Wisconsin Builders Conference Education

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24 classes to choose from to earn 12 Dept. of Safety & Professional Services Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Credits in two days or professional development for you and your business. Look for this "Approved Course" graphic for courses with credits. The number inside the state = the number of DCQ credits. 

No specific course registration required, choose what you want to attend when you are there. All classes are in the Wisconsin Dells Center dome, just down the road from Chula Vista Resort.

Be sure to bring your Dwelling Contractor Qualifier card with your contractor # with you, or we can look it up for you on site.

Schedule and courses subject to change, check back as this page will be updated regularly.

Wednesday 8:00 am-10:00 am

Building Failures: Moisture Related Issues with Brick & Stone Veneers Instructor: Joe Nagan, owner of Home Building Technology Services in Kaukauna. This course will cover the customer reported failures on homes with brick and/or stone exterior veneer cladding. This session will address the issue, the primary contributing factors and cover solutions for existing homes. New construction requirements will also be covered. Room A, 2 DCQ credits.

Getting to the Top in Google-Your Blueprint for Search Engine Success Instructor: Tom Snyder, President CEO, Trivera Interactive. Having your website come up on page one of a Google or Bing search is the “Holy Grail” for a small business. Part science, part art and part voodoo, the search engines use dozens and dozens of criteria to determine who shows up and who doesn’t. This session will show you what can and can’t do, and what you should and shouldn’t do to make search engines a powerful tool to drive traffic to your website. Room C

Wednesday 8:30 am-10:30 am

Window & Door Installation Replacement and Full Frame Instructor: Emory Budzinski, Crestline Windows & Doors.  Proper flashing methods, masonry installation, pocket replacement, how to measure for rough openings and proper use of shims. Mezzanine, 2 DCQ credits.

Building Better Homes from the Outside-In, The Sustainable Landscape Perspective Instructor: Tom Girolamo, Eco-Building & Forestry.  Landscapes are regularly constructed that use more water, more electricity, more fossil fuels and consume more owner time in maintenance. This program will demonstrate the benefits of sustainable landscapes to both the owner and contractor as they improve livability of homes as well as increase profitability for the builder. Room B

Wednesday 10:30 am-11:30 am

Energy Star & Impact Resistant Steel Roofing Instructor: Gary Miley, Midwest Manufacturing. Benefits of metal roofing will be explored.  Detailed instruction about installation, re-roofing using steel on tear-off and existing, using proper trims and fasteners and the available energy savings from this material. Room C, 1 DCQ credit.

Wednesday 10:30 am-12:30 pm

UDC Basics and Beyond      Instructor: Leroy Stublaski, owner, Architecture Plus, LLC. This class will review UDC basics and the most common questions including wall bracing, energy ideas outside the basics, where the new federal energy standards will lead us, ResCheck and what changes are proposed for 2012. Room A, 2 DCQ credits.

Wednesday 11:00 am-12:00 pm

Professional Designations to Set You Apart Instructor: Monica Sommerfeldt Lewis, Archer Lion, Inc. Introduction to National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) professional designation programs for builders, associates, property managers and sales personnel. Course will explain what the designations are, how to use them in your business and how to get and maintain a designation. Room B

Wednesday 11:00 am-1:00 pm

Proper Placing, Finishing, Curing & Sealing Exterior Concrete Instructor: Dan Large, Fiber Reinforcing & Consulting, LLC. Learn requirements for weather conditions, timing and finishing, everything you wanted to know about curing, including what types of compounds there are and how/when they should be placed. Finish the 2 hours off with sealing types and the right time to use them. Mezzanine, 2 DCQ credits.

Wednesday 12:30 pm-2:30 pm

Future Home Instructors: Robin Pharo, Treysta Group, LLC. and Chad Wuebben, Encore Construction, Inc. Can you imagine a home that: *Runs on an iPad *Costs less than $500 per year to heat and cool *Has open and light living spaces and is not dark and claustrophobic *Combines high-style with sustainable design *Provides an easy path to upgrade as technology and family needs change *Offers a living kitchen - one designed for entertainment, work and flexibility Join us in this session as we learn about the Future Home 2011 including new technologies and automated systems, design, overcoming difficulties, certifications and how to implement these concepts into any building. Room B, 2 DCQ credits.

Wednesday 12:30 pm-2:30 pm

Top Mistakes Most Companies Make and How to Avoid Them Instructor: Kelly Bubolz, Compliance Assistance Specialist, U.S. Dept of Labor/OSHA. Updated for 2012, understand how the changes to residential fall protection will affect your business, learn how different construction activities result in OSHA inspections and about the most frequently cited standards and how to remedy them. Real-world examples will be discussed and current myths will be examined. Includes national &local emphasis programs, new regulatory agenda, proposed rules and available resources for contractors to remain compliant. Room C, 2 DCQ credits.

Wednesday 1:00 pm-3:00 pm

Contracts, Customers and Change Orders: The Business of Building Before/During the Construction Process Instructor: Robert Procter, J.D., attorney from Axley Brynelson, LLP. This class will cover new home construction and remodeling issues. It will focus on the WBA Home Construction and Remodeling contracts. Topics will include types of contracts, scope of work, schedules and delays, payment, permits, change orders, differing site conditions, dispute resolution strategies and warranties. Room A, 2 DCQ credits.

