A chronological view of the Summit experience. Choose between General Admission and Roundtables Member agendas.
Have a specific topic you're interested in? See what sessions are being offered in each of the five education tracks.
President
Alison McLennan is President of McLennan Contracting, a design-build remodeling company in Lancaster, PA. Alison and her husband, Tim, co-own the business and are passionate about creating a company culture that is characterized by collaboration, diligence, and continual learning.
Session: The Tim Faller Show
President
Andy Haste is owner and president of Riverside Construction, a Lafayette, Indiana, design build firm, which has been in business for 15 years. In 2008, he launched Riverside Construction.
Today, Riverside produces over $5,000,000 in annual revenue. The company has 35 employees.
Session: Meet the Mentors
President
Join Andy Wells and Victoria Downing as they discuss the challenges remodelers face as they work to grow thriving, profitable businesses.
Andy learned the remodeling business from the ground up; beginning with sales and operations, transitioning into management, and eventually ownership. Normandy Remodeling has enjoyed tremendous growth since Andy took on a Management role, with sales volume increasing five fold over a 10 year period.
Normandy's fiscal conservancy as well as its strong industry ties have become noteworthy assets for the company, ones that Andy protects and nurtures to ensure future success.
Production Manager
Chris Hageman is the Production Manager at Crane Builders in Nashville, TN. The company was founded over 30 years ago by David Crane and is a luxury remodeler in the area. Before joining Crane Builders two years ago, Chris owned his own contracting company in California.
Session: The Production Panel
Co-Owner
Chris Peterson, MCR, CRPM, CLC, is a Co-Owner of Schloegel Design Remodel. Chris has served as president of NARI Kansas City, actively participates in Remodelers Advantage, and advocates for industry growth through NARI's Future Fund program.
Session: Hiring & Onboarding New Team Members
President
Craig Webb is president of Webb Analytics, a consulting and research company that helps construction supply companies identify and respond to trends, and threats. He spent 12 years as editor-in-chief of ProSales, as well as editor-in-chief of Remodeling magazine.
Session: Turbulence Ahead: Remodeling’s 12-Month Economic Outlook
Director of Business Development
Damiano Saracino has 25 years of expertise in all facets of Italian and European cabinetry, lighting, and the furniture industry. He started his career in Italy with one of the most prestigious brands of kitchen cabinets, where he honed and acquired his technical and sales skills.
After moving to the US in 2005, he expanded his field of expertise in the multifamily business, successfully completing projects in North and South America. Today, Damiano is the National Director of Lighting Business Development for Richelieu Hardware.
His primary focus today is to increase awareness in lighting, supporting manufacturers while integrating LEDs in their product lines as well as educating architects and designers on incorporating LED lighting in cabinets.
Session: Using Design Trends To Create Competitive Advantages
Executive Vice President Building Materials
Dan Smith is Executive Vice President Building Materials for Williams Distributing. He is known as a cross-functional leader who builds teams that capture customer insights and identifies new opportunities and then translates them into actionable marketing plans with strong results.
He has more than 30 years of experience in the Consumer Goods and Building Products industries with progressively more responsibility. His experience ranges from minority ownership and marketing strategy for a $30M business to guiding the $900M+ product strategy for Masco Cabinetry.
Session: Multi-Family Project Bidding and Management: Keys to Success
President
While completing numerous projects in Maryland and Northern Virginia since 2005, Daniel has been able to build an award winning company with a Sub-Contractor Team that prioritizes his jobs over any other contractor, sticks with him for years and are willing to take care of service issues.
Executive Director
Dave King has spent the past 20 years in the strategy, research and advanced analytics space holding advanced degrees in economics, statistics and business.
The last 10 years has been focused solely in the home improvement space where he oversaw the strategy and research efforts of EnerBank.
Session: Home Improvement Forecast and Trends to Watch Out for in 2024
Principal & Co-Founder
David Pollard is an architect, builder, and co-founder of Liv Companies; a full-service residential design-build company in the Chicago suburbs. Dave has worked for several high-profile Chicago firms such as Goettsch Partners, and David Hovey’s Architect-led development company, Optima Inc, honing his skills to better understand how to make the process of design more efficient, and therefore more accessible.
Session: Ask Anything
Director of Consulting
Doug Howard is an experienced Leader, entrepreneur and business consultant with over 25 years of success in leading organizations, starting new companies and assisting client businesses as they start-up, grow or transition.
Throughout his career Doug has served in leadership in for-profit, non-profit and government organizations. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business, Doug now specializes in helping remodeling company owners develop strategic plans, streamline processes, improve profitability, and navigate growth.
Director of Operations & Production
Doug has always had a passion for construction. He spent over five years managing projects for a technology company before joining Hogan Design & Construction in 2017.
He started as a Project Manager at HDC before moving into Production Manager role, now the Director of Operations & Production.
