Education Sessions: Thursday, October 26

Investing in Your Workforce: Construction Industry Mental Health Resources

By investing in mental health resources for employees, businesses can help retain talent, improve productivity, and reduce time out of the office for employees. During this session, Jessica Bunting will demonstrate the benefits of incorporating a mental health program into your business’s safety program. Jessica will also discuss a variety of resources to help employees who are battling burnout, anxiety, stress, depression, and thoughts of suicide, and how your business can develop their own mental health program.

Speaker:
Jessica Bunting, MPH, Director, Research to Practice, The Center for Construction Research and Training, and Board Member, Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention

Mechanical Insulation Energy Savings and Carbon Reduction Impact Study

NIA commissioned—for the first time in the history of the mechanical insulation industry—a study from the industry’s perspective to determine the impact mechanical insulation systems can have on reducing the demand for energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This study of higher-service temperature ranges (150°F–800°F) examines and interprets an 11-year window of information. Join us for a comprehensive overview of the study results and learn how this information can help you inform your customers of the important role mechanical insulation can play in helping their companies and our country achieve and maintain their respective decarbonization goals.

Speaker:
Ron King, NIA Consultant and Past President

Associates (Manufacturers) Session
How to Use New Construction Technology to Improve Your Business

What technologies are shaping the construction industry and why do we need new technologies? Hamzah Shanbari will share insights into these questions as he examines artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual reality, drones, laser scanning, and more, exploring how these tools can improve processes and help you shape the future of your business.

Speaker:
Hamzah Shanbari, Director, Innovation Strategic Initiatives, Haskell

Distributors/Fabricators Session
Develop a Next-Gen Sales Talent Strategy

Digitization, labor constraints, retirement waves, and shifts in buyer preferences are all converging forces prompting companies to take a fresh look at their sales organizations. To meet the moment, you need to adopt a sales talent strategy that ensures you will be able to attract, hire, develop, and retain top performers. In this session, Doug Wyatt will share emerging trends around these topics as well as playbooks and best practices that top companies are employing to build the market-leading sales teams of the future.

Speaker:
Doug Wyatt, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, SPARXiQ

Health and Safety Session
Hard Hats to Helmets—What’s the Difference?

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential on construction sites, and understanding the design differences, and pros and cons between hard hats and helmets is important. During this session, Justin Azbill will provide attendees with statistical data and case studies on why a shift to helmets may be a key tool to keeping employees safe on the job. Justin will also provide a general overview of additional PPE trends.

Speaker:
Justin Azbill, Director, National Environment, Health, and Safety, Milwaukee Tool

Merit Contractors Committee
Market Conditions and Staffing Matters

Join the Merit Contractors Committee members for a wide-ranging regional discussion led by Committee Chair Michael McCowan of L.C. Insulations, Inc. Discussions include market conditions and staffing matters from across the United States.

Speaker:
Mike McCowan, Committee Chair, L.C. Insulations, Inc.

Union Contractors Subcommittee
(open only to signatory contractors of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers.)
An Update and Q&A with the International

NIA’s union contractors are invited to join a conversation on industry topics, including updates from the International, emerging issues for union contractors, and a Q&A. (This is a closed meeting—open only to signatory contractors of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers.)

Speakers:
Terrence Larkin, General President, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers
Robert Reap, General Secretary–Treasurer, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers

Young Professional Advisory Committee Session (open to members under 40 years of age or new to the industry)
Sustainable Strategic Planning

Luse Thermal Technologies’ Ashley Luse DeBoer and PCI’s Rick Sutphin paired up for YPAC’s Mentoring Program. Hear their top take-aways from exploring the strategic planning process, including concepts and best practices to get started, establishing goals, monitoring progress, and ultimately, creating a sustainable system for success.

Speakers:
Ashley Luse DeBoer, President, Luse Thermal Technologies'
Rick Sutphin, Sr. Vice-President, Operations, Performance Contracting, Inc.