Keynote Speakers
David & Jonah Stillman
Wednesday, February 11th
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm | Grand Ballroom
Ignite your workforce after attending our keynote speakers David and Jonah Stillman—the father-son duo who literally wrote the book on Gen Z. For over 25 years, David has been the go-to generational expert for CNN, The New York Times, and Fortune 500 leaders, while Gen Z phenom Jonah brings authentic, boots-on-the-ground insights from the first national study of his generation’s workplace attitudes. Together, they’ll deliver a high-energy, research-backed session on the seven key traits driving Gen Z employees and proven strategies to you to recruit, retain, and motivate your youngest employees.
Sponsored by Diamond National Partner Core & Main
Mark Bridgers
Economic Outlook for the Utility Construction Industry
Thursday, February 12th
9:30 am - 10:30 am | Grand Ballroom
Don’t miss Continuum Capital’s Mark Bridgers as he delivers his razor-sharp economic outlook for the American utility construction industry in 2026.
Opportunity, Transformation, Volatility, Confrontation, Demand, Geopolitics, Chaos…is there one word that defines the Utility Construction Market…or perhaps all of these words define it at the same time! The Utility Construction Market covers this entire spectrum and is filled with opportunity and chaos. Recent forecasts describe the potential for significant growth through 2030, driven by surging natural gas demand, record LNG exports, growing data center energy needs, massive broadband expansion, and water/sewer infrastructure replacement, among other drivers. Workforce availability, permit availability, DOGE impacts on Federal Agencies and Regulators, ICE enforcement efforts, Federal politics are all introducing chaos. Owners, contractors, engineers, and vendors will each have to navigate these markets currents and trends to thrive at least through the end of the Trump term in 2028.
In this session, we will explore geopolitical, domestic, and market drivers along with their forecasted impact on each type of work and uncover where contractors should stand to deliver services effectively and most importantly profitably!
Roundtables
Thursday, February 12th
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm | Grand Ballroom
Designed for open dialogue and real-world insight, the
roundtable encourages participants to share
experiences, ask questions, and leave with actionable
ideas they can apply immediately to their operations.
Topics will include:
- Software for Utility Contractors – Evaluating and leveraging software to improve visibility, productivity, and decision-making.
- Navigating Contract Terms – Identifying high-risk clauses, negotiating fair terms, and managing contractual obligations to reduce exposure and protect profitability.
- Accounts Receivable Pitfalls – Addressing common payment challenges, improving billing practices, and implementing strategies to accelerate cash flow and reduce bad debt.
Sponsored by ECP
Wally Adamchik
Workplace Culture
Thursday, February 12th
11:00 am - 12:00 pm | Grand Ballroom
Join Firestarter’s Wally Adamchik for a no-nonsense session on leadership that actually sticks. A former U.S. Marine Corps officer and veteran construction executive, Wally will share battle-tested lessons on investing in people, building unbreakable trust, and creating a high-performance culture that drives safety, productivity, and profit. Learn how to inspire commitment, overcome excuses, and turn good crews into great ones.
Operational Best Practices
Thursday, February 12th
11:00 am - 12:00 pm | Canyon I
Join FMI’s Tyler Paré for a powerhouse session on building smarter, stronger utility construction businesses. Drawing on FMI’s industry-leading research and advisory expertise, Tyler will deliver proven strategies to boost profitability, optimize talent, navigate risk, and capitalize on 2026 market shifts. Walk away with actionable tools to elevate bidding accuracy, strengthen leadership pipelines, and drive sustainable growth.
Sponsored by Tenna