Sessions

Thursday Sessions

Friday Sessions

Thursday, May 28
 

Understanding Domestic Sourcing Regulations: What You Need to Know About the Buy American Act (BABA) - Sponsored by Assa Abloy

10-10:45 a.m.

About the Session

Speaker:
Jeff Huggins, Vice President of Government and National Accounts, Assa Abloy

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Domestic sourcing regulations play a critical role in shaping procurement decisions across public and private sectors. These rules are designed to protect U.S. labor and industry by prioritizing American-made products—especially when taxpayer dollars are involved. While the Buy American Act (BABA), enacted in 1933, set the foundation, many federal, state, local, and even private organizations now enforce similar requirements.

This session will break down the key regulations that impact access solutions projects every day, explain their intent, and provide practical strategies for compliance. Attendees will learn how to identify which rules apply to specific projects, avoid common pitfalls, and leverage available resources to streamline the process.

Learning Objectives:
  • Understand the major domestic sourcing regulations and their purpose
  • Identify which projects these rules apply to and when
  • Learn practical steps for compliance and risk mitigation
  • Access resources to support your team and projects

More coming soon.

Integrating Electronic Access Control into Traditional Distribution Models

10-10:45 a.m.

About the Session

In today’s rapidly evolving security landscape, the integration of electronic access control systems into established distribution models is reshaping how organizations safeguard their assets and manage access. This session will provide an in-depth exploration of the strategies, challenges, and benefits associated with merging electronic access control technologies into traditional hardware distribution.


Attendees will gain practical insights into the latest technological developments and learn how electronic access control can complement or enhance legacy systems. The session will address key considerations for implementation, including compatibility and scalability, Real-world examples will illustrate best practices and common pitfalls to avoid.


This session will equip you with actionable knowledge for future-proofing your operations. Join us to discover how electronic access control can transform traditional distribution models, improve efficiency, and elevate security standards across your organization.

Learning Objectives:
  • Assess different technologies and how to make decisions based on features and budgets
  • Articulate the main difference between cloud based and server-based systems
  • Recognize the potential pitfalls of electronic access control installation and commissioning
  • Develop a plan to work hand in hand with manufactuers to assure successful project handovers
Speakers: Mark Kuhn and James Stokes, Director of Corporate Training, Hager Companies

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James Stokes is the Director of Corporate Training at Hager Companies. He joined Hager in 2011 and has over 35 years of experience in the door hardware and access control industry.

Raise the BAR: Why Your Best Technicians Are Quietly Quitting

10-10:45 a.m.

About the Session

The door security and safety industry is facing a silent crisis: your most skilled technicians and installers are leaving, not for better pay, but for better cultures. While companies invest in new technologies and training programs, they're bleeding talent because they've overlooked what actually keeps people engaged.


This session reveals the counterintuitive truth behind retention in skilled trades: toxic culture is 10x more predictive of turnover than compensation. Attendees will discover the top five reasons technical professionals actually leave and learn five immediately actionable leadership habits that address the human psychology of belonging, achievement, and relevance-factors that no technology or pay increase can replace.


Drawing from nearly two decades of leadership development work across high-skill industries, this interactive session introduces the BAR framework-a practical, budget-free approach to building cultures where your best people choose to stay. Participants will leave with specific strategies to reduce turnover, increase engagement, and create workplaces that compete for talent in today's tight labor market.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify the top five drivers of turnover in skilled technical workforces and distinguish between surface-level symptoms and root causes of disengagement
  • Apply the BAR framework (Belonging, Achievement, Relevance) to create retention strategies specific to door security and safety operations
  • Implement five evidence-based leadership practices immediately to reduce turnover and increase engagement among technicians, installers, and field staff
Speaker:Sharon Grossman, Retention Strategist, Turnkey Retention Solutions

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Dr. Sharon Grossman is a psychologist, executive coach, and keynote speaker specializing in leadership development and retention strategies for high-skill industries. After spending nearly two decades helping executives recover from burnout, she's turned her focus to working with organizations to create a culture where employees are motivated to stay. Dr. Grossman is the author of multiple books on burnout and resilience and brings evidence-based strategies that translate immediately into real-world results. Her practical, no-nonsense approach resonates with technical professionals and business leaders alike.

From Tasks to Talent: How AI Unlocks Workforce Potential in Our Industry

11-11:45 a.m.

