Tampa Build Expo 2027 | Keynotes & Seminars

Your P&L says you made money last year. Your bank account says something different. That gap — between what you earned on paper and what actually sits in the bank — is the single most common problem in construction, and it has nothing to do with how hard you're working or how many jobs you're closing. Using real, live examples from real contracting businesses, this keynote lays out exactly why profitable companies run out of cash, and the specific playbook to fix it — without buying another piece of software, without raising your prices, and without taking on debt to bridge the gap. This isn't theory. It's the exact framework being used inside contracting businesses right now to turn "profitable on paper" into cash you can actually see.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the specific point in your business where profit is quietly leaking out between the job and the bank account.

2. Learn the account structure that separates true profit from operating cash — so you always know what's actually yours to spend.

3. See a live, real-numbers example of a contractor who fixed this exact problem without raising a single price.

4. Leave with the first two moves to make this week to start closing your own cash flow gap.

You already earn enough revenue. The problem was never how much money comes in — it's how much of it you actually get to keep. This keynote is built for the contractor owner who is tired of living deposit to deposit, tired of watching real revenue disappear before it ever becomes real profit. Using live, real-world examples, we'll show you exactly how cash-rich contractors are built — not through bigger jobs or higher prices, but through a small number of specific shifts to how revenue is captured, protected, and kept inside the business. You'll leave knowing exactly what separates a contractor who's always chasing the next check from one who never has to again.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the difference between revenue and Real Revenue — and why that distinction is the root of the deposit-to-deposit cycle.
2. See a live example of a contracting business that ended its own cash cycle without changing pricing or volume.
3. Learn the specific account structure that protects revenue the moment it comes in, before it can leak out.
4. Leave with a clear, personal definition of what "cash-rich" actually looks like for your business — and the first shift to make toward it.

APTing (Accentuate Positive Thinking) is a practical communication approach that helps leaders build stronger relationships, foster collaboration, and create more engaged teams. This session explores how communicating with positivity and intention increases trust, improves employee retention, and drives better business results. Participants will learn strategies for delivering clear, transparent, and empowering messages that inspire stronger performance and accountability. Drawing on leadership research and real-world examples, this course demonstrates how effective communication can increase productivity, strengthen workplace culture, and equip leaders to bring out the best in their teams.

Learning Outcomes:

• Increase team productivity through more effective communication. 
• Improve employee retention by building trust and engagement. 
• Empower employees with positive, transparent leadership communication. 
• Strengthen collaboration and create a more accountable workplace culture.

Inside this free Workshop, you'll discover:

The 4-week roadmap to become loan-ready
The 10-point Bank-Ready Scorecard
Tools to forecast cash flow & build a loan package
The exact documents banks want to see
 Insider tips from a former banker who’s approved $2B+ in loans and reviewed over 10,000 Financial Statements

– Who It's For:
  If you're a contractor who is doing $5M-$100M+...

1.      Feels the pinch on cash flow even though you are growing and profitable on paper. 

2.      Realizes that it takes capital to grow, but doesn't like to deal with lenders. 

3.      Has sacrificed their own compensation, while funneling profits back into the company to fund growth. 

Then this is for you.

This class explores the complete steel construction process, from design and engineering to sourcing, fabrication, and installation. Learn about manufacturing technology, software, staffing, certifications, panelization, modular construction, thermal performance, and cost analysis. Discover ROI opportunities, industry insights, and how digital manufacturing is transforming residential and commercial building projects.

