August 20 - 21, 2026
ECA Young Professionals 8th Annual Leadership Conference
Thursday, August 20, 2026 - Friday, August 21, 2026
Kimpton Journeyman Hotel 310 E Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202
Registration is open for the ECA Young Professionals 8th Annual Leadership Conference!
You won't want to miss this event!
The Conference is being held at the Kimpton Journeyman Hotel - Milwaukee, WI
Kimpton Journeyman Hotel 310 E Chicago St., Milwaukee, WI 53202
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
The tentative schedule is as follows:
Thursday, August 20, 2026
| Rehlko Facility Tour | |
| 12:00 PM | Departure from Kimpton Journeyman Hotel |
| 1:00– 2:30 PM | Tour |
| 3:30 PM | Return to Hotel |
Join us on a faculty tour that will include an educational session that will cover a high-level view of Rehlko as a business, including their history, product offerings, the different spaces they work in, and future outlook.
| 3:00 PM | Guaranteed Hotel Check-in Time |
| 6:00 – 10:00 PM | Reception & Dinner |
Friday, August 21, 2026
| 8:00-9:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 9:00-10:00 AM | Shane Yount – Chairman, Competitive Solutions, Inc – Process Based Leadership |
| 10:00-11:00 AM | Jessica Cardenas – ELECTRI International update and overview |
| 11:00-12:00 PM | Carl Britton – Iron Thread Consulting – AI for Project Managers |
| 12:00-12:45 PM | Hotel Check-out/Lunch Break |
| 12:45-4:00 PM | Continued: Carl Britton – Iron Thread Consulting – AI for Project Managers |
Speaker Information
Shane A. Yount is a nationally recognized author, speaker and principal of Competitive Solutions, Inc., an international Business Transformation consulting firm which pioneered the acclaimed organizational development system known as Process Based Leadership® - A business transformation methodology designed to create a sustainable culture of clarity, connectivity, and consistency through the use of Non-Negotiable Business Processes.
Shane began his career with Perdue Farms, Inc., the nation’s second largest poultry grower and processor. Having performed such roles as Front Line Supervisor, Operations Manager, Quality Manager, Director of Human Resources, and Corporate Continuous Improvement Champion, Shane brings extensive experience in every aspect of organizational dynamics and effectiveness. His “Real World” process driven approach to creating and sustaining high performance has led leaders across the country to embrace the Process Based Leadership® methodology as a core operating system in driving organizational focus, urgency, and accountability.
Jessica Cardenas is Deputy Executive Director for ELECTRI International, where she helps advance mission-driven initiatives that support contractors, strengthen industry partnerships, and promote education and research. She has more than 14 years of experience in government affairs, stakeholder engagement, fundraising, and organizational development within the electrical construction industry. Jessica has built her career around connecting people, advocating for the industry, and creating opportunities for growth to advance the electrical construction industry.
Meet the guy who bridges the gap between hard hats and artificial intelligence. With 20 years of construction experience and 15 years in tech, Carl brings a rare combination of dirt-under-thefingernails credibility and cutting-edge AI expertise that resonates with contractors who've never met a tech guru who could actually swing a hammer.
After growing up working residential concrete with his uncle (which, he jokes, kept him motivated to stay in school), Carl earned his degree in education and became a Class B General Contractor. But it was when a tornado destroyed his home in 2013 that his mission crystallized: dedicating himself to helping his community rebuild. That same spirit of practical problem-solving now drives his approach to AI education for the trades. CARL BRITTON, JR.
As a three-time published author and seasoned speaker, Carl has delivered hundreds of workshops and keynote presentations to major industry organizations including NECA National, multiple NECA chapters, SMACNA, MCA, and various professional associations across the country. His secret weapon? He's not your typical AI evangelist lecturing from an ivory tower, he's been in the trenches, knows the real challenges contractors face, and speaks fluent "construction site."
What sets his workshops apart is simple: AI nerds know AI, but Carl knows both construction AND AI. His hands-on, energetic approach makes complex technology accessible and immediately actionable. Participants consistently rave about his ability to keep things "light and not too overwhelming" while delivering practical AI applications they hadn't considered before.
Whether he's helping electrical contractors streamline project management or showing plumbers how to revolutionize their customer service, Carl transforms AI from intimidating buzzword to powerful tool, all while keeping the room engaged, entertained, and eager to implement what they've learned.