Sunday, March 8, 2026
1:00PM - 2:00PM
2:30PM - 3:00PM
3:00PM - 4:00PM
4:15PM - 5:45PM
6:00PM - 7:30PM
Monday, March 9, 2026
7:30AM - 8:00AM
8:00AM - 9:00AM
Alex Rodriguez, one of Major League Baseball’s biggest superstars, will discuss his pivotal journey from professional athlete to successful entrepreneur.
Potomac AB/Stage
9:20AM - 10:35AM
9:20AM - 11:00AM
11:00AM - 2:00PM
2:20PM - 3:10PM
This session will present use of drones and other innovations that provide remote imaging across facilities management operations. Industry experts will share case studies and demos of drones being used to monitor building maintenance. Speakers will also discuss technology benefits, restrictions and share tips on how to adopt the technology.
This session shares how retailers collaborate with vendor partners and design firms to streamline large-scale projects. Discussions explore strategies to manage national renovations while maintaining brand standards, ensuring compliance and accelerating timelines.
Remodeling a retail space while keeping the doors open is a high-stakes balancing act—one that demands precision, coordination, and creativity. This panel will reveal the challenges of phasing, site safety, customer experience, and communication across teams. Expect candid insights, case studies and practical strategies for keeping construction on the right track without disrupting business.
Retailers need to go above and beyond building code requirements and view operations with an inclusive lens when designing for accessibility and inclusivity of customers and associates, alike. This session will share the work of the Inclusive Retail Spaces Coalition, as well as detail guiding framework, specific design guidelines among built spaces, how to enter into an inclusive design journey, and case studies related to the practice.
A panel of real estate experts discuss the tips related to making deals and managing development costs. Learn what is impacting deals, including the shift to suburban retail and mixed use developments; the need for experiential and omnichannel/digital integration; innovative anchors, and more. Discover how these changes also impact development costs from elevated construction costs, high interest rates and leveraging a tight supply chain.
3:20PM - 4:10PM
Facility executives and teams need to revisit and update disaster plans annually to ensure that, if disasters occur, they are as prepared as possible. This session will share tips on creating plans that include immediate actions, roles and responsibilities. redundancy planning, partnership networks, and emergency communication protocols, expected response times and related resources.
Lead times are expanding, materials costs are rising and navigating global supply chains is impacting building and remodels. Learn how to manage supply chain challenges, especially when designing new stores and forecasting projects. Hear tips on how to address potential disruptions to maintain smooth operations, including how to navigate tariffs throughout materials procurement, how to improve lead times to ensure product consistency and insulate project timelines.
Learn the steps needed to help mitigate spending risks in potentially volatile energy markets. Hear tips on creating a strategy that navigates market volatility, minimizes risks and maximizes opportunities based on the business’s unique risk tolerance and needs.
This session explores the advantages of working with existing structures, highlighting how vacant commercial properties can be transformed into valuable assets. Hear best practices, remodeling strategies and the benefits of taking on a second-gen space and how to rebuild the space at a lower cost.
Learn how to address risks and liabilities associated with dark spaces. Explore how to manage these sites to maintain compliance and avoid risks associated with property safety and aesthetics issues. Learn how to adjust lease management strategies to facilitate smooth, and potentially early turnovers.
4:20PM - 5:10PM
Operational excellence within a franchise requires proactive support, streamlined processes and the right tools—ranging from technology to equipment. This session will highlight how corporate-franchise collaboration can streamline remodels, optimize facilities management and enable smarter, data-driven decisions that elevate overall performance.
The key to avoiding construction liabilities is to focus on robust risk management and execute clear communication and strong contracts. Industry experts share case studies highlighting examples of pitfalls and how to avoid issues in the future. They will also share a checklist of how to navigate processes and secure proper documentation that prevents liabilities in design and building plans.
Explore how lighting heat maps and analytics can identify demographics, foot traffic and how store spaces are being occupied — and how to these results can improve site selection strategies. Learn how social media platforms and community engagement also support smarter real estate decisions in a digital-first world.
State and local municipalities require more integrated stormwater systems with new construction. Learn how can retailers maintain these systems, comply with annual reporting and inspection requirements. Areas of discussion include maintenance of riprap outfalls and aeration systems, how to safely and efficiently complete specialized repairs to corroded underground systems, and a review of how systems operate.
Learn about the latest technologies in lighting and how to navigate options that are best suited for different retail environments.
5:30PM - 6:30PM
6:30PM - 8:00PM
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
7:30AM - 8:00AM
8:00AM - 8:15AM
8:15AM - 9:10AM
9:30AM - 10:45AM
9:30AM - 11:10AM
11:15AM - 1:45PM
2:00PM - 2:50PM
This session explores emerging HVAC technologies that are reshaping energy efficiency such as smart thermostats, AI-driven predictive maintenance, and the integration of eco-friendly solutions like geothermal systems and renewable energy. Learn how these innovations are enhancing performance, reducing costs and supporting sustainability goals.
Women are leading the transformation of retail. This panel features women at the forefront of retail real estate, design, and operations who are redefining how brands connect with customers through smarter space planning, inclusive experiences, sustainability, and omnichannel innovation. Female professionals share personal strategies, real challenges and future-facing ideas helping to drive growth and disruption across some of the most exciting retail brands today.
This session will discuss innovations and strategies accelerating the retail permitting and inspection processes. Hear about the benefits of digital solutions such as e-permitting and AI for real-time tracking and streamlined approvals. Explore the value of partnering with private providers and private licensed architects and engineers for inspections and plan reviews and how to maintain accountability and transparency.
Hear from key decision makers leading the nation's most talked about retail experiences.
This session will focus on how retailers are using customer behavior data, heatmaps and simulation/ computational tools (AI) to optimize store layouts and improve customer experience. The discussion also highlights the benefits and best practices associated with capturing, developing and leveraging 3D digital representations of store development projects.
3:00PM - 3:50PM
Small box retailers face unique site selection challenges. Hear from a panel of real estate brokers/developers alongside small box retailers who will discuss pain points, collaboration opportunities, real-time problem solving strategies, and more.
This session discusses how to apply project management best practices to overcome the skilled trades gap—and the newest strategies needed to successfully bridge the skilled labor shortage.
Learn the structural benefits, code hurdles and a road map for successfully utilizing 3-D concrete printing and robotics in commercial construction.
This session will focus on emerging technologies such as green hydrogen produced through solar and wind energy, advanced storage solutions that enhance grid stability, geothermal energy being used for heating, cooling, and electricity generation, among others. Discover how these opportunities enable companies to reduce energy consumption, and drive cost savings.
3:15PM - 3:45PM
4:00PM - 4:40PM
4:45PM - 5:15PM
6:30PM - 10:00PM
Here’s What Retailers are Saying About SPECS!
