Moderator
Lunch Keynote Moderator & Speakers
-
Aaron Mills is an experienced accounting executive with more than 25 years of expertise in financial strategy, business growth, and financial management within the construction industry. As a fractional CFO with Daaxit, Aaron works closely with general contracting company owners to improve profitability, strengthen financial transparency, control expenses, and make informed business decisions.
Throughout his career, Aaron has helped lead companies through significant growth and change, including tripling company revenue, increasing EBITDA and profit margins, reducing expenses, and developing financial strategies for new business ventures. His experience spans financial oversight, cash flow management, operational efficiency, business planning, and helping leadership teams better understand and utilize their financial information.
Aaron brings a practical, contractor-focused perspective to financial management, with a strong emphasis on understanding what the numbers mean for day-to-day operations and long-term business success
Speaker
-
With more than 20 years of extensive construction experience, Tim is an expert in all phases of the construction lifecycle, from preliminary design and pre-construction phases to the project closeout.
Tim has a proven track record of success on keeping clients on budget while delivering the highest quality results possible. Prior to joining RWE Design Build in 2014, he was a Project Executive for Executive Construction Incorporated.
He has a bachelor’s degree in Construction Engineering Technologies from Purdue University and is OSHA Certified. Tim is also a member of the Chief Engineers Association and became a Fear Free Certified Professional in 2017 to provide the most value for RWE Design Build’s veterinary clients.
Speaker
-
Gianna Scarsella brings a strong background in commercial real estate, tenant improvements, lease negotiations, and capital project management. Her experience spans the coordination of commercial build-outs, capital programs, and real estate initiatives, giving her a practical understanding of the planning, collaboration, and execution required to bring projects to life. Through her work with Centre Construction Group, Gianna brings valuable insight into the relationship between real estate, construction, and project delivery.
Session Speakers
-
Thames is ABC's vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development. As a key member of ABC’s executive leadership team, Thames leads the associations health and safety, environment and workforce development initiatives. He brings 20 years of construction experience and a strong passion for workforce development to ABC. He has been an involved member of the association both nationally and locally, holding numerous leadership positions. Prior to joining ABC, he was the corporate director of human resources, workforce development, risk management and security for ABC member Performance Contractors Inc., headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
-
Wyatt Quigley is a Commercial Risk Advisor with J. Krug, an independent insurance and risk management firm that has been serving businesses for decades. Wyatt works closely with business owners and leadership teams to develop customized insurance and risk management strategies that protect their people, operations, and long-term growth objectives. Backed by J. Krug's deep expertise in the construction industry, he helps contractors and construction-related businesses navigate complex risks, strengthen safety initiatives, and build more resilient organizations. Wyatt is passionate about fostering strong relationships and delivering practical solutions that allow clients to focus on growing their businesses with confidence
-
With over a decade of hands-on experience in the construction industry and three years specializing in talent recruitment, Michael brings a unique combination of industry knowledge and recruiting expertise to workforce development. Having started their career working directly in the field, Michael understands the day-to-day demands of construction and the skills required for success across a variety of roles. This practical experience informs their approach to identifying qualified talent and connecting employers with professionals who meet their specific needs. Through a relationship-driven approach, Michael is committed to building strong partnerships with clients and candidates, helping create successful placements that support both individual career growth and the long-term success of construction businesses.
-
Allison Bockmuller is Vice President of Workforce Development at Tradesmen International, where she brings experience in workforce development, recruiting, and recruiting team leadership. As a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), Allison brings a strong human resources perspective to workforce strategy and talent development. Her experience makes her a valuable voice in conversations surrounding workforce challenges, talent acquisition, and developing the skilled workforce needed to support the construction industry.
-
David brings more than 20 years of hands-on experience migrating data and configuring ERP systems, and has seen firsthand how data problems derail implementations.
-
Jeff Risch has many years of both private practice and in-house counsel experience. In his practice, Jeff handles both employment and traditional labor matters. Such matters include: countering various union tactics; navigating government audits; defending discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination claims; avoiding employee wage and hour controversies; complying with prevailing wage and minimum wage laws; litigating employment contract disputes and unfair competition controversies; upholding independent contractor and contingent workforce relationships; and negotiating collective bargaining agreements.
Jeff’s legal knowledge is accompanied by his understanding of his clients’ industries, which include construction, banking, manufacturing and food processing, health care (particularly long term care), and transportation, among others. Jeff participates in various trade and professional associations devoted to his clients’ diverse industries. He is passionately committed to helping employers stay up-to-date with legal developments and trends unique to their industry.
