2026 Conference Schedule

*Subject to change.
Monday, February 16
12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Conference Registration
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Meet & Greet Reception
Tuesday, February 17
7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Conference Registration
7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Breakfast
8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. General Session
  • Presidential Welcome to the Conference
         Michael Coleman, SMART General President
         Todd Hill, SMACNA President
  • Keynote
         Melissa Stockwell, 2016 Paralympic Bronze Medalist, Three-time World Champion, Two-time U.S. Paralympian
9:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Break
9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Breakout Sessions
  • Recruiting & Retention Successes
         Moderator: Angie Simon, Heavy Metal Summer Experience
         Ginger Slaick, Georgia SMACNA
         Stephen Langley, SMART Local Union 85
         Matt Gugala, SMART Local Union 265
         Tony Adolfs, SMACNA Greater Chicago

 

  • Expanding Core Work Opportunities in Architectural
          Joseph Lansdell, Continuum Advisory Group
          Ken Wiesbrook, Wiesbrook Sheet Metal
          Trent Todd, SMART Local Union 20
         Matt Fairbanks, SMART Local Union 10

 

  • Getting Fire Life Safety Regulations Done – A Practical Playbook   
         Shasta Erickson, Miller Bonded, Inc.
         Ronda Gilliland-Lopez, SMACNA of New Mexico
         Tony Kocurek, Energy Balance and Integration, LLC
         Isaiah Zemke, Business Manager, SMART Local Union 49

 

  • Emerging Leaders in Action: Building the Next Generation of Industry Champions
         Moderator: Kristi Kromides, Tribus Allen
         Moderator: Mike Reed, Tribus Allen
         Dahlia Johnson, SMART Local Union 9
         Doug Poundstone, Ductmate Industries
         Christopher Demers, SMART Local Union 63
         Kevin Bartlett, FF Mechanical
10:45 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions
  • AI on the Jobsite and in the Classroom: Tools for a Smarter, Stronger Workforce
         Hugh Seaton    , Quantum Rise
         Mike Harris    , Sheet Metal Industry Institutes – ITI, NEMI, SMOHIT and SMART Heroes Foundation

 

  • Leading Through Collaboration: Working with Code Officials to Shape the Future of Construction
         Dennis Moran, SMART Local Union 265
         Joe Carone, SMART Local Union 265
         Craig Reehten, NEMI

 

  • Training for Tomorrow: How JATCs Are Driving a Competitive Edge
         Darrell Garrison    , ITI
         Jeff Reinhardt, Western Washington Sheet Metal JATC

 

  • National and Local Apprenticeship Panel – CTE as a Pipeline to Apprenticeship
         Tiffany Finck Haynes    , SMART
         Denise Murphy-McGraw, SMACNA
         Matthew Smith, Smith Heating–Air, Inc.
         Alex Tiechner, Local 104 Northern California Training Center
         Michael Mark, SMART Local Union 104
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. General Session

  • Best Practices Presentation and Second Harvest Food Bank
         Darrell Roberts    , SMART, Best Practices Market Expansion Task Force Co-Chair
         Kathy Kerber, KSM Metal Fabrication, Best Practices Market Expansion Task Force Co-Chair

  • Onboarding success – Crafting the Ideal First Impression for a Multi-Generational Workforce
         Tonia Morris    , Simply HR
         Cheri Patzner, Waldinger Corp.
         Julie Heiden, Waldinger Corp.
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Emerging Leaders Reception
Wednesday, February 18
7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Conference Registration
7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Breakfast
8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Breakout Sessions

  • Forging Success: Project Management, Leadership, and Collaboration on Megaprojects in the Sheet Metal Industry
         Moderator: Clark Ellis, Continuum Advisory Group
         Todd Hill, Ventcon
         Rich Styles, Ventcon
         Bobby McCally, Southland Industries
         Brad Veraska, Southland Industries
         Mike Thorne, SMART Local Union 4
         Joe Powell, SMART

  • Building Tomorrow: Advancing Leadership Through Innovation and Learning
         Julie Muller    , SMACNA Western Washington
         BJ Giri    , Holaday Parks
         Devin Leingang, SMART Local Union 66

  • Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today: Cultivating Collaboration and Leadership Through a Successful Internship Experience
         Cheri Patzner    , Waldinger Corp.
         Julie Heiden, Waldinger Corp.

  • Leveraging Technology and Partnerships for Industry Advancement
         Alan Seidman    , SMACNA SENY
         Stacey Yuden    , NEP Services
         Mark Treglio, NEP Services
         Mike Columbo, SMART Local Union 38
9:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Break
9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Breakout Sessions

  • Reclaiming Residential: Strategies for Growth, Stability, and Market Share
         Paul Heimann    , Welsch Heating and Cooling Co.
         Ray Reasons, SMART Local Union 36
         Matthew Smith, Smith Heating–Air, Inc.
         Matt Gugala, SMART Local Union 265
         Alex Tiechner, Local 104 Northern California Training Center

  • Labor-Management in Action: A Year of Partnership that Promotes the Industry
             Moderator: Clark Ellis, Continuum Advisory Services
         Jeremy Hallman    , Executive Director, SMACNA BC
         Steve Davis    , Business Manager, SMART Local 280

  • Breaking in and Building UP: Clean rooms as a Growth Market
         Tony Kocurek    , Energy Balance and Integration, LLC
         Ryan Thompson    , SMART Local Union 235
         Frank Coccaro, Lancaster Group
         Blair Hubber, Lancaster Group
         Thomas Fischbach, SMART

  • AI on the Jobsite and in the Classroom: Tools for a Smarter, Stronger Workforce (Repeat session)
         Hugh Seaton    , Quantum Rise
         Mike Harris, Sheet Metal Industry Institutes – ITI, NEMI, SMOHIT and SMART Heroes Foundation
10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. General Session

  • SMACNA/SMART Leadership Panel & Q&A
         Moderator: Clark Ellis, Continuum Advisory Services
         Michael Coleman, SMART General President
         Todd Hill, SMACNA President
         John Daniel, General Secretary Treasurer, SMART
12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. General Session

  • Forging the Future– Strategies for Maintaining Market Share in Uncertain Economic Times
         Carey Peters    , CLRC

  • Presidents Closing
         Michael Coleman, SMART General President
         Todd Hill, SMACNA President

  • Keynote
         Mike Massimino    , Former NASA Astronaut, New York Times Bestselling Author