About the Session

Speaker: Sabrina Wilson, MBA, Founder, Spill the T Consulting

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Sabrina A. Wilson, MBA, is an executive coach, speaker, and HR strategist with over 30 years of global leadership experience in M&A, culture reinvention, and large-scale transformation. Named a Power 100 Woman in Security by the Security Industry Association and recognized as a thought leader by Purdue University, Sabrina is a Business Fellow at the Daniels School of Business. In 2025, she founded Spill the T Consulting, LLC, a firm focused on human innovation and empowering organizations through transition and people-powered strategy. Sabrina’s dynamic coaching, team facilitation, and engaging keynotes inspire leaders to trailblaze, build strong teams, and thrive through transformation. Her mission centers on developing courageous, high-impact leaders ready to drive meaningful results in a rapidly changing world.

The door security + safety industry is built on precision, reliability, and trust.  Yet many businesses find themselves stretched thin, struggling to keep up with rising customer expectations, increasing complexity, and talent shortages. Artificial Intelligence is often misunderstood as a job-replacing threat, but the reality is far more practical and far more valuable for manufacturers, distributors, and service leaders.

In this session, we will shift the conversation away from fear and toward opportunity. AI is NOT replacing people – it is replacing repetitive, time-consuming tasks that drain focus and productivity. From quoting and order accuracy to documentation, scheduling, customer support, and operational workflows, AI can streamline the mundane so your team can focus on higher-value work that drives profit, customer loyalty, and innovation.

Designed specifically for leaders who are skeptical of “big tech trends,” this session breaks AI down to simple, usable, real-world applications relevant to your business today. Attendees will walk away understanding how AI can help upskill teams, improve retention, reduce errors, and create a competitive edge. The future is not people vs. AI – it is people using AI vs. people who don’t.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the difference between AI replacing jobs and AI replacing tasks, and why that distinction matters
  • Identify at least three real-world ways AI can streamline manual processes
  • Learn practical strategies to upskill and reskill team members to work alongside AI tools
  • Discover how AI adoption can imporve accuracy, reduce rework, and support workforce retention
  • Build a simple roadmap to begin AI integration without disrupting current operations

From Confusion to Clarity: How to Secure School Openings the Right Way - Sponsored by Allegion

11-11:45 a.m.

About the Session

Speaker:
Christin Kinman, End User Sales Consultant, Allegion
Randy Jump

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Christin Kinman is an End User Sales Consultant at Allegion, a global security company specializing in doorway and beyond solutions across more than 30 brands.

In 2022, after years of working closely with Allegion on access control and door hardware projects, Christin joined the company as an End User Sales Consultant, helping facility owners identify optimal security solutions for their buildings.

She is actively engaged in the industry as a member of ASIS and served on the School Security Standards Technical Committee, an international group that developed the ANSI-certified school security standard. Additionally, Christin has published thought leadership pieces in ASIS Cultural Properties & Houses of Worship Communities, Security Informed Roundtable, Door Security & Safety Magazine, Campus Safety and is a CPTED practitioner.

Currently, she is furthering her expertise through doctoral coursework in school security, safety, and emergency operations planning, reinforcing her commitment to creating safer learning environments through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Studies and after-action reports have consistently shown that one particular measure is highly effective and predictive of saving lives - the ability to lockdown a facility and secure classroom doors from within the space. This may seem like an obvious statement, but in reality, there are many configurations that can be used to secure schools, not all of which are recommended or appropriate. Additionally, there are many competing thoughts about how best to secure spaces based upon roles. For example, parents are prone to advocating for barricade devices without understanding the code and access-related issues associated with these devices. Law enforcement, too, has differing perspectives based on their role in responding to emergency events. Facility managers may not be aware of new guidelines and recommendations based on best practices. Coupled with industry confusion, incorrect solutions are still being applied. Other issues include the challenges around funding.

This presentation will also include numerous examples of both correct and incorrect applications taken from site surveys. Attendees will interact with the presenters and their colleagues to discuss options and apply the knowledge gained from the presentation to address deficient openings.

Learning Objectives:

  • Have the requisite knowledge needed to apply best practices for securing openings in both new construction and retrofit conditions
  • Have the knowledge needed to apply best practices for electromechanical or electronic locking solutions in both new construction and retrofit applications
  • Have the knowledge needed to specify correct hardware applications in new projects

Be the Boss of Your Brain: NeuroShifts for High-Performance Leadership & Industry Innovation

11-11:45 a.m.

