WEBINAR

Build Smarter Together: Communication That Strengthens Job Cost and Profit

Builders and trades rely on tight coordination to keep projects on track—but small breakdowns can quickly turn into big costs. Join Bob Cain and industry leaders for a practical conversation on how communication, decision-making, and alignment across the field and office directly impact job costs and project success.

January 27, 2026

6:00 PM UTC

1 hour

Sponsored by

January 27th, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM ET | 12:00 PM CT | 10:00 AM PT
Duration: 60 minutes
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Summary

Builders and trades depend on each other to keep projects efficient, predictable, and profitable. This session brings both perspectives together for a straightforward look at how communication and everyday decisions shape job cost and overall project success. Bob Cain will lead a conversation with two industry voices who work closely across the field and the office: Sheila Lockhart from French Brothers and John Schenkel from Mechanical One.

They will share real experiences on where costs get off track, how teams improve alignment, and what steps help both builders and trades stay ahead of challenges before they become expensive problems.

You will learn:

How builders and trades manage costs for the business.
How communication workflows support cost management across teams.
How business decisions impact job costing.

This session will give you practical insight into strengthening builder trade relationships, improving project visibility, and supporting better financial outcomes for every job.

Speakers

John Schenkel

CFO

Mechanical One

John Schenkel is the Chief Financial Officer of one of Florida’s largest privately held HVAC companies, bringing a strong track record of executive leadership across finance, operations, and banking. His career includes senior roles such as Senior Finance Manager at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts and Vice President overseeing a 1.2 billion dollar real estate investment loan portfolio. John is currently completing his MBA with a finance emphasis at the University of Central Florida and holds a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Economics and Finance from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. Deeply committed to community service, he serves on several nonprofit boards, including Heart of Florida United Way, Good News Prison and Jail Ministry, Better Man Ministries, and Nathaniel’s Hope. He also chairs Joy Prom – Night of Joy, supporting children and adults with special needs.

Sheila Lockhart

MarkSystems Specialist

French Brothers

Sheila Lockhart is the ERP Specialist at French Brothers Homes, an award-winning homebuilder based in southern New Mexico. Sheila has built her career around the belief that technology should make life easier for both teams and customers. At French Brothers, she’s the connector between construction, sales, and customer experience, helping the company’s ERP system run smarter so people can work better together. From streamlining workflows to making data more meaningful, Sheila focuses on using tech to bring the “human touch” back into the process.

Bob Cain

Business Unit Leader

ECI Solutions

Bob Cain is a Business Unit Leader in the residential construction division for ECI Software Solutions, a global provider of cloud-based business management software and services. Cain brings 26 years of experience in residential construction to his role, where he’s focused on expanding business growth, customer success, and driving software development to improve the overall customer experience.  Previously, Cain served in senior management positions for MarkSystems®, ECI’s flagship enterprise resource planning software for residential home builders. Additionally, he holds a Certified Graduate Associate designation (CGA) from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and is a Certified NAHB Instructor with the University of Housing. Cain has also been involved in his local Home Builder Associations, BLSJ, and state association NJBA since 2004, serving as Committee Chair on the Leadership Development Committee and BLSJ 2nd Associate VP. Cain received his bachelor’s degree from The College of New Jersey with a major in Business Information Systems Management and his associate degree from Rowan College at Burlington County in Liberal Arts and Science. Bob has a wife, three kids, and a dog. He is an active coach in his community’s youth sports programs.