AGENDA

7:00am - 8:15am

7:00am - 8:00am

Description of the Session:

This presentation explores cybersecurity trends and common vulnerabilities organizations face in today’s digital landscape. Drawing on real-world observations, it highlights common weaknesses such as default vendor credentials, unpatched systems, insecure user permissions, and inadequate network segmentation. We will also touch on emerging trends, such AI/deepfake attacks designed to trick employees. Attendees will gain insights into why these risks persist, their potential impact on business operations, and strategies to mitigate them. The session is designed to help IT and risk management leaders strengthen their defenses and reduce exposure to evolving threats.

Learning objective:

o   Understand the latest trends in cybersecurity risk

o   Review common approaches used to identify risk in your organization

o   Explore ways to mitigate risk – both across your business processes and your IT environment

Bio:

David is a Principal and Cybersecurity Consultant in the CLA National Digital group with a strong focus on Offensive Cybersecurity. He has over 14 years of experience in the field, performing penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, and social engineering engagements. David's expertise also includes project management for cybersecurity engagements across a diverse range of industries.

Descriptions of the Session:

Construction is one of the slowest-paying industries globally. The billing process is notoriously stressful and can strain the relationship between subcontractors and general contractors. In this session, Claire Wilson will facilitate an open discussion between GCs and subs on how we can work together to improve the billing process, resolve change-order issues, and get paid faster.

Learning objectives:

o   Identify the main causes of payment delays and actionable solutions to address them.

o   Recognize billing red flags and learn how to address them before they escalate.

o   Understand both GCs’ and subcontractors’ perspectives to foster better communication and collaboration.

o   Gain concrete strategies to improve billing processes and strengthen relationships, both internally and with clients.

Bio:

Claire Wilson is the co-founder and CEO of Siteline, a billing software for subcontractors. Previously, she was a project manager at Tishman Construction in New York City, where she worked on major projects like Hudson Yards and JP Morgan's Corporate Headquarters. She is a national board director of the American Subcontractor Association, is an active CFMA San Francisco member, and has spoken at numerous regional and national construction conferences. Claire holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Bucknell University.

Descriptions of Session: 

Strong cash flow is the lifeblood of every construction company, yet many contractors struggle despite profitable projects on paper. In this interactive session, Bill Hughes, uses humor, real-world examples, and role-playing to walk through the full project lifecycle — from preconstruction and contract negotiation through billing, collections, and retainage release.  Bill draws on decades of experience as a contractor CFO, consultant, and construction CPA to share proven strategies that improve billing accuracy, accelerate collections, and avoid the common pitfalls that silently drain working capital. The session emphasizes shared accountability across project managers, operations, and finance, because cash flow is everyone's job.  Attendees will leave with actionable tools to build a more predictable, profitable cash flow process and stronger financial performance for the long haul.               

Learning objectives:

o   Identify the key phases of the construction cash flow lifecycle and explain how decisions at each stage, from preconstruction through collections and retainage release and impact liquidity and risk.

o   Apply best practices for billing accuracy, customer prequalification, schedule of values design, and collections follow-up to reduce underbilling, late payments, and margin erosion.

o   Recognize warning signs of cash flow distress and develop practical strategies, including team accountability and technology-enabled tracking to support long-term financial health.

o   Review ancillary activities and structures to ensure the business is positioned for sustainable, long-term cash flow health and financial resilience.

Bio: 

Bill Hughes is a partner with over 30 years of public accounting experience. He works primarily with closely held private companies, with an emphasis on construction organizations ranging from small, specialty subcontractors to national general contractors. Bill is passionate about building long-term client relationships by providing the necessary services, knowledge, and resources to help meet their business objectives and maximize their profits.

Description of Session: 

Construction firms are facing unprecedented labor pressure as demand accelerates and experienced workers exit the industry. This session reframes “employee experience” from an abstract idea into a practical, measurable driver of talent density, retention, and financial performance. Attendees will learn how everyday systems, safety, and growth opportunities shape outcomes, and how a few well-timed improvements can reduce turnover and deliver real ROI.

Learning objective:

Define talent density and connect it to operational and financial performance. Identify the employee experience levers that most influence retention in construction teams. Estimate the true cost of turnover using a simple “turnover tax” model.

