Schedule

• Day 1
• Day 2
• 10/25/2023
• 2:00pm Registration / Welcome2:00pm- 3:00pm

  Join us for the Early Bird Sessions! Come early for two great sessions, stick around for an evening of networking and fun with peers and exhibitors.
• 3:00pm Tribal Leadership3:00pm- 4:30pm

  Accountability is a topic that most organizations struggle with. Accountability is often driven from organization top-down and rarely created from the bottom up. If organizations could improve accountability individually and cross-functionally, the productivity of that organization would improve dramatically.

  
  Attend this session if you are a leader of an organization who struggles with maximizing your team's productivity, have frustrations from feeling like you have to micro-manage your team, and/or cross your fingers hoping that your team "honors their commitments."

  
  During this session, we will take you on a journey dissecting the root of what causes a lack of accountability in organizations and will provide you with a path to change your organization's culture through tribal leadership. 

  Speakers: Matthew Pletzer
• 3:00pm Suicide in Construction: A Conversation3:00pm- 4:30pm

  The construction industry has one of the highest rates of suicide. This three-hour workshop will discuss the importance of talking about suicide in the construction industry and identify the risk factors and warning signs. Attendees will gain awareness about suicide prevention and can practice conversations around suicide. The session will also include a panel discussion on wellness initiatives within construction companies so attendees can learn what wellness programs are available, and what initiatives have the biggest impact for their employees.  

  Speakers: Andrea Siegworth, Brandi Davis, Nicole Frank
• 4:30pm Break with Exhibitors4:30pm- 5:00pm

  Meet exhibitors and chat with your colleagues during this networking break.
• 5:00pm Tribal Leadership – Continued5:00pm- 6:30pm

  Accountability is a topic that most organizations struggle with. Accountability is often driven from organization top-down and rarely created from the bottom up. If organizations could improve accountability individually and cross-functionally, the productivity of that organization would improve dramatically. 

  Attend this session if you are a leader of an organization who struggles with maximizing your team's productivity, have frustrations from feeling like you have to micro-manage your team, and/or cross your fingers hoping that your team "honors their commitments."

  During this session, we will take you on a journey dissecting the root of what causes a lack of accountability in organizations and will provide you with a path to change your organization's culture through tribal leadership. 

  Speakers: Matthew Pletzer
• 5:00pm Suicide in Construction: A Conversation – Continued5:00pm- 6:30pm

  The construction industry has one of the highest rates of suicide. This three-hour workshop will discuss the importance of talking about suicide in the construction industry and identify the risk factors and warning signs. Attendees will gain awareness about suicide prevention and can practice conversations around suicide. The session will also include a panel discussion on wellness initiatives within construction companies so attendees can learn what wellness programs are available, and what initiatives have the biggest impact for their employees.  

  Speakers: Andrea Siegworth, Brandi Davis, Nicole Frank
• 6:30pm Social with Exhibitors & Dueling Pianos6:30pm- 9:00pm

  Enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres, chat with exhibitors and colleagues during this evening social along with dueling pianos to raise money for ABC WI PAC.
• 10/26/2023
• 7:00am Registration, Breakfast, Welcome, and Announcements7:00am- 8:00am

  Start the day off with breakfast at 7:00 a.m. and check out our 15 human resources and 10 accounting sessions.
• 8:00am Employee Performance Management – Reviews, Goal Setting and Development8:00am- 9:00am

  WHAT is Performance Management, WHY do we need it, and HOW do you get started?  Do your managers dread the time of year when employee reviews are due? Are you not doing reviews or failing to do them consistently?  We will look at how to pivot employee performance management to add value to your organization and improve retention and satisfaction.
  

  Speakers: Andrew Kaehny, Jenna Oliver
• 8:00am Leadership Reimagined8:00am- 9:00am

  Timeless topics around leadership like accountability, engagement, and motivating employees must be re-evaluated. The old ways of leading are no longer effective. Joe has uncovered a key that connects people quickly ... dignity. Giving people credit for exactly who they are, not who you want them to be. It means hiring people who are right for your company and the job because of their unique emotional drivers and putting them in a position to succeed from the outset. Joe will challenge and enlighten you to re-imagine what you learned about leadership through his energized and thought-provoking presentation. 