Session: Making Scheduling Work For You
President
Gladys Schanstra is president, creative director and senior designer of Drury Design in Chicago. She holds the industry’s highest professional design designation: CMKBD, certified master kitchen and bath designer, and is a well-known interior design expert across the Midwest.
Once an aerospace/mechanical engineering student, Gladys holds an interior design degree from Chicago’s Harrington College of Design. A solid technical foundation combined with her eye for detail allows her to take her client’s wish list and transform it into beautiful living spaces that enhance their daily routines.
As an active NKBA Midwest Chapter member, Gladys has a passion for consistently expanding her design industry knowledge
Session: Using Design Trends To Create Competitive Advantages
Sales Trainer
Jeff is a franchise owner of Sandler Training and the Remodelers Advantage Sandler Sales Trainer. He has advised, trained and coached small and medium-sized companies as well as large enterprise companies on developing stronger sales teams, closing more sales and leading organizational change.
Sessions:
Owner and VP
Jeremy Steinruck has over 20 years of experience in residential and light commercial construction and holds a Master’s Degree in Management from Wayland Baptist University.
Jeremy manages the office activities from sales, through the design and pre-construction processes, until projects are prepared for handoff to production. He works to improve efficiency and value added before construction starts. His most important responsibility is to cast the vision for the future of Axis Construction and organize and motivate our team toward our shared goals.
Session: Head Trash: 5 Strategies for protecting your headspace in uncertain times
Founder
Kathy Svetina is the founder of NewCastle Finance, a company offering Fractional CFO services to women-owned small businesses. For nearly 14 years she served as a senior-level financial planning and analysis executive for Fortune 500 companies.
She helps business owners as a "Financial Puzzle Solver" to get clear on their numbers and their financial strategy so they feel confident they are making good decisions that will result in a thriving business.
Session: Margin Magic: Strategies to Boost Kitchen and Bath Showroom Profits
President
Kelly Kirk is a second-generation President of Greymark Design + Build, taking the reins from her mother in 2019. Prior to Greymark, she earned her CPA license and worked in public accounting, followed by financial management. Outside of work she spends time with her husband and two toddlers.
Author | Business Owner | Marketer
Mark Harari is an award-winning marketer and the best-selling author of Lobster on a Cheese Plate: How to stand out, attract the best clients, and win every sale that comes your way.
His pioneering work in developing targeted audience acquisition strategies has influenced industry best practices. Throughout his career, Mark has run the marketing gamut: From email, SEO and web design to copywriting, positioning and brand management.
He is the recipient of numerous marketing awards in many categories, including video, web design, print advertising, and copywriting. They include three prestigious Muse Creative awards, an IAC award, three AVA Digital awards, and two MarCom International awards.
Session: Everything That's Wrong With Your Website (And How to Fix it)
Production Manager
Marsha Hanna is the Production Manager of McLennan Contracting, a design-build remodeling company in Lancaster, PA.
Marsha began her career with McLennan in September of 2019 as a project coordinator and assumed her current role of Production Manager in October of 2020.
Session: The Tim Faller Show
Consultant
Michael started his first construction company as a one-man-show in 2000, eventually growing Coleman Creek Construction to include a successful team of 20+.
Michael’s affinity for data analytics coupled with a keen sense of specificity and discernment have allowed him to develop proprietary systems that set Coleman Creek apart in the industry.
Designed to eliminate unexpected variables and ensure accurate bids and realistic schedules, these processes have helped Coleman Creek become one of the most respected remodeling construction companies in Southern Oregon.
Michael joined Remodeler’s Advantage in 2016 in an effort to deliver the greatest possible value to his homeowner clients. Investing in the development of efficient systems for his own business inspired the creation of Maestro’s Toolbox.
Session: Ask Anything
Production Manager
Morgan was born and raised in Sonoma County. After moving out of state to pursue a degree in Journalism from Gonzaga University, she returned to Sonoma County and landed in a career in commercial construction management for several years before making her way to LEFF.
In July 2021 Morgan was promoted to Acting Production Manager after four years as a project manager.
She coordinates all work to be performed by the superintendents and construction crew, and partners closely with the Design Department to ensure that projects are completed on schedule and on budget and the clients receive an exceptional product.
She loves the exciting nature of construction and the creative problem-solving that design/build entails.
Principal
Nancy Braamse founded Olde World Cabinetry, Inc. with her husband John Braamse in 1995 with the desire to impart knowledge, professionalism, and years of experience to the field.
Her philosophy is to gain a precise understanding of client needs and desires, and to transform them into distinctive, timeless, dream full-filling environments. Nancy is a certified interior designer and a certified kitchen designer. She also is a past president of BKBG.
Session: Multi-Family Project Bidding and Management: Keys to Success
National Account Manager
Peggy Timberlake is the National Account Manager of the Dealer Distributor channel for American Woodmark’s Waypoint Cabinetry where she manages more than $30M in business across the US. She is responsible for contact negotiation, bids and pricing as well as setting and monitoring performance goals.
