There are many education opportunities at NECA 2025 Chicago. To give you a taste of what is being offered, check out what these presenters had to say about their upcoming talks. Don’t miss these and plenty of other education sessions offered at the convention and on the trade show floor. You can view the full schedule here.

Technology & Innovation

Mica Ashmore, Alterman Electric, based in San Antonio, Texas, and Alex Huntoon, Newkirk Electric, Muskegon, Mich., will be presenting “Think Big, Start Small: Scaling Innovation with a Growth Mindset” on Sunday, Sept. 14 at 12:00-12:50 p.m. in booth 1455. They talked to us about how contractors of all sizes can scale their technology.

1. What’s one tip you have for smaller contractors looking to scale their technology?

Ashmore: Truly try to understand the problem that you’re trying to solve. There are a lot of distractions out there that might be enticing because they have tremendous capabilities. The problem is that if you are not focused on what issues truly impact your business, you could fall into the trap of investing in too much that doesn’t really even apply to you, resulting in a lot of overhead not bringing value.

Huntoon: Start with your biggest pain point, not the flashiest technology. Smaller contractors should identify the one process that wastes the most time or causes the most frustration daily. Test a simple solution on just one project before investing in enterprise-wide systems. For example, if paperwork is your biggest headache, try a basic digital form app on your next small job. Prove the value first, then scale. This approach lets you build confidence and demonstrate ROI to your team without risking major disruption to profitable workflows.

2. How can contractors keep up with an ever-changing industry?

Ashmore: Build relationships and peer groups within the industry. I have gotten a tremendous amount of insight learning from peers who are also going through several challenges. As the industry evolves, keeping up can be daunting, but it’s amazing how much insight you can extract from peers regarding the broader industry, because they are likely dealing with and are immersed in that change. That is as real as it can get.

Huntoon: Focus on principles, not products. Instead of chasing every new app or gadget, stay connected to the core challenges our industry faces. Intentionally get more involved with NECA and ELECTRI, network with peers who are successfully implementing change and follow 2-3 trusted industry publications. Most importantly, cultivate a "test and learn" culture within your own company. When you hear about a technology that addresses a real problem you face, don’t dismiss it or adopt it wholesale—test it in small batches. The contractors who thrive aren’t necessarily the early adopters; they’re the smart adopters who prove value before committing.

3. If a contractor is just getting started in exploring new tech, how can they not get overwhelmed in a time where there’s technology that can do more than ever?

Ashmore: Focus on the problems you are trying to solve. The last thing you want to do is invest in technology that does not bring value, and if it cannot solve or help mitigate your problems, you must ask, is it worth it? Also be cautious of falling into the trap of needing technology that solves problems you don’t have! Try to stick with the scope of the issue that needs to be addressed or fixed.

Huntoon: Apply the "Rule of One": Pick ONE problem, test ONE solution, with ONE small team, on ONE project. The biggest mistake we see contractors make is trying to digitize everything at once because they feel behind. You’re not behind, change is incremental. Instead, start with an issue that’s causing you frustration right now. Choose just that one issue, research 2–3 solutions maximum, seek out peer input and test the simplest one that could solve your problem. Don’t worry about integration or enterprise features yet. Worry about proving that technology can actually help your specific situation. Once you have a win under your belt, the next step becomes much clearer and less overwhelming.

Workforce Development

Kassy Salughter, Procore, Carpinteria, Calif., is presenting “Solving the Skilled Labor Shortage with Technology and Culture” on Sunday, Sept. 14 from 3:00-3:50 p.m. in booth 1055. Slaughter talked to us about how technology can help solve labor shortage issues.

1. What’s one tip for contractors looking to change their company’s culture to help with their labor shortage issues?

Start by making sure your company’s vision and values are clearly defined, understood and lived every day. Culture isn’t what’s written on a poster in the office—it’s what you hire, manage and even fire to. When people see that your values guide real decisions, it creates trust and clarity. It also gives you the ability to attract and recruit the right folks that align and add to the culture of your company. Pair that with listening to your workforce—ask what would make their day-to-day better and act on it. That combination both attracts people to your company and keeps them engaged for the long term.

2. What’s a good starting place for contractors looking to lean on new technology if they’re facing a labor shortage?

Don’t try to transform everything at once! Start where the pain is highest. If you’re losing hours to rework, look at tools that improve collaboration and reduce mistakes. If you’re short on experienced supervisors, lean on solutions that standardize processes and capture institutional knowledge. The goal isn’t to replace people but to amplify their impact. The best first step is picking one problem area, piloting a tool that helps, measuring the success and building momentum from there.

3. How can contractors stay up to date with technology trends that can ease their labor concerns?

The best way is to stay connected¾with your peers, with industry groups and with your technology partners. Look for true partners, not just vendors¾companies that understand how construction works today and where it’s headed tomorrow. Just as important, be clear about the business outcomes you’re trying to achieve, track how those outcomes evolve and make sure every solution you consider supports them. Don’t let the tail wag the dog. Associations like NECA, industry conferences and peer networks can keep you ahead of the curve. Internally, designate a “tech champion” who tracks emerging solutions and brings back what’s relevant to your business. Staying informed is less about chasing every new tool, and more about building a network of trusted sources that help you filter signal from noise.

Mental Health

In addition to her preconvention workshop “Construction Suicide Prevention Outreach and Mental Health Program Train-the-Trainer,” Sally Spencer-Thomas, Clinical psychologist, inspirational speaker, podcaster and impact entrepreneur, is presenting “You Can’t Fix Your Mental Health with Duct Tape” on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 8:00-8:50 a.m. and 9:00-9:50 a.m.  in room 184D. Spencer-Thomas spoke with us about the importance of mental health on the job site.

1. What are three quick tips for people looking to work on their mental health?

1. Get upstream! Think of mental health like making a great Chicago deep-dish¾neglect it and you’ll end up with a burnt crust nobody wants. Just like watching a pizza in the oven, mental health is about catching the little shifts before things bubble over. You make a quick adjustment—shift the pan, lower the heat, add a little balance. Same with your own well-being: move your body, text a buddy, step into daylight. These minor adjustments now can keep the whole pie intact, preventing the big mess that comes when the toppings—and you—start to slide.
2. Get to know 988. Today, almost three out of four people know about 988, but few understand how it works and how workplaces can use and promote it effectively. Make a “get to know you” [about] 988 to understand better what to expect when you need it in a mental health emergency. Remember—keep 988 in your phone¾it’s the emergency shut-off for emotional overload.
3. Build your A-Team! A small group of people who know the real you, so if you go quiet, they’ll check in.

At NECA 2025, we’ll dish up skills to help yourself, help another and change the systems you work in¾taking total worker health to the next level.

2. What do you hope contractors take from your sessions at NECA 2025 Chicago?

At NECA 2025 Chicago, I’ll show why mental health isn’t a “nice to have—”it’s PPE for your brain, body and soul. You’ll walk away with a simple, field-ready plan your foremen can roll out at Monday’s toolbox talk; no therapy degree required.

Through the multiplier effect of train-the-trainer, one champion becomes a crew, wiring a culture where asking for help is as normal as asking for a hand when pulling cable through a long run. We’ll move from patch jobs to proven systems—spotting hazards early, normalizing conversations and navigating people to the right help. You’ll also get a field-tested script for those “uh-oh” moments so you know exactly what to say, what not to say and where to send someone in crisis.

I’ll bring practical tools, Chicago-grade deep dish hope and zero fluff. After the convention, I’m here to help your team keep that momentum going, embedding these skills into your safety culture so they become as second-nature as the air you breathe.