39th ANNUAL DBE WORKSHOP AND NETWORKING SUMMIT

AGENDA

DAY 1

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29

7:30AM

REGISTRATION OPENS

and Breakfast Begins at 8:00AM

8:30AM–9:20AM

OPENING SESSION

(Sandstone Ballroom)

Welcome Speakers
Rebecca Burkel, DTSD Administrator, Scott Lawry, Deputy Secretary and Tondra Davis, OBOEC Director

Networking 101

Tim McMurtry II, Executive Director, NAMC-WI

9:20AM–9:30AM

BREAK

9:30AM–10:15AM

GENERAL SESSION

(Sandstone Ballroom)

WisDOT Construction Let Forecast

Scott Schoenmann, DTIM

I-94 East West Corridor Project Update

Bill Mohr, WisDOT

State Highway Programs Update to include Historical View of Lets and Let Scheduling, Let Construction Costs, Projected FY 25 Final Let Level and Quantities.

10:20AM–11:15AM

GENERAL SESSION

(Sandstone Ballroom)

Destimysfing MMSD Project Opportunities

Peter Coffaro, MMSD

City of Milwaukee Water Replacement Lead Service Lines

Matt Bednarski, CDM Smith

Peter Coffaro will give an overview on MMSD project opportunities and how diverse contractors can get involved.

11:15AM–11:30AM

NETWORKING BREAK

11:30AM-1:30PM

SECRETARY’S GOLDEN SHOVEL AWARDS LUNCHEON

(Sandstone Ballroom)

Glenn Fulkerson, Division Administrator, FHWA Wisconsin Division

Sponsor: HNTB

WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman

WisDOT Mentor Protégé Program Video – A Call to Action

Presentation of the Mentor Protégé Certificates and Secretary’s Golden Shovel Awards

Keynote:

Judge Derek Mosley, Marquette University Law School

Unconscious Bias: Knowing What You Don’t Know Part 2 (PDH 1)

Unconscious Bias is a learned stereotype that is automatic, unintentional, deeply
ingrained, universal, and able to influence behavior. Unconscious bias seeps into
decisions that affect recruitment, retention, hiring, access to healthcare, banking,
housing, education, the justice system, providing services, interpersonal
interactions, and outcomes in ways that can disadvantage both individuals and
groups of people. We all have some form of unconscious bias, and the key is to
recognize that we have it and employ techniques to mitigate it.

In this session you will:

  1. Finally, learn ways to mitigate your bias
  2. Learn to assess and measure your unconscious bias
  3. Be able to define unconscious bias
  4. Learn the history of unconscious bias in America
  5. Learn how subconsciously, decisions are being made in your mind
  6. Learn how unconscious bias affects everyday life

1:30PM–1:45PM

NETWORKING BREAK

1:45PM–2:45PM

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS

Construction Innovations (PDH 1)

James Bender and David Castleberg, WisDOT (Sandstone 89)

3 Pillars of AI Implementation in Engineering (PDH 1)

Virtual – Stjepan Mikulić, Founder & CEO, AI in AEC (Tundra ABC)

Local Programs, Harbors, and Opportunities

Merrill Mechler-Hickson, Stephanie Mertens, and Jennifer Murray, WisDOT; Jackie Q. Carter, Port Milwaukee (Tundra DEF)

This presentation will showcase innovations that enhance efficiency and effectiveness in highway construction. It will cover a range of technical topics, illustrating how tools and strategies are being implemented at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT).

WisDOT continues to champion innovation and process improvement. Learn about their ongoing efforts to ensure safety, increase collaboration, and integrate advanced technologies for a smarter, more efficient future in highway construction.

Subject Topics:
*Field Data Collection Tools
*E-Ticketing
*OnStation
*Unmanned Aircraft System
*GIS
-Nearmap
-Imagery
-What’s new in GIS
*Asbuilts, RW Plats, Soils
*What’s next

In his presentation, Stjepan will cover the 3 aspects every firm faces when trying to implement AI – the why, the how, and the what. He will introduce some incredible AI tools and practical ways to implement them both as an individual, but also as a company, helping people become more productive, save more time, and get a technological skillset they will surely need in the future.

Who should attend: Every AEC professional interested in making real change with Artificial Intelligence.

WisDOT representatives will present information on WisDOT local programs followed by

a presentation on opportunities on the Milwaukee Harbor.

