Schedule
26–28 January 2026 • Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista • Orlando, FL, USA
Monday 26 January 2026 | |
| Noon | Registration |
| 1 p.m. | Introduction to Project Management Ron Spear, Cleveland-Cliffs Burns Harbor, and Sarah Gilley, Cleveland-Cliffs Rockport Works This module will provide an overview of project terminology, project definition and setup, project charter, stakeholder engagement, overview of stage gate approaches, communication, and team development and management. Safety management plan development and project execution plan (PEP) structure will also be discussed. |
| 2 p.m. | Scope Development and Management Thomas Ruffner, United States Steel Corporation Why do we need this project and what alternatives exist to meet that need? This module will cover business case development, alternative analysis, design basis, work breakdown structure (WBS), customer requirements and more. |
| 3 p.m. | Break |
| 3:30 p.m. | Project Controls Setup and Earned Value Jeff Kuronen, Hatch Developing control budget, work packages, reporting, performance measurement, forecasting and change management. The discussion will introduce engineering work packages and construction work packages. These tools and techniques are used to help project managers to plan, monitor, and control projects to keep them on track. |
| 5 p.m. | Reception |
Tuesday, 27 January 2026 | |
| 7 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. | Schedule Development and Management Jim Weinheimer, Middough Inc. This session will cover various aspects for schedule development, such as types of schedules; level of detail used in schedule; software programs utilized; the level of effort required to develop schedules; and how to organize, breakdown, filter, maintain and update a schedule. The session will cover the importance of breaking down and integrating the owners, engineers, equipment and fabrication suppliers, and constructors; and commissioning, start-up and close-out activities. This session will briefly discuss other aspects of information that can be incorporated into schedules and the information that can be extracted and reported during various phases of a project. |
| 8:45 a.m. | Outage-Based Projects Ron Spear, Cleveland-Cliffs Burns Harbor, and Sarah Gilley, Cleveland-Cliffs Rockport Works Implementing outage-based projects where a significant portion of the construction occurs during a production unit shutdown is the most challenging type of project. This module will discuss outage planning and management techniques to ensure the outage duration is realistic and is achieved. |
| 9:45 a.m. | Break |
| 10 a.m. | Risk Management Thomas Ruffner, United States Steel Corporation While new projects and construction are exciting, there are significant risks associated with equipment quality, construction safety and operational readiness. This session will discuss various ways to identify, managing and mitigate these risks. |
| 11:15 a.m. | Engineering Planning and Project Management William Kesterson, R. E. Warner & Associates Inc. This module covers setup of engineering work packages and correlation with construction work packages, document control, design for safety and hazard and operability, testing, surveying and laser scanning, and value engineering. |
| Noon | Lunch |
| 1 p.m. | Project Management: 101 Workshop Facilitators: Ron Spear, Cleveland-Cliffs Burns Harbor and Sarah Gilley, Cleveland-Cliffs Rockport Works This workshop features a practical exercise that utilizes real-world equipment and scenarios to expose participants to the unique challenges related to outage planning. In this session, participants will work through a simulated outage planning and execution exercise, learning how to balance competing departmental priorities, manage limited resources such as budgets and manpower, meet management expectations, and adapt to unexpected challenges like equipment failures or shifting timelines. By the end of this workshop, participants will have a better understanding of teamwork across different departments, familiarization in resource scheduling, a basic understanding of critical path, and the ability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances. |
| 3:00 p.m. | Break |
| 3:30 p.m. | Procurement and Contracting Suzanne Addison, Nucor Logistics Group This module covers project procurement strategy, construction contracting strategies (contract types and risk), expediting, and bonus and vendor management. |
| 4:15 p.m. | Site Logistics and Material Movement Lauren Culbertson, Songer Services Inherent to successful project execution is planning for site logistics for manpower and materials. This presentation will review important aspects of manpower logistics (e.g., employee parking and transportation, man-trailer layout, designated walkways, and multiple shift considerations) and materials management (e.g., laydown space assessment, security and climate control requirements, receiving protocols, and chain of custody). |
Wednesday, 28 January 2026 | |
| 7:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8 a.m. | 3D Modeling and Prefabrication Steve Roloff, The Systems Group Discussion will focus on the benefits of 3D model construction to develop fabrication drawings to save time and money on construction projects by taking the work out of the field. |
| 8:30 a.m. | Construction Techniques Josh Wasko, Fives ST Corp. Introduction to construction techniques and terminology: Modularization, types of piling, types of rigging, electrical, welding, shoring, embeds, anchor bolts, etc. The presentation will review various disciplines’ construction techniques at a high level. Discussion will also involve pre-installation fabrication and modularization. |
| 9:15 a.m. | Break |
| 9:30 a.m. | Change Management Jim Weinheimer, Middough Inc. The module covers objectives for design life, vendor quality requirements and surveillance, including quality inspections/audit and factory acceptance testing. The material will also review construction quality management. |
| 10:15 a.m. | Commissioning and Start-Up Planning Ray Young, Primetals Technologies This module will cover testing, cold and hot commissioning, and production ramp-up. It includes testing/flushing, first fills, I/O checkout and cold commissioning/hot commissioning; consideration for automation upgrades using off-line testing; and gradual ramp-up versus outage in developing the plan. |
| 11:15 a.m. | Wrap-Up — Key Factors of Successful Projects: Planning, Teamwork and Communication |