About the Session

Speaker: Edie Raether, CSP, CEO, Performance PLUS

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Edie Raether, known around the world as the Maestro of Mind Mastery, is an international keynote speaker, bestselling author, behavioral psychologist, and corporate consultant to Fortune 500 companies. With more than 50 years of expertise in leadership psychology, communication, and human performance, Edie brings a rare blend of science, strategy, and storytelling to every stage.

 

A former college professor and ABC talk-show host, Edie has presented on five continents and worked with more than 3,500 organizations worldwide. Her signature work, NeuroShifts™, helps leaders and teams “be the boss of their brain” by rewiring mental patterns that drive clarity, influence, innovation, and high-performance results.

 

Renowned for her dynamic, engaging style, Edie translates complex neuroscience into practical, actionable strategies that transform how people think, lead, and succeed—both professionally and personally. Her mission is simple yet profound: Elevate the way leaders think, act, and perform—one brain, one shift, one breakthrough at a time.

The door and hardware industry operates at a powerful crossroads where safety, technology, construction, compliance, security, and human behavior intersect. As smart hardware, access control innovations, digital integration, automation, and sustainability initiatives rapidly advance, professionals are being asked to adapt faster than ever before. Yet the human brain is naturally wired to resist change, default to old habits, and avoid uncertainty—creating silent barriers to innovation, leadership, and performance.
In this high-impact session, Edie Raether introduces NeuroShifts™, a groundbreaking framework that blends neuroscience, psychology, and peak-performance strategies to transform how leaders think, communicate, and respond in a rapidly evolving environment. Attendees discover how to override outdated mental patterns that slow adaptation, block creative problem-solving, and create resistance to new technologies, standards, and processes.

This session reframes the hardware professional as more than a technical expert—positioning them as a strategic, future-ready leader capable of navigating the accelerating demands of safety, performance, and industry transformation with confidence and impact.

Learning Objectives:

  • Rewire for Resilience: Learn neuroscience-based tools to stay agile and effective through shifting codes, evolving standards, and technological disruption.
  • Innovate with Neuroplasticity Discover how the brain unlocks creativity and problem-solving to tackle complex hardware, security, and integration challenges.
  • Lead with Influence & Clarity Use NeuroShifts™ to motivate teams, navigate resistance, improve communication, and foster buy-in for new ideas and processes.
  • Enhance Customer Experience Apply the psychology of trust, decision-making, and subconscious influence to strengthen client relationships and deliver greater value.

Energy Is the Currency of High Performance

1:30-2:15 p.m.

About the Session

Andrew Deutscher
Speaker:Andrew Deutscher, Founder and CEO, Regenerate

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Andrew Deutscher is a recognized thought-leader in high-capacity leadership and sustainable performance, helping organizations address the root causes of exhaustion, overwhelm, and disengagement. With two decades of corporate leadership experience, Andrew knows firsthand what it takes to lead under pressure and what it costs when performance is built on depletion instead of energy.

As the founder of Regenerate, Andrew works with global organizations through coaching, training, and consulting by turning energy management into a strategic advantage. His work enables leaders to increase clarity, stamina, and collaboration while reducing stress and friction across teams. The result: high-performance cultures powered by sustainable energy - not overwork.

In today's high-demand work environment, the ability to sustain performance isn't just about managing time - it's about managing energy. This session helps participants understand how to tap into their full capacity by building awareness of their energy patterns, balancing stress with intentional recovery, and adopting habits that fuel consistent, high-quality performance. Through practical insights and engaging discussions, participants will explore how to strengthen their resilience, make better choices under pressure, and sustain their impact over time.

Learning Objectives:
  • Understand the stress-recovery relationship - Discover how balancing energy expenditure with renewal creates the foundation for sustainable performance.
  • Gain a framework for energy states - Learn to recognize patterns of depletion and regeneration and identify actions that move them toward their best performance state.
  • Reflect on personal capacity - Examine current energy habits and their impact on effectiveness, well-being, and resilience.
  • Adopt a performance-driven view of recovery - See recovery not as a luxury but as a strategic choice for sustaining high performance.
  • Learn immediate and practical actions to efficiently renew and restore energy.

The Evolution of School Security: What Doors and Hardware Professionals Need to Know - Sponsored by Forte

1:30-2:15 p.m.

About the Session

More to come.

