Smartcon 2026
VIVA INNOVATION
Join the industry’s most influential gathering. Three days of hands-on workshops, breakthrough strategies, and measurable results. This isn’t just another conference—it’s your pathway to building an elite irrigation department.
Schedule at a Glance
Day 1 - Monday, February 16
11:00 AM
Check-In Begins
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Kickoff & Welcome
Lex Mason
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
Why Customer Service Is a Leadership Decision
Mark Sedgley
3:05 PM – 3:45 PM
Save Water. Give Life.
The Past, Present and Future of Providing Clean Water for Future Generations
Chantel Ortiz
3:45 PM – 4:45 PM
Keynote
American entrepreneur and media personality
Richard Rawlings
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Closing Remarks
Lex Mason
5:00 PM – 6:45 PM
Welcome Reception
Day 2 - Tuesday, February 17
5:45 AM – 6:45 AM
Riverwalk Run
Chantel Ortiz
8:15 AM – 9:15 AM
Lessons from a Stubborn Partner
Parry Webb, Michael Smith
9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
Beyond SOPs
How Automation and AI Are Redefining Scale
Mark Pyrah
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Partner Panel
Ethoscapes, Padilla Group, Malone’s Landscape, Lawns of Dallas
Parry Webb
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Built to Win: Sales Strategies for the Hardest Quarters
Ben Mason, Chris Pcsenik
1:30 PM – 2:50 PM
Designing a Customer-centric Growth Engine
Chad Diller
2:50 PM – 3:30 PM
3 Million Workers Gone
Building a Long-Term Stable Workforce
Elliot Mason
3:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Scaling Up
Growth & Operational Strategies that Drive Value Creation
Jeff Harkness
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Platinum Partner Awards
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Mini Peer Group
7:00 PM – 9:45 PM
Party at the Alamo
Day 3 - Wednesday, February 18
5:45 AM – 6:45 AM
Riverwalk Run
Chantel Ortiz
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
The Future of Irrigation
Bill Savelle, Josh Rives
9:30 AM – 9:50 AM
Using AI in Landscaping
Michael Ding
10:00 AM – 11:15 AM
Now That I Learned a Bunch of Stuff; What’s Next?
Chris Psencik
11:15 AM – 11:30 AM
Closing Send Off
Lex Mason
Keynote Speaker
From the Garage to the Big Time: Building a Brand That Lasts
Richard Rawlings
- Turned a small garage into a worldwide brand recognized by millions
- Bounced back from setbacks and used failure as fuel
- Built a team and culture that matched his vision for growth
Sales and Marketing Workshop
Designing a Customer-Centric Growth Engine: How Landscaping Companies Win Before, During, and After the Sale
Today’s buyers are researching, comparing, and forming opinions long before a sales conversation ever happens. Inconsistent marketing means lost trust—and lost deals.
This interactive session shows owners and executives how to build a marketing engine that earns confidence at every stage of the customer journey.
- Understand how buyers decide before the first conversation
- Evaluate your presence across web, social, video, reviews, and email
- Identify gaps where customer confidence is lost
- Leave with clearer priorities and a practical framework for growth
Chad Diller
Finance and Operations Workshop
How to Win More Work, Differentiate Your Brand, and Grow High-Margin Irrigation Revenue
As your company grows, financial clarity and operational discipline become non-negotiable. The decisions that worked when you had one branch fall apart when you have three. Your financial and operational systems must evolve with you.
In this workshop, led in part by industry expert Jeff Harkness, you’ll learn how top companies:
- Continuously improve gross margin and labor efficiency
- Prepare the business for organic expansion or acquisition readiness
- Tie irrigation performance directly to maintenance success and company-wide results
Jeff Harkness
Live Entertainment
SMARTCON AFTER HOURS – Music, awards, and country vibes
Texas-born country star Coffey Anderson—American Idol alum, seven-time Grand Ole Opry performer, and viral sensation—is bringing his high-energy show to SmartCon.
SmartCon 2026 Sponsors
FEBRUARY 16-18 – San Antonio
SmartCon 2026:
VIVA INNOVATION
Where Elite Leaders Transform Ideas Into Impact
