BLC Schedule
28th ANNUAL Business & Leadership Conference
Thank you for a great BLC 2026!
NSCA’s Business & Leadership Conference brings the systems integration industry together like no other conference. Plan for 2027 and extend your network Feb. 23-25, 2027, at Ritz-Carlton Dallas Las Colinas in Irving, Texas.
BLC 2027: Registration Now Open!
Connecting the Integration Industry
Whether you’re an industry veteran or starting your journey in the industry, BLC offers incredible value for integration professionals who are serious about business.
Top-Tier Networking
This is not a tradeshow—build real relationships with industry leaders.
BLC HomeExclusive Sessions
Find solutions for your biggest business challenges, from labor needs to profitability.
View ScheduleBLC 2026
Schedule of Events
Tuesday, Feb. 24-Thursday, Feb. 26, 2025
Ritz-Carlton Dallas Las Colinas
4150 North MacArthur Boulevard
Irving, TX 75038, US
We’re excited to share our schedule packed with an exceptional lineup of content and speakers.
Explore keynotes on the leadership, culture, detailed breakout sessions on the business of systems integration, and valuable networking opportunities—all included in our event schedule.
BLC 2026 is packed with exceptional content. Here’s what’s on the schedule:
- Plan for tomorrow. Gain exclusive economic insights from Dr. Chris Kuehl to help your business stay ahead of shifting markets.
- Lead with confidence. Frankie Russo and other keynote speakers challenge you to embrace AI, accountability, and change with purpose.
- Drive team performance. Learn proven frameworks to strengthen alignment, trust, and execution across every level of your organization.
- Empower the next generation. Tackle succession, skill development, and the evolving workforce to secure your company’s future.
- Boost profitability. Explore smarter sales and financial strategies that create stability and growth in unpredictable times.
- Adapt with innovation. Discover how integrators are using AI and emerging technologies to transform operations and client engagement.
- Master human dynamics. End BLC with inspiration and practical leadership lessons on communication, resilience, and leading through uncertainty.
View Schedule Below!
7:00 am
1:30 pm
3:30 pm
4:15 pm
4:30 pm
6:00 pm
NSCA Education Foundation Industry Charity Golf Outing
Join the NSCA Education Foundation for its annual Industry Charity Golf Outing to kick off the conference. It takes place at the TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas. Not only will it offer you the chance to meet new BLC attendees and get reacquainted with those you’ve met in years past, but your participation also helps the NSCA Education Foundation raise money to advance programs such as Ignite and PASS K-12 (the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools).
Lunch will be provided; awards will be given during the Opening Night Dinner, which begins at 6pm.
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First-Time Attendee Orientation
If you haven’t attended NSCA’s Business & Leadership Conference before, this orientation is a great way to meet other new people and learn what you can expect. This informal orientation provides examples of how attendees from previous Business & Leadership Conferences have applied concepts they learned to strengthen business operations and profitability.
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Opening Night Reception
Reconnect with friends and meet new attendees before the conference officially begins. Drinks and appetizers will be provided.
Opening Night Dinner and Awards
Join us as we honor our Integrator of the Year Award recipients: integration firms that experience success in differentiating strategies, strategic transformation, talent development, and more. We’ll also recognize Randy Vaughan Founder’s Awards, our Business Accelerator Partner and Member Advisory Council award winners, and more.
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7:00 am
8:00 am
9:00 am
9:15 am
10:45 am
11:00 am
12:00 pm
1:00 pm
1:15 pm
2:45 pm
3:00 pm
4:30 pm
6:00 pm
Breakfast
Start your morning with a hearty breakfast and great conversation. Connect with peers, enjoy a fresh cup of coffee, and gear up for a full day of learning, leadership, and inspiration.
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Opening Session | Economic Outlook 2026 for Integrators
Speaker: Dr. Chris Kuehl, Armada Corporate Intelligence
Dr. Chris Kuehl always brings a unique combination of straight talk and dry humor that makes news about our industry more interesting and more palatable. This year, NSCA’s Chief Economist brings a new element to his annual outlook, using his firm’s industry-specific economic report to offer tailored insights for the NSCA Community. He’ll use his new research to zero in on economic trends that impact integrators, covering inflation, tariffs, labor shortages, U.S. engagement in foreign affairs, and more. This vital planning session will help you prepare for what the future may bring.
