Construction activity is one of the clearest reads on where a regional economy is heading. What gets built, what stalls, and what it costs tell you something about credit conditions, labor supply, tax and land use policy, and business confidence well before those show up in other indicators. This session uses the Portland metro construction market as that lens.
The panel will cover recent trends across the region: which sectors are still breaking ground and which have pulled back, how construction costs and financing terms have shifted, what permitting and regulatory timelines are doing to project economics, and how labor availability is shaping schedules and pricing. The discussion is built for finance executives across industries, not just those in real estate or construction. Whether you are negotiating a lease renewal, planning a facility expansion, sizing a capital budget, or assessing what the region's growth trajectory means for your workforce and customer base, the same market signals apply.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe recent trends in Portland metro construction activity, including which sectors are expanding, which are contracting, and what those shifts signal about regional economic conditions.
- Explain how construction cost inputs, financing terms, and permitting timelines interact to affect project feasibility, and apply that framework to their own organization's capital and facility decisions.
- Assess how local policy, land use, and labor market conditions influence the cost and pace of development in the region, and what that means for business planning beyond the construction sector.
- Use construction market indicators as a forward-looking input to budgeting, real estate strategy, and long-range planning within their own industries.
Please join us for our PD Session “ Beyond the Balance Sheet: Tax, Transition, and Retirement Plan Governance on the Finance Leadership Agenda”, taking place prior to the Keynote Presentation and sponsored by : 
Finance leaders are increasingly being asked to contribute beyond traditional reporting, particularly when business decisions intersect with tax strategy, owner planning, employee benefits, and organizational risk. In this session, Aldrich professionals will discuss timely tax and legislative developments, how finance can help owners prepare for transition and liquidity decisions, and why retirement plan governance deserves a place on the finance leadership agenda. Attendees will learn practical questions to ask, key risks to watch, and ways to strengthen coordination among leadership, internal teams, and outside advisors so their organizations can manage today while preparing for tomorrow.
Agenda:
5:00 - 6:00 pm | PD session
6:00 - 6:45 pm | Networking
6:45 - 7:00 pm | Announcements
7:00 - 8:00 pm | Keynote Presentation
*This program is eligible for 2 CPE credit.
**Please be aware of ongoing I-5 road closures and traffic impacts in the Portland area. Attendees are encouraged to allow extra travel time and plan their route accordingly. Please see the map for current closure and detour information.
