“Point of View,” a public art installation by Maine artist Aaron T. Stephan, welcomes visitors to the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, the future home of the 2026 Tilt-Up Convention and Expo.
On February 10, leaders from across the Intermountain West gathered at the Salt Palace Convention Center to continue shaping the 2026 Tilt-Up Convention and Expo in Salt Lake City.
This was not the first meeting of the Convention Host Committee, and it will not be the last. But the setting was fitting. Standing inside the building that will welcome the tilt-up community in October 2026, the group focused not on logistics alone, but on intention—what this gathering should represent in the Association’s 40th year.
Salt Lake City is not simply serving as a backdrop for the convention. It is one of the country’s most dynamic tilt-up markets. The Intermountain West has experienced sustained growth across industrial, education, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and mixed-use development sectors. Tilt-up in this region continues to evolve in scale, architectural expression, and technical sophistication.
The Host Committee reflects that depth.
The Convention Host Committee includes leaders from across the region representing architecture, engineering, contracting, specialty trades, and industry technology:
- James Williams — AE URBIA
- Travis Davis, Dan Pratt, Darian St. Michael — Hughes General Contractors
- Cliff Saunders — GluDown, Inc.
- Erin Koets — CrewTracks
- Marcus Blackburn, Kim Blackburn — Total Integrated Panel Systems
- Craig Rasmussen — Forsgren Associates Inc.
- Spencer Love — KH Love Construction
- Terance White — Naylor Wentworth Lund
- Patrick Doyle, Aaron Daugherty, Stephen Johnson, Dan Skierkiewicz — Frontline Concrete Contracting LLC
- Kylee Ericksen, Gregory Dunn, Jacob Dunn, Aaron Comrie — Dunn Associates, Inc.
- Marcus Wickes — DKE Design + Engineering
- Guillermo Valdez, Doug Archibald, Andres S. Sanchez — Suntec Concrete
- Trent Murray — Big-D Construction
- Travis Hall, Ty Cragun — Tom Stuart Construction
Together, this group represents decades of experience advancing tilt-up across the Intermountain West. Their role is not ceremonial. It is active and strategic.
Current Areas of Focus
As planning continues, the committee is concentrating its efforts in four primary areas.
Regional Engagement and Outreach
The Intermountain West continues to attract investment and development at a national scale. The committee is working to cultivate participation across Utah and neighboring states—strengthening relationships within the design, construction, and supply community while expanding awareness of the 2026 gathering.
Program Planning and Enrichment
The 2026 convention will reflect both national relevance and regional character. The committee is advising on educational programming and special event development to ensure that local case studies, emerging market conditions, and innovative project delivery approaches are meaningfully represented.
Demo Experience Leadership
A significant point of discussion has been the Demo Experience—an open-format, interactive component of the convention positioned beyond traditional ballroom education. This initiative emphasizes hands-on exploration, large-scale demonstrations, and cross-disciplinary engagement. The Host Committee is helping define its scope and ambition, reinforcing the Association’s commitment to applied knowledge and shared learning.
Local Flavor and Cultural Integration
Salt Lake City’s setting—defined by its proximity to the Wasatch Mountains, a rapidly evolving urban core, and a strong sense of civic identity—offers a distinctive backdrop. The committee is exploring ways to integrate local architecture, music, food, and culture into the broader event experience, ensuring that the convention feels both globally connected and regionally grounded.
Leadership in Motion
What was evident on February 10 is that the 2026 Tilt-Up Convention and Expo is being shaped by leaders who understand both the responsibility and the opportunity of hosting the Association’s 40th year gathering.
There was energy in the room, but also discipline.
The focus remains on substance—education that advances the industry, demonstrations that expand technical understanding, and an environment that reflects the depth and maturity of today’s tilt-up community.
The 2026 Convention will be experienced over three days.
Its impact is being shaped now.
By Mitch Bloomquist
Executive Director, Tilt-Up Concrete Association
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