The ConTechCrew

Jen Clark, Project Integration Manager at General Sheet Metal, shares her unconventional journey from civil engineer to tech leader. She discusses the power of low-code applications in modernizing construction workflows and how curiosity has been her guiding force. Jen also dives into the balance between operations and IT, tackling shadow IT and driving tech adoption in a traditional industry. With insights on building effective tech roadmaps and acting as a 'human API,' her experience inspires new ways to innovate in construction.

Nitin Bhandari, Co-founder and CEO of Planera, revolutionizes construction scheduling through innovative technology. He discusses the challenges faced in traditional scheduling and how Planera utilizes AI to create seamless connections between field and office operations. Nitin emphasizes shifting scheduling from a compliance tool to a business decision tool, empowering teams with data-driven insights. He also touches on the importance of role-based access for owners and the potential of natural language processing to enhance user interaction with scheduling.

Tyler Williams, a member of DPR Construction's Corporate Innovation team, has a rich background as a union carpenter and superintendent. He dives into the transformative role of robotics on construction sites, highlighting ergonomic benefits and improved safety. Tyler explains how teleoperated robots handle high-risk tasks and discusses innovative technologies like co-botic scaffolding and material movers that enhance efficiency. He also addresses the importance of education-led tech adoption and preserving craft knowledge in the age of AI.

Don Tiefenbrunn, a seasoned architect-turned-construction leader, and Steve Botz, a construction tech expert, dive into the often-overlooked pre-construction phase. They discuss how RMOne emerged from real frustrations with fragmented data in construction planning. The duo emphasizes the importance of integrating technology at the start of projects, the pitfalls of relying on Excel, and the practicality of their user-centric platform. They also touch on how small contractors can access affordable solutions while capturing non-job costs to safeguard profitability.

In this episode of The ConTech Crew, the host Jeff Sample sits down with Thomas Santos and Shaabini Alford to explore the ongoing challenges and opportunities within construction operations, especially as they relate to process inefficiencies, technology adoption, and leadership. With decades of combined experience, the guests unpack how value stream mapping and lean practices can significantly improve how construction projects are delivered.Thomas Santos is a mechanical engineer, Six Sigma practitioner, and seasoned manufacturing and construction consultant with over 40 years of global experience. He brings a structured, lean-manufacturing mindset to the construction world. Shaabini Alford is a well-known figure in the MEP and MCAA community with over 20 years of industry experience. A former mechanical contractor turned consultant, she now leads peer groups and training initiatives at Maxim Consulting.Key TakeawaysWhy the "magic bullet" for construction inefficiencies is often hidden in plain sight.How value stream mapping (VSM) uncovers hidden waste and aligns cross-functional teams.Why writing down existing processes is the first step toward improvement.The pitfalls of over-customizing software and skipping standard operating procedures.How leadership and a mindset shift from blame to continuous improvement can transform operations.Timestamps[00:00] - Introduction and Setup[01:23] - Thomas Santos' Background[04:17] - Shaabini Alford’s Industry Journey[05:31] - What Is Maxim Consulting?[07:48] - Defining the Core Problem[10:03] - Software Misuse and Process Gaps[13:02] - The Real Power of Value Stream Mapping[16:42] - From Departments to Full Project Flow[19:53] - Measuring Efficiency Gains[23:17] - Debunking “Every Job is Unique”[26:23] - The Handoff Bottleneck[37:04] - Final TakeawaysFollow Thomas Santos:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-santos-3855824/Follow Shaabini Alford:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaabini-alford-0452346/Follow Maxim Consulting:Website: https://www.maximconsulting.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/maximconsultingllc/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maximconsultingllc/Follow the Host:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/Follow The ConTech Crew:Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew Twitter: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew

Tooey Courtemanche, Founder and CEO of Procore Technologies, discusses groundbreaking innovations in construction management. He highlights how AI and structured data are revolutionizing project outcomes and enhancing work-life balance for field workers. Tooey explains the Agent Builder initiative, which enables teams to automate repetitive tasks and bridge the generational knowledge gap by preserving insights from retiring professionals. He also shares insights on the upcoming Groundbreak event and Procore’s mission to empower the construction industry through technology.

Jonathan Marsh, a construction technologist and founder of Steel Toe Consulting, dives into key insights from the MCAA Fab conference. He discusses the rising trend of prefabrication, emphasizing shifts toward manufacturing standards. Marsh also highlights the pressing roles of AI and robotics in transforming the industry. The conversation uncovers how contractors need to choose their focus—be it manufacturing, installation, or service—to thrive amid labor shortages and market disparities. It's an engaging look at the future of construction!

