacrificing one’s principles.

Why Do I Have to Be Politically Correct?

Morning Breakout Session • 10:30am-11:45am

Mention the words “politically correct” and you can almost see people’s eyes roll. The words have come to mean tip-toeing around subjects, issues, phrases or people so as not to step on a landmine and offend a person or group of people. This session tackles what’s behind “political correctness” and how employees and associates can move past this restricting mindset to better work with each other, through all kinds of issues.

Speaker: Kelly McDonald

Kelly McDonald is considered one of the nation’s top experts in marketing, customer service and consumer trends. She is the founder of McDonald Marketing, which has twice been named one of the “Top Ad Agencies in the U.S.” by Advertising Age magazine and ranked as one of the fastest-growing independently-owned companies in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine. Kelly was named one of the “10 Most Booked Speakers in the U.S.” and she was also #1 on the list of “26 Hot Speakers” by Successful Meetings Magazine.

When Good Jobs Go Bad

Morning Breakout Session • 10:30am-11:45am

It seemed like a great project when you bid it. But deadlines have been blown, costs are spiraling and every player on the project is angrily pointing a finger. When relations on a complicated job grow toxic, that’s when the risk is highest of an outcome that will be awful for every party. What are the forces that can lead very smart people to make very bad decisions? How can you as a leader rebuild broken trust on a project?

Speaker: Neil Swidey

Neil Swidey is a narrative nonfiction author and journalist. He is the author of the No. 1 Boston Globe bestseller Trapped Under the Sea, as well as The Assist, and he is the coauthor of the New York Times bestselling Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy. A staff writer for The Boston Globe Magazine, his work has been featured in The Best American Science Writing, The Best American Crime Writing, The Best American Crime Reporting, and The Best American Political Writing. Swidey has been a finalist for the National Magazine Award and is a seven-time winner of the Sigma Delta Chi award from the Society of Professional Journalists. He teaches at Tufts University and lives outside Boston with his wife and three daughters.

Help Wanted: Recruit and Retain Your Future

Morning Breakout Session • 10:30am-11:45am

Build your team. Build your business. Build your future. This session will discuss strategies and tactics to recruit and retain your employees through a discussion on best practices and strategic planning for your future success. Get your company ahead of this challenge, instead of constantly reacting to changes.

Speaker: Jon Finch, Milwaukee Tool

Jon Finch is the VP of Training and Recruiting for Milwaukee Tool. He has spent the last 18 years working on finding the best people to help the company grow over 20% each year. Jon has held multiple roles in sales, operations, training and recruiting. Most recently, Jon developed the Pudwill Leadership Center to train employees to quickly learn the business and be successful in their roles. Jon has adapted technology for each generation entering the business and has focused on the profitability required to sustain the growing business needs.

Be a Leader for Tomorrow

Morning Breakout Session • 8:30pm-9:45am

The industry is moving forward and every step you can take to strengthen your relationship with your customers will better prepare your company for tomorrow. Becoming a leader in Internet of Things solutions will allow you to be proactive, show your value and increase your customer’s return on investment. This session will discuss ways you can become a leader in this exciting new market.

Speaker: Phillip Santoro, Schneider

The Win-Win Culture: Maximizing Productivity, from Baby Boomers to Millennials

Morning Breakout Session • 10:30am-11:45am

Is everyone on your team on track to reach their full potential? Have you created a culture where every person is recognized for their unique contribution to a shared vision? This session will address the mass exodus of the Baby Boomer generation and current influx of Millennials. More importantly, this session will explore motivating factors for each group and discuss how to navigate the waters of transition while creating synergy among your team.

Speaker: Amanda King

Stockton, California native, Amanda King is a motivational speaker and professional leadership coach. She holds both a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, and a Master’s degree in Education, with a concentration in Administration and Leadership from University of the Pacific. In addition, Amanda is a certified Energy Leadership Index, Master Practitioner. She has a unique approach that inspires people to move forward to establish and achieve their goals. Her focus is to assist you in identifying what’s keeping you from reaching your full potential. More importantly, Amanda’s Energy Leadership program will support you in developing self-awareness, with knowledge and skills to lead confidently with a sustainable plan for you and your team. Amanda has a passion for working with electrical contractors who are ready to create the climate they want, to have the culture they need to be successful. The way an individual feels at work, will indeed impact the way they perform. In addition, the company culture either enhances or impedes productivity. Amanda is dedicated to helping your organization become more productive. As a leadership coach, Amanda creates workshops designed to support executive leadership teams, top tier managers, field supervisors, project managers and frontline leaders as they evaluate their leadership style. The Energy Leadership Program will provide tools that will transform you into a coach, and less of a boss. These leadership classes will enable you to lead more and manage less.

