Our member-exclusive events offer member companies and their employees the perfect opportunity to further establish their network within the construction industry.
These social and networking events represent a huge added benefit to membership, with exciting and varied events to participate in and show your support for MBEX.
All of our events are sponsored in part by The Builders Group (TBG). Thank you, TBG!
This comprehensive workshop will cover everything you need to know about the mechanic's lien process from start to finish. This seminar is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools to navigate the complexities of mechanic's liens effectively.
• DATE: Thursday, December 12
• LOCATION: Bassford Remele (Free parking available! | 100 South 5th Street, STE 1500, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55402)
• SCHEDULE:
⁃ 12:00pm-12:30pm: Registration and Lunch
⁃ 12:30pm-1:30pm - Pre-Lien Considerations
⁃ 1:45pm-2:45pm - Foreclosure of the Lien and Trial Considerations
⁃ 3:00pm-4:00pm - Post-Trial Enforcement and Considerations
⁃ 4:00pm-5:00pm - Happy Hour and Networking
• COST: Free
Attendees will learn crucial strategies to preserve their lien rights and efficiently collect payment for work performed or supplies provided when payment is not made.
Whether you're a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier, this seminar will provide valuable insights to protect your interests and improve your bottom line. For those in the financial services sector, the seminar will delve into the complexities of how mechanic's lien foreclosure proceedings impact financial institutions. Don't miss this opportunity to stay ahead in your industry and optimize your business operations.
This event is presented by Bassford Remele.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT:
This seminar is pending approval for: - 3.00 hours of Residential Building Contractor continuing education credit by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry - 3.00 CLE credits in Minnesota and Wisconsin
Join us for a free live online walk-through of our digital platform to learn the basics, refresh yourself on its offered tools, or to explore if our plan room would benefit your business.
DATES:
• Thursday, December 19 - Registration is now open!
• Thursday, January 16
• Thursday, February 20
TIME: 9:00am - 10:00am
COST: Free
LOCATION: Online via Zoom
From the Deskpad to setting up filters, to project information to bidders lists, this is a one-hour session is a great introduction to our Online Plan Room. There will be time at the end of the presentation for question and answer. Registrants must be signed up by 3:30pm the day before (Wednesday, December 18) to receive Zoom link and other information.
ABOUT THE MBEX ONLINE PLAN ROOM
MBEX's modern and innovative online plan room is designed to bring its members the latest in Minnesota's commercial construction project news and bidding opportunities as well as projects from Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota. MBEX's team of reporters work hard behind-the-scenes to post complete project details along with viewable files (dependent on a members' level of access). They coordinate project details with the architects, engineers, project owners, and construction managers to create a smooth viewing process for members. Once posted, bidders can easily access the project scope, view plans, specs and addenda, download files, order prints and download needed documents. Bidders can also manage email notifications for timely notices of newly posted projects, new filter results, and addenda notifications on tracked projects.
The MBEX offices will be closed on the following dates for the holiday:
• Tuesday, December 24
• Wednesday, December 25
Also, our physical office will be closed on Thursday, December 26 and Friday, December 27 (staff will be working remotely).
The MBEX offices will be closed for the New Years holiday on the following dates:
• Tuesday, December 31
• Wednesday, January 1.
We'll back to regular business hours on Thursday, January 3. See you in the new year!
Great estimators know that to be competitive and competent in the current market, their companies must continually be in search of an edge, answering the questions, “How can we approach this project differently than our competition?”
DATE: Tuesday, January 14
TIME: 12:00pm - 4:00pm CST
LOCATION: Online
INSTRUCTOR: Troy DeGroot, UChapter2.com
PRICE: $350 - MBEX Members | $490 - Non-MBEX Members
This virtual interactive training workshop is scheduled in one half-day session.
Viewpoint 1 - The Estimating Principles Behind Every Bid
This open forum discussion led by a panel of experienced construction estimators explores advanced elements of construction estimating. Experienced estimators will be challenged to evaluate their own systems within the framework of current trends and models with an emphasis on Bluebeam. Every topic will be discussed from various perspectives to allow estimators from across the spectrum to benefit.
Learning Objectives:
Viewpoint 2 - How Technology Can Produce Faster, More Accurate Estimates
Oftentimes simply being more visual in your bid scope can put you ahead of the competition by showing you truly understand the project. We’ll spend some time demonstrating how technology can not only replace your highlighters, scales, and calculator, but create company standards for you and your team. With an emphasis on Bluebeam Revu, these digital tools and workflows will produce clear, visual markups that are accurate, predictable, and consistent no matter who on the team uses them.
