40th ANNUAL DBE WORKSHOP AND NETWORKING SUMMIT
AGENDA
DAY 1
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25
7:30AM
REGISTRATION OPENS
and Breakfast Begins at 8:00AM
8:30AM–9:00AM
A-H (Main Ballroom)
Welcome and Summit Overview
Tondra Davis, OBOEC Director
Welcome from WisDOT Leadership
Secretary Kristina Boardman and Scott Lawry, Deputy Secretary
Morning Networking
9:00AM–9:15AM
BREAK
9:15AM–11:00AM
GENERAL SESSION
A-H (Main Ballroom)
WisDOT Construction Let Forecast
Director Scott Schoenmann, Bureau of State Highway Programs
WisDOT Design and Construction Updates
Director Brandon Lamers, Bureau of Project Development
WisDOT Project Spotlights with Q&A
I-94 East West Project Highlight
Director Bob Gutierrez, SE Region
Interstate 41 Megaproject Presentation
Director Kurt Peters, NE Region
Blatnik Bridge Replacement Project
Director Paul Conlin, NW Region
11:00AM–11:15AM
NETWORKING BREAK
11:15AM–12:30PM
Golden Shovel Awards Luncheon
A-H (Main Ballroom)
Welcome
Sponsor Presentations
HNTB and Michels
Food Served
Administrator Rebecca Burkel, Division of Transportation and Systems Development
Golden Shovel Awards Presentation
Commissioner Lafayette Crump, City of Milwaukee Department of City Development
12:40PM-1:40PM
Workshop Breakout Sessions
DBE Recertification Process
DBE Team/UCP Partners
A-H (Main Ballroom)
Ethical Challenges for Transportation Engineers in the Age of Big Data Analytics (PDH)
Andrea Bill, UW-Madison (Upper Dells Ballroom)
Mindfulness for Stress Relief
Dan Tyler, WisDOT (Ballroom I)
Wisconsin Contract Law
Anne Wal, Von Briesen & Roper, S.C. | Attorneys at Law (Grand Ballroom)
1:50PM-2:50PM
Workshop Breakout Sessions
DBE Recertification Process
DBE Team/UCP Partners
A-H (Main Ballroom)
Effective Business Communications
for Small Businesses
Tim McMurtry II, Timothy McMurtry
International (Upper Dells Ballroom)
Innovation & Technology In the
Construction Industry
James Bender & David Castleberg, WisDOT (Ballroom I)
AI in Heavy Highway Construction
(PDH)
Mitzi M. Dobersek, PhD, PE, MSOE (Grand Ballroom)
3:00PM–4:00PM
GENERAL SESSION
Doing Business with WisDOT:
Navigating Change and What’s Next
A-H (Main Ballroom)
The panel is designed to feature firms that are actively doing business with WisDOT and can speak candidly and provide real time perspectives about how they are navigating the current landscape as program structures and expectations continue to evolve.
MODERATOR
Walbec Group
Daniel Webster, MBA
PANEL
Arbor Green, Inc.
Christy M. Wade
Arrow-Crete Construction, LLC
Ann M. Neshek
Behnke Materials Engineering, LLC
Signe Reichelt, P.E.
Kraemer North America
David Stanke, P.E., MBA
WisDOT Bureau of Project Development
Brandon Lamers, P.E.
A-H (Main Ballroom)
4:00PM–6:00PM
Networking Reception featuring Christopher’s Project
(Grand Ballroom)
Sponsor: Rock Road Companies, Inc., DAAR, Walbec Group and AK Joint Venture
DAY 2
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26
7:30AM-8:30AM
REGISTRATION / BREAKFAST BUFFET
A-H (Main Ballroom)
8:30AM–8:45AM
BREAK
8:45AM–10:00AM
BUSINESS Group discussions
Where Businesses Like Yours Talk Real Strategy
This session creates space for honest conversation about the current WisDOT climate and how businesses navigate it at different stages. Participants will join a small, medium, or large business discussion room based on where their company is today. Each group will focus on real challenges, practical decisions, and what it takes to stay prepared, grow responsibly, and remain competitive in today’s environment.
Small Business Upper Dells Ballroom
Medium Business A-H (Main Ballroom)
Large Business Sierra Vista
HCST Graduates Networking Prep (Ballroom I)
A focused prep session to help HCST graduates get ready for conversations with prime contractors and/or consultants
10:00AM–10:15AM
BREAK
10:15AM-11:15AM
FORMAL NETWORKING SESSION (Grand Ballroom)
Networking with Prime Contractors & Professional Consultants
Structured speed networking connecting small businesses
and HCST graduates with prime contractors and professional
consultants
11:15AM–11:30AM
BREAK
11:30AM–12:30PM
Formal Networking Session
(Grand Ballroom)
Networking with Government Officials
12:45PM–1:30PM
Networking Lunch / Summit Closing
A-H (Main Ballroom)
Conference ends
Safe Travels!
Confronting Today’s Challenges To Build A Stronger Tomorrow:
Exploring Interstate Perspectives and Opportunities for Business Expansion and Collaboration