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
Meet the Speaker: Galen Emanuele
Galen Emanuele transforms the way teams and organizations approach and establish culture, perform together, and impact each other at work. His unique content massively improves team dynamics, communication, EQ, and generates high-level performance and engagement. Galen has a unique gift of cutting through the noise and fluffy language to translate broad concepts into simple, practical skills and mindsets. A highly sought-after international speaker, with clients including Microsoft, Safeway, and NASA, Galen also is a world-class improviser and has toured with the cast from Whose Line Is It Anyway?
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
Meet the Speaker: Seniye Groff
She holds a Master of Science in Adult Training and Development. She is the winner of several awards recognizing outstanding performance, including the Oregon Daily Journal of Commerce Women of Vision award in 2021. She has authored articles and presented to national audiences on best practices for effective employee performance and organizational development.
Seniye is a serial volunteer and serves a variety of organizations. In particular, she loves to help women make long-lasting changes in their own lives. Seniye rarely sits still and often is walking, running, playing tennis or hiking. She also spends time with her daughters. She is an avid cook, traveler and reader.
Meet the Speaker: Janelle Pogodzinski
Prior to Brennan, Janelle was a part of HR teams in the manufacturing and foodservice distribution industries. She is passionate about creating an environment in which learning and development is at the forefront and focused on doing the right thing for the company and its employees.
When not at work, Janelle spends time with her husband and two daughters enjoying outdoor activities at the lake.
Meet the Speaker: Sarah Eubanks
Sarah Eubanks joined WALSH in 2017 as their Talent Acquisition & Development Specialist.
Sarah has taken her passion for people to the field of Talent Management. Having worked with a number of different organizations and in a variety of industries, her personal mission remains the same; ensuring that those individuals who join the team are encouraged to grow professionally and personally. Her diverse background has positioned her to be a strategic leader who is versed in all aspects of Human Resources, with her specialty being in attracting, developing, training, and retaining the people who make the organizations she works for stand out as leaders in their industry.
Over her last five years at WALSH, she has been a champion of the people and DEI efforts with the Leadership team.
Meet the Speaker: Jaime Andress
Jaime has nearly 15 years of experience in the field of Human Resources. Her career includes an extensive background in training design, curriculum development and facilitation, as well as employee relations, development, and performance management. She has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Huntingdon College, an MBA from Auburn University at Montgomery and has also earned the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation.
With special interest in partnership building and creating opportunities to invest in people for the life of their career, Jaime brings positive momentum for long-term success of the employees she represents. She has served as a speaker at numerous industry events and was named as one of AGC Alabama’s 40 Under 40 in Construction. Jaime currently serves on the national AGC HR/Training Education & Development steering committee.
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
Meet the Speaker: Andrea Wright
Andrea started CTP Solutions, LLC to address the ever-growing need for coaching, training, and strategy related gaps in organizations. She helps her clients empower their teams and team members to be the best version of themselves. Her unique experiences at all levels of organizations allow her to connect with individuals and companies to offer a personal approach and deliver solutions that work.
Andrea has over 20 years’ experience in coaching, training, facilitation, process development, strategic direction, and project management. She got her boots dirty on many jobsites, but realized her true love was with helping companies, teams and individuals achieve more. Educated as an architect, she understands that tight deadlines and even tighter resources go hand and hand. Her planning, design, team effectiveness and communications skills transcend any organization. She also understands the greatest resource an organization has is its people.
As a change leader and project manager, Andrea has had the opportunity to experience many facets of business, giving her a unique vantage point and proven solutions to corporate issues. Her proficiencies include facilitation and change management, training and training development, leadership coaching, and process development. To Andrea, regardless of the type of organization she is working with, people and leadership are key to success. How they communicate, how they interact as a team, how they address and solve problems together are all critical to achieving their desired outcomes. She facilitates this understanding by guiding the organization in enhancing communication, establishing processes and protocols, and providing to the training and coaching often needed to effectively operationalize those processes and assure their long-term success.
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.
Moderator: Christina Lopez, Garney Construction
Panelists: Tara Hagood, NCCER
Meet the Speaker: Debbie Rodriguez
Debbie Rodriguez is driven and dedicated with a motto of ‘In in to Win it”. She has built a solid reputation as a minority woman business owner over the last two decades. She possesses well over twenty years-experience in construction. She was a vital part in starting Quality Labor Management and is the operator of two Florida locations, Orlando and Jacksonville. QLM specializes in staffing for industries such as construction, light industrial, professional services, hospitality, and manufacturing.
In 2009, Debbie opened Competitive Edge Partners and Consulting. CEP&C is a prime subcontractor specializing in Division 1 General Requirements and Division 16. Electrical, Painting & Finishes, Safety Consulting Partnering with general contractors. CEP&C was an OBJ #12 minority owned business in Orlando. She is the owner & CEO serving Orlando, North Florida and West Coast of Florida.
In 2015, Debbie recognized the industry need for skilled workers in construction. Debbie founded iBuild Central Florida bridging industry leaders with the education for skilled trades. Today she serves as the organizations current board chair as well as professionally supporting apprenticeship programs through her business. iBuild continues to grow both in geography and increasing programs for training.
Debbie is always involved in the community including service on the Board of Associated Builders & Contractors, Past President of National Association of Women in Construction supporting various non-profits in Orlando. She has been named OBJ’s 40 under 40 and in 2021 was named by the Orlando Business Journal as one of the top 20 most influential women in Orlando. She is driven and accomplished, also grateful for all the support she gets from employees, friends, and her family.
