CFMA Benchmarker 2016 Preliminary Results and Best Practices

Jun 27, 2016 6:00am ‐ Jun 27, 2016 7:15am

Identification: DPG1

Learn about the key data from CFMA’s Benchmarker and how it can impact your company. Learn and share Benchmarker best practices with your conference peers, and walk away with benchmarking techniques that can help you improve your company’s financial and operational performance. KPIs most relevant to contractors, including those related to liquidity, profitability, leverage, efficiency, and productivity Methods by which contractors may manage operations in order to improve financial ratios relied on by sureties and lenders. Understand how others are using the CFMA Benchmarker to improve their bottom line. CFMA's new online Financial Benchmarker tool for 24/7 benchmarking, reporting, and comparisons of your company's financial performance with others in the industry

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn the preliminary results from the 2016 Financial Survey highlighting the 2015 FYE.
  • KPIs most relevant to contractors, including those related to liquidity, profitability, leverage, efficiency, and productivity
  • Methods by which contractors may manage operations in order to improve financial ratios relied on by sureties and lenders
  • Understand how others are using the CFMA Benchmarker to improve their bottom line
  • CFMA's new online Financial Benchmarker tool for 24/7 benchmarking, reporting, and comparisons of your company's financial performance with others in the industry

Making a Difference

Jun 27, 2016 7:30am ‐ Jun 27, 2016 9:15am

Identification: GS1

Focusing on the conscious choices we make every day that impact the lives of others, this eye-opening and heartfelt keynote details how to positively influence people in every imaginable way, regardless of position or status.

Learning Objectives:

  • Purpose: It drives you
  • Passion: It fuels you
  • Pride: It defines you

Women in Construction Panel

Jun 27, 2016 9:30am ‐ Jun 27, 2016 10:45am

Identification: B1

Recording is Not Available

An interactive mini-conference for both men and women. After the panel presentations, attendees will have the opportunity for Q&A with the speakers. Bring your comments, questions, feedback, and experiences to share.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify the unique advantages and challenges faced by women in the construction industry
  • Understand the importance of gender issues in the workplace both in the office and in the field
  • Recognize differences in male and female perspectives and more effectively integrate both for successful outcomes
  • Learn how industry leaders have responded to gender-specific challenges
  • Discover why it is important for women and men to work in an environment that empowers and encourages females

Leveraging Mobile Technology for Enterprise Data Capture & Analysis

Jun 27, 2016 9:30am ‐ Jun 27, 2016 10:45am

Identification: T1

Data crucial to operational efficiency and decision-making is often unstructured, scattered, or trapped within static documents. Many of these are paper documents managed manually, resulting in considerable money, time, and opportunity being wasted. This session will present a practical, comprehensive approach to capturing and analyzing the huge amount of data generated in all departments with ease and immediacy as well as how to leverage that data for powerful metrics and reporting to alert, enlighten, and inform the entire company.

Learning Objectives:

  • Recognize the structure and capabilities of a cloud-based, enterprise-wide information management and analysis system that is anchored by a unified software platform and mobile technology
  • Review real-world case studies and experiences from a large, multi-divisional construction company
  • Create and use electronic forms that include rich data; ensure accuracy and reduce redundant, manual data entry by data binding form fields
  • Understand the critical impact of data-driven metrics on profitability
  • Generate customized reports, dashboards, and alerts



Annual Tax Update: Strategies to Ease Your Burden

Jun 27, 2016 9:30am ‐ Jun 27, 2016 10:45am

Identification: A1

With an improved economy and in the midst of an election year, the tax landscape is poised for change. Do you have the tools and strategies needed to keep more of your money? Attend this session to gain insight on ways to reduce your overall tax burden and understand IRS audit triggers. You’ll hear stories and learn strategies from a 20-year construction tax veteran and a former IRS attorney.

Learning Objectives:

  • Communicate relevant tax updates to your stakeholders
  • Implement strategies to reduce your overall tax burden
  • Apply a variety of tax deferral tactics
  • Avoid an IRS audit and prepare for the possibility of one occurring
  • Understand potential opportunities and steps toward claiming the federal R&D tax credit


Sub-Specialty - Leveraging Technology in Construction: IT Trends & Strategies for Specialty Contractors

Jun 27, 2016 9:30am ‐ Jun 27, 2016 10:45am

Identification: S1

This interactive breakout session with a recognized technology expert on apps and solutions will focus on the various technologies and solutions that are being deployed by specialty contractors in the field. This includes stand-alone solutions that function without any integration back to the main office as well as some solutions that do (e.g., time card collection).

Learning Objectives:

  • Explore the various technologies and solution that are used in the field and emerging technologies that will impact the direction of field solutions
  • Learn how to effectively select and deploy field-based solutions to jobsite personnel
  • Understand how these solutions will fit into the overall architecture of the organization and how to increase their efficiency within the organization

Hide Your Goat

Jun 27, 2016 9:30am ‐ Jun 27, 2016 10:45am

Identification: L1

Our fast-paced and stress-filled schedules open the gate to allow people and circumstances every opportunity to “get our goat.” This session puts into perspective how your daily life intersects with people of diverse backgrounds, opinions and personalities. In this eye-opening session, you’ll discover how to avoid being robbed of the opportunity to perform at peak performance because of negativity.

Learning Objectives:

  • How to head off conflict when negativity runs rampant and how to improve your own outlook
  • How to deal with by-products of bad attitudes
  • How to assign the right value to every situation and not give people permission to ruin your day

Advanced Session - Anatomy of a Surety Bond Claim - The Underwriter's Story

Jun 27, 2016 9:30am ‐ Jun 27, 2016 10:45am

Identification: R1

From the underwriter’s perspective, discover how a construction company went from new submission, to new account, to a surety claim. After attending this session, attendees will be able to:

  • Discuss many of the key facts used in the surety underwriting decision for new accounts
  • Identify the financial trends and analysis that go into the decision and lead to bond approvals
  • Describe key factors that are common to many accounts that end up as a surety claim

Emerging Issues Roundup - An Update on Revenue Recognition, Leasing & Other FASB Activities

Jun 27, 2016 1:45pm ‐ Jun 27, 2016 3:00pm

Identification: A2

This session will illustrate the evolution of key implementation concepts of revenue recognition supplemented with examples; expected topics of coverage include identifying performance obligations, measuring variable consideration, accounting for uninstalled materials, required footnote disclosures, and more. This session will also cover the new standard on leasing that is expected to be released in final form by early 2016.

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn how to identify performance obligations in contracts, including a bundle and a series
  • Understand new and more extensive footnote disclosures required by the new revenue recognition standard; example disclosures will be provided to illustrate what to expect
  • Learn about measuring variable consideration, uninstalled materials, and incremental costs of obtaining a contract

Hiring & Retaining the Right People

Jun 27, 2016 1:45pm ‐ Jun 27, 2016 3:00pm

Identification: B2

The goal of most organizations is to have a robust workforce that supports the right people in the right positions as well as a set of systems and culture that keeps them excited to be there. However, the current reality for the construction industry is that there is not only an insufficient quantity of craft workers, supervisors, managers, and staff for available positions, but also that the industry may not be appealing enough to attract and retain the right talent.

Learning Objectives:

  • Explore what recruiting strategies and assessments may improve your chances of initially getting the right people to your front door
  • Understand what primary elements to watch for during the recruiting process to hire quality employees
  • Identify the leadership styles that motivate people and create a productive environment
  • Discover the common mistakes that companies may make when addressing poor employee retention