Agenda

2026 Construction Conference

“Building on Solid Legal Ground”

The Fast Four: Four Construction Topics You Need on Your Radar

Speakers:  Will Oden, Devon Williams, and Mayukh Sircar, CIPP/US

8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

The construction industry is facing a rapidly shifting legal and regulatory landscape — and staying informed is no longer optional. In this rapid-fire session, our speakers deliver sharp, focused insights on four pressing topics: ICE investigations, lawful use of lawful products, fraudulent charges, and choice of law and venue.

Learning from the Best: An Executive Panel with Construction’s Top Leaders

Speakers: Hank Harris, Ward and Smith Business Consulting, and Guest

9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Few seats in the room will carry more hard-won wisdom than this one. Ty Edmondson, PE, Chief Executive Officer of T.A. Loving Company, and John Cooper, President and CEO of Cooper Tacia, join us for a candid conversation about leading construction companies at the highest level, from the jobsite to the boardroom. This is the kind of perspective you can’t find in a textbook.

10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Break

Protecting the Project: Key Insurance Coverage Issues Every Builder Faces

Speakers: Jeff Stoddard and Allen Trask

10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Every builder has insurance — but do you really know what it covers? This session features an attorney from Ward and Smith’s Construction Law and Insurance Counseling and Recovery practices diving into the coverage issues that catch contractors and owners off guard. You will leave better equipped to protect your projects from the ground up.

Keynote from FMI Capital Advisors

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

A consultant from FMI Capital Advisors will be on hand to share their expertise and insights during the conference.

11:45 a.m.a 2026 Construction Conference Conclusion

Closely Held Business Conference

“Where Business is Personal”

The Owner’s Briefing: Four Things You Can’t Afford to Miss

Speakers: Justin Hill, Emily Massey, and Marley Peterson

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Running a closely held business means navigating an ever-changing landscape of legal, regulatory, and operational challenges. In this rapid-fire session, our speakers deliver sharp, focused insights on four pressing topics every business owner needs to understand: non-compete agreements and restrictive covenants, the truth about 1099 workers, what Directors and Officers insurance covers, and the growing impact of government relations on your business.

A Leadership Perspective

1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Join us for an intimate fireside chat with two seasoned industry leaders. This candid conversation offers a rare opportunity to hear firsthand perspectives from executives with decades of experience navigating complex business landscapes. Our guests will share their experiences, discuss current challenges, and offer insights into the strategies that have driven their long-term success.

2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Break

The Invisible Incentive: How Phantom Stock and Deferred Compensation Work for You

Speaker: Steve Long

2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

What if you could offer the feel of ownership without transferring a single share? Steven B. Long of Ward and Smith, P.A. explores how phantom stock and deferred compensation plans give closely held businesses a competitive edge when it comes to attracting and keeping top talent — and what you need to know before putting one in place. 

Think Ahead, Stay Ahead: Generational Planning for What Matters Most

Speakers:  Travis Adams, Ward and Smith Business Consulting, Hank Harris, Ward and Smith Business Consulting, Will Oden, Ward and Smith Business Consulting

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

The decisions you make today will shape the future of your business for generations to come. In this panel discussion, consultants from Ward and Smith Business Consulting explore the critical elements of generational planning for closely held businesses, from leadership transition and ownership transfer to preserving the culture and values that got you here. Whether you are just starting to think about the future or are already in the middle of a transition, this session will give you a framework for planning with purpose.

All in the Family: Succession, Estates, and the Ties That Bind

Speakers: Lee Hodge, Gregory Peacock, and Phillip Cowan

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

When business is personal, the lines between family, wealth, and legacy don’t just blur — they intertwine. In this closing session, Greg Peacock, Lee Hodge, and Phillip Cowan of Ward and Smith, P.A. bring together their expertise in trusts and estates, business succession, and family law to show how these three disciplines work together to protect what you’ve built and the people you’ve built it for.