Schedule

April 30-May 1

Venue

State College, PA

This premier event equips industry professionals with the communication and relationship-building skills essential for success at every stage of their careers. The program is complemented by regional project presentations and forward-looking AI workshops that explore real-world applications in highway and transportation construction.

Building on the success of last year’s event—which brought together nearly 200 professionals from APC membership, PennDOT, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission—the 2026 conference will deliver engaging workshops and meaningful networking opportunities in State College, including a happy hour at Champs Downtown, a popular sports bar in the heart of downtown State College.

The conference will be held at the newly renovated Nittany Lion Inn, a landmark hotel situated on the Penn State University Park campus, within easy walking distance of campus attractions and 15-minute stroll to downtown restaurants and entertainment.

If you plan to arrive the evening before the conference, join attendees for an informal networking event at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Enjoy the PSU vs. WVU baseball game from a luxury suite with food and beverages provided—an easy, relaxed way to connect before the conference begins (separate ticket purchase required).

This premier event equips industry professionals with the communication and relationship-building skills needed to succeed at all career levels. The program is complemented by forward-looking AI workshops exploring practical applications in highway and transportation construction, along with regional project presentations.

 

Following the success of last year’s event, which brought together nearly 200 professionals from APC membership, PennDOT, and the PA Turnpike Commission, the 2026 conference promises engaging workshops and lively networking opportunities in State College, including a mixer at Champs Downtown.

The conference will be held at the newly renovated Nittany Lion Inn, a landmark hotel situated on the Penn State University Park campus, within easy walking distance of campus attractions and 15-minute stroll to downtown restaurants and entertainment.

Diamond Partner

Platinum Partner

Platinum Partner

Platinum Partner

Gold Partner

Silver Partner

Silver Partner

Champs Happy Hour Sponsor

Champs Happy Hour Sponsor

Champs Happy Hour Sponsor

Grand Slam Sponsor

Featured Speaker Sponsor

Game Day Sponsor

Game Day Sponsor

Diamond Partner

Platinum Partner

Platinum Partner

Platinum Partner

Gold Partner

Silver Partner

Silver Partner

Champs Happy Hour Sponsor

Game Day Sponsor

Champs Happy Hour Sponsor

Game Day Sponsor

Champs Happy Hour Sponsor

Grand Slam Sponsor

Featured Speaker Sponsors

9

SCHEDULE

Thursday, April 30

12:00pm

Conference Registration/Check-in

1:00pm

Opening Remarks
  • Robert E. Latham, Executive Vice President, APC
  • Michael Carroll, Secretary of Transportation, PennDOT

1:30pm

Effective Communication: Diagnosing & Improving the Communication Cycle
  • Dr. Lori Miraldi
Explore your approach to conflict and ways to manage it better for mutually satisfying outcomes. This workshop will demonstrate and define conflict, differentiate between distributive and integrative approaches, discuss your conflict styles, and overview a procedure to negotiate/mediate conflicts among your team members.

2:45pm

Break

3:15pm

I-99 High Speed Interchange Project (S.R. 80-B18)

  • Paul Boggs, Trumbull
  • Caleb J. Meighen, PennDOT District 2-0

3:45pm

Leveraging Technology & AI on the Project Site
  • Edmundo Herrera, Autodesk

4:15pm

Mitchell Mesenbrink: Leadership, Excellence, and Committing to the Process

  • Mitchell Mesenbrink is a two-time All-American, National Champion and top-ranked Penn State University wrestler. His message centers on what it truly takes to pursue excellence: showing up consistently, embracing the grind, and trusting the process even when results aren’t immediate.

     

4:45pm

Meet & Greet with Mitchell Mesenbrink

5:30-8:00pm

Networking Reception at Champs Sports Bar Downtown
  • 139 S Allen St., State College, PA
  • website

Friday, May 1

7:30Am

Buffet Breakfast

8:40am

Opening Remarks
  • Robert E. Latham, Executive Vice President, APC

9:00Am

Managing Conflict for Better Outcomes
  • Dr. Peter Miraldi
Just because you send a message to someone does not mean you communicated. The intended recipient may not receive your message or may misinterpret your meaning. Understanding the basic process of the communication cycle allows you to diagnose and improve your communication.

10:30am

Innovation and Technology within Work Zones

  • Prof. Sean Brennan, Ph.D. , Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
    Director of the Intelligent Vehicles and Systems Research Group at Larson Institute

This presentation will go over what work and research the Larson Institute has done and is continuing to do for Safety within the work zones of construction projects.  Also, discussion on how incorporating innovative use of connected devices for roadside networking systems can help with providing data to mapping systems used by drivers daily.  

  • Work zone safety systems that “work” with autonomous and connected vehicles
  • Using connected devices alongside vehicles or near-road infrastructure to monitor long-term near-road conditions
  • Safety data collection 

11:15Am

Find what you love: love what you do: A Career Journey
  • Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero, AGES, Inc.
This presentation centers on lessons learned at different career stages, offering insights into how passion and purpose shape professional growth. Attendees will explore the importance of balancing technical expertise, project management, and business development—while embracing empathetic leadership, communication, mentorship, and continuous professional development as cornerstones of long-term success.

11:45am

Closing Remarks

Thursday, April 30

12:00pm

Conference Registration/Check-in

1:00pm

Opening Remarks
  • Robert E. Latham, Executive Vice President, APC
  • Tom Prestash, District Executive, PennDOT District 2-0

1:30pm

Effective Communication: Diagnosing & Improving the Communication Cycle
  • Dr. Lori Miraldi

2:45pm

Break

3:15pm

I-99 High Speed Interchange Project (S.R. 80-B18)

  • Paul Boggs, Trumbull
  • Peter Hall, PennDOT District 2-0

3:45pm

Leveraging Technology & AI on the Project Site
  • Edmundo Herrera, Autodesk

4:15pm

Mitchell Mesenbrink: Leadership, Excellence, and Committing to the Process

  • Mitchell Mesenbrink is a two-time All-American, National Champion and top-ranked Penn State University wrestler. His message centers on what it truly takes to pursue excellence: showing up consistently, embracing the grind, and trusting the process even when results aren’t immediate.

4:45pm

Meet and Greet with Mitchell Mesenbrink

5:30-8:00pm

Networking Reception at Champs Sports Bar Downtown
  • 139 S Allen St., State College, PA
  • website

Friday, May 1

7:30Am

Buffet Breakfast

8:40am

Opening Remarks
  • Bob Latham, APC

9:00Am

Managing Conflict for Better Outcomes
  • Dr. Peter Miraldi

10:30am

Innovation and Technology within Work Zones 

  • Prof. Sean Brennan, Ph.D. , Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
    Director of the Intelligent Vehicles and Systems Research Group at Larson Institute

11:15Am

Find what you love: love what you do: A Career Journey
  • Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero, AGES, Inc.

11:45am

Closing Remarks
9

VENUE

The Nittany Lion Inn
200 W Park Ave
State College, PA 16803
www.thenittanylioninn.com
814-865-8500