Best Building Conferences for Construction Sales Teams

Building Conferences and Construction Trade Shows for Estimators, Salespeople, and Business Developers

Building conferences and construction trade shows are not just great for networking, but essential for the education of your salespeople, estimators, and business developers. Conferences for construction sales teams include sessions on best practices, training, and lessons learned. In short, education that your sales team would not be privy to… Of course, they can also share their expertise and experience as a presenter at such events!

If you’re looking for construction conferences 2023/24 or construction trade shows 2023/24 to send your sales team to, look no further. Our article focuses on construction industry events that provide opportunities specifically for construction business developers, salespeople, and estimators to learn from and share with others. The construction trade shows are listed in chronological order. Check out the events of interest to you. And sign up!

Conferences for Construction Sales Teams

Groundbreaking Women in Construction Building Conference

May 11 – 12, 2023
San Francisco, CA

Groundbreaking Women in Construction is another building conference that focuses on women in the industry. Develop your leadership skills, expand your network, share and learn from peers, and also build on your successes and one of the biggest building conferences for women.

Visit the website for highlights of the 20th Anniversary conference, and to get updates on next year’s event.

Advancing Preconstruction Building Conference

May 24 – 26, 2023
Phoenix, AZ

As far as building conferences go, this is North America’s largest preconstruction and construction estimating conference. While this is not a construction estimating conference in itself, there are many tracks of interest to construction business developers and estimators, such as:

Download your complimentary Full Event Guide to see what you missed in the 8th Annual Advancing Preconstruction conference. This includes the expert speaker faculty, a full in-depth agenda, networking opportunities available, and how you can get involved in the discussion.

14 deep-dive workshops
6 streams of content for every project stakeholder
More networking opportunities than ever before
Discover the latest market insights
Technology Presentations

Upcoming Advancing Preconstruction Events

Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) Annual Conference

July 15 – 19, 2023
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Aurora, CO

Construction sales professionals and estimators can leverage this event to become more savvy from a financial perspective. Furthermore, they can make new connections.

2023 NAWIC 68th Annual Conference

Aug. 9 – 12, 2023
Portland, OR

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) provides education, community, and advocacy for women. Designed for all women in construction, the 2023 annual conference offers keynotes and panels on technology, culture and community, and leadership training. This year, one of the best building conferences for women offers continuing education credits, certification, jobsite tours, and networking opportunities with fellow women in the business, including a golf event.

Advanced Sales Management Seminar

Sept. 13 – 14, 2023
Doubletree Hotel O’Hare Rosemont, IL

While this is not a building conference, the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) seminar earns its position on our list and is worth attending. This sales seminar is intended for sales managers who have been in that position for a few years and are looking to up their game. For example, attendees will learn through a mix of hands-on, lectures and role-play exercises.

Greenbuild International Conference and Expo

Sept. 26 -29 | Expo: 27 – 28
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Washington, DC

This building conference and construction trade show is of interest to estimators and sales representatives who operate in the Green construction space.

This year, Greenbuild’s theme highlights the legacy and unwavering commitment of the Green building movement to transforming the built environment to serve, prepare and protect our communities in a rapidly-changing world.

The event will commemorate the USGBC’s 30th anniversary and mark the latest iteration of the LEED green building program that advances decarbonization, equity, health, biodiversity, and resilience in the built environment. The Women in Green platform represents women across the full spectrum of professional careers in the buildings industry. The 2023 theme is Self-Titled.

Chicago Build 2023 – Building Conference and Construction Trade Show

Oct. 11 – 12, 2023
McCormick Place, Chicago, IL

Chicago Build is the largest building conference and construction trade show for the Midwest with two days of content, including marketing tools, business skills, and innovation workshops. However, suffice it to say, this event covers diverse and in-depth topics and showcases innovation. These topics allow anyone in the construction industry to stay ahead of the curve, not just sales professionals and estimators.

2022 SMACNA Annual Convention

Oct. 15 – 18, 2023
Phoenix, AZ

SMACNA represents a broad spectrum of contractors who use sheet metal to fabricate and build architectural, ductwork, and HVAC metal systems in industrial, commercial, architectural, and residential markets. SMACNA also provides you with other in-person events of interest to this sector of the building industry.

CMAA National Conference

Oct. 29 – 31, 2023
Washington, DC

CMAA’s event includes a comprehensive construction expo hall, general and breakout sessions, and the annual industry recognition awards. For example:

Best practices used to complete successful projects and programs
Lessons learned from complex projects and programs
Inspiring leadership, partnerships, and talent management
Developing a diverse, inclusive, equitable, and professional workforce
Key issues facing the industry
Environmental impacts (sustainability, community, safety, etc.)
Innovative solutions to old problems
Industry trends (technology, economic, political, etc.)
Networking opportunities (about 90% of CMAA attendees are decision makers, many of them senior level executives).

Design-Build Conference & Expo

Nov.. 1 – 3, 2023
Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, National Harbor, MD

Are you a senior estimator or sales executive in the design-build construction industry? Then the topics covered at this event are of interest to you. For example,

best practices with a focus on lessons learned
managing risk and expectation
team collaboration developing a successful acquisition strategy

World of Concrete 2024 – Building Conference

Education: Jan. 22 – 25, 2024 | Exhibits: Jan. 23 – 25, 2024
Las Vegas Convention Center

The World of Concrete is one of the most robust building conferences and construction trade shows for the concrete trade segment. It provides business development and estimating professionals in the concrete trades with the connections, intelligence, and opportunities that help customers grow, do business, and make better informed business decisions.