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Keynote | Is It Time to Raise the Bar for Leadership?
Speaker: Frankie Russo, The Growth Co.
Leading an integration firm today means taking on much more than technology installation. Instead, it’s about setting the tone for AI adoption, becoming a trusted cybersecurity partner, and showing customers that your team can solve real business challenges. This session digs into what it truly takes in terms of leadership to inspire teams amid changing expectations, foster a culture of accountability and pride, and steer customers toward new possibilities as their needs evolve. A practical AI leadership playbook will be the leave-behind, meant to help you integrate AI, cybersecurity, and evolving workforce demands as opportunities to become true strategic partners to your customers.
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General Session | Your Blueprint for Thriving Teams and Resilient Leaders
Speaker: Carlos Whittaker, Best-Selling Author, Influential Digital Creator, and Storyteller
What if the secret to high-performing teams and resilient leaders isn’t working harder, but working “humaner”? Connected, kind people are better employees, teammates, and leaders. Building on a powerful conversation that began during the 2025 Business & Leadership Conference about what it means for leaders to be “whole,” Carlos Whittaker teaches how self-leadership creates a foundation for leading others with empathy, trust, and purpose. With many integrators reporting disengagement due to repetitive tasks or lack of meaning, this session offers a practical roadmap for helping your teams reconnect, collaborate, and move from “busy” to intentional progress.
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Lunch
Take a break from the sessions to share a meal and insights with other leaders. Lunch offers a relaxed setting to network, exchange ideas, and discuss the morning’s standout moments.
Day 1 Breakouts
Breakout #1
How to Bridge the Gap When Wisdom Walks Out the Door
Moderator: Bill Chamberlain, Verrrex
Panelists: Mark Adelhelm, Candela Controls; Shedan Maghzi, Avidex; Pat Richter, Basepoint Building Automations
In our industry, succession planning is no longer a distant concern. It’s a pressing challenge, and its importance is front and center now, as many integrators face the reality of leadership gaps when seasoned executives step back. This session tackles what really happens when decades of experience walk out the door, using real examples of companies that have navigated the loss of several key leaders at once. Learn how to define and empower the next tier of leadership, clarify the role and authority of second-in-command positions, and avoid the pitfalls of over-involvement or unclear succession paths. Explore proven strategies to identify and develop future executives, balance legacy with fresh thinking, and build a more resilient organization ready for whatever comes next.
Breakout #2
Proof, Not Promises: Integrators Are Making AI Pay Off
Moderator: Frankie Russo, The Growth Co.
Panelists: Sunil Botadra, AV Design Labs; Jeff Brum, Mechdyne; Brad Dempsey, Solutions360; Jon Kiley, Red Thread
Looking for real answers on AI? This session pulls back the curtain on how integrators are using AI to tackle everyday business challenges and drive meaningful results. Hear firsthand about when, why, and where companies choose to use AI; what obstacles they face; and the measurable impact they achieved, from streamlining compliance and sales enablement to boosting productivity and unlocking new revenue. We’ll also share practical insights on developing company policies for AI and ensuring information security so you can confidently chart your own AI journey.
Breakout #3
The Bottom Line First: Financial Habits for Turbulent Times
Moderator: Joel Harris, Solutions360
Panelists: Laura Watson, CCS Presentation Systems.; Dan Schmidtendorff, Communication Company; Chris Wasp, Ronco
Learn how to sharpen your company’s edge when the market gets tough. This session breaks down the keys to financial strength for integrators, focusing on the metrics, habits, and contract tactics that separate stable businesses from those that struggle when uncertainty hits. Get real advice on what to track, how to benchmark, and which contract details can save you from procurement pitfalls. We’ll also walk through the essential NSCA tools that help you dodge costly mistakes and keep your bottom line secure, even when conditions change fast.
