METALCON, the global metal design and construction show, announced its keynote speakers for this year’s annual conference and tradeshow in Atlanta, which will take place from Oct 30 to Nov. 1. The speakers include former National Football League Super Bowl champion quarterback Joe Theismann and economist Dr. Anirban Basu.

Theismann will deliver the keynote at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 30. For those too young to remember, Theismann’s career ended abruptly after sustaining a badly broken leg during a Monday Night Football game against the New York Giants on national television.

Theismann’s football career ended abruptly on November 18, 1985, during a Monday Night Football on ABC at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. (image).In his keynote, the football legend outlines the game plan that brought him success, both on and off the field. As an entrepreneur and the former star quarterback for the Washington Redskins, he reveals his “Game Plan for Success” by drawing parallels between winning in football and business.

An Emmy award-winning analyst, entrepreneur, and athlete, Theismann will share his strategies for handling unforeseen change with attendees, focusing on succeeding under pressure and adapting quickly to unexpected situations. 

He plans to highlight setting goals and correcting errors each step of the way, an approach that builds momentum, which, once on your side, would be hard for the best "defense" to stop.

The following morning, Thursday, October 31, at 9 a.m., Dr. Anirban Basu, chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., a Baltimore-based economic and policy consulting firm, takes to the stage for a talk titled “The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly: Financial Outlook and Trends for Metal Construction.”


Dr. Anirban Basu delivered the keynote address at the Engineering and Construction Contracting Association’s annual meeting in 2023.Named one of Maryland’s 50 most influential people byThe Daily Record newspaper and called one of the region’s 20 most powerful business leaders by theBaltimore Business Journal, Basu will provide an in-depth analysis of significant factors shaping economic outcomes.

Basu will discuss factors including interest rates, global geopolitical conflict, wage dynamics, business confidence, demographics, rising consumer debt levels and a presidential election that are conspiring to tamp down economic growth in 2025. 

He will provide a forecast for the coming year, highlighting the significant risks that construction industry stakeholders will likely encounter and if 2025 should be a good year for the metal construction and design industry.

In 2014, Maryland’s then-Gov. Larry Hogan appointed Basu chair of the Maryland Economic Development Commission (2014-2021). Currently, Basu serves as chairman of the Baltimore County Economic Advisory Committee. 

He also serves as the chief economist for the Associated Builders and Contractors, the Construction Financial Management Association, the Modular Building Institute, the Maryland Bankers Association, the International Food Distributors Association, and several others.

“We are thrilled to welcome Joe Theismann, a distinguished sports figure, and esteemed economist, Dr. Basu, as our keynote speakers this year," said METALCON Show Director Judy Geller.

"Joe's captivating life journey promises to ignite inspiration among attendees, while Dr. Basu's profound insights into the economic landscape will provide invaluable foresight for the future of the metal construction and design industry," Geller added.

For more information, visit metalcon.com.