2:45PM–3:00PM

NETWORKING BREAK

3:00PM–4:00PM

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS

AASHTOWare Project Civil Rights & Labor (AWP-CRL)

Teresa Rademacher and Cece Xiong, WisDOT (Sandstone 89)

The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (PDH 1)

Jake Winkler, Holmes Murphy (Tundra ABC)

Trends in Employee Benefits

Mike Johnson, Hausman Group (Tundra DEF)

The AASHTOWare Project Civil Rights & Labor AWP-CRL) is a software program that allows DOT users to collect data and generate reports to addresses civil rights and labor compliance activities and assist in data analysis for DBE and OJT goal-setting, labor analysis, disparity studies, and program performance monitoring.

WisDOT OBOEC Staff will demonstrate how AWP – CRL module helps users more effectively administer civil rights and labor compliance activities and save time and effort on jobs with certified payroll submission, which includes automatic error checking. The AWP-CRL module addresses civil rights and labor compliance activities through the following functions


 Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action monitoring
 Wage decisions and labor compliance monitoring
 DBE certifications and DBE/MBE/WBE program monitoring
 Prompt/Actuals payment submittals and monitoring
 Good faith efforts (for example, bidder/quoter submittals)
 Civil rights, labor, on-the-job training (OJT), apprentice, and DBE reporting
 DBE and OJT contract and annual goal-setting

In this session, we will explore the ethical dilemmas and insurability challenges associated with the use of Artificial Intelligence.

As design firms increasingly adopt AI technologies, we will examine the new risks and ethical concerns that emerge.

This discussion is valuable for all current and future business leaders.

4:00PM–6:00PM

Networking Reception

(Sandstone Ballroom)

Sponsor: Arbor Green and US Bank

DAY 2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30

7:30AM-10:20AM

BREAKFAST POWER HOUR } 8:00AM

(Sandstone Ballroom)

Sponsor: Walbec Group

Job Market Snapshot and Trends

Dennis Winters, DWD

Project Spotlight: Interstate 41

Kurt Peters, NER, WisDOT

Project Spotlight: Blatnik Bridge

Paul Smith, WisDOT; Adrienne Bond, Jerris Cross and Melyssa Mdumuka, MnDOT

10:20AM–10:30AM

BREAK

10:30AM–11:30AM

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS

Understanding the value of OJT with WisDOT and HCST Graduates

Marguerite Givings and Deborah Seip, WisDOT; Jennifer Marks, Forward Service Corporation, and Dan Eskstrom, Walbec Group (Sandstone 89)

Open-Ended Performance Plan for DBEs on Design-Build Projects (PDH 1)

Benjamin Thompson, WisDOT and Scott Hoffman, MnDOT (Tundra ABC)

Cybersecurity Protocols and Other Emerging Concerns for DBE’s on Government Contracting

Tim McMurtry, NAMC-WI, Adonica Randall, Abaxent, LLC, Sabrina Robins, Economic Impact Catalyst, and Todd Heinz, Heartland Business Systems (Tundra DEF)

WisDOT, Program Providers and Industry Contractors will kick off a discussion

into the WisDOT on-the-job training program and how the ASP-1 reimbursement process works.

Open-ended DBE performance plans (OEPP) are now required on design-build projects. WisDOT intends to procure two projects via the design-build method this coming year, and another next year. This workshop will define and explain what OEPP is, how it differs from a traditional DBE commitment, why it is being used, and how WisDOT is intending to implement it on upcoming design-build projects.

Of the many barriers DBE’s must address and overcome to establish and grow their businesses, cyber readiness and cybersecurity are increasingly amongst the areas wherein DBE’s must also amplify awareness. This session will explore the threats and opportunities of cyber-readiness for DBE’s on government contracting, as well as best practices for DBEs for business success in a marketplace environment wherein pro-diversity programming and policies are under attack.

11:30AM–11:45AM

BREAK

11:45AM-12:45PM

FORMAL NETWORKING SESSIONS

Networking with Highway Construction Skills Training (HCST) Graduates (Sandstone 89)


Networking with Government (Sandstone 3)

12:45PM–1:30PM

LUNCH

1:30PM–2:30PM

FORMAL NETWORKING SESSIONS

Networking with Prime Contractors (Sandstone 89)

Networking with Professional Consultants (Sandstone 3)

CONFERENCE ENDS

Safe Travels!

Beyond Borders:

Exploring Interstate Perspectives and Opportunities for Business Expansion and Collaboration

Agenda