Explore the Agenda

7:00 am Check-In & Networking

8:00 am Chair’s Opening Remarks

Redefining the Project Controls Landscape

8:10 am Defining the Remit of Project Controls as a Function to Maximize ROI Through a Period of Rapid Technological & Industry Change

VP- Regional Program Controls Director, AECOM
  • Exploring how the remit of Project Controls varies across organization types and sizes, and the benefits and limitations of each model
  • Recognizing how strategic enrichment of the role through automation is reshaping skills required of the future workforce: How do we ensure we don’t lose the value of the function or role of a controller on projects?
  • Defining project versus program controls to scale traditional models to the modern megaproject portfolio effectively

8:50 am Panel Discussion: Finding & Recruiting the Next Generation of Project Controllers to Future-Proof Your Team

Sr. Project Controls Group Lead, Mesa Associates Inc
Director of Project Controls, Hill & Wilkinson
Director - Project Controls, Eversource Energy
Director - Project Controls & Expediting , Summit Industrial
  • Broadening the recruitment pool beyond traditional construction and engineering backgrounds to attract diverse, aligned skillsets
  • Positioning project controls as an attractive career pathway by highlighting opportunities afforded by the skills acquired
  • Developing hybrid career paths that let early career hires rotate between field operations, planning and cost control

10:00 am Morning Refreshments & Speed Networking

Track 1: Developing Your Project
Controls Function

Expanding Functional Impact

10:40 am Securing Organizational Understanding & Buy-In to Project Controls as a Way to Maximize Project Profitability

Vice President of Project Controls, STV Inc
  • Defining and measuring the impact of project controls across different layers of your organization
  • Presenting and communicating the value of controls clearly to different stakeholders to strengthen alignment and ensure buy-in sticks
  • Ensuring ease of access to controls resource and assets to strengthen engagement with the function

11:20 am Case Study: Transforming Controls from a Standalone Function into an Integrated Partner for Enhanced Project Outcomes

Executive Director, Fluor Corporation
  • Demonstrating how integration of controls in project teams strengthens forecasting accuracy, risk management and project delivery
  • Structuring your team’s resources to position project controls as a core partner to key functions, like construction, operations, finance and strategy teams, while balancing resource constraints
  • Ensuring strong communication and teamwork to engage both technical staff and executives effectively by building trust in data and advice

Track 2: Data Driven Project Controls

Delivering Accurate Insights

10:40 am Determining the Right Level of Detail to Track Project Data to: How Do You Balance Accuracy with Efficiency When Working with Multiple Partners?

Director - Project Controls - Southeast Region, Brandsafway
  • Evaluating the various cost breakdown structures, and the benefits and limitations of each for getting granularity without overwhelming teams with unnecessary detail
  • Scaling standard data structures to match client requirements: how do we manage realistic expectations of what will be achievable?
  • Simplifying data capture in the field to encourage accurate data integration into schedules and estimates

11:20 am Panel Discussion: Building a Clear Data Governance Framework to Improve Accurate, Predictive Decision- Making

Director of Construction Analytics, Suffolk Construction Company
Senior Manager - Project Controls, Balfour Beatty Construction
  • Defining what data governance means and why it’s important across your organization
  • Establishing clear structures, categories and standards for all partners to adhere to
  • Implementing easy to use technology workflows that enable engagement at every level of the project team
  • Ensuring data governance frameworks implemented are priming your organization for AI adoption

12:30 pm Lunch Break

Track 1: Right-Sizing Controls for Maximum ROI

1:30 pm Scaling Teams & Systems to Support Portfolio Growth Most Efficiently

Project Controls Manager - Cost & Performance, Eversource Energy
  • Evaluating where organizations sit on the maturity curve of project controls
  • Understanding an effective model to apply shared services consistently across multiple projects
  • Empowering project teams through rotational learning and decision-making frameworks to decentralize controls through the wider organization
  • Examining how organizational structures must adapt as the business grows

2:10 pm Audience Discussion: Right-Sizing Controls Programs to Match Project Scale & Client Requirements to Maintain Standards of Service on Every Project

  • Creating a baseline for all projects that meets organizational and code expectations, but doesn’t burden small projects in the process
  • Evaluating the flexibility required to adapt and scale reporting formats to individual client preferences
  • Creating standard templates for projects of different sizes and scales to support consistent, high-quality outputs to clients

Track 2: Integrating Systems & Data

1:30 pm Working With Analytics Teams to Integrate Data into a Single Source of Truth to Deliver Actionable Insights Faster

Senior Director - Project Controls & Quality, Satterfield & Pontikes Construction
  • Evaluating the common disparities between fragmented datasets to align a plan to prepare data for integration
  • Conducting a robust data cleaning process to ensure accuracy of data inputs
  • Mapping the different types of solutions that can support data integration and the resource and investment requirements of each to choose the right path for your organization
  • Managing change during the transition to a new data repository to ensure inputs are validated

2:10 pm Using AI to Evolve Monte Carlo Outputs & De-Risk Schedule Updates

Section Manager, Burns & McDonnell
  • Exploring how AI agents can expedite evaluation of multiple simulation scenarios and support selection of the right project outcome
  • Leveraging AI to continuously evolve simulations and provide more real time agility to project changes
  • Translating simulation outputs into actionable insights for superintendents, schedulers and project managers to strengthen course corrections

2:40 pm Afternoon Refreshments

Maximizing Client Satisfaction

3:20 pm Clarifying the Distinction Between Client & Contractor Roles to Provide a Comprehensive Controls Program, Most Efficiently

Project Controls Lead, Mesa Associates Inc
  • Exploring how contracting models are reshaping project controls obligations across owners, GCs and EPC firms
  • Discussing the differences in reporting depth across clients and EPC partners that can complement one another’s systems
  • Sharing practical lessons to bridge experience gaps and build alignment on roles to maximize cross-stakeholder efficiency

4:00 pm Audience Breakouts: Exploring Market Specific Best Practices to Refine Your Program Standards & Maximize Client Satisfaction

  • Comparing how labor productivity and crew management are tracked differently from industry to industry
  • Assessing current best practices for procurement of materials and indirect services in each secttor
  • Understanding how work breakdown structures can be refined to best fit your industry and drive maximum efficiency in project controls reporting

4:40 pm Client Panel Discussion: Understanding What Owners Value Most to Drive Maximum Value for Their Business

Senior Director - Project Controls, Amtrak Corporation
  • Assessing how inconsistent reporting standards impact owners and what they expect from contractor alignment on a project
  • Defining the specific data points owners prioritize from contractors and EPC partners to drive project decisions
  • Understanding how partner requirements in bidding and selection influence owner trust and project award decisions

5:20 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks

5:30 pm End of Day One