SC&RA Workshop: strength in numbers

Last month’s 2025 SC&RA Crane & Rigging Workshop drew a record crowd to the Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, event September 23-25, setting a new benchmark for the Association’s annual event. More than 850 attendees packed the JW Marriott venue – including over 125 first-timers and representatives from ten countries – underscoring the Workshop’s growing status as a premier gathering for crane and rigging professionals across North America and beyond. Moreover, a sold-out exhibit center – featuring a strong mix of returning and first-time exhibitors – reflected the construction sector’s continued momentum and appetite for connection.

Workshop presentations reflected the full spectrum of challenges and opportunities that shape daily operations for SC&RA members. Insurance rates and coverage, tariffs, workforce pressures and immigration policies all surfaced as recurring themes

Behind the record turnout was more than convenience. Indianapolis offered a centralized hub that made travel easier for companies coast to coast, while ongoing tariff uncertainty and shifting market pressures gave members even more reason to meet face to face. Over two-and-a-half days, participants compared notes, shared lessons and reaffirmed why this Workshop has evolved from a niche industry meeting into one of the most anticipated annual events in the lifting and rigging calendar.

Amid economic and regulatory uncertainty, the Workshop’s program was built around connection and practical takeaways. Sessions emphasized adapting to shifting conditions, comparing what’s working on jobsites and leaving with solutions that translate back at the yard.

SC&RA President Jim Sever encouraged SC&RA members to continue writing to federal and state officials – detailing cost, employment and equipment availability impacts – to keep the conversation grounded in real-world outcomes.

Tariffs were a clear undercurrent. SC&RA is closely tracking federal actions on cranes, steel, aluminum and key components, and signaled firm opposition to any 50 percent tariff on steel or aluminum. The Association outlined a three-part advocacy push – engaging D.C. trade counsel for direct outreach to the administration, retaining lobbying support to reach lawmakers and USTR officials and elevating the industry’s case through targeted national media.

That effort runs alongside ongoing briefings with senior trade policy staff at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, plus coordination with allied groups such as the National Association of Manufacturers, Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

In his opening remarks, SC&RA President and PSC Crane & Rigging President & CEO, Jim Sever, outlined the Association’s call for a phased approach to tariffs. “For example,” he said, “three percent over five years or five percent over three years – to give manufacturers and buyers time to plan.”

Grassroots engagement has also been active, Sever added. “In June, SC&RA circulated a letter template that members used to contact federal and state offices with specific business impacts. In July, the Association and state crane owner groups sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce urging timely decisions that support budgeting and forecasting across the supply chain.”

Sever encouraged members to continue writing to federal and state officials – detailing cost, employment and equipment availability impacts – to keep the conversation grounded in real-world outcomes.

Workshop presentations reflected the full spectrum of challenges and opportunities that shape daily operations for SC&RA members. Insurance rates and coverage, tariffs, workforce pressures and immigration policies all surfaced as recurring themes

Beth O’Quinn, SC&RA Senior Vice President, Crane & Rigging, emphasized that this level of engagement reflects the Association’s greatest strength. “When you have hundreds of people coming together around a common purpose, it doesn’t just strengthen our voice in Washington – it reinforces the long-term success of every company represented here,” she said. “The more unified we are in these efforts, the more progress we make for the entire industry.”

Dialing in

Beyond advocacy, the Workshop’s robust listing of education opportunities reflected the full spectrum of challenges and opportunities that shape daily operations for SC&RA members. Insurance rates and coverage, tariffs, workforce pressures and immigration policies all surfaced as recurring themes – each tied to the broader question of industry health amid shifting markets and regulation. Even with economic uncertainty still in play, speakers and attendees alike pointed to a resilient sector, sustained by steady demand and an openness to share what’s working across companies and regions.

That collaborative spirit extended to one of the week’s newest developments – the first-ever meeting of SC&RA’s Permit Policy Committee at a Crane & Rigging Workshop. The move underscored the growing attention on harmonizing permit rules for mobile cranes and other specialized equipment as legislative activity increases across the states.

Several committees also played a central role in shaping the week’s discussions. The Crane & Rigging Group Tower Crane Committee took a close look at its strategic plan and engaged in a detailed market outlook roundtable – examining current trends, project activity and the economic forces influencing tower crane operations.

