KEYNOTE
Clinical psychologist, inspirational speaker, podcaster, and impact entrepreneur, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas sees the world of mental health from many perspectives. She began her innovative work in suicide prevention after her brother Carson died of suicide in 2004. After his difficult battle with a bipolar condition ended in tragedy, she searched for bold, gap-filling strategies to prevent what happened to Carson from happening to other people.
Now known nationally and internationally as an innovator in social change, Spencer-Thomas has helped start multiple large-scale, gap-filling efforts to remove bias around mental health and ensure more people have access to the tools and assistance they need to thrive and stay alive. These efforts include:
Leadership positions with:
Spencer-Thomas has won multiple awards for her advocacy work, including:
In 2016, Spencer-Thomas was honored to accept an invitation to speak about men’s mental health at the White House. In her TEDX talk, Stopping Suicide with Story, she shares her goal of elevating the conversation to make mental health promotion and suicide prevention a health and safety priority in our schools, workplaces, and communities.
Her degrees include:
She lives with her partner and three sons in Conifer, Colorado.
Alan is an international speaker, author, and performance coach who is passionate about reaching new heights in all that we do. He has a degree in Engineering from Queen’s University and a Masters in Psychology from Adler University giving him a well-balanced approach to the inner and outer challenges we all face. Building experience through a lifestyle of adventure and challenge, Alan embarked on the journey of a lifetime and set a world record on Mount Everest along with three members of his immediate family. He believes in empowering people and embracing an agile mentality focused on relationships and results.
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Brian Gallagher is Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Development for MetroPower and PPC Partners. For over 30 years, Gallagher has served in executive-level leadership positions with engineering and construction firms.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Towson University and an MBA from Loyola University in Maryland. He served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Marketing at Loyola University. Gallagher completed Executive Education programs at the Harvard Business School and the University of Maryland College Park. He is a certified Maxwell Leadership speaker, coach, and trainer.
Gallagher has served in board leadership and committee leadership roles with the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the Modular Building Institute (MBI), the Post-Tensioning Institute (PTI), the Concrete Industry Management (CIM) Program, the Southeast Owners and Construction Associates Roundtable (SCOAR), Clemson University Construction Science and Management (CSM) program Industry Advisory Board (IAB), and other organizations. He also is a Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) through the Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS).
He was named a Top 20 Construction Influencer by Procore, and a Top Construction Influencer by Let’s Build. Gallagher frequently writes and speaks on AEC strategy, leadership, construction, site selection, foreign direct investment (FDI), workforce development, and strategy topics. He has authored over 200 articles and several books, including Building Smarter: Harnessing AI for Construction, Building Business with Social Media, Leading with Marketing, and Building Success: Strategic Planning for Construction Industry Leaders. He is a contributing author to Voices for Leadership. In addition, he is a co-founder and investor in construction technology start-ups.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he resides in South Carolina with his wife, Lauren, children, Emily and Shane, and three dogs: Kona, Beaux and Waffles.
Ms. Mattson is a Senior Project Manager at Sargent & Lundy. She has over a decade of experience in the nuclear industry supporting the US commercial nuclear power fleet, US national laboratories, medical radioisotope production facilities, and Gen III+ and Gen IV reactor projects (large-scale, SMR, and microreactors) both in the US and internationally for utility, industrial, and hyperscaler clients. Ms. Mattson has her Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering, her Master of Business Administration, and has her professional engineering license in the US states of Colorado, Idaho, and Illinois.
Robert is based in Maryland, USA and is the Vice President of Global Business Development for Stanley Black & Decker (SBD). He has over 25 years of experience in commercial sales and marketing, nearly all of that with SBD starting with them in 1999. In his current role, Robert works in four main areas accelerating sales growth:
Robert has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland since 2019 and serves in a leadership position on the Executive Committee. He and his family are also a Sponsor Family for the United States Naval Academy supporting the Brigade of the Midshipmen as a local resource for future Navy and Marine Corps officers.
Lisa is the Chief Learning Officer at NCCER, working with industry partners to shape the future of education for craft professionals and field leaders. She has spent her entire career in educational technology product development, with a track record spanning over 15 years. During that time, she spearheaded initiatives at Pearson and Trilogy Education, driving innovation and quality in digital learning experiences, with a focus on driving career outcomes for learners.
Steven Watters is the Group Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Manager at Sundt Construction, where he leads safety initiatives to ensure compliance with industry regulations and foster a strong culture of safety. With a Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST)
designation, he brings extensive expertise in occupational safety, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
Steven has a diverse background in multiple industries, including power, pulp & paper, chemical, water and wastewater, and renewables. His experience in these high-risk sectors allows him to develop and implement tailored safety programs that address the unique hazards and challenges of each field. His leadership ensures that Sundt Construction’s projects maintain the highest safety standards while optimizing operational efficiency.
Beyond his role at Sundt, Steven is an active member of the Southeast Construction Owners & Associates Roundtable (SCOAR) Safety Committee and the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Safety Committee. Through these organizations, he collaborates with industry leaders to advance best practices, enhance safety training, and drive continuous improvement in construction safety.
His commitment to safety, regulatory compliance, and workforce development makes him a respected advocate for innovation and excellence in construction and industrial safety.