She also serves as the liaison between Waypoint’s partners and internal teams to create and implement strategies that ensure partner requirements are met. Peggy has been with American Woodmark for more than two decades, serving in positions that include the Home Center Channel, helping to launch the Waypoint brand, and in various sales and management positions where she has received multiple honors for outstanding performance.
Session: Multi-Family Project Bidding and Management: Keys to Success
President
Phill Oddo is president of Closer Look General Contracting in Clayton, NC. He graduated from SUNY ESF with a degree in Construction Management, moved to Raleigh, NC in 1997. He was in commercial construction before starting Closer Look in 2005, specializing in design/build and remodels.
Session: Overcoming the Losses: Professional, Financial, and Personal Resilience in the Face of Embezzlement
Ryan Stiffney
Ryan became Bellweather's production manager in 2017, and has built a proficient production department. With the success of his team, his focus has shifted from crisis management to mentoring and coaching.
Session: The Production Panel
Senior Compensation Consultant
Sheila has comprehensive and in-depth experience in HR Strategy, Compensation, Benefit Design
& Administration, Succession Planning, Human Capital Management & Software Implementation,
Compliance, Culture/Employee Engagement, Organizational Design, Leadership Development, and Performance Management.
Session: Which is Better: Higher Salaries or Bigger Incentives?
Director of Design and Trends
Stephanie Pierce is the director of design and trends for MasterBrand Cabinets. She is responsible for trend analysis and development of styles and finishes for multiple leading cabinetry brands.
She leads a staff of talented designers who create beautiful cabinetry for residential kitchens, bathrooms, offices and beyond. Stephanie supports MasterBrand’s new product launches and works collaboratively on innovation initiatives, including the development of new materials and organizational SKUs. In addition, she captures and presents industry trends for media, designers and customers.
Stephanie received a bachelor’s degree in interior design from Indiana State University and is a member of the Color Marketing Group, an international association of color design professionals.
Session: Using Design Trends To Create Competitive Advantages
Executive Director of Roundtables
As Executive Director of Roundtables, Steve is ultimately responsible for ensuring our members have an amazing Roundtables experience that will help them reach their financial and personal goals. Prior to joining R/A, Steve spent 12 years as a remodeling business owner in nearby Delaware. In addition, Steve is Co-host of The Tim Faller Show, a weekly podcast focused on “Improving The Bottom Line Through Production Training…”
Session: The Tim Faller Show
Production Manager
Suzanne worked as a carpenter for 12 before becoming a project manager for 20 years at a large Portland Design/Build company. The last 10 years she has been in her current position as Production Manager at Craftsman Design and Renovation.
Session: The Production Panel
Director of Design and Trends
Suzanne Zurflah is Director of Design and Trend for Emser Tile where she is responsible for forecasting and identifying design and color trends that facilitate the creative vision, development and marketing of new product launches.
She helps define relevant design and trend shifts to successfully position Emser Tile as a design leader and to gain market share. Suzanne also is responsible for developing marketing materials for product collections, printed catalogs and brochures, websites, social media, as well as trade articles as it relates to design and trend and overseeing product launches, sales education, customer presentations and design and trade show events.
Session: Using Design Trends To Create Competitive Advantages
Master of Production
For over 20 years, Tim has worked shoulder-to-shoulder with hundreds of remodeling companies, large and small, to help improve profits by creating smooth, efficient production systems.
As a Senior Consultant for Remodelers Advantage, Tim’s field and business ownership experience is vital to his additional role as facilitator for Owner and Production Manager Roundtables Groups.
In addition to being a published author and very popular industry speaker, Tim is Co-host of The Tim Faller Show, a weekly podcast focused on “Improving The Bottom Line Through Production Training.”
President
For nearly 30 years, Victoria has worked with owners of remodeling companies across the United States and Canada, to help them build strong, consistently profitable businesses. She is known for her high-energy educational seminars as well as her in-depth knowledge of the best practices that transform company performance.
Victoria has created the industry’s largest community of motivated remodelers through Remodelers Advantage University and the Roundtables Peer Group Program. Currently, the members of this community produce over $1 billion in revenue annually.
In addition to being a published author and sought-after speaker, Victoria is Co-Host of PowerTips Unscripted, a weekly Podcast featuring interviews of thought-leaders from the Remodeling and associated industries.
Session: Meet the Mentors
Expert on Resliency
Vince Poscente, one of the most in-demand speakers today, is an expert on resiliency. His client list includes top organizations with one thing in common: They understand that success is not just about reaching your goals. It's about more. . especially when life doesn't go as planned.
Keynote: Full Speed Ahead: Do What the Competition is Not Willing to Do
Senior Consultant
Wayne Ottum is a passionate consultant, author and speaker dedicated to creating extraordinary businesses and leaders. He brings over 30 years experience in the fields of professional and business development to guide Remodeler's Advantage companies and leaders to greater confidence and success.
Session: Ask Anything
