On November 20, the Bisnow Midwest Industrial Summit brought together leaders shaping the future of industrial, logistics, and cold storage development. Keeley Construction served as the Presenting Sponsor, reinforcing the company’s growing leadership role in the Midwest’s industrial market.

Among the event’s featured speakers was Sean Keeley, newly appointed President of Keeley Construction, who joined the panel Case Study: Cold Storage Leasing and Development. His participation comes at a pivotal moment for the company as it enters a new generation of leadership focused on innovation, performance, and long-term partnerships. He was joined by fellow panelists Ken Verne (VP, Karis Cold) and Sean Gilbert (Principal, Acquisitions, Saxum Real Estate), with Steve Livaditis (SVP, CBRE) moderating the discussion. Their collective insights reflected the dynamic changes shaping today’s cold storage landscape.

Throughout the summit, industry experts highlighted how rapidly the industrial market is shifting. Operators and developers are facing greater demands for speed, flexibility, energy efficiency, and technical precision. Cold storage, in particular, requires careful planning around sequencing, MEP coordination, thermal performance, and long-term operating costs.

Representing Keeley Construction’s experience in complex industrial and commercial work, Sean spoke to the construction strategies that materially impact performance in cold and freezer environments. He emphasized design decisions that reduce thermal loss, improve energy stability, and strengthen long-term facility reliability—all areas where Keeley continues to bring value to its clients.

Panelists also discussed workforce strategies, automation, site selection in Chicago, energy management, and the growing influence of ESG and decarbonization in cold storage development. The discussion underscored the importance of collaboration among owners, developers, builders, and operators as the market becomes more sophisticated.

For Keeley Construction, the summit was both a platform and a milestone. As the presenting sponsor, with Sean Keeley representing the company on stage, the event highlighted the firm’s continued growth and the energy of its next generation of leadership. Keeley remains grounded in the values that built its reputation, while embracing the ideas and innovation that will shape the industry’s future.