Speaker Bios
Jeff Burmeister
Jeff Burmeister is a seasoned construction technology leader and industry advocate with over three decades of experience driving digital transformation and operational efficiency for specialty contractors and suppliers. Currently serving as the Industry Association Manager at Egnyte, Jeff collaborates closely with trade organizations such as the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) to deliver data management, security, and document control solutions that protect subcontractors’ business interests and improve project workflows.
Throughout his career, Jeff has been a fierce champion for the subcontractor community, focusing on software tools that mitigate risk, improve documentation, and defend project profitability. Prior to joining Egnyte, he spent seven years as a General Manager at Kahua, where he led enterprise sales leadership and industry partner relationships to streamline project management and collaboration specifically for trade contractors. His extensive background also includes founding Project DocControl, a project document management system built explicitly to protect subcontractors.
A regular brand ambassador and speaker at AEC events nationwide, Jeff aligns closely with the ASA’s mission of building strength through education, networking, and technology adoption.
Cal Beyer, CWP, NAC
Cal Beyer, CWP, NAC is Sr. Director of SAFE Project for national nonprofit SAFE Project (Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic). Cal empowers leaders to address root causes of addiction and amplifies the voices of those in recovery in workplaces. He is a 35 year safety and risk management professional dedicated to construction since 1996. He catalyzed the mental health and suicide prevention movement in the US construction industry while working as director of risk management and safety for a contractor in the Pacific Northwest. He was inducted into the National Academy of Construction in 2025 for his long-term distinguished service to the industry in addressing mental health, substance use and suicide.
Jared Byas
Jared Byas is a family business advisor who has walked alongside over 200 families through the joys and challenges of family business. His firm Common Good Advisors helps family-owned companies transition from one generation to the next while keeping the health of the family a top priority. He lives in Bucks County Pennsylvania (outside of Philadelphia) with his wife, kids, two dogs, and a cat. You can find him at commongoodfba.com.
Brian Cancian
Brian began his career with Foundation Software in 1997, as a Client Service Representative. He has held several positions since that time, including Implementation Specialist, Client Sales Specialist, and Senior Consultant, where he was responsible for educating clients on FOUNDATION®: performing sales and system demonstrations and providing high-level consulting services. Using his expansive knowledge of the construction industry — and his expansive experience with the Foundation Software family of products — he also served as a Product Manager, helping design and oversee the development of company projects.
Now, Brian is Foundation Software’s Business Development Manager. His primary goal is to bring companies and products together to serve a mutual client base. As the construction industry evolves, contractors need software solutions that are seamlessly integrated — efficiently linking field and office operations. This is a challenge that he believes can be met by creating partnerships within the industry.
Brian holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, has taught at countless Foundation Software conferences, and has attended industry events across multiple trades. In his free time, he enjoys skiing, hiking, and the challenge of earning the highest score on the golf course.
Dirk F. Dykson,
After an early career in corporate finance with Fortune 100 companies, Dirk spent a decade in sales, marketing, and organizational performance leadership roles with global and national scope. During his 18-year career with Hewlett- Packard, Dirk led a turnaround of HP’s iconic Calculator business, growing revenue from $20M to $40M in 18 months. He also gained extensive global experience in sales, marketing, finance, strategy, general management, customer service, and channel.
Dirk is an expert CEO/Executive coach, Gallup certified StrengthsTM coach, certified Value BuilderTM, leadership team coach, and sales/marketing ninja. He specializes in clarifying strategy, building healthy, high-performing teams, identifying processes to enable scale, and developing the next generation of leaders.
With 20+ years of volunteer and paid board experience, Dirk is currently a board member of 2 non-profit organizations and 1 mid-market company. He is Partner and President at Portocol Business Strategies, a national advisory firm that guides mid- market owners to build high-performing companies that run really well without them – increasing business value in preparation for exit, sale, or transition.
Dirk earned his B.A. in Economics, with concentrations in Accounting & Math from The Colorado College and an MBA from Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis. He lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Susan Frew, CSP
Keynote Speaker | AI Business Strategist | Author, Recoded
Susan Frew is not your typical AI speaker. She is a former Fortune 20 international VP who managed operations across two countries, a former INC 5000 CEO who saved $170K through AI implementation, and a Google AI Certified strategist who has logged 3,000+ hours of AI training. She has also hosted ESPN Radio and served as an SBA Emerging Leader Instructor. In other words, she has done the thing before she taught the thing.
