Learn the latest business strategies from industry experts as the NPCA Annual Convention offers five in-person classroom sessions. Earn professional development hours (PDHs) as you explore topics that affect most businesses and examine how to turn them to your benefit.
Thursday, Oct. 12
2 - 3:30 p.m.
EDU1 - Navigating Generational Tensions in the Workplace
Presenter: Rich McLaughlin, McLaughlin Consulting Services
Location: Route 66
We now have anywhere from three to four generations in the workplace together. Some tensions arise as these groups come together. This session will explore where these tensions might come from and more importantly, how we might work through them. We’ll look at the characteristics of each generation and discuss how to transcend those differences.
At the conclusion of the course,
you will be able to:
• Identify how our thinking and unconscious biases about other generations influence our behavior toward them.
• Describe the importance of being transparent and surfacing our assumptions for examination.
• Follow a process for recognizing and appreciating differences across generations.

About the Presenter
Rich McLaughlin has been developing leaders and engaging teachers for more than 25 years. He brings an experiential approach to his work with client teams. He spent time learning about instructional design and change management at Accenture, helped Square D Company develop and implement their TQM programs and processes and developed the leadership curriculum and internal consulting practice at Baxter Healthcare during his time as an internal OD practitioner. Rich received his M.A. in Training and Development for Business from Ohio State University and has been consulting faculty for the University of Notre Dame’s College of Business since 2000. He is author of “Rules of Engagement: A Story About How Leaders Can More Effectively Engage Employees.” Additionally, he co-authored “Tapping Team Intelligence: Exercises that connect team members, engage their creativity and foster collaboration.”
2 - 3:30 p.m.
EDU2 – Mergers and Acquisitions in the Precast Industry
Presenter: Bob Kramer, Capital Precast LLC
Location: Pinon
Have you ever thought about how your business is valued? How does a buyer or bank view your business? When it comes to the valuation of your business, it is important to understand the many ways it can be valued. In this session, precast industry veteran Bob Kramer will discuss what is important to industry and strategic buyers and what factors motivate companies to buy or sell. You’ll learn how private business is valued and the various methods for the valuation of a company plus some tips for building the value of your precast company.
At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Recognize how the private capital markets work, and how they are segmented.
• Identify what motivates companies to buy or sell.
• Define the ins and outs of the due diligence process.
• Use tips for building the value of your precast company.

About the Presenter
Bob Kramer is currently serving as president of Capital Precast LLC, a San Marcos, Texas, precast manufacturing company backed by Texas Next, a Texas-based private equity firm. Bob is an accomplished executive with a proven track record for building and leading high-performance teams to deliver growth and performance. He has more than 30 years of experience managing companies in the precast industry. Bob is a certified Merger and Acquisition advisor and has been involved in both the sell side and buy side transactions in the precast industry. He spent nearly 25 years as an executive with Oldcastle Infrastructure and was involved in national initiatives including strategy development, acquisitions, new product development and operational and commercial excellence. After leaving Oldcastle, Bob went on to provide consulting services for some of the largest privately held companies throughout the United States.
Friday, Oct. 13
1 - 2:30 p.m.
EDU3 – Construction Outlook for 2024: Formidable or Forbidding?
Presenter: Ken Simonson, Chief Economist, The Associated General Contractors of America
Location: Pinon
Construction activity has held up well in early 2023 despite some gloomy economic forecasts. Unprecedented funding for infrastructure and renewable energy projects, along with huge manufacturing plants, will keep many precasters busy in the year ahead. But rising interest rates may still take a toll. In this interactive session, ACGs chief economist will offer his precast forecast and answer the following questions.
At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Show which construction segments have the best prospects, and which are the shakiest.
• Determine whether worker availability eases or keeps worsening.
• Determine whether material costs are headed higher or lower.

About the Presenter
Ken Simonson has been Chief Economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, the leading construction trade association, since 2001. He provides insight into the economy and what it implies for construction and related industries through frequent media interviews, presentations, and the Data DIGest, his weekly one-page e-newsletter that goes to more than 20,000 subscribers. Ken has more than 40 years of experience analyzing, advocating and communicating about economic and tax issues. He currently serves as an advisor to the Census Bureau’s construction data re-engineering initiative. He is a Fellow and past president of the National Association for Business Economics, and he is co-director of the Tax Economists Forum, a professional meeting group he co-founded in 1982. Ken has a B.A. in economics from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in economics from Northwestern University.
2:30 - 4 p.m.
EDU4 – “Carrots” Have a Short Shelf Life: Engaging Employees for Better Retention
Presenter: Rich McLaughlin, McLaughlin Consulting Services
Location: Mistletoe
This session looks at more cost-effective and sustainable approaches to keeping your good employees. It takes hundreds of dollars to replace people walking out the door. Learn about some simple ways to engage, develop and motivate employees to stay with you for the long term more effectively.
At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Identify ways to better onboard and connect new employees.
• Describe how to provide positive and constructive feedback in a way that helps employees develop and stay engaged.
• Listen in a way that creates “safety” in the team and unleash their creativity.

About the Presenter
Rich McLaughlin has been developing leaders and engaging teachers for more than 25 years. He brings an experiential approach to his work with client teams. He spent time learning about instructional design and change management at Accenture, helped Square D Company develop and implement their TQM programs and processes and developed the leadership curriculum and internal consulting practice at Baxter Healthcare during his time as an internal OD practitioner. Rich received his M.A. in Training and Development for Business from Ohio State University and has been consulting faculty for the University of Notre Dame’s College of Business since 2000. He is author of “Rules of Engagement: A Story About How Leaders Can More Effectively Engage Employees.” Additionally, he co-authored “Tapping Team Intelligence: Exercises that connect team members, engage their creativity and foster collaboration.”
2:30 - 4 p.m.
EDU5 – EPDs: The Latest on Low-Carbon Concrete Requirements and Environmental Product Declarations
Presenter: Claude Goguen, P.E., NPCA
Location: Bricktown
Buy Clean-related legislation is spreading throughout the country like wildfire. Local, state and federal authorities are required to adopt these policies to qualify for funding. This type of legislation often contains provisions for using “low-carbon concrete,” meaning the global warming potential must be disclosed and under a specified benchmark. Environmental product declarations (EPDs) are being required to disclose these values. Obtaining these EPDs requires data gathering and working with third-party providers, so the earlier manufacturers get started the better. During this session, we will discuss which state and federal government agencies are currently requiring EPDs and which ones are in the process of ratifying such policies. We will go through the data that needs to be collected and what it needs to reflect. We will do an example of submitting a data set of numbers, obtaining an EPD and getting it verified. Important information to maintain product approvals or even explore new markets.
At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Define an EPD and the process for obtaining one.
• Describe the state of the current legislation and policies that affect your markets.
• Identify what type of data you will need to start gathering now.

About the Presenter
Claude Goguen is NPCA’s director of outreach and technical education. He has decades of experience in the precast concrete and construction industry. He holds a degree in civil engineering and is a licensed P.E. Prior to his role with NPCA, Claude was an operations manager at a precast concrete manufacturing plant. He also worked as a field superintendent, project manager and project engineer on numerous large residential and commercial projects.