  Speakers: Joe Kiedinger
• 8:00am Understanding Document Retention: Laws and Best Practices for the Construction Industry8:00am- 9:00am

  This presentation will cover the major federal and state requirements for record-keeping and retention of employee files and other employment-related records. Additionally, we will discuss best practices for managing physical and electronic records.

  Speakers: Sam Mitchell
• 8:00am State of ERP8:00am- 9:00am

  In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations face an increasingly complex set of challenges that demand efficient and streamlined operations. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have emerged as a critical solution to manage and integrate various aspects of a business, providing companies with the tools to optimize processes, enhance productivity, and achieve strategic objectives. Brett and Holly will share research completed, best practices for implementation and the future of ERP.  

  Speakers: Brett Polglaze, Holly Johnson
• 8:00am Back to Basics – Taking the Mystery Out of Methods of Accounting for Construction8:00am- 9:00am

  Construction companies have several options available for methods of accounting. Choosing the correct method can be intimidating. This session will give examples and describe how each method works from an accounting standpoint. More importantly, it will identify situations where certain methods are required (e.g., for either tax or financial statement purposes), and situations where there can be tax savings achieved by utilizing optional methods for income tax purposes. Methods of accounting covered will include:

  - Percentage of Completion (including modifications related to ASC606 Revenue Recognition Standard)

  - Completed Contract

  - Cash

  - Accrual 

  
  

  Speakers: John Folsom
• 9:00am Break with Exhibitors9:00am- 9:30am

  Enjoy refreshments and visit with exhibitors in the trade show.
• 9:30am Legal Update: A Discussion of Significant Cases and Developments in 2023 Part 19:30am- 10:30am

  Staying current on all the new legal developments can be overwhelming. While all employers would like some stability and predictability, the reality is that the employment landscape continues to shift. Come find out about new laws, executive orders, regulations, and decisions from the past year so that you can prepare for the future and lessen your risks. This interactive session will update you on the latest court and agency actions, highlight other significant issues employers need to know about, and answer questions you might have so you can continue to be successful in 2023 and beyond. In a two-part session, these experienced attorneys will take a deeper dive into some critical issues employers need to know and provide practical guidance on how to handle them.

  Speakers: Doug Witte, Mark Johnson, Sam Mitchell
• 9:30am Transforming the Way You Build Your Talent Pipeline9:30am- 10:30am

  Learn about how construction companies are finding success in building their talent pipeline by engaging with the next generation and rebuilding the construction culture. These companies have torn down the standard recruiting processes that have worked in the past to rebuild better strategies for finding, hiring, and retaining talent. Find inspiration in these true stories to take back and implement in your business.

  Speakers: Amanda Kurt
• 9:30am Creating the BEST Merit Shop Culture9:30am- 10:30am

  Company culture can be a big reason people come and stay at your company. In addition, being able to communicate and actively promote merit shop culture can sometimes be difficult. Join this session where both big and small contractors talk about how they promote positive working environments and the benefits they have seen from making these changes (including employee retention, recruitment of more diverse employees, and growing your business opportunities).

  Speakers: Abby Voss, Holly Jones, Jessie Cannizzaro
• 9:30am Go Green to Get Green: Tax Energy Incentives9:30am- 10:30am

  Are you taking full advantage of the tax incentives related to the Inflation Reduction Act? Join Steve Barnes, Principal at Wipfli, to share his knowledge on how clients are utilizing these expanded credits to their advantage. Topics covered include qualifying for the 179D tax deduction, claiming the 45L credit retroactively, investing in geothermal energy, reducing barriers for solar tax credit transferability, and incentivizing the install of EV chargers. 

  Speakers: Steve Barnes
• 9:30am Building a Strong Future: Succession Planning for Your Organization9:30am- 10:30am

  Succession planning is crucial for any organization, and this is especially true in the construction and contracting industries. As experienced professionals retire and the workforce changes, it is vital for construction companies to have a solid plan in place to ensure the smooth transition of leadership and maintain business continuity. In this session, Seth Kuehnel, CPA and Kent Collier, CPA will share their insights and best practices for developing and implementing a succession plan in the construction and contracting industries, informed by their years of dedicated experience partnering with organizations in these industries.