Her brand, Usable AI, and her keynote are built on one core belief: real transformation comes from practical tools, not techy-hype.. Susan works with executives, entrepreneurs, associations, and meeting planners who want AI that actually works in the real world.
She is the author of Recoded: Transform Your Business DNA with AI, a book she produced using an AI-powered publishing pipeline from keynote transcript to Audible audiobook. That is not a metaphor. That is Tuesday.
At NSA Influence, Susan brings her signature hands-on, no-nonsense style to “The AI-Powered Proposal,” a laptops-open session where speakers walk out with a real proposal framework built using AI tools they can use immediately.
Based in Colorado, Susan is a proud Aussiedoodle mom, enthusiastic thrifter, and unapologetic AI super-user who believes your best business move is learning to compete on awesome.
susanfrewspeaks.com
Soraya Herbert-Molina
Soraya Herbert-Molina is a Fractional Social Media Director, brand strategist, and speaker who helps brands and businesses turn attention into demand. Through Soraya Janae Strategies, she builds social strategies that actually move the needle. Combining high-performing content, AI-integrated workflows, and strategic storytelling that earns trust before it earns reach. A strategist and a creator, Soraya understands how content performs because she builds it. From social ecosystems and influencer programs to experiential event marketing and paid + organic integration, she designs work that gives brands a real shot at standing out in a noisy feed. A featured speaker at NAHB, PMI, and more than 40 associations and companies, Soraya is known for cutting through the marketing fluff and giving audiences practical, hands-on tools they can use the moment they leave the room. With a sharp, energetic style and a builder’s instinct for what actually works, she brings the trends, the tools, and the real talk on what it takes to win in a scroll-first world.
Senator Jonathan Martin
From 2007 to 2014, Martin served as an assistant state attorney for the 20th Judicial Circuit Florida. From 2015 to 2022, he worked as an attorney at Parvey & Frankel Attorneys, P.A. He was also the chairman of the Lee County Republican Executive Committee. In August 2022, he became a partner at Aloia, Roland, Lubell & Morgan, PLLC. In November 2022, Martin was elected to the Florida Senate.
Stephane McShane
Stephane McShane is a Director at Maxim Consulting Group responsible for the evaluation and implementation processes with our clients. Stephane works with construction related firms of all sizes to evaluate business practices and assist with management challenges. With a large depth of experience working in the construction industry, Stephane is keenly aware of the business and, most specifically, operational challenges that firms face. Her areas of expertise include: Leadership development, executive coaching, organizational assessment s, strategic planning, project execution, business development, productivity improvement, and training programs. Mrs. McShane is an internationally recognized speaker, mentor, author, and teacher. Her ability to motivate, inspire, and create confidence amo ng your work groups is extremely rare and very effective .
Gary R. Semmer, CIC, CWCA
Mr. Semmer is Executive Vice President and Construction Practice Leader, Arthur J Gallagher 2nd largest Insurance & Risk Management Broker in the U.S. based in Chicago, IL. Mr. Semmer graduated from the University of Minnesota- Carlson School of Management with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business with a concentration in Marketing & Finance.
He earned his Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) and Certified Work Comp Advisor (CWCA) designations. Gary recently completed his Contractors Risk Professional Certification.
Mr. Semmer has taught Seminars for the Society of CIC, Guest Lectured at Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, has authored Articles and presented Webinars for the Pre-Cast Concrete (PCI) and American Subcontractors Association (ASA).
He served as President of the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois (IIAI) and was Chairman of the Federal Governmental Affairs Committee spending time in Springfield, IL and Washington D. C.
Gary was presented the “Cartwright Award” which recognized his numerous years of service to IIAI as well as his meritorious service on behalf of Insurance Agents & Brokers in Illinois.
Mr. Semmer has considerable Insurance & Risk Management experience in the Construction & Real Estate industries.
Andrew Schenkel
Andrew Schenkel is a seasoned marketing and sales professional with a diverse background in branding and business development. He began his career working with renowned brands such as Warner Music Group, the National Basketball Association, and Beanstalk, an Omnicom Agency. In 2019, Andrew ventured into the construction industry, joining Apollo Electric, a prominent high-end residential and commercial electrical contractor.
As the Director of Strategic Growth, he oversaw all marketing and sales activations, as well as spearheading special projects to help grow the company. When Covid-19 disrupted the world in 2020, he started to consult and founded his company, Double Play Marketing and Sales. Double Play serves as an outsourced marketing department and performs lead generation for clients, taking a data driven and sales focused approach with all activations having metrics geared towards your brand awareness and/or leads, showing a return on investment.
