By Stephen Duda, ECC Future Leaders

Future Leaders take note – the 47th annual conference is right around the corner! We wanted to share with you some perspectives from our ECC Board as we look forward to the conference. We were honored to hear from Board Member Stephen Buras, as he shares with us about the conference.

Question: As we prepare for the 47th annual conference, tell us what excites you about this year’s conference?

This year’s conference will have a cast of keynote speakers that will be exceptional with Gen. Peter Pace, Ian Bremmer, Amy Myers Jaffe, and Archie Manning. I look forward to those general sessions, but I must say I have seen the planning for the breakout forums and I’m having a difficult time deciding which ones to miss. There are some great choices for the forums and you can’t attend them all. There is a huge turnout expected for San Antonio and with so many exciting forums to chose from, there will be an good alternative if your first choice is full.

Question: Tell us about your personal experience with ECC and 2-3 take-aways from your leadership and involvement over the years.

I have been directly involved in the ECC for the last five years. I started out in the Future Leader program and then had the opportunity to move to the Board. This is a fantastic organization that brings owners, contractors, and suppliers together. The conference is always an opportunity to reunite with former colleagues as well as make new contacts. Every year I leave the conference re-energized with new insights in how our industry works and affirmation that we are all solving very similar challenges. Networking with colleagues at the conference has allowed me to collaborate and get advice on best practices in project execution and construction.

Question: What advice do you have for future leaders as they prepare to attend the conference?

Do your best to relax and absorb. By that, I mean take the opportunity to leave your daily grind behind. Watch and listen. Meet new people. You are likely to cross paths with the same people many times over in your career. Use your time at the conference to reunite with old friends and make new connections that will develop your resources for tomorrow.