Conference Agenda
Thursday, February 6, 2025
FUTURE LEADER KICKOFF 10:00am - 2:00pm - Requires separate registration - REGISTER HERE
WELCOME RECEPTION 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Friday, February 7, 2025
BREAKFAST IN MOONTOWER HALL 8:00am - 8:30am
ECC EXTRA KICKOFF 8:30am - 8:45am
OPENING SPEAKER - ED MERROW 8:45am - 9:30am
Ed Merrow, Founder and Executive Chairman of IPA, is a leading expert on managing large industrial projects. With extensive experience and a vast database of project benchmarks, Ed helps organizations reduce risk and improve performance in cost, schedule, and sustainability.
Over his decades of work and research, Ed has seen a multitude of challenges introduced and overcome. He will provide perspective on current disruptions facing the heavy process and industrial construction industry impacting the ability to effectively deliver capital projects and causes of increasingly extended project schedules. Drawing on a wealth of data, he will set the stage for participants to learn what can be done to navigate these challenges.
Over his decades of work and research, Ed has seen a multitude of challenges introduced and overcome. He will provide perspective on current disruptions facing the heavy process and industrial construction industry impacting the ability to effectively deliver capital projects and causes of increasingly extended project schedules. Drawing on a wealth of data, he will set the stage for participants to learn what can be done to navigate these challenges.
NETWORKING BREAK 9:30am - 10:15am
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN ECC SPONSOR 10:15am - 10:25am
TACKLING DISRUPTION TOGETHER: SUCCESS STORIES AND STRATEGIES 10:25am - 11:35am
Join us for an interactive panel discussion unpacking a real-world case study of a project that tackled numerous disruptive challenges to achieve remarkable outcomes as a team. Our expert panel will explore the strategies and innovative solutions employed to overcome obstacles such as resource constraints, stakeholder resistance, and unexpected market shifts.
Audience members will be asked to jump into the narrative and decide how we navigate project decisions for best outcomes. Panelists will act as your guides, sharing their firsthand experiences and providing valuable insights into the lessons learned and best practices that have emerged from their journey in the industry.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the field, this panel promises to inspire and equip you with actionable strategies for overcoming your own challenges.
Audience members will be asked to jump into the narrative and decide how we navigate project decisions for best outcomes. Panelists will act as your guides, sharing their firsthand experiences and providing valuable insights into the lessons learned and best practices that have emerged from their journey in the industry.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the field, this panel promises to inspire and equip you with actionable strategies for overcoming your own challenges.
LUNCH 11:35pm - 12:35pm
FUTURE LEADER SPOTLIGHT 12:35pm - 12:45pm
SOS PREVIEW 12:45pm - 12:55pm
LEADERSHIP JAM SESSION: THE SOUND OF COLLABORATION 12:55pm - 1:55pm
Disruption and rapid change have become commonplace. Teams must now be more agile, adaptive, and able to collaboratively address challenges in almost real time - much like a great sounding band.
In this “jam session”, you will experience first hand how world class musicians collaborate, adapt, and groove - and, how to lead your teams to do the same. Learn how to:
In this “jam session”, you will experience first hand how world class musicians collaborate, adapt, and groove - and, how to lead your teams to do the same. Learn how to:
- Gain team alignment
- Build teams that can adapt to and thrive in change
- Unleash employee creativity and talent
NETWORKING BREAK 1:55pm - 2:15pm
RAPID ADOPTION OF NEW CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES 2:15pm - 3:15pm
Construction worker shortages challenge industry and threaten critically needed capital projects for growth and infrastructure, and workers entering the field in the future are not expected to be as technically skilled as in the past. Construction technology has long promised to address labor shortages while also reducing worker exposure and improving productivity and quality. However, industry is slow to adopt the new technologies. This panel will showcase two examples of current construction technologies that have been deployed successfully. The panelists will include a vendor, a contractor, and an owner. Each will describe what they did to overcome resistance to using the technology and the benefits gained from using it. ECC Extra participants will learn specific actions they can take to speed the use new construction technologies on their worksites
CLOSING SPEAKER: ANDREW BUSCH 3:15pm - 4:15pm
The world is going to see more economic change in the next 5 years than we have seen in the last 100 years. AI adoption, turmoil in the Middle East, war in the Ukraine, interest rates spiking, supply chains crashing, fears of recessions are all examples of the speed of change.
But how did we get here? More importantly, where do we go from here?
Andy provides the context needed to understand the forces at work creating momentum for change in the economy and your business. AI, climate subsidies and digital twins are just a few of the extraordinary tools/spending being leveraged right now. Are you aligning yourself for what will occur? Andy literally wrote the book on large, catastrophic events and how they impact our markets, economy and world. As a futurist and economist, Andy dives deep into exploring how innovation, policy changes and societal shifts (war/elections) drive opportunities for clients. He provides context by doing a “where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going” for the economy. He takes the trends super charged by infectious diseases, climate, war and political uncertainty then applies them to your industry via a case study to show where money is flowing, and opportunities are growing.
But how did we get here? More importantly, where do we go from here?
Andy provides the context needed to understand the forces at work creating momentum for change in the economy and your business. AI, climate subsidies and digital twins are just a few of the extraordinary tools/spending being leveraged right now. Are you aligning yourself for what will occur? Andy literally wrote the book on large, catastrophic events and how they impact our markets, economy and world. As a futurist and economist, Andy dives deep into exploring how innovation, policy changes and societal shifts (war/elections) drive opportunities for clients. He provides context by doing a “where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going” for the economy. He takes the trends super charged by infectious diseases, climate, war and political uncertainty then applies them to your industry via a case study to show where money is flowing, and opportunities are growing.
CONFERENCE CLOSING 4:15pm - 4:20pm
