Exploring Construction Leadership at the Contractor Coalition Summit

There’s something special that happens every time builders come together, but what happened this November in Chicago was on another level. I’ve been part of the Contractor Coalition Summit since the very beginning, and I can honestly say this one felt deeper, more emotional, and more connected than anything we’ve hosted in the past.

Maybe it was the Chicago energy. Maybe it was the smaller, more intimate group: 35 builders and one designer gathered at the Kimpton Gray Hotel. Or maybe it was simply the right people in the right room at the right moment. Whatever the reason, the walls came down fast. From the first night, you could tell people weren’t there to pretend or receive basic professional development. They came ready to get honest about the hardest parts of their careers, and that vulnerability set the tone for the entire weekend.

As someone who’s been preaching community over competition for years, it was powerful to watch. This wasn’t surface-level networking. This was real connection. 

A Different Kind of Summit

This event felt more relational and emotionally charged. I heard stories from people who were exhausted, burnt out, unsure of their next step, yet still hopeful. When one person opened up, another followed, and then another. Before long, we had a room full of builders and leaders talking about the things they normally keep inside: the pressure, the responsibility, the hiring challenges, and the endless push to keep a business running.

It reminded me why construction leadership development matters more now than ever. If there's one thing our industry needs, it's honesty around how to build thriving companies without sacrificing our families, marriages, or mental health.

And that’s exactly what this summit became.

Boundaries Create Freedom

One of the highlights for me personally was sharing a session I’ve been working on for months: “Boundaries Create Freedom.”

The older I get (and the more mistakes I make) the more I realize how essential boundaries are. They shape the health of our marriages. They determine how much of ourselves our kids get. They influence whether our business feels sustainable or suffocating.

I walked through the kind of boundaries that took me years to learn. Things like creating real stop times, limiting how much emotional weight you carry alone, protecting creative energy, and saying “no” to the wrong clients so you can say “yes” to the right ones.

I knew the topic would resonate, but I didn’t expect people to come up afterward with tears in their eyes. Several told me it changed how they think about their family schedule. Others said it was the wake-up call they needed to reclaim their business instead of letting it run them. One builder even said, “This saved my life.” You don’t forget moments like that.

When leadership becomes vulnerable, it becomes transformative.

Standout Sessions + Behind-the-Scenes Wins

Chicago also gave us some incredible teaching moments. Nick Schiffer and I led a session on branding using Mysa Hus and 45 White Oak as examples of how powerful a clear home brand can be. 

We also introduced a new QR-code-based Q&A system, which turned out to be one of the biggest hits of the weekend. It allowed people to ask the real questions they might hesitate to say out loud.

And then there were the unexpected moments: Walking interviews in the pouring rain with a mic clipped to a ZZ-Top-level beard, the Integro house tour that sparked a dozen conversations about design clarity and client communication, and late-night one on one talks that dove into leadership, marriage, burnout, and what it means to carry a construction business on your shoulders.

Those are the moments that stick with you.

For more on mental health in the industry, check out this blog!

The ROI You Can’t Put on a Spreadsheet

Every summit creates ripple effects, but the stories we heard in Chicago hit differently. One builder told us that after attending a previous event, he transformed his entire business. Another shared that because of the summit, he wrote an email in 12 minutes that used to take him three days. When you’re overwhelmed, even simple decisions feel impossible. Leaving with clarity is worth more than any template.

That’s the heart of construction leadership: giving people the tools and the confidence to move forward with strength.

This isn’t just business education. It’s life education.

Collaboration Over Competition (Always)

If there was one theme that kept coming up, it was this: people genuinely want to help each other win.

Builders shared their best systems without holding back. They admitted their failures. They passed along vendor recommendations. They offered jobsite processes and financial frameworks that took them years to refine. In any other industry, people would guard those secrets. But not here.

This is why I love this work. When you take ego out of the equation, leadership becomes a community sport.

Looking Ahead

Chicago was a catalyst. We’re already planning alumni engagement programs, a scholarship initiative, and more accessible one-day events in 2026 so that builders at every stage can join in. It’s clear the industry is hungry for more spaces like this. If Chicago is a preview of what’s coming next, I couldn’t be more excited.

Stay tuned for future opportunities and events!