Association Executives’ Conference

FCA’s Association Executives’ Conference in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (October 7–8, 2026) brought together leaders from contractor associations across North America for two days of focused, peer‑driven discussion. As the only event designed specifically for association executives in the finishing trades, the conference offered a valuable forum to connect, share challenges, and collaborate on solutions that strengthen contractor competitiveness and support association missions.

Executives opened with updates on data center activity and industry health and pension plans before moving into a wide‑ranging dialogue on the issues shaping contractor operations and labor‑management relationships. Participants compared national and local union expectations, examined how union decisions influence association representation, and engaged in a candid review of work hours, market trends, and strategies to regain market share. The group discussed hiring practices, workforce mobility, productivity concerns, and disruptions caused by union site visits, followed by an assessment of training participation, mandatory requirements, and opportunities to build employer‑driven training models.

Jurisdictional conflicts and craft flexibility were explored in the context of project schedules and contractor competitiveness, along with a detailed conversation on negotiation efficiency, proposal evaluation, package versus wage‑only bargaining, and collaborative efforts such as the Laborers/Painters MOU. Executives also identified administrative burdens created by multiple trust funds, hybrid wage sheets, and inconsistent local processes, and reviewed how MOUs, LOUs, and local or national decisions can unintentionally increase employer costs or create operational challenges.

The group closed with new business and confirmed that the next in‑person Association Executives’ Meeting will take place at FIF 2027 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on February 8, 2027. FCA encourages association leaders interested in joining this network to contact fca@finishingcontractors.org.