Peggy Smedley Show

Peggy and Kristina Swallow, director, Nevada Department of Transportation, and former president, ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers), talk about the background, categories, and criteria of the ASCE Infrastructure Report Card. She says our work isn't done yet and we need to get our infrastructure back to a level to meet the needs of our communities. They also discuss: The key takeaways from...

Peggy and Russ Martin, senior director of policy and government relations, GHSA (Governors Highway Safety Assn.), discuss the rise of distracted driving. He says traffic deaths are getting worse and shares the number of fatalities. They also discuss: The mindset that leads to distracted driving. What can be done to minimize distracted driving. How to create a sense of deterrence to distracted driv...

Peggy and Dave Sumoski, COO, Nucor, talk about the Infrastructure Report Card and how steel can build a more resilient and safer future. He says infrastructure arteries are on life support right now. They also discuss: The company's innovation in steel. How Nucor is investing billions in the last decade to upgrade steel mills. How the United States is becoming a green steel industry. nucor.com (04...

Peggy talks all about manufacturing and the latest announcements from Intel, sharing the three components that will enable the tech company to drive sustained technology and product leadership. She also discusses: Research that Intel and IBM will conduct together. Why we need to build a nimble product development pipeline. Why we are at a precipice of an evolution in manufacturing and what happens...

Peggy and Lisa Robinson, senior program manager, Employer Traffic Safety Programs, National Safety Council, talk about how to keep our roads safe. Robinson says the National Safety Council's mission became more critical when it saw the fatality numbers from last year. They also discuss: The 24% increase in the rate of death on the roads and states reporting an increase in speeding, distraction, an...

Peggy and Pat Jones, executive director and CEO, International Bridge, Tunnel And Turnpike Assn. (IBTTA), discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tolling industry. He says COVID-19 points to the fragility of our infrastructure. They also discuss: The ASCE Infrastructure Report Card and what the new grade means for our infrastructure. Why we need to invest in our infrastructure and impro...

Peggy talks about EVs (electric vehicles) and batteries, saying we need innovation in this area in order to contribute to a more sustainable future. She says the argument is often made that electric cars aren't necessarily a good, sustainable option, primarily because of the batteries, with them needing to be replaced every seven to 10 years for smaller vehicles and every three to four years for l...

Peggy and Christian Auty, partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, and leader of BCLP's U.S. Global Data Privacy and Security Team, talk about data security and data privacy. He says the attack surface is vast and there are 50 different data breach laws in the United States—one for each state. They also discuss: The likelihood of a federal law for cybersecurity coming to the United States. Two ways t...

Peggy and Graciela Chichilnisky, co-founder and CEO of Global Thermostat, and author "Reversing Climate Change," talk about how we have been overusing resources—and how we have gotten to where we are today. They also discuss: If we have a policy that works for climate change. How to find solutions for climate change—and why that is so difficult. That climate change is not a physical problem, rathe...

Peggy shares a big announcement that came out of Microsoft Ignite earlier this month that could have a big impact on industries like manufacturing and construction. She says Microsoft Mesh will completely redefine how we connect—both personally and professionally. She also discusses: What mixed reality is and how it compares to virtual and augmented reality. The hurdles that currently exist to cre...

Peggy and Walid Ali, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, Microsoft, talk about manufacturing, AI (artificial intelligence), and how to empower workers. He says the workforce has been so drastically challenged with what has happened with COVID19 that now we are facing a demand for efficiency increase, a demand for better productivity, and a demand for also scaling the workforce. They also discu...

Peggy and Cynthia Gonzalez, product marketing manager, Exabeam, talk about cybersecurity and critical infrastructure. Gonzalez says cyberattacks on our critical infrastructure were happening before the pandemic—and now they are more accessible than they used to be. They also discuss: Examples of attacks on critical infrastructure across the globe. That our legacy critical infrastructure weren't bu...

