Keynote Speakers
Experience. Expertise. Passion.
AGC of Kentucky is proud to feature a lineup of highly respected industry experts as our speakers. These individuals possess a wealth of knowledge and experience, and will provide invaluable insights into the latest trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in the construction industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from the best and engage in meaningful discussions with their peers.
Zach Giglio is CEO of GCM, an award-winning agency that shows organizations how to leverage cutting-edge AI technology to become more efficient and profitable. He is certified by the Wharton School of Business in AI strategy for business and is a curriculum committee member on AI at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management.
Renowned for his insights into the fascinating convergence of AI and business, Zach is a frequent keynote speaker at industry conferences, a TEDx speaker and was recently honored as one of Charleston’s Forty under 40. Additionally, he conducts intensive AI trainings and implementations, tailored to equip organizations with the requisite knowledge and skills to effectively harness AI, fueling their operations, sales, marketing and administration abilities and driving revenue growth.
Zach's consulting acumen spans a diverse array of organizations, from Fortune 500 companies to dynamic startups. His professional journey has taken him from Washington D.C. to Johannesburg and back to the USA, where he co-founded GCM.
Beyond his professional commitments, Zach contributes actively to his local community, being a member of multiple nonprofit organizations. He indulges his personal passions in travel, wine, and conversation, underpinned by a lifelong love for storytelling, history, and culture. Zach resides in the Charleston, S.C. area with his wife and three children.
Keynote: AI in Construction: How to Start, Where to Focus, and What’s Working Now
This keynote will explore how construction leaders are actually using AI today project management, safety analysis, estimation, subcontractor/vendor management and proposal writing. We’ll share insights from GCM’s work with contractors across the country, including strategies that are gaining traction and practical tips for getting started without needing a technical background. We’ll also cover what to avoid and how to align your AI approach with your business goals.
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Breakout Session: Live AI Use Cases: Real Workflows You Can Apply Right Now
This breakout will take a deeper dive into specific AI workflows we’ve implemented with contractors, such as preconstruction planning, proposal support, and job cost analysis. We’ll walk through several use cases live and show how small changes to daily workflows can lead to big gains in productivity and accuracy. Attendees will leave with actionable prompts and workflows they can bring back to their teams immediately.
Brandon Schroeder has been an electrician for over 20 years. On August 24, 2011, Brandon survived an arc flash explosion that without a doubt should have killed him.
It was late in the day, and work would be done in a half-hour. The general contractor asked Brandon to relocate a temporary power feed running all the electricity to the construction site. The task was simple: disconnect the cord, pull the cord though a doorway, and hook it back up.
But there were two problems. First, there was no main breaker on the panel, so the only way to shut off the power was to call the utility company. Second, about a week earlier, Brandon let a co-worker borrow his arc flash suit. Early in his career, no one wore arc flash suits, and until about five years before the accident, Brandon had never seen one. But he had done way more dangerous tasks than this countless times – why couldn’t he do this?
He had a decision to make, and he made the wrong one.
Today, Brandon is a professional speaker who tells his story with one goal in mind – ensure no one else makes the same choice he did. His raw story connects with audiences across all walks of life. His inspiring story has you re-think what safety means to their daily life regardless of your occupation.
