The Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association (MITA) held its annual conference and trade show, themed “Building Better, Building Smarter,” Jan. 16 through 18 at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

The association represented nearly 600 Michigan companies providing equipment, materials and services dedicated to Michigan’s road and bridge, sewer and water, utility, railroad, excavation and specialty construction projects throughout the state.

MITA Board President Chris Shea and Executive Vice President Mike Nystrom delivered the welcome message and opening remarks at the event’s general session.

Throughout the course of the three-day event, breakout sessions were conducted covering topics ranging from the infrastructure funding debate to truck regulations to the future of bonding. The event’s keynote speaker was Captain D. Michael Abrashoff who, as the most junior commanding officer in the Navy’s Pacific fleet, oversaw the turnaround of the underperforming warship, the USS Benfold. Capain Abrashoff’s story easily related to the similar problems confronting many organizations today.

Major event sponsors included AIS Construction Equipment, ALTA Equipment Company, and Michigan CAT.