The ConTechCrew

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comIt’s that time of year when people in the construction industry are gathered all together for an exciting event. In this week’s episode, I’m bringing in one of the minds behind building conferences and environments for all of us to enjoy. Meet Brian Skripac, Director of Virtual Design & Construction (VDC), at the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA).The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) is a professional organization with a core focus on advancing and disseminating best practices related to design-build projects. They also deliver education and certification that drive not just business transformation but also industry imagination.Today on the show, Brian and I offer a sneak peek into the upcoming DBIA annual conference and expo. We discuss the concept behind their newly added VDC Leadership Exchange and provide insights into what attendees can expect to learn during this event.Let’s dive right in!Key Takeaways:Introduction (00:00)What is Design-Build Institute of America or DBIA? (04:52)Meet Brian Skripac and his role at DBIA (08:12)The role of collaborative tools (11:32)The idea behind the VDC Leadership Exchange (15:53)A preview of the VDC Leadership Exchange Conference (27:07)What you’ll be learning in this year’s conference (32:01)On talking about human connection and mental health (37:34)A sneak peek at what’s going on in the DBIA expo hall (42:01)Brian’s favorite part of the event (45:55)Episode wrap-up (48:20)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Follow Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianskripac/Check out the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA): https://dbia.org/—The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comSuicide remains a deeply concerning issue in the construction industry. In an environment characterized by relentless performance demands and tight deadlines, reaching out to your colleagues and admitting you’re struggling can be challenging.In this week’s pause for a cause episode, I’ve invited no other than Sasha Reed, Senior Director of Industry Transformation at Procore. With a combined 20 years of experience in construction and technology, Sasha Reed is known industry-wide as a “conversation facilitator.”In her role as Senior Director of Industry Transformation, Sasha focuses on forging partnerships that maximize Procore’s impact on the construction industry beyond product development. One such noteworthy collaboration is Procore’s joint effort with B1M on a suicide prevention initiative known as Get Construction Talking.Today, Sasha and I delve into what is Get Construction Talking, the big why behind the launch of this suicide prevention campaign, and how important it is to pause and check in with your colleague.She also sheds light on why this cause is important to industry leaders like Tooey Courtemanche and Fred Mills, how leaders can be great catalysts for this campaign’s success, and much more.Let’s dive right in!Key Takeaways:Introduction (00:00)What is Get Construction Talking? (01:08)The importance of pausing and genuinely asking, “How are you doing?” (03:24)There’s no competition on who’s more at risk (11:10)The alarming suicide rates in the construction industry (13:06)On leaving a legacy in the construction industry (19:31)Get Construction Talking calls to action (30:24)Final thoughts (34:09)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Follow Sasha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasha-reed-66086b3/Visit Get Construction Talking for more info: https://www.getconstructiontalking.org/Check out Procore: https://www.procore.com/Check out B1M: https://www.theb1m.com/View other resources here: https://www.procore.org/—The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comWhat does construction technology look like from a project manager's perspective?In this week's episode, my co-host Tannis and I are joined by project manager, technologist, and adjunct professor at Georgia Southern University, Dylan John.Dylan is a Sri Lankan-born construction project manager who started his journey with his father– a mid-size construction business owner in Sri Lanka.Instead of returning to Sri Lanka to work for his father's company, he found a new path and calling here in the U.S.Today, he shares his unique field and view of construction technology, the tools he's currently leveraging, and his different approach to ROI.He also offers advice for project managers regarding tech deployment, how to deal with the tech-savvy future workforce entering the construction industry, and more.Let's get started!Key Takeaways:Introduction (00:00)What got Dylan into the construction world? (05:53)A day in the life of Dylan as a project manager (10:26)Tools that Dylan is using and how he’s leveraging them as a PM (14:08)The Return on Implementation (ROI) explained (24:46)Advice to project or construction managers when it comes to tech deployment (32:20)How does a project manager get everybody working together on the same page (39:06)Advice to construction PMs on the future workforce coming into the industry (42:49)Construction technology news of the week (50:15)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Follow Dylan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-john-georgiasouthern/—See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️ Can the Construction Industry Be Disrupted?https://hbr.org/2023/07/can-the-construction-industry-be-disrupted➡️ Ontario launching three new mobile skilled trades classroomshttps://www.ontarioconstructionnews.com/ontario-launching-three-new-mobile-skilled-trades-classrooms/➡️ Demolition Robot Market to See Booming Growth and Huge Profit With Top Players – Brokk, Husqvarna, ConjetBrokk, Husqvarna, Conjethttps://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/news/xherald/demolition-robot-market-to-see-booming-growth-and-huge-profit-with-top-players-brokk-husqvarna-conjetbrokk-husqvarna-conjet➡️ Free Digital Tool Tracks Cement Sector's Decarbonization Effortshttps://www.enr.com/articles/56854-free-digital-tool-tracks-cement-sectors-decarbonization-efforts➡️ How Skanska’s drone program evolved from novelty to must-have techhttps://www.constructiondive.com/news/skanska-drone-program-tips-construction-tech/688997/—The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comThe trillion-dollar construction industry is often accused of lagging in technological innovation. But things are changing now as venture capital firms and countless startups are raising significant money to disrupt the construction technology space. And our guest has a lot to say about that.In this week’s episode, my co-host Jacob D’Albora and I sit down with K.P. Reddy, founder and managing partner at Shadow Ventures and a prominent figure in technology and innovation.With a background in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, K.P. has become a global authority in AEC environments, AI, robotics, automation, mobile applications, and cloud computing.Today, he gives the crew and its listeners a discussion on how a venture capital firm works and its impact on construction from his perspective.He also shares some of their innovative and successful investments, tips when investing in startups, and much more!Let’s jump right in!Key Takeaways:Introduction (00:00)From coder to venture capitalist (07:17)What does a venture capital firm do? (15:17)Is it better to invest in ConTech or PropTech? (20:01)Difference between pre-seed and seed funding rounds (24:08)K.P.’s general investing rule (28:55)What does “exit” really mean? (29:56)SPAC explained (33:16)K.P. and Shadow Ventures' promising investments (34:21)The innovators’ dilemma (40:08)Tips on how to invest and grow a startup company (44:33)Construction technology news of the week (52:49)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Follow K.P. on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpreddy/Visit Shadow Ventures for more information: https://shadow.vc/—See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️ Gilbane-Turner JV misses initial diversity goals on Bills stadiumhttps://www.constructiondive.com/news/gilbane-turner-miss-diversity-mwbe-goals-new-york-bills-stadium/689020/➡️ Unlocking the power of digital twins: Maximizing success with OKRshttps://www.bdcnetwork.com/blog/unlocking-power-digital-twins-maximizing-success-okrs➡️ Generative AI could raise global GDP by 7%https://www.goldmansachs.com/intelligence/pages/generative-ai-could-raise-global-gdp-by-7-percent.html ➡️ The iconic American hard hat job that has the highest level of open positions ever recordedhttps://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/07/29/the-hard-hat-job-with-highest-level-of-open-positions-ever-recorded.html —The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comWhat would it feel like to return to a company you previously worked for and take on a more significant role?In this week’s episode, my co-host Nathan Wood and I sit down with Brett Settles as we explore his remarkable boomerang career journey and his new role as the Chief Technology Officer at Penta.Brett began his professional journey in the industrial sector, dedicating six years to Penta Engineering Corporation, a company specializing in engineering, procurement, and EPC/EPCM solutions. However, in 2017, he embarked on a new path by joining Revizto, a cloud-based software platform for BIM collaboration, right at the height of the construction technology boom.During our conversation, Brett takes us on a fascinating ride through his boomerang career and how he eventually returned to his roots in the industry, armed with newfound knowledge and experiences that led him to assume the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Penta.Today, Brett reflects on the valuable lessons he has learned from his career journey and how these lessons helped him with his current CTO position.Additionally, we delve into strategies for fostering technology adoption, insights on Brett’s current projects, and, of course, the latest developments in the world of construction technology.Let’s jump in!Key Takeaways:Introduction (00:00)Meet Brett Settles (06:14)Brett’s transition from industry to tech and back (08:20)Biggest problems that Brett has to solve (10:21)Comparing different industries’ technology adoption (20:29)What’s Brett most excited about with his CTO role at Penta (23:53)Applying lessons he learned from industry experience (30:11)How does it feel coming back to Penta and taking on a bigger role (32:30)How to get people to adopt technology (34:56)On scaling a business without growing a footprint (39:32)What technology got Brett excited before becoming the CTO (43:20)Construction technology news of the week (48:48)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Follow Brett out on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-settles-132a6613/Visit Penta’s website to learn more: https://www.penta.net/—See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️ Biden-Harris Administration Opens First Round of $85 Million Competitive Grant Program to Fund Digital Construction Technologies That Save Time and Moneyhttps://highways.dot.gov/newsroom/biden-harris-administration-opens-first-round-85-million-competitive-grant-program-fund➡️ New Bipartisan Infrastructure Law program will help accelerate project deliveryhttps://www.linkedin.com/posts/dustin~williams_ever-wonder-why-some-folks-obsess-over-the-activity-7084280056864243712-vd-4/➡️ A Week of Rest Should Be the