Bridging the Gap: Insights & Innovations in Construction

Join host Todd and guest Britta Teller as they discuss the intersection of ecology, statistics, and construction, how we can contextualize sustainability on an individual level, some “green” products that we should start integrating into our workflows, and some hurdles that we’ll face moving into 2023. Britta Teller is Chief Sustainability Officer and a Co-Founder at Steller Floors. Five years ago, she pivoted away from her PhD-academic career in ecology and statistics to co-found Steller Floors in Tyrone, PA. Today, her team uses their exciting and innovative hardwood floors to make a positive difference in both global climate change and in their rural Pennsylvania area.

When it comes to the many different facets of our industry, what are some ways we could collaborate more effectively? What are some misconceptions that people have about the industry as a whole? Join host Todd and guest Marc Goldman as they take a deep dive into GIS, the biggest hurdles facing data interoperability, how geographical knowledge benefits the construction worker, and more. Marc Goldman is the Director of AEC Industry Solutions at ESRI. He is recognized as a global industry expert with international experience pushing through digital transformation. He has a unique breadth and depth of technology and product leadership skills throughout AEC, CAD, BIM, and building product manufacturing.

Join host Todd and guest Aviv Leibovici as they discuss an outside perspective on the issues faced by the industry, how technology can fundamentally change construction, an expert’s opinion on AI involvement on projects, and the next steps we should take to make our workflows more modern. Aviv Leibovici is a co-founders and Chief of Product of Buildots, a company that solves one of the biggest challenges in construction management using an AI-based approach. He comes from a background of data-heavy cyber security systems and leads the company’s product development and relationship with the British construction industry.

Top-level marketers specializing in construction weigh in on the best way to market your construction business. This special episode is in an audiobook format that is a companion to an eBook by the same name.  Experts in this episode cover: branding, website, blogs, social media, videos, emails, digital advertising, press releases, brochures, creative bids and more.

Every week on Bridging the Gap, I end the show by asking my guest “what does innovation mean to you?”. I have been fascinated with the wide-ranging and thought-provoking responses. This eBook contains an ode to some of those themes. So, what does innovation mean to you? --Todd

What’s the biggest hurdle stopping the industry from adopting tech as a whole? How do we address that hurdle and jump over it? Join host Todd and guest Matt Kleiman as they discuss the similarities between construction and aerospace, what we stand to learn from different industries, how to know you can rely on your systems under pressure, and more. Matt Kleiman is the cofounder and CEO of Cumulus Digital Systems, an IoT platform originating from Shell’s TechWorks division that was named on CNBC’s Upstart 100 list of the brightest, most intriguing startups. With previous experience at Shell and Draper, Matt has an extensive background in technology and energy.

How can you know that you’re growing in the right direction? What’s your company’s next big step? Join host Todd and guest Matt DiBara as they discuss the state of industrialization, the hurdles facing the industry in 2023, the best ways for us to approach the current labor shortage, and more. Matt DiBara is the Co-Founder of The Contractor Consultants, Owner of DiBara Masonry, and Founder of The Undercover Contractor. Matt is dedicated to help contractors make better decisions.

This is a special episode of Bridging the Gap. This is our final live recording from the 5th annual MEP Force. During the Day 1 General Session, we sat down with the Queen of Prefab herself, Amy Marks. A key theme she touched on was 'expected experience' in your job and in a product. How you anticipate a situation can drastically affect your satisfaction with it. She also touched on the importance of productization. We have to do a better job taking all the knowledge and ideas we have and turn them into products and processes. Amy Marks is the head of industrialized construction strategy and evangelism at Autodesk; she is known throughout the construction industry as the “Queen of Prefab.” A graduate of the University of Florida and an alumna of Harvard Business School, Marks is the former CEO of XSite Modular, a leading prefabrication consultancy and design-builder of critical infrastructure buildings.  As a prefabrication consultant, she defined the language and process that is adopted by companies, countries, and builders around the world.

The hottest topic in construction right now is Change Management. We set up a live podcasting booth at MEP Force 2022 and asked your peers and industry experts what they thought about the topic. Here are the guests who joined us: Steve Smith - Steve is the product portfolio director (build and construct division) at Nemetscheck. You may recognize them as the parent company o Bluebeam. Steve is a passionate team builder with experience in Product Management, P&L Management; onboarding, training, and motivating top talent; strategic account development; sales process improvement; inside and outside sales management; and driving bottom-line profitability. Mark Oden - Mark is the CEO of BIM Designs Incorporated and is a long time friend of the show (see ep. 12 & 38). He joined the BIM Designs team with over 10 years of experience working with Silicon Valley tech companies in product management, business development, mergers and acquisitions, and CxO roles. He successfully launched several startups and directly consulted several more through their early stages of development and fundraising.  Mark leads the growth, strategy and execution of the company; his acute ability to develop and implement strategic processes that scale the company’s capabilities drives efficient service delivery, increases client satisfaction, and builds cross-functional teams. Mark received his master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Florida. Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts. Stephen Grecsek - Stephen is the CEO of G-Force Global Marketing. His company helped to produce MEP Force 2022 and lends a unique perspective on the industry. Stephen has over 20 years of experience working with companies such as: FOX Sports, IMG Academy, Buick/GMC, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Media General, NFL PLAYERS Inc., PGA TOUR, YPO, and others.  Eric Daniel - Eric is the editor and producer of the show and this is his fourth time attending and producing MEP Force.

We're coming at you LIVE from MEP Force 2022 in San Antonio, TX. Our great friends of the show, Nathan Wood and Travis Voss joined us for this exclusive look at the conference and the theme: Stronger Together. In this episode, the trio puts their finger to the pulse of the MEP industry as a whole looking at leadership, workflows, and what happens after you throw a bunch of tech at something and nothing improved. Nathan is the founder and CEO of SpectrumAEC and Executive Director of the Construction Progress Coalition. He has had a reputation as an industry thought leader for nearly a decade. His specialties include BIM, collaboration, coaching, digital fabrication, VDC, and IPD. Travis Voss is a Leader of Innovative Technology at Helm Mechanical. He uses his background in the tech field to explore, adapt, and perhaps develop technologies and workflows for the construction industry as it is thrust into its digital transformation. Helping Mechanical, Inc. stay on the cutting edge.