Are You Ready for Massive Disruptions?

Morning Breakout Session • 10:30am-11:45am

Revolutions in automation, climate change and demographic change are all ongoing challenges—ones that will create massive opportunities for the electrical industry. Nearly every solution to climate change involves the electrification of a new segment of the economy, the ongoing computing and robotic revolution means that factories and retail stores once populated by workers are increasingly powered by electrical infrastructure and as our society continues to age we will likely look to more automation and robotic assistants. This session will discuss these changes and how to get ahead of them.

Speaker: Jeffrey Kanne

National Real Estate Advisors
Jeff is the Founder, President and CEO of National Real Estate Advisors.  National is a subsidiary of the multi-billion dollar National Electrical Benefit Fund.  National manages approximately $5.5 billion in gross assets for approximately 60 pension fund investors and employs a single real estate investment strategy: a build-to-core investment strategy whereby National invest at the beginning of the development process, primarily in urban core, high-rise and mixed-use projects across the U.S., ultimately transitioning the assets to core real estate holdings.  Jeff’s various experiences include being a former Peace Corps volunteer and many years at the helm of a law firm he founded.  Jeff has broad and diverse experience in the real estate investment and development process, with particular insight into legal, finance and construction aspects.

Applying the Lessons of Trapped to Everyday Projects

Afternoon Breakout Session • 1:30-3:00pm

The particulars of the exotic mega project at the center of Neil Swidey’s book Trapped Under the Sea may never be seen again, but the underlying forces that set in motion all the danger are present in just about any complicated project. Building on his keynote address, this session will discuss important and practical lessons that company leaders and managers can use to improve safety and reduce risk on their jobs of any size.

Speaker: Neil Swidey

Neil Swidey is a narrative nonfiction author and journalist. He is the author of the No. 1 Boston Globe bestseller Trapped Under the Sea, as well as The Assist, and he is the coauthor of the New York Times bestselling Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy. A staff writer for The Boston Globe Magazine, his work has been featured in The Best American Science Writing, The Best American Crime Writing, The Best American Crime Reporting, and The Best American Political Writing. Swidey has been a finalist for the National Magazine Award and is a seven-time winner of the Sigma Delta Chi award from the Society of Professional Journalists. He teaches at Tufts University and lives outside Boston with his wife and three daughters.

Crafting the Customer Experience for People Not Like You

Afternoon Breakout Session • 1:30-3:00pm

If you could grow your business by just 10%, think of the possibilities: sales, profits and joy of running a thriving organization. A “one-size fits all” approach to the customer experience is no longer viable. Businesses need to cater to customers’ individual needs in order to meet or exceed customers’ expectations. This session will show how to reach, acquire and keep new customers and keep them coming back for more.

Speaker: Kelly McDonald

Kelly McDonald is considered one of the nation’s top experts in marketing, customer service and consumer trends. She is the founder of McDonald Marketing, which has twice been named one of the “Top Ad Agencies in the U.S.” by Advertising Age magazine and ranked as one of the fastest-growing independently-owned companies in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine. Kelly was named one of the “10 Most Booked Speakers in the U.S.” and she was also #1 on the list of “26 Hot Speakers” by Successful Meetings Magazine.

Effective Communication: What’s Your Strong Suit?

Afternoon Breakout Session • 1:30-3:00pm

Within your company, and on every project, a key communication challenge is the ability to understand others and use information to create results. This session will connect the dots between our natural personality profiles and our methods of communication by examining your natural communication style and identifying how you can improve communications with others.