Bio:

John Laufer is an early GTM member of Miter, the leading modern operating system built for construction, helping contractors streamline payroll complexities, field operations & expenses. With years of experience in the industry, John has played a key role in optimizing financial and operational processes for construction businesses in all fifty states. John is an active member of the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) Austin Chapter, serving on the membership committee & staying engaged with industry trends and best practices.

Description of Sesson:

Providing insight on selling your company to an ESOP and How banks look at financing those transactions

Learning objective:

o   Pros/Cons to ESOPs

o   How do ESOPs work

o   Trends with ESOP in construction

o   What banks look at when financing ESOP transactions

Bio:

Chris VanTassel is a Senior Vice President and South Division Lead for Wintrust’s Construction, Engineering & Architecture (CE&A) practice, where he has spent more than 12 years helping construction-related businesses achieve their financial goals. Wintrust’s CE&A team provides specialized banking solutions to more than 300 construction, engineering, and architecture firms nationwide, representing over $1.5 billion in committed capital.  With more than 18 years of commercial banking experience focused exclusively on the construction industry, Chris partners with Middle Market CE&A firms across the southern United States. His deep understanding of the industry’s unique financial and operational challenges enables him to provide strategic guidance and customized financing solutions that help clients grow, work through ownership transitions, and navigate the day-to-day nuances of the industry including project delays, slow pay, challenging owners, and seasonality to name a few.  Chris is an active member of the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), the Associated General Contractors of Texas (AGC), the American Subcontractors Association of North Texas (ASA), TEXO, and the Dallas Surety Association.

Description of Session: 

Most business owners have profit goals, but profit is driven by one powerful number. In this high-impact session, we uncover the “magic number” that reveals exactly how much a business must make to cover fixed costs and turn every additional dollar into real profit. Using plain English, compelling visuals, and real-world stories, break-even analysis is transformed from an accounting concept into a practical roadmap for smarter pricing, confident hiring, and faster, more strategic responses to rising costs and competitive pressure. This isn’t financial theory or spreadsheet overload, it’s an eye-opening, actionable experience that replaces guesswork with clarity and empowers business owners to build profit intentionally, not accidentally.

Learning objective:

This session is a focused sample of the broader Profit Mastery workshop, where participants go deeper into financial storytelling, decision-making tools, and practical strategies designed to help business owners fully understand their numbers and use them to drive long-term success.

Bio:

Carrie D. Bradshaw, CPA, CCIFP, is the CEO and Founder of CD Bradshaw & Associates, P.C. and has spent more than 25 years working alongside contractors to help them understand their numbers and make better business decisions. As a Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP), Carrie brings deep experience in construction accounting, job costing, and financial strategy, grounded in real-world practice rather than theory. Her background includes years as a shareholder in a regional public accounting firm, where she led the construction industry practice group before founding her own firm to better serve clients in specialized niches. Carrie is passionate about teaching business owners how their financials tell the story of their business and how to use that story to build stability, profitability, and long-term success.

Description of Sesson:

After having worked and interacted with hundreds of contractors throughout the United States, I’ve learned that, as diverse as these companies may be in terms of trade, size, geographic areas and specialties, there are a few stark, bold lines that separate incredibly successful contractors from the vast majority that perennially chase the kind of success they covet. In this engaging session, Eliot Wagonheim presents those mission-critical features of highly successful companies…and what every company should hardwire into their DNA to guide them in selecting projects, identifying contract deal-breakers, and resolving issues before they become company-killing problems.

Learning objective:   

o   Formulate an effective go/no-go mindset which they can apply to every opportunity.

o   Develop a contract decision-making framework to evaluate risk and opportunities.

o   Understand the simple structure of impactful communications that protect their interests while building relationships.

Bio:

Eliot is a teacher and a national public speaker as well as being a seasoned (37 years and counting) and fairly cynical construction lawyer. In 2018, he founded First Rule Contract Training because he realized that teaching construction professionals how to avoid problems was vastly preferable to profiting off those problems as a lawyer. In 2022, Eliot was engaged by Crowe, LLP, a national accounting, and consulting firm, to teach construction law to its proprietary AI which has now been relaunched as First Rule Contract Manager.