Keynote Speakers

Lt. Col. Dan Rooney
Fighter Pilot, Folds of Honor Founder, PGA Pro and Bestselling Author

Lt. Col. Dan Rooney is a highly decorated F-16 fighter pilot with three combat tours in Iraq and the founder and CEO of Folds of Honor, a nonprofit that has awarded nearly 62,000 educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders.

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Jason Hewlett
Award-Winning Entertainer and Author

Jason Hewlett has delivered thousands of presentations over two decades using entertainment, musical impressions and comedy to teach leaders how to capture their unique leadership promise. He is one of the youngest inductees into the prestigious Speaker Hall of Fame and is the author of the acclaimed self-help book, "The Promise to the One." His blog, "The Promise," and online videos and courses inspire and educate corporate executives, artists, leaders and families.

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Industry Insight Speakers

Jerry Aliberti

Founder, Pro Accel

Jerry Aliberti is the founder of Pro Accel, advising midsized and upper market contractors nationwide. With 22 years in the field, he has managed hundreds of millions in work and estimated over $12 billion. He partners with owners and leaders to build structure, accountability and teams that scale profitably.

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Anirban Basu

ABC Chief Economist

ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu is chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group Inc., an economic and policy consulting firm in Baltimore. The Baltimore Business Journal named him one of the region’s 20 most powerful business leaders in 2010. Basu teaches the history of economic thought at Goucher College as Distinguished Economist in Residence, and his radio show can be heard weekdays on WYPR, 88.1 FM Baltimore.

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Julia Bonner

Founder and President, Pierce Public Relations

Julia Bonner is the founder and president of Pierce Public Relations, a certified woman-owned agency specializing in public relations and marketing for the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. A trusted advisor and industry authority, she helps AEC firms build credibility and translate expertise into visibility that attracts clients, top talent and ultimately wins more work.

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Mark Brooks

Chief Security Officer, Cianbro

Mark Brooks leads workforce development, training and leadership programs that strengthen craft and construction careers. Brooks is a retired Colonel with the U.S. Army Reserves, serving for over 34 years and retiring in 2020. He has led soldiers at the team, squad, platoon, company, battalion and brigade level.

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Steven Drouin

Senior Vice President of Technology, Interstate Electrical Services

Steven Drouin has been instrumental in shaping Interstate’s technological landscape since joining the company in 1994. He drives efficiency and empowers the team through strategic technology implementation, including advanced BIM and Virtual Design Construction solutions. Drouin’s continued foresight, pursuit of efficiency, ability to deploy solutions and employee support has been essential to the company’s ongoing success and cutting-edge technological advancements.

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Rodney Garber

Leadership Consultant and Founder, Activate Your Influence

Rodney Garber is a leadership consultant and founder of Activate Your Influence. Using the Activation Mindset, he equips organizations to develop influential leaders, build healthy cultures and create clarity around what’s next. Garber leads strategic planning, coaching and peer groups designed to enhance accountability, alignment and legacy business impact.

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Brock Grabarkewitz

Risk Management Advisor, POWERS Insurance & Risk Management

Brock Grabarkewitz specializes in developing cost-effective commercial insurance programs that match his clients’ risk management needs at POWERS Insurance & Risk Management. He has spent more than five years in the industry building relationships with both community-based companies and Fortune 500 clients.

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Marilyn Grand’Maison, M.Sc.

Director, Research, TELUS Health

Marilyn Grand’Maison, M.Sc., applies her neuroscience background to advance workplace mental health and well-being strategies globally. She leads research initiatives that identify and interpret emerging trends in workplace mental health, translating complex data into strategic insights for organizations. Her work encompasses conducting innovative analytics studies, developing evidence-based well-being frameworks and providing data-driven consulting to TELUS Health clients worldwide.

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Rohan Jawali

Founder and CEO, Joist.ai

Rohan Jawali is founder and CEO of Joist.ai, a marketing enablement platform for the built world. Prior to founding Joist.ai, Jawali worked for more than 12 years with Hensel Phelps, where he focused on innovation and virtual design in construction.

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Josh Klein

General Superintendent, Hensel Phelps

Josh Klein is a general superintendent at Hensel Phelps with 25 years of experience delivering complex, large-scale projects. He excels in managing craft for heavy concrete and finish scopes while leading design-build and construction manager at risk projects for government, aerospace and commercial clients, including Lockheed Martin and major civic developments.

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Ryan Kidd

Senior Project Manager, Kwest

Ryan Kidd drives excellence in construction project delivery across the commercial and industrial sectors. With deep expertise in planning, execution and client collaboration, he champions safety, efficiency and innovation on every job.

