SPEAKERS
Countdown to 2025
IGNITE Construction Summit
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2025 Speaker Information
GISELLE CHAPMAN
Leadership Expert & Business Coach
Leadership expert and business coach Giselle Chapman has seen success defined in many ways—money, power, job satisfaction—but she believes it’s something deeper. With decades of corporate and entrepreneurial experience, she shares that true success is driven by passion and a philosophy that anyone can embrace, regardless of position.
Through S.M.I.L.E. Productions© (Successfully Mastering Influence Leadership and Engagement), Giselle transforms individuals and teams into high performers, inspiring leaders to develop themselves and others with love, respect, and Genshai. Her real-life stories, engaging presence, and passion-driven approach motivate audiences to think, feel, and act differently.
A Seton Hall graduate with certifications in high-performance coaching, crucial conversations, and leadership, Giselle’s career includes developing best practices at Bristol-Myers Squibb and working with top businesses across industries. Her mission? To ignite passion, improve communication, and create lasting success.
TODD EICHHOLZ
CEO, A&A Paving
Todd Eichholz is the Owner and CEO of A&A Paving, located in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. “Pavers Putting People First” isn’t just a saying at A&A… SERVING and IMPACTING others is the heartbeat of this company. Team members often refer to A&A as a “brand new 62-year-old company” because of their cutting-edge use of technology, marketing, and customer experience but Todd credits A&A’s culture and people first mentality for their 5x growth over the past few years. A&A was recently awarded a “Best Places to Work in Construction” and has 225+ Five-Star Google Reviews.
BRANDON LEONE
Executive Vice President of Business Development, Alpha Paving
With over eight years in the asphalt industry, Brandon Leone enjoys working with people and making an impact daily. He is currently head of business development of SouthTex Asphalt & Concrete where he strives to develop relationships and make an impact on his employees and customers every day.
NICK YOSS
Owner, Synergy Pavement Group
Nick Yoss is the Founder and Owner of Synergy Pavement Group, with over 25 years of experience in the asphalt industry. Under his leadership, Synergy Pavement Group has completed projects in 26 different states. Nick has extensive expertise in both subcontracting and serving as a subcontractor, offering a unique perspective on building successful partnerships. His insights into collaboration, quality control, and project management are invaluable for fostering strong, efficient relationships in the pavement industry. Let me know if this works or if it needs fixing.
Sessions:
Overcoming Challenges in Scaling Up + Building a Resilient Organization
Thursday, December 4 @ 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
DEJAH ANDERSON
Chief Operating Officer, Anderson Striping
Dejah Anderson grew up in the striping industry – Anderson Striping & Construction, Inc. started in 1988 and over the last 25+ years they have expanded into servicing CA, NV, AZ, OR, WA & UT for their clients. Now, more than just striping, Anderson self-performs asphalt paving, repairs, seal coating, pavement markings and maintenance services for a variety of private and public sectors. Today she represents the second generation of the business as Anderson’s Chief Operating Officer. She has been an advocate for Women in Construction for over 14 years and is passionate about promoting the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders in paving and pavement maintenance.
Sessions:
Overcoming Challenges in Scaling Up + Building a Resilient Organization
Thursday, December 4 @ 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
KYLE BARTHOLOMEW
Owner, Bart’s Asphalt
Kyle Bartholomew is the founder and owner of Bart’s Asphalt based out of Jackson, MI. He started off his career in public accounting before starting Bart’s Asphalt, which allowed him to be numbers driven within the asphalt industry. With a dedication to customer service, professionalism, quality, and investing back into employees, Bart’s Asphalt has become a leader of asphalt repair and maintenance in a market saturated with other life-long contractors.
Sessions:
Overcoming Challenges in Scaling Up + Building a Resilient Organization
Thursday, December 4 @ 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
JOSH FERGUSON
Partner, Freeman, Mathis & Gary Law Firm
Josh Ferguson is an Equity Partner and Executive Committee member of the law firm of Freeman, Mathis & Gary. Ferguson is also co-chair of the firm’s Hospitality Team, and Chair of the Trial Roundtable Committee for their Mid-Atlantic and New England offices.
