We are reviving our 2010s-era program Inside the Leadership Studio for a new decade, offering a platform for robust, enlightening discourse with regional leaders. Host Jessica Houlihan, CEO of Onyx Strategic Partners, will invite guests to share insight and inspiration on their leadership journeys, highlighting their challenges and vulnerabilities along with their successes. 

Program includes networking time with hors d'oeuvres and drinks.

This session features Bob Gardner, CEO of Gardner Builders. 

Bob Gardner is the CEO and founder of Gardner Builders, a commercial construction company reimagining industry standards with an unwavering focus on hospitality. Since its founding in 2010, Gardner Builders has stood out by bringing a hospitality-centered approach to every project, creating exceptional experiences for clients, trade partners, and team members alike. Under Bob’s leadership, Gardner Builders has become a top 350 General Contracting firm in the U.S., recognized for its commitment to a workplace where employees feel valued, challenged, and inspired. Gardner Builders embodies core values—humility, excellence, nimbleness, empathy, and passion—in each interaction, curating service-focused experiences that elevate every project. This approach has earned the firm numerous accolades, including Inc.’s Best Workplaces and Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators.

"I enjoy so many things about the construction industry, but I especially enjoy uncovering, understanding, and eliminating the sources of concern for our clients. I started Gardner Builders with a single mission – to create a construction business that defies industry norms by focusing on relationships. To this day, connection and hospitality remain my priorities. Having worked in both the field (as a laborer, carpenter, superintendent, and machinist) and the office gives me a unique perspective and an attention to detail in all areas of a project."