Tentative Agenda is in Mountain Standard Time (MST)

Wednesday, October 12

Federal Construction HR Workshop: DOL Investigations & Audits + HRTED Opening Events

The regulatory eye is always on federal construction and with federal infrastructure dollars coming down the pipeline, the U.S. Department of Labor’s enforcement machine is gearing up. This workshop will be focusing on mock Davis-Bacon investigations and OFCCP audits to best prepare attendees before an investigator steps on their worksite or a scheduling letter arrives in the mail. Come learn from one of the top labor and employment law experts and collaborate with your peers on how to proactively respond to a Davis-Bacon or OFCCP enforcement action.

Presenter: Leslie A. Stout-Tabackman, Principal, Jackson Lewis P.C.

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

Lunch

12:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Davis-Bacon Investigations

2:30 PM – 2:45 PM

Break

2:45 PM – 4:45 PM

OFCCP Audits

4:45 PM – 5:00 PM

Break

5:00 PM – 5:45 PM

First-Time HRTED Attendee Orientation

Sponsored by:

6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

HR & Training Networking Dinner (Optional Ticketed Event – $75)

This year’s HR & Training Networking Dinner will be hosted at The Arrogant Butcher at 6:30 PM.

Address: 2 E. Jefferson #150 Phoenix, AZ 85004

Thursday, October 13

2022 Construction HR & Training Professionals Conference

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Breakfast + Demo: 

Sponsored by:

8:00 AM – 8:15 AM

Welcome & Opening Remarks

8:15 AM – 9:30 AM

Culture & Retention Unlocked: Clarity, Commitment, Consistency

The game has changed for organizations around attracting and retaining talent, and the dynamics of employee experience that produce engaged, high-performing teams and reduce turnover. This hands-on, extremely engaging session will fundamentally transform how attendees understand and drive culture and employee experience in their organization. Galen simplifies this complex topic into a tangible, practical approach to establish an exceptional organizational culture that employees will thrive in. Participants will laugh and learn while gaining knowledge, tools, and useful takeaway resources to put Galen’s content into practice immediately. This session will permanently raise the bar for leaders, team members, and organizations in a profound way.

Speaker: Galen Emanuele, Keynote Speaker + President, Shift Yes

9:30 AM – 9:45 AM

Break: 

Sponsored by:

9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

Concurrent Sessions

Construction HR 101 Panel

Whether you’re new to HR or seasoned, but new to the industry, construction HR is unique, challenging and rewarding. There are many areas of HR that are vastly different in construction than in other industries; including, navigating various regulations, building your department or leveraging resources, managing employees and building cultures, or recruiting and developing your workforce. Good news is, you’re not alone! So come lean on your peers and learn about how they have navigated these unique challenges that you are sure to eventually face and identify strategies that will work for you and your organization.

Moderator: Janelle Pogodzinski, J.F. Brennan Company

Panelists: Jaime Andress, MBA, SPHR, Caddell Construction

Seniye Groff, MEd, Senior Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader

Sarah Eubanks, Talent Acquisition & Development Specialist

How to Effectively Onboard and Develop Field Staff

Onboarding and training are crucial steps that set a directional tone for new and existing employees. It is a great opportunity to enhance your culture and show your employees their value. In our increasingly competitive market, in order to stand out as a leader, we have to offer first-in-class onboarding and training programs. During this session, we will show you how to create a comprehensive onboarding and training program that delivers the necessary training to develop employees in their job roles, understand their development path, and participate as active and healthy team members.

Speaker: Andrea Wright, CTP Solutions, LLC

10:45 AM – 11:00 AM

Break: 

Sponsored by:

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Concurrent Sessions

Designing a Culture of Feedback

Feedback done well within organizations is imperative to building trust, growth, and accelerating improvement. The ability to skillfully give and receive feedback is a requirement for personal and professional growth, effective leadership, and it reduces a lot of unnecessary static and conflict on teams.

In this session, Galen shows teams how to build a culture of feedback where it is not viewed as criticism, but an opportunity to improve, strengthen relationships, and contribute to each other’s growth and success. Attendees will learn how to establish and embrace an environment that is open and receptive to feedback; where it’s productive, safe, welcome, and sought after. He will provide a simple, effective model for skillfully giving and receiving feedback to create a familiar structure and common language so that the process and experience is positive and consistent across the team.

