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57th Annual MBCEA Conference
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
to Friday, April 24, 2026
Save the date for this management retreat-style conference.
Registration opening soon.
Sponsorship is sold out.
Agenda
| April 22 | |
| 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Exhibitor Setup Generations |
| 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM | MBCEA Board Meeting (MBCEA Only) Skyline |
| 11:00 AM - 5:30 PM | MBCEA & MBMA Registration Desk Open |
| 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM | MBMA Board Meeting (MBMA Only) Skyline |
| 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
Opening Session with Association Updates, Practical AI Applications for Construction Leaders and Teams, Awards Ceremony (All)
Join us as we kick off our three days together. MBCEA and MBMA association updates will be covered. Zach G. will highlight practical AI applications already transforming construction, from business development to jobsite management. MBMA's Safety Awards; MBCEA's Building of the Year Awards; and the Metal Construction News Metal Construction Hall of Fame induction will round out this session. Constellation Ballroom |
| 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
AC478 Cocktail Hour - by invitation only
AC478 Accredited Members gather together for this exclusive cocktail hour Skyline |
| 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM |
Welcome Reception in Exhibit Hall (All)
Begin making your rounds in the Exhibit Hall during our Welcome Reception while enjoying a dinner buffet, visiting with old friends, and making new. Generations |
| April 23 | |
| 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM |
Joint Networking Breakfast in Exhibit Hall (All)
Continue to visit with the vendors during breakfast. Generations |
| 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM | MBCEA & MBMA Registration Desk Open |
| 8:40 AM - 9:40 AM | Joint First Brood Keynote - Dr. Anirban Basu (All) Speculation surrounds 2026 after an active 2025. Can the U.S. economy sustain momentum or will uncertainty lead to recession? This fast-paced, data-driven session tracks trends in jobs, housing, real estate, markets, and output. Expect insights, surprises, and even laughs as we examine today and forecast tomorrow. |
| 9:50 AM - 10:35 AM | Proven Prompting Techniques for Construction Companies (All) This breakout session gives attendees a strong foundation in what AI actually is, how prompting works, and how to apply it to real-world tasks. Zach walks through live prompting examples tailored to construction workflows, including project communication, reporting, and admin tasks. |
| 9:50 AM - 10:35 AM | Driving Efficiency and Sustainability Through Digital Construction: A Digital Transformation Journey for Metal Building Envelopes (All) Explore how AWIP drives efficiency and sustainability in metal building envelopes through digital construction. Learn how BIM, panelized systems, and high-performance materials reduce risk, accelerate timelines, and support ESG goals. See real-world examples and discover future tech like AI and AR/VR shaping the next generation of building. |
| 9:50 AM - 10:35 AM | 5 Secrets for Healthier Cash Flow (All) Learn why $100B in construction loans go unpaid annually and how to fix it. Claire Wilson shares five proven tips from hundreds of contractor interviews to automate billing, reduce errors, and speed up payments. Discover how to manage change orders, improve PM–accounting collaboration, escalate A/R effectively, and use billing projections to optimize cash flow and forecast backlog. |
| 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM | Policy and Risk Management in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (All) Explore how emerging technologies like AI, automation, and cloud systems are reshaping construction. Learn about new risks, including privacy, image rights, and liability concerns, and how tech is increasingly used in claims investigations. This session offers practical risk management strategies and sample policies to help protect your company and workforce in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. |
| 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM | Back on Track: Why Software Implementation Fails and How to Fix It (All) Implementing new software can be tough—but it doesn’t have to be. In this session, former PM and software co-founder Claire Wilson shares an industry-specific game plan for successfully rolling out software in your organization. Learn why tech adoption fails, how to avoid common pitfalls, what makes a strong rollout plan, and which questions to ask when evaluating new tools. Help your team embrace technology with confidence and drive real results. |
