Construction Leaders Podcast

In this episode, CMAA's Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot welcome AJ Waters to discuss why so many digital transformation efforts in construction fall short and what organizations can do differently. Drawing on his experience leading technology initiatives for major construction projects, AJ explains why successful transformation starts with people and processes—not technology. He shares practical s...

In this episode, CMAA’s Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot are joined by Jesse Heimowitz, CCM, of Tectonic Engineering; Dana Hecht, of H&H; and Graham Briggs, PE, of PMA Consultants, for a conversation about project controls, scheduling, and the realities of delivering large public sector infrastructure projects. The guests share how they each found their way into project management and discuss t...

In this episode, CMAA’s Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot are joined by Joaquin Diaz, health and safety director at Gilbane Building Company and an ambassador for the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, for a conversation ahead of Construction Safety Week focused on the realities of near-miss reporting in construction. Drawing from his doctoral interpretive phenomenological study, Diaz shares i...

In this episode, CMAA’s Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot are joined by Michael Griffin, partner at HKA, and Shawn Farrell, partner at Cohen Seglias, to discuss the evolving roles and responsibilities of construction managers and the growing risk and liability landscape. They outline the CM’s core functions—managing, advising, documenting, and keeping owners informed with “no surprises”—and compare...

In this episode, CMAA’s Nick Soto and Evan Hendershot are joined by Brian Hanifin and Rachel Domingo of the LitCon Group to explore how construction managers can document the real story behind project delays and disruptions. Drawing on Brian’s decades of construction management and litigation support experience and Rachel’s forensic schedule and delay analysis expertise, they explain why close, re...

In this episode, Construction Management Association of America’s Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot are joined by Jim Ostrom, a professor of Construction Management at Joliet Junior College, for a conversation about career pathways in construction management. Jim shares his personal journey from a struggling student to an industry professional and educator, and why early exposure to construction man...

In this episode, CMAA’s Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot sit down with members of the CMAA Sustainability Subcommittee for an in-depth look at what resilience really means in the construction industry. Guests Randy Britt, director of Climate Adaptation and Resilience at Terravanta; Joyce Dawson, CCM, assistant director of Facilities Planning and Construction at Anne Arundel Community College; and D...

In this episode of the Construction Leaders Podcast, hosts Nick Soto and Carly Trout of CMAA sit down with Bryan Vanlenten and Steve Warhoe of Arcadis to unpack insights from Arcadis’ 15th Annual Construction Disputes Report. The discussion explores how dispute values are rising even as resolution times shrink, and what that means for today’s construction landscape. The guests break down the most...

In this episode of the Construction Leaders Podcast, hosts Nick Soto and Carly Trout of CMAA sit down with Shannon McElveen, COO of AIA Contract Documents, to explore why standardized contracts are essential to successful projects. Shannon highlights how well-crafted agreements promote efficiency, strengthen collaboration, reduce disputes, and even support sustainability goals. She also offers a b...

In this episode, hosts Nick Soto, Carly Trout, and Evan Hendershot from CMAA are joined by Daphne Bryant, executive director of the ACEC Research Institute, and Dr. Keith Molenaar