KEYNOTE presentations

Be prepared to learn, connect, and be inspired by our dynamic Keynotes and Special Sessions!
Please note: All education sessions—excluding workshops—are included with your registration. No additional sign-up is required. Simply arrive at your chosen session at the scheduled time and location. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7

Nothing Can Stop You

Presented by Jim Abbott,
Former Major League Baseball Pitcher

How do we learn to be grateful for the circumstances we are born into? From Flint Michigan to Yankee Stadium, Jim Abbott’s story draws upon an extraordinary and improbable life spent facing down adversity on and off the baseball diamond. Being born without a right hand, Abbott learned at an early age the importance of creativity, accountability, and trust.

Each of these principles would play a profound role as he made his way from learning to throw and catch a baseball with the same hand, to ultimately throwing a triumphant No-Hitter in Yankee Stadium.

His talk explores that unique journey and the impact it would have not only on children and families around the country, but in the end on how we all can come to celebrate the challenges that make us who we are.

Learning Objectives:
- Recognize how adversity can shape personal growth and build resilience
- Identify the roles of creativity, accountability, and trust in overcoming challenges and achieving goals
- Understand how mindset and perspective influence one’s ability to adapt to and embrace difficult circumstances
- Apply lessons from lived experiences to reframe challenges as opportunities for growth and self-development

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8

Building Through Uncertainty: A Market Outlook for the Construction and Design Industries

Presented by Kermit Baker
Former Chief Economist American Institute of Architects

What economic forces are shaping project activity right now—and what should your business be planning for over the next 12 months?

In this timely keynote, AIA former Chief Economist Kermit Baker breaks down the trends driving construction and design demand, pipeline shifts, and sector growth, offering a forward-looking framework to help industry professionals make smarter decisions in the months ahead. From shifting client priorities and evolving project pipelines to regional differences and emerging growth areas, this session delivers a clear, data-driven view of construction and design demand—and where it’s headed.

Learning Objectives:
- Understand the key economic indicators currently influencing construction activity
- Identify trends shaping project pipelines across major sectors
- Analyze how regional market variations are impacting demand
- Apply a forward-looking framework to anticipate risks and opportunities
- Align business planning with evolving economic conditions and forecasts

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK Sessions

High-impact conversations focused on the trends, leadership insights, market forces,
and industry shifts shaping your business and the year ahead.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7

Metal Construction Code Updates: What’s Changed and What it Means

Presented by Paul Deffenbaugh, DeepBrook Media; Bill Beals, Therm-All; Bob Zabcik, Z-Tech Consulting

A code you didn't know changed is a problem you didn't see coming. Missed or misunderstood code updates create real exposure — permit delays, costly redesigns, and compliance gaps that surface at the worst possible moment.

This session cuts straight to what's changed, what it means in practice, and what you need to do differently starting now.

Led by industry code expert Bill Beals, the discussion breaks down the most significant recent updates affecting metal construction — from design and specification through fabrication and installation. No theory, no broad strokes: just the changes that matter and their direct impact on your work. Whether you're a designer incorporating new requirements into your drawings, a specifier updating project documents, a fabricator adjusting shop standards, or an installer navigating field compliance — this session gives you the specific knowledge you need to stay current and stay protected.

Learning Objectives:
- Identify recent and upcoming updates to codes and standards affecting metal construction
- Recognize key compliance requirements and how they apply to metal building design
- Compare the roles of standards organizations in shaping code requirements
- Anticipate emerging code trends and evaluate their impact on future project decisions

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8

Outlook 2027: The Future of Metal Construction

Presented by Jeff Henry, MCA; Vincent Sagan, MBMA; Kermit Baker, American Institute of Architects

What will metal construction look like in 2027 and is your business positioned to compete?

Material costs are shifting. Codes are evolving. Supply chains are still unpredictable. This panel brings together leading voices from across the metal construction to cut through the noise and deliver a clear, grounded outlook for what’s shaping the year ahead. The conversation will focus on key forces already impacting business --, material supply, economic conditions, evolving codes, and jobsite realities—and how they’re influencing design, manufacturing and construction. Panelists will connect today’s market realities to what’s coming next, examining how material supply, economic forces, and jobsite pressures are reshaping the way metal buildings are designed, delivered, and built — and where the industry is headed as a whole.

Leave with a sharper understanding of the risks, opportunities, and strategic decisions that will define the next 12 months.

Learning Objectives:
- Understand the economic, supply chain, and material trends expected to impact metal construction through 2027
- Anticipate the direction of the regulatory environment and its long-term influence
- Assess relationships between material availability, delivery methods, and construction cost metal projects
- Identify strategies for mitigating risk and leveraging opportunities in metal construction projects

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