Sessions 1:00–5:30 PM · Opening Reception 5:30–8:30 PM
6:30 AM – 12:00 PM
🌅 Early Arrivals
Attendees check in throughout the morning. Position at RAYA breakfast (opens 6:30 AM) or lobby near registration. Watch for badge-wearing builders.
12:00 – 1:00 PM
🔥 Pre-Session Window
First intercept. Attendees registering, grabbing badges, socializing before 1:00 PM start. All registrants (Woffinden, Baxter, Holdbrooks, purchasing VPs) are arriving. Be near registration.
1:00 – 2:55 PM
🔒 Sessions Running
CEO panel (Balogh, Brown, Merrill, Lord) + Global Ownership (Alloy, Salameh, Gannon, Avila). Everyone inside. Scout venue layout, identify ballroom exits, set up at nearest bar/lounge.
2:55 – 3:25 PM
🔥🔥 Networking Break #1 — PRIME TIME
300 people pour out for 30 minutes. Position near ballroom exit. Priority targets: Austin Woffinden (Meritage EVP), Neil Baxter (Toll Purchasing), Keith Holdbrooks (Clayton CEO). See Scripts tab for openers.
3:25 – 5:00 PM
🔒 Sessions Resume
Brad Conlon on stage at 3:55 PM (M&A panel). Exits ~4:25. Position at ballroom exit at 4:25. Margaret Whelan moderates at 3:25 — exits ~3:55, catch her in transition.
5:30 – 8:30 PM
🔥🔥🔥 Opening Reception — BEST WINDOW
Three hours. Live music (The Sons of Legion). Drinks, no agenda, everyone mingling. Position near the bar, not at a table. Work the perimeter. Priority: Brad Conlon → Roger Gannon → Patrick Zalupski → M&A advisors (Whelan, Avila, Jasinski, Moriarty).
Fun Run 6:30 AM · Breakfast 7:30 AM · Sessions 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM · Happy Hour 5–6 PM
6:30 – 7:30 AM
🏃 Fun Run
20–40 execs in running gear, no badges, on Salt Creek Beach trail below the Ritz. You don't need a badge to run on a public beach. Most informal networking possible.
7:30 – 8:30 AM
🔥🔥 Networking Breakfast
Best play: pre-schedule breakfast at RAYA or Coastal Kitchen (5 min walk) at 7:00 AM before conference breakfast. Uninterrupted 1-on-1 time.
8:30 – 10:10 AM
🔒 Sessions
Sheryl Palmer (Taylor Morrison CEO) on stage at 9:05. Use time for Day 1 follow-ups — LinkedIn connections, confirm meetings.
10:10 – 10:40 AM
🔥 Break #2
30-min window. Hit anyone missed Day 1. You're a familiar face now — use that.
12:15 – 1:30 PM
🔥🔥 Lunch (75 min)
Pre-schedule lunch at KAHANI or Coastal Kitchen: "I have a table at 12:30 — can I steal you for 45 minutes?"
1:30 – 3:00 PM
🔒 Afternoon Sessions
Todd Tomalak's "7 Emerging Issues" at 2:30 PM — building products session. Catch him before/after. He advises building products companies specifically.
3:00 – 3:30 PM
🔥 Break #3
Day 2 = follow-up mode. Deepen conversations, don't start cold.
4:00 PM
🔥🔥 Aaron Elliott Off Stage — INTERCEPT
"Design, Distribution, and Disruption" ends ~4:00. Elliott (SRS/Home Depot) walks off stage. Position at ballroom exit. He's your channel partner opportunity.
5:00 – 6:00 PM
🔥🔥 Happy Hour
Close conversations. Get next steps. Exchange cell numbers with top 3–5 targets. Specific ask: "Can I email your VP of Construction next week referencing our conversation?"
6:00 – 10:00 PM
🍽️ Dinner — SECRET WEAPON
No official conference dinner. 300 execs need plans. "I have a reservation at Chart House at 7:30 — incredible harbor views. Can I take you to dinner?" See Venue tab for restaurant details.
Breakfast 7:30 AM · Sessions 8:30–11:30 AM · Conference ends
7:30 – 8:30 AM
🔥 Final Breakfast
Last morning. Relaxed energy. People packing, checking out, some leaving early. Cleanup window.
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
🔥 Checkout Window
Conference ends. Valet area and lobby = high traffic. Brief "great meeting you" conversations. Hand out remaining one-sheets. Confirm follow-ups.
Venue Intel & Preparation
🍽️ On-Property Restaurants
RAYA
Main restaurant. Latin-coastal cuisine. Breakfast Mon–Sat 6:30–11:30 AM. Ocean views. Where hotel guests eat before sessions. Your morning staging area.
Bar RAYA
Cliffside lounge. Cocktails + small plates. Outdoor terrace with Pacific views. Your evening staging area near where receptions spill out.
KAHANI
Upscale Indian. Elegant, private dining available. Great for hosting dinners. Call 949.489.5833 for reservations.
Taikun Omakase
16-course omakase. Very exclusive. Seatings at 5:30 & 8:00 PM only. Hard to say no to an invite here. Reserve in advance.
🚗 Nearby Restaurants (Dinner Plays)
Chart House Dana Point
Stunning harbor views. Steaks & seafood. ~10 min drive. Impressive for hosting. Best views in Dana Point.
Salt Creek Grille
Right next to the Ritz on Ritz Carlton Dr. Walking distance. Upscale casual. Easy ask for a quick dinner.
Craft House
Farm-to-table. Best whiskey selection in South OC. ~5 min drive. Feels local and genuine.
Coastal Kitchen
Clean, fresh. Steaks, fish, burgers. ~5 min walk. Good for quick breakfast or lunch meetings off-property.
✅ Pre-Conference Checklist — One Week Before
Book hotel. Ideally Ritz itself. Backup: Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach (5 min), Laguna Cliffs Marriott.
Make dinner reservations Mon & Tue at Chart House, Salt Creek Grille, or KAHANI. Tables for 2–4.
Print 50 one-sheets. Cardstock. Product photo + value prop + QR code to calculator. Jacket-pocket size.
Build mobile savings calculator. Lot count × approach length × R&R rate → instant number.
LinkedIn requests to all high-priority contacts with personalized notes.
Pre-conference emails to top 5 requesting breakfast/dinner meetings.
Research LinkedIn posts — each target's last 30 days. Conversation warm-up material.
Wardrobe: Resort casual. Sport coat, no tie, nice shoes. Look like a peer.
Portable battery pack. Phone = primary tool for 3 days.
🎒 Daily Carry
25 one-sheets in jacket pocket
Phone charged + backup battery
Savings calculator loaded & tested
Business cards
This hub bookmarked on phone
Notebook + pen for post-conversation notes
Breath mints
📌 Next Event
Builder Connections — Oct 19–21, 2026, Dallas
Zonda's event designed specifically for 1-on-1 meetings with senior purchasing executives from top builders. Even more direct than Builder 100. Register now.
🎯 48-Hour Follow-Up Protocol
Within 4 hours: Personalized text/LinkedIn referencing something specific. No attachments.
Within 24 hours: Email to everyone you met. One-sheet PDF + calculator link + specific ask.
Within 48 hours: Cold-warm email to every VP of Construction, referencing conference contact by name.
Within 1 week: One follow-up on non-responses. Then wait 30 days.