2010 Partners in Progress Conference. March 18-20, Las Vegas, Nevada.

2012 Partners in Progress conference features dynamic new format

Mark your calendar for the dynamic new 2012 Partners in Progress Conference, March 8-10, 2012, at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas—featuring a brand new program format and an emphasis on creative collaboration. This new program makes it an ideal venue for both labor and management to come together, share ideas, and find resourceful approaches to challenges. Held in conjunction with the National Apprenticeship Contest, the conference theme is “We Mean Business.”

This year, new industry breakout sessions will foster collaboration, new ideas, and targeted solutions for specialty market sectors. New educational opportunities include a benefit funds education track for trustees and plan sponsors.

The conference will focus on honest communications between labor and management. Featured topics will cover best practices, the economy, and leadership. Nationally known and respected turnaround expert Dr. Tom Schleifer will discuss how to survive the recession and emerge even stronger. Communications expert Stephen Gaffney will show participants how to accurately assess situations to determine the best course of action, and an expert from the FMI will present New Horizons study findings on the changing face of leadership. More of these great sessions include leading from within, amazing marketing success stories, working together politically, making the case for new business opportunities, and entering new markets.


Keynote Speaker


Impact of Recession
on the Sheet Metal Industry


Navigating Through the Uncertainty


Thomas C Schleifer, Ph.D.


Tom Schleifer has been warning the industry since 2008 that the recession and construction Industry market downturn were going to be deeper and longer than the popular press was indicating and that the impact on the industry would be unprecedented. Dr. Schleifer will define and categorize market cycles and explain the difference between this and prior cycles which he says we have not seen since the great depression.