Strategies to Address Door and Construction Delays in Building Projects

2:30-3:15 p.m.

About the Session

Speaker: Benjamin Cogan, CSI, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Architectural Spec Rep., Senneca

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Ben serves as the Architectural Specifications Representative for the commercial and industrial divisions of Senneca, supporting brands such as Eliason, Chase Doors, HMF Express, and others. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, he brings a diverse background spanning supply chain, process engineering, and operations, which gives him a well-rounded perspective on the challenges and opportunities within today’s construction environment. In his current role, Ben works closely with architects, interior designers, and Senneca's sales team to provide specification support, identify leads, and help deliver high-quality door and frame solutions.

This course will explore the primary factors contributing to modern construction timeline delays - such as scheduling inefficiencies, labor shortages, material lead times, coordination gaps, and specification challenges - and how these issues specifically affect door, frame, and hardware delivery and installation. In an industry where accurate scheduling and clear communication are essential, delays can disrupt sequencing, stall related trades, and compromise the overall quality of a project. By identifying common pitfalls and examining practical strategies for planning, coordination, and specification development, door, frame, and hardware professionals will learn how to work more effectively with architects, general contractors, and subcontractors. The goal is to support smoother project execution, reduce costly rework, and help ensure that openings function as intended within the broader building design.

Learning Objectives:
  • Understand how project delays affect overall construction timelines, budgets, and coordination among trades
  • Recognize key variables that contribute to delays in today's construction environment, particularly those impacting doors, frames, and hardware
  • Learn about how quick ship materials can help make up for project delays, material damage, and long lead times
  • Identify practical planning, specification, and communication solutions that help reduce delays and support successful collaboration with architects, contractors, and other project partners

Clash of the Generations: Leading Four Generations in the Workplace

2:30-3:15 p.m.

About the Session

Today's leaders are managing the most age-diverse workforce in history-and it's no easy feat. Baby Boomers are staying longer, Gen Xers are bridging the gap, Millennials are stepping into leadership, and Gen Z is rewriting the rules entirely. The result? Tremendous opportunity-and real tension-for leaders who haven't adapted their approach to meet this new workplace reality.

In this high-energy, interactive session, leadership strategist Val Grubb shares practical, field-tested tools to bridge generational divides and boost engagement across all levels of your organization. You'll explore new trends in communication, collaboration, and motivation-learning how to turn generational differences into a competitive advantage. Expect an engaging experience packed with actionable takeaways you can apply immediately to strengthen performance, inspire loyalty, and lead with confidence in today's evolving workplace.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify the core values, motivators, and communication preferences of Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z in today's workforce.
  • Adapt their leadership and management style to effectively engage and motivate employees across generations.
  • Apply practical strategies to minimize conflict and foster collaboration among multi-generational teams.
  • Communicate expectations and feedback in ways that resonate with employees of varying experience levels and career stages.
  • Build a culture of accountability, respect, and shared purpose that leverages generational diversity as a strategic advantage.
  • Implement actionable tools immediately to improve team cohesion, productivity, and retention.
Speaker: Valerie Grubb, President, Val Grubb & Associates, Ltd.

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Val Grubb helped launch Oxygen for Oprah and IAC for Barry Diller. Today, she's known as The Leadership Accelerator-partnering with organizations and associations to transform leadership potential into measurable performance that drives results. Through keynote speaking, executive coaching, and leadership development programs, Val equips managers to think strategically, lead decisively, and inspire accountability at every level. Her approach is no-fluff, all-impact: practical tools, interactive learning, and just the right amount of sass to make it stick. When Val steps on stage-or into a boardroom-leaders don't just listen, they lean in. Every session is packed with actionable strategies, relevant stories, and that spark of energy that turns insight into action. Because to Val, leadership isn't a title-it's a measurable advantage to the bottom line.

Friday, May 29
 

Don't Let the Door Close Behind You: Planning for the Next Generation

9-9:45 a.m.

About the Session

As experienced team members retire and fewer young professionals enter the trades, the door industry is facing a serious challenge: how do we pass on the knowledge that keeps our work safe, efficient, and profitable?

In this engaging and practical session, you'll hear a real-world story from a leader who started in the warehouse and now oversees special projects and sales. You'll learn how mentorship, intentional training, and simple planning can preserve critical knowledge and help the next generation rise into leadership.

Whether you're a business owner, project manager, HR leader, or field supervisor, you'll leave with a clear, easy-to-implement 3-step framework to start succession planning in your organization today.

