Bard Fulton, President of Fortney & Weygand, participated in the 2026 Retail Contractors Association (RCA) Annual Conference, held March 6-8 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The conference brought together the nation's top retail contractors, retailers, architects, and industry partners for three days of education, collaboration, and strategic discussion on the issues shaping the future of retail construction.
“The RCA conference is one of the most valuable events on our calendar. The caliber of the discussions and the quality of the relationships we build here directly impact how we serve our clients." said Fulton.
The conference opened with roundtable discussions on everything from Labor Forecasting to Managing Customer Expectations. Next was a keynote address by Henna Pryor, CSP, a workplace performance expert and 2x TEDx speaker, who challenged attendees to embrace discomfort as a catalyst for growth. Her presentation, "Pushing Limits, Igniting Excellence: Unlocking the New Mindset of Success," explored how high-performing organizations can break through the stagnation that often accompanies success by strengthening areas of weakness and leaning into innovation.
"Henna's message about frontloading discomfort really resonated with me. I’m bringing that mindset back to how we approach new market sectors and project types." noted Fulton.
Dr. Anirban Basu, Chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., came next with a data-driven economic outlook in his presentation, "First Brood," examining trends in employment, housing, commercial real estate, and financial markets in 2026. His analysis provided attendees with actionable intelligence on the economic forces shaping construction demand and project pipelines in the year ahead.
The conference continued with workforce retention expert Joe Mull who presented "Employalty: How to Ignite Commitment and Keep Top Talent in the New Age of Work," addressing one of the construction industry's most pressing challenges. Mull shared a research-backed framework for creating "destination workplaces" that attract and retain top talent by meeting the evolving needs and values of today's workforce—dispelling common myths about why employees leave and what actually drives long-term commitment.
Next, Alex Etchen, Vice President of Government Relations for the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, provided a critical legislative update in "From Blueprints to Bureaucracy: Taxes, Tariffs & Legislation Shaping Construction Today." The session examined the intersection of tax policy, trade tariffs, and evolving regulations that directly impact material costs, labor markets, and project profitability—equipping attendees with strategies for navigating the current regulatory environment.
The value of Fortney & Weygandt’s participating in RCA goes well beyond the annual conference. It is a silver underwriter and Fulton serves on RCA’s Board of Directors. “Events like the RCA conference remind us why this organization is so important to our industry. The relationships we build and the knowledge we gain here make us a better partner for our clients. We're already looking forward to next year,” added Fulton.