Normhttps://www.linkedin.com/posts/sasha-reed-66086b3_getconstructiontalking-procore-wellnessweek-activity-7084158796008222720-kbIW/?u➡️ OpenSpace Launches BIM Product at Waypoint Eventhttps://www.forconstructionpros.com/construction-technology/article/22864308/openspace-goes-deeper-into-bim-territory—The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comResearch says that the average person has about 100,000 thoughts daily, and 75% of those are negative thoughts. And when you’re in a fast-paced, result-driven, and chaotic construction industry, it’s hard to get away with those daily negative thoughts. Enter proactive mental health training.In this special episode of The ConTech Crew, my co-host Rob McKinney and I are joined by Dr. Seth Hickerson, CEO and founder of My Steady Mind.Dr. Hickerson is an innovative entrepreneur, veteran, educator, and mental performance training coach. He is passionate about providing individuals, teams, and organizations with real solutions to reduce stress and improve performance through cognitive training.Today, we talk about what My Steady Mind is, its philosophy, who it is for, and how it works. We also discuss how breathwork can improve the state of mind, its other notable effects, and how to do it properly.Let’s jump in!Key Takeaways:Introduction (00:00)How Dr. Seth Hickerson became a mental health advocate (01:47)What My Steady Mind is and the philosophy behind it (10:01)Why Rob decided to sign up with My Steady Mind (13:07)My Steady Mind’s Goals (17:46)Who is My Steady Mind for and how it works (20:47)The BAMO breathing technique (28:37)Effects of practicing breathing techniques like BAMO (40:24)The power of emotional intelligence and how to apply it on construction job sites (43:56)Ripple effects of mental health training (50:11)Episode wrap-up (52:52)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Follow Dr. Seth Hickerson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-hickerson/Visit My Steady Mind for more information: https://mysteadymind.com/Sign up to My Steady Mind and use the code MSMCON25 for 25% off—The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comAccording to surveys, more than 80% of construction professionals would consider leaving their current roles. And 65% would consider pay cuts to move into another career or industry.In a result-driven construction world, these numbers have some underlying statements. And that’s what we’re going to uncover today.So, in this week’s episode, Nathan Wood and I sit down with the amazing Dr. Giovanna Brasfield, a.k.a. Dr. G, CEO and Principal at Brasfield & Associates, LLC.Dr. G is a revolutionary in the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) space with over 18 years of experience in construction, focusing on leadership and DEI program development, training, education, and outreach. She drives organizations to go beyond DEI talk by taking actionable steps to create culturally diverse, equitable, and inclusive workspaces.As someone who holds dual doctorate degrees and sits on the board of numerous organizations, Dr. G brings a unique level of consultancy to construction by making DEI practices a growth factor for construction companies.Today, she shares invaluable insights on the most significant barriers and early issues she has seen in the construction industry, why people leave construction, how to deal with burnout, and more.Key Takeaways:Introduction (00:00)Meet Dr. Giovanna Brasfield and her big why (07:27)Early issues in construction that Dr. Giovanna encountered (13:41)The biggest barrier in the construction industry (17:24)How Dr. Giovanna got a double doctorate degree (27:57)A survey on why people leave construction (35:11)How to deal with burnout (40:27)Construction technology news of the week (52:38)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Follow Dr. Giovanna Brasfield out on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-giovanna-brasfield-0a90a78/–See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️ The British Department for Transport Procedures for Dealing with Optimism Bias in Transport Planninghttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/191523/Procedures_for_dealing_with_optimism_bias_in_transport_planning.pdf➡️ Equality versus Equity: What's the difference as we #EmbraceEquity for IWD 2023 and beyond?https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Missions/18707/Equality-versus-Equity-What-s-the-difference-as-we-EmbraceEquity-for-IWD-2023-and-beyond➡️ Subcontractor automation boosts profits while cutting costs: reporthttps://www.constructiondive.com/news/gcs-reap-benefits-subcontractor-automation-report/653527/➡️ SoBuilt recaphttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-construction-dorkcast/id1514409966?i=1000618006127—The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comIn an industry where architects, engineers, contractors, and various stakeholders must work seamlessly together, miscommunications can lead to costly delays and errors.Enter Large Language Models (LLMs)--groundbreaking AI technology that is set to transform how construction people collaborate.In this week’s episode, my co-host Nathan Wood and I sit down with Hugh Seaton, construction technology enthusiast, book author, and CEO at The Link.The Link is an AI-powered software dedicated to making construction documents consumable for owners, contractors, and everyone who needs access to these. Prior to starting The Link, Hugh served as a general manager at the Construction Specifications Institute.Today, Hugh shares invaluable insights on the real power of LLMs, their impact on the construction industry, how to leverage them, and what the future looks like in construction with the rise of AI technology!Make sure to tune in now. You don’t want