What Is SWIFT Industry Day?

For the past 6 years, HRSD has hosted its annual SWIFT Industry Day, an opportunity for consultants, contractors, vendors, suppliers, and Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned (SWaM) businesses to connect, learn about available contracts, and gain insights into HRSD’s ongoing initiatives as part of the SWIFT Program. The primary goal of SWIFT Industry Day is to educate the local contracting community on the value of their work, fostering increased competition and expanding the pool of qualified bidders. This ultimately results in higher-quality projects, as the best professionals compete for the job.

HRSD needs firms with the right experience and commitment to make a meaningful impact on the region. By hosting SWIFT Industry Day, HRSD facilitates face-to-face interactions, allowing project partners to build stronger relationships, ask critical questions, and gain insights that lead to better proposals and successful project execution.

Behind the Scenes: How Industry Day Comes Together

Planning an event of this size requires preparation. The planning committee meets about six months in advance to establish the event’s goals and key milestones.

5-6 months out: The event team starts by defining the goals, securing the venue, discussing what the registration platform will look like, event promotions, and potential speakers. We also connect with our project partners to arrange on-site tours for attendees.

3-4 months out: During this timeframe, we finalize the speaker order, begin developing and distributing promotional materials, coordinate with vendors, and confirm the printed materials (such as event signage and banners).

1-2 months out: At this point, we focus on finalizing the presentations and confirming the catering details.

0-1 week out: The final preparations are made, including a dry run and any last-minute details that need attention to ensure the venue is ready for the big day.

1-2 weeks after: After the event, we provide easy access to materials like recordings and send attendees a thank-you message, inviting feedback to improve for next time.

Setting up for Industry Day

The day before the event, the team begins to set up displays, organize nametags, and conduct the in-person dry run. This gives speakers a chance to adjust their content, familiarize themselves with the venue’s audio and visual set up, and test the timing for their presentations.

On the day of Industry Day, we open the doors at 8:00 a.m. for registration, allowing guest to check in and network with project partners before the panel begins. A continental breakfast is provided for attendees to enjoy while connecting with their peers. The panel kicks off at 9:30 a.m. and covers three sessions: SWIFT Overview and Our Community Commitment, HRSD Expectations for Project Delivery, and Opportunities to Work with Our SWIFT Partners. The event wraps up with an additional hour for networking, allowing attendees to engage in one-on-one conversations with the project team members.

While we’ve offered on-site tours in past years, we had to cancel these for the 2025 event due to weather conditions.

Reflecting on Industry Day’s Growth and Success

Since its inception in 2019, Industry Day has grown significantly. The first event focused primarily on networking, as key projects were just entering the procurement stage. When COVID-19 paused in-person gatherings, we pivoted to a virtual format using the Hubilo platform, where attendees could view presentations and network from home. While this format kept us safe, we quickly realized that Industry Day is most effective when held in person, allowing for real connections through handshakes and business card exchanges.

In 2023, we returned to an in-person event with a strong turnout of 275 attendees, featuring networking sessions before and after the presentations. The 2024 event saw even greater success with 293 attendees and introduced several new engagement opportunities, including giveaways, a photo booth for social media promotion, and dedicated rooms for project partners to discuss their initiatives. Additionally, we launched the Mentor-Protégé Program, offering SWaM businesses valuable mentorship opportunities.

In 2025, we reached a record attendance of 315 participants. The event was redesigned to include extra time before the panel session for attendees to network and settle in, alongside more interactive activities such as a scavenger hunt, QR codes to capture contacts, and an improved photo booth.

Event Impact in Numbers

Industry Day 2025 saw the largest turnout in the event’s history. Of the 315 attendees, 167 were first-time participants, and 33 came from SWaM firms. The breakdown of attendees was as follows:

• 33 SWaM firms
• 97 contractors
• 104 consultants
• 32 vendors
• 28 suppliers
• 21 internal HRSD or event staff

The event’s success is a testament to the growing interest in HRSD’s initiatives and the value of networking and collaboration in the local business community. For a glimpse of SWIFT Industry Day in action, check out our highlight reel here.

 

Looking Ahead

Each year, the planning team strives to bring fresh ideas to keep Industry Day exciting and engaging. As we continue to grow the event and offer more opportunities for connection and education, we look forward to another successful gathering in the future.