Keynote Speakers 2025
Opening General Session
Hear From the Service Engineering Chiefs
Wednesday, Nov. 19 | 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Hear from the senior engineering leaders of the Army Corps of Engineers, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Air Force Civil Engineering, and Department of Veterans Affairs. Their remarks will provide a high-level overview of their A/E/C programs and small business focus ahead of their agency’s Mega Sessions during SBC week.
Maj. Gen. William (Butch) H. Graham, USA
U.S. Army Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Rear Adm. Dean VanderLey, P.E., CEC, USN
Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, and Chief of Civil Engineers
Brig. Gen. Brian Hartless, USAF
Director of Civil Engineers, Deputy Chief of Staff for Engineering, Logistics & Force Protection
Dr. Mike Brennan
AIA, NCARB, SES, Executive Director, Office of Construction & Facilities Management, Department of Veterans Affairs
Thursday General Session
Keynote Speaker and Small Business Awards
Thursday, Nov. 20 | 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Lindsay Shookus
Legendary Saturday Night Live Producer
A legendary presence behind one of America’s most beloved television shows, Lindsay Shookus is a seven-time Emmy award-winning producer who, for 20 years, worked as a veteran producer for Saturday Night Live. During her tenure, as both producer and head of the talent department, Shookus helped engineer the show’s success from booking and managing celebrity hosts and musical guests, to scouting rising stars to join the show’s ranks. She played a pivotal role in launching the careers of household names, including Kristin Wiig and Kate McKinnon — cementing her reputation for having a sharp eye for talent within the entertainment industry. Shookus speaks to her own experiences to lead an on-stage masterclass on personal transformation, building connections, and embracing life’s obstacles on the road to overcoming them.
In this talk, Shookus opens up about unforeseen moments behind the scenes during her legendary career producing “Saturday Night Live” and other popular programs, and shares important takeaways for how she was able to navigate these circumstances, and how anyone can do the same. Shookus’ insights are designed to help audience members reframe their mindsets to help them find the opportunity in adversity, make quick decisions, and develop solutions that will move them from one step backwards to two steps forward. As Shookus shares, teamwork, resilience, accountability, and adaptability are all key.