| 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM | AIA CEU Courses for Architects (All) Join our grassroots effort to educate architects on the sustainability of metal buildings and importance of AC472 and AC478 Accreditation. We will walk through all MBMA and IAS AIA CEU courses that are available for you to present to architects and AIA chapters. |
| 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM | Topgolf TopContender Tournament - Optional Outing (Ticket Required) (All) Compete as a team of six in two rounds of TopContender scramble with live leaderboard scoring. Enjoy contests like Closest to the Pin and Longest Drive, plus tips from a Topgolf Coach. Standard clubs provided. Relax in the private Chairman’s Suite during the tournament and awards ceremony. Lunch included, cash bar available. Transportation from Hotel Polaris at 12:30 pm, returning at 4:30 pm. |
| 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM | Adventures out West Jeep Tour - Optional Outing (Ticket Required) (All) Explore Colorado Springs’ iconic landmarks on the Garden of the Gods Foothills Jeep Tour, featuring Garden of the Gods, Cheyenne Canyon, Helen Hunt Falls, and historic railroad tunnels. Enjoy stunning scenery, cowboy guides, and open-air Jeeps for great photo ops. Includes blankets, ponchos, snacks, and water. Lunch on your own. Transportation departs Hotel Polaris at 12:30 pm, returns at 4:30 pm. Guests must be able to climb into a tall Jeep. |
| 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM | US Olympic & Paralympic Museum and Training Facility Tour - Optional Outing (Ticket Required) (All) Discover the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum and Training Center in Olympic City USA. Explore interactive exhibits, inspiring stories, and a guided tour of where elite athletes live and train. Includes a video presentation and walking tour. Lunch on your own. Transportation departs Hotel Polaris at 12:30 pm and returns at 4:30 pm. |
| 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Flight Simulators - Sign up at event (All) Experience three flight simulators - two single-seat fighter jets and one two-seat 737. Groups rotate through each simulator at a relaxed pace, with optional “dog fights” in the jets for extra fun if time allows. A lounge area is available for mingling or watching others fly. The team can accommodate about 20 participants per hour. First come, first served. |
| April 24 | |
| 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM |
Joint Networking Breakfast in Exhibit Hall (All)
Last chance to visit with the vendors during breakfast. Generations |
| 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM | Exhibitor Teardown Generations |
| 8:45 AM - 9:20 AM |
AC478 Panel (MBCEA Members)
AC478 Accredited members will share their success stories, experiences throughout the process, and benefits to their company. Constellation Ballroom 1-2 |
| 8:45 AM - 11:30 AM | MBMA Spring Meeting (MBMA Members) Constellation Ballroom 3-4 |
| 9:35 AM - 10:35 AM |
Project Management Panel (MBCEA Members)
Project management vendors will discuss their products and show demos as to how their programs will make running your business more efficient. Current users will team up with their vendors to share their real world experiences. Constellation Ballroom 1-2 |
| 10:50 AM - 11:30 AM |
PLAs, RCO's and Apprenticeship and MB Curriculum (MBCEA Members)
Explore the growing legal and business importance of apprenticeship programs for metal building assemblers. Learn how mandates like project labor agreements and contractor ordinances impact employers, and why training is key to future success. Includes an update on MBCEA’s Metal Building Curriculum progress. Constellation Ballroom 1-2 |
Thank you to our sponsors!
Beware of Scammers!
We understand that you may be contacted by outside companies attempting to sell you exhibitor services, lead retrieval, hotel reservations, attendee lists or more for the upcoming 2026 MBCEA 57th Annual Conference. Please rest assured, we never sell our exhibitors' or attendees' contact information.
Instead, these 3rd party companies will scrape event websites for exhibiting companies and research contact information to present themselves as show partners – some even will use the MBCEA logo.
The MBCEA and Hotel Polaris will never call you to make a hotel reservation.
Unless the email is coming from an @mbcea.org address, it is a scam and we ask that you please proceed with caution!
Don’t be fooled by other parties using the MBCEA name and/or logo – they are NOT affiliated with MBCEA. At the very least, prior to engaging with any of these outside companies, feel free to verify with Britain Graver.