Speaker: Chuck Gallagher

In the middle of a soaring career, Chuck Gallagher lost everything as a result of his improper ethical choices—and he’s paid greatly for his crimes. After repaying his debt to society, he rebuilt his career and his life back to immense success. With more vulnerability than the average speaker, he shares with audiences his fascinating life’s journey, the consequences of his unethical decisions and how second chances come when you make the right ones. The go-to guy when it comes to ethics and ethical leadership, his unique insights are frequently called upon by CNN, CBS, NPR and other national media outlets. He is also the host of the radio program Straight Talk, tackling pressing issues from Main Street to Wall Street in a spirited, entertaining manner with guests from all walks of life. Chuck’s focus is business, but his passion is empowering others. Connecting the dots between ethics and success, he delivers like no other speaker, revealing what’s needed to turn concepts into actions and actions into results. In fact, Chuck’s new book, SECOND CHANCES: Transforming Adversity into Opportunity, has received numerous endorsements and has been described as one of those rare books that effectively bridges the gap between personal accountability and business success. Currently vice-president in a public company, Chuck is an industry professional sharing practical, time-tested methods for enhancing personal and professional performance—without sacrificing one’s principles.

Megatrends and Labor Strategies

Morning Breakout Session • 10:30am-11:45am

What impact will megatrends and labor strategies have on the future? This session will discuss initiatives to address skilled trade gaps and industry trends including the value of educational and industry partnerships/alliances, the importance of developing a culture of trust, empowerment and inclusion; and the impact of meaningful strategies that build leadership, teams and talent for the future.

Speaker: Paula Simmons, Southwire

Paula Simmons is the Vice President of Human Resources at Southwire. As Vice President of Human Resources, Simmons leads the people strategy and support efforts for Southwire’s commercial team as the company continues to Build Organizational Capability and strives to foster a culture of trust, empowerment and inclusion. Simmons received her undergraduate degree from Georgia State University and her master’s in administration from Central Michigan University. She worked for many high profile businesses before joining Southwire in 2013. She has worked closely with the Human Resources department, where she has been instrumental in cultivating relationships between several business groups. Simmons is a board member of the West Georgia Habitat for Humanity and City Station Preschool. She volunteers with CASA and the children’s ministry at her church. Simmons lives in Carrollton, GA with her husband Eric and three children Wesli, Pierce and Zane.

Best Practices to Improve Your Company’s Safety Culture

Afternoon Breakout Session • 1:45-3:00pm

The potential for human error on an electrical project is huge and companies must develop best practices to identify and address human error and its negative consequences. Using the principles outlined in the Human Performance and Workplace Electrical Safety section of the NFPA 70E, this session will identify how to control risk, identify potential performance issues and provide tools to help your workforce develop as safety leaders.

Speaker: Scott Francis, Westex

Sustainable High Performance

Afternoon Breakout Session • 1:45-3:00pm

The tools used by high performing teams, individuals and organisations have never been better understood, or been more attainable. Sharing a decade of research, this session lifts the lid on how the greatest performers do things differently, and how your team can too. Following this session, you will be more solution focused, better opportunity creators (not just opportunity spotters) and more equipped to deal with failure and negativity.

Speaker: David Meade

Building a Stellar Personal and Professional Brand

Afternoon Breakout Session • 1:45-3:00pm

To be seen both personally and professionally, you need a brand that will help you stand out. This session will guide you through key points as well as tips and tricks to do just that. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of how to kickstart your brand, make connections and build your presence on social media platforms such as LinkedIn.

Speaker: Dahlia El Gazzar, DAHLIA+

Communicating and Gaining Visibility as a Leader One Conversation at a Time

Wednesday Morning Breakout Session • 8:30 – 9:45AM

Every interaction is an opportunity for success. This session will provide tips and tools for cultivating and connecting with colleagues, customers, team members and the community at large.

Speaker: Debra Fine

Fine is the author of bestselling books The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Networking Skills—and Leave a Positive Impression (Hyperion), and The Fine Art of the Big Talk along with her just released third in the Fine Art series: Beyond Texting The Fine Art of Face to Face Communication for Teenagers (Canon). A 20+ year member of the National Speakers Association, Fine presents programs to hundreds of audiences around the world that include Google, Delta Airlines, Spectra Energy, KPMG, General Electric, and NASA. Her books are translated and published in two dozen countries across the globe. A regular Huffington Post blogger Fine’s recent media appearances include The Today Show, the Early Show, NPR Morning Edition, Fox Business News and CNN.