Speaker: Galen Emanuele, Keynote Speaker + President, Shift Yes

Outreach to Future Workforce

A panel of organizations in Central Florida working together to reach out to students from kindergarten to 12th grade will review what has been done to get students interested in construction. They also will discuss how members of the construction industry and education sector are partnering together to encourage the youth to think about careers in construction by offering summer camps, events, internships. and partnerships.

11:45 AM – 12:45 PM

Lunch

12:45 PM – 1:30 PM

Concurrent Sessions

Becoming a Great Place to Work in Construction

This session will look at how the Brennan organization has scaled their culture and their talent management processes. They are a certified Great Place to Work for 6 years in a row, and are on the Fortune Best Workplaces in Construction 2022 Small-Mid. Attendees will hear how the Human Capital team went from transactional to transformational. We will discuss the tools we are currently using to impact the transformation of performance and career development conversations for team members.

Speaker: Janelle Pogodzinski, J.F. Brennan Company

Considerations in Designing an Inclusive Wellbeing Program

Health, well-being, and human performance continue to be a strategic imperative and value of many organizations. To be effective, workplace wellness programs need to evolve beyond HR function and move into full-scale corporate initiatives.

Speaker: Julie Taffera, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.

1:30PM – 1:45 PM

Break

1:45 PM – 2:30 PM

Concurrent Sessions

Using Actionable Data to Lower Healthcare Costs

With employee retention and talent acquisition critical in today’s recruiting environment, offering a competitive benefits program is imperative. However, with trend averaging 7-10% annually, how can employers afford to continue to offer medical benefits that attract employees? 

Speaker: Julie Taffera, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.

Project Fast Start

This session will provide an overview of a 3-month program that has been implemented with groups of Nabholz employees starting in 2018, including why they needed a Project Fast Start Program, how it started, and what the program looks like today.

The specific mission of Project Fast Start is to educate and empower new and future managers at the project level to help prepare them for success on their projects and in their career.

Speaker: Chris Kotter, Nabholz Construction

2:30 PM – 2:45 PM

Break

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM

Concurrent Sessions

Two Down – Two (or Six) to Go: Labor & Employment Law Update After Two Years of the Biden Administration

The two years of the Biden Administration has proven to be an eventful one in labor and employment law for construction industry employers. This session will provide an up-to-date summary of the recent developments in labor and employment law and offer practical tips on how construction employers can adapt to satisfy them. 

Speaker: Stuart Buttrick, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP 

REACH: Difficult Communication Made Simple

Communication problems are at the root of employee disputes. Teaching communication skills hasn’t made it better. With a simple concept called “REACH,” you can help your employees solve their most difficult problems and improve their relationships in and out of work. 

Speaker: Eli Embleton, Zachry Construction Corporation

3:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Break

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Mental Health in the Workplace

The topic of mental health is a hot button issue in society, and the workplace is no different! Telling employees to “leave their home life at the door” is no longer acceptable, nor is it possible. Employees need to know that good mental health is just as important as good physical health, and that their employer is supportive of this initiative. In doing so, we can help end the stigma associated with mental health issues. 

Speaker: Richard Rouse, Force Construction Co., Inc./Force Design, Inc.

5:00 PM – 5:15 PM

Break

5:15 PM – 7:00 PM

Networking Event / Cocktail Reception

Sponsored by:


Friday, October 14

2022 Construction HR & Training Professionals Conference

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Breakfast + Demo: 

Sponsored by:

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Soar With Your Strengths

This session will provide attendees with an overview of Gallup’s extensive, ongoing research into how people can become highly effective by intentionally applying their unique talents and strengths. Session attendees will learn about their own natural potential for excellence and receive information on how to use their CliftonStrengths report to start to apply their unique talents for greater personal and professional success.

Note: attendees are encouraged to take the CliftonStrengths assessment prior to attending this session.

Speaker: Shawna Hunt, Gallup

9:00 AM – 9:15 AM

Break

9:15 AM – 10:00 AM

Concurrent Sessions

Year Two Engagement Survey Follow Up

This session will provide a follow up to the Gallup Engagement Survey deployed by the STO Building Group in 2022, representing the second year in the process. We will explore how the organization changed, what challenges we face going forward, how data reflects current culture, and share unique insights between year one and year two. 

