Gain valuable insights into the economic landscape impacting the tile and stone industry. Begin with a big-picture forecast, presented by Gene Marks, of the national economy and construction market, highlighting key trends, metrics, and strategies that smart companies are adopting to address current issues. Next, we’ll dive deeper into the ceramic tile and flooring sector with Gene and two industry experts, with updates on the latest government initiatives, Q1 data, and emerging market dynamics that are shaping growth and profitability. Uncover the forces driving demand, explore shifts in distribution channels, and get a glimpse into the industry’s future. This session will equip you with the strategic knowledge to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing market.

The tile and stone industry is experiencing a wave of consolidation, reshaping the landscape for everyone from distributors to contractors to fabricators. This panel discussion will dive into the driving forces behind these changes, from acquisitions by private equity groups to strategic mergers among industry players. Panelists will examine how consolidation is affecting companies of all sizes, highlighting the opportunities and challenges it creates for the workforce, supply chain, and customer relationships. Join industry leaders as they explore the long-term implications of these shifts, providing insights into what consolidation means for competition, innovation, and the future of the tile industry. Whether you’re navigating consolidation or seeking to understand its impact, this session offers a comprehensive perspective on one of the most transformative trends shaping the industry today.

It is easy to borrow money and increase labor to try and manage your business and oftentimes those are exactly the wrong answers as they leave you weak financially and overburdened from a cost perspective. Understanding the key ratios and relationships among financial variables, relative measurements vs absolute measurements, and where to place strategic bets are the key to managing a dynamic business in a fluid and difficult economy.

Rising interest rates, slowing sales, increasing costs of supply, constraining consumers and inflation are just a few of the challenges businesses face in this type of environment. You will never see your business the same way as you take away benchmarks and techniques that you can implement to identify and create efficiencies whether you are a distributor, contractor, manufacturer, or commercial specifier.

Leadership effectiveness is increasingly tied to well-being, not just for teams but for leaders themselves. In this session, we’ll explore why viewing leadership through a well-being lens is essential for sustainable success. Learn what healthy leadership looks like and discover the key “fuel” that drives it. We’ll also discuss why treating work like a sport—focusing on training, recovery, and resilience—is crucial for achieving peak performance. Walk away with practical strategies to foster a culture of well-being that empowers leaders and teams alike.