All ABC Convention events will take place at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center.
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. National Committee Meetings
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Registration Open
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. National Board of Directors Registration
7 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Registration Open*
*Registration will close from 5:30-6:45 pm.
8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Construction Management Competition

CMC Banner The Construction Management Competition provides competing university and college teams an opportunity to experience a real-world construction project with unique characteristics and issues. Participating teams assemble a general contracting firm that represents their school and ABC student chapter in the competition.

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8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m. National Board of Directors Meeting
Meeting includes industry and regional breakouts, member-to-member sessions and chapter presidents business meeting.
12:15-1:45 p.m. Association Excellence Awards
*Separate ticketed event.
**Complimentary for board members, proxies and chapter presidents. Other attendees must register and purchase a ticket.
Banner AEA

Banner AEA The Association Excellence Awards luncheon recognizes and celebrates chapter achievement in membership growth and retention, STEP participation and other major accomplishments for 2023.

*National board members, proxies and chapter presidents receive a complimentary ticket to this event, which is the official lunch for the national board meeting. Other convention attendees interested in attending this pre-convention event must purchase a ticket during the registration process.

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3:30-5 p.m. Exhibit Hall Grand Opening and Reception
Full convention, social and opening night celebration ticket holders only.

Join us for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony and 90 minutes of food, fun and networking with more than 50 exhibitors. Visit with the exhibitors and register for multiple giveaways throughout the hall. Returning this year—the puppy playpen! Stop by Wednesday and Thursday during Exhibit Hall hours and play with local shelter dogs, all available for adoption.

5:30-7 p.m. Opening General Session

What would you do if you knew you could not fail? Leadership expert Ryan Leak, CEO of the Ryan Leak Group, will show you how chasing failure is all about having a vision for a dream, a goal, a mission and knowing that the road will be paved with failure, but still proceeding with conviction and passion. His deep domain expertise in empowering leaders to reclaim a new self-awareness will ensure you come away with a blueprint for success!

Also happening during this session, celebrate the Construction Workforce Awards winners—the Craft Instructor, Craft Professional and Young Professional of the Year—and meet the 2024 Chair of the ABC National Board of Directors.

Headshot of Ryan Leak

Headshot of Ryan Leak What would you do if you knew you could not fail? Leadership expert Ryan Leak, CEO of the Ryan Leak Group, will show you how chasing failure is all about having a vision for a dream, a goal, a mission and knowing that the road will be paved with failure, but still proceeding with conviction and passion. His deep domain expertise in empowering leaders to reclaim a new self-awareness will ensure you come away with a blueprint for success!

Also happening during this session, celebrate the Construction Workforce Awards winners—the Craft Instructor, Craft Professional and Young Professional of the Year—and meet the 2024 Chair of the ABC National Board of Directors.

7:15-9:30 p.m. Opening Night Celebration
Full convention, social and opening night celebration ticket holders only.

Slip on your flip-flops, grab a margarita and join us for a laid-back opening night celebration on the Coquina Lawn! Party the night away under the stars listening to your favorite beach tunes and mix with attendees while enjoying coastal cuisine and more. See you in the ’ville—it’s 5 o’clock somewhere!

Thursday, March 14, 2024
6 a.m.-4 p.m. Registration Open
7:30-10 a.m. National Board of Directors Registration
8-10 a.m. National Board of Directors Meeting
8 a.m.-3 p.m. National Craft Championships

ABC presents the National Craft Championships annually to highlight the achievements of the people who represent the future of the construction industry. Craft trainees and apprentices travel from across the country to demonstrate their superior skills, training and safe work practices and compete for top honors in their chosen craft. For training sponsors, employers and ABC chapters, the NCC demonstrates a staunch commitment to the career paths the construction industry offers.

10:15-11a.m. Show Me the Money (Supply)
Anirban Basu, ABC Chief Economist

Soft landing? Something harder? Whither inflation? This presentation will supply in-depth analysis of the major factors shaping economic outcomes, including central bank policymaking, worker attitudes, business confidence and geopolitics. It will then turn toward a forecast for the year to come, highlighting the major risks that economic stakeholders will likely encounter.

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10:15-11a.m. Show Me the Money (Supply)
Anirban Basu, ABC Chief Economist

Soft landing? Something harder? Whither inflation? This presentation will supply in-depth analysis of the major factors shaping economic outcomes, including central bank policymaking, worker attitudes, business confidence and geopolitics. It will then turn toward a forecast for the year to come, highlighting the major risks that economic stakeholders will likely encounter.

