Accelerating Performance at the Speed of Innovation
November 9-10, 2026
Bell Harbor Conference Center, 3rd floor
(2211 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121)
We’re pleased to welcome Juan Carlos Blacker with the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance as the master of ceremonies for the event!
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Check-in & Networking
Coffee & tradeshow available.
Lunch Keynotes: Accelerating Performance in the Real World
A series of practical discussions connecting the conference theme to the real market challenges of technology, financing, and policy.
Mike Sontag Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc. (E3)
Armando Berdiel Chavez Seattle City Light
Kerry Meade Smart Buildings CenterNetworking Break
Workshop Part 1: Framing the Challenge
Facilitators will share short perspectives and lead a group discussion to define the barriers to market scale across a range of topics including financing, capital, policy, and utility frameworks.
Jeanne Currie Clean Energy Transition Institute
Janice Bacon PacifiCorp
Jonathan Kleinman 47N Energy
Perry England MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions
Faith DeBolt Lattice Energy WorksNetworking Break
Workshop Part 2: What would actually help solve the problem?
Facilitated discussion focused on what changes, partnerships, and practical actions would most help move the market. This portion will build on Part 1 and push participants toward clearer priorities, recommendations, and possible next steps.
Jeanne Currie Clean Energy Transition Institute Jonathan Kleinman 47N Energy Faith DeBolt Lattice Energy Works Kerry Meade Smart Buildings CenterNetworking Happy Hour
Appetizers, refreshments and networking.
Check-in & Networking
Coffee & breakfast items available, tradeshow open.
Welcome Remarks
Welcome, framing, and overview of the day.
Perry England MacDonald-Miller Facility SolutionsOpening Keynote: Accelerating Performance at the Speed of Innovation
A big-picture keynote on the changing landscape for building owners and managers – how are cost pressure, resilience, risk, security, operational complexity, and AI reshaping expectations for smart buildings?
Megan Owen McKinstryNetworking Break
Panel: What Building Owners Need Now
A cross-sector conversation grounded in owner priorities across healthcare, universities, commercial office, midsize commercial, and other facility types.
Lisa Dulude University of Washington
Ian Brown Seattle Public Schools
Jonathan Heller Ecotope
Tearle Whitson MetroNationalModerated Debate: Owner Problem or Market Problem? Who Should Finance the Path to Building Performance at Scale?
Should building performance continue to be financed as one-off owner projects, or treated like infrastructure? A moderated debate covering green banks, public vs. private capital, utility investment, and the capital models most likely to unlock scale.
Eli Lieberman Washington Builds
Kristin Gustafson Eide Bailly
Larry Eisenberg Ovus Partners 360
Nicole DeNamur Climate Aligned LawLunch & Keynote: Smart Buildings in a Chaotic World
What’s next for smart buildings? A keynote on the forces reshaping the built environment. From a rapidly changing policy landscape and volatile energy markets to the dizzying pace of technological change: where is this industry headed and what will it take to lead it?
Joseph Aamidor Aamidor ConsultingPanel: From Bespoke to Scale - How Do We Move to Repeatable, Scalable Solutions?
Discussion on moving from custom smart building projects to repeatable, scalable solutions.
Stephanie Leisle Pierce County Facilities Management
Matt Wiley RadiusDC
Kurtis Anderson Kent School District
Robby Martin ATS AutomationClosing Keynote: What Will It Take to Reach Scale?
A forward-looking closing keynote – where do we go from here and what will it take to truly accelerate the industry?
Dawn Lindell Networking Happy Hour
Appetizers, refreshments and live music by Bossa In Wonderland, an acoustic jazz quartet playing jazz standards and originals in a Samba and Bossa Nova Style.
Please note: there will also be a Building Operator Certification (BOC) credential maintenance event in the afternoon during the workshops on Day 1 (November 9th). The agenda is available here, and if you would like to register please contact [email protected].
AESP Evergreen and Northwest Chapters are teaming up with Plentiful.ai to throw a Nerdy Energy Afterparty directly after SBX on Monday, November 9th at 5pm at the bar at Anthony’s Bell Street Diner, located next door to the conference center. Come join for a drink, explore hot takes from the conference, and hear a special announcement from Plentiful.ai founder, Jason Trager.
This year’s conference program is centered on the question of acceleration: how do we move faster, and why aren’t we moving faster already? SBX 2026 will examine the real barriers slowing progress – capital constraints, fragmented delivery models, workforce and implementation challenges, competing pressures on building owners, and the difficulty of moving from one-off success stories to repeatable solutions at scale. Participants will engage with practical strategies for midsize commercial buildings, grid-enabled and grid-interactive building approaches, financing models that can unlock adoption, and the operational realities reshaping the market.
The 2026 conference theme, “Accelerating Performance at the Speed of Innovation,” reflects both the urgency of the moment and the opportunity in front of us. As technologies advance and pressures on the built environment intensify, buildings are being asked to do more: reduce costs, improve resilience, respond to grid needs, support occupant outcomes, and deliver stronger performance in an increasingly complex operating environment. SBX 2026 will create space not just for inspiration, but for debate, problem-solving, and clearer pathways to action.
To view information about the 2026 SBX Plus Virtual Webinar Series, occurring virtually February-October 2026, please click HERE.
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