At the only event where the metal construction industry comes together to make decisions, build partnerships and shape what’s next, METALCON’s keynotes will deliver timely perspectives on resilience, uncertainty and opportunity this October in Orlando.
Inspirational speaker and Major League Baseball pitcher Jim Abbott will deliver “Nothing Can Stop You” on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 9:00 a.m., followed by a meet and greet. His keynote will focus on resilience, gratitude and the ability to turn challenges into strengths. Through his extraordinary personal and professional journey, Abbott will explore how adversity can shape identity, strengthen purpose and reveal new ways of thinking, adapting and leading. For METALCON attendees, his presentation will offer an inspiring perspective on perseverance, adaptability and embracing the circumstances that make each person and team unique.
Born without a right hand, Abbott built an extraordinary athletic career defined by resilience, creativity, accountability and trust. Raised in Flint, Michigan, by parents who viewed his limb difference not as a disability but as an opportunity, he became a standout athlete at the University of Michigan, where he earned All-Big Ten and All-American honors. He also played for Team USA, helping lead the United States to a gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. Selected in the first round of the 1989 Major League Baseball draft, Abbott went on to play 10 Major League seasons for the Angels, Yankees, White Sox and Brewers. In 1993, he pitched a no-hitter for the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
Kermit Baker, a leading economic voice in the architecture, design and construction sectors and former chief economist for the American Institute of Architects (AIA), will present “Building Through Uncertainty: A Market Outlook for the Construction and Design Industries” on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 9:00 a.m., followed by participation in an industry panel at 10:30 a.m. His keynote will examine the economic forces currently shaping project activity, demand, pipeline trends and sector growth. Attendees will gain insight into how today’s market conditions may affect backlog, bidding environments, project starts and strategic business decisions over the next 12 months.
At AIA, Baker originated the “Work on the Boards” Survey, a monthly assessment of business conditions at architecture firms and the source of the widely followed Architecture Billings Index. He also coordinated the AIA Consensus Construction Forecast Panel and wrote regular economics columns for AIA Architect. Baker also served as project director of the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University from 1995 to 2021. He holds a master’s degree in urban planning from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the same field.
“Both speakers bring two distinct but highly relevant perspectives to METALCON,” said Judy Geller, METALCON Vice President of Trade Shows. “Jim’s story will inspire attendees to think differently about adversity, resilience and possibility, while Kermit’s outlook will provide timely market intelligence to help inform business decisions for the year ahead. Together, their keynotes reflect METALCON’s role as both an educational forum and a strategic business event for the metal construction industry.”
METALCON takes place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando from Wednesday, Oct. 7 – Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, with pre-show workshops beginning on Tuesday, 6. Registration is now open at www.metalcon.com.
