ETSU Construction Summit

Speakers

 

Todd Gilyard

Todd Gilyard is an accomplished leader in economic development, business advocacy, and strategic partnership building. He recently serves as the Project Director of the Missouri Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center, the center is part of a national network of MBDA Business Centers funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency. The center works with socially or economically disadvantaged individuals, and minority businesses enterprises to generate increased financing and contract opportunities and to create and retain jobs. The mission of the center is to strengthen the us economy by helping socially or economically individual and Minority Businesses Enterprises (MBE) to create or retain jobs, and build economically vibrant, socially responsible entrepreneurs, businesses, and communities. With more than two decades of service to socially or economically disadvantaged individuals and the minority business community, Todd’s work is distinguished by a deep commitment to expanding access to economic opportunities. His professional journey includes impactful roles such as Assistant Project Lead and Job Developer for the St. Louis Housing Authority’s Jobs Plus Program, Community Outreach Director at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, and Founder of The Gilyard Group, LLC (2013–2016). In each capacity, he has demonstrated a unique ability to build innovative programs, foster strong corporate and community relationships, and advance initiatives that help position minority-owned firms for long-term success. Todd is highly regarded for his expertise in negotiating contracts, strengthening business operations, and integrating socially or economically disadvantaged individuals and minority[1]owned businesses into major corporate supply chains. His leadership has helped countless entrepreneurs accelerate growth, improve capacity, and connect with lucrative contracting opportunities across the state of Missouri. His dedication and results have earned him multiple prestigious honors. Todd received the Center of Excellence Award for his work with the Missouri MBDA Business Center in 2021, 2022, and 2023, recognizing his exceptional performance and commitment to advancing socially or economically disadvantaged individuals and minority business growth. In 2025, he received the Hidden Treasure Anchor Community Award from the National Council of Negro Women, celebrating his longstanding service, leadership, and impact throughout the region. From 2019 to 2022, Todd served as Chairman of the MidPoints Committee Board, a coalition represented by supplier diversity presidents from leading corporations across St. Louis. In this role, he helped strengthen regional collaboration, improve supplier diversity pipelines, and expand opportunities for socially or economically disadvantaged individuals and minority-owned firms to engage with major corporate partners. Academically, Todd studied Sociology and played football at the University of Missouri. He also holds a Bachelor of Biblical Studies from Midwest College of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. Through every stage of his career, Todd Gilyard has remained a passionate advocate, strategic thinker, and community champion dedicated to advancing equity, economic mobility, and business development across Missouri and beyond. 

 

Macrina Wilkins

Macrina Wilkins works as a senior research analyst for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the leading trade association for the construction industry. She serves as a speaker within the industry, sharing her knowledge on trends in the labor, spending and material markets. Her work has been published in trade magazines and industry reports focusing on topics related to economic trends impacting contractors. Ms. Wilkins graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Human Development and has done post-bac work in Economics at George Mason University. She is a member of the National Associate of Business Economists and serves as VP of Programming of the National Economics Club of Washington DC.

Arlene Sanchez-Vinas

Arlene Sanchez-Vinas is co-owner of Biz Exit Brokers and Advisors with 15 years of experience as a business broker. She previously owned and operated a roofing company, and she and her husband owned a modular home building business and held a contractor’s license, giving her hands-on experience running and growing companies. Arlene helps business owners maximize value, navigate exits, and connect with strategic and financial buyers through her direct, meticulous approach.  Contact number:423.534.9890  

 

Mary Ellen Miller

Mary Ellen Miller, APR, MBA, is founder and CEO of MarketingMel, Public Relations. 

From 2015-2022 she led community relations for the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Boone Dam project in Northeast Tennessee. The $400-million infrastructure project used expertise from around the globe in its successful repair of a leaking dam.

Miller is the author of the award-winning book, “Fill the Dam Thing Up! Building Connections: Communicating Throughout the Lifecycle of Infrastructure Projects,” the communicator’s story of the Boone Dam Project. In May 2024 her book was awarded the Tri Cities PRSA “Award of Excellence” by an independent panel of judges in Baton Rouge. Her article about Boone Dam project communications was published in the United States Society on Dams magazine in March 2024.

 

Dr. Xiaoyang Jia

Dr. Xiaoyang Jia is the Pavement Asset Manager at the Tennessee Department of Transportation, where he oversees the state’s roadway network and develops policies, and guidelines to achieve performance targets. He previously held various roles at TDOT, including State Emerging Technologies Engineer and State Pavement Engineer, where he focused on sustainable and innovative solutions to address challenges in transportation system. Before joining TDOT, he served as a research associate at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and Tongji University.

 

Mohammad Moin Uddin, Ph.D., P.E.

Dr. Mohammad Moin Uddin is a Professor in the Department of Engineering, Engineering Technology, and Surveying at East Tennessee State University (ETSU). With more than 20 years of experience in academia, he has led diverse research initiatives in collaboration with state transportation agencies, local construction firms, and industry partners. He has secured over $2 million in competitive funding from organizations including the National Science Foundation, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Tennessee Board of Regents, DENSO, ASEE, and others. His funded projects have addressed critical areas such as highway construction quality assurance, change order management, road user cost assessment, rural transportation planning, and the development of statistical models and decision-support tools for transportation projects. Dr. Uddin’s current research focuses on digital twins for operational efficiency, sustainable design and construction, and the integration of machine learning and AI in construction and engineering education. He is an active member of ASEE, ASCE, TRB, and CRC, and previously served as President of the ASCE Tennessee Section. Within ASEE, he contributes to the Engineering Technology Division as Program Chair. From 2019 to 2021, he also served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Engineering Technology. His contributions to research, teaching, and professional service have been recognized with numerous honors, including the ASCE Peter G. Hoadley Outstanding Engineering Educator Award, ETSU’s Outstanding Teaching, Research, and Service Award, and the ETSU Sustainability Leadership Award.

 

David Isaacs

Isaacs likes to say he and the business were conceived in 1977 and born in 1978.  From that time, he grew up in the family pool and spa business here in the Tri-Cities.  Isaacs officially took over the business in 2008 and oversaw its move to the Bristol Hwy in Johnson City, the opening of its sister company, Bullfrog Spas of Tri-Cities, the opening of a new operation center with an employee recreation center, and the most recent opening of its Kingsport location.  Isaacs is the former president of the Johnson City Area Homebuilders Association.  He served for 9 years as the Chairman of the Battle of the Build, a grassroots workforce development program that seeks to build connections between local high school students, teachers, employers and those who have made careers in manufacturing, trades, and supporting businesses.  Isaacs holds a Master’s Degree from Florida State University in Ethics and Philosophy and an MBA from Milligan university.

Owner of Isaacs Pools and Spas, LLC & Bullfrog Spas of Tri-Cities

Email: david.isaacs@isaacspools.net

Phone: (423) 895 - 0851

 

Dr. K. Joseph Shrestha

Dr. K. Joseph Shrestha is an Associate Professor in Construction Engineering Technology at East Tennessee State University (ETSU). He also serves as the chair of ASCE Digital Project Delivery Committee. His research focuses on utilizing digital construction data for making construction project management decisions. He has worked on research projects for various state Departments of Transportation from Tennessee, Iowa, Montana, California, and Nevada.