  Speakers: Kent Collier, Seth Kuehnel
• 10:30am Break with Exhibitors10:30am- 11:00am

  Enjoy refreshments and visit with exhibitors in the trade show.
• 11:00am Legal Update: A Discussion of Significant Cases and Developments in 2023 Part 211:00am- 12:00pm

  Staying current on all the new legal developments can be overwhelming. While all employers would like some stability and predictability, the reality is that the employment landscape continues to shift. Come find out about new laws, executive orders, regulations, and decisions from the past year so that you can prepare for the future and lessen your risks. This interactive session will update you on the latest court and agency actions, highlight other significant issues employers need to know about, and answer questions you might have so you can continue to be successful in 2023 and beyond. In a two-part session these experienced attorneys will take a deeper dive into some critical issues employers need to know and provide practical guidance on how to handle them.

  Speakers: Doug Witte, Mark Johnson, Sam Mitchell
• 11:00am Pay Transparency – What It Is and How to Do It Right11:00am- 12:00pm

  We will explore the spectrum of pay transparency and help organizations to tackle compensation strategically to assist in becoming more transparent about compensation decisions.

  Speakers: Jenna Bidwell
• 11:00am What Does It Take To Be an Employer of Choice?11:00am- 12:00pm

  Millennials are the largest workforce in U.S history and are playing crucial roles in the modern workplace. What does this generation look for in an employer and what will make them stay? Learn how to make your company stand out from the rest, from a group of college students ready to enter the construction workforce. 

  Speakers: Gretchen Bockenhauer, Jim Bunkelman
• 11:00am What Can a CFO Do for You?11:00am- 12:00pm

  Project cost management, cost estimation and control, and financial strategy are a few of the ways a CFO can help a contractor grow and maximize its efficiencies. Many times, these strategic responsibilities are falling on ownership or the president, thereby limiting the amount of time they can spend on growth from maintaining customer relationships and developing new business. This presentation will provide you an understanding of how a CFO can help a contractor and what a CFO should be considering when employed.

  Speakers: Catrina Payne, Marcus Koehl
• 11:00am Accounting & Auditing Update for the Construction Industry11:00am- 12:00pm

  Learn about new and upcoming GAAP accounting standards and GAAS audit standards and their impact on the construction industry. This session will focus on the issues that are most relevant to the industry and will feature practical hands-on guidance.

  Speakers: Brad Hermes
• 12:00pm Keynote Luncheon: The Top Organizational Culture Killers…And What TO DO About Them12:00pm- 1:00pm

  In this session, participants will learn the top pervasive culture killers, which can decimate a team's and organization's stability and effectiveness. Each destructive issue will be explained and then supported through storytelling via Dave's consulting client experiences. The focus will then turn to stopping these common missteps that threaten organizational health. We will discuss both the prevention and the mitigation of culture killers. Attendees will walk away with skills to recognize culture killers when they appear and practical tools to overcome and eliminate them once they've been identified.

  Speakers: Dave Schwallier
• 1:00pm Employee Handbooks1:00pm- 2:00pm

  Do I need an employee handbook and if so, what should it contain? This session will review the purpose and goal of employee handbooks, discuss some of the “mandatory” items any handbook should contain, and review some problem areas with employee handbooks. This will include a discussion about the NLRB’s 2023 decision on “employer policies” and how to stay on the correct side of that line. Not only will this session provide some legal guidance to make sure you are avoiding trouble, but you will get some practical advice about what does or does not work in the industry.

  Speakers: Doug Witte
• 1:00pm HR Software Roundtable1:00pm- 2:00pm

  At this session, you will have an opportunity to talk with peers and share information about what HR software your organization is using. Discussion will include what you like about your current software and any challenges you may have. This is a great opportunity if you are curious about what other companies are using or if you are having a challenge with your software, to potentially get assistance from someone else using that same software.

  Speakers: Andrea Siegworth, Angela Wilcox
• 1:00pm Exploring the Impact of Direct Contracting Healthcare on Workforce Wellbeing and Injury Reduction1:00pm- 2:00pm

  This presentation will explore the crucial connection between employee wellness and overall workplace productivity. Such an environment is possible only when each employee is able to perform his or her job duties in a safe and effective manner and remains able to do so throughout the entire time they are working. Explore how on-site physical therapy, chiropractic care and job function evaluations foster physical, mental, and emotional health leading to a more engaged, motivated, and resilient workforce while reducing risk and down time. Create a supportive and wellness-oriented work environment that not only enhances employees' quality of life but also drives organizational success.

