All of ABC Convention events will take place at the Henry B. González Convention Center.

 Monday, March 14

• 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
  National Committee Meetings
• 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
  Registration Open

 Tuesday, March 15

• 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
  ABC Convention 2022 Registration Open
• 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
  National Board of Directors Registration
• 9:30 a.m.-4:20 p.m.
  National Board of Directors Meeting 
  *Meeting includes Industry Workshops, Regional Breakouts, Member to Member and Chapter Presidents Business Meeting.
• 12:15-1:30 p.m.
  Association Excellence Awards 
  *Complimentary for National board members, proxies and chapter presidents. Other attendees must register and purchase a ticket.




The Association Excellence Awards luncheon recognizes and celebrates chapter achievement in membership growth and retention, STEP participation, as well as other major accomplishments for 2021. National board members and chapter presidents receive complimentary tickets to this celebratory event.

Sponsored by:

• 3-3:30 p.m.
  First-Timers Orientation Session  
  If you are a first-timer or haven’t attended the ABC Convention in a few years, join the events team for an inside peek at the week’s ceremonies, celebrations and more—all to help newbies make the most of the convention experience!
• 5:30-7 p.m.
  Convention Opening General Session

Opening General Session



ABC Convention 2022 kicks off with keynote speaker Mandy Rennehan, the Blue Collar CEO™ and founder of Freshco Inc. Known for her ability to navigate between the white- and blue-collar worlds, she’s bringing her message of empowerment and determination to draw attention to the skilled trade shortage. This candid, real-life conversation will inspire and educate attendees about steps organizations can take to reverse the skilled trade shortage. The Construction Workforce Award winners—the Craft Instructor, Craft Professional and Young Professional of the Year—will also be honored during the opening session.
Sponsored By:
 

• 7-7:45 p.m.
  Kickoff Reception  
  The opening night celebration starts with a kickoff reception in the exhibit hall. Join us for complimentary food and beverages with the exhibitors and get a sneak peek at the National Craft Championships competition floor before the rest of the evening’s festivities.
  
  Sponsored By:
• 7:45-9:30 p.m.
  Opening Night Celebration

Opening Night Celebration



The River Walk, the famous San Antonio landmark, is the perfect backdrop for the opening night celebration. Attendees will enjoy the Grotto, the section of the River Walk featuring cave-like walls, trees, waterfalls and foliage along the river. Guests can also relax and enjoy the LDR, an elegant space filled with Western furnishings that celebrate the local area’s history and landscape.
Sponsored by:

 Wednesday, March 16

• 6 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
  Registration Open
• 7 a.m.-12 p.m.
  National Board of Directors Registration
• 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
  Construction Management Competition



The ABC Construction Management Competition provides competing teams an opportunity to experience an actual project that exhibits unique characteristics and issues. Participating teams assemble a general contracting firm that represents their school and ABC Student Chapter in the competition. Prior to arrival on site, the teams complete pre-work on a pricing and technical proposal, which will be the basis for a number of exercises and challenges presented throughout the day by the CMC committee. At the end of the day’s competition, a short list of teams will be selected to move on to the next round in the competition. Convention attendees are invited and encouraged to stop by to see the teams at work during competition day.

Presenting Sponsor

• 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 men and women 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 the training sponsors, employers and ABC chapters, the NCC demonstrates a staunch commitment to the career paths the construction industry offers. In 2022, NCC introduces gas tungsten arc welding as a craft demonstration.

Official Tool Sponsor

• 10:15-11 a.m.
  Concurrent Education Sessions

Concurrent Education Session 1
No Time to Buy

Speaker: Anirban Basu

Will 2022 usher forth a return to normalcy, or will it represent a continuation of the life-altering circumstances that characterized 2020 and 2021? This presentation will provide in-depth analysis of the economy's shifts during the pandemic, including industry and household-level detail, plus a forecast for the year to come.

Sponsored by:

Concurrent Education Session 2
Leading a Safety-Centric Organization

Speaker: Greg Sizemore

Panelists:

Danny Gibson Michael Bennett

John Hinson Stephanie Schmidt

What if your company could be 645% safer than the industry average and you could reduce your total recordable incident rate by 75%? It’s more than possible. It’s doable. Based on data from ABC’s 2022 Safety Performance Report and insights from member contractors who made the ABC’s Top Performers lists, this session will start you on the path to improving and sustaining world-class safety in your organization.

