Wednesday, September 30, 2026 (6:30 PM - 7:30 PM)
Wednesday Night Dinner -- Opening Keynote
Angela Wilhelms has been president and CEO since September 2021.
Before joining OBI, Angela held several roles focused on public policy, organizational governance, communications and strategic planning. Her work spans manufacturing, higher education, Capitol Hill and the Oregon Legislature. In the Oregon House of Representatives, she served as chief of staff in the House Minority Office and the House Co-Speakers’ Office helping advise lawmakers on a diverse portfolio of policy, budget and legislative management issues. Angela has a degree in finance from Santa Clara University and both a JD and MBA from Willamette University. She serves on the boards for Sport Oregon, the Oregon State Capitol Foundation and Common Sense Institute Oregon and is an emeritus member of the SMART Reading board. In her spare time, Angela loves to explore Oregon, and she is a certified official with USA Track & Field.
Thursday, October 1, 2026 (8:00 AM - 9:00 AM)
The Contract Strikes Back: What Happens After the Ink Dries
You negotiated the contract. Now what? Like in The Contract Strikes Back, the real battle begins after the deal is signed. Too often, subcontractors lose money not because of bad terms—but because those terms aren’t followed in the field. This session shows how missed notices, undocumented
Angela Richie is Managing Partner of the Louisville office of Gordon & Rees and is Co-Chair of the Construction practice group. She frequently consults with steel fabricators and other members of the structural steel industry on issues such as: claims for non-payment; allegations of defective fabrication and erection of structural steel; OSHA violations and related retaliation actions; application of the Buy America(n) statutes and regulations; and contracts between steel fabricators, general contractors, and downstream detailers, structural engineers, and erectors. Ms. Richie is a frequent presenter at regional steel fabricator association meetings.
Scott Norman is an experienced litigator in the Louisville office of Gordon & Rees and a member of the Construction, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law, and Real Estate practice groups. He represents and advises contractors, steel fabricators, subcontractors, and design professionals nationwide in all phases of commercial and residential construction, including contract review and negotiation, construction and design claims, payment disputes, workplace injuries and OSHA violations, labor and employment issues, mechanics’ liens, and other construction disputes. He brings an unconditional commitment to providing his nationwide clients with prompt and strategic professional services to achieve favorable and cost-effective outcomes.
Speakers
Thursday, October 1, 2026 (9:15 AM - 10:15 AM)
Using AI for the Work around the Work
Somewhere between the first email and the fifteenth "quick question," the work that matters starts to get buried.
Every year there's more to read, more to respond to, more to track, and more to coordinate. Quoting, documentation, compliance, follow-ups. It all matters, but it pulls time and attention away from the work that drives progress.
In this session, NJ Shelsby will show how Al can lighten that operational layer. You'll see practical ways to use Al to manage high-volume communication, keep track of decisions, process information quickly, and reduce repetitive tasks that don't require your expertise.
The goal is simple: free up time and attention for the work that actually moves things forward.
Learning Outcomes:
- How Al can handle high-volume email so you can focus on the messages that need you
- How Al can reduce time spent on meetings, follow-ups, and decision tracking
- How to process large amounts of information quickly without missing what matters
- How to identify repetitive tasks that are ready to hand off to Al
- How to protect your company's data when using Al tools
NJ Shelsby
NJ Shelsby is the Founder and President of Neuro Productivity, Inc. With a background in manufacturing and high tech, she brings more than 20 years of experience helping business owners and professionals work effectively under real-world pressure.
Over the years, NJ watched the nature of work shift. More communication, more platforms, more information coming from every direction. Capable professionals were working hard all day and still feeling buried. When she began using Al in early 2023, she saw how it could lighten that load in practical, immediate ways.
Now she helps her clients integrate Al into their daily work to reduce mental load, manage high-volume communication, and free up time for the work that matters
Thursday, October 1, 2026 (10:30 AM - 11:30 AM)
AISC Fabricator Training Program
Want to build a stronger, more skilled team in your shop? Join us for an inside look at AISC’s Fabricator Education Program. Learn how industry-specific training tools are helping shops boost productivity, retention, and employee confidence.
A seasoned professional with 25 years of experience in technical and vocational training content development, Joel Landsverk currently manages the American Institute of Steel Construction’s multi-award winning Fabricator Education Training program. His keen interest in the trades and passion for purpose-driven work align with the objective of the program; to lead great people to fulfilling careers in steel fabrication.
Landsverk holds a bachelor’s in communications (radio, TV, and film production) from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. In his spare time, he volunteers at his local youth development organization for 5th-12th graders and coaches high school soccer.
Friday, October 2, 2026 (8:30 AM - 9:30 AM)
Marketing and Website Workshop
Lacey J. Faught, will be presenting on “Forged for Impact: How Analytics and AI Can Reshape Your Social Media Strategy.” She is the founder of Spry, the Pacific Northwest’s most established social media agency. She’s been running the company for nearly 15 years and, along with her many remote employees, has helped hundreds of businesses improve their online presence. Lacey J. and her team specialize in social media marketing for companies and organizations in industrial markets such as fabrication, manufacturing, shipping etc.
Her mission is “social media for good.” She and one of her employees wrote the book “Down the Rabbit Hole - Slowing the Spread of Misinformation and Propaganda on Social Media” which came out last fall.
Friday, October 2, 2026 (9:40 AM - 12:00 PM)
Choose your Own Adventure
Network with Vendors
This year is the first year we are trying out a small tradeshow. Take this dedicated time on Friday to chat with our supporting vendors. Whether you are catching up with a current partner or connecting with someone new, don't miss this opportunity.
PNSFA Committee Roundtables
We have launched four new committees this year: Education, Marketing, Public Affairs, and Trade Outreach. Sit in on one or more committee roundtables to learn more about PNSFA initiatives and contribute ideas for the future of the association and industry as a whole.