Convention 2006 Business Forums - The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes

Carolinas AGC 85th Annual Convention at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando

Ten Mega Trends that Will Impact the Construction Industry

We're fortunate again this year to have FMI management consultant Lee Smither address the membership. His Saturday morning session will help contractors better understand the not-so-obvious trends that drive the industry, and how to mitigate the involved risk factors.

Lee draws on the extensive research capability of FMI, the nation's premier construction management consultant, to explore:

Competing for fewer dollars from more informed customers;
Demographic trends driving every aspect of the marketplace;
New demands requiring new project management skills;
Shrinking labor force/ shift to new diverse resources;
New goods and services required by the aging population mix;
Hispanic dominance;
Innovative solutions for your customer beyond traditional construction services.
Impacts of globalization and industry consolidation;
Financial forces: Capital constraints, tight surety capacity, and risk mitigation;
Technology: Why is the construction industry always lagging other industry sectors when it comes to innovation?

As a director with FMI, Lee Smither specializes in organizational consulting, developing and implementing strategic initiatives, and designing management development programs. As project manager for numerous strategic improvement engagements, Lee has worked with a broad spectrum of industry firms, including many of the nation's largest general contractors, specialty constructors, and construction managers.

Keynote Address:
Personal, Professional and Family Success

Keynote speaker Michael Broome is founder and president of Broyhill Leadership Conferences, focusing on the principles of success. Many of the 29,000 participants from throughout North America who've attended Michael's leadership conferences have found them truly life-changing.

He teaches his audiences to have faith not only in our system, but also in their ability to make that system work for them. His central conviction: success is achieved by teaming with and by serving others. If Broome's talks begin with that rare commodity of laughter, they end even more unconventionally in grateful applause and real inspiration.

This Charlotte native has addressed over 3,000 audiences throughout the world in the last 22 years, at such varied functions as Congressional Club Dinners to the Spearfish, South Dakota annual BBQ and "Goat-Dipping." Michael has shared the podium with noted politicians, journalists, athletes, and CEOs, and takes pride in the fact he has been upstaged only onceâ€¦ by an orangutan! Needless to say, his humorous approach has a way of appealing to all audiences through topics including personal motivation, leadership, teamwork, and life balance.

Division Meetings:
Focus on the challenges of your specific construction specialty

Division meetings will be held for both GC's and subcontractors who work in Building, Highway-Heavy, and Utility construction. Swap ideas within your own area of expertise, and learn about trade-specific issues that affect your business.

Catch up on how Carolinas AGC plans to follow up this year's legislative successes on behalf of contractors in both states. Meet and greet your competition, and get a handle on how your peers expect 2006 to shape up.

National AGC President's Address
Sam Hunter, TA Loving Co.

Sam Hunter of North Carolina 's T.A. Loving Co. is the 2006 president of AGC of America. He is one of two Carolinas AGC members currently serving on the national Executive Committee, and is in an ideal position to help Carolinas members understand how National AGC also helps build your business.

Sam also served as president of Carolinas AGC in 1987, and has also served in various leadership roles within National AGC, including chairing the Municipal & Utilities Division, the AWWA-AGC Joint Membership Administrative committee and Open Shop committee.