Education
Monday, October 14
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Session: Culture That Rocks: How to Amp Up Your Company’s Culture and Deliver Sustainable Results
Session Description: This high-energy, impactful and interactive keynote presentation focuses on individuals, departments and entire companies who are charged with creating, maintaining, or revolutionizing an organization’s culture, ensuring it stays relevant in the 21st century. The session delves into every area of a company’s environment and reveals realistic solutions for systemic change.
Keynote speaker and best-selling author, Jim Knight will act as a thought-starter for the session. He will use the visceral backdrop of Rock ‘n Roll and several well-known brands, including Hard Rock International—via his 21-year run with that brand as the head of Global Training & Development—to discuss key strategies to transform any organization’s culture, regardless of the company’s cultural history or status
Speaker: Jim Knight | Business catalyst, former Hard Rock International executive, and author of Culture That Rocks!
Bio: With his energetic rock ‘n roll spirit and key business insights drawn from his decades as a Hard Rock International executive, Jim Knight shares strategies for developing leadership, transforming corporate cultures, and amping up customer service to achieve exceptional and sustainable results.
Although his illustrious career started at Gatorland Zoo in Florida (he has scars to prove it), Jim cut his teeth in the hospitality training industry and eventually led Global Training for Hard Rock International for two decades. Jim’s customized programs show how to amp up organizational culture, deliver world-class differentiated service, and build rock star teams and leaders.
Jim’s role at Hard Rock involved many facets of organizational training including creating and managing all staff and management training materials and programs; facilitating Hard Rock’s Corporate University; overseeing management training locations; producing training videos; directing company e-Learning initiatives; facilitating leadership transitions; and traveling to properties to deliver onsite classes and measure company standards.
Jim has a music degree in Vocal Performance and Education, and taught in the Florida public school system for 6 years. His bestseller Culture That Rocks highlights how organizations can stand out in a competitive marketplace by making sure their work cultures are “in tune” and “working off the same song sheet.”
Jim was recognized by Training Magazine as representing one of the top 125 training companies in the world out of all industries and businesses. He has since been featured in Forbes Magazine, Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Nation’s Restaurant News, Business News Daily and Fox Business News.
Session: How to Maximize ROI at Conventions and Summits
Session Description: Attending conventions and summits is a significant investment, but are you genuinely capitalizing on their opportunities? This session will provide a strategic roadmap to maximize your return on investment (ROI) before, during, and after the event. Learn how to set measurable goals, engage effectively with attendees, leverage networking opportunities, and implement follow-up strategies that convert leads into meaningful business relationships. Whether you're looking to generate new business, strengthen partnerships, or enhance brand visibility, this session will equip you with actionable insights to make every event successful.
Speaker: Zack Jarmon | Company: Dallas Independent Electrical Contractors | Title: Director of Business Development
Bio: Zack Jarmon completed his apprenticeship program over 28 years ago and has been in the electrical industry for 33 years. Over the past decade, Zack has served as an instructor—eight years with IEC Fort Worth and two years with IEC Dallas. Zack also spent three years as the Training Director at IEC Fort Worth. As of April 2024, Zack will have completed his first year as the Director of Business Development at IEC Dallas. Since 2005, Zack has been the owner and Master Electrician of Providence Electric.
Session: Don't Be Me, How Complacency Nearly Killed Me
Session Description: This one-hour presentation covers the critical details that led up to the accident that nearly killed Jason. He focuses on the actual case study and root cause resulting in the complacency that ultimately caused this accident. This course is designed for linemen, electricians, maintenance personnel, and engineers that may be exposed to electrocution, arc flash hazards, or electric shock from tools, machines, or appliances. This testimonial is a great refresher for safety professionals as well as field technicians.
Speaker: Jason Brozen | Company: Dallas Lead Safety & Technical Trainer | Master Electrician | Arc Flash Survivor | Title: Tyndale Enterprises, Inc.
Bio: Jason Brozen is a professional safety instructor, expert witness, consultant, and arc-flash survivor. Jason has made it his mission to share his experience, as an arc flash survivor, to help others stay safe on the job. He is currently the Lead Corporate Safety and Technical Trainer for Tyndale Enterprises, Inc. and an NFPA Certified Electrical Safety Compliance Professional (CESCP). Jason has been an NFPA 70E instructor for several years and has been a certified Master Electrician for over 28 years. His nationally recognized presentations include his own personal arc flash survival and recovery story.