Breakout #4
Sales Workshop: Sales Strategies that Stand Out in a Changing Market
Moderator: Jon Ray; Revenueify
Panelists: Don Mastro, FORTÉ; Michael Tremble, Valley Communications; Marquis Woodard, Lone Star Communications
It’s time to rethink the strategies, skills, and culture that truly resonate with clients in a shifting industry landscape. Learn how to tailor sales approaches for different customer types, adjust pitches to stay relevant, and lead impactful business reviews that create lasting client value. Get practical tips for preparing customer meetings, optimizing presentations, and making sure tech solutions rise above “good enough,” while uncovering new ways to build urgency around the unique benefits you can deliver.It’s time to rethink the strategies, skills, and culture that truly resonate with clients in a shifting industry landscape. Learn how to tailor sales approaches for different customer types, adjust pitches to stay relevant, and lead impactful business reviews that create lasting client value. Get practical tips for preparing customer meetings, optimizing presentations, and making sure tech solutions rise above “good enough,” while uncovering new ways to build urgency around the unique benefits you can deliver.
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Executive Power Hour | Unlocking Profit Potential – Mastering the Hidden Secrets of Fortune, Freedom and Fun
Speaker: Mark Fenner, Rise Performance Group
Unlock team alignment, accountability, and growth by using the practical frameworks trusted by the world’s top-performing integrators. In this results-driven keynote, you’ll learn how leaders can drive meaningful change in company culture, elevate employee expectations, and turn strategic vision into hands-on execution. Explore actionable tools from the Scaling Up Performance Platform to accelerate business performance. Walk away with a clear plan to build common goals, instill extreme accountability across your teams, and master the critical decisions that fuel profit and freedom.
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Reception & Cocktail Hour
Unwind and connect after a full day of keynotes and sessions. Enjoy a casual cocktail hour with fellow attendees and speakers—an ideal time to share reflections, make new introductions, and celebrate the start of another unforgettable BLC.
Dinner & Entertainment
End the evening on a high note with dinner and live entertainment among friends and colleagues. It’s a chance to relax, laugh, and enjoy the company of the industry’s best while celebrating the energy and innovation that make BLC special.
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7:30 am
8:30 am
9:15 am
10:30 am
10:45 am
12:00 pm
1:00 pm
1:15 pm
2:30 pm
2:45 pm
Breakfast
Fuel up for the last day of BLC. Whether you’re debriefing yesterday’s takeaways or mapping out new goals with colleagues, breakfast is the perfect place to recharge and refocus.
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Wake-Up Session | NSCA Legislative Agenda and Business Meeting
NSCA is your voice, your business resource, and your trusted advisor.
Our annual business meeting covers the state of our industry, the election of our leadership, and our 2025 legislative agenda. This interactive session is led by NSCA and industry leaders who have specific experience and knowledge about codes and compliance, emerging technologies, risk management, industry trends, growth strategies, and running successful integration companies. Make it a top priority to attend and learn what NSCA is doing to support your business, keep you informed, and help you take action.
General Session | Don’t Quit Yet: One More Thing, One More Time
Speaker: Josh Sundquist, The Sundquist Company
Paralympian Josh Sundquist brings a masterclass in adaptive resilience rooted in his training motto—One More Thing, One More Time (1MT1MT). Through unforgettable storytelling and candid humor, he shares how this mindset powered him from childhood cancer and amputation to the Paralympics, bestselling books, and Apple TV+. Come away uplifted and ready to foster resilience in volatile markets, rebound from setbacks, and approach transformation with grit and optimism. With practical strategies for keeping a growth mindset, creating urgency for personal change, and energizing teams, you’ll learn how to turn 1MT1MT into a lasting message every leader can apply the moment they return to work.
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Keynote | Nobody’s Listening: Close the Communication Gap Between Leaders and Teams
Speaker: Amanda Gore, The Joy Project
In an industry built on connection, leaders are struggling to communicate with their teams. This session takes a hard look at the changing landscape of commercial integration, including rising (and sometimes conflicting) employee expectations and the leadership challenges that come with it, especially for seasoned leaders. How is it possible to have a family-like culture and workplace, but make key business decisions like a larger corporate entity? Explore how work-life balance demands, distractions, and generational gaps are reshaping how teams engage, and why hands-on, customer-facing roles create unique leadership hurdles. Learn strategies to set boundaries without sacrificing empathy, and discuss practical steps to address communication breakdowns. You’ll be ready to lead with clarity, make tough decisions, and maintain team impact in a world where being heard is harder than ever.
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Lunch
Wrap up the morning portion of BLC with a collaborative lunch designed to spark fresh ideas and lasting connections. Celebrate what you’ve learned and the plans you’ll take home to strengthen your business.
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Day 2 Breakouts
Breakout #5
Building an AI-Ready Workforce
Moderator: Brian Banks, Core Consultor
Panelists: Michael Castiglione, Automated Systems Design; Lori Hudnall, SAGE Integration; Matt Thorne, ECC
As AI becomes a core driver of solutions and operations, workforce evolution becomes essential. This session gives leaders the insight and practical strategies they need to build AI-ready teams, from understanding where skills gaps exist to deciding when to upskill vs. hire. Learn about roles emerging in the age of automation, explore real examples of integrators that are adapting their workforces, and discover effective pathways for training and cross-functional collaboration. Get ready to confront tough questions about which jobs could be phased out, how to overcome resistance to change, and what steps you can take to ensure that your company remains competitive and futureproof.
Breakout #6
Centralize. Standardize. Automate: A Self-Funded Path to Business Transformation
Presenters: Chris Stephenson, alliant; Chuck Wilson, NSCA
Margins don’t erode overnight — they erode through the daily operational behaviors that quietly drain profitability: inconsistent processes, weak project management discipline, siloed decision-making, and bottlenecks that slow the entire cash-conversion cycle. In this session, integration company leaders will learn how to rethink their operations through the lens of centralization, standardization, and automation. This practical business-transformation model helps leaders pinpoint the areas where process discipline and workflow redesign can unlock capacity, reduce chaos, and create predictable project outcomes. Attendees will leave with a clear framework for identifying their biggest profit killers, prioritizing operational fixes, and sequencing changes that generate measurable financial lift. The goal: streamline the business, eliminate bottlenecks, improve forecasting and scheduling, and put more money on the bottom line — fueling a transformation that can self-fund its own next steps.
Breakout #7
Sales Workshop: How to Really Leverage AI in Your Sales Process
Moderator: Chris Peterson, Vector Firm
Panelists: Jeff Oakes, D-Tools; Chris Turner, New Era Technology
What if your sales team could work smarter, not harder? This session unlocks how AI-driven tools are transforming every stage of the sales cycle, from prospecting and personalized outreach to deal-closing and customer upselling. Discover practical ways to use AI for sharper lead targeting, dynamic presentations, and real-time coaching, while automating what slows sales reps down. You’ll see the hottest platforms in action, learn how AI can boost your bottom line without sacrificing trust, and leave ready to start leveling up your sales strategy right away.
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Closing Keynote | When Human Dynamics Make or Break Teams
Speaker: DeDe Halfhill, United States Air Force
Momentum stalls, resistance builds, and ambitious initiatives unravel … not because of flawed strategy, but because of barriers within teams. Compliance can be confused for commitment, and silence can be mistaken for alignment. This session shines a light on the human dynamics that often make or break execution. Gain practical tools to uncover and address the root causes of disengagement, surface unspoken tensions before they become obstacles, and foster cultures built on trust, adaptability, and honest communication for lasting impact. You’ll leave with a new leadership lens that will help you build trust, surface real issues, and harness the emotional current that drives lasting impact in high-pressure environments.
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Registration for BLC 2027 is Now Open!
Call our office at 1-(800)-446-6722 for any questions or concerns.
Guest Admission, Substitutions, and Cancellations:
Guest Admission
Available to guests of NSCA member companies (excludes employees).
Includes:
- Opening-night reception and dinner
- Wednesday breakfast and evening reception/dinner
- Thursday breakfast and evening reception/dinner
Please note: Guest admission does not include lunches, conference materials, or access to general sessions.
Substitution & Cancellation Policy
- Substitutions can be made at any time.
- Cancellations received in writing at least 30 days before the event will be refunded, minus a 25% cancellation fee.
- For cancellations made less than 30 days but at least one week before the event, a 50% cancellation fee will apply.
- No refunds will be given for cancellations made less than one week before the event.
NSCA is not responsible for weather-related interruptions that may affect at
Substitutions may be made at any time. Cancellations are accepted and registration fees refunded (less a 25% cancellation fee) if notice is received in writing at least 30 days prior to the event. If cancellation is received less than 30 days but at least one week prior to the event, registration fees (less a 50% cancellation fee) will be refunded. If cancellation is made less than one week prior to the conference, no refund will be given. NSCA is not responsible for weather-related interruptions that affect connection to the event. By submitting payment, you agree to cancellation terms for BLC.