Introduction

• Why exterior building protection matters

• Causes of coating degradation

Understanding PVDF Coatings

• Chemistry and performance characteristics

• Comparison to other architectural coating technologies

Building Restoration

• Surface preparation

• Application methods

• Best practices

Sustainability

• Extending service life

• Reducing waste and landfill impact

• Environmental considerations

Case Studies

• Successful restoration projects

• Lessons learned

Summary and Q&A

• Key takeaways

• Questions and discussion

Outline:

I. Retirement Plan Marketplace Prior to the SECURE Act – 5 minutes

·       Overview of traditional retirement plan structures

·       Barriers to plan adoption for small and mid-sized employers

·       Cost, administrative complexity, and fiduciary concerns

II. Overview of the SECURE Act – 7 minutes

·       Legislative goals and background

·       Expansion of retirement plan access

·       Introduction of Multiple Employer Plans and tax incentives

III. SECURE Act 2.0: Key Enhancements and Implications – 8 minutes

·       Automatic enrollment provisions

·       Expanded tax credits and incentives

·       Increased compliance and administrative considerations

IV. Multiple Employer Plans (MEPs) – 7 minutes

·       Structure and operation of MEPs

·       Employer participation requirements

·       Fiduciary responsibilities under a MEP arrangement

V. Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs) – 7 minutes

·       Role of the Pooled Plan Provider (PPP)

·       Comparison of PEPs to traditional MEPs

·       Fiduciary delegation versus fiduciary retention

VI. Multiple Employer Aggregation Programs (MEAPs) – 6 minutes

·       Overview of Multiple Employer Aggregation Programs

·       Key differences from statutory MEPs and PEPs

·       Compliance and fiduciary considerations for participating employers

VII. Fiduciary Responsibilities of a Business Owner – 6 minutes

·       Definition of fiduciary responsibility under ERISA

·       Ongoing duties related to plan oversight and monitoring

·       Risk management and documentation best practices

VIII. Financial Advisors’ Role in Employer Retirement Plans – 4 minutes

·       Overview of advisory roles and services

·       Distinction between fiduciary and non-fiduciary functions

·       Collaboration between financial advisors and CPAs

 You don't need to be technical. You don't need another piece of software you'll abandon in a month. What you need is something that acts like a second brain — a built-in assistant that takes the repeatable, energy-draining work off your plate so you can get back to running the business instead of being buried inside it. In this live, hands-on workshop, we'll build a real AI-powered delegation system in front of you — no scripts, no fluff, just a working tool you can start using the moment you walk out the door. This isn't about chasing every new AI trend. It's about turning AI into the one thing most contractor owners have never had: a system that remembers, reminds, and executes so you don't have to carry it all in your head.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the three categories of repeatable owner-level tasks in your business that are safe to delegate to an AI assistant today — and the ones that are not.

2. Build a working AI delegation prompt live in the room, using your own business as the example, that you can put to use the same day.

3. Learn the difference between an AI tool and an AI system — and why only one of them actually gives you hours back.

4. Leave with a specific, written plan for the first 8 hours per week you will reclaim, and what you will do with that time instead.

Purpose: 

Building owners have come to rely on weatherable coatings to provide long-term protection to their buildings. With an increased focus on sustainability, performance, and durability, PVDF resin-based coatings can help architects and painting contractors exceed their clients’ design goals. This course covers the key components and functions of high-performance weatherable coatings and looks at how these coatings contribute to sustainable design.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this program, participants will be able to:

•       describe the ways PVDF resin-based coatings, both water based and solvent based, provide a consistent, pristine appearance while achieving durability goals over a variety of substrates as demonstrated in applicable case studies

•       discuss why some coatings fail and the important considerations when selecting a coating system for an application, including weathering performance, longevity, and application method

•       discuss the standards of performance for architectural coatings and recognize why PVDF coating technology outperforms other coating technologies, and 

•       explain how water-based PVDF coatings, by their chemistry and performance, can help design professionals and building owners achieve their sustainability goals.

Tampa Bay is growing faster than at any point in recent memory, and the pressure on builders is to do more, faster. Eric Zohar, a third-generation Tampa builder and Owner of Sweetwater Homes, makes the case for a different model: a small custom building company that stays small on purpose.
Drawing on nearly a decade building luxury homes in Tampa and his current work in South Tampa and Riverside Heights, Eric walks through how he chooses which lots to take on, why he has worked with the same trade partners for more than ten years, how he leads sales for his own homes instead of listing them, and how timeless design protects both the home’s value and the builder’s reputation. Attendees will leave with practical ways to run lean, protect quality, and build a company that clients and trade partners want to work with for the long run.

