Get Ready for the LCI Congress Conference Learning Day
Our popular LCI Congress Learning Day features hands-on, actionable deep dives, new topics, and fresh perspectives for every level of Lean. With a mix of half-day and full-day courses, it takes place on Tuesday, October 13, just before the Core Program kicks off on October 14.
Enjoy this Learning Day sneak peek based on our conversation with Tammy McConaughy, Senior Director, Education & Engagement, LCI, and Kerry Beth Johnson, CPTD, SHRM-SCP, Manager, Education & Certification, LCI. Tammy is responsible for choosing the LCI Workshops offered during Learning Day.
Make sure you’re there for Learning Day and the entire 2026 LCI Congress, October 12-16, in Atlanta, Georgia! Register today before prices go up on September 11.
When choosing your Learning Days course(s), focus on where you can take action right away.
When choosing your courses, Tammy noted that it’s important to consider your knowledge gaps and how to fill them. Kerry Beth agreed, sharing that it’s important to consider “what skills or knowledge are you trying to fill or want to look at differently.”
Tammy continued, “Think about your development goals. What are you looking to grow? What opportunities will you have to implement your learning and take action on after Congress? What does your organization or project team need from you?”
Kerry Beth added, “People gain the most if they think about what they want to get out of it before they come. And during Learning Day, I suggest attendees think about how they can apply their learning. How can I use this not in one year or a month in the future, but this week, even in a small way? Even if it’s talking about it with someone or trying a small change. That immediate use makes a big difference.”
Brand new to Congress? Here are some top Learning Day tips.
If you are a Lean learner who is brand new to Congress, it can help to do some preparation in advance. Here are some tips to get ready for the hands-on Learning Day workshops—and the rest of Congress:
- Check out LCI’s Lean Topics, where you’ll find short articles on Lean tools, methods, and more.
- Take advantage of on-demand LCI eLearning courses for introductions to key Lean concepts—free for LCI Members.
- Another great way to prepare is the new Lean Learner program, Foundations of Lean, available to LCI members.
- Use the LCI resource Lean Learning for Individuals, Finding Your Lean Learning Pathway, to determine a reference point of where you are in your Lean journey. You can even take a short quiz to find out.
- These are two popular Learning Day courses that help set Lean learners up for success at Congress and beyond. You can learn more about these courses, which are offered during the Learning Day morning session, in the Congress interactive agenda:
- LCI Introduction to Last Planner System®
- LCI Introduction to Lean Project Delivery
Need help choosing your Learning Day courses? Feel free to email Tammy at tmcconaughy@leanconstruction.org or Kerry Beth at kbjohnson@leanconstruction.org for advice, and then be sure to connect with them in person at Congress!
For more tips, check out our blog on how to make the most of your Congress experience.
Learning Day features diverse content and perspectives across Lean levels and industry sectors.
All Congress attendees, spanning every level of Lean and industry sector, will find value at Learning Day. A range of courses is offered, with different courses geared towards Lean learners, Lean apprentices, Lean practitioners, and Lean advanced practitioners.
Learning Day offers opportunities for attendees who don’t have training available through their companies—and provides diversity of thought. In addition, Learning Days courses qualify for LCI-Certified Practitioner certification renewal credits. A half-day workshop earns 4 CEUs, and a full-day workshop earns 8 CEUs.
Offerings always include popular, highly rated courses from past years, along with new classes based on feedback from attendees.
New for 2026: More courses on the operational level of Lean
This year’s new courses focus on the operational level of Lean rather than production- or project-based Lean practices. Tammy noted that this pivot was based on feedback from attendees: “We heard that we have a lot of classes for people who are at the project level, but not a lot for people who are ready to expand their journey beyond that. We still have those project-level courses, but we added more diversity to the mix.”
She continued, “We are bringing in more of our partners on the teaching and consulting side of Lean, not only from within the AEC industry. This will bring in more diversity of thought, insights into broader applications, and help our attendees think outside of the box.”
Learn more about the new courses for 2026:
Tammy shared her thoughts on these exciting new courses. For full session descriptions, presenters, times, spots available, and more, please check out the interactive agenda.
LCI Advancing Set-Based Design for the Lean Practitioner
Building on the success of this course at the 2026 Lean in Design Forum, this half-day workshop is now coming to Congress. Tammy offered, “This course debuted at the 2026 Lean in Design Forum with great reviews, so we’re bringing it to Congress in its next iteration. It’s for more than just designers. I greatly encourage anyone on the trade partner or builder side who is involved in early integration on a project to attend and learn more about set-based design. It’s a vital part of Target Value Delivery.”
