Drawing from his leadership across major Greater Boston development, public planning, and civic service, O'Brien sets the charge for the Forum — framing market realities, the leadership response, and where innovation is actively shaping what gets built next. He opens the day with the morning keynote.
Ferrante leads the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts, the Commonwealth's leading commercial construction association, serving the industry for more than 100 years. On behalf of the Forum's Presenting Sponsor, he opens the program at 10:00 AM and sets the tone for a day of candid leadership conversation.
Chief Economist for AGC of America since 2001, Simonson brings more than 40 years of economic analysis to the 11:10 AM national and regional market briefing. He advises the Census Bureau's construction data re-engineering initiative, is a Fellow and past president of the National Association for Business Economics, and writes the Data DIGest, read weekly by more than 20,000 subscribers.
O'Connell leads the 1:15 PM session on moving beyond technology adoption toward intentional digital transformation: evaluating emerging tools, build-versus-buy decisions, governance that reduces technology burden, and where AI and automation are delivering real results for workforce capacity today.
Belek leads IMA's Northeast construction practice, advising contractors and owners on insurance, risk management and surety. On behalf of IMA, the Forum's Insurance, Risk Management & Surety Broker Sponsor, he introduces the afternoon's cross-industry leadership panel at 2:00 PM.
A strategic and people-first leader, Davis heads Flow Tech, the Forum's Sustainability & Building Performance Sponsor, bringing an operator's view of how building systems and performance shape what gets built next.
Jim leads a mission-driven team at MassCEC focused on Buildings, Net Zero Power Grid, and Clean Transportation. A licensed architect with over 30 years of leadership in sustainable design, teaching, research, and policy, he earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University and a Master of Science in Sustainability from Tufts University. He is also a licensed private pilot, US Air Force veteran, and Fulbright Specialist.
Parker leverages his industry experience and connections to support entrepreneurs’ development and scaling efforts at Suffolk Technologies. He also manages BOOST, the firm’s accelerator program for early-stage companies. Previously, he held operations and executive management roles at Suffolk Construction, working to standardize operational excellence. He earned a BS in Earth and Oceanographic Science from Bowdoin College.
John Cribbs is Dean at Wentworth Institute of Technology. He presents Building Leaders: Market Response at 12:50 PM.
More speakers coming.
Additional voices from ownership, development, design, construction, capital, and technology are being confirmed now.
Get agenda updates