beyond the blueprint: 2026 summit highlights
On April 30th, we turned the DEC at RedBird into a launchpad for economic mobility.
Here is a look at the connections made and the legacy we are building.
summit impact
Ready-to-work Talent
A resilient, job-ready talent pool arrived prepared to bypass traditional hiring hurdles and step directly onto the job site.
Industry Leadership
Top-tier employers transformed the summit floor into an active career lab, offering exclusive visibility and immediate hiring opportunities.
Interactive Engagement
Our custom Blueprint Book drove purposeful movement, guiding attendees through the exhibits that featured strategic career conversations.
Direct Connections
We facilitated high-stakes introductions between vetted talent and foundational partners, laying the groundwork for immediate economic mobility across North Texas.
Direct Industry Access
Real careers are built on real relationships. The summit floor served as a dynamic networking hub where job-ready talent gained direct insight into the region's top construction firms.
Through meaningful, face-to-face engagement, our partners connected with the skilled individuals ready to drive their next projects forward.
industry insights and strategic conversations
The 2026 main stage featured the leaders shaping North Texas.
Our panel discussions bypassed industry fluff to tackle the real challenges of talent sovereignty, second-chance equity, and the future of the built environment.
PANEL 1: Construction, Workforce & Economic Mobility
As North Texas continues to experience significant growth, the demand for a skilled workforce is more than an industry concern, it is a defining factor in the region’s long-term sustainability.
This session examined how careers in the built environment create accessible, high-impact pathways to stable employment, upward mobility, and generational wealth. The panelists grounded big-picture ideas in real-world impact, highlighting how education systems, workforce programs, and industry leaders must align to connect infrastructure and development to the people who power them.
Featured Speakers:
- Byron Sanders | Trustee, Dallas ISD
- Lynn McBee | Workforce Leadership, City of Dallas / Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas
- Louis J. King II | President and CEO, OIC of America
- Kendyll Locke | Chief of Staff, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett
- Nick Barker | VP, Turner Dallas Business Unit
- Asheya Warren | PRAXIS Strategic Consulting (Moderator)
PANEL 2: Pathways to Work Now: Attracting, Training & Hiring Talent in Construction
Following the midday Resource Fair & Career Connections, this tactical session shifted focus to immediate industry action.
The panel explored concrete strategies for attracting, training, and securing talent in today's demanding market, focusing on how employers can effectively connect with and hire the career-ready workforce.
Featured Speakers:
- Trelaine Mapp | Source Building Group
- Maddie Moxley | Quality Labor Management
- John Miller | Self Perform, Turner Construction
- Sharon Douglas | Potere Construction
- Louis J. King II | President and CEO, OIC of America
- Carmen Gaines
| Turner Construction (Moderator)
the build doesn't stop here.
The 2026 Summit proved that when motivated talent and industry leaders come together, the potential for local economic mobility is limitless.
We encourage you to take the insights, connections, and momentum built on the summit floor and apply them to your next big career move or hiring initiative.