Communications Systems for Large Projects
This half-day class is presented by Boulder Associates and introduces a practical, Lean-aligned framework for building communication systems that keep large, complex projects aligned from planning through delivery. Tammy noted, “When we have large projects with big teams, we know that communication breaks down so easily. We’re excited to have them bring that forward and share what their learnings are.”
This course is geared towards Lean practitioners and advanced practitioners. “It’s for people who can influence the makeup of a team, and how that team is operating and structured,” offered Tammy.
Building Trusting Teams, a Rich Diviney Workshop
Rich Diviney, Thursday’s Congress Keynote Speaker, is leading this afternoon workshop based on Simon Sinek’s teachings. The session will provide actionable steps for establishing trust that optimize teams’ performance. Tammy shared, “I’m a true Simon Sinek fan, so I’m excited to hear what the outcomes of this workshop are.”
The target audience for this course is anyone setting up a project team. “It’s for the Lean practitioner to advanced practitioner who can influence the project team before and during the project, to make sure the team is well aligned and running at a high level,” offered Tammy.
Respect for People: Operationalizing Lean’s Relational Engine
This half-day workshop is presented in partnership with the Respect for People Roadmap. Tammy noted, “It’s their program, and it’s offered at a discount to our members. It’s a workshop based on taking the truest form of Respect for People, going back to Toyota, and showing how you can create and implement that into your operational culture. It goes beyond, ‘we had a great meeting, everybody had a voice,’ to how does that really show up? This course is great for attendees at any level of Lean.”
The Lean Company — Stop Wishing for It. Start Building It.
This new half-day course is presented by Jared Thatcher, Lean Business Consultant and Host of the Lean Global Summit, another Lean educational partner. Tammy offered, “We previewed this course when we attended the Global Lean Summit’s conference as part of our partnership. It focuses on how we implement Lean at the operational level and create that as part of who we are, not just something extra that we do on the project level. The presenter, Jared, makes it so simple. He makes it very achievable and actionable versus ‘I have to rework the whole company structure now.’”
This workshop is for the Lean practitioner to an advanced practitioner level,” noted Tammy.
Production Control System for Construction: Daily Management and Problem Solving
This morning workshop is an educational partnership with the Lean Enterprise Institute, teaming up with Turner Construction. Tammy noted that, “The Lean Enterprise Institute is a close organization to us, and they’ve been working with Turner Construction over the past few years. Lean Enterprise Institute consultants and Turner Construction are hosting this hands-on workshop on how they use daily management and problem-solving.”
Tammy continued, “This is for the Lean apprentice to advanced practitioner level. You do need a basic knowledge and understanding of Lean.”
Act fast to secure your spot for these popular returning courses…
Returning courses include all-time favorites for every level of Lean. A few of these include:
Full-Day Workshops:
- LCI Building Foundational Behaviors for Project Lean Leadership: This is a can’t-miss, ultimate full-day course experience, and it has limited spots. Kerry Beth noted, “It’s very popular and well reviewed.”
- Takt Planning Workshop and Simulation: This is another very popular full-day course. Tammy noted that “we are always either sold out or nearly full on this one.”
- And more! Visit the interactive agenda.
Half-Day Workshops:
These are some of the most popular, in-demand half-day courses:
- LCI Introduction to Lean Project Delivery, Morning Course
- Do What Matters Most, Morning Course
- Applying the Six-Step Process to Solve Your Biggest Challenges, Afternoon Course
- The Flow State Experience, Afternoon Course
- And more! Visit the interactive agenda.
Tammy and Kerry Beth look forward to new connections and being immersed in all Congress has to offer.
Tammy shared, “For me, it’s always the people—meeting new people, learning where people are on their journey, connecting with all the people who I might only see in person once a year. It’s about everybody coming together, listening to all the chatter in the hallways, finding out what people are learning and doing, and just experiencing all the excitement.”
Kerry Beth shared, “This is my first Congress, so I’m excited to see what it’s all about—really being immersed in it and getting a feel for it. I’ll lead the first-timers club!”
Tammy added, “Kerry Beth gets to be a beginner this year, like a lot of other people—new attendees typically make up 60% of the Congress attendees!”
Join us at the 2026 LCI Congress for all this and more!
Register today for the 28th Annual LCI Congress in Atlanta, GA, with the lowest available rates.
Need to make the case for the 2026 LCI Congress?
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Interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at the 2026 LCI Congress?
Explore sponsor and exhibitor opportunities. Contact Ilene Goldberg, igoldberg@leanconstruction.org or (703) 785-9087, for more information.
Questions on the Congress program?
Contact Joan Piccariello with any questions about the Congress program.