Digital Happiness: How To Be the Boss of Technology

Wednesday Morning Breakout Session • 10:30am-11:45am

Between pings, news alerts, social media likes and email we all struggle to manage our 24/7 connection to technology in a way that feels healthy and balanced, often at the peril of our personal relationships, the work we produce and even our own sanity. How do we reclaim some “sacred space” and allow ourselves to find flow in an overly mediated world, without compromising our work and professionalism? This session will discuss rules to guide you toward digital happiness, personal well-being, and enhanced productivity in a hyper-connected world.

Speaker: Anna Akbari

Anna Akbari, PhD is a sociologist, writer, and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Sociology of Style, an image and life coaching company, and a partner in HVCK, a Silicon Valley innovation consultancy. A former instructor at New York University and Parsons School of Design, she is a frequent public speaker and media personality and has written for and been featured by Forbes, CNN, The Atlantic, Time, The Economist, Financial Times, TED, Bulletproof Executive, and dozens more. Her book, Startup Your Life: Hustle and Hack Your Way To Happiness, teaches people to enhance happiness and success by living their lives like a Silicon Valley startup.

The Age of Casual Family Business is Over

Wednesday Morning Breakout Session • 8:30 – 9:45am

A Family Enterprise mindset is an agile family that deploys their finances, talent and relationships into opportunities that align with their family’s vision. When the family develops, it can be an advantage to all the enterprises that they are involved with. Topics including greater trust, longer-term thinking, values-based decision-making, governance by people that care and a greater connection to communities will be discussed.

Speaker: Greg McCann

Greg has an extensive background in family business. Greg is currently an owner in his extended family’s business. Greg is also the principal and founder of McCann & Associates, a firm that consults with and conducts programs for family enterprises. The majority of Greg’s focus currently is on consulting and coaching related to vertical leadership in family enterprise. Greg has coached leaders for nearly 20 years and is not only a graduate of Coach U, but is also certified in Leadership Agility and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. As a full professor at Stetson University, Greg was the founder and director from 1998-2006 and 2010-2014 of Stetson’s award-winning Family Enterprise Center where he led the effort to create the nation’s first major in family business. Greg was a member of the Family Firm Institute’s Board of Directors from 2005-2008 and winner of FFI’s Lifetime achievement in family business education. He is also an FFI Fellow. Greg has published two books, one called When Your Parents Sign the Paychecks which focuses on the challenges facing the next generation from families that own businesses and the other a book on character entitled Who Do You Think You Are? Aligning Your Character and Reputation. Greg is a member of the Association for Managers of Innovation. He has worked with GenSpring, FOX, Northern Trust, MassMutual and prominent family businesses globally.

Develop Leaders for Your Service & Maintenance Team

Wednesday Morning Breakout Session • 8:30 – 9:45am

To build a successful service and maintenance business, you cannot just rely on chance. You must select the right individuals, establish business processes that project a professional image and ensure that you have the right technological tools to do the job. This session will discuss the traits you want to cultivate in your service and maintenance team and how to create a business model that will project a professional image.

Speaker: Frederic B. Sargent, Great Service Forums

“Fred Sargent, President of Great Service Forums℠, began his career in 1970 in Pittsburgh-based Sargent Electric Company, which had been started by his grandfather in 1907. While the Company moves forward today under a successful team of professional owners and managers, for the past decade Sargent has dedicated his time and energy fully towards developing and promoting a business philosophy wrapped around service & maintenance as a winning strategy for union electrical contractors in today’s marketplace. From this he has coined the proverb, Never lose touch with a customer who somehow has managed to find you.

Along with Virginia Tech professor Andrew McCoy, he co-authors a regular column on service & Maintenance in NECA’s Electrical Contractor Magazine.”

Productivity Megatrends: Superhumans; Connected & Interconnected; and New Ways to Design & Build

Tuesday Afternoon Breakout Session • 1:45 – 3:00pm

Speaker: Helge Jacobsen, United Rentals

Prefabrication Solutions

Wednesday Morning Breakout Session • 8:30 – 9:45am

TBD

Speaker: Joel Smith, Greenlee

Speaker: TBD