Members can also sign up for FranklinCovey’s 7 Habits Coach 10-episode webcast series designed to help navigate real problems in challenging times. The series will be delivered daily for 10 days to help you:

• Focus on what you can influence when there is a lot out of your control.
• Get the skills to prioritize in the midst of overwhelming outside forces.
• Apply timeless principles to preserve relationships with family, friends and colleagues in times of stress.

   Speaker Bios:

As the leader of Hensel Phelps’ innovation entity, Diverge, Thai Nguyen is pioneering a new approach to sourcing, evaluating and deploying disruptive solutions for the construction industry. With over 20 years of experience in the architectural and construction industries, Nguyen’s vision is to leverage technology and collaboration to empower Hensel Phelps to innovate the industry and build the future.

Peter Rowland has served the AEC industry for over 20 years in various leadership roles, including production, operations, technology and sales, for both public and private organizations. Prior to joining Smartapp.com, he led regional and nationwide teams bringing the most innovative technology to the fields of construction, architecture, engineering and manufacturing. These technologies included 3D printing equipment and services, construction document management software and processes, laser scanning equipment and services, virtual reality, on-site equipment and more.

   Moderator Information:

Matthew Abeles is vice president of construction technology and innovation for Associated Builders and Contractors. In this role, Abeles spearheads efforts to integrate construction technology and innovation into all aspects of ABC’s strategic initiatives, included but not limited to total human health, world-class safety and workforce development. His team provides ABC members with the annual Tech Report, Tech Marketplace and Tech Alliance.

   ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

John M. Sier, Attorney, Kitch Attorneys & Counselors and Legal Services Consultant

John Sier is the head of the Commercial and Construction Practice Group at the Kitch firm, where he has been practicing for over 30 years. In addition to serving as counsel to the Construction Owners Association of America, he is on the American Arbitration Association panel of neutrals and serves as a mediator in construction and commercial matters in various industries, including health care and higher education.

Brian Perlberg, Executive Director & Senior Counsel, ConsensusDocs Coalition

Brian Perlberg serves as executive director and senior counsel for ConsensusDocs. He was recently recognized as a top legal voice by Engineering News-Record and recognized by Who’s Who Legal for Construction. Perlberg is the only construction attorney in the United States certified as a CM-Lean for lean construction. He serves on the ABA Forum on Construction Law’s Steering Committee for the Contract Documents; is on the Executive Committee for the Arbitration Association of America; and serves on the Board of the Construction Super Conference

   Speaker Bios:

Cortlin Bond is a labor and employment attorney at Bradley. Bond assists clients with a variety of labor and employment issues, including workplace investigations, defending employment claims predicated on state and federal law, and providing legal advice on issues arising out of clients’ daily business operations.

Charlotte Watters is a construction attorney at Bradley. She represents owners, general contractors, subcontractors and engineers engaged in a variety of construction and renewable energy projects. Her primary focus is on public and private commercial construction disputes, both nationally and internationally. In addition to her dispute work, Watters also assists clients in drafting construction contracts and provides regulatory and compliance advice.

   Speaker Bios:

Josiah Foung has been with the PCL Industrial Services family for over 11 years, focusing on heavy industrial construction. His project experience spans various Industrial sectors such as oil and gas, coal, plastics and renewable energy. PCL Industrial Services is a member of the ABC Southern California chapter.

Stacey Foust has over 20 years of experience in construction accounting. She has been with Clunn for over six years and currently handles all accounting aspects, including payroll. She has used Exaktime for time tracking throughout her time at Clunn and with a previous construction company.

Michael Dickran boasts an impressive career spanning over a decade in the construction industry. He's been a driving force for thousands of contractors, helping them simplify their time collection and operational processes. His hands-on expertise has been a game changer, making the lives of contractors easier and more efficient. Dickran’s dedication and innovative solutions have been a catalyst for positive change, turning challenges into opportunities.

   Moderator Information:

Matthew Abeles is vice president of construction technology and innovation for Associated Builders and Contractors. In this role, Abeles spearheads efforts to integrate construction technology and innovation into all aspects of ABC’s strategic initiatives, included but not limited to total human health, world-class safety and workforce development. His team provides ABC members with the annual Tech Report, Tech Marketplace and Tech Alliance.

   SPEAKER INFO

Saied Alavi has worked many different roles at Marek, one of the nation’s leading interior finish contractors, over the last 41 years. He spent over 20 years in his role as director of operations and managing director, supporting recruitment and training of new talent for the office, and field positions. His goal has been to recruit the right people, train them well and help them replace you.

Lorri H. Grayson, founder and partner of GGA Construction, in Middletown, Delaware, is the 2023 Mid-Atlantic region vice chair of Associated Builders and Contractors. Grayson has been active in the ABC Delaware Chapter since 2007 and served as chair of its board of directors in 2015. Since founding GGA Construction, Grayson has led her company to specialize in institutional, hospitality, medical and corporate office, mixed-use and multifamily housing projects.

Karen Say-Valadez is the CEO of Saybr Contractors Inc., which she founded from her home in 1997, as an environmental construction company specializing in commercial and industrial fueling systems and environmental remediation. Since then, Saybr has grown into a $30 million, full-service general contractor with experience performing vertical and horizontal construction throughout the Pacific Northwest.

   MODERATOR INFO

Michael D. Bellaman has served as president and chief executive officer of Associated Builders and Contractors, a national trade association representing more than 22,000 members from 68 chapters across the United States, since 2011. In his role, Bellaman leverages the merit shop philosophy to help members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which they work.

   SPEAKERS INFO

Indria Hollingsworth is the south-central regional senior diversity, equity and inclusion manager for JE Dunn Construction. In this role, she supports offices in Austin, Texas, Dallas, Houston, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma, advocating for equity in the marketplace, workplace and workforce. Hollingsworth actively promotes JE Dunn through participation in industry events and demonstrates a passion for the industry.

Yvette N. Stevens, P.E., PMP is vice president, director of economic inclusion at Gilbane Building Co., a global construction and facilities management firm. In this enterprise leadership role, she leads Gilbane’s corporate economic inclusion strategies, including its industry-leading commitment to award $4 billion to minority-, veteran- and women-owned businesses, as well as Disadvantaged and LGBT Business Enterprises, over a five-year horizon.

Calvin E. Williams is founder and CEO of Construction Contracting Services Inc., a general contracting firm that specializes in vertical construction, provides construction consulting and performs construction advisory services. Formerly, Williams was a project manager with Walsh Construction, one of Chicago’s largest and most respected general contracting, construction management and design-build firms. His experience in commercial construction is broad and varied, and his projects span across all sectors from commercial, local and state government to higher education.

   MODERATOR INFO

Brad Lewis, MCA, has more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry with Hensel Phelps. He started as a field engineer and working his way up to a superintendent position, where he learned the importance of fostering relationships with owners, trade partners, community leaders and vendors to enhance project and community initiatives. Lewis is the chair of the ABC Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee, which he has served on for eight years.