Meet the Speaker: Tara Hagood
Tara Hagood is the CareerStarter Program Manager for NCCER in Alachua, Florida. Tara’s primary focus is strategically connecting employers, educators, and job seekers within the CareerStarter platform and ensuring this groundbreaking tool meets and exceeds the needs of the workforce. With a professional history of facilitating industry exposure and workforce development initiatives, Tara is an advocate for connecting individuals to the rewarding career pathways within the construction industry. Spearheading Build Your Future’s CareerStarter program, serving on the board of the NAWIC Greater Orlando Chapter, and supporting nonprofits across Central FL, Tara believes that building people up is what builds a better future.
Meet the Speaker: Kelly Phelan
Outside of Kelly’s professional accomplishments, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as participating in charitable activities.
Meet the Speaker: Christina Lopez
Christina Lopez has been with Garney Construction since 2008. Christina currently manages the craft, salary and college recruiting programs for Garney, a self-performing general contractor. Christina takes pride in working for Garney Construction whose goals and philosophies include allowing all Employee-Owners to achieve their full potential and provide service to our community and customers. Prior to Christina’s career in HR, she was a Chemical officer in the U.S. Army.
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.
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.
Meet the Speaker: Julie Taffera
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?
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
Meet the Speaker: Chris Kotter
Wanting to re-discover his passion for education, Chris transitioned to Director of Education and Development in 2017. In this role, he utilizes his past experiences to create real world training environments where Nabholz employees discover best practices and grow their careers.
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.
Meet the Speaker: Stuart Buttrick
Stuart Buttrick is one of the most prominent management-side labor attorneys in the United States. Stuart is also the team leader of the Faegre Drinker labor management relations (LMR) team. He represents employers nationwide in labor relations matters, including in proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), in arbitrations, in litigation and in contract negotiations.
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.
Meet the Speaker: Eli Embleton
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.
Meet the Speaker: Richard Rouse
Richard earned his Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Supervision while working full-time and helping to raise a family. Currently, he and his wife raise their 12-year-old granddaughter who struggles with mental health issues, and this has helped Richard to better understand the importance of good mental health initiatives in the workplace.
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
Meet the Speaker: Shawna Hunt
Prior to joining Gallup, Shawna worked with a utility company as a leadership development consultant, where she designed, delivered and deployed strategic initiatives to maximize organizational performance. She also served for seven years as a senior leader at a shipping organization, specializing in organizational development, training and customer service.
Shawna has a bachelor’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Trent University. She holds coaching certifications from the International Coach Federation (ICF) and 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
Meet the Speaker: Mark Surma
Mark helps to manage learning and development initiatives for the STO Building Group, which includes live training, content creation, and talent management. Fueled by 20+ years of people leadership in a wide variety of industries, he is passionate about ensuring that all employees have the opportunity to grow and develop through purposeful goal-setting and voluntary hardship.
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
Meet the Speaker: Bruce Buchanan
Mr. Buchanan received his law degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1982 and served as senior trial specialist for the NLRB for 20 years. During the period of 1991 to 2003, he also served as an Adjunct Professor at William H. Bowen UALR School of Law, where he taught Labor Law, Employment Law and Professional Sports Law. He entered private practice in 2003 and started his own law firm in 2016 and remained there until joining Littler in July 2022.
Mr. Buchanan is the co-author of the book, The I-9 and E-Verify Handbook (2d ed. 2017). Mr. Buchanan is frequently published and maintains a strong social media presence, including blogging about employer immigration topics on Twitter – @buchananvisalaw and for Littler publications. He is a member of American Immigration Lawyers Association’s (AILA) Verification and Documentation Liaison Committee, the editor of the Tennessee Bar Association’s (TBA) Labor & Employment Section newsletter, and the past-Chair of TBA’s Immigration Law Section. Mr. Buchanan is a frequent speaker on employer immigration compliance topics at conferences for AGC, SHRM, AILA, TSWB/APA, and TBA. Mr. Buchanan is admitted to practice in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and Arkansas as well as the following Circuit Court of Appeals: 5th, 6th, 8th, and D.C.
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.
Meet the Speaker: Jeff Robinson
A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Jeff has over forty years of experience in the construction industry. Prior to founding PAS, Inc. in 1979, he spent ten years with a large Midwest contractor, holding several project positions in accounting, office management, controls, workforce planning, and corporate positions in human resources and compensation administration.
Jeff is a member of the Associated General Contractors of America, the Construction Financial Management Association, SHRM, AICPA, and WorldatWork (formerly the American Compensation Association). He is a past national secretary of the CFMA and currently serves on CFMA’s Financial Benchmarker Committee and CFMA’s Publications Advisory Committee. Jeff is also a member of AGC’s Open Shop and Union committees.
(REPEAT) A Lot is Happening in the World of I-9 Compliance
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
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
Meet the Speaker: Ken Simonson
Ken has over 40 years of experience analyzing, advocating and communicating about economic and tax issues. He currently serves as an advisor to the Census Bureau’s construction data re-engineering initiative. He is a Fellow and past president of the National Association for Business Economics, and he is co-director of the Tax Economists Forum, a professional meeting group he co-founded in 1982.
Ken has a BA in economics from the University of Chicago, and an MA in economics from Northwestern University.
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.
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.