• 11:15 am-12 p.m.
  Concurrent Sessions
  Beyond 2022: What's Coming From Technology
  and What to Do About It  

  Speakers:    Stacy Scopano Ty Findley
  
  The last decade ushered in waves of technology change and disruption in both our personal and professional lives. Moving forward, those trends are likely to accelerate. Gain perspectives on the technology forces at play, the changes we are likely to see and how we can ride the wave to our advantage.
  
  Sponsored By:

  Market Outlook: What’s Ahead for the Commercial Construction Pipeline   

  Speakers:   
  
  Michael Herman Dave Walsh
  
  Moderator:
  
  Mike Bellaman, ABC President & CEO
  
  Hear what’s on the minds of construction clients, including Marriott International and Starbucks, as they share insights on their design and development pipeline. Learn how they are adjusting to changing consumer demands and behaviors and areas for collaboration and partnership with contractors to create solutions for project success.
• 12-3 p.m.
  National Craft Championships Viewing and Lunch
• 5:30-10 p.m.
  Excellence in Construction® Awards Gala*
  *Separate ticketed event



The 32nd Annual National Excellence in Construction Awards ceremony celebrates the best in merit shop construction, honoring the most outstanding construction projects and contractors of 2021 for their remarkable achievements in leadership, safety, innovation and inclusion, diversity and equity.

 Thursday, March 17

• 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
  Registration Open
• 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
  Construction Management Competition Presentations



Join the top teams for their presentations as they battle for victory in the final round of the Construction Management Competition. An overall winner will be selected and prizes awarded in estimating, project management, quality control and safety at the Careers in Construction Awards ceremony. Convention attendees are invited and encouraged to cheer on their favorite schools as they present throughout the morning. The presentation schedule will be posted on the ABC events app.

Presenting Sponsor

• 10-11 a.m.
  C-Suite Perspectives: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead for Construction  
  Moderated by Mike Bellaman
  Moderator:   Mike Bellaman
  
  Panelists:   Frank Nerenhausen Dale Asplund Norman Adkins
  
  Industry leaders from the manufacturing and equipment rental industries will discuss new megatrends that have emerged as the result of the global pandemic and how companies are adapting to create the jobsite and workforce of the future.
  
  
• 11:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
  Concurrent Education Sessions

Concurrent Education Session 1
Defending Your Company Against Cybercrime

Presented by:   Nick Espinosa

With cyberattacks against small to midsize organizations on the rise, it is more important than ever to make sure that your company has the proper defenses in place, so your data is secure from hackers and the "dark web." In this presentation, Nick Espinosa will spell out these dangers and how to properly pick the right IT help and security products to make your company more secure.

Sponsored by:

Concurrent Education Session 2
Reclaim Your Moxie: Employers and Employees Team Up on Mental Health and Well-Being

Speaker: Dana Piscopo

Dana will tell her story of addiction, finding her way to freedom and how she’s now helping fellow employees reclaim their moxie. She will share how the resources she’s brought fellow employees have helped grow peer-to-peer support and promoted work and personal life balance and growth. Dana will explore some of the ways employers can introduce programs into the workplace to promote working with employees for better mental health, well-being and squashing the stigma around addiction.

• 12:15-1:45 p.m.
  ABC Convention 2022 Closing Keynote Luncheon

Closing General Session



Ben Nemtin believes the stigma of mental illness can be broken by having open, honest conversations. By showing how his own vulnerabilities have become his strengths and underlining that all humans struggle, he gives others the courage to talk about their own internal battles. His astounding story and authentic levity give audiences hope and normalizes talking about mental health in a refreshing and vibrant way.
 

• 5-7 p.m.
  Careers in Construction Awards
  Watch dreams come true at the Careers in Construction Awards ceremony, where construction management and national craft competitors take center stage for a celebration you won't soon forget. Celebrate the best in merit shop construction during this patriotic-themed event.
  
  Sponsored by:
• 7:15-10 p.m.
  Closing Night Celebration

Closing Night Celebration



It’s a wrap at the Espee, one of San Antonio’s most storied entertainment venues, which began as a train station in 1883. Located a short walk from the convention center, this meandering space will be decked out for convention attendees with plenty of food, drinks and entertainment by the Milwaukee Tool Shed Band. ABC’s strategic partners are the hosts for the evening.

Sponsored by: