When the World Cup Threatened to Derail an Annual Industry Day, a Quick Pivot Produced a Successful New Event
Following up on their successful Industry Day last year, the Greater Kansas City Post began planning for the 2026 event when they realized they were competing for venues with the largest sporting event in the world: the FIFA World Cup. Instead of cancelling the event, however, leaders saw an opportunity to do what they do best: combine efforts with the Omaha Post to bring people together and meet industry and government at the point of need.
The resulting 2026 Missouri River JETS, held in Omaha, Neb., became one of the region’s most successful industry engagement events. It drew more than 800 attendees, connected industry partners with government agencies, and addressed urgent industry government initiatives.
“We had over 800 attendees and just had a great experience. It was really a collaborative experience,” said Bobbi Jo Lang, Business Development Manager, Tepa LLC, and one of the event’s lead organizers. “We compared attendee lists, sponsorship opportunities, government participation, and program content to make sure we were creating value for everyone involved while avoiding unnecessary duplication.”
A Challenge Becomes an Opportunity
Planning for the event kicked off more than a year earlier. But as Post leaders realized that hotels throughout the region had committed large blocks of rooms to the World Cup games, they found it nearly impossible to find a venue. Rather than cancel, Post leaders decided to combine resources and organize an event that was larger and more comprehensive than they might have been able to manage separately.
Along with the Omaha and Greater Kansas City Posts, the event leadership reached out to representatives from the Rock Island, St. Louis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and other Posts in a multi-region effort to strengthen coordination and engagement across the A/E/C community.
“There’s a tremendous amount of infrastructure work happening throughout the region and we wanted to make sure that everybody could get something out of it. It was truly a group effort,” Lang said.
Major initiatives underway throughout the region, including projects at Fort Leonard Wood, Offutt AFB, and Cochran Veterans Hospital, as well as efforts related to the super-major Sentinel Program, highlighted the need for a regional IGE event.
Expanding IGE
Representatives from six U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) districts participated in the Industry Day, alongside the Environmental Protection Agency, General Services Administration, Indian Health Service, Small Business Administration, and National Guard. The event also featured presentations on major military construction, flood recovery, environmental programs, and emerging contracting opportunities across the region.
Forecast briefings, acquisition updates, small business programming, and technical micro-sessions provided attendees with opportunities to learn in detail about upcoming work while building relationships with government decision-makers. Agency representatives were encouraged to remain accessible throughout the day to allow for more natural conversations that would help build connections that often continue long after the conference concludes.
“We received overwhelmingly positive feedback,” Lang said. “People liked the collaboration, the expanded opportunities for networking, and the ability to hear from so many agencies and districts in one place.”
When government agencies, industry partners, and SAME members come together in the same room, good things happen.
Bobbi Jo Lang, Business Development Manager, Tepa LLC
Investing in the Next Generation
The event did more than bring industry and government to share their insights and knowledge. Revenue generated through the event supports one of the Omaha Post’s signature STEM programs, including the Student Mentoring Program, which has introduced students to engineering careers for more than three decades.
Each year, volunteer mentors from government and industry work with nearly 300 middle and high school students as they develop engineering solutions to real-world problems. Students complete written design submissions, present their projects to volunteer judges from industry and agencies like USACE and the Department of Veterans Affairs to compete for scholarships and awards while gaining firsthand experience in engineering, teamwork, and communication. The Post also puts proceeds toward assisting local students and mentors to attend SAME’s national STEM/Engineering & Construction Camps each summer.
A Model for Future Collaboration
Leaders from both Posts are already discussing how similar partnerships could continue in the future and potentially expand to include additional Posts across the region. It was another example of how, when Posts combine their resources, their relationships, and their expertise, everyone benefits. Government agencies build deeper connections with industry. Companies gain greater visibility into upcoming opportunities. Members enjoy richer professional development. And the proceeds generated through those efforts help foster engineering leadership for the nation.
“Overall, we had tremendous government participation and excellent engagement throughout the event,” Lang said. “It was really about bringing everyone together. When government agencies, industry partners, and SAME members come together in the same room, good things happen. That’s what made the event successful. There’s a lot happening here, and it’s exciting to be part of it.”
Related News
-
Developing Leaders While Mapping New Paths for Geospatial Technology
During his year as part of SAME’s Leader Development Program, Lt. Cdr. Patrick Debroisse, NOAA, gained valuable leadership skills and helped expand the reach of geospatial technology. -
Sharing SAME’s Value Across the Pacific Northwest
Learn how SAME’s Seattle Post’s Combined Regional Small Business Symposium and Meet the Chiefs brings industry and government together to tackle historic workload in the Pacific Northwest. -
SAME’s Environmental COI Wraps Its PFAS IGE Project After Four Years
SAME’s four-year National IGE Project fulfilled its mission and provided government and industry actionable guidance on addressing PFAS.
Stay up to date on all SAME news and more; download SAME Mobile today!