If you've ever said, "It's hard to find good help," this session is for you.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify at-risk knowledge and critical roles
  • Spot and support up-and-coming team members
  • A ready-to-use worksheet for starting conversations that lead to action
  • Inspiration to build a legacy while securing your team's future
Speaker: Austin Watson, EHC, CFDAI, Outside Sales and Special Projects Manager, Warren Doors and Access Control

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Austin Watson is the Special Projects & Outside Sales Manager at Warren Doors & Access Control, where he oversees complex Division 8 and Division 28 projects across multiple states. Holding DHI credentials including EHC, CFDAI, and DHT. Austin is also an active DHI instructor passionate about developing the next generation of industry professionals. Beginning his career with no prior experience, he "fell into the door industry and fell in love with it." Known for his leadership, attention to detail, and heart for mentorship, Austin combines technical expertise with a genuine desire to help others grow. Beyond work, he is devoted to his family, faith, and community through his involvement with Refuge Church in Pensacola, Florida.

From Concept to Completion: The journey of specialty wood doors - Sponsored by VT Industries

9-9:45 a.m.

About the Session

More to come.

The Role of Secured Access in School-Based Active Shooter and Averted Attack Events

9-9:45 a.m.

About the Session

Speakers:
Hunter Martaindale, Director of Research
Joe Eleuterio, Research Associate
Jack Johncox, Research Associate
ALERRT - Texas State University

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Dr. Hunter Martaindale is Director of Research at the ALERRT Center and Associate Research Professor in the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Texas State University. His research examines how law enforcement officers respond to active shooter and active attack events, with a particular focus on decision making and performance under extreme conditions. He leads research efforts that analyze real world active shooter incidents and evaluate how training shapes officer behavior during these events. His work integrates operational data, experimental designs, and applied evaluation to inform evidence based training practices. He has published widely in criminal justice outlets and works closely with law enforcement agencies to translate research on active shooter response into training that reflects the realities officers face.

Joe Eleuterio is a Research Associate at the ALERRT Center and a doctoral student in the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Texas State University. His work focuses on applied research that evaluates and tests key components of law enforcement training, with particular attention to active shooter and active attack response. He contributes to the design and implementation of studies examining how training influences officer decision making and performance in high risk situations. His research emphasizes practical evaluation, bridging empirical findings with training practice to support evidence based improvements in law enforcement preparedness and response.

Jack Johncox is a Research Associate at the ALERRT Center at Texas State University. His work supports research on active shooter and active attack events, with an emphasis on human performance and applied training evaluation. He facilitates data collection for experimental and field studies, including projects examining officer decision making and performance under stress. Johncox manages ALERRT’s vision tracking and virtual reality systems, supporting immersive training and research applications. He also develops data visualizations used in internal analyses, reports, and research publications, translating complex operational and performance data into accessible formats for researchers, practitioners, and training stakeholders.

This session presents descriptive findings from an ongoing study of school-based active shooter events, with a specific focus on secured access and attacker entry. Drawing on the FBI active shooter dataset, the analysis includes 54 identified K–12 school events and examines how physical access points shaped attacker movement, victim exposure, and incident outcomes. The presentation will summarize key descriptive patterns related to door status, entry points, lockdown implementation, and breach attempts, highlighting where secured access appeared to delay or prevent attacker movement and where it did not.

In addition to completed attacks, the session will address school-based active shooter events that were averted due to secured access measures. These cases do not appear in official FBI active shooter counts but provide important insight into how locked or controlled entry points can interrupt an attack before casualties occur. The presentation will describe how these averted events were identified and what they reveal about prevention and early interruption.

The session will also include brief case studies of select incidents where unusually detailed information was available. These cases illustrate how secured access functioned in practice, including both effective use and failure through bypassed or compromised measures. Together, the findings offer a data driven foundation for understanding how secured access operates during real events and what implications this has for policy, training, and school safety planning.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe patterns of secured access, entry, and breach observed across school-based active shooter events identified in the FBI dataset
  • Distinguish between completed and averted school-based active shooter events and explain how secured access measures contributed to interruption or prevention.
  • Apply descriptive findings from real incidents to inform school safety planning, training, and policy decisions related to access control and lockdown procedures

The Inevitable Trends Reshaping Our Industry. And What to Do About It.

10-10:45 a.m.

