Riess LeMieux opens registration for fifth annual Blueprint Conference

Riess LeMieux has opened registration for the fifth annual Blueprint Conference, set for Oct. 29, 2026, at the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District Hotel. The event will focus on economic development, CMAR procurement and AI in construction, with leaders from government, law, insurance and design set to take part.

Why it matters: - The Blueprint Conference draws more than 400 developers, contractors, designers, engineers, attorneys, insurance professionals and other construction-industry leaders. - The event is designed to help attendees navigate project risk, procurement, planning and delivery across the Gulf South construction market. - Attendance is free, but advance registration is required because capacity is limited.

What happened: - Riess LeMieux announced that registration is open for the fifth annual Blueprint Conference on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, at the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District Hotel. - The keynote panel will feature New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng and Michael Hecht, president and CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc. - Registration is available here, and conference information is posted online.

The details: - The keynote panel will focus on economic development across New Orleans, Jefferson Parish and the surrounding region. - The 2026 program also includes Matthew H. Baker, architect and director of the State of Louisiana’s Office of Facility Planning and Control, and Knud E. Berthelsen, professor of practice and senior advisor for AI literacy at Tulane University. - Baker oversees planning and delivery of state-funded capital projects and will join a panel on CMAR procurement and public CMAR construction projects and contracts. - Berthelsen focuses on applied AI literacy and will join a panel on AI integration in the construction industry. - The conference agenda includes: What Worries Your Chief Legal Officer; CMAR Procurement, Selection, Trends, and Changes; Economic Development Keynote; AI Integration with Your Construction Business; Ask the Insurance Experts; and Cases and Cocktails. - Continuing education credits will be available for architects and engineers. - Sponsorship and exhibitor information is available here.

Between the lines: - Riess LeMieux is using the conference to connect legal, financial, operational and technical decision-makers in one room. - The lineup signals two themes shaping the industry: the rise of CMAR and the growing push to use AI more effectively in construction. - Christopher K. LeMieux said the conference was created to bring different perspectives together and give attendees practical information they can use on their own projects.

What's next: - Organizers said additional details, including approved certifications, will be posted on the conference website as they are confirmed. - The event will continue to seek sponsors and exhibitors that want access to construction-industry decision-makers from across Louisiana. - Riess LeMieux is also promoting the conference on LinkedIn and Facebook.

The bottom line: - The fifth Blueprint Conference is positioned as a regional construction-industry forum centered on economic development, CMAR and AI, with a free but capacity-limited format that emphasizes practical takeaways and networking.