Course outline:

1. The fast market and the small builder. What Tampa Bay’s growth is doing to timelines, trades, and buyer expectations, and why staying small is a strategy, not a limitation.

2. Choosing the work: lots, neighborhoods, and saying no. How Eric evaluates a lot in South Tampa or Riverside Heights, what makes a project a fit for a small company, and the projects he passes on.

3. Trade partners as the foundation. Why Eric has worked with the same framers, plumbers, and electricians for more than ten years, how those relationships show up in the finished home, and how to build them.

4. Selling your own homes. What it takes for the builder to lead sales, what buyers ask when they can talk to the person who built the house, and how that direct relationship changes the way he builds.

5. Timeless over trendy as a business decision. Why proportion, light, and durable materials outlast finishes, and how that protects the home’s value and the builder’s reputation.

6. Building for the long run. Thinking in generations: what Eric learned alongside his father, and how Sweetwater is developing a program to match tree replanting donations made by home buyers to neutralize the lumber used in each house.

7. Optional: open Q&A and networking.

Kevin J. Dean’s presentation directly addresses the core thesis of Workforce 2030 by introducing a critical shift in how we build the workforce of the next decade: transitioning from human-to-software interfaces to Human-to-AI Agent collaboration.
While traditional tech focuses on teaching the workforce how to use static digital tools, the future of work requires a new set of organizational leadership skills centered on AI Orchestration.  By grounding advanced AI concepts in the practical, high-stakes reality of the contracting and trade industries, this session provides an actionable roadmap for how traditional industries can successfully cross the threshold into the 2030 labor landscape.

Course Overview: 
The strongest construction companies aren’t built on technical expertise alone. Drawing from more than two decades of experience leading complex commercial projects, Mike will share practical lessons on how trust, communication, accountability, company culture, and relationship-driven leadership influence project performance and long-term business success.

The session would explore:

• Building trust with clients and trade partners before challenges arise

• Leading teams effectively through high-pressure projects

• Creating accountability while maintaining a strong company culture

• How communication and responsiveness affect project delivery

• Turning successful projects into long-term client relationships and repeat business

Purpose: 

Building owners have come to rely on weatherable coatings to provide long-term protection to their buildings. With an increased focus on sustainability, performance, and durability, PVDF resin-based coatings can help architects and painting contractors exceed their clients’ design goals. This course covers the key components and functions of high-performance weatherable coatings and looks at how these coatings contribute to sustainable design.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this program, participants will be able to:

•       describe the ways PVDF resin-based coatings, both water based and solvent based, provide a consistent, pristine appearance while achieving durability goals over a variety of substrates as demonstrated in applicable case studies

•       discuss why some coatings fail and the important considerations when selecting a coating system for an application, including weathering performance, longevity, and application method

•       discuss the standards of performance for architectural coatings and recognize why PVDF coating technology outperforms other coating technologies, and 

•       explain how water-based PVDF coatings, by their chemistry and performance, can help design professionals and building owners achieve their sustainability goals.

Why contractors can grow revenue, stay busy, and still struggle financially.

In this training, contractor finance coach Patrick Shurney reveals the financial metrics that determine whether your construction business creates real wealth… or just more stress. 

Does this sound familiar?

• Revenue keeps growing, but cash still feels tight

• Your P&L says profitable, but the bank account tells a different story

• You’re busy all the time, but not building the wealth you expected

• Growth creates stress instead of freedom

• You feel like money is getting trapped somewhere inside the business

• You know how to build and sell… but nobody taught you the financial side of scaling

You’re not alone.

Most contractors were never taught how cash actually moves through a growing construction company.

