Explore Economic Conditions and Workforce Engagement with our Keynote Speakers
MCA is pleased to host two external experts who will share their insights in keynote talks at the 2025 Winter Meeting: Lisa Ryan and Alex Chausovsky. Learn more about them below!
Manufacturing Engagement: Smart Strategies to Keep Your Top Talent from Becoming Someone Else’s
Monday, January 20
Lisa Ryan, Certified Speaking Professional™, author, and founder and CEO of Grategy
On Monday, Lisa Ryan will address industry workforce shortages, showcasing why she’s an employee engagement expert and Corporate Event Speaker of the Year award recipient. Lisa will help you learn:
- The five contributing factors to lead to employee engagement
- How to create an environment that drives productivity-enhancing ideas
- Ways to foster employees’ emotional connection to your organization
- The biggest drivers of job satisfaction and strategies for implementation
- How to connect personally and professionally with employees during trying times.
Economic and Labor Market Update
Tuesday, January 21
Alex Chausovsky, vice president of analytics and consulting, The Bundy Group
On Tuesday, MCA will welcome keynote speaker Alex Chausovsky, a highly experienced market researcher, analyst, and speaker. He'll deliver practical and actionable advice designed to help metal construction industry leaders plan for future economic conditions and elevate their organization's talent strategy. You’ll gain:
- Insights on time-sensitive U.S. and global economic events of public concern, including inflation, interest rates, labor market conditions, consumer spending, and supply chain developments
- Practical and actionable advice to attract, hire, and retain workers
- Tools to become better data-driven decision-makers in your business.
Get Industry Insights from All of the Experts in One Place
MCA Winter Meeting Panelists Represent Broad Range of Metal Industries
Sustainability: The Greater Green
2-3 pm Monday, January 20
Bob Zabcik
Metal Construction Association (MCA) Technical Director
A LEED-accredited professional and a registered professional engineer with more than 20 years of experience, Bob serves on many professional committees and task groups, ensuring he always knows what's happening in the industry.
Tony Bouquot
Metal Building Manufacturers Assoc. (MBMA) Gen. Manager
With more than 30 years of experience in the building products industry, Tony frequently speaks at conferences and contributes to publications nationwide, sharing his expertise and advocating for the advantages of metal building solutions.
Eddie Baron
National Coil Coating Association (NCCA)
The director of continuous improvement at Precoat Metals, Eddie started working in the industry as a chemist and now has a strong background inresearch and development, product management, sales, leadership, and sustainability initiatives, and production efficiency.
Brian Smallwood
Steel Dynamics, Inc., (SDI) Construction Market Manager
A steel industry professional for more than 40 years, Brian is manager, construction market, at one of the largest domestic steel producers and metal recyclers in the United States. Steel Dynamics, Inc., is based in Indiana.
Larry Peters
Copper Development Assoc. (CDA) Building Const. Project Mngr.
Larry has spent the past 25 years working exclusively with architectural metals. His professional experience includes providing extensive technical assistance and educational seminars for architects and engineers.
Innovation Panel: The Next 'Aha!'
9:30-10:30 am Tuesday, January 21
Brian Smallwood
Steel Dynamics, Inc., (SDI) Construction Market Manager
A steel industry professional for more than 40 years, Brian is manager, construction market, at one of the largest domestic steel producers and metal recyclers in the United States. Steel Dynamics, Inc., is based in Indiana.
Larry Peters
Copper Development Assoc. (CDA) Building Const. Project Mngr.
Larry has spent the past 25 years working exclusively with architectural metals. His professional experience includes providing extensive technical assistance and educational seminars for architects and engineers.
Mark Carlisle
United States Steel Industry Marketing Manager
Larry has spent the past 25 years working exclusively with architectural metals. His professional experience includes providing extensive technical assistance and educational seminars for architects and engineers.
Discussion: Insulation, Air Barriers, and Fire
8:15-9:30 am Wednesday, January 22
Andy Williams
Metal Construction Association (MCA) Codes & Standards Dir.
A professional civil engineer working in the industry for more than 35 years, Andy has served as director of codes & standards for MCA since 2012. Through his consulting business, he works with client companies on product and system testing and code compliance for cladding companies throughout North America.
Laverne Dalgleish
Air Barrier Assoc. of America Exec. Director & RAiNA COO
As executive director of ABAA and COO of the Rainscreen Association in North America (RAiNA), Laverne champions energy conservation in buildings while educating about the benefits of energy conservation, such as durability, comfort, reduced maintenance, reduced equipment costs and the positive impact on the environment.
Brian Carey
Carlisle Weatherproofing Technologies Product Manager
For more than 2 decades, Brian has been product manager at a leading supplier of integrated building envelope solutions that ensure superior building performance. He is responsible for new product development, product positioning, and education/outreach for coatings and waterproofing commercial air barriers.
Eric Banks
North American Modern Building Alliance (NAMBA)
Eric has extensive experience with building envelope insulation products and applications, polyurethane/polyisocyanurate chemistry and applications (foams and C.A.S.E.), testing of materials and assemblies for physical properties and fire, conformity assessment and third-party certification / validation, building code compliance, quality assurance, and standards development within the building and construction market.