2021 Infrastructure Report Card Peggy talks about the 2021 ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) Infrastructure Report Card, sharing background and the progress made in the past four years to restore our nation's infrastructure. She also explains what needs to happen next. She also discusses: How a continued underinvestment in our infrastructure will cost us in GDP, jobs, and more. Which five...

Peggy and Yan Chen, professor, department of computer science Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University, talk about the impact of APT (advanced persistent threat) attacks, giving specific examples such as Target and Equifax. They also discuss: How the computer industry was in survivor mode in the beginning and where we are today. The need for a holistic...

Peggy and Natali Tshuva, co-founder & CEO, Sternum, talk about cybersecurity and the medical industry. They talk about best steps to stop the exploitation and the attack itself in realtime. They also discuss: How most solutions are focused on finding all vulnerabilities but it is impossible. How the focus of cybersecurity has now moved to the device makers. Why we need to remember to secure our le...

Peggy shares how a digital worker has changed—and how they are going to continue to change going into 2021. She talks all about workers and technology, answering questions such as: Where will your workers work? How will they work? What technology will they use? She also discusses: If we will return to the office, what that will look like and how will technology factor in. The top three objectives...

Peggy and Gianni Cuozzo, CEO, Exein, talk about cybersecurity and how it is becoming a standard today. He says what has changed in the last five years is people are starting to realize the attack perimeter is larger than they initially think. They also discuss: What caused most of the cybersecurity attacks in the last 10 years. How the western world is depending the most on these systems—but is pr...

Peggy and Orr Danon, CEO and co-founder, Hailo, talk about where edge AI (artificial intelligence) is going in the future. He explains how AI in general is making huge steps—and edge AI is one of the next waves. They also discuss: Areas where you can use AI at the edge to enhance productivity such as production lines and in retail. If the pandemic itself has disrupted or challenged various vertica...

Peggy highlights a few new reports focusing on the future of EVs (electric vehicles)—one that looks at the progress of EV sales here in the states, one specifically looking California, and another out of Europe that gives a glimpse into what is coming globally. She also discusses: Progress of EV sales, infrastructure development, and fleet expansion. The biggest hurdles holding back widespread ado...

Peggy and Tariq Adi, president and CEO, ADI Developments, talk about how he saw a lack of efficiency in construction and applied lean manufacturing principles. He says global construction waste is a $1 trillion a year—and he hopes to revolutionize an entire industry with lean. They also discuss: How to get back to days of productivity (The Empire State Building was built in 13 months. The same bui...

Peggy and Dave Silke, chief marketing officer, Mitel, talk about relying on technology and remote working during the pandemic. He says there are opportunities in terms of growth, even today. They also discuss: Which verticals had to respond immediately to the pandemic, giving specific examples. How do we make sure we ensure connections and companies maintain the ability to communicate effectively...

Peggy shares two new reports that point to what is coming in the future as it relates to electrification. She also calls on the next generation of innovators who are committed to electric vehicles to step up now. She also discusses: Five potential impacts of widespread electrification on the evolution of the U.S. electricity systems. What is currently happening in the state that is leading the cha...

Peggy and Dimitri Kusnezov, former deputy undersecretary for AI (artificial intelligence) and technology, U.S. Dept. of Energy, talk AI, exascale, and everything in between. Through his lens, he says AI is not a thing or a technology, it is more a category of empowering ideas. They also discuss: The two different branches that we will have in the world we are entering into with AI. How COVID has p...

Peggy and Scott Schober, president/CEO, Berkeley Varitronics Systems, talk about why cyber is so important. He says cyber keeps evolving and changing and requires everyone to keep up on it. They also discuss: What is the weakest link in security. How the hackers look and see a new opportunity when something like COVID happens—and what to do about it. One big takeaway he has from Peggy's book Susta...

Peggy talks about predictions around 5G—and that while we are currently in the early phases, we will likely see a massive boom in a few years. She also shares opportunities that something like 5G can bring, specifically as it relates to EVs (electric vehicles). She also discusses: Ways that electric vehicles can lead to a cleaner and greener world. How the Dept. of Energy breaks down general categ...