Wednesday 1:30 pm-3:30 pm

Delivering the Customer Experience Instructor: Jay Schuette, Wausau Homes The market changed to a trust based market, especially in the home building industry, a long time ago. Yet we still continue to do a ‘leading questioning’ and ‘pitch and sell’ approach that really works against you. Wausau Homes has done extensive research that will be shared with you on the Buying Process Management system that they now use. It is based on the practical application of scientific research into human perceptions, motivation, and behavior. Understanding how and why people buy will provide you with the framework necessary to transform your sales activities into a collaborative process with the home buyer prospect. Mezzanine

Wednesday 3:00 pm-4:00 pm

Anatomy of a Healthy Shower Instructor: Corey Stevens, Schluter Systems.  Identify the benefits and challenges of tiled showers, learn proper design for waterproofing, and benefits of bonded waterproofing technology. Room B, 1 DCQ credit.

Wednesday 3:00 pm-5:00 pm

The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success: Building Industry Special Edition Instructor: Wayne Breitbarth, M&M Office Interiors president and author of "The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success"  Learn how to build a network of building professionals, write a compelling profile, establish and join groups, learn about events and search the LinkedIn database for new contacts. Room C

Wednesday 3:15 pm-5:15 pm

Durable, Forgiving Wall Systems Instructor: Linda Heipp, Hallmark Building Supplies, Inc.  Learn the essential building science principles for air and moisture and how it affects your walls, how to select materials, tools and identify the key details that relate to the process of sealing the building envelope. Room A, 2 DCQ credits.

Wednesday 4:00 pm-5:00 pm

What Happened to Happily Ever After? Instructors: Paul Woita & David Hopkins, Woita and Associates This course focuses on the challenges that individuals and business owners face in their business and personal planning and how to achieve what is important to them for their future security. Mezzanine

Wednesday 5:00 pm-7:00 pm

Welcome Reception-all education attendees are welcome to stay in the dome, unwind, network and learn more about the benefits of membership in the Wisconsin Builders Association. Light hors d'ouevres, beverages and door prizes!

Thursday 8:00 am-4:30 pm

ProEarth: Building Sciences 101 Instructor: Justin Wilson, ProBuild A full-day workshop addressing the fundamentals of building science, framing, air sealing, moisture control strategies, mechanical systems, indoor air quality strategies, changing your process and marketing the difference. Click here for a full course description. Mezzanine, 6.5 DCQ credits.

Thursday 8:30 am-3:30 pm

Vinyl Siding Application Instructor: David Verbofsky, Ply Gem  Covers the basics of installation of vinyl siding, vinyl soffit and aluminum fascia. Guidelines developed by the Vinyl Siding Institute with guidance from 8 manufacturers. ***Note: To earn certification requires an additional $165 fee, and 3 years of installation experience. Exam given at conclusion of class.*** Click here for flyer. Anyone is welcome to audit the class and earn the DCQ credits for no additional fee. Room C, 6 DCQ credits.

Thursday 8:00 am-10:00 am

How to Run a Home Building Business  Instructor: Mark Etrheim, MasterCraft Homes, Inc. of La Crosse Eliminate the trial and error of starting a business. Info on legal considerations, accounting, complying with the rules, regulations and certifications required to be a contractor. Room A, 2 DCQ credits.

Thursday 8:30 am-10:00 am

Social Media for the Building Industry Instructors: Jeanette Pham & Michelle D'Attilio, sosh Primer focusing on incorporating Facebook and Twitter into your marketing and business plan. Learn the basics of these tools and techniques to leverage the power of social media. Room B

Thursday 10:30 am-12:30 pm

Geothermal Heating & Cooling Instructors: Wally Heumann, Terra-Therm, Inc. & Eric Legreid, Air Quality Systems, Inc. Learn the basics of forced air and hydronic systems, loop designs and the energy savings that can be incorporated into residential and commercial design. Room B, 2 DCQ credits.

Thursday 11:00 am-1:00 pm

The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Home Construction Instructor: Leroy Stublaski, Architecture Plus, LLC. This class looks at photos of homes that have created problems for builders and building inspectors alike. Everything from how to effectively work with inspectors to the obligations of the builders and what he is paying permit fees for. Focus will be on everyday mistakes that cause code violations, how to prevent them, and what to do when mistakes happen. Room A, 2 DCQ credits.

Thursday 1:00 pm-3:00 pm

Building your Business Based on Building Science & Strategic Partnerships Instructor: Andy Kuc, New Construction Implementation Manager, and Kevin Hogan, Outreach Manager, Focus on Energy. Learn how building science is applied to "real world" residential construction and how partnering with Focus on Energy will separate you from your competition. Room B, 2 DCQ credits.

Thursday 1:30 pm-3:30 pm

Dew Point for Dummies Instructor: Joe Nagan, owner of Home Building Technology Services in Kaukauna. Back by popular demand and updated for 2012, this course addresses the many ways moisture can be transported through a building assembly. Real world examples will be shown, and myths examined. Room A, 2 DCQ credits.

Join us after your classes on Wednesday from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm for a Welcome Reception to network and learn more about how membership with the Wisconsin Builders Association can benefit you and your business.

Course instructors and content subject to change without notice. Note some courses are designed to be approved for DCQ credits, and some are designed strictly for professional development.

Class location: Wisconsin Dells Center dome, just down the road from
 Chula Vista Resort 
2501 River Road, Wisconsin Dells, WI
Shuttle will be provided all day Wednesday and Thursday between the resort and the dome.