Education Sessions: Thursday, October 29

Distributors/Fabricators Session
AI Approaches for Distribution Leaders

This discussion will unpack how AI is reshaping the distribution industry, and lay out a clear, practical framework to help leaders get started with adoption. Walk away with real-world strategies to turn AI potential into measurable impact within your organizations. During this session, Anne Balduzzi we will also discuss other AI trends that will redefine distribution over in the next decade.

Speaker:
Anne Balduzzi, Owner, Accelerate Partners

Health and Safety Session
OSHA Now & Next: What's Changing in Workplace Safety

Get a timely update on where OSHA stands, the workplace safety topics gaining the most attention, and where the regulatory landscape may be headed next. Patrick Dennison will share predictions on emerging trends and enforcement priorities, with open time for attendee questions. Don’t miss this practical session

Speaker:
Patrick Dennison, Partner, Fisher Phillips

Merit Contractors Committee
Regional Roundup 

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

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

Associates (Manufacturer) Session
U.S. Insulation Market Outlook

Get a region-by-region look at U.S. insulation material demand across new construction and maintenance projects, with a focus on the industrial power, oil, and gas sectors. Attendees will hear about the latest labor supply trends and the growth markets set to emerge in the years ahead. This 30-minute session includes time for attendee questions.

Speaker: Don Cotchen, Vice President Sales, Industrial Info

Union Contractors Subcomittee
Designing and Executing an Effective Collective Bargaining Strategy

Successful collective bargaining is driven by far more than economics and contract language. John Nesse will explore practical approaches to bargaining preparation, proposal development, committee discipline, communication at the table, and managing difficult negotiations under pressure. Drawing from real-world collective bargaining experience across multiple industries and markets, he will provide a structured framework for improving bargaining effectiveness, including preparation, alignment, and execution while avoiding common pitfalls that can undermine the bargaining process.

Speaker:
John Nesse, Managing Partner, Management Guidance LLP

Young Professional Advisory Committee (YPAC)
Peer to Peer: A Leadership Conversation

Led by YPAC Member Marissa Davis of Ideal Products, along with her mentor NIA Past President Laura Dover of Chaparral Insulation Co., Inc., this interactive roundtable puts the conversation in your hands by exploring what leadership really looks like from where you sit. Topics include self-reflection, emotional intelligence, and personal growth, all unpacked through peer-to-peer discussion. Bring your experiences, and if you’d like a head start, take a free Enneagram personality test beforehand (optional). Leave with a clearer sense of your own leadership path and individual strengths.