SPEAKERS

Accounting Professor, East Carolina University (ECU)

Cal Christian, Ph.D., CPA is an Accounting Professor at East Carolina University (ECU) teaching Accounting Information Systems and Corporate Governance and Ethics. He is a registered CPA in the states of North Carolina and Mississippi and has over 10 years of experience in both the public accounting profession with the former international accounting firm of Ernst & Whinney in Houston, TX, and Jackson, MS, and in industry with LDDS (the predecessor to WorldCom) and the Mississippi law firm of Holcomb, Dunbar. Cal has his PhD from Florida State University and his BAccy from the University of Mississippi.

Cal teaches continuing education classes for the North Carolina Association of CPAs (NCACPA), AICPA, CPA firms, and publicly traded companies—and has been recognized as a NCACPA Outstanding Conference Speaker. Cal has been named an ECU College of Business Fellow and he has been awarded the University of North Carolina Board of Governor’s Outstanding Teaching Award and The College of Business ECU Scholar/Teacher. 

In 2025, ECU awarded Cal the James R. Talbot Leadership Award in recognition of his career as a servant leader. Cal also serves as ECU’s Faculty Athletic Representative and has been involved within the CPA profession as a NCACPA Board Member and within the Greenville, NC Community as President of the Eastern NC Ronald McDonald House.

Labor & Employment Attorney, Ward and Smith

Ken leads Ward and Smith's Labor and Employment Practice Group and is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Employment Law. His practice spans employment discrimination, wrongful discharge, breach of employment contracts, and complex workplace investigations, representing clients ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 corporations. He has argued cases before the North Carolina Supreme Court and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and he has helped build a Labor and Employment team at Ward and Smith with more Board Certified Specialists in Employment Law than any other firm in North Carolina. A frequent speaker, Ken enjoys connecting and helping companies with their employment law challenges.

Keynote Speaker / Communication Strategist, Reputation Management, Inc.

What if one sentence you say on a jobsite, in a project interview, a meeting, or during a crisis becomes the thing people remember most about you and your company? Anthony Huey, CSP®, helps leaders and teams make sure that sentence works for them, not against them.  With more than 4,000 presentations delivered worldwide, Anthony shows how everyday communication—what you say in quick conversations, safety briefings, executive updates, or high-pressure situations—shapes trust, credibility, and reputation. In an industry where perception can influence relationships, outcomes, and risk, his work helps people communicate with clarity when it matters most.

Anthony draws on 25 years of real-world experience as a journalist, crisis manager, media consultant, and executive coach. He understands what happens when messages are misunderstood and how to prevent small communication missteps from becoming big problems. His insights help individuals and organizations uncover their unique “It Factor:” the behaviors and messages that build confidence in good times and resilience in challenging ones.

As a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP®)—a designation earned by fewer than 12% of speakers worldwide—Anthony has worked with leaders and teams at hundreds of respected organizations.  Expect a session that is fast-paced, highly practical, and immediately applicable. You’ll leave with clear tools you can use right away—whether you’re leading teams, managing stakeholders, addressing issues, or simply wanting your message to stick. Anthony Huey doesn’t just talk about communication. He helps you use it as a strategic advantage—on the job, in leadership, and when it counts most.

Construction Attorney

Merrill's practice covers a broad range of construction business law matters, including start-up businesses, business transfers and acquisitions, transactional matters, and tax matters. He has extensive experience representing contractors, design professionals, and project owners in drafting and negotiating construction, design, and design/build contracts. Merrill has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1994 and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America since 2013. He holds a J.D. and a B.S. from Wake Forest University and an M.B.A. from East Carolina University.

Construction Attorney

Evan is a construction litigator who serves as co-chair of the firm's Construction Law Practice, representing and advising contractors, subcontractors, owners, and design professionals in all stages of the construction and development process, including drafting and negotiating construction, design, and design/build contracts. A Lumberton native, Evan brings a distinctive technical foundation to his practice, having earned a degree in Construction Engineering and Management from NC State and passed the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam before pursuing his law degree. He has been recognized as a Legal Elite honoree by Business North Carolina in the Construction category from 2022 - 2026, and in Best Lawyers in America from 2024 - 2026.

Government Relations Attorney

Jamie works regularly with individuals, corporations, and governmental entities on a variety of complex legal matters, with experience spanning government contracts, government relations and lobbying, and economic development law, including public-private partnerships and incentives. He has extensive experience with board governance issues, open meetings and public records laws, and military economic development initiatives, and provides legal services to corporations, cities, counties, public housing authorities, community colleges, and other independent subdivisions of the State. As leader of Ward and Smith's Government Relations Practice Group, Jamie advocates for clients across industries before legislative and administrative bodies, drawing on his background as a public policy research fellow and congressional staff member to members of the House Armed Services Committee.

Consulting Director, Forvis Mazars

Kathryn Schneider is a Consulting Director at Forvis Mazars (forvismazars.us) in Newport, RI. With more than 25 years as a technology evangelist, Kathryn serves as a trusted advisor and industry ambassador. She leverages her knowledge and deep industry experience to advise companies on rationalizing their existing tech stack, identifying redundancies, and strategically selecting tools that align with business goals. By simplifying and consolidating technology resources, Kathryn helps organizations achieve cost savings, agility, and improved performance.

As a passionate AI enthusiast, Kathryn is dedicated to helping construction firms harness the power of AI and automation. She understands the unique complexities of the construction industry—from project management and resource allocation to compliance and safety—and works closely with clients to identify practical opportunities for digital transformation. Kathryn’s approach ensures that emerging technologies deliver measurable results, such as increased efficiency, innovation, and competitive advantage, while remaining grounded in the realities of construction operations.

She serves on the Construction Financial Management Association Maine Chapter Board and is actively involved with numerous industry associations, such as Women in Manufacturing (WiM) and Women in Technology (WIT). She also volunteers her time with local clean water nonprofits.

She is a summa cum laude graduate of University of New Hampshire, with a B.S. degree in Business Administration.

Professor, University of North Carolina

Dr. Jake Smithwick is a professor at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte and also provides consulting and educational services to organizations in construction and facility management. Together with his colleagues at Simplar, Dr. Smithwick has helped hundreds of owners improve performance outcomes across thousands of projects. His industry experience also includes serving six years in the US Air Force Reserve.