Caleb & Brittany Auman
People
Sponsored Hardscape Session: Busy Isn’t Profitable: The Numbers and Systems That Changed Our Company
Most contractors start their businesses because they’re good at the work. But building a profitable company requires something very different: knowing your numbers, building systems, and learning to lead.
Caleb and Brittany Auman have done exactly that. Over the last several years they’ve grown their design-build company by more than 30% — not by just getting busier, but by getting intentional. Their north star? $270 in revenue per field hour. Once they knew that number, everything changed: how they priced work, how they ran their crews, how they made decisions, and how they planned for growth.
In this session, they’ll share the real story of that shift — including the mistakes, the hard conversations, and the leadership growth required to move from reacting to operating with clarity and control.
Attendees will leave with:
• A framework for understanding the key numbers that drive a profitable contracting business
• Practical strategies for pricing design-build work to hit your production targets
• Systems that create consistency in both the office and the field
• Leadership habits that help your team take ownership and perform at a higher level
Whether you’re at $500K or $5M, this session will challenge how you measure success — and give you a clearer picture of what it actually takes to run a company that performs.
$FREE Members /
$FREE Non-Members
Kenneth Deemer
Kenneth Deemer is a co-founder of Local Roots Landscaping, a hardscape and landscape design, build, and maintenance firm in Pittsburgh, PA with $9 million in annual revenue. His passions lie in building teams, maximizing efficiencies, and empowering individuals to be the best versions of themselves in work and in their personal lives. Patrick is actively involved in the leadership of their own firm and speak nationally to share their combined experience and facilitate meaningful growth and change in green industry organizations.
Installer Championship: Prelim #3
The prelim rounds of competition wrap up with the remaining 4 elite teams going head-to-head in a high-pressure, 60-minute timed challenge—each working from the same detailed drawing. Precision, speed, and skill will be put to the ultimate test!
Come cheer on your favorite teams, experience the excitement up close, and pick up valuable installation techniques you can use yourself.
Don’t miss the action—this is where the best installers prove their craft!
Installer Championship: Prelim #2
The competition continues with the 5th-8th (of 12) elite teams going head-to-head in a high-pressure, 60-minute timed challenge—each working from the same detailed drawing. Precision, speed, and skill will be put to the ultimate test!
Come cheer on your favorite teams, experience the excitement up close, and pick up valuable installation techniques you can use yourself.
Don’t miss the action—this is where the best installers prove their craft!
Installer Championship: Prelim #1
The competition kicks off as the first 4 of 12 elite teams go head-to-head in a high-pressure, 60-minute timed challenge—each working from the same detailed drawing. Precision, speed, and skill will be put to the ultimate test!
Come cheer on your favorite teams, experience the excitement up close, and pick up valuable installation techniques you can use yourself.
Don’t miss the action—this is where the best installers prove their craft!
Mulligan’s Mutt Madness
Who knows your yard best? Our dogs. On Thursday, attendees can adopt rescue dogs, through a partnership with the Kentucky Humane Society. From TurfMutt’s humble beginnings, the program, which showcases the value of family yards and managed green spaces, has grown into an educational juggernaut. The TurfMutt program has reached 70 million kids, teachers and families and is featured in the U.S. Green Building Council’s prestigious Global Learning Lab.
Installer Championship Awards Ceremony
The National Installer Championship Event takes place at Hardscape North America each year. Twelve (12) team spots are available for the taking – will you be one of them in 2026? Here are some important dates and information about what to expect if you compete in the National event:
- Required team meeting on Wednesday, October 21 from 5:30 – 6:30 pm at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
- Three to four, 60-min preliminary rounds take place on Thursday, October 22 from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm.
- The top four finalists from the preliminary rounds advance to the 90-minute Championship round on Friday, October 23 at 10:30 am.
- The Awards Ceremony to announce the rankings of the 2026 event will take place at 12:45 pm on the Hardscape Demos stage in the Hardscape House.
- The top 4 finishers will take home cash, prizes and bragging rights for the next 364 days!
HNA Awards Ceremony
The HNA Awards recognize outstanding hardscape projects by teams installing residential and commercial projects. Award winners and honorable mention recipients will be recognized during the 2026 HNA Awards Recognition Presentation and featured on the HNA website and several other industry publications.
Eligible entries span multiple project categories, offering professionals the chance to showcase standout work that reflects quality, creativity, and craftsmanship. Hardscape categories include:
- Adhered Thin Veneers
- Clay Brick Pavement
- Combination of Hardscape Products
- Natural Stone Pavement
- Outdoor Living Features
- Porcelain Paver Pavement
- Retaining Walls
- Segmental Concrete Pavement
- Vintage Installation
Keynote Address
Great businesses are built by people who refuse to cut corners. HGTV star and veteran contractor Mike Holmes brings his no-nonsense “make it right” philosophy to the Equip stage with real-world insight on raising standards, demanding quality that pushes the entire industry forward. This is the epic keynote you don’t want to miss.
Sponsored By: Kress