About the Session

Speaker: Lee Odess, SIA Board Member, CEO, The Access Control Collective

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Lee Odess is the global voice of the access control and smart lock industry and the founder and CEO of The Access Control Collective, a modern media company advancing the physical security sector through thought leadership, community, events, and analysis.

Through his Access Control Executive Brief, global activations, keynote speaking, and consulting, Lee helps leaders understand emerging technologies, shifting business models, and the future of access control. Anyone interested in the industry can subscribe at leeodess.com or follow him on LinkedIn at In/leeodess.

The door security and safety industry is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades. Capital markets, consolidation, cloud and mobile adoption, the rise of platform-based ecosystems, labor shortages, and new customer expectations are fundamentally reshaping how manufacturers, distributors, integrators, and consultants must operate to stay competitive. This session distills the top inevitable trends impacting door hardware, access control, and adjacent security markets and translates them into clear strategic actions leaders can take now. Participants will leave with a practical understanding of where the industry is headed, what these shifts mean for their businesses, and how to position themselves and their teams for the next decade of growth.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify at least five macro trends reshaping the door security and safety ecosystem, including consolidation, platform evolution, and workforce dynamics
  • Evaluate how these trends impact business models, customer expectations, channel strategies, and competitive differentiation
  • Assess their organization's current readiness for shifts in technology (cloud, mobile, AI, software-centric platforms) and market forces (capital cycle changes, SMB expansion)
  • Develop an action plan with three concrete strategic steps to future-proof their business or department
  • Communicate these industry trends effectively to their teams to improve alignment, decision-making, and talent development

Code Update Workshop

10-10:45 a.m.

About the Session

This workshop offers an in-depth exploration of current code requirements related to door openings, including electrified hardware used in access control systems and special locking arrangements. Led by industry experts, including Lori Greene of Allegion, the session follows a roundtable format, where each table covers a different category of code requirements.  Attendees will use the 2024 International Building Code (partial copy provided) to answer common code questions, learning about recent code changes in the process.  Topics range from special locking arrangements and healthcare facility requirements to school safety updates and emerging trends — equipping attendees with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions that prioritize life safety, code compliance, and occupant welfare.

Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze key building codes and accessibility standards affecting commercial access control and door hardware installations
  • Assess code requirements for special locking arrangements, automatic operators, and healthcare facility doors to ensure compliance and safety
  • Identify best practices for securing exterior spaces and school environments while meeting relevant code updates and safety guidelines
  • Evaluate emerging technology and policy trends that influence commercial access control systems and their impact on occupant health, safety, and welfare
Speaker: Lori Greene, DAHC/CDC, FDHI, FDAI, Manager, Codes & Resources, Allegion

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Lori Greene, DAHC/CDC, FDHI, FDAI, is Manager, Codes and Resources for Allegion, and has more than 35 years of industry experience. She is responsible for training and support on code requirements related to door openings, and shares information on these topics via her website, iDigHardware.com. She is involved with the code development process as a member of BHMA’s Codes, Government, and Industry Affairs Committee.

The Doorway Advantage: Leading with Voice, Vision & Value in a Changing Security Landscape

10-10:45 a.m.

About the Session

In an industry where precision matters and trust drives every contract, the biggest competitive advantage isn’t just technical expertise—it’s the ability to communicate it clearly, confidently, and consistently. This high-energy session reveals how leaders in door security and safety can strengthen influence, motivate teams, and unify communication across departments using RK3’s Voice, Vision, Value™ Leadership Framework.

Attendees will discover how to articulate ideas with clarity, create alignment around big-picture strategy, and elevate their organization's perceived value in a marketplace crowded with competitors and shifting technology. Through engaging stories, interactive moments, and practical tools, participants will learn how to strengthen relationships, guide teams through change, and build cultures where people don’t just execute—they contribute, collaborate, and innovate.

Learning Objectives:
  • VOICE — Communicate to Build Confidence How to communicate clearly across technical and non-technical teams so projects move faster, mistakes drop, and customers feel informed instead of confused.
  • VISION — Lead People Through Change A simple method to help teams understand why new technology, codes, or processes matter—so adoption doesn’t require a wrestling match.
  • VALUE — Position Expertise as a Competitive Advantage How to translate technical skill into business outcomes—demonstrating ROI, strengthening trust, and differentiating your organization in the market.
Speaker: Robert Kennedy III, President, Kennetik Kommunications

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Robert Kennedy III—RK3—is a communication strategist, keynote speaker, and trainer with a background in radio journalism, education, and real estate. He helps leaders, small business owners, and real estate professionals transform everyday conversations into meaningful connections that drive influence and sales.