  Speakers: Heidi Bohl, Jerry Curtin, Traci Tauferner
• 1:00pm Owners: How to Double Cash Flow and Pay Employees More at the Same Time1:00pm- 2:00pm

  Cash Flow is one of the most important aspects to any contractor's success. Unfortunately, most of us didn't get into this industry with a finance degree. But Aaron Mills did and is on a mission to increase the profitability of contractors nationwide.

  
  With razor thin margins and the current economy, contractors are finding it increasingly difficult to not only recruit new talent but retain the talent we have. In this session, you will learn how to work around every roadblock you think is standing in your way to not only pay your employees more, but double your cash flow at the same time.

  
  This is a straightforward talk without a myriad of finance jargon. Aaron holds nothing back on this topic, so you will leave with actionable information that will have an immediate impact on your business. This is a session you can't afford to miss. 

  Speakers: Aaron Mills
• 1:00pm Business Transition: Knowing Marketplace Value1:00pm- 2:00pm

  Gain valuable insights on how to be part of a transitioning construction firm seamlessly while maximizing marketplace value in this must-attend presentation tailored specifically for the construction industry. Learn practical strategies and best practices to ensure a successful transition and secure the future of the business you represent.

  Speakers: Brady Paschke, Travis Tilque
• 2:00pm Break with Exhibitors2:00pm- 2:30pm

  Includes prize giveaways and an ice cream social!
• 2:30pm Your Employee Resigns; How do I Retain that Employee – Triage Kit2:30pm- 3:30pm

  Losing any valued team member can be both disheartening and frustrating.  In this session, we will examine the crucial initial first steps outlined in our Triage Kit that should be considered when trying to identify the root cause of any departure, distinguish key personnel you want to retain, and determine who is no longer a fit. 

  Speakers: Angela Wilcox, Brooke Peterson, Nicki Fassbender
• 2:30pm Finding a Better Way: Empowering Employees, Improving Health, Saving Money2:30pm- 3:30pm

  In the construction industry, worker's compensation claims and orthopedic injuries can significantly drive up the cost of health care plans. HR professionals often watch on the sidelines, feeling helpless, until now. HR professionals can transition from a powerless observer to an educator who teaches and motivates employees to seek quality care, all while driving down health care costs. 

  Learn how to motivate employees to seek the right care at the right place. This will optimize health care utilization dollars, enhance overall employee wellness and result in outstanding cost savings.

  Speakers: Darin Schumacher
• 2:30pm The Marriage of Tech and People: Why Effective HR Needs Both2:30pm- 3:30pm

  In the contractor space, HR teams manage everything from recruiting, retention, personnel policies, benefits, and often workplace safety and training. Somewhere along the way a wealth of technology tools came along, and many started to think that these HR functions could be automated. Now we know better. An HR function that smartly uses technology to automate that which should be automated so that HR leaders can put more focus on people, building strong cultures, thriving teams operating in an environment that values safety and makes their company an employer of choice.

  Speakers: Dustin McClone
• 2:30pm Four Things You’re Missing in Your Books – and What It’s Costing You2:30pm- 3:30pm

  Most contractors running a growing construction business are focused on everything it takes to keep the company running—and they struggle with their financials. Because of this, they’re overlooking key things that not only cost them money every day but also limit their growth.

  This workshop will show you what you’re missing—and help you take your business and profits to new levels. When you do, you’ll make more money, be able to pay your employees more, confidently scale, and finally attain financial freedom. It all starts with financial clarity. 

  Designed for owners of construction businesses making $5 to $50 million in annual revenue, this workshop reveals four key things most businesses miss and how turning them around changes everything. 

  Speakers: Aaron Mills
• 2:30pm 40 Years of Construction Accounting: Tips, Tricks, and Stories2:30pm- 3:30pm

  Based on 40 years of CPA experience in the construction industry, Roger will discuss his accounting experiences, ideas, and planning from running a successful construction business. Roger will also address any accounting questions the audience may have. 

  Speakers: Roger Thimm
• 3:30pm End of the Conference3:30pm- 3:30pm

  Thanks for coming! Have a safe trip home.