Similarly, the Crane & Rigging Group Safety Education & Training Committee covered a wide range of topics, highlighted by an interactive roundtable on industry issues that incorporated live polling and drew responses from more than 140 committee attendees. The exchange captured the pulse of member concerns in real time and set the tone for the education sessions that followed.

Sharper focus

To that end, a full slate of presentations echoed the depth and diversity of issues shaping the industry today. From leadership and workforce development to marketing strategy, technical innovation and safety, attendees had their pick of packed rooms and practical discussions. Additionally, two popular evening receptions rounded out each day’s agenda, giving members a chance to connect and carry those conversations well into the night.

Take Me to Your Leader: How to Cultivate the Right Field Members Within Your Workforce was a roundtable session that explored how companies can identify emerging leaders and set them up for success. Moderated by Jim Sever, the discussion drew on real-world strategies from John Anderson of NessCampbell Crane + Rigging, Patrick Lewis of Superior Rigging & Erecting and David Webster of Barnhart – all emphasizing that leadership development in the field remains one of the most powerful retention tools a company can invest in.

Among the week’s highlights, Take Me to Your Leader: How to Cultivate the Right Field Members Within Your Workforce explored how companies can identify emerging leaders and set them up for success from day one. Moderated by Jim Sever, the discussion drew on real-world strategies from John Anderson of NessCampbell Crane + Rigging, Patrick Lewis of Superior Rigging & Erecting and David Webster of Barnhart – all emphasizing that leadership development in the field remains one of the most powerful retention tools a company can invest in.

Business growth took center stage in Navigating Marketing Trends for Tomorrow’s Success, presented by FMI’s Emily Beardall, which examined how evolving marketing and business development tactics can help companies stay visible, competitive and ready for the next shift in demand.

On the technical side, From Hook to High-Tech: Mastering Below the Hook Lifting Devices offered a deep dive into the lifecycle of below-the-hook (BTH) equipment, from concept to field use. Presenters Jon Alberson of Means & Methods Engineering and Brooks Nunley of Kennedy Wire Rope & Sling walked attendees through design standards, procurement best practices and the latest approaches shaping how lifting gear is engineered and maintained.

Crane & Rigging Workshop attendance set a new record.

“These conversations move the industry forward,” noted Alberson. “It’s not just about design or standards – it’s about bridging the gap between engineers, manufacturers and end users so that everyone’s working from the same understanding of safety and efficiency.”

The keynote session, Strategic Insights: Adapting to Evolving Market Trends, featured FMI’s Mike Clancy, who unpacked the economic, policy and market forces influencing crane and rigging operations across North America. His presentation resonated with attendees seeking clear direction amid inflation pressures, shifting project pipelines and the growing need to diversify revenue streams.

Said Clancy, “What we’re seeing is an industry that still has incredible opportunity, but also a need for sharper focus. Success over the next decade will depend on making disciplined choices about where to compete and how to adapt.”

The presentation Near Misses, Lasting Lessons brought together Bill Green of Bragg Companies, Mike Heacock of Morrow Equipment, Mike Knott of Phoenix Crane Service and Michael Tomaro of Fenton Rigging & Contracting – each sharing stories that reminded everyone why safety is more than compliance, it’s culture.

Safety remained at the forefront in Up & Down Safely: Fall Protection and Hazards in Crane Assembly & Disassembly, led by John Glinski of Crane Training and Safety Consultants. The session reinforced OSHA standards and highlighted practical approaches to inspections, PPE and the industry’s transition from traditional hard hats to safety helmets.

Ultimately, as the week wound down, the mood shifted from technical to deeply human for the session, Near Misses, Lasting Lessons, which brought together Bill Green of Bragg Companies, Mike Heacock of Morrow Equipment, Mike Knott of Phoenix Crane Service and Michael Tomaro of Fenton Rigging & Contracting – each sharing stories that reminded everyone why safety is more than compliance, it’s culture. The discussion left attendees with a sense of perspective and purpose – a reminder that progress in this industry is built one lesson at a time.

The 2026 SC&RA Crane & Rigging Workshop will be September 22-24 at the Hilton Omaha and the CHI Health Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.