Hardscape North America announces 2026 education lineup featuring powerful speakers and hands-on learning

Hardscape North America (HNA), taking place October 21-23, has released its 2026 education lineup, offering contractors and industry professionals two full days of game-changing education, complemented by hands-on demonstrations offered all three days, all designed to drive growth, efficiency and innovation.  

This year’s program features a powerful mix of returning fan-favorite speakers with all-new topics, alongside immersive, hands-on demonstrations led by some of the industry’s most respected professionals.  

Must-attend sessions from expert industry leaders

This year’s returning speakers are bringing fresh insights and practical strategies tailored to today’s biggest business challenges:

• Andrew Letersky: Business Coach & Founder of Ultimate Landscape Academy, will present Develop Your Growth Plan: Scale Your Hardscape Business Without More Hours or Overhead. Letersky will break down why working harder often stalls growth and share proven strategies for building a profitable, scalable business without burnout.
• Sam Gembel: Owner/Founder of Atlas Outdoor, will lead Working IN or Working ON My Business. This session focuses on helping contractors step out of daily chaos, develop leadership capacity and build systems that allow their businesses to run more efficiently and independently.
• Weston Zimmerman: CEO of SynkedUP, will deliver Using A.I. From the Jobsite, Not the Office. Zimmerman offers a practical, no-nonsense look at how contractors can use AI tools in real time – along with where those tools fall short.
• Frank Bourque: Business Coach at Frank Bourque Consulting, will present The AI-Ready Contractor: A Step-by-Step Framework to Assess, Implement & Scale AI in Your Business. Bourque provides a clear roadmap to help contractors adopt AI strategically and integrate it into their operations without disruption.
• Renee Redding: Owner of Logan’s Landscaping, will present The ‘Invisible’ Foundation: Precision Sub-grade and Aggregate Prep for High-End Boutique Projects. Redding will dive into the critical, but often overlooked, technical details of sub-grade compaction and base preparation for high-end residential work. 

“Attending Hardscape North America as a contractor for many years was one of the most impactful decisions I made for my business,” said Frank Bourque, business coach and speaker. “It helped me grow, innovate, and take my company to new levels. Now, as a consultant, I help others do the same – and HNA remains at the very top of the list of events I recommend. It’s the ultimate destination for anyone serious about staying ahead, learning the latest techniques, and connecting with the best in the industry.” 

Hands-on hardscape demonstrations return

Back by popular demand, Patrick Murray, Kenneth Deemer and the team from Local Roots Landscaping will once again lead HNA’s signature hands-on Hardscape Demos. These interactive sessions deliver real-world installation techniques and business insights contractors can apply immediately. This year’s demo topics include:

• Segmental Retaining Walls: From Base to Cap
• Stairs, Returns & Columns: Structural Details That Elevate Hardscapes
• Paver Installations: Speed, Precision and Long-Term Performance
• Illuminating Hardscapes: Integrating Water, Fire & Lighting Features
• Hardscape Toolbox: Digital Systems That Drive Profit and Scale
• Outdoor Kitchens & Veneering: Building High-End Features Without Masonry Experience

Build your experience

Education sessions take place Wednesday and Thursday at HNA, with demos taking place all three days, giving attendees the flexibility to customize their experience and focus on what matters most to their business. Attendees can add education sessions or the demo bundle during registration or, if already registered, simply return to their registration dashboard to enhance their schedule. For more information and to explore the full education lineup, visit HardcapeNA.com/education.  

Register to attend HNA

The HNA registration fee is only $25 through May 31, 2026. Registration at the show is $120.* HNA’s co-location with Equip Exposition offers attendees access to both shows with one badge and more than 1,000 total exhibits, extensive outdoor demo areas and unmatched networking opportunities. Register today at HardscapeNA.com.  

HNA is produced by the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA) and is endorsed by the Brick Industry Association (BIA) and Natural Stone Institute (NSI).  

*Registration for non-exhibiting vendors, manufacturers, suppliers, ad agencies, consultants and media sales is $450.