Outside of work, Andrew loves spending time with his wife, Jessica, daughter, Maddie, and their Mini Labradoodle, Yogi. He’s an avid NY/NJ sports fan and enjoys traveling and golfing.
Mark Steinhofer CHST, CSP, CUSP
More than 20 years of professional experience within the HSE field, and applied knowledge with regulatory entities in various types of industries. Detail-orientated and able to present HSE concepts in a business or production driven format to all levels within an organization. Demonstrated ability to build creditability and adapt to changing situations. Extensive experience in a fortune 500 company managing a large staff of HSE professionals.
Strong presentation, interpersonal, auditing and technical writing skills. In addition to holding positions as a Site Safety Advisor, Manager of Special Projects, and Environmental Manager at Safety Management Group, Mark has also consulted as an expert witness in several court cases, and is currently an adjunct professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis teaching an undergraduate course in construction safety and the OSHA standards.
Mike Tafoya
Mike has spent over forty years as an entrepreneur. Purchasing his first retail glass company in 1977, he went on to own and successfully exit a commercial glass contracting company. Business coaching made such a profound difference in Mike’s business success that he founded Portocol Business Strategies, one of Denver’s top business strategy consulting companies.
Mike has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Management and four decades running his own successful businesses. His specialties are aligning strategy and culture with larger family businesses, especially in Construction. With extensive experience in sales leadership and finance, Mike loves helping his clients grow revenue and profit. Mike is passionate about his family, faith, and the great outdoors.
Satyam Verma
Satyam Verma leads Construction Practice at Egnyte, where he helps AEC firms turn data chaos into competitive advantage. A veteran of Autodesk and high-growth startups, he’s spent his career at the intersection of construction and technology — translating industry shifts into go-to-market strategy that actually moves the needle. He speaks frequently on where construction tech is headed next.
Claire Wilson
Moderator – Wednesday 9:40a General Contractor Panel
Claire Wilson started her career as a Project Manager at Tishman Construction in New York City, where she worked on major projects like Hudson Yards and JP Morgan’s Corporate Headquarters. It was her experience there that opened her eyes to how difficult it is for subcontractors to get paid. She moved to San Francisco to start Siteline, which helps subcontractors manage the complexities of billing, lien rights, and waivers. Her passion for protecting the trades led her to get involved with ASA. She’s also a very active member of CFMA. Claire holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Bucknell University and spends all of her free time with her son, husband, and labrador exploring the outdoors around San Francisco.
Bruce Orr, Tony Hamilton, Margie Morris
Presenters- Wednesday 10:50a Growth Eats Cash: What Happens After AI Makes You Better
Bruce Orr is a construction economist, data scientist, and the Founder & CEO of ProNovos, the Financial Intelligence System designed to protect contractor profits and cash flow. His work is based on a simple belief: contractors deserve a financial system built for the future, not the past. While accounting systems record history, Bruce’s work focuses on the financial decisions still ahead: predicting margin fade, modeling cash flow needs, and identifying working capital exposure before it impacts the business. The Financial Intelligence System he developed sits above accounting and project management tools, turning cost data, production behavior, schedules, and risk signals into forward-looking financial strategy. For more than a decade, Bruce has worked across the entire construction finance ecosystem, partnering with Top 100 CPA firms, leading contractors, sureties, capital providers, and technology companies to close the gap between field operations and financial decision-making. His frameworks are used to modernize WIP reporting, forecasting, and working capital management, helping contractors shift from historical reporting to predictive financial intelligence.
Tony Hamilton joined EHC in 2005, bringing extensive experience from a Fortune 250 company in Florida. With expertise in systems, procedures, estimating, and scheduling, Tony played a pivotal role in transforming EHC into a schedule-driven company focused on proactive communication, obstacle removal, and project delivery excellence. His leadership fosters collaboration among employees and vendors to consistently exceed client expectations. A graduate of Cypress Lake High School in Lee County, Florida, Tony earned a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction from the University of Florida. As a Certified General Contractor and EHC’s license holder, he ensures the company maintains its high standards. Outside of work, Tony enjoys golf, software coding, and back bay fishing in Southwest Florida with his wife and two children.
