When
Apr 14, 2026 - Apr 16, 2026
Where
,CONNECT WITH TOP DECISION MAKERS
BuiltWorlds' CEO Annual Meeting is an invite-only, intimate, peer-to-peer opportunity for the industry’s leading CEOs to meet and discuss trends, challenges, and opportunities arising from the building and infrastructure industry’s accelerating pace of technological change. The group will examine the evolving AEC industry from an executive’s perspective, exploring what it takes for construction companies to remain competitive, profitable, and relevant in it.
This special event is limited to members of BuiltWorlds' Business Strategy Track. Members attending the Industry CEOs Annual Meeting will also automatically be registered for BuiltWorlds' Chicago Global Summit, taking place on the 15th and 16th in the same venue.
Past speakers include...
Tariq Taherbhai
Chief Commercial Officer- Construction and Infrastructure, Global Industry Specialties, Aon
David Schonthal
Author and Professor of Strategy, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Northwestern University - MPM and EMDC
Dan Koloski
Professor of the Practice and Head of Learning Programs, Roux Institute at Northeastern University
Agenda
BuiltWorlds’ CEO Meeting is an annual gathering of BuiltWorlds’ Business Strategy Track members intended to provide a small, private event with two days of exclusive programming, featuring innovative industry experts and executives from around the globe.
Attendance at the 2026 CEO Annual Meeting is strictly restricted to members of the Business Strategy Track. For more information on how to join, please complete this interest form, and a member of the BuiltWorlds team will be in touch with additional information.
Day 1 Schedule
CEO Forum Registration and Opening Luncheon
Welcome and State of the Industry
The event will kick-off with a candid snapshot of the current AECO landscape, key market signals, and the strategic forces shaping the industry ahead.
Four Pillars of Disruption: Examining Trends in the Interconnected Worlds of Construction Tech, Buildings Materials and Systems, Venture Investing, and Infrastructure
Roundtable Discussions
Hear from BuiltWorlds' analyst team, who will present data from BuiltWorlds' Annual Benchmarking Program, which will be used to help guide the subsequent conversation as the group discusses themes and theorizes where the industry is heading next.
Break
AEC Mergers and Acquisitions Strategy in the Era of Industry Disruption
As technology, delivery models, and capital structures reshape AECO, M&A has become a critical lever for growth, resilience, and competitive differentiation. This session explores how firms are rethinking acquisition strategy—what capabilities to buy versus build, how to value tech-enabled firms, and how to integrate culture, data, and operations post-deal. Attendees will gain a clearer lens on navigating consolidation in an increasingly digital and fragmented market.
CEO Reception & Private Dinner
Reconvene with the group for a intimate dinner at a local Chicago institution with a special dinner speaker.
Day 2 Schedule
How Will AI Impact the Industry, and How Soon Will the Change be Upon Us?
AI promises step-change improvements in productivity, risk management, and decision-making—but timelines and impact remain uneven across the industry. This session cuts through the hype to examine where AI is already delivering value, where adoption is stalling, and how quickly meaningful transformation is likely to occur. Executives will leave with a realistic view of AI’s near-term implications for strategy, workforce, and competitive advantage.
The Specialty Contractor Perspective; Tech Roadmaps and Adoption
Specialty contractors sit at the intersection of execution, coordination, and risk—making technology adoption both essential and complex. This session explores how specialty firms are prioritizing tech investments, aligning roadmaps with GCs and owners, and overcoming adoption challenges in the field. The discussion highlights what upstream partners often misunderstand—and where alignment can unlock significant value.
Break
Global Leaders: Collaborative Testbeds, and Open Innovation
Roundtable Discussion
As innovation accelerates, leading contractors are turning to partnerships, pilots, and shared testbeds to de-risk experimentation and scale impact. This session brings together global leaders to discuss how open innovation models—corporate venture arms, strategic partnerships, and controlled pilots—are shaping their technology strategies. Attendees will gain insight into how collaboration can drive faster learning while maintaining operational discipline.
Mid Sized Contractor Intrapreneurship Case Studies, Challenges, and Opportunities
Roundtable Discussion
Mid-sized firms often face a unique tension: the need to innovate without the resources of industry giants. This session highlights real-world intrapreneurship efforts within mid-sized contractors, examining what worked, what failed, and how leaders created space for innovation without disrupting core operations. Executives will hear practical lessons on governance, incentives, and scaling ideas internally.
CEO Forum Lunch with Tech Entrepreneurs
The CEO Forum / Tech Entrepreneurs Lunch is an opportunity for industry executives from leading AECO firms to meet connect with startup founders and CEO's from BuiltWorlds' network over lunch in an intimate, yet engaging setting.
CEO Forum Afternoon Debrief
This closing session is set to synthesize key themes from the CEO Annual Meeting, connecting the dots between technology, investment, and organizational strategy.
Member Registration
Please use the form below to register yourself and your colleagues. The contact information section will be auto-populated based on your login information. Click “Add Ticket” to register either yourself and colleagues for the event. When you have entered the information for all tickets, please click “Submit Order” to complete the registration. You will receive a confirmation email with a ticket number.
If you experience issues, please reach out to info@builtworlds.com for assistance.
Thank you!
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