Session: Electrifying Mental Health: Integrating Suicide Prevention into Workplace Safety
Session Description: In high-stress industries like electrical contracting, mental health can often be overlooked despite its significant impact on productivity and safety. This session by Frank King will explore the intersection of mental health and workplace safety, providing attendees with actionable strategies to create an open, supportive work culture. By sharing his personal journey and utilizing real-world examples, Frank will guide participants in recognizing mental health indicators, reducing stigma, and implementing comprehensive support systems. The session will further delve into establishing mental health policies, training staff, and ensuring a responsive environment that actively prioritizes employee well-being.
Speaker: Frank King | Company: Suicide Prevention Speaker and Comedian | Arc Flash Survivor | Title: The Mental Health Comedian, LLC
Bio:
Frank King, Suicide Prevention Speaker, was a writer for The Tonight Show for 20 years and has been a speaker and comedian for 38. His speaking on Suicide Prevention is informed by his lifetime battle with Depression and Suicidality, and he has turned that long dark journey of the soul into 13 TEDx Talks, sharing his lifesaving insights with colleges, corporations, and associations.
He's shared the stage with comedians, Jeff Foxworthy, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, Dr. Ken Jung, Ellen DeGeneres, Dennis Miller, and Bill Hicks, as well as entertainers, Lou Rawls, The Beach Boys, Randy Travis, and Nancy Wilson.
On top of all of that, he has survived 2 aortic valve replacements, a double bypass, a heart attack, and losing to a puppet on the original Star Search and has lived to joke about it all.
Session: Engaging with Elected Officials: Building Relationships to Impact Policy
Session Description: Attendees will learn first-hand why and how to engage with your elected officials. Whether it’s local, state or federal politicians, hear about the importance of building relationships with officials at all levels of government and the simple steps to take to begin establishing connections to policymakers and their staff. Participants will be given practical guidance and insight into how to leverage these relationships to ultimately impact policy decisions affecting merit shop electrical contractors.
Speaker: Jason Todd | Company: Independent Electrical Contractors | Title: Vice President, Government Affairs
Speaker: Caleb Hunter | Company: Extreme Electrical Contractors, LLC | Title: Owner
Bio:
Jason Todd is the vice president of government affairs for the Alexandria, VA-based Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc. In this role, Todd handles a wide range of issues as they pertain to Congress and the Executive Branch, to include labor, workforce development, tax and immigration policy. He also handles political fundraising efforts for IEC PAC, IEC’s political action committee, and the IEC Freedom Fund Todd joined IEC in January of 2015.
Prior to joining IEC, he spent nine years with the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International as the director for federal affairs, leading efforts on tax and labor matters as well as issues pertaining to emergency preparedness.
In addition, Todd spent over four years as the director of government affairs for the Retail Industry Leaders Association where he directed the state government affairs program. His government affairs experience also includes stints work for the American Teleservices Association as well as the National Milk Producers Federation.
Todd is a graduate of James Madison University with a BA in political science.
Session: Ladies - and Gentlemen - Start Your Engines: Driving Leadership into the Future!
Session Description: This dynamic session blends a panel discussion with interactive activities to explore "drafting"—a strategy from auto racing and cycling—as a leadership tool. Just as racers work together to build momentum, strong leaders foster collaboration, efficiency, and shared success.
Facilitated by Marilyn Akers Stansbury, this session features electrical contractors, industry partners, and chapter leaders as panelists and table hosts, bringing diverse perspectives on leadership. Originating from IEC’s National Women in Power series, this conversation is for anyone—men and women—who seeks to lead, support others, and drive the future of our industry.
Speaker: Marilyn Akers Stansbury | Company: IEC Rocky Mountain | Title: CEO
Bio:
Marilyn Akers Stansbury is the CEO of Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountain (IECRM) and recently celebrated 10 years as part of the IEC community. She is a long-time executive leader, strategic partnership developer and change advocate. Throughout her career in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, Marilyn has moved organizations and complex initiatives from start-up, strategic vision to successful, sustained implementation. Her goal at IECRM is to attract talented and energetic individuals to meet the growing demands of the electrical and energy industry and serve the members of the association on general business and industry specific issues through governance, policy, advocacy, education, and leadership. This focus enhances IECRM’s contractor members and partners’ success in their workforce and business development efforts and contributes to the growth and stability of the region’s economy. Prior to IECRM, Marilyn led high profile, impactful organizations and initiatives for the State of Colorado Office of the Governor, the State of Alabama Legislature, Georgia Public Media, The Home Depot, and was the founder of a strategy implementation consulting firm serving public and private sector clients through leadership, governance, operational, technology and finance initiatives. Marilyn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from The University of Alabama. She has studied economic development, leadership development, public administration, change management and strategic communications throughout her diverse career. Marilyn is an IEC Foundation Trustee and serves on the Board of Directors for several non-profit organizations and public sector entities. Outside of work, Marilyn enjoys the mountains, the beach, baseball, college football, golf and learning about the people and places that round out the world.