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It’s that time of year again, when more than 700 crane operators, safety directors and operations managers will collect to attend one of the leading crane industry events, the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) Crane and Rigging Workshop. The event attracts attendees from the industry’s foremost manufacturers and companies to provide them with educational and committee meetings while offering valuable networking opportunities.
This year’s event takes place from Sept. 23 to 25 in Indianapolis, Indiana and is expected to meet or exceed the more than 700 guests that attended in 2024. The exhibit center has already sold out, with 90 booths set to showcase the latest equipment, services and products.
“It’s the crane and rigging industry’s premier event,” said Beth O’Quinn, senior vice president, crane and rigging at SC&RA. “It brings together top managers, safety directors, legal experts, operators, police, plus much more. And the event this year features sessions addressing safety protocols, regulatory updates, compliance, technology, training and equipment maintenance, as well as an exhibit center. It’s a one-stop place and opportunity to learn and connect with industry leaders.”
The workshop aims to create an environment and atmosphere of collaboration and engagement, offering educational sessions, committee meetings, networking opportunities and themed evening receptions.
“Our goal is that attendees have the opportunity to network with one another outside of the education sessions and will be able to walk away with knowledge that they can immediately implement in their businesses or compare to their own business practices,” O’Quinn added.
Building on the Tried and True
Returning attendees will find that the agenda still holds to what has been successful in past years, including sessions on safety issues, proper rigging and assembly/disassembly. However, there are two panels O’Quinn wants members to take special note of this year.
Beyond just employee engagement and retention, the opening session, “Take Me to Your Leader,” will explore strategies for identifying and elevating emerging leaders within an organization, along with practical tips for onboarding, training and collaborating with contractors. Moderated by Jim Sever, owner of PSC Crane & Rigging, the discussion will include panelists Patrick Lewis, president of Superior Rigging & Erecting Co., and David Webster, president of Barnhart.
“We’ve had many discussions about recruiting and retaining workers, but we really haven’t addressed how to cultivate and help develop someone that you see leadership potential in, and getting them to that level within the company,” O’Quinn noted. The session provides a vital opportunity to expand on what’s been covered in the past.
The final session of the event, “Near Misses, Lasting Lessons,” will gather panelists Bill Green, vice president of crane services, Bragg Companies, Mike Knott, president of Phoenix Crane Service, Peter Juhren, president and COO of Morrow Equipment Co., LLC and Michael Tomaro, COO of Fenton Rigging & Contracting to discuss real-world incidents and near-misses that have resulted in safety improvements or new protocols within their companies. The session aims to share the knowledge to potentially help other companies avoid that same incident or near-miss in the future, opening up a dialogue between businesses.
Similar committee meetings to last year will also be held, including the Crane & Rigging Group Tower Crane Committee, the Safety Education and Training Committee, the Labor Committee, the Governing Committee and the newly added Permit Policy Committee, where permitting policies and related industry regulations will be discussed, addressing needs within both transportation and crane and rigging.
According to O’Quinn, the addition of the committee meeting to this year’s event will allow some individuals who normally are unable to attend the opportunity to sit in and learn about the permitting issues within different states and how the association is addressing those issues, as well as provide information to the committee on issues within their states.
New to the Stage
Members can also expect some new faces and keynotes during this year’s workshops. To try to keep the industry up to date with changing policies, regulations and outlooks, these sessions offer insight into the evolving market and how organizations can implement certain strategies
or methods.
Mike Clancy, strategy practice leader for FMI, will present the keynote speech, “Strategic Insights: Adapting to Evolving Market Trends,” which envelops industry trends, economic forecasts and diversification strategies for organizations to see growth and resilience. Not only will Clancy offer insight into the forecast of the construction industry, but to the specific niche of the crane and rigging industry as well, while discussing the forces shaping the industry in the years to come.
“OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Association) and the New Administration,” led by Michael Rubin, shareholder of Ogletree Deakins, will offer legal insights into new regulatory changes, compliance strategies and OSHA enforcement trends under the Trump Administration. Rubin will walk attendees through the current landscape, providing information on what they need to know and be aware of in the industry, while also sharing the potential impacts on business.
Also new to the event, “Navigating Marketing Trends for Tomorrow’s Success,” presented by Emily Beardall, senior consultant for FMI, will provide insights into emerging marketing and business development trends. The session will expand beyond traditional marketing for services and equipment and give attendees additional tips and actionable items that are quickly adaptable to implement within their own business.
Where Connections Happen
The SC&RA Crane and Rigging Workshop offers industry members a unique chance to connect and collaborate. The centerpiece is the three-hour exhibit center, featuring 90 booths where attendees can meet manufacturers, service providers and industry organizations, while exploring demonstrations and discovering practical solutions.
SC&RA encourages everyone to take part, with O’Quinn noting, “With 90 companies exhibiting, there is plenty of time over the course of three hours to explore exhibitor booths, while also grabbing lunch and connecting with fellow attendees.”
Beyond the exhibition center and networking breaks, the workshop will feature lively evening receptions designed to help members and attendees meet new people and have some fun while doing it. The final reception takes a fresh twist this year with an Oktoberfest theme, striving to spark even more camaraderie and fellowship among participants.
What’s in Store for You
While education and discussion are central to the workshop, the event offers more than just learning and networking. Before sessions, keynotes, committees or receptions are finalized, the SC&RA workshop program task force reviews all proposed sessions and selects those most relevant to current industry challenges. Comprised of experienced professionals, the task force focuses on shaping an agenda that provides meaningful takeaways for attendees.
O’Quinn summed up the task force’s goal this way: “When attendees leave here, they feel it was worth the time away from the office or being away from the field. That the information they learned and contacts they’ve made provided them with the tools and confidence to keep their careers and businesses moving ahead.”
The workshop offers a well-rounded mix of information, learning and connections, and attendees often leave with more than just professional contacts; they may also gain new friendships, mentorships and a sense of community within the industry.
“We have some members who say this is an event they will never miss, that if they have to choose between events, this is the one they will attend every time because it brings the industry together,” O’Quinn reflected.
