DFD Collaborative Conference Agenda

Please use this page to learn more about the sessions at the DFD Collaborative Conference. Each session has a title, description, speaker and learning objectives. Full conference attendance is eligible for 5.5 PDH credits.

Register for the Event
Registration (8:00 - 8:30 a.m.)
DFD Opening Session (8:30 - 10:00 a.m.)

Speakers: DOA / DFD Leadership Team

Hear from Division of Facilities Development (DFD) leadership to get an update on various initiatives as well as the status of capital project delivery.  This session will include members of the DFD Administrator’s Office, as well as representatives from the Bureau of Capital Budget and Construction (BCBCA) and the Bureau of Architecture and Engineering (BAE).

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the status of capital project delivery at DFD.
  • Hear the current status of the 2025-2027 capital budget development, which is expected to be enacted in mid-2025.
  • Understand current initiatives and process improvement updates withing the Bureau of Architecture and Engineering. 
  • Hear from DOA’s Director of Supplier Diversity regarding efforts and accomplishments over the last year.
Mass Timber (10:30 - 11:40 a.m.)

Speaker: Tino Kalayil, WoodWorks - Wood Products Council

Mass timber is a unique, non-commodity building material and, to lay the groundwork for success, certain critical decisions must be made as early as possible. These decisions can have a big impact on cost and can either increase or limit opportunities later in design. There are many cases of project teams that want to realize the full benefits of mass timber, but, because they base their designs on traditional building practices instead of optimizing them for mass timber, end up with avoidable price premiums. This presentation will walk through early project decisions and design steps, focusing on how to optimize projects for mass timber and how one early decision can influence others. Topics will include construction types, fire ratings, column grids and beam/panel spans, acoustics, and MEP integration. Completed mass timber projects will be used to illustrate the variety of viable options when navigating these key decisions.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify construction types within the International Building Code where a mass timber structure is permitted.
  • Discuss the impacts of construction type on required fire-resistance ratings of structural elements, noting the impacts that these ratings have on effective member spans and resulting grids.
  • Review code-compliance requirements for acoustics and primary frame connections and provide solutions for meetings these requirements with tested mass timber assemblies. 
  • Highlight effective methods of integrating MEP services in a mass timber building and discuss the relative impacts of each on cost, aesthetics, occupant comfort and future tenant renovations.
Networking Lunch (11:40 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.)
DFD’s Transition to eBuilder Project Management Software (12:50 - 1:50 p.m.)

Speakers: DFD eBuilder Core Team

In this session, you will hear from DFD’s eBuilder Core Team regarding the flow of various eBuilder processes and tips and tricks for efficiently using the software.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the navigation of the new eBuilder platform that DFD plans to use moving forward for the management of capital projects.
  • Review most used processes and how to navigate these for successful project delivery.
  • Hear about the various improvements DFD has made thus far to the eBuilder operation since going live in early 2024.
  • Get the opportunity to ask questions to understand the eBuilder hurdles you have experienced thus far on DFD projects.
Breakout Sessions (2:10 - 3:10 p.m.)
A. Ethical Decision Making for Engineers

Speaker: Richard Kyte, Viterbo University

Ethical decision-making is one of the chief responsibilities of leaders in any profession, especially since ethics is a crucial factor in workplace safety, employee engagement, and productivity. This program will introduce the “Four Way Method for Ethical Decision-Making” for working through and communicating difficult decisions with coworkers, clients, and the public.

Learning Objectives:

  • Review the standard of ethical care for professional engineers.
  • Understand the importance of ethics in the workplace.
  • Discover a framework for applying ethical decision-making in daily business.
  • Learn why ethics matters beyond practical applications.
B. Cost Volatility Contractor Panel

Speakers: Ron Twardowski, Staab Construction, Devin White, JP Cullen & Dan Zurawik, Westphal Electric

Join Wisconsin contractors for a frank discussion about the challenges being faced by contractors and how that affects the design industry. Whether it's materials prices, labor inputs or transportation hiccups, the speakers will highlight the important issues. With a spirit of cooperation, these challenges can be addressed and overcome.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the challenges being faced by Wisconsin contractors.
  • Learn how different issues can affect the budget and production schedule of a project.
  • Discover how design professionals can work with contractors to address some items.
  • Participate in a open environment to create dialogues that will lead to better outcomes on projects.
DFD Project Case Studies (3:20 - 4:30 p.m.)

Speakers: DFD Project Managers and Project Teams

This session will give an overview of two recently completed DFD projects.  The presentations will be facilitated by members of each respective project team.

Learning Objectives:

  • Hear a project overview of each selected project and what agency specific need was being addressed with project implementation. 
  • Understand the challenges during delivery of each project.
  • Learn how creative solutions were utilized in the delivery of the projects.
  • Hear “lessons learned” and primary takeaways from project team following completion.
Networking Reception (4:30 - 5:30 p.m.)

Wind down after the event and continue your networking at the reception. Each attendee will receive a drink ticket. It's a great way to cap off a full day!

Emerging Professionals Happy Hour (5:00 - 6:30 p.m.)

Our Emerging Professionals Committee is hosting another Happy Hour. Meet and network with other professionals within consulting engineering firms. All are welcome but our targeted group is folks within the first third of their careers.