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After over ten prosperous years in sales, Cassie Wells found that her ability to make meaningful connections and her willingness to help others could change the perspective of business development in new areas, allowing her to launch Modern Business Development in January 2023. For over two years Cassie has been working towards establishing Modern BD as a prominent fixture in the Business Development community, successfully representing Corporate Interior Systems (commercial furniture), Cherry Coatings (interior/exterior paint and high-performance floor coatings), Fast Permits (expedited permit consulting) and Sculpting Living Spaces (high-end customized 3-D art). Modern BD offers services in both the Phoenix and Tucson markets. Cassie firmly believes that people don’t buy from companies they like, they buy from people they like. Last year she launched Business Relationship Gardening classes to help train owners, sales representatives, and business development professionals on effectively building meaningful relationships to obtain recurring business. Due to popular demand, she now offers these services outside of the clients Modern BD represents.
Cassie graduated from W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. Her dedication and hard work has been recognized by AZ Big Media as a ‘2024 People to Know In Commercial Real Estate’ awardee. Not just the entrepreneur, Cassie is also committed to giving back philanthropically. Her efforts as a founding member of the St Vincent de Paul’s Rising Leaders, as well as co-chair for the Executive Committee for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Light the Night fundraising event have helped give back thousands of dollars to the community. Above all Cassie is the proudest mother of two to the walking beam of light that is her 8-year-old daughter, Raine, and to quite possibly the most authentic human being that has ever lived in her 6-year-old, Phoenix.
Jessie Terry is the CEO and Principal of BlueOcean Edge, LLC. Jessie is a nationally recognized and respected Senior Operations Executive, 2x public company CHRO, Board Member, Stakeholder, and Advisor for large and small/mid-sized public and private corporations with a strong emphasis on operational efficiencies, strategic and sustainable growth, and human capital management/utility. Jessie has held C-suite leadership positions throughout his career at companies including Kroger Co. (formerly Roundy’s Supermarkets), Rheia LLC, Taylor Morrison Home Corporation, and senior leadership roles at Kraft Heinz Company (formerly The Kraft Foods Co.).
Jessie has served on two public company boards leading compensation committees presenting to the Board of Directors on manufacturing/supply chain, human resources/talent, and related business strategies. He has steered the success of 9 large-scale acquisitions, two mergers, and two labor negotiations. His influence has been instrumental in spearheading corporate turnarounds, restructuring, and divestitures across the retail, construction, building products, manufacturing, and auto supply industries. His focus is supporting organizations growth and enterprise companies with programs and benefits that prioritize retention and attraction.
Jessie holds an MBA from the University of Wisconsin and a BA from Silver Lake College. He is an avid motorcycle enthusiast and enjoys building and riding in his downtime. He is also an active member of the Phoenix Dream Center; a non-profit focused on stopping human trafficking and childhood hunger.
As a lifetime resident of the Phoenix area, Jimmy has dedicated much of his time and energy to the development and fostering of a broad
network throughout Arizona. He leverages these strong relationships
with those he knows within municipalities, SRP, Southwest Gas, Maricopa
County, to name a few, to ensure that projects flow smoothly from
start to finish. In an effort to understand the challenges/ opportunities
associated with any project, Jimmy proactively begins discussions with
many of these stakeholders. As a panel host of the AEC Growth Summit, Jimmy is pulling back the curtain on why utilities are the heartbeat of growth, how economic development and infrastructure depend on business support, he critical (and often overlooked) boards and commissions that shape our cities, and how YOU - yes, you - can play a bigger role in helping communities thrive. This is one of those sessions that will change how you think about development forever.
Justin Neagle is the Chief Storyteller at Spot Migration and Co-host of the Building Scale Podcast. Justin is a leader who loves seeing companies grow and learn. He has experienced everything from tiny 2-person teams to gigantic firms with over 12,000 employees.
Regardless of their size, he discovered the secret recipe for successful companies is having solid core values and a clear purpose. Justin has set an ambitious goal for himself. He’s on a mission to guide 1,000 companies to find and use their unique core purposes. This way, they can have a positive impact on the world, and everyone involved can experience joy and fulfillment while increasing their earnings. "Culture eats strategy for breakfast” - Peter Drucker
Justin Ramirez is the Director of Strategic Growth at RTM Engineering Consultants. With a diverse background in construction, finance, accounting, banking, law, and AEC exclusive management consulting experience, Justin brings a creative and unique perspective to RTM’s operations while playing an integral role in the development and execution of RTM’s organic and inorganic growth strategies.
Before joining RTM in 2024, Justin served as Director of Mergers & Acquisitions at Zweig Group, where he led M&A initiatives for AEC clients. He initially joined Zweig Group focusing on internal ownership transition, advising AEC clients on developing and implementing attainable ownership transition and succession plans, before becoming an advisor in the M&A department. Before his tenure at Zweig Group, Justin worked as a Third-Party Provider Risk Analyst at Arvest Bank, conducting annual risk assessments on over 3,500 independent third parties to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. Additionally, Justin has over nine years of experience in the construction industry from working with and having helped manage his family’s construction company.
Justin earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Finance and Accounting from the University of Arkansas, Sam M. Walton College of Business. He also holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law – Fayetteville and has been admitted to the Arkansas Bar.
John Delano Marketing was founded by Nicole Rodriguez, a 3X award-winning creative immersed in marketing and branding initiatives specific to construction. Her first job was in door to door sales, loyally spending 4 years outside all day and being told NO thousands of times in thousands of different ways, knowing only that one yes mattered. All sales roles competed against each other; there was no sales team. After college, this exposure to a vast spectrum of wealth scenarios created an addiction to winning, and fully fearless entrepreneurship for the next two decades.
