Rocky Mountain
Contractor Exchange 2012 Agenda
Day One - Tuesday, February 21
10:00am - 12:00noon
Networking & Tabletop Displays
Pre-Conference Sessions: TBD
12:15pm - 12:30pm
Lunch & Opening Keynote, Welcoming Remarks
Joan Smith, Rocky Mountain Education Center
12:30pm - 1:30pm
Opening Keynote
Walking on the Sunny Side of Colorado Law
Speaker: Suzann Bacon, Vice President of Operations at Denver/Boulder Better Business Bureau
Learn how to keep business transactions clear and clean. Simple, easily followed steps will be described by this Better Business Bureau representative who is responsible for enforcing state and federal consumer protection statutes relating to fraud, deceptive business practices and false advertising.
Suzann Bacon, Vice President of Operations, has been with the BBB for over 10 years. A leader of programs, she manages software, arbitration, mediation, dispute resolution, volunteers, investigations and secret shopping. Suzann assists business and works directly with government agencies and attorneys.
1:30pm – 2:15pm
Performance Contractor Snapshots
Moderator: Stephen Michael Self, Sustainable Ideas Consulting
Panelists:
- Nate Burger, EcoHandyman
- Jerry Hughes, Stellar Windows and Insulations
- Randy Bates, In or Out Smart Energy
- Grant Swanson, GB3 Energy Solutions
- Jesse Lanyon, Blue Sky Heating & Plumbing
- Ed Hegwood, Enabled Energy
- leverage federal, state & utility incentive programs to generate larger sales with higher margins
- market their business using innovative methods
Panel discussion with owners of successful building performance
companies to discuss how they:
2:15pm – 2:45pm
Refreshment Break & Networking
2:45pm – 3:30pm
Utility & Municipality Program Snapshots
Moderator: Ed Thomas, EGIA
Panelists:
- Ann Kirkpatrick, Xcel Energy
- Adam Perry, Platte River Power Authority
- Gene Mantei, Black Hills Energy
- Gretchen Stanford, City of Loveland Utilities
- Gordon Tarola, SourceGas
- Jeff Rice, City of Aspen Utilities
- Alan Stoinski, Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power
- Megan Cuzzolino, City of Boulder
- Peter Stelling, Boulder County Energy Smart
- Michelle Moorman, Colorado Natural Gas
- Rich Swope, Colorado Springs Utilities
- Elizabeth Babcock, City & County of Denver
- Marty Treadway, Energy Smart Colorado
- Kim DeVoe, Fort Collins Utilities
3:30pm – 4:15pm
Workforce & Training Allies Snapshots
Moderator: Joan Smith, Red Rocks Community College
Panelists:
- Andy Caler, Colorado Governor’s Energy Office (invited)
- Doug Donovan, Interplay Energy
- Karen Durfee, Dow Chemical Company
- Rich Moore, Invisible Energy
Panel discussion of how key industry leaders see market factors driving the market.
4:15pm – 4:30pm
Break
4:30pm – 5:15pm
Industry Ally Snapshots
Moderator: Tiger Adolf, BPI
Panelists:
- Randy Bates, Efficiency First Colorado Chapter
- Brad Morris, GE Appliance & Lighting
- Erik Patterson, Lennox Industries
- Ben Gromicko, InterNACHI
- Eric Van Orden, Energy Efficiency Business Coalition
- Julie Herman, Colorado Green Building Guild
- Ann Livingston, Snugg Home
Learn how key industry leaders see local home remodeling markets evolving. Discover how contractors nationwide are partnering with local trade and media allies to generate free and low - cost customer leads through news releases, newsletters, workshops, open houses, and other proven marketing tactics.
5:15pm – 7:00pm
Evening Reception
Day Two - Wednesday, February 22
7:30am - 8:30am
Continental Breakfast with Networking & Tabletop Displays
8:30am - 10:00am
Growing Your Business in a Difficult Market
Speaker: Jack Nagy, President, mta360
Explore what may be holding you back when it comes to growing your business in a difficult market. Skills and insights you will gain include:
- Determining the best business model for you
- Positioning your company to drive sales
- Utilizing time tested, real world marketing and sales strategies
With over three decades of experience at the contractor, distribution and corporate levels, Jack’s perspective is empathetic to the real-world challenges facing today’s businesses. He talks straight and has the ability to simplify business functions to their core.
10:00am - 10:30am
Networking & Refreshment Break
10:30am - 11:15am
Conducting Your Own Business Performance Tune-up
Speaker: Ed Thomas, Vice President, Electric & Gas Industries Association
Discover the key performance drivers that you need watch to keep your business running profitability. Businesses rarely fail because the owner didn't have technical skills; they fail because the owners didn't have fundamental business sense. Learn simple ways to assess what you must handle yourself and what to demand from those you rely on for accounting, marketing, sales, service, and back office operations. Understand how to structure partnerships that allow you to expand your product/service portfolio to better serve the customers you have and the customers you want while still being able to focus on what you do best.
Ed Thomas oversees utility and government sponsored program activities that leverage EGIA’s national contractor association resources. Ed serves on the Boards of Utility Energy Forum, Home Performance Resource Center and Recharge Colorado.
11:15am - 12:00noon
Sales Process Improvement
Speaker: Stephen Michael Self, Sustainable Ideas Consulting
Do you have the infrastructure and processes in place to handle growth? This session will focus on a key area of your business that must be addressed if you are to grow profitably – focusing on the sales team, support staff, and the interaction between sales and the rest of your operation. Learn how your business can grow through referrals, return clients, stronger sales with a higher margins, and utility energy efficiency program recognition and marketing. In addition, hear about tools that are available to help busy contractors leverage this information and present it to their homeowners.
Stephen's primary focus is on building and sustaining mutually rewarding and successful relationships with contractors, manufacturers, distributors and industry organizations. Stephen oversees Community Energy Exchange, a mentoring program for energy auditors, general contractors, building trades and home performance contractors. Prior to joining Sustainable Ideas, Stephen started and ran a home performance contracting business in Boulder, Colorado. As a General Contractor, RESNET HERS Rater, and BPI Building Analyst, Stephen successfully integrates and focuses on energy-efficiency and improved indoor air quality.
Download Stephen's Presentation
12:00noon - 1:00pm
Lunch & Closing Keynote
National Home Performance Credentials: Differentiating Your Skills and Growing Your Business!
Speaker: Richard Knaub, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO
Richard Knaub is a Project Leader in weatherization and workforce development at NREL. He has been actively participating in the Weatherization training and standards development both at the state and national level for the last several years. In addition to teaching about energy efficiency and renewable energy at the community college level, he's been involved with community development and educational and sustainability activities in New York, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Colorado
1:00pm
Adjourn