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Where: |
East Tennessee State University Culp Center, Johnson City, TN |
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Hosted By: |
ETSU Department of Engineering, Engineering Technology, and Surveying. |
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Who Should Attend: |
Project Engineers, Project Managers, Architects, General Contractors, Sub Contractors, Field Engineers, Trades Professional, Surveying Professionals, or anyone who is interested in the Construction profession. |
Construction researchers and practitioners will be presenting on a number of topics, potentially including:
Delivery Contracts Methods & Options, Workforce Development (i.e. GoBuild TN), Industry Outlook and Trends, Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Data Analytics, Prefabrication and Modular Construction, Sustainability and Green Building, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), Critical Path Inspections and Scheduling (Lean Scheduling), Drones and Innovative Technology in Construction.
SPEAKERS
Scott Brandenburg
Vice President, Worldwide Engineering and Construction for Eastman Chemical Company
Appointed to this position in 2023, Brandenburg’s organization has responsibility for executing the global capital program, providing engineering services to ongoing operations, and onboarding technical talent.
Brandenburg joined Eastman in 2023 as Vice President and before that held Vice President of Engineering and Maintenance roles at BASF Corporation. During his time with BASF he worked in Geismar, Louisiana; Houston, Texas; Pt Arthur, Texas; Freeport, Texas; Mt Olive, New Jersey; Atlanta, Georgia; Middle Georgia; Ludwigshafen, Germany; Porsgrunn, Norway; and had responsibilities for multiple regional engineering offices in North America. He was responsible for Capital, Construction, Turnarounds, and Maintenance. He has been a global maintenance leader and has led multi-billion-dollar projects including a Joint Venture for a world scale steam cracker and more recently a Joint Venture for an Ammonia complex.
Scott is a past board member of the ECC (AIChE), Ombudsman, ABC craft steering team, past Site Chairman of the Capital Area United Way, and sponsor of multiple employee resource groups in efforts to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. He has been on several community and university advisory boards at various locations. He is a registered professional engineer and has training in LEAN/Six Sigma, Apollo RCFA, and FMEA.
Brandenburg grew up in various locals especially Louisiana. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University. Brandenburg and his wife reside in Johnson City, Tennessee and enjoy hiking in the Appalachians.
Brian Raff
Vice President of Market Development, AISC
Brian Raff is the former Director of Government Relations with the American Institute of Steel Construction. Since 2005, Brian has lead several marketing and business development roles within AISC and the National Steel Bridge Alliance. In 2013, Brian left the Institute to serve as Marketing Director for one of North America's largest structural steel building and bridge fabricators before returning to AISC in 2017. Mr. Raff graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree and received his MBA from DePaul University in Chicago, focusing on entrepreneurship and economic business strategy.
Mary Ellen Miller
CEO of MarketingMel
Mary Ellen Miller, APR, MBA, rejoined the world of entrepreneurship in September 2022. She is founder and CEO of MarketingMel, a public relations firm that strengthens relationships between organizations and the publics they serve. From 2015-2022 she led community relations for the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Boone Dam project. The $400-million infrastructure project used international expertise from around the globe in its successful repair of a leaking dam. She is an accredited public relations professional and lifelong professional communicator. “Mel,” as she is known to her co-workers, is a former television news anchor for WJHL - TV in Johnson City. She has held marketing and public relations leadership positions at businesses in the Tri-Cities including Nuclear Fuel Services, Hunter, Smith & Davis Law firm and East Tennessee State University. She previously operated MarketingMel for six years.
Steve Swift
Senior Vice President of Operations and Development, Speedway Motorsports, LLC
Steve Swift has served as Vice President of Operations and Development at Speedway Motorsports since 2019 overseeing construction projects and capital expenditures across all company properties and standardizing best practice operational procedures.
Swift joined Speedway Motorsports in 2004 as a Senior Construction Manager, served as Vice President of Operations and Development at Kentucky Speedway in 2011 and was named Vice President of Operations and Development at the corporate level in 2015. Swift graduated from East Tennessee State University with a degree in construction engineering technology.
Todd Johnson
President
Mr. Johnson brings 20 plus years of civil construction to the Civil Services Division. His experience includes airport, industrial and government projects. His government experience spans the local, state, and federal levels. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Engineering Technology from East Tennessee State University. He is still active at the University and serves on the Industrial Advisory Board for the construction department. He is responsible for the management and day to day operations of the Civil Division.
