NUCA Announces Speakers for 2016 Convention

Attendees to NUCA’s 2016 Convention in Puerto Rico will enjoy presentations that are both inspirational and informative. Keynote speakers, Carey Lohrenz, a former NAVY fighter pilot, and former NFL star and cancer survivor Merril Hoge, will each share their unique stories about confronting and overcoming adversity and channeling that energy into important causes that help individuals cope with illness, loss and grief. Read on to learn more about the exciting presentation lineup!

Carey Lohrenz — Former NAVY Fighter Pilot

Fearless Leadership: High-Performance Lessons from the Flight Deck

As the first female U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat fighter pilot, Carey Lohrenz knows what it takes to succeed in one of the most demanding, extreme environments imaginable: the cockpit at Mach 2. As a former combat-mission-ready U.S. Navy pilot, Lohrenz is an expert at working in fast moving, dynamic environments, where inconsistent execution can generate catastrophic results. By seamlessly translating the lessons she learned to challenges in business, she provides applicable insight on market change, customer evolution, and the importance of adaptability. Author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book, Fearless Leadership: High-Performance Lessons from the Flight Deck, she discusses the importance of setting a bold vision to bring the team together and stay resilient through hard times.

Merril Hoge — Former NFL Star, ESPN Analyst and Cancer Survivor

Finding a Way

As a graduate of Idaho State University with a degree in education and a minor in health and fitness, Merril Hoge was a four-year football starter and left with 44 school and conference records and two NCAA football records. Drafted in 1987 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, he led the team in rushing and receiving in four of his first five years, setting a record in his third year for receptions by a running back. Moving to the Chicago Bears in 1993, he played for one year until his career came to an abrupt halt when he was forced to retire early due to post-concussion syndrome. At the time of his retirement, Hoge had played in 122 consecutive football games, the longest playing streak in the NFL at that time. He joined ESPN in 1995 and currently works on the highly acclaimed NFL Match Up show, as well as an analyst for the ESPN shows NFL Live, Sports Center, Primetime and NFL Countdown. He is currently the Chairman of the Board for the Caring Foundation, a Pennsylvania-based organization for grieving children, adolescents and their families, which has particular meaning to Hoge, having lost his own mother when he was 21, and seeing the effect it had on his then-16-year-old brother. Hoge’s presentation, “Finding a Way,” will share this personal philosophy that has helped him to attain his goals, such as playing in the NFL, as well as overcoming challenges and setbacks, from the death of his mother when he was young to having to end his football career due to head trauma and being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2003.

Anika Khan — Senior Economist with Wells Fargo

Economic Forecast  

Always a convention favorite, Anika Khan, Senior Economist with Wells Fargo, will present her economic perspective on how the economy is faring and what our industry can expect in the coming months and year. Khan has more than 15 years of experience in corporate investment banking. Based in Charlotte, N.C., she is responsible for producing commentary on U.S. residential real-estate markets, and she contributes to the company’s Weekly Economic and Financial Commentary. Anika’s commentary is frequently cited by publications such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Bloomberg News and USA Today.

Daniel Shumate — FMI Capital Advisors

What Happens When You’re Gone? Developing Emerging Managers to Run Your Company

You have worked hard over the years to build a successful company and have worn every hat along the way. You have also hired some very talented people to manage projects and provide other technical expertise. However, while talented, these people do not always have the business acumen to manage the financial, marketing and human capital elements that are critical to running a complex construction company. The most successful managers of the future will have developed strong management, leadership and business skills in order to grow their companies profitably.

• Position your future leaders as interdependent members of the management team.
• Instill a commitment to proactively lead and manage all elements of your human capital to get the most utilization of your organizational resources.
• Establish a culture of building long-term client relations that will permeate your organization and create a future legacy.

Daniel Shumate is an associate with FMI Capital Advisors Inc., FMI Corp.’s Investment Banking subsidiary. Shumate focuses on mergers and acquisitions, including both buyer and seller representations, and business continuity transactions for construction, engineering and building product manufacturing companies.