As founder of Kennetik Kommunications, Robert is building a multi-million-dollar training company through workshops, keynotes, and digital programs. His philosophy is simple yet powerful: “Communication transfers information, but connection creates transformation.”

Leading in the New World of Work

11:15-12:00 p.m.

About the Session

Speaker: Richard Hadden, MBA, CSP, Managing Partner, Contented Cow Partners

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Richard Hadden has long been a respected voice in the world of Employee Engagement, Leadership, and the Workplace, with a focus on recruiting, retention, and the evolving workplace. He is co-author of the popular "Contented Cows" leadership book series, and the book Rebooting Leadership. His latest book is Contented Cows STILL Give Better Milk. A former IT manager and college instructor, Richard has spoken for more than 1500 audiences on five continents. Richard teaches specific practices that help to create a focused, engaged, and capably led workforce. He has appeared on CNN and MSNBC, and his work has been featured in Business Week, Entrepreneur, and Inc. magazines, as well as many trade and professional publications.

This is a new day! The workspace has seen more change in the last few years than anyone could have predicted. This session helps leaders and business owners make sense of the avalanche of change that now defines the relationships between organizations, workers, and those who lead them. The New World of Work demands leaders who can inspire greater productivity in a tight talent market, with increasing calls for advanced flexibility; the complexities of the multigenerational workforce; and the uncertainty of AI.

For all that has changed, it has never been more true that creating a focused, engaged, and capably led workforce is one of the best things any organization can do for its bottom line. This presentation provides practical tips as well as inspiration to achieve maximum productivity through your people practices.

Learning Objectives:
  • Improve their employee recruiting effectiveness and reduce the time it takes to fill positions
  • Improve the quality and suitability of new hires they bring onboard
  • Reduce the time it takes to make a new employee productive and acclimated to the organization's culture
  • Reduce costly employee turnover
  • Improve the effectiveness of their leadership when measured by employee feedback

From Hardware Schedule to Orderable MPNs

11:15-12:00 p.m.

About the Session

Hardware schedules rarely arrive "order-ready." Missed handing, the wrong trim, or an invalid finish silently become wrong orders, returns, and jobsite delays. This session presents a practical, technology-agnostic playbook for producing validated, orderable MPNs from typical Division 08 inputs (PDF schedules, spec sheets, "How-To-Order" guides). We'll show a minimal, reusable data model; where deterministic rules must lead (handing, function families, backset/arm/finish constraints); and where lightweight AI adds leverage (ambiguity detection, clarifying prompts, supersession hints). You'll see examples across closers, exit devices, thresholds, and automatic door bottoms, plus a sample confidence + exceptions report that flags risky lines before they become POs. We'll also cover failure modes-stale PDFs, inconsistent nomenclature, and "tribal knowledge" living in email-and how to capture those rules so juniors can do senior-quality work. Attendees leave with a reference checklist, an HTO template pattern (brand/series/options), and an adoption sequence that can be piloted in weeks, not quarters. No vendor lock-in, no sales pitch-just a clear method to improve accuracy and speed.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify the minimal data elements required to generate orderable MPNs from a schedule.
  • Apply rule checks (handing, function, finish, backset) to prevent common error classes.
  • Use confidence scoring and an "exceptions" report to triage ambiguous lines before PO.
  • Draft a small-scale pilot plan (people/process/tech) to validate ROI within 30-60 days.
Speaker: Manoji Tiwari, Co-founder & CTO, Conversant AI

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Manoj Tiwari is the Co-founder and CTO of Conversant, a product-intelligence platform for complex B2B catalogs in Division 08. Previously, he spent ten years at Google Research AI. Manoj builds agentic pipelines that transform hardware schedules and PDFs into validated, orderable model numbers with SME-review loops. His work with distributors and manufacturers spans "How-To-Order" (HTO) templates for closers and exit devices, compatibility checks for handing and backset, and error-reduction in order entry. He publishes practical guidance on HTO JSONs, confidence scoring, and audit trails, with a focus on measurable outcomes: fewer wrong orders, faster submittals, and higher attach rates-without ripping out existing ERP or e-commerce infrastructure.