-
Joe Xavier is senior director of health and safety for ABC National. He has served in leadership, quality, health, safety and compliance roles since 1992. Prior to joining ABC National in 2022, Xavier was the CEO of Summit Sustainability Solutions. He enjoys working with chapters, members and other organizations to promote total human health.
-
Nick Leon is an Account Executive with Aerotek specializing in construction trades staffing across the greater Chicagoland area. With a decade of experience in light industrial and manufacturing staffing, Nick transitioned into construction trades where he partners with general contractors, subcontractors, and specialty firms to deliver skilled labor solutions that keep projects on schedule and fully staffed.
At Aerotek, Nick takes a consultative and proactive approach, working closely with clients to understand project timelines, workforce gaps, and self-perform capabilities. He supports a variety of critical skill sets, including electricians, carpenters, plumbers, laborers, and other trades, helping companies navigate labor shortages and scale efficiently during peak construction cycles.
Nick is also actively involved with the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Illinois Chapter, where he serves on the Membership Committee. In this role, he contributes to strengthening the merit shop community and expanding contractor engagement across the region. He is especially passionate about workforce development and has been involved in supporting the next generation of construction talent through ABC’s apprenticeship programs, helping promote sustainable growth within the industry.
-
Dr. Chris Kuehl serves as Armada’s Chief Economist working with a wide variety of private clients and professional associations over the last 21 years. He serves as the Chief Economist for several national business associations. He is also the Economic Analyst for the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association and writes their bi-weekly publication, Fabrinomics, which details the impact of economic trends on manufacturers.
Chris is one of the chief editors for the Armada Flagship Brief, which hits several thousand business executives three times a week.
As a popular keynote speaker, he makes approximately 100 presentations each year to business and industry associations in the US and overseas.
Chris has a doctorate in Political Economics and advanced degrees in Soviet Studies and Asian Studies and was a professor of international economics and finance for over 15 years prior to starting Armada.
-
Adam San Juan is the Managing Director of Retirement Plan Services & Financial Advisor for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Illinois Multiple Employer Plan. With 25 years of experience in the retirement industry, he brings deep expertise in retirement plan design and implementation, combined with a unique understanding of human dynamics and generational relationships in the workplace. His recent books "The Most Honest Book on Prospecting Selling and Servicing 401(k) Plans" and "A Case for K(s)" demonstrate his commitment to demystifying retirement planning for both financial professionals and business owners.
Through his Argo Publishing works, including "What Are You Looking At?" and "What Am I Doing Here?", Adam has established himself as an authority on workplace dynamics and human interaction. His blend of financial acumen (holding Series 6, 63, and 65 licenses) and interpersonal insight makes him uniquely qualified to help business owners navigate the challenges and opportunities of managing multi-generational workplaces in today's evolving business environment.
-
Matthew Horn is a partner at Amundsen Davis and co-chair of the firm’s Construction and Manufacturing service groups, as well as chair of its OSHA Service Group. He advises construction and manufacturing clients on a wide range of legal matters, including construction contracts, negotiations, disputes, mechanics’ liens, construction defect claims, and OSHA compliance and inspections. With a background in accounting and construction, Matthew brings a practical, business-focused perspective to navigating complex legal and regulatory challenges. An experienced legal writer and speaker, he regularly shares insights on construction law, workplace safety, and regulatory developments affecting the industry.
-
Nigel Coelho leads agentic compliance at Lumber, building AI-driven tools that help construction companies navigate complex regulatory demands. A former Deloitte consultant, he spent years helping industrial clients cut costs, sharpen financial management, and navigate complex compliance scenarios. Before Lumber, Nigel led sales and marketing for AI products at Salesforce and founded Pivla, a vertical AI company focused on automated labor compliance, which was acquired by Lumber. He holds an MBA from Wharton and guest lectures at NYU's Schack Institute of Real Estate.
-
Brian is an innovator with diverse business and military leadership experience. He has served as a Regional Sales Director and Director of Marketing for two multi-billion-dollar healthcare companies. In addition to his experience growing large brands, Brian has devoted much of his career to helping small-and-medium sized healthcare practices build individualized strategies to win in their local markets. As a Signal Officer in the US Army, Brian executed missions in Afghanistan and Kuwait that required him to assess new technologies and improve network infrastructure. Through his business and military experience, Brian saw the importance of identifying the right partner vendors to solve problems. He founded ShapeConnect to simplify the process of finding the best B2B software and services for an organization’s needs.