Margie L. Morris, CCIFP is a Partner at Guignard Company, a surety bond only agency serving clients throughout the U.S. and internationally. Prior to joining Guignard Company, Margie was a surety underwriter for Reliance/Travelers. Since college, she has spent her entire career in the surety business. Margie has a deep understanding of the construction and surety industry. She has assisted her clients in expanding, buying, or selling their businesses, setting up ESOP’s, Private Equity arrangements, and ownership transition. Margie thrives on finding the best solution and best outcome to meet her clients’ expectations and business plans. She manages and identifies outcomes quickly so her clients can make informed decisions about their business and bonding matters. Margie spends time educating herself and staying in the forefront of the surety industry. She frequently speaks as an industry expert to various construction and trade organizations. Outside of work, Margie spends her personal time with her family, pets, friends, exercising, and leading/facilitating missions work in Jamaica along with the FeedingKidz program.
Women in Construction Panel
Presenters- Wednesday, Sep. 30, 2026 at 12:00pm
Samantha Lake with Pronovos
Samantha is a strategic leader with 20+ years of experience in organizational culture and business transformation. With a background spanning technology, academia, associations, and marketing, she brings a fresh and pragmatic approach to innovation. As COO of ProNovos, she helps construction companies harness data and technology to drive better financial and operational decisions. Specializing in change management, Samantha excels at guiding teams through technology adoption and change initiatives, turning resistance into progress.
Molly Scott serves as Vice President of Strategic Development for Chris-Tel Construction. As a member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team, she plays a key role in advancing corporate objectives and long-term growth strategies. Her responsibilities include strengthening client relationships, guiding the development and implementation of the corporate marketing strategy, supporting pre-construction initiatives, and providing oversight on contract negotiations.
With more than twenty-five years of experience in corporate marketing, strategic development, communications, public relations, branding, and client relations within the AEC industry, Molly brings extensive expertise and industry insight to the organization. Her leadership helps position the company for continued growth while strengthening partnerships across the markets it serves.
Molly is actively engaged in the Southwest Florida community and serves on numerous boards and advisory committees. Her current roles include the Horizon Council Executive Board, the Associated Builders and Contractors Gulf Coast Chapter Advisory Board, and the Construction Industry Association Advisory Board for the Stock Development School of Construction Management at Florida Gulf Coast University and serves as a board member for the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Her past appointments include serving on the Department of Management Advisory Committee for the Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University, serving on the Real Estate Investment Society (REIS) Board of Governors, Chair of the Construction Advisory Committee for the Lee County School District, Board Member of the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce, and advisor to the Pi Mu Chapter of Chi Omega Fraternity at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Molly lives in Fort Myers, Florida with her husband Chris and has two sons, Gavin, 20, and Garrett, 15.
Stefani Filipi
With over seven years of construction experience, Stefani began her career on the administrative side before quickly realizing she wanted to be in the field. As a single mom with little trade experience, she created her own opportunities. Working side jobs at night and learning everything she could about the industry. Through determination, hands-on experience, and the mentorship of a trusted leader, she grew from learning the trade to leading commercial drywall projects and eventually into her current role as Safety Manager at Lee Drywall. Today, she brings a unique perspective to safety, having worked alongside crews and managing projects in the field. She leads with empathy and believes safety is about more than rules and paperwork. It’s about communication, curiosity, and genuinely caring about the people who go home at the end of the day. Being a woman in construction has helped her find her confidence and voice, and she hopes to encourage others to create opportunities, ask questions, and never be afraid to learn.
General Contractor Panel
Presenters- Wednesday, Sep. 30, 2026 at 9:40am
Michael Mick, Manhattan Construction Company – Senior Project Manager- SW Florida Chapter
Duane Miles, Sundt Construction , Preconstruction Project Manager – AZ Chapter
Bob Kramer, Skanska – SW Florida Chapter
Duane Miles, DBIA, LEED AP; Preconstruction Project Manager, Sundt Construction
Active member of ASA Arizona and Partners In Construction (PIC) 5+ years. 39 years combined construction and preconstruction leadership experience on 115+ projects totaling $18+ Billion in Hospitality, Gaming, High-Rise Residential, Mission Critical, Sports/Entertainment, Commercial, Retail, Correctional, Industrial/Manufacturing, Lab/Research, Medical, Educational, Historic Preservation & Adaptive Re-use type projects.
