Chicago Construction News staff writer
The ASA Chicago – Association of Subcontractors & Affiliates (ASAC) and the Chicagoland Construction Safety Council (CCSC) annual Construction Expo & Safety Conference, concludes today. The best and brightest professionals have returned to the Drury Lane Conference Center in Oakbrook Terrace for the two day conference.
This time-honored event has served the Chicagoland construction industry for more than thirty years by providing opportunities for business-to-business commerce, safety education, and professional networking. Yesterday’s Safety Conference sessions focusedd on topics such as health hazards, root cause analysis, construction law, ANSI fall protection standards, accident investigations, EMR, and more. 
Today’s highlights include the Construction Expo tradeshow, which features more than 150 diverse exhibits of commercial subcontractors from various trades, 20+ general contractor exhibitors, equipment and material vendors, and professional service providers in the commercial Chicagoland construction industry.
Fellow industry organizations are also represented as sponsors and/or exhibitors, such as the Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO), the U.S. Department of Labor – OSHA, Federation of Women Contractors (FWC), Black Contractors Owners & Executives (BCOE), National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), and more. The Expo attracts more than 1,500 qualified attendees who come prepared to network and make the most of this valuable opportunity to strengthen existing connections and build new relationships. 
“In 2025, we saw our greatest attendance to date . . . This event, with the help of the ASA Chicago Expo Committee and our partners at the Construction Safety Council, has grown significantly from its start decades ago. What began as a handful of companies with table-top displays alongside an ASA Chicago dinner meeting has now evolved into the lively and valuable event that it is today,” said Marissa Veith, ASA Chicago’s Executive Director.
The tradeshow exhibition will be complemented by 12 additional one-hour safety sessions during the Safety Conference. The topics are as varied as they are valuable, addressing the most common – and most challenging – workplace safety issues: ergonomics for equipment operators, ladder safety, managing overhead lifts, using AI, data center construction, and more. Educational credits (CEU’s) will be awarded to all attendees.
The Safety Conference agenda also includes a Keynote Presentation: “Survival Mode: Growth Through Chaos” by Justin Azbill – a nationally renowned speaker for his work in construction safety, advocacy, and leadership. His presentation challenges safety professionals to rethink strength, success, and sustainability under pressure and provides a roadmap for growth where trust, accountability, and connection serve as the anchors to stay grounded when everything else is in motion. Employers and attendees will walk away with lessons in mindset discipline, emotional awareness, and contextual intelligence.
The event concludes with an Exhibitors After Party this afternoon, featuring live music and an extended opportunity to connect with like-minded industry professionals. Just prior to its start, one lucky Exhibitor representative will be awarded a complimentary foursome at the June 19 ASA Chicago Golf Outing at Cog Hill, and the winner (who must be present to win) will be called at 3:55 PM just prior to exhibitor breakdown.
Every facet of the Construction Expo and Safety Conference will be delivered in a business-focused setting with additional benefits that include a buffet lunch, free nearby parking, access to quality construction professionals, and valuable information to take away. Discounted pricing for exhibitors and safety session attendees is available to those who register early. Learn more about the Construction Expo and Safety Conference at www.ChicagoConstructionExpo.com.
ASA Chicago serves commercial subcontractors of all trades by providing networking opportunities, education, and advocacy within the Chicagoland construction industry. Learn more at www.asachicago.org.
