Opening Reception

Thursday, October 17

CEO/Presidents Roundtable
This breakfast roundtable will be an opportunity for industry CEOs and presidents to discuss the key issues facing the industry and the strategic direction of WDMA.  It will also provide a forum for review and input into the strategies to enhance the effectiveness of WDMA

Opening Keynote Session
Imagining the Next Global Economy

Speaker:  Rawi Abdelal, Herbert F. Johnson Professor of International Management at Harvard Business School and the Emma Bloomberg Co-Chair of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative.

Global supply chain issues. Rising political and social activism. Broken political, social, health care and infrastructure systems. These are the challenges businesses and economies in almost every country are facing. In this presentation, Rawi Abdelal – award-winning professor of international management at Harvard Business School and one of the world’s foremost authorities on how globalization and geopolitics affect businesses, economies, supply chains and social structures – explains the fundamental differences between the current global economy and the one that looms on the horizon. Having shifted his teachings from “examining the fragile state of the world” to “imagining the next global economy,” he helps attendees understand the macro and micro forces driving current trends and how to make sense of the world we’re living in.

Networking Break

2025 Residential, Remodeling & Commercial Market Outlook
Speaker: Kermit Baker, Chief Economist, American Institute of Architects (AIA)

This session will review building and construction market landscape as we enter the final quarter of 2024 and will provide a forecast for 2025 and beyond for new residential, remodeling, multifamily and commercial building. The session will also look at economic fundamentals, housing market strengths and weaknesses, and insights about consumer demand. 

Networking Lunch

Market Outlook for the Consolidating New Home, Distribution and Fenestration Industries 
Speakers: John Burns, CEO, and Chris Beard, Vice President, Building Products Research, John Burns Research & Consulting 

Market consolidation continues at a fast pace, impacting all sectors of the building industry. In light of these developments, John Burns and Chris Beard will share their outlook on the impact of these changes on the new home construction, distribution and fenestration industries, including insight from some unique indices and surveys.

Networking Break

Closing Keynote Session
Leadership Lessons from Extraordinary Experiences
Speaker: Paul de Gelder, Australian Army Airborne and Navy Clearance Diver, Shark Attack Survivor, and Host, Discovery Channel's Shark Week 

In this presentation focusing on leadership and the valuable insights gained from extraordinary life experiences, Paul de Gelder shares his unique background, highlighting how adventure and leadership intersect. Through personal stories, the audience is guided through the challenges faced as a military paratrooper and clearance diver, emphasizing decision-making and problem-solving strategies in high-pressure environments. He will also address navigating change and uncertainty, drawing from personal experiences and offering strategies for leading effectively during such situations. He further explores courageous leadership, drawing personal insights from surviving a shark attack and emphasizing the role of courage in leading oneself and others through adversity.