GET ACQUAINTED WITH OUR SPEAKERS AND PRESENTERS

 

Monday, October 7th

A Day for Meeting of Millwork Minds

Future-Proof Your Millwork Business: Harnessing AI and Personal Branding for Unmatched Growth

Stefanie Couch
Millwork Connections Luncheon
Keynote Speaker

 
About the Presenter:
Stefanie Couch, who is a lifelong member of the construction industry, leads both Build Women and Grit Blueprint. Build Women provides targeted business coaching, branding, and leadership coaching designed to enhance professional development. Grit Blueprint specializes as an agency focused on branding, marketing, and scaling businesses within the construction sector, specifically with a focus on millwork, windows, and doors.

Stefanie's extensive experience includes her entrepreneurial ventures and working with one-step and two-step dealer and distribution channels, showcasing her practical expertise in developing and managing successful business operations.

A Gallup Clifton Strengths certified coach and engaging speaker, Stefanie transforms individual talents into professional strengths and businesses into recognized brands. Her overarching strategic vision involves advancing innovation and education across all her ventures. This commitment is aimed at transforming the construction industry, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and strategic growth. Stefanie’s leadership not only propels business expansion, but also drives industry-wide advancements, establishing her as a key figure in creating a dynamic and innovative construction environment.

For more information about Stefanie Couch, visit stefaniecouch.com

Staying Ahead of the Curve in 2025 - 2026

Connor Lokar
Senior Forecaster
ITR Economics
About the Presenter:
Few economists present their insights with the authority, accuracy, and humor that Connor Lokar brings to the stage. From the intimate executive retreat to the standing room-only keynote, he delivers practical economic intelligence with charm and candor.

Connor has been giving economic keynotes, workshops, and webinars across North America since he joined ITR Economics in 2014. With his quick wit and knack for storytelling, he successfully educates his audiences while simultaneously captivating them. Thousands of business leaders have enjoyed his dynamic approach; Connor emphasized the applicability of economic intelligence and calls his audience to action.

When not on stage, Connor contributes his economic expertise in the role of trusted advisor, consulting directly with management teams of firms large and small. ITR’s clients meets with Connor at critical planning junctures to ensure that their strategic plans, goals, and internal initiatives are in alignment with their tailored forecasts. As ITR Economics’ senior forecaster, Connor has a particularly keen understanding of how forecasts are derived. The resulting insight enable clients to make the most of their economic outlooks.

The AI Whisperer for Business

Severin Sorensen
ePraxis, LLC
About the Presenter:
Severin Sorensen is a 6x #1 best-selling The AI Whisperer: Handbook for Leveraging Conversational Artificial Intelligence & ChatGPT for Business; The AI Whisperer Draws; The AI Whisperer Wizard Words: ChatGPT Semantic Tokens, Keywords, & Phrases for Business; The AI Whisperer Life Hacks; Beyond Excellence; and The Talent Palette: Your Business Guide to Hiring Difference-Making Employees. He is the CEO of ePraxis LLC, a top-tier executive search firm specializing in headhunting, talent selection, and executive coaching. As an executive Coach, Recruiter, and Keynote Speaker, Severin focuses on AI, economics, innovation, and hiring top talent. He hosts the Arete Coach Podcast exploring the art and science of executive coaching. Awarded Vistage Speaker Impact Awards: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.

Serving clients from large multinationals like Rio Tinto to fast-growing INC 5000 companies and SMEs with annual revenues between $20-750 million, Severin has provided over 8,000 hours of professional coaching to entrepreneurs, CEOs, Presidents, and C-level executives. He is an ICF ACSTH Certified Executive Coach, Organizational Development Coach, Life Coach, Positive Intelligence Coach, and Certified Leadership Circle Profile Coach. He routinely uses psychometrics including the EQi2.0, TriMetrixDNA (DISC, Acumen, + Core Competencies), Cognitive (Wonderlic), and other assessments.

From 2010-2018, Severin served as a Vistage Chair, coaching three CEO and executive peer groups. He won the 2011 “Rookie of the Year Chair Award” and became an international speaker in 2013, earning Top Performer awards from 2020 to 2022.

In 2005, Severin sold Sparta to Westec Interactive (Digital Witness), later acquired by Interface Security. From 1994 to 2002, he managed HUD’s Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) technical assistance program training 900 communities how to design-out crime. In 1994, he founded Sparta Consulting Corp, a physical security management consultancy for public and private sector clients.

Before establishing Sparta, he briefly served as Special Assistant to President George H. W. Bush (POTUS41). After graduating school, Severin moved to Washington, DC, to work on security-related economic and public policy issues.

Severin grew up in the Salt Lake City, UT. He graduated with honors from the University of Utah, earning degrees in Economics and Political Science. He completed graduate studies in economics at King’s College, Cambridge University (England), received an M.Phil. degree in Economics.

Tuesday, October 8th & Wednesday, October 9th

Exhibit Hall Breakout Education Presenters

Enhancing Millwork Excellence: Leveraging CRM for Superior Customer Engagement and Operational Efficiency

Advancing Millwork Precision: AI-Driving CRM for Enhanced Service and Manufacturing Excellence

Ravi Srinivasan
Ai-InteleKt
About the Presenter:
Ravi is an accomplished executive with over 30 years of distinguished performance in corporate leadership, strategic planning, and revenue growth. His extensive experience spans retail, distribution, and manufacturing sectors across more than 15 countries, working with over 50 companies. As a strategic advisor, Ravi has played a pivotal role in mentoring 20+ companies, guiding them through scaling technology, products, and operations related to CRM, Loyalty, Service Desk and Customer Analytics.

