The Blueprint Conference

08/25/2026

Project impacts are not always limited to the construction side.

At The Blueprint Conference 2025, Matthew Guy, Associate General Counsel of ENFRA, broke down how changes can play out in a traditional design-bid-build setup during a panel moderated by Michael Blackwell, Partner at Riess LeMieux, LLC .

Matthew explained that impacts may stem from owner requests, design issues, or other project conditions outside the subcontractor’s control. In those situations, communication and documentation matter. Subcontractors need to clearly show how the project or schedule has been impacted, while also recognizing that the general contractor may be balancing its own relationship with the owner.

The takeaway: when responsibility sits outside the construction team, a strong, organized argument can help align the GC and subcontractor in pursuing the right party.

The Blueprint Conference is free to attend, but registration is required. Get details and save your spot for 2026 at https://www.thebpconference.com/register

08/19/2026

08/18/2026

The Blueprint Conference is pleased to welcome Matthew H. Baker, Architect, as a featured presenter at this year’s conference.

As Director of the State of Louisiana’s Office of Facility Planning and Control, Baker leads the office responsible for administering the state’s capital outlay process and overseeing projects and contracts from planning through construction and completion. He also manages the state’s Construction Management at Risk contracts, bringing firsthand experience to our discussion centered on CMAR.

His perspective will add an important state-level voice to the conference and give attendees the opportunity to hear from someone closely involved in how these contracts are managed.

The Blueprint Conference returns October 29, 2026, at the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District.

Register here: https://www.thebpconference.com/register

08/17/2026

Registration is now open for The Blueprint Conference 2026.

Join us on October 29, 2026, at the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District Hotel for the 5th annual conference bringing together developers, contractors, designers, insurers, attorneys, and other professionals connected to the built environment.

Hosted by Riess LeMieux, LLC , The Blueprint Conference offers a full day of connection, conversation, and industry-focused insight centered on the people, projects, and decisions impacting our region.

Keynote panelists Mayor Helena Moreno, Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng, and Michael Hecht, CEO at Greater New Orleans, Inc., will bring important civic and regional perspective to a day centered on Louisiana’s construction industry.

The conference will also feature Matthew H. Baker, Architect, Director of the State of Louisiana’s Office of Facility Planning and Control. Matthew will join a panel focused on the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery method, bringing a state-level perspective, and firsthand experience with Louisiana’s public CMAR projects.

Professor Knud Berthelsen, Professor of Practice and Senior Advisor for AI Literacy at Tulane University, will join the conference’s AI panel. His work in applied AI literacy and the impact of AI on society and industry will bring an important perspective to the discussion around how AI is being understood and used in the construction industry.

Details regarding sessions and additional panelists will be announced soon.

Registration is free, but required. Secure your spot here: https://www.thebpconference.com/register

08/12/2026

Getting alignment early can make or break how a project moves from design to delivery.

During The Blueprint Conference 2025, moderator Jonathan Forester, Partner at Riess LeMieux, asked Adam Fishbein, Partner and CAO of Grace Design Studios, how design teams align owner expectations with the realities of project delivery.

Adam pointed to expectation management as the starting point. Owners may look to the architect to carry the project from start to finish, but successful delivery depends on three connected teams: the owner, the architect/design team, and the contractor. Each has a role, and those responsibilities need to be clear from the beginning, along with a realistic understanding of the budget from start to finish.

Mark your calendar for The Blueprint Conference 2026 on October 29.
Learn more at https://www.thebpconference.com/

08/05/2026

Financing is available, but the market is still waiting on equity to come back in.

At The Blueprint Conference 2025, Michael Riess, Founding Partner of Riess LeMieux, LLC , led a discussion with Managing Principal & CEO of Key Real Estate Company, focused on lending, investor activity, and what is holding back acquisitions and development.

TJ explained that there is still a lot of debt looking to be put to work, including construction debt, but fewer projects are moving because the equity side has not fully returned. He also pointed to the impact of high rates, insurance issues, and tighter financing requirements, especially in Louisiana and other Southern markets that rely more heavily on HUD, Fannie, and Freddie.

As TJ Iarocci put it: “There’s a lot of money out there from the lender side that wants to be put to work.”

The Blueprint Conference is coming back on October 29, 2026. Save the date!

07/22/2026

Out-of-scope work can cost time, money, and sometimes the working relationships that keep a project moving.

At The Blueprint Conference 2025, moderator Christopher LeMieux, Founding Partner at Riess LeMieux, spoke with Lauren Gibbs, CEO of Gibbs Construction, about the internal decisions that come with performing work before written authorization is in place.

The practical takeaway: there is not always one clean answer. Contractors must weigh the urgency of the work, the project relationship, the risk involved, and the contract requirements. And, as the clip makes clear, your attorney may not love the idea of moving forward without a change order.

The Blueprint Conference gives real-world insight that is useful and memorable, with a little humor included.

This annual conference is coming back on October 29, 2026. Save the date!

06/15/2026

We are proud to announce that Michael Hecht, CEO at Greater New Orleans, Inc. will join this year’s keynote panel at The Blueprint Conference.

He will appear alongside Mayor Helena Moreno and Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng for a featured conversation on economic development, bringing an even broader perspective to the discussion around growth across New Orleans, Jefferson Parish, and the wider region.

With leaders representing both the public and economic development sides of the conversation, this keynote panel will add an important dimension to the 5th annual conference, taking place October 29, 2026, at the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District Hotel.

In just five years, The Blueprint Conference has become a go-to gathering for Louisiana’s developers, contractors, designers, insurers, and attorneys, bringing together leaders from across the construction industry for meaningful conversations and practical insight.

More details will be shared as they become available. Learn more at https://www.thebpconference.com/

05/20/2026

The Blueprint Conference has a new date.

Please note that the 5th Annual Blueprint Conference will now take place on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District Hotel.

We are looking forward to welcoming Louisiana’s developers, contractors, designers, insurers, attorneys, and construction industry leaders back to New Orleans for a day built around candid conversation, timely insight, and meaningful connection.

Please update your calendar and join us on October 29. More details regarding speakers, sessions, and registration will be shared soon.

04/29/2026

Two influential Louisiana leaders will take the keynote stage at this year’s The Blueprint Conference!

We are honored to welcome Mayor Helena Moreno and Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng as keynote speakers for the 5th annual conference, taking place October 22, 2026, at the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District Hotel.

Their leadership, insight, and perspective will bring an important civic and regional lens to a day centered on the people, projects, and decisions driving Louisiana’s construction industry. As leaders of two of the region’s most significant communities, they bring firsthand perspective on growth, infrastructure, economic development, and the needs of the people who live and work here.

In just five years, The Blueprint Conference has become a go-to gathering for Louisiana’s developers, contractors, designers, insurers, and attorneys, bringing together leaders from across the construction industry for meaningful conversations and practical insight.

More details will be shared as they become available. Learn more at https://www.thebpconference.com/