Each year the SMACNA Annual Convention provides members with cutting-edge educational programming. We are seeking proposals on a wide-range of industry relevant topics that cover HVAC, architectural sheet metal, industrial sheet metal, residential HVAC/sheet metal, and testing-adjusting-balancing.
Topics and content should be appropriate for the typical 50-minute presentation duration. All presentations should focus on key issues in the industry, engage participants, and provide participants with a measurable takeaway from the program. Sessions that are designed to queue up a product, service, or an external educational course will not be permitted.
Across all sessions, preference will be given to sessions that include one or more SMACNA member contractors as a member of the presentation team.
Format Types
To engage participants, there are three different formats (presentation, panel discussion, and interactive workshop) for our educational sessions at the 2024 SMACNA Annual Convention. You must select only one presentation type for each submission.
Education Session Content Types
Your proposal should focus on hot topics and key issues in the industry, that benefit SMACNA contractors’ businesses processes, practices, and growth as well as their employees' personal and professional growth. Some topic areas include:
Business Best Practices & Financial Management
- Construction law
- Examples of successful programs and processes SMACNA contractors have implemented
- Financial planning and accounting
- HR/Personnel Policies & Procedures
- Internal financial controls
- Business right-sizing
- Payment collection best practices
- Succession/exit planning
- What contractors need to know about withdrawal liability – lessons learned
- Best practices in co-ownership with your spouse and/or other family members
Leadership
- Emotional intelligence and the importance of empathy
- Company culture in the 2020’s
- Conflict management
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Recruiting/attracting Gen Z
- Retaining employees
- Coaching and mentoring
- Crisis management
Productivity and Project Management
- Cash flow
- Contracts
- Documentation
- How to save money with preplanning/construction scheduling
- Labor motivation & efficiency
- Productivity tracking
Standards, Safety & Regulations
- Company safety best practices/programs
- Emergency action plans
- Incident investigations
- Risk identification and mitigation
- Suicide prevention
- Identifying mental health struggles early
Technology & Innovation
- How AI is disrupting the construction trades
- Lessons learned from rolling out new software
- Construction scheduling
- Energized work training
- Energy efficiency
- How technology is changing jobs
- How to save money with preplanning
- Project-specific quality control
- Prefabrication (with an emphasis on small companies)
- Software that all business need
- Tracking productivity
- Use of technology in the field
- Virtual/simulation training
- Laser welding
- Shop fabrication breakthroughs
Contractor Solutions
- Early warning signs that you’re on a bad job
- Preparing for post contract disputes
- Energized work training
- How to save money with preplanning
- Partnering
- Working with construction managers
- Employee High Accountability Program
- Pluses and Minuses of Converting Oil to Ductless Systems
- AI Powered Service Managers & Self Diagnostic Hardware
- Best Practices in Residential: Panel Discussion with the Pros (where we can cover any three of these topics in a one-hour session.)
- Residential Construction (or Service) for Commercial Contractors
Important Dates
March 15, 2024 - Responses to Call for Proposals due
May 28, 2024 - Speakers notified of selection
October 27-30, 2024 – SMACNA Annual Convention and Product Show in Palm Desert, CA
