Announcing the 2025 Annual Conference Business Round Tables
The GBA Conference Planning Committee and Business Practices Committee have an exciting update for GBA NEWS readers – the topics of the extremely popular GBA Business Round Tables, next taking place on Friday, April 25, during the 2025 GBA Annual Conference in Savannah, Georgia.
These sessions will give you actionable ideas and tools you can take back to your firm and start using right away to improve your business, manage risk, and grow personally and professionally.
Save your spot today for discussions on the following topics:
The AI-Driven Leader
Harnessing AI to make faster, smarter decisions
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into leadership practices is transforming decision-making. This discussion will explore how AI-driven leaders leverage advanced technologies to enhance their strategic capabilities to make faster and more informed decisions.
Baking Cakes and Throwing Parties
Creative retention initiatives to build a stronger team
Employee retention is critical for organizations aiming to maintain a motivated and cohesive workforce. This round table will explore innovative retention strategies to foster a positive and engaging workplace culture.
Remote Work Incentives vs. Training Responsibilities
How much face time is required to train effectively? How can we improve virtual training?
The shift to remote work has prompted organizations to reevaluate their training methods and the balance between remote work incentives and training responsibilities. This discussion examines the optimal amount of face time required for effective training and explores strategies to enhance virtual training programs.
Building a Brilliant Board of Directors
What is the right mix, and should I include outside directors?
The composition of a board of directors is crucial for the strategic direction and governance of an organization. This discussion explores the optimal mix of board members and the role of outside directors in enhancing board effectiveness.
Help! What Is My Role as a Mentor?
Best practices that bring out the best in mentees
Mentorship plays a pivotal role in personal and professional development, yet many mentors question how to effectively support their mentees. This round table discussion provides an overview of the mentor’s role and shares best practices to maximize the potential of mentees and provide continuous learning and adaptability so mentors and mentees grow and succeed together.
How To Engage Staff That Is Workplace Diverse
I.e., in office, fully remote, hybrid
Engaging a diverse workforce presents unique challenges and opportunities. This discussion will explore strategies to foster engagement across different work arrangements, ensuring all employees feel connected and valued.
Best Practices to Alleviate PM Overload
Using diverse staff roles to help with project management responsibilities
Project managers (PMs) often face significant workloads, particularly when balancing technical and non-technical responsibilities. This round table explores best practices for leveraging diverse staff roles to alleviate PM overload by assigning them non-technical project management tasks. By involving these professionals in areas such as scheduling, documentation, communication, and administrative support, organizations can free up PMs to focus on core technical aspects of projects.
Creating a Culture of Innovation
Celebrating off-the-wall ideas to propel your company forward
Fostering a culture of innovation is essential for organizations seeking to stay competitive and drive growth. Encouraging employees to think creatively and take risks can lead to groundbreaking solutions and new opportunities. This round table will explore the importance of celebrating unconventional and off-the-wall ideas to propel the company forward.
Ambassador Help Session
Highlighting best practices to help GBA Ambassadors impact their firm’s bottom line!
GBA Ambassadors play a crucial role in driving their firm’s success by encouraging and communicating key GBA resources and offerings. This round table will outline best practices for Ambassadors to ensure that their firm’s employees are aware of membership benefits and use them regularly to enhance professional development and improve profitability.
Outsourcing
When does it make sense to delegate to an external resource?
Outsourcing is a strategic tool to optimize efficiency and focus on core competencies. By outsourcing non-core activities, companies can allocate more resources to strategic initiatives and innovation. This discussion will explore the considerations and benefits of delegating various functions, such as accounting, collections, human resources, and IT, to external resources.
Skillset Gaps of Graduating/Entry-Level Engineers
As the engineering industry evolves, the skillset gaps of graduating and entry-level engineers have become a critical concern for employers. The discussion will explore the root causes of these gaps, including the disparity between academic curricula and industry requirements. Additionally, the round table will highlight strategies for bridging these gaps, such as enhanced internship programs, industry-academia collaborations, and targeted training initiatives.
ERP Tools
Which is better/best?
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tools are essential for integrating and managing various business processes within an organization. This discussion explores the criteria for evaluating and selecting the best ERP tools to meet specific organizational needs. Key factors include functionality, scalability, ease of use, customization options, and cost-effectiveness.
About the GBA Business Round Tables
GBA will host two rounds of business discussions during the 2025 Annual Conference, where you can select a topic that is of interest to you. Each facilitator-led discussion will last 35 minutes with a break in between, allowing you time to switch to another table for participation in a second topic. The Business Round Table sessions are sponsored by Spectra QEST.
You cannot attend these sessions virtually – only in-person during this event. Don’t miss out on keying into your peers’ best practices in these critical areas as you focus on problem-solving and strategy development through friendly discussion.
Early registration savings for the 2025 Annual Conference will end on January 31 – don’t miss out!