Becky Loomis Snyder
Licensed General Contractor, Realtor, and Designer
Growing up in the business she has found a love and appreciation for the construction industry. She sits on the Board for the Home Builder’s Association of Greater Knoxville as 2024 President. She is Chair of the Professional Women in Building Council and Co-Chair of the HBAGK Parade of Homes. On the state level, she sits on the board for the Home Builders Association of Tennessee and is a HIPAC Trustee. On the national level she is a delegate for the National Association of Home Builders. Outside of the building industry, she sits on the Board for the Boys & Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains where she is involved with Girl Empowerment and the Annual Festival of Trees in Gatlinburg. Most importantly she is a wife and mother of 2 young boys!
A.J. Merriweather
Entrepreneur, Business Owner, Athlete, and Influencer
A.J. is a 2017 graduate of East Tennessee State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering Technology. AJ attended ETSU on a full athletic scholarship and was a collegiate athlete for all four years while pursuing his degree. During his final season at ETSU, AJ led his team to the NCAA Tournament, and was a finalist in the NCAA Slam Dunk Contest in 2017. After graduation, A.J. was drafted to join the World Famous Harlem Globetrotters.
In 2021 he founded AJ Merriweather Construction, LLC., which is a construction company providing concrete finishing services and performing residential renovations.
Terry Hopkins
OSHA-authorized Trainer
Terry has a Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management from the University of Central Missouri and has worked for Tennessee OSHA for 9 years as a compliance officer, trainer, consultant, and now as a Supervisor. During his career, he has provided training to more than 1000 persons and has completed more than 200 inspections. He is an OSHA-authorized trainer for General Industry and Construction.
Amy Sherrill
Owner and Principal Architect, Benefield Richters Company
The firm specializes in design of office, retail, restaurant and industrial environments and serves businesses and communities throughout the Southeast United States. Amy is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is an active participant in the Institute for Real Estate Management, Building Owners and Managers Association, BNI, and the East Tennessee Industrial Council. She also enjoys participation in leadership programs such as Introduction Knoxville and Experience Your Smokies
Edwin Williams
Founder and CEO, ZenHammer
Edwin is very active in the local community and cofounded Founder's Forge, a local nonprofit that helps people launch startups. Edwin is also the 2nd vice chair of the National Association of Home Builders Associates Committee and also was a part of NAHB's strategic planning committee.
Kyle Myers
Drawing on over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Kyle Myers is motivated by his new work's meaningful impact on the community. As a process-driven Project Executive, he excels at developing efficient systems and processes that prioritize construction elements while minimizing waste. Kyle's dedication to excellence has resulted in successful outcomes for numerous recent affordable housing projects across North Carolina and Virginia, including the Sussex Place Apartments in Raleigh, Hardee St. Apartments in Durham and Perry Place Apartments in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. He is known for his commitment to creating safe, sustainable living options. He has also led extensive renovation projects such as the historical Sir Walter Apartments in downtown Raleigh and the Shockoe Hill Apartments in Richmond, Virginia. Kyle has also supported successful project teams in the Senior Living space since joining Weaver Cooke in 2018. With his wealth of experience and unwavering commitment, Kyle continues to impact communities positively through his work.
Thursday, May16th
Mary Ellen Miller
‘Building Connections: Proven Community Relations Strategies for Project Success’
‘Building Connections: Proven Community Relations Strategies for Project Success’
Terry Hopkins
‘Prioritizing Safety’
‘Prioritizing Safety’
Kyle Myers
‘Workforce Planning’
Steve Swift
‘Leadership Styles’
‘Leadership Styles’
ETSU Panel
‘Innovation & Technology’
AJ Merriweather and Edwin Williams
‘Const Entrepreneurship’
‘Const Entrepreneurship’
Friday, May 17th
Kyle Myers
‘Workforce Planning’
‘Workforce Planning’
Todd Johnson et.al.
‘Inflation and the Marketplace’
‘Inflation and the Marketplace’
Amy Sherrill
‘Building Together: Architects Role in Construction’
Mary Ellen Miller
‘Building Connections: Proven Community Relations Strategies for Project Success’
‘Building Connections: Proven Community Relations Strategies for Project Success’
Becky Snyder
‘Women in Construction’
ETSU Panel
‘Innovation & Technology’
‘Innovation & Technology’