ICAA 2025 CONVENTION SCHEDULE

ICAA 2025 Golf Outing
Wednesday, October 8, 11:00 am
Registered Attendees Only, Additional Fee Required – CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR GOLF OUTING

ICAA 2025 TRADE SHOW
Thursday, October 9, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

SPF in Retrofit Attics: From the Phone Call to the Install
Brian Cote’, Installed Building Products and Tom Calzavara, Johns Manville
Friday, October 10, 9:00 – 10:15 am
From conditioned to unconditioned attics, we’ll cover the A-Zs of performing a quality job at a profit. From the initial phone call all the way through project completion and customer follow-up, this session will cover the details of walk around, point-of-sale, estimating and avoiding material miscalculations, to bid terms and conditions and exclusions, site preparation, and the installer operating the spray gun. We’ll discuss factors that can increase product yield in the field and how to account for them when preparing your job proposal. We’ll also address safety protocols, from storage and handling to application and cleanup, and discuss a list of non-negotiables during the sales process. Plus, we’ll share tips from a leading HVAC industry expert including: how to manage open combustion gas appliances in the attic, the impact of pre-existing conditions, and red flags to anticipate and look for when the building envelope envelope changes.
BPI CEU credit available for this session!

Lessons Learned From a Life Selling Insulation
Matt Helminiak, Davenport Commercial
Friday, October 10, 10:15 – 11:00 am
Selling insulation isn’t just about the product – it’s about understanding your clients, adapting to changing conditions, and handling every project’s twists and turns. One of the biggest lessons is the importance of trust and clear communication; that a successful sale goes beyond the contract. It’s about staying involved through the scope changes, change orders, and the unexpected. We all know that managing crews is tough. It’s hard to maintain motivation, consistency, and quality when there’s high turnover, different skill levels, and tough jobsite conditions. How do you get your employees to do what you want even when you aren’t looking? Matt will discuss his real life experiences and share practical tips for fostering open communication, setting clear expectations, and building a culture of accountability. He’ll also discuss considerations when thinking about jumping into residential new construction of retrofit work and designing successful compensation plans for sales people. If you want to learn from someone who’s lived through the challenges, don’t miss Matt’s discussion!
BPI CEU credit available for this session!

Trust Your Gut: The Ultimate Guide to Residential Construction Contracts
Karalynn Cromeens, Esq., The Cromeens Law Firm
Friday, October 10, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
As a residential contractor, chances are you’ve seen it all: litigation threats, withheld payments, and indecisive clients who change plans mid-project, or worse, abandon a project altogether. Karalynn will show you how to create a contract with clear expectations, breaking down the essentials and guiding you to draft contracts that work for you and your business. Learn how to handle disputes like the pro you are, how to include the right warranties, how to define the scope of work, and how to trust your gut when picking clients. We’ll also tackle the ever-present scope creep – when extra work sneaks into a project. Who will pay for this additional expense? We’ll give examples of how to spot it and minimize it.

Work With & Lead People Not Like You: Effective Communication in Family-Owned Businesses
Kelly McDonald, McDonald Marketing
Friday, October 10, 1:00 – 1:30 pm
Managing a family business is tough work. Differences can add friction. People often don’t see eye-to-eye, communication styles may be different, and levels of experience may be miles apart. How do you work alongside someone who is quite different from you, respect those differences, and be effective in your role? Learn how to navigate a complex work environment, build trust, and solve problems. The result? Business growth, higher profits, greater employee and team engagement, and best-in-class customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Insulators Roundtable
Kelly McDonald, McDonald Marketing
Friday, October 10, 1:30 – 2:00 pm
In this guided, interactive session, you and your peers will discuss topics such as recruiting and retaining employees, productivity enhancements, scope creep, and finding and keeping good employees. Come prepared to collaborate, discover, and share ideas!

Think You Know Insulation? Put It To the Test! Insulation Feud is Back!
Michael Kwart, ICAA

Friday, October 10, 2:00 – 2:30 pm
A fast-paced, fun, and educational session where your insulation knowledge could win you prizes! This quiz-style event is packed with popular trivia, real-world scenarios, and plenty of laughs. A panel of industry experts will be on hand to offer instant feedback, insights – and a few surprises. If you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, this is your chance to learn, compete, and walk away a winner!

Update of the New Energy Codes: IECC Codes and ASHRAE Standards
JR Babineau, P.E., Johns Manville
Friday, October 10, 2:30 – 3:30 pm
Stay up-to-date with all the changes in the new commercial and residential energy codes. We’ll explain alternate compliance paths (prescriptive, performance, and the Energy Rating Index) and detail code-acceptable cost-effective options. We’ll discuss the increasing use of continuous insulation and air and moisture barriers. We’ll also discuss how the 2024 residential codes offer more flexibility for builders to achieve compliance.
BPI CEU credit available for this session!

Staying Above Board: Understanding ICE, I-9 Audits, E-Verify, and Contracting with 1099 Workers
Douglas S. Jenks, Esq., Auman Mahan + Furry
Saturday, October 11, 9:00 – 10:30 am
We’ll analyze your rights as an employer if an Immigration, Customs & Enforcement (ICE) officer seeks access to your workplace. We’ll discuss how to prepare for an ICE inspection and audit of your I-9s, how to maintain your personnel files, and how to avoid the most common I-9 mistakes. We’ll also review the E-verify program and how to correctly hire 1099 workers.