Construction Industry Workers for 2026 CONEXPO Personal Stories

Six years ago was my first time at CONEXPO-CON/AGG. If you were there while the world shut down for COVID, you probably remember how weird it was. People afraid of shaking hands, news of professional sports leagues canceling the rest of their seasons, and all of the travel issues that came with thousands of people trying to get back home after the show. Thankfully, Vegas is only about six hours from me, so I drove. With air travel being so chaotic at the time, I felt lucky to be able to avoid it. I remember driving home and thinking about how serious of a moment in time it was. I hardly even remember anything about the show itself, even as a first-time attendee. For me, it was all completely overshadowed by everything else going on. Three years ago in 2023, society was starting to get back to "normal," and it was refreshing being out in the world with such a large group of people. Even more so being in a place where we all share a connection to the construction industry. I remember leaving the show feeling more connected to people, to the industry, and more passionate about continuing to build my career serving contractors and those in the trades. And here we are now in 2026. Up until about six weeks ago, I was not even planning on going this year. Not really sure why, because when I think back on how energized I felt after the 2023 show, skipping it would have been a mistake. By nature, I am a bit introverted and reserved. Striking up conversations does not always come easily to me. This week feels like a chance to work on that. I am not going to the show for the equipment. I am going to CONEXPO for the people. Equipment and technology are nothing without the people who put them to use in the field. The people of this industry build our world every single day. They do what so many cannot, or will not, in order to provide for their families. Their blood, sweat, and tears are the literal foundation we all stand on. We depend on their daily efforts to build the infrastructure of society as we know it. They sacrifice more than most. For some, it's just a paycheck. For others, it's a way of being. Building and creating are deeply human. And building tangible things in the real world that have such a massive impact on everyone is no small thing. This CONEXPO, I will be rolling around with my 35mm film camera, aiming to capture some of the people behind this industry. If you see me and Justin Gillis out there, let’s connect. We want to hear your story. My goal is to leave the 2026 CONEXPO feeling even more energized and excited for the future than I was after the 2023 show.