Learning Objectives:
We are excited be once again partner with Troy DeGroot and UChpater2 to provide the best quality Bluebeam training in the industry for our members. Join Troy for this free opportunity to see an introduction to each upcoming course and learning objectives in 2025.
DATE: Wednesday, January 15
TIME: 10:30am-11:30am CST
LOCATION: Online
INSTRUCTOR: Troy DeGroot, UChapter2
PRICE: Free!
When it comes to AEC industry software, Bluebeam Revu is one of the most popular quickly growing to over 3 million users worldwide. With functionality for Design Review, Estimating, Collecting Field Data, and others, Bluebeam is not your average PDF software.
Get your questions answered to ensure you're in the appropriate courses for your skillset and workflows.
MBEX invites its members to our Annual Meeting and Luncheon, a premier event that brings together our construction community. This is more than just a meeting; it's an opportunity to be at the forefront of the building industry's latest trends and innovations.
• DATE: Wednesday, January 15, 2025
• LOCATION: TPC Twin Cities (11444 Tournament Players Pkwy, Blaine, MN 55449)
• SCHEDULE: 11:00am - Social | 12:00pm - Lunch | 12:30pm - Program | 1:00pm - Special Guest Speaker: Kate Bischoff, employment law attorney
• PRICE: $50 per person | $275 for table of six
Sponsorship opportunities are also available ranging from $50 - $550.
WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND
Networking Opportunities
Connect with a diverse group of professionals, from seasoned industry leaders to newcomers. Forge new partnerships, strengthen existing relationships, and share your expertise with peers who understand your challenges and ambitions.
Member Recognition
Celebrate the achievements of your peers as we present awards for Volunteer of the Year and Distinguished Member. We will also recognize the hard work and dedication of outgoing Board members and announce the 2025 Board of Director election results.
Enjoy a Gourmet Luncheon
Savor a specially curated menu in a relaxed, professional setting.
THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING:
• Premiere Sponsor: The Builders Group (TBG)
All construction professionals, regardless of working in the field or in the office, must know how to read blueprints, specs, and construction plans.
• DATES: Wednesday, January 15 & Thursday, January 16
• TIME: 1:00PM - 4:00PM CST
• LOCATION: Online
• INSTRUCTOR: Troy DeGroot with UChapter2
• PRICING: MBEX Members - $329* | Non-MBEX Members - $460
Please be registered by noon on Tuesday, January 14.
Designed to quickly familiarize students with the basics of reading and understanding construction documents, this 2-part online program is perfect for: apprentices, entry-level tradespersons, project coordinators, assistant project managers, new project managers, estimators, specialty sales representatives, entry-level architectural or engineering designers, or anyone in career transition looking for a refresher.
From navigating title block information to combing through specification documents, participants will learn how to navigate a project and understand the material and construction requirements. Learning objectives include an introduction to construction documents, understanding industry document standards, drawing navigation, and the importance of specialty plans.
*Work for a Member Company? That makes *you* an MBEX member and qualifies you for the member pricing. Not sure if your company is an MBEX member? Email Ashlee and she can verify your company's status.
Meet the Instructor
With over 20 years in the industry, Troy DeGroot has cultivated a deep understanding of the requirements of customers, the needs of end users, common goals of management, and the capacities of the technology. He had led many companies through successful software implementations and training. Having served as the BIM Manager for a large multi-discipline engineering firm, he provides a broad understanding of the industry and the evolution of technology. Read Troy's full bio
Whether you're opening Bluebeam Revu for the first time, or you've used it for years, this class will ensure a higher baseline knowledge.
DATE: Monday, February 3
TIME: 10:30am - 12:30pm CST
LOCATION: Online
PRICE: MBEX Member - $110 | Non-MBEX Member - $165
INSTRUCTOR: Troy DeGroot, UChapter2
REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday, January 31 @ 12:30pm
Attendees will learn interface navigation including menu dropdowns, toolbars, various tool panels, keyboard shortcuts and a few recommended settings. While learning various markup and measurement tools, several tips & tricks will be shared to increase speed and accuracy.
Learning Objectives:
• Interface Navigation
• Calibration & Measurements
• Introduction to the Markups List
About Bluebeam Revu
When it comes to AEC industry software, Bluebeam Revu is one of the most popular, quickly growing to over 2 million users worldwide. With functionality for Design Review, Estimating, Collecting Field Data, and others, Bluebeam is not your average PDF software.
With Revu’s intuitive measurement tools and customizable interface, we can turn your highlighters into a data rich takeoff tools.*
DATE: Tuesday, February 4
TIME: 10:30am - 12:30pm CST
LOCATION: Online
PRICE: MBEX Member - $110 | Non-MBEX Member - $165
REGISTRATION CLOSES: Monday, February 3 at 12:30PM
We’ll start out going through the standard measurement tools and settings, then move into various customization options and discuss the results in the Markups List.
*MANDATORY PRE-REQUIITE: Student(s) must have taken Baseline Basics to enroll in this course.
Learning Objectives:
• Introduction to Viewports
• Measurement Tips & Tricks
• Custom Estimating Tools
About Bluebeam Revu
When it comes to AEC industry software, Bluebeam Revu is one of the most popular, quickly growing to over 2 million users worldwide. With functionality for Design Review, Estimating, Collecting Field Data, and others, Bluebeam is not your average PDF software.
Did you know you can export to an Excel spreadsheet, or even link directly to that Excel template file full of formulas you’ve been using for years?*
DATE: Wednesday, February 5
TIME: 10:30am-12:30pm
LOCATION: Online
PRICE: MBEX Member - $110 | Non-MBEX Member - $165
REGISTRATION CLOSES: Tuesday, February 4 @ 12:30pm
After finishing the Bluebeam Takeoffs & Estimates (Basics) course, we’ll move into creating custom columns, embedding formulas, and information organization.
*MANDATORY PRE-REQUISITES: Bluebeam 1: Baseline Basics & Bluebean 2: Material Takeoffs & Estimates (Basics)
Learning Objectives:
• Custom Estimating Tools - continued from Material Takeoffs & Estimates (Basics)
• Collecting Rich Data with Custom Columns
• Reports and Exporting Data
About Bluebeam Revu
When it comes to AEC industry software, Bluebeam Revu is one of the most popular, quickly growing to over 2 million users worldwide. With functionality for Design Review, Estimating, Collecting Field Data, and others, Bluebeam is not your average PDF software.
Are your drawings or those from your customers a mess? Gibberish in the Page Labels, no hyperlinks, sheets out of order all combined into one bloated document? In this class you’ll learn a quick workflow to fixing all those pain points and more.*
DATE: Monday, February 10
TIME: 10:30am-12:30pm
LOCATION: Online
PRICE: MBEX Member - $110 | Non-MBEX Member - $165
REGISTRATION CLOSES: Friday, February 7 @ 3:00pm
Things like automatically finding and clouding changes on revised sheets and tracking the most current version of each sheet. This class will not only improve consistency and accuracy in document management, but it will eliminate all the time wasted navigating through drawing sets and wondering who has the latest drawings.
*MANDATORY PRE-REQUISITE: Bluebeam 1: Baseline Basics
Learning Objectives:
• Creating Hyperlinks to Quickly Navigate Drawings
• Manage Revisions with Batch Slip Sheet
• Find Drawing Changes Automatically
About Bluebeam Revu
When it comes to AEC industry software, Bluebeam Revu is one of the most popular, quickly growing to over 2 million users worldwide. With functionality for Design Review, Estimating, Collecting Field Data, and others, Bluebeam is not your average PDF software.
Learn to create and place custom punch symbols, quickly embed images or videos, and create summary reports.*
DATE: Tuesday, February 11
TIME: 10:30am-12:30pm
LOCATION: Online
PRICE: MBEX Member - $110 | Non-MBEX Member - $165
REGISTRATION CLOSES: Monday, February 10 @ 3:00pm
Whether your tracking install progress or running a QA/QC final walk, this class was developed for design and construction professionals in both the office and jobsite looking for ways to build consistency, speed and accuracy of data collection.
*MANDATORY PRE-REQUISITE: Bluebeam 1: Baseline Basics
Learning Objectives:
• Create and place punch symbols to denote status or deficiencies.
• Embed field images or videos to clearly show site conditions.
• Generate reports integrated directly with document markups.
• See industry examples from your competitors.
About Bluebeam Revu
When it comes to AEC industry software, Bluebeam Revu is one of the most popular, quickly growing to over 2 million users worldwide. With functionality for Design Review, Estimating, Collecting Field Data, and others, Bluebeam is not your average PDF software.
Join MBEX, The Builders Group, The Concrete Council, Electrical Association and Builders Exchange of Rochester for a casual gathering with food, drinks, and networking with great company.
DATE: Tuesday, February 11
TIME: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
LOCATION: Little Thistle Brewing (2031 14th St NW, Rochester, MN 55901)
PRICE: Free!