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10 a.m.-4 p.m. Viewing of the Construction Management Competition Presentations
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CMC Banner Cheer on the teams! At the end of the day’s competition, a short list of teams will be selected to move on to the next round. All convention attendees are invited and encouraged to stop by to see the teams at work during competition day. You also won't want to miss the final presentations showcasing the top teams!

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11:15 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
Navigating Unchartered Waters: A Look at the Economy, Increased Regulatory Requirements and Other Risks to Contractors

Jack Callahan, CPA
Partner, Construction Industry Leader, CohnReznick


The past three years have certainly been unprecedented. Not surprisingly, the results are uneven, with certain segments and contractors doing very well while others struggle with consistent backlog and reliable workflow. As we begin 2023, the construction industry as a whole is seeing the largest backlog ever recorded. As advocacy groups continue to report, governmental agencies have increased funding, and the commitment is to award larger work programs than ever.

This session will focus on the 2023 outlook from a funding, regulatory and delivery perspective for contractors as well as navigating the current economic climate, impending recession and inflationary risks.

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12 p.m.-3 p.m. Viewing of the National Craft Championships and Lunch
5:30-10 p.m. Excellence in Construction® Awards Gala*
*Separate ticketed event.

The 34th Annual National Excellence in Construction Awards Gala celebrates the best in merit shop construction, honoring the most outstanding construction projects and contractors of the year for their remarkable achievements in leadership, safety, innovation and inclusion, diversity and merit.

Friday, March 15, 2024
7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Registration Open
8:30-9:45 a.m. Morning Keynote Breakfast With Kevin Brown
Open to full convention and social ticket holders only.

Kevin Brown will entertain and inspire you to reach beyond the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary. Today Is Your Legacy picks up where The Hero Effect leaves off and teaches how heroes lead, live and influence the world around them in powerful ways. In this fast-paced session, Brown shares all-new stories infused with humor, inspiration and self-reflection that elevate performance and results. Dive into how great leaders create a legacy by design and not by default and learn the six legacy questions that define the ultimate influence of high-performance leaders. Discover how to create a legacy of building people and a culture that stands the test of time.

Headshot of Kevin Brown

Headshot of Kevin Brown Kevin Brown will entertain and inspire you to reach beyond the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary. Today Is Your Legacy picks up where The Hero Effect leaves off and teaches how heroes lead, live and influence the world around them in powerful ways. In this fast-paced session, Brown shares all-new stories infused with humor, inspiration and self-reflection that elevate performance and results. Dive into how great leaders create a legacy by design and not by default and learn the six legacy questions that define the ultimate influence of high-performance leaders. Discover how to create a legacy of building people and a culture that stands the test of time.

10-10:45 a.m. Industry Insight Sessions | Session Details Coming Soon
Open to full convention attendees only
11 a.m.-12 p.m. Closing Industry Insight Session with Anirban Basu
Open to full convention attendees only.

Dr. Anirban Basu, ABC Chief Economist and Chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group Inc. Get an in-depth analysis from Dr. Anirban Basu, ABC Chief Economist and Chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group Inc, covering the major factors shaping economic outcomes, including central bank policymaking, worker attitudes, business confidence and geopolitics. Then, Dr. Basu will turn toward a forecast for the year to come, highlighting the major risks that economic stakeholders will likely encounter.

Headshot of Basu Anirban

Headshot of Basu Anirban Dr. Anirban Basu, ABC Chief Economist and Chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group Inc. Get an in-depth analysis from Dr. Anirban Basu, ABC Chief Economist and Chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group Inc, covering the major factors shaping economic outcomes, including central bank policymaking, worker attitudes, business confidence and geopolitics. Then, Dr. Basu will turn toward a forecast for the year to come, highlighting the major risks that economic stakeholders will likely encounter.

5-7 p.m. Careers in Construction Awards

Watch dreams come true at the Careers in Construction Awards ceremony, where the winners of the Construction Management Competition and National Craft Championships take center stage for a celebration you won’t soon forget. Honor the best in merit shop construction during this high-energy event.

7:15-10 p.m. Closing Night Celebration
Full convention, social and closing night celebration ticket holders only.

It’s a sure bet it will be a full house as ABC welcomes back the electric Milwaukee Toolshed Band! Get a sneak peek at ABC Convention 2025 and live it up under the neon lights—Viva Las Convention!

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