Belongship at the FEI Group National Conference

By Alex Tolle.

From an inspiring service project to powerful educational sessions, this year’s conference showcased what makes the FEI Group community special.

Every year, the FEI Group's National Conference education and networking offerings are expanded. This event is grounded in the concept of Belongship, the idea that the strongest connections happen when we bring our whole selves to the conversation, remain open to new perspectives and give others the space to do the same. Throughout the week, I saw that philosophy come to life as attendees shared ideas, learned from one another and looked for meaningful ways to help each other succeed.

The week began with a welcome session featuring Graham Howerton, Max Holland, Brian Penabad, Allison Rea and Tonya Land. Together, they gave attendees an overview of what we could expect from the days ahead and set the tone for a week centered on education, connection and collaboration.

From there, we jumped into a meaningful service project. As a group, we stuffed 300 stuffed animals and customized them with fun little outfits. This was one of the first activities of the conference and benefitted the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. It was such a fun and special way to give back to a local organization. Beyond creating something cheerful for the recipients, the project gave attendees an opportunity to work side by side and connect at the very beginning of the conference. 

From there, we headed to SupplyConnect, the FEI Group trade show. I then spent the evening interviewing contractors and connecting with Exterior Contractor Alliance members and service providers. National Women in Roofing (NWIR) was among the service providers in attendance, adding another opportunity for attendees to learn about the organizations and resources supporting professionals across the industry. SupplyConnect once again demonstrated the value of bringing contractors and service providers together in one place. The conversations, interviews and introductions helped create new connections while strengthening existing relationships throughout the FEI Group community.

The following day began with an incredible keynote from Damon West, known for “The Coffee Bean.” Through his powerful story and empowering message, he challenged attendees to consider how they respond to adversity and the influence they can have on the environments around them. His keynote captivated the FEI Group audience and offered a memorable start to another full day of learning. His message provided attendees with plenty to reflect on, both personally and professionally.

Education remained a major focus throughout the conference, with many breakout sessions examining technology and its growing role in business. The range of topics gave attendees opportunities to explore new ideas and consider how emerging tools may affect their companies and the larger industry. My own conference schedule included learning academy sessions focused on artificial intelligence and the shift taking place in AI search engine optimization. These sessions added to the larger conversations happening throughout the conference about technology, visibility and the future of business.

One session that stood out to me was Kent Gardner's. He was invited to the conference by the Exterior Contractor Alliance for a discussion about market trends. He shared his perspective and answered questions from ECA members, creating an informative and interactive conversation about the conditions businesses are navigating.

After busy days of learning and networking, the Western dinner party gave everyone an opportunity to relax and enjoy time together. Between the line dancing, great food and even better people, it was a memorable evening. The event brought the group together in a setting that made it easy to reconnect with familiar faces, continue conversations from earlier in the conference and build new relationships.

Overall, what continues to stand out about the FEI Group National Conference is the people. Attendees arrive ready to learn, but they are also willing to share their own experiences, answer questions and help others succeed. That is Belongship in action. It means creating an environment where people can be authentic, approach conversations with humility and remain open to sharing both their knowledge and their challenges.