Building Better Connections
Cape Cod, MA / Nantucket, MA
Thu, Sep 24, 2026 8:30 AM – Sat, Sep 26, 2026 4:00 PM
Teaching contractors how to build profitable relationships with landscape architects, designers, and builders.
Over three days on Cape Cod and Nantucket, you’ll tour real projects, attend an interactive conference, and leave with practical strategies to grow your business.
Building Better Connections 2023
Contractors and business owners from across the country joined Ian McCarthy and industry leaders for Building Better Connections on Nantucket and Cape Cod. Through project tours, expert insights, and powerful networking, attendees walked away with strategies to strengthen client relationships and grow their profits.
From the room
Hear it from the contractors who came.
Attendees from Maryland, Chicago, North Carolina, Kentucky, Massachusetts and more — on camera, unscripted. New clips post every day; the player rotates through the latest.
The three days
Two days on real job sites. One day in the room.
You'll walk finished and in-progress projects on Nantucket and Cape Cod with the people who built them, tour the Blue Claw and Boston Tennis operations, then spend Saturday on the exact playbook for winning work from architects, designers and builders — and using AI to make it pay.
Thursday
Sep 24Nantucket. Large-scale island sites and the little tricks of how you run them.
- Depart hotel
- High-speed ferry to Nantucket
- Nantucket job-site tourBlue Claw Associates & Blue Water Pools projects
- Lunch
- Nantucket tour continues
- See the yachtsNantucket Harbor
- Ferry back to the Cape
- Dinner
Friday
Sep 25Cape Cod. Inside the office, then out on the projects.
- Blue Claw office tourEstimating, purchasing, cash flow, scheduling — how the back office actually runs
- Cape Cod job-site tour
- Lunch
- Cape tour continues + Boston Tennis & Sports Court
- Dinner
Saturday
Sep 26The conference. Numbers, relationships, branding, AI.
- Conference begins — IntroIan McCarthy
- Working with a Landscape DesignerCraig Daniels
- Changing Your Company to Bid-BuildBen Dodson
- The Importance of BrandingAndre Levingston
- Lunch
- How to Market to Architects, Builders & DesignersIan McCarthy
- Using AI to Make Money in Landscape ContractingIan McCarthy
- Wrap
Platinum and Gold include ground transport and meals on tour days; Platinum includes the Nantucket ferry and the return charter flight. Attendees stay at the Beachside. Schedule subject to minor changes.
Not sure yet?
Get the full agenda and a 20-minute Profit Audit call with Ian.
Before you spend a dollar on a ticket, get on the phone with Ian. He'll look at your numbers, tell you where the margin is leaking, and tell you honestly whether these three days are worth your time this year.
- Free. No pitch. 20 minutes.
- Walk away with two or three things to fix this month regardless
- Full day-by-day agenda and hotel details in your inbox immediately
Choose Your Experience
(14 tickets)
Platinum Pass
The Full Experience
Tour Ian’s completed and in-progress pool projects on Nantucket and Cape Cod and see the craftsmanship, design and innovation that set contractors apart.
Get the solar truck and electric equipment demo up close: what it costs, what it saves, what breaks.
Two full days beside the contractors, designers and builders you want to know, then the full-day conference.
Perfect for: Contractors who want maximum access, networking, and inspiration.
Ferry, van, charter and meals handled.
Thursday: Nantucket Tour
Friday: Cape Cod Tour
Saturday: Conference
$2,997
(24 tickets)
Gold Pass
Cape Cod + Conference
Tour Ian’s completed and active pool projects on Cape Cod: the design process, construction techniques and the challenges unique to high-end coastal properties.
A day in the van with like-minded owners, then full access to the Building Better Connections Conference.
Perfect for: Business owners who want real-world site learning plus the full conference experience.
Van and meals handled.
Friday: Cape Cod Tour
Saturday: Conference
$2,197
(24 tickets)
Silver Pass
Conference Only
A full day with Ian McCarthy and industry experts on marketing to landscape architects, designers, and builders.
Tools to improve your operations, grow your network, and leave with actionable steps to boost profitability.
Perfect for: Anyone looking for insights, strategies, and fresh connections.
Conference lunch handled.
Saturday: Conference
$1,497
TICKET FINANCING
Know Your Numbers
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to understand and calculate your unique business numbers to ensure profitability. We’ll guide you step-by-step through building an operating budget, including overhead, labor burden, equipment rates, and more. By the end, you'll know exactly how to price your services and set achievable sales goals using key performance indicators tailored to your business.
“Building Better Connections” annual event
Ready to take your business to the next level by learning how to market to landscape architects, builders, and designers? What will you learn?
How to stand out in a marketplace full of options
The keys to making that initial approach & creating a lasting impression
What your branding should say about your business
Insights from REAL design professionals on what they’re looking for—and the red flags they avoid