The Build Iowa Award was initiated in 1989 as a vehicle to honor MBI members and to bring public attention to excellence in the construction industry. Each year, the Build Iowa Award is presented to a general contractor or an associate member who best exemplifies the tenets of our organization; Skill, Responsibility and Integrity. The nominees are judged by the way they have performed both within the construction community and in their communities as well. Chad Willett of Columbus, Ohio is this year's keynote speaker for the event. Chad jolts organizations and individuals, assisting them with their creativity, which allows for a competitive advantage over one's competition. A member of the prestigious Screen Actors Guild, successful entrepreneur, speaker and coach, Chad bridges the gap between the arts, and business, to help audiences maximize their creative potential. His book "Smash the Box" SMASHES the way books are written: pages are out of order, no table of contents, no page numbers, etc. Chad's presentation - Smash The Box - will have a direct impact on your team's culture, morale, productivity and retention rates.

While at the conference, be sure to stop and meet with vendors that are displaying their products and services. Visiting with these industry professionals is a great way to build upon your current relationships and to learn about new and innovative products on the market. An excellent networking opportunity for construction professionals to enjoy complimentary food and beverages is the Annual Construction Industry Reception. The reception is held in the exhibit areas of the conference and there is no charge to attend. While at the reception, try your hand at a round of golf at the Annual Mini Golf Tournament for a chance to win great prizes! Many other prizes will also be drawn at the conclusion of the Construction Industry Reception at 6:00 pm. Join 1,000+ of your colleagues from across the Midwest at this year's MBI Annual Winter Conference and go back to your office supercharged with new strategies, improved skills and enhanced perspectives for 2016. This is one annual event you can't afford to miss.