Michael Mick, Manhattan Construction Company – Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Michael started his career performing site concrete. Michael began his healthcare career as an employee in Facilities Design and Construction at Saint Francis Hospital Healthcare Centers. After twenty years with Saint Francis Hospital, Michael spent ten years with Hunt Construction Group (now AECOM Hunt) continuing to manage healthcare, pharmaceutical and higher education construction projects. Michael moved to Florida in 2007 working on the subcontractor side and the construction management side of our industry. Michael has spent the last four years with Manhattan Construction managing projects in southwest Florida. Michael is an active member of the American Society of Hospital Engineers and maintains his commercial general contracting license in the State of Florida. His forty-five-year construction career has included work in Indianapolis, Bloomington, Houston, West Virgina, the Cayman Islands, Fort Myers and Naples. Michael resides in Naples, Florida where he is a member of Saint Williams Catholic Parish, is a member of Stonebridge Country Club. Michael has six children, fifteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He loves traveling to Indiana to visit family, friends and spend time on his farm in southeastern Indiana.
Bob Kramer serves as Senior Vice President and Account Manager at Skanska, leading the company’s operations and client relationships in southwest Florida. With 24 years of construction management experience, Bob has been instrumental in delivering over $1.7 billion in healthcare work including two award-winning projects for Lee Health: Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and the Lee Health, Gulf Coast Medical Center Expansion and Renovation. Known for his strategic leadership and client-focused approach, Bob has cultivated strong partnerships with key stakeholders in southwest Florida’s vibrant market. He has overseen numerous high-profile projects that have contributed to the area’s growth and development including the current $600 million Lee Health, Fort Myers Campus project in Fort Myers and various multi-million-dollar education projects with Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) and Lee County Schools. Bob continues to strengthen Skanska’s presence in southwest Florida, fostering long- term success and delivering impactful construction solutions that support the region’s evolving needs. Bob is a graduate of Purdue University with a B.S. in Construction Engineering and Management.
Natural Disaster Preparedness Panel
Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 at 8:40am
Josh Morton
George W. Gift, III. Board Certified Construction Law Attorney at Knott-Ebelini-Hart
Stump the Attorney Panel
Presenters- Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 at 7:30am
Chip Bachara grew up in the construction industry working for his father’s construction company from the time he was 11 years old, later graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in Building Construction. After working for two design/build construction companies Chip graduated from Mercer University Law School and has devoted his entire 38 years of legal practice to construction law. In 2007, Chip left the national law firm at which he was a partner to start Bachara Construction Law Group. Chip is routinely recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, among others. Bachara Construction Law Group is recognized as a Tier 1 Regional Construction Law Firm by Best Law Firms. Bachara Construction Law Group represents governmental entities, private owners and developers, general contractors and nearly every type of trade contractor in almost every type of construction dispute. Chips firm maintains offices in Jacksonville and St. Petersburg, Florida.
Trey Copeland is currently the General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer for the Jones Petroleum Companies of Jackson, Georgia. Prior to taking his current role, Trey spent the majority of his legal career as a partner with the law firm of Jernigan Copeland Attorneys, PLLC, in Madison, Mississippi, where he practiced almost exclusively in the area of construction law. He has experience representing all aspects of the construction project, including owners, designers, general contractors, trade and subcontractors as well as material suppliers. He is also a trained and practicing mediator, and arbitrator as well as a formerly registered lobbyist.
Dorsey R. Carson, Jr. is the founder and owner of Carson Law Group, PLLC—a firm consistently recognized by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® as one of the nation’s “Best Law Firms” in Construction Law since its inception in 2013. With over 27 years of experience, Dorsey’s practice focuses on construction law, procurement, commercial litigation, and economic development. He represents a wide range of clients in the construction industry, including general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, lenders, developers, owners, sureties, architects, and engineers.
E. Scott Holbrook, Jr. is a partner with Crawford & Bangs, LLP. and has been with the firm for more than 30 years. Mr. Holbrook is Legal Counsel to the Los Angeles/Orange County/Inland Empire Chapter and Legal Counsel to the California Chapter of the American Subcontractors Association. On a national level he has served on the Board of Directors for the American Subcontractors Association, was Chairman of the American Subcontractors Association Attorneys Council in 2007-2008, as well as currently chairing the Subcontractors Legal Defense Fund Task Force and serving on the Task Force for Model Subcontracts since 2000. He is also a member of the Christian Legal Society and the Los Angeles County Bar Association Construction sub-section.
Aaron Haak is a Florida Bar Board Certified specialist in Construction Law with more than 25 years of experience advising and representing contractors, subcontractors, developers and owners across Southwest Florida. His construction practice spans the full lifecycle of a project, from drafting and negotiating contracts to prosecuting and defending lien claims, payment disputes, construction defect matters and delay or scope-change claims. He regularly represents construction professionals in litigation and alternative dispute resolution, and works proactively to identify risk early, strengthen contract language and position clients for payment and performance success.