Each year the NECA Annual Convention provides members with the tools needed to keep their companies on top with cutting-edge educational programs. We are seeking proposals on a wide-range of topics in the electrical contracting industry for our annual convention to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada October 4 - 7, 2026.

Topics and content should be appropriate for the typical 50-minute presentation duration. NECA is looking for a mix of introductions to broad topics and in-depth discussions with a narrow focus. All presentations should focus on key issues in the industry, engage participants, feature audio visual elements, and provide participants with a measurable takeaway from the program. Participants should walk away from each course with a new skill or knowledge that they can use to move their company forward. Sessions that are designed to queue up a product, service, or another educational course will not be permitted.

Across all sessions, preference will be given to sessions that include a NECA member contractor as a member of the presentation team.  

Format and Presentation Types

To engage a large number of participants at varying levels of their career, there are different formats to our educational sessions at the NECA Annual Convention and Trade Show. You must select only one presentation type for each submission.

NECA Convention Education Sessions

Focusing on hot topics and key issues in the electrical construction industry, these presentations will cover a broad range of topics from communications to labor relations to safety. All presentations will be held within a two-hour block on the mornings of October 5, 6 & 7 and will either be presented as a 50-minute presentation that is immediately repeated or as a one-time 110-minute presentation.

We are interested in receiving proposals on topics that benefit electrical contractors businesses processes, practices and growth and the employees personally and professionally. Some topic areas include:

Business Best Practices & Financial Management 

• Construction law
• Examples of successful programs and processes NECA contractors have implemented
• Financial planning, accounting, internal financial controls
• Payment collection best practices
• Strategic planning
• Succession planning

Leadership & Communication

• Communicating with teams
• Compensation best practices
• Conflict management
• Delegating
• Recruiting/attracting new talent
• Retaining employees

Productivity and Project Management

• Contracts
• Develop and implementing KPI’s
• Document Control
• Improving productivity and cutting material cost
• Labor savings & efficiency
• Lean Practices
• Project schedule management
• Labor lessons learned on Mega projects

Standards, Safety & Regulations

• Company safety best practices/programs
• Incident investigations
• Mental Health/suicide prevention
• Risk identification and mitigation

NECA Show Education Sessions

NECA offers a wide variety of education on the trade show floor. All sessions will be held during show hours. Presentations will be centered around three different rooms on the show floor. NECA Show exhibitors are eligible to submit for these Trade Show Education sessions. 

Leadership
The NECA Show has a wide audience of attendees at all different levels of their career and these 50-minute workshops focusing on leadership topics will address their growth and leadership path. Some potentials topics include: 

• Civility in the workplace
• Conflict management
• Coaching/mentoring 
• Crisis communications
• Mental Health/suicide prevention
• Progressive discipline
• Recruiting/attracting new talent
• Strategic planning
• Succession planning
• Time management
• Use of performance evaluations
• Workforce development & retention

 

Technology & Innovation 
These workshops will discuss the cutting-edge technologies NECA contractors need to stay ahead. Presentations should focus on industry needs, innovation and the future of electrical construction.

• Practical applications of technology and innovation
• Building automation controls  
• Building information modeling
• Construction scheduling
• Cybersecurity
• Data-driven electrical construction strategies
• Energy storage
• Fault Managed Power
• IT technology (IoT)
• Lighting controls
• Material/supply chain management
• Power over ethernet (PoE)
• Use of technology in the field
• Vehicle and fleet management

 

Contractor Solutions
These sessions will examine common problems that electrical contractors face and the solutions—whether human or process—that others used to overcome them. 

• Building information modeling
• Change orders
• Contract term negotiations
• Delays
• Documentation
• Early warning signs that you’re on a bad job
• Energized work training
• How CW/CE programs have helped get work
• How to save money with preplanning
• Lean Construction
• Lesson learned in electrical construction
• Material/supply chain management
• Partnering
• Prefabrication (with an emphasis on small companies)
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Supply chain best Practices
• Vehicle and fleet management
• Working with construction managers

 

NECA Show exhibitors are encouraged to apply for the Contractor Solutions and Technology & Innovation workshops, with a strong preference given to submissions that include NECA contractors. 

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Important Dates

January 20, 2026 - Responses to Call for Proposals due
March 30, 2026 - Speakers notified of selection
October 4- 7, 2026 - NECA Convention in Chicago, IL