Ravi is currently serving as a Fractional CEO at Ai-InteleKt and is also a Vistage Chair. He has been instrumental in architecting software solutions and Go To Market Strategies. His strategic acumen is also evident from his role on the Board of Advisors and CEO and CIO for numerous Software companies in Retail and Distribution.

Ravi holds a B. Tech in Naval Architecture from IIT Madras and an MBA in Operations Management from Saint Mary’s University. His thought leadership is further complemented by his volunteer work as a Board Member for Brillo de Sol and as a Special Advisor at CT Bauer College of Business.

Cyber Security - A Growing Threat to Business

Erin Selfe
Pennsylvania
Lumbermens Mutual
Insurance Company
About the Presenter:
Erin Selfe is the Vice President of Information Technology at Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company. Erin has more than 20 years of experience in the industry and is responsible for the company’s information technology environment including: infrastructure, security, applications development, systems support and quality assurance.

As Vice President of information technology, Erin maintain’s PLM’s tradition of staying current and competitive in the information technology space. She also leads in meeting the demands of newer generations entering the lumber niche who have come to expect modern-day technology for convenience in servicing and managing their insurance protection.

Erin was the American European Insurance Group’s Vice President and Chief information Officer. Throughout her career, she has worked in the insurance space, including organizations such as Philadelphia Insurance Companies where she held the position of Assistant Vice President of IT governance, and at Penn Mutual Life Insurance where she acted as Assistance Vice President and Business Information Officer.

Erin is a Chartered Insurance Operations Professional (CIOP), a Fellow, Financial Services Institute (FFSI), and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA, non-practicing). She attended Portland State University where she graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business management, information systems, and quantitative analysis.

AI Unleashed: Embracing the Power of AI & Automation

Branding & LinkedIn Abstract (This session takes place on Wednesday, October 9th)

Stefanie Couch
Millwork Connections Luncheon
Keynote Speaker
About the Presenter:
Stefanie Couch, who is a lifelong member of the construction industry, leads both Build Women and Grit Blueprint. Build Women provides targeted business coaching, branding, and leadership coaching designed to enhance professional development. Grit Blueprint specializes as an agency focused on branding, marketing, and scaling businesses within the construction sector, specifically with a focus on millwork, windows, and doors.

Stefanie's extensive experience includes her entrepreneurial ventures and working with one-step and two-step dealer and distribution channels, showcasing her practical expertise in developing and managing successful business operations.

A Gallup Clifton Strengths certified coach and engaging speaker, Stefanie transforms individual talents into professional strengths and businesses into recognized brands. Her overarching strategic vision involves advancing innovation and education across all her ventures. This commitment is aimed at transforming the construction industry, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and strategic growth. Stefanie’s leadership not only propels business expansion, but also drives industry-wide advancements, establishing her as a key figure in creating a dynamic and innovative construction environment.

For more information about Stefanie Couch, visit stefaniecouch.com

The Changing Leadership Model

Driving Success Through Strategic Leadership and Communications (This session takes place on Wednesday, October 9th)

Dena Cordova-Jack
About the Presenter:
Dena is a seasoned veteran of the LBM industry, boasting over three decades of invaluable experience. Throughout her diversified career, she has held roles across key industry players, from trading commodities to pivotal positions in purchasing and sales management with esteemed organizations such as Georgia Pacific and Boise Cascade.

Her journey of professional growth saw her ascend to leadership roles, including Director of Sales for Foxworth-Galbraith Lumber Company and Vice President for Kodiak Building Partners. In these capacities, Dena demonstrated a keen strategic acumen, developing and implementing initiatives aimed at bolstering organizational sustainability and fostering long-tern success.

Currently service as the Vice President of Organizational Development for the Misura Group, Dena channels her wealth of experience and expertise into collaborating with LBM companies to enhance their infrastructural frameworks. Her focus on strategic leadership development and succession planning underscores her commitment to cultivating resilient organizations capable of thriving in dynamic market environments.

Dena's academic background includes studies at the University of Northern Colorado and Kennedy University, where she obtained a degree in business management. She obtained her certification for Hogan Psychometric Assessments in 2023 and applies organizational psychology principles to every project she undertakes. Her professional journey is characterized by a relentless pursuit of excellence, underpinned by a steadfast belief in the power of strategic foresight and human capital development to drive sustainable growth.

In Dena's role as a speaker, she shared her wealth of knowledge and insights gleaned from years of hands-on experience, offering invaluable perspectives on navigating the complexities of the ever-evolving LBM landscape.

The Issues Impacting Industry Transportation

Kevin Parnell
Director Business Development
Ryder Systems
About the Presenter:
Kevin began his logistics career in 1996. He has spent his entire 28 years focusing on operations and sales. Beginning in operations for the first 13 years Kevin managed multiple operations from Automotive, Telecommunications, Retail and building products, where he worked in DCC operations including transportation and warehousing.

Kevin transitioned into business development and has been working with customers to bring value by understanding their business and providing long-term partnership solutions for the last 15 years.

Currently, Kevin is with Ryder Systems in the position of Director Business Development.

Kevin has been married to his wife Lisa for 30 years and they have two children ages 26 and 20. In his spare time Kevin enjoys hunting and playing guitar in a local cover band.



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