International Roofing Expo

Feb 6 – 8, 2024
Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV

If you operate in the roofing segment of the construction industry, this is one of the best building conferences and construction trade shows you can attend. It is your chance to school yourselves in topics that range from how to drive more leads by building your brand to sustainability.

Tracks like General Business, Leadership, Money Matters, and of course Sales/Service provide valuable content for construction sales professionals and estimators.

PS: National Women in Roofing (NWIR) is hosting a one-day conference in Dallas, TX on March 5th in advance of IRE. Connect, discover, and cultivate new relationships with roofing professionals.

New York Build 2024 – Building Conference and Construction Trade Show

Feb. 13 – 14, 2024
Javits Center, Manhattan, NY

New York Build is the largest construction and design show for New York and the Tri-state area.

It provides attendees with two days of content, including marketing tools, business skills. In addition, this building conference offers innovation workshops that may be of interest to construction sales professionals and estimators. However, suffice it to say, this event covers diverse and in-depth topics and showcases innovation that allows anyone in the construction industry to stay ahead of the curve.

NAHB IBS

Feb. 27-Feb 29, 2024
Las Vegas, NV

NAHB IBS is one of the largest building conferences and construction trade shows specifically designed for home builders. This National Association of Home Builders event includes business management and sales and marketing tracks.

CI & CRI Joint Conference 2024

March 20 – 23, 2024
Iowa State University, Ames, IA

This building conference will provide insights on the latest techniques, technologies, and strategies used by owners, engineers, and also contractors to manage risk and to deliver their projects.

The Construction Institute Summit, with its heavy industry component, will facilitate interaction between construction research professionals, contractors, owners, and practitioners. They will share new developments and innovative practices. Network with peers, earn PDHs, and get access to leading research and industry practices.

Track 1: Advanced Technologies and Data Analytics

Track 2: Automation in Construction

Track 3: Computer Applications, Information Modeling, and Simulation

Track 4: Contracting, Project Delivery, and Legal Issues

Track 5: Construction Scheduling, Estimating, Economics, Quality and Value

Track 6: Construction Education, Workforce, Diversity, and Inclusion

Track 7: Health and Safety

Track 8: Sustainability and Resilience

Track 9: Infrastructure Systems and Engineering and Materials Design Track 10: Project and Organizational Management and Planning

Associated General Contractors of America Convention

March 19 – 22, 2024
San Diego, CA

Sales professionals and estimators alike can brush up on their knowledge of the construction industry while connecting to new opportunities through face-to-face networking.

Visit the event website to see what you missed at the 2023 convention.

AIA Conference on Architecture 2024

June 5 – 8, 2024
Washington, DC

As one of the best yearly construction trade shows, the architecture and design event of the year takes place in Washington, DC next year. With the city as your backdrop, explore architecture’s ability to drive new thinking in areas like design and sustainability. You can also earn your HSW, GBCI, RIBA & AIA LUs for the year. For daily highlights from the 2023 conference in San Francisco, CA, or to take a curated course from A’23 on AIAU, visit the archived A’23 website.

Atlantic Builders Convention – Conference and Expo

TBD

Hosted by the New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA), ABC is the largest construction trade show in the Northeast. This building conference features hundreds of exhibits showcasing the latest products and services to a large and diverse audience of decision-makers. Construction sales professionals and estimators can take away up-to-date information about the latest market trends, government policies, and technical developments.

Visit the website to sign up for the latest updates on the upcoming event.

ABC Convention – Building Conference and Construction Trade Show

TBD

This is one of the most important building conferences and construction trade shows you can attend. This construction event presents thought-leader content focused on helping contractor members improve their businesses and also their bottom lines. It also recognizes construction achievements.

Visit the website to sign up for the latest updates on the upcoming event and to see photos and highlights of the 2023 convention!

CONSTRUCT AEC Education and Expo

TBD

CONSTRUCT is an AEC educational program and exhibition that brings together the different disciplines within the construction industry to collaborate. For example, construction sales professionals and estimators can greatly benefit from a program that includes standards and best practices, industry trends, and emerging technologies.

In Conclusion

Whether you are a construction salesman, construction business developer, or construction estimator in the AEC industry, there are tracks at the building conferences and construction trade shows we’ve covered here that will serve you and your company well. The networking, broader education topics, and innovation you are privy to at these events are also of value to you as a construction professional interested in advancing your career and supporting your company to become a leader in the industry.

Many, if not all, of the content at the conferences we have listed here include tracks on how technology can serve construction companies, be it with bidding, project management or accounting software, 3-D printing, BIM, or a customer relationship management (CRM) system.

For construction sales teams, the best way to set sales goals and track progress is by using a construction CRM or a sales management solution that fits the construction process. Even though small companies may think that spreadsheets are acceptable, they lack crucial functionality and robustness. In today’s digitized world, it is quite fast, easy, and inexpensive to implement a software system.

How to Support Your Construction Sales Team with Technology

Let’s take some of the iDeal Construction CRM features as an example:

Manage All Your Bids, Leads, and Opportunities in One Place
Manage All Your Clients and Contacts in a Single System
Bid Multiple Clients for One Project
Create Professional Proposals in Minutes, Even Multiple Proposals at Once
Track Your Sales Pipeline Effectively
User Follow-up Automation so You Follow-up with Your Clients Consistently
Make Informed Decisions with Built-in Construction Reports

Pricing is very affordable. But see for yourself. Test drive all the features at your own pace without incurring any fees or obligations!
Wishing you more leads, clients, and jobs going forward!