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Cory Kundert

CEO, Kundert Construction

As CEO of Kundert Construction, Cory Kundert played a key role in its rise from a $1.8 million company to $7 million company in 18 months by championing leadership, communication and culture. A sought-after consultant and speaker, he helps construction companies develop stronger leaders at every level, build healthier cultures and achieve consistent results.

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Brian Lines

Assistant Professor, University of Kansas

Dr. Brian Lines is an assistant professor in the Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering Department at the University of Kansas. He specializes in the areas of alternative procurement methods, expertise-driven project delivery and organizational assessment. The objective of his research program at KU is to integrate with organizations to transform their operations into more efficient and performance-driven environments.

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Russell J. McEwan

Shareholder, Littler P.C.

Russell J. McEwan leverages business experience and legal acumen to manage complex labor and employment issues across diverse industries. He represents clients in counseling, traditional labor relations matters and litigation. McEwan has proactively counseled contractors on issues unique to the construction industry, including prevailing wage compliance and project labor agreements.

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Ryan Meitl

CEO, RIVET

Ryan Meitl is co-founder and CEO of RIVET Work. RIVET partners with contractors to turn labor data into competitive advantage, helping builders plan, hire and retain skilled craft professionals.

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Jared Moor

Vice President of Sales, Kojo

Jared Moor is an industry connector with over five years of experience aiding contractors in improving material management. With insights from conversations with over 3,000 contractors, his expertise lies in optimizing operations, fostering competitive growth and seamlessly integrating new business solutions.

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Joe Powell

Executive Director, Institute for Healthcare Infrastructure Research

Joe Powell is the executive director of the Institute for Healthcare Infrastructure Research, a program of the University Research Institute in Washington, D.C. A registered architect, Powell has spent his 40-year career researching the relationship between corporate strategy, human behavior and the built environment. He is the author of “The New Competitiveness in Design & Construction.”

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Kevin Sell

Senior Manager, Corporate Development, Kwest Group LLC

Kevin Sell is the senior manager of corporate development at Kwest Group LLC, a heavy, multidisciplined civil contractor based in Perrysburg, Ohio, with regional offices in Charlotte, North Carolina; Dallas; and Roanoke, Virgina. Sell has also served as a special government employee for the U. S. Department of Labor for 23 years, as well as chairman of the Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

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Zeke Smith

Director, Marketing & Workforce Development, Apache Industrial

Zeke Smith has spent more than 20 years working in the people business, including 15 years in the engineering and construction industry. A board member of ABC Greater Houston, Smith is a recognized advocate for advancing mental health awareness in the construction industry. He is a certified Mental Health Ally, certified in Mental Health First Aid through the National Council for Mental Wellbein and a trainer for VitalCog Suicide Prevention in Construction.

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Rowan Steel-Hall

COO, SMARTBUILD

Rowan Steel-Hall is a data-driven strategic leader with deep experience in digital, advanced analytics and transformation. As chief operating officer of SMARTBUILD, he applies over two decades of cross-industry expertise to help construction teams adopt practical, field-ready technology. With a background that includes leadership roles with companies such as Adidas and Boston Consulting Group, Steel-Hall combines public and private sector insights to drive scalable growth and real-world impact.

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Todd Stevens

Vice President, Industrial Construction, MetroPower

Todd Stevens joined MetroPower in 2018 as vice president of industrial construction. He has been instrumental in supporting clients across the country and has taken responsibility of MetroPower operations in Albany, Georgia; Bainbridge, Georgia; and Jacksonville, Florida. Stevens has over 30 years of experience in the construction industry and has established himself as a proven leader in quality control process establishment and employee skill development.

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DeAnna Thomas

Vice President of Human Resources, ABC National

DeAnna Thomas serves as vice president of human resources for ABC, overseeing all aspects of human resources and payroll. HR is both her purpose and her passion, rooted in a commitment to creating a workplace where employees feel valued and supported. With more than 25 years of experience, she has a strong record of leading strategic HR initiatives, strengthening employee relations, and fostering positive workplace cultures.

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Chad Waite

Senior Manager, Channel & Field, Document Crunch

Chad Waite has 15 years of experience in high-growth, B2B SaaS companies, including five years spent in the construction technology space. His rich history in running marketing departments and building partner programs has helped him establish Document Crunch’s industry leading, partner-first approach in the construction space.

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Robert Worden

Commercial Sales Manager, POWERS Insurance & Risk Management

Robert Worden is an insurance expert with more than 30 years of experience. As the sales manager at POWERS Insurance & Risk Management, he is a mentor to his sales team and coaches them to deliver top-notch coverage throughout the country

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