to miss it!Key Takeaways:Introduction (00:00)What is The Link? (05:33)Hugh and his The Construction Technology Handbook (08:01)Is the construction industry ready for AI? (10:07)The availability and reliability of data (12:41)Structured vs. semi-structured data and large language models explained (15:48)How AI technology augments people’s jobs and not replace them (23:24)How to manage risks in construction when using AI technology (25:23)Strategies and competition in construction (28:29)What the future looks like in construction (39:05)How to better utilize AI technology in construction (42:25)Episode wrap-up (45:33)Construction technology news of the week (47:02)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Follow Hugh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hughseaton/Visit The Link website for more: https://www.thelink.ai/Listen to Hugh’s podcast: https://constructedfutures.com/–See this week’s news articles! 🗞️⬇️➡️ OSHA electronic recordkeeping rule to take effect in 2024https://www.hrdive.com/news/osha-electronic-recordkeeping-final-rule-to-take-effect-in-2024/687973/➡️ Inflation cools, but material prices remain highhttps://www.constructiondive.com/news/inflation-cools-construction-input-prices-stay-flat/687486➡️ Is now the time to consider AVD?!https://www.integy.co.uk/time-to-consider-azure-virtual-desktop➡️ Offsite Construction: Why We Don’t Build Cars in Your Driveway!https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/offsite-construction-why-we-dont-build-cars-your-driveway-dave-verna/—The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comInnovation is the driving force that’s propelling the construction industry forward. And Procore has been at the forefront of this movement–advancing construction and making life easier for those involved in the industry.So, in this week’s episode, I’ve invited no other than Wyatt Jenkins, Chief Product Officer at Procore, to give us a preview of what to expect at this year’s most exciting construction event, Groundbreak 2023.Wyatt is responsible for operating global product development and driving Procore’s product vision, strategy, and execution. This coming Groundbreak is where they’ll unveil what they’ve been working on for the past years. Today, Wyatt and I talk about Procore’s latest technological innovations, the role AI plays in developing these new products, and its massive impact on the industry.Make sure to tune in. You don’t want to miss this!Key Takeaways:Intro (00:00)What is Groundbreak (05:47)Groundbreak 2023 4 Big Announcements (08:57)Procore providing connectability solutions (10:58)A preview of Procore Conversations (20:49)How Procore is solving preconstruction issues (25:46)Demystifying the AI technology (35:52)Leveraging predictive language in contracts (41:19)3 ways large language model could impact construction (47:00)Revolutionizing construction payment through Procore Pay (56:18)Expounding on how the wallet system works (1:00:28)The Get Construction Talking (1:05:01)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Follow Wyatt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wyattjenkins/Check Procore out for more information: https://www.procore.com/en-sg–The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!

🏗️ Learn more at http://thecontechcrew.comScalability is what determines success. But are the technological advancements in construction enough to move the industry forward?In today's podcast episode, I have the privilege of hosting two leading innovators in the industry: Todd Wynne, the Chief Innovation Officer at Rogers-O’Brien, and Chris Callen, Founder and CEO of PLOT.Before meeting Chris, Todd was a trailblazer in the construction industry around innovation, with over a decade of experience under his belt. Much like Todd, Chris also possesses a deep fondness for technology. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in construction, Chris became involved in his family's business at a young age.However, he later embarked on a journey to pursue studies and a career in software development. Eventually, he returned to lead his family's construction business for a considerable period, and it was during this time that he and Todd connected.Together, Chris and Todd embarked on developing a technology named Grit. Despite its potential, Grit did not take off as expected, leading to the sale of the venture.However, their experiences and lessons from this endeavor led to their subsequent undertaking, PLOT.PLOT is a job site coordination software that eases job site logistics, delivery coordination, and lead time management.Today, Todd and Chris share invaluable insights on construction innovation and scalability, digitizing vs. digitalizing construction, and how they are helping the builders with innovation.We also discussed the labor shortage in construction and technology's role in solving this problem.Tune in now and geek out!Key Takeaways:Intro (00:00)Todd and Chris's shared story (03:31)Todd's biggest entrepreneurial lesson (07:40)Roger-O'Brien's aha moment (12:16)The innovation cake analogy (14:19)How PLOT is helping builders with innovation (19:07)Exploitation vs. exploration (26:21)Problems that PLOT aims to solve (28:43)Digitalizing construction (36:27)Solving the labor shortage problem with technology (48:06)Innovating the org structure (1:00:08)Additional Resources:Listen to the show at http://thecontechcrew.comFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew–Check Todd out on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddwynne/Visit Rogers-O’Brien’s website for more: https://r-o.com/Check Chris out on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-callen/Get to know more about PLOT: https://www.getplot.com/–The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!