Moving the STL Conversation FORWARD: A Bigger, Bolder Forum in 2026
Date Posted: November 20, 2025
Posted In: Featured, Regionalism, What we are thinking about,
by Tom Finan, Executive Director, Construction Forum
This coming year, the Forum will bring you in-person programming with real, measurable impact.
For more than a decade, our mission has been to convene the stakeholders of the St. Louis Region’s built environment for meaningful conversations that lead to focused action and positive systems change. One of the most effective ways we do that is through our in-person events.
When we marked our 10th anniversary in 2023, we had already surpassed 10,000 event registrations — a number that continues to grow. But “bodies in seats” has never been our measure of success. We judge our work by its ability to move the needle on inclusive, robust employment and economic growth in the region.
Nimble on Our Feet
Adaptability has become one of our hallmarks. When we were told there was no indoor venue available for our Gateway South program, we hosted 200 people in a tent on site. When the May 16 tornado shut down the venue for our Yeah, I Built That career event, we pivoted to another tent in a church parking lot. This year, our events have taken place everywhere from a structural-bamboo manufacturing facility to an airport terminal.
These aren’t just stories about how or where we deliver programming — they highlight why we do it. Months ago, we began planning what was to be our final program of the year: the fourth installment of our “St. Louis vs. Anywhere Else” series, focused on companies growing faster in other markets.
Time to Pivot
Then we learned that two other organizations planned events in the same window. We took it as a sign. It was time to shift our focus and build a 2026 series centered on HOW and HERE: How companies and individuals are creating change in our region right now.
We also chose to expand our offerings. In 2026, we will host eight programs — our quarterly series plus four additional events spotlighting individuals and companies driving progress in areas such as attainable housing and workforce development.
We’ll explore not only the what and why behind their efforts, but the actionable steps others can take to move the region forward.
Kicking Off 2026: January 7 Panel at the Touhill
Our first program of the 2026 series will be held January 7, from 7:30–9:30 AM at UMSL’s Touhill Performing Arts Center.
The panel will feature:
- Jeff Cook, CEO, ARCO
- Tom Kaiman, CEO, Mia Rose Development
- Ryan McClure, Executive Director, Gateway Arch Park Foundation
- Missouri Senator Brian Williams
This discussion will open the year under our new theme:
“Moving the STL Conversation FORWARD: From Talk to Focused Action.”