Previewing the 2025 SC&RA Crane & Rigging Workshop

The bustling skyline of Indianapolis, IN will serve as the perfect location for the SC&RA Crane & Rigging Workshop. Photo: USA TODAY Network via Reuters

The 2025 SC&RA Crane & Rigging Workshop is set to return September 23-25 in Indianapolis, IN, bringing together innovators and professionals from across the crane and rigging industry for three days of collaboration, education and networking.

Designed to address the real-world challenges and opportunities facing today’s crane and rigging companies, this year’s agenda is stacked with insightful sessions, hands-on learning and expert panels that reflect the sector’s most urgent topics. Everything from cultivating company leaders and safety strategy to emerging marketing trends and insurance risk management will be covered.

The Workshop kicks off Tuesday afternoon with the Tower Crane Committee meeting. First-time attendees are invited to a dedicated briefing at 5:30 p.m., designed to help newcomers navigate the event and make the most of their first SC&RA experience.

Workforce focus

The main event begins Wednesday morning with a continental breakfast, followed by committee meetings covering Safety Education and Training, Labor and Governing; giving members a voice in the association’s direction and priorities.

The Workshop will bring together crane and lifting professionals for a three-day event.

The afternoon’s Opening Session, “Take Me to Your Leader,” dives into one of the industry’s biggest concerns: developing future leaders from within. Moderated by Jim Sever of PSC Crane & Rigging, the panel features Patrick Lewis of Superior Cranes and Barnhart’s David Webster, who will share strategies for recognizing high-potential talent, onboarding with purpose and fostering peer-driven recruitment.

Operational insights

Breakout sessions follow, with attendees choosing between:

■ “When Your Operator Becomes a Driver” – a practical look at how driver qualifications, insurance costs, and marijuana policy intersect on the jobsite, presented by Tyrone Silva, DUAL North America, and Kent Miller, National Interstate.

■ “Navigating Marketing Trends for Tomorrow’s Success” – a future-focused session led by Emily Beardall, FMI, on how to evolve your business development strategy to stay competitive.

A networking break sets the stage for another round of concurrent breakout sessions. Jordan Casey of Brasfield & Gorrie will walk through the lifecycle of tower crane assembly and disassembly in his session on planning for safety success, while Jon Alberson, Means & Methods Engineering, and Brooks Nunley, Kennedy Wire Rope & Sling, will present a deep dive into below-the-hook lifting devices, from design and procurement to field use.

The day will wrap up with “The Pit Stop,” an Indy 500-themed reception sponsored by DUAL North America and Link-Belt Cranes. Attendees will have the opportunity to refuel with good conversation, connect with colleagues and gear up for the rest of the event.

The Exhibit Center always promises a packed house.

Thursday kicks off early with breakfast and a fan favorite: SC&RA’s Rigging Jobs of the Year. This year’s winners Barnhart, Mountain Crane Service and Bragg Companies will present detailed case studies highlighting technical ingenuity and safety excellence in the field.

The keynote session, “Strategic Insights: Adapting to Evolving Market Trends,” follows with Mike Clancy of FMI offering an economic forecast and strategies for diversification in a shifting marketplace.

Safety strategies

Breakout options later that morning include:

■ “Up & Down Safely” – a session on OSHA fall protection rules and equipment inspection led by John Glinski, Crane Training and Safety Consultants.

■ “Lifting Through the Fog” – a timely look at insurance trends, upstream contract risk and smarter broker relationships featuring a powerhouse panel from Cameron Boots, Gallagher Crane Division, Rick Emery, Emery & Karrigan and Randy Proos, USI Insurance.

After networking and lunch in the Exhibit Center, home to 90 top manufacturers, insurers and technology providers, attendees will reconvene for a policy-focused session on OSHA and the New Administration, presented by attorney Michael Rubin of Ogletree Deakins. With federal oversight shifting under the Trump Administration, this session will provide the latest updates and compliance strategies for crane operations.

The First Timers event is designed to help newcomers navigate the workshop and make the most of their first SC&RA experience.

Closing the day’s educational sessions is “Near Misses, Lasting Lessons,” a candid, high-impact discussion led by industry veterans including Scott Bragg, Bragg Companies; Mike Knott, Phoenix Crane; and Peter Juhren, Morrow Equipment. Their stories offer a powerful reminder of the importance of learning from close calls and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Shared success

Attendees will cap off the workshop with a well-earned toast at the Oktoberfest-themed Hops & Handshakes closing reception. For the latest information, including schedules, exhibitor lists and registration, visit www.scranet.org/crw2025.