What You'll Learn:

•            Why growth alone can actually make contractors poorer

•            The hidden financial mistake keeping many contractors stressed about cash flow

•            The 7 financial numbers wealthy contractors track differently

•            Why your P&L can look profitable while cash still feels tight

•            The financial warning signs banks and bonding companies notice immediately

•            How to identify where money gets trapped inside your business

•            The difference between “busy” contractors and financially successful contractors

Outline:

I. Retirement Plan Marketplace Prior to the SECURE Act – 5 minutes

·       Overview of traditional retirement plan structures

·       Barriers to plan adoption for small and mid-sized employers

·       Cost, administrative complexity, and fiduciary concerns

II. Overview of the SECURE Act – 7 minutes

·       Legislative goals and background

·       Expansion of retirement plan access

·       Introduction of Multiple Employer Plans and tax incentives

III. SECURE Act 2.0: Key Enhancements and Implications – 8 minutes

·       Automatic enrollment provisions

·       Expanded tax credits and incentives

·       Increased compliance and administrative considerations

IV. Multiple Employer Plans (MEPs) – 7 minutes

·       Structure and operation of MEPs

·       Employer participation requirements

·       Fiduciary responsibilities under a MEP arrangement

V. Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs) – 7 minutes

·       Role of the Pooled Plan Provider (PPP)

·       Comparison of PEPs to traditional MEPs

·       Fiduciary delegation versus fiduciary retention

VI. Multiple Employer Aggregation Programs (MEAPs) – 6 minutes

·       Overview of Multiple Employer Aggregation Programs

·       Key differences from statutory MEPs and PEPs

·       Compliance and fiduciary considerations for participating employers

VII. Fiduciary Responsibilities of a Business Owner – 6 minutes

·       Definition of fiduciary responsibility under ERISA

·       Ongoing duties related to plan oversight and monitoring

·       Risk management and documentation best practices

VIII. Financial Advisors’ Role in Employer Retirement Plans – 4 minutes

·       Overview of advisory roles and services

·       Distinction between fiduciary and non-fiduciary functions

·       Collaboration between financial advisors and CPAs

Every contractor owner is being told they're falling behind if they're not "using AI." Much of it is not true, and most of it is a distraction from the real problem. In this live workshop, we cut through the hype and show you the truth: most contracting businesses don't have an AI problem — they have a system problem, and AI without a system just makes chaos move faster. Using a live demo, we'll show you exactly where AI does and doesn't belong in a contracting business, and how to build the system underneath it first, so that when you do use AI, it actually works.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the difference between a business problem AI can solve and a business problem only a system can solve.
2. See a live demo of AI layered on top of an existing business system — and understand why it fails without that system in place.
3. Learn the specific, narrow list of tasks where AI creates real time savings for a contractor owner today.
4. Leave with a one-page plan for what to build first — system or AI tool — based on where your business actually stands.

1. What changed: How AI search decides which businesses get recommended, and why SEO as most agencies sell it no longer moves the needle.

2. Get recommended, not just ranked: A live look at what AI tools say about local contractors, a Google Business Profile checklist, a simple review system, and writing service and FAQ pages the way customers ask questions.

3. Answer every call: How to measure your missed-call rate for free, the 5-minute speed-to-lead rule, a missed-call text-back script, and what to look for in any answering setup.

4. Own your leads: Calculating the real cost per job from shared-lead sites, and a 30-day plan to turn your past customer list into repeat and referral work.

5. Q&A and a one-page take-home action plan

Introduction

• Why exterior building protection matters

• Causes of coating degradation

Understanding PVDF Coatings

• Chemistry and performance characteristics

• Comparison to other architectural coating technologies

Building Restoration

• Surface preparation

• Application methods

• Best practices

Sustainability

• Extending service life

• Reducing waste and landfill impact

• Environmental considerations

Case Studies

• Successful restoration projects

• Lessons learned

Summary and Q&A

• Key takeaways

• Questions and discussion