Invite colleagues, members and non-members alike, to learn how we serves the commercial construction sector, what membership entails, and meet staff.
While this event is 100% free, we do request that attendees register so we have an accurate head count for food and drink orders.
Our Partners:
Administrative teams have unique document workflows that demand a different set of tools compared to design and construction teams.
DATE: Wednesday, February 12
TIME: 10:30am - 12:30pm
LOCATION: Online
PRICE: MBEX Member - $110 | Non-MBEX Member - $165
REGISTRATION CLOSES: Tuesday, February 11 @ 3:00pm
A typical Bluebeam class concentrates on design markups, estimating and collecting field data, but this class is very different! In just two hours you’ll be ready to combine documents, mark for redaction, apply digital signatures and several other important administrative tasks.
Learning Objectives:
• Extracting pages from existing documents
• Use Redaction to quickly clean sensitive information from documents
• Creating and applying digital signatures
• Updating Page Labels
• Applying headers and footers
• Search document text and visual symbols
• Apply stamps
• Flag important content in documents
About Bluebeam Revu
When it comes to AEC industry software, Bluebeam Revu is one of the most popular, quickly growing to over 2 million users worldwide. With functionality for Design Review, Estimating, Collecting Field Data, and others, Bluebeam is not your average PDF software.
About the Instructor: Troy DeGroot
With over 20 years in the industry, Troy DeGroot has cultivated a deep understanding of the requirements of customers, the needs of end users, common goals of management, and the capacities of the technology. He had led many companies through successful software implementations and training. Having served as the BIM Manager for a large multi-discipline engineering firm, he provides a broad understanding of the industry and the evolution of technology. Read Troy's full bio
Yes, there are tools in Bluebeam Revu for Civil Designers and Engineers!
DATE: Thursday, February 13
TIME: 10:30am-12:30pm
LOCATION: Online
PRICE: MBEX Member - $110 | Non-MBEX Member - $165
REGISTRATION CLOSES: Wednesday, February 12 @ 3:00pm
In this class we will go through not only navigation and markups but workflows like Calibrating Plan & Profile drawings with different X-Y scales, ideas for Cut & Fill calculations, combining several PDF’s into one large area map, and adding images. We’ll also look at ideas for bidding and tracking field survey projects.
Learning Objectives:
• Calibrating X,Y Scales
• Adding Images
• Creating large area maps
• Ideas for Cut/Fill Calculations
• Ideas for Bidding & Tracking Survey Projects
About Bluebeam Revu
When it comes to AEC industry software, Bluebeam Revu is one of the most popular, quickly growing to over 2 million users worldwide. With functionality for Design Review, Estimating, Collecting Field Data, and others, Bluebeam is not your average PDF software.
Join MBEX, The Builders Group, The Concrete Council and Electrical Association for a casual gathering with food, drinks, and networking with great company.
DATE: Tuesday February 18
TIME: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
LOCATION: Mr. D's Bar and Grill (5622 Grand Ave, Duluth, MN 55807)
PRICE: Free!
Invite colleagues, members and non-members alike, to learn how we serves the commercial construction sector, what membership entails, and meet staff.
While this event is 100% free, we do request that attendees register so we have an accurate head count for food and drink orders.
Our Partners:
Join MBEX, The Builders Group, The Concrete Council and Electrical Association for a casual gathering with food, drinks, and networking with great company.
DATE: Tuesday, February 25
TIME: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
LOCATION: Midtown Tavern (2223 Center Ave, Moorhead, MN 56560)
PRICE: Free!
Invite colleagues, members and non-members alike, to learn how we serves the commercial construction sector, what membership entails, and meet staff.
While this event is 100% free, we do request that attendees register so we have an accurate head count for food and drink orders.
Our Partners:
Join MBEX, The Builders Group, The Concrete Council and Electrical Association for a casual gathering with food, drinks, and networking with great company.
DATE: Tuesday, March 4
TIME: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
LOCATION: Crooked Pint Ale House (58 Division St, Waite Park, MN 56387)
PRICE: Free!
Invite colleagues, members and non-members alike, to learn how we serves the commercial construction sector, what membership entails, and meet staff.
While this event is 100% free, we do request that attendees register so we have an accurate head count for food and drink orders.
Our Partners:
Minnesota Builders Exchange
1123 Glenwood Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55405
T: 612.381.2620
F: 612.381.2621
Mon, Tues & Thur (in-office): 7:00am-3:00pm
Wed & Fri (staff remote): 7:00am-3:00pm
Sat & Sun: closed