In this episode of The ConTech Crew, the hosts Jeff Sample and Nathan Wood chat with Or Lakritz. Or shares the journey of StructShare, from its inception to its recent acquisition by Trimble. They discuss how this acquisition is reshaping procurement in the construction industry, the role of AI in construction technology, and how contractors and founders can innovate and solve real problems within the industry.Or Lakritz is the Co-founder of StructShare, a digital procurement platform built to solve procurement inefficiencies for contractors. Or has recently moved to Boulder, Colorado, after StructShare was acquired by Trimble. In this episode, he shares his entrepreneurial journey, the reasons behind the acquisition, and how Trimble’s platform is evolving to connect the digital and physical world in construction.Key TakeawaysHow StructShare streamlines procurement processes through digital solutions.Insights on why StructShare was acquired by Trimble and what it means for the company's future.How the construction tech landscape is shifting, with large players like Trimble, Procore, and Autodesk dominating.The evolution of procurement technology and how AI is enabling companies to solve complex problems.How contractors can begin to digitize simple workflows to improve efficiency.The importance of focusing on specific problems in the early stages of a startup.Timestamps[00:00] - Episode Introduction[00:38] - Guest Introduction[02:29] - Brief Background about Or’s Journey[04:15] - Structshare’s Acquisition By Trimble[05:02] - The Reasons Behind Choosing Trimble[06:05] - The Debate About Market Strategies In A Saturated Industry.[11:58] - AI And Market Shifts[16:06] - Changing The Procurement Process[19:35] - Core Transformational Steps Needed for the Future[27:50] - What’s Next at Trimble[31:52] - Advice For Contractors And Founders[40:31] - Final ThoughtsFollow the Guest & The Company:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlakritz/LinkedIn (Trimble): https://www.linkedin.com/company/trimble/LinkedIn (StructShare): https://www.linkedin.com/company/structshare/Website (Trimble): https://www.trimble.com/enFacebook (Trimble): https://www.facebook.com/TrimbleCorporate/Facebook (StructShare): https://www.facebook.com/StructShare/Twitter (Trimble): https://x.com/TrimbleCorpNewsInstagram (Trimble): https://www.instagram.com/trimble_official/#Follow the Host:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/Follow the Co-Host:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanaec/ Follow The ConTech Crew:Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew Twitter: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew

In this episode of The ConTech Crew, host Jeff Sample interviews Michael Pink, CEO of SmartPM, to discuss the importance of time management in construction projects. Michael, a seasoned professional in construction technology, shares his journey from consulting to creating SmartPM, a platform that helps businesses manage risk, stay on schedule, and make better-informed decisions. The conversation covers everything from the challenges of data integrity in construction to how predictive analytics can transform project management.Michael Pink is the CEO of SmartPM, a platform that uses predictive analytics to help construction companies optimize their project schedules and manage risk. He started his career in consulting, focusing on dispute resolution and project controls, which eventually led him to create SmartPM in 2019 to address the inefficiencies in construction scheduling.Key TakeawaysMichael’s transition from consulting to launching SmartPMThe role of time in construction and its impact on project costMoving from reactive to proactive risk management using real-time dataHow SmartPM automates schedule analysis and predictive analyticsThe importance of AI in improving construction project outcomesThe need for collaboration and feedback in construction techMichael’s upcoming session at the Unbound conferenceTimestamps[00:00] - Introduction and pre-show setup[02:52] - Michael reflects on his career and launching SmartPM[03:44] - Michael shares the problem he encountered with Consulting[05:53] - The role of time in construction and how delays impact project cost[09:20] - Shifting from reactive to proactive risk management using real-time data[14:55] - The capabilities of SmartPM in automating schedule analysis and predictive analytics[17:50] - The importance of data integrity and the challenges of overoptimism bias[25:16] - Using AI to correct historical schedule data and predict future outcomes[33:09] - Michael talks about his participation in the Unbound conference and upcoming events[39:27] - Episode conclusion and sign-offFollow the Guest & The Company:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mapink/LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/smartpmtech/Website (Company): https://smartpm.com/Facebook (Company): https://www.facebook.com/SmartPMTechTwitter (Company): https://x.com/SmartPMTechFollow the Host:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/Follow The ConTech Crew:Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew Twitter: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew

Britton Langdon, founder of BuildFactory and a seasoned expert in prefab construction technology, discusses how his platform addresses challenges in the industry. He explains the importance of marketplaces to connect underutilized fabrication shops with high-demand job sites. The conversation explores logistics optimization, risk mitigation strategies, and the critical role of user experience in technology adoption. Britton also highlights lessons from other industries, focusing on tailoring solutions for serial builders and ensuring trust in marketplace transactions.