Speaker: Mark Surma, STO Building Group 

A Lot is Happening in the World of I-9 Compliance

As the construction industry and the working world return to post- COVID normalcy, lots is happening related to I-9 compliance and I-9 Audits conducted by ICE. Since mid-March 2020, DHS has permitted Remote Virtual Verification in some situations. It has had little impact on the construction industry. But now DHS may permit Remote Virtual Verification in most cases. What will that mean for the construction trades? DHS has also proposed to return to the 1-page Form I-9 with Section 3 as a supplemental page and many other smaller changes. Is this a good thing? DHS issued new priorities in October 2021 for Worksite Enforcement. What are these priorities? Additionally, after a 2-year pause in ICE I-9 Audits, they have returned. Are you ready for an ICE I-9 audit? 

Speaker: Bruce Buchanan, Littler Mendelson

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM

Break

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM

Concurrent Sessions

Construction Compensation – Getting Ready For 2023

Are we venturing into “construction compensation 2.0” or is time to get back to basics? By studying our explosive inflation, turnover, expansion needs, talent shortages, and the growing cost of labor gives us an opportunity to overhaul and improve our compensation programs for years to come. This is one of those rare times when we get the chance to turn a negative into a positive; call it a reset. This session will explore pay practice research, trends, behaviors, practices, and strategies of successful, and not so successful, compensation programs.  

Speaker: Jeff Robinson, PAS, Inc.

(REPEAT) A Lot is Happening in the World of I-9 Compliance

As the construction industry and the working world return to post- COVID normalcy, lots is happening related to I-9 compliance and I-9 Audits conducted by ICE. Since mid-March 2020, DHS has permitted Remote Virtual Verification in some situations. It has had little impact on the construction industry. But now DHS may permit Remote Virtual Verification in most cases. What will that mean for the construction trades? DHS has also proposed to return to the 1-page Form I-9 with Section 3 as a supplemental page and many other smaller changes. Is this a good thing? DHS issued new priorities in October 2021 for Worksite Enforcement. What are these priorities? Additionally, after a 2-year pause in ICE I-9 Audits, they have returned. Are you ready for an ICE I-9 audit? 

Speaker: Bruce Buchanan, Littler Mendelson

11:00 AM – 11:15 AM

Break

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Concurrent Sessions

Ideas to Build Your DEI Program

A successful DEI program consists of several different components including programs such as ERG (Employee Resource Groups), Internships and Community Partnerships. In this session, we will provide things to think about, best practices and definitions of what each component consists of. We will also share some resources so that you can continue your own education of DEI.

Speakers: Seniye Groff, Senior Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader​

Sarah Eubanks, Talent Acquisition & Development Leader

Construction Outlook: Recession or Rebound?

Demand for many types of construction has been strong despite labor shortages, volatile materials costs, and clogged supply lines. But there are growing concerns that a slowing economy may drag down construction in the near future. Ken Simonson, chief economist for AGC of America, will review the latest developments affecting construction labor, materials, and project types, and provide his fearless forecast for the coming year.

Speaker: Ken Simonson, AGC of America

12:15 PM – 12:30 PM

Break

12:30 PM – 1:15 PM

Burned Out

The word exhaustion means “to draw out, to use up completely,” as one would lift a bucket out of a dry well. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all just take a nice vacation to refill our wells? But what if the antidote to burnout is not rest? Eli Embleton has coached over-committed executives and over-“ZOOMed” work from home employees, to use an approach to keep their wells full, even when external demands or circumstances don’t change. As the Dream Manager for Zachry Corporation, he guides employees every day to find internal resources and apply practical steps to guard against burnout. This concluding session will send participants off on a high note, refreshed, and ready to get back to work and life. Participants will experience, live, this counterintuitive approach to overcoming burnout. We’ll learn, we’ll laugh, and we’ll transform the way we approach work in a way we can sustain – long after the conference has concluded.

Speaker: Eli Embleton, Zachry Construction Corporation

1:15 PM – 1:30 PM

Closing Remarks

Your flight home should be scheduled to depart after 3:00 PM MST

About the Conference

AGC’s Construction HR and Training Professionals Conference is the premier education and networking destination for HR, training and workforce development professionals in the construction industry.

For Training Professionals: Stay up-to-date with the cutting-edge techniques being used in the world of training and development.

For HR Professionals: Find out whether you’re maintaining compliance with current employment laws and best practices.

All individuals who register for or attend this event, by virtue of their registration or attendance, agree to the Code of Conduct, Image Release, and Event Cancellation policies posted here. If you have questions, please contact meetings[@]agc.org.