Boban John
ORLANDO, FL – More than 1,000 home services contractors, manufacturers, solution providers, and other attendees gathered at the Disney Yacht Club Resort on March 6th and 7th for EPIC2025, the premier annual educational conference in the service industry, hosted by Contractor University and OPTIMUS Financing, divisions of EGIA. They experienced a one-of-a-kind fusion of business mastery, industry innovation, and entertainment magic.
Keynote Speakers
The two-day event delivered a blend of elite business training and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, with a speaker lineup headlined by NFL legend, entrepreneur, and TV star Michael Strahan. Strahan rose from humble beginnings to become a multifaceted entrepreneurial force by embracing the mindset, “When, not if.”
Other keynotes included world-renowned motivational speaker Nick Vujicic; human behavior expert Ricky Kalmon; and former Secret Service special agent and communication authority Evy Poumpouras. Evy relayed the importance of being mindful of your words and speaking them boldly: “Own your time. Own what you say.”
Attendees also explored 16 breakout sessions led by top thought leaders and industry veterans, covering everything from sales performance to marketing strategy to emerging technologies like AI in contracting.
Jason Hanson, a contractor who spoke about a session he attended on modern consumer behavior in the industry, shared: “the breakout was excellent with specific usable information about the customer journey and what new consumers are thinking about that I can apply to my business right now.” On top of that, a buzzing exhibitor floor featured cutting-edge sponsors and startups transforming the industry.
Networking and More
The momentum kicked off a day earlier with the third annual Tee Off for the Trades golf tournament, a spirited charity event benefiting Women in HVACR and the EGIA Foundation, further reinforcing the event’s impact beyond the classroom. A record number of sponsors and golfers participated in this year’s edition, marking a third straight year of remarkable growth and consensus positive feedback.