His primary practice areas are Tort & Catastrophic Loss, Construction and Environmental claims, with significant litigation and transactional experience. Ferguson provides counsel for a wide variety of businesses, including those in the construction, snow and ice management, power sweeping, landscaping, and property management industries. Ferguson also serves as outside counsel for industry affiliated association’s such as the Accredited Snow Contractors Association, North American Power Sweeping Association, and New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association to name a few. He has been asked to speak in Washington, D.C. and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania before House Committees based on his experience representing those industries.
ALI WILLIAMS
Business Development Manager, Elite Paving
Ali is all about making things happen. As the Business Development Manager at Elite Paving, she keeps the gears turning. Connecting with clients, streamlining processes, and helping the company grow. Whether it’s lead generation, compliance, or tackling everyday challenges, she’s always looking for ways to work smarter and more efficiently.
Ali didn’t take the traditional path into construction. She spent years working as a newborn care specialist, helping families navigate the early days of parenthood. That experience sharpened her ability to problem-solve, communicate, and lead—all of which she now applies to the fast paced world of paving.
When she’s not working, you’ll probably find Ali at the gym, testing out a new recipe in the kitchen, or planning her next adventure. A fitness enthusiast, dedicated mom, and self-proclaimed foodie, she believes life is best lived with a balance of hard work and fun.
Sessions:
Navigating the Digital Transformation + Your Role As A Leader
Thursday, December 4 @ 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
RYAN LAUGHLIN
President and CEO, PLM Paving
Ryan has spent over 25 years leading and managing businesses in civil construction focusing on asphalt and concrete construction projects for the public and private sector market. Prior to joining PLM, he spent 17 years working for Rabine as Chief Operating Officer overseeing all operations and companies servicing the Midwest and nationwide. Additionally, he was responsible for two asphalt plants servicing the DOT and municipal markets. Today Ryan serves PLM as President and CEO, headquartered in Pewaukee, WI leading business operations in Wisconsin representing over 160 employees. For over 50 years PLM Paving & Concrete has been servicing the Southeast Wisconsin area as the market leader for asphalt, concrete and civil construction work. Throughout our history of growth PLM has expanded coverage to include Madison, Green Bay and everywhere in-between.
PLM Paving & Concrete is a commercial, and industrial asphalt paving and concrete company based in Pewaukee. We specialize in property management, facility management, and ownership community and are committed to safely exceeding customer expectations and industry standards.
Ryan graduated from Marquette University in 1998 with a degree in Civil Engineering and graduated with a master’s degree from Villanova School of Business in 2018.
Ryan and his wife Melissa have been married for 21 years, have two children: Connor (17) and Molly (15), and live in Sussex, WI. Ryan enjoys travelling, playing golf and board games with family and friends.
Sessions:
Evolve or Be Eliminated: How Forward Thinking Businesses Thrive in Uncertainty
Friday, December 5 @ 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
JAKE THOMPSON
Chief Encouragement Officer, Compete Every Day
Jake Thompson is a leadership performance coach and the Chief Encouragement Officer at Compete Every Day, a brand he started in 2011 by first selling t-shirts out of the trunk of his car.
Jake has spent more than a decade working with leaders and organizations worldwide on how to get better results for themselves and their teams. Through his entrepreneurial sales experience, client work, and research, Jake has built a proven C.E.D. framework that helps leaders improve their grit, productive habits, and leadership skills to create more positive influence within their organizations.
He has been featured in Forbes, Inc. Magazine, hosts a podcast with over two million downloads, and has directly impacted over 85,000 ambitious leaders.
Jake lives in Dallas/Fort Worth with his wife, Elena, and their “kids,” aka rescue dogs, Sugar, Donut, Snacks, & Pop-Tart.
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