Nicole’s design work has received two awards from the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) in 2014 and 2015, in the website design and advertising categories. Then in 2016, Nicole received the prestigious SMPS Arizona Marketer of the Year award.
She has served as adjunct professor in marketing for architects at the Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin West School of Architecture. Her leadership can be found each year in SMPS training sessions, AASBO conferences, and MEP specific trade organizations. Nicole has served on numerous community service group boards and served as co-chair of the American Lung Association Fight for Air Climb. Her title certification is prefaced by the accomplishment of ordainment, having graduated from the CFTN School of Ministry in 2023.
Nicole is also a Professional Business Developer (PBD) graduate, which is a title certification issued by Arizona State University and Del E. Webb School of Construction. John Delano has achieved nearly a quarter billion in wins for construction industry clients across the United States, most notably with school districts and government entities - delivering marketing plans, rebrands, and content production for over 150 school districts, architects, engineers, and contractors.
Embarking on his career within the restoration sector, Sergei rapidly ascended from roles that honed his technical acumen and leadership capabilities, progressing from a Field Supervisor to the Estimator and then to the General Manager with his previous employer, a residential and commercial restoration company. Each step of the way, Sergei demonstrated an innate ability to drive growth, operational excellence, and execute with precision. This profound expertise and vision ultimately led him to the establishment of RestorationHQ, where he currently pioneers the integration of state-of-the-art restoration practices with a hearteningly human touch.
Under Sergei's leadership, RestorationHQ has emerged as a beacon of resilience and innovation within the restoration industry. Sergei’s philosophy centers on the belief that true success is rooted in the unwavering commitment to quality, fairness, and the swift restoration of not just properties but lives disrupted by unforeseen calamities. His approach is distinguished by an empathetic understanding of the stress and impact disasters have on people, treating each project with the utmost importance and a meticulous eye for detail.
Sergei Guk’s leadership style is candid, approachable, and imbued with integrity. He maintains an open dialogue at all organizational levels, offering constructive feedback and cultivating an environment where curiosity and innovation thrive. His relentless drive is matched by a compassionate heart, manifesting in generous acts and a loyalty that inspires both his team and clients.
Moreover, Sergei’s commitment to community well-being and ethical business practices stands as a testament to his character and leadership. Collaborating on numerous events and initiatives, he has consistently demonstrated a commitment to doing right by clients, partners, and the community at large.
Navigating through challenging landscapes with grace, Sergei Guk exemplifies the qualities of a transformative leader, dedicated to elevating the standards of restoration and remediation services while fostering an inclusive and empowering workplace culture. His journey is a compelling narrative of resilience, growth, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
Scott Franchini is a Partner at RedHammer, a national firm specializing in outsourced accounting, software remediation, and process consulting for the construction industry. Under Scott’s leadership, RedHammer has become the go-to partner for construction companies seeking accurate job costing, modernized systems, and financial clarity. The firm’s team-based model delivers not just bookkeeping, but full-cycle financial operations and strategic insights that drive profitability and growth.
Founded in 2011, RedHammer was built to solve the real-world financial challenges contractors face — from incomplete WIP reports and messy software setups to unreliable cash flow forecasting. Today, RedHammer serves clients across the country, providing monthly financial packages, job cost analysis, and expert remediation of failed software implementations. Scott has shaped RedHammer’s reputation by combining deep construction accounting knowledge with cutting-edge tools and a relentless focus on quality. He leads the firm’s software selection and turnaround services and is currently developing AI tools that help construction companies better understand their financial health in real time.
Scott Graduated from the W.P Cary School of Business at Arizona State University. He brings over two decades of experience spanning construction, manufacturing, and distribution. Prior to RedHammer, he held leadership roles at Deloitte Consulting, Microsoft Consulting, and founded multiple firms, including a management consultancy focused on ERP transformation. He regularly advises leaders on how to overcome growth barriers, clean up bad implementations, and create scalable financial infrastructures.
Steve Carroll is the Co-Founder and CEO of Kelso Industries, a national mechanical, electrical, and plumbing business focused on clients in the industrial and commercial end markets. Steve Carroll and his long-time friend, Steve Nicholson, formed the business in 2021 and have grown rapidly with more than 24 acquisitions and strong organic growth resulting in more than $1 billion in annual revenue.
Kelso now operates in over 34 states with more than 3,000 employees and growing. Steve and the Kelso team have goals to become a public company someday and continue rapid expansion and growth. Prior to Kelso, Steve spent 7 years in Bentonville, Arkansas learning and developing leadership skills at the world's largest retailer, Walmart. And prior to Walmart, Steve worked in commercial construction and gained an MBA and CM degree from BYU.
Will Foret is the Founder and CEO of Spot Migration, a "Managed IT Department" for growing companies who can’t afford to be slowed down by IT issues. He also sits on the advisory board for "The 20", a disruptive business development and strategy co-op for Managed IT Service Providers.
Will’s experience with scalable IT solutions in organizations such as Walgreens, FDIC, and Citadel has allowed him to shape strategy and implement technologies previously not attainable for Small to Mid Market organizations. His vision of "Be the best version of yourself." is reflected in Spot’s employees, clients, and interactions with partners. You will often hear him saying quirky things like "Trust but verify" and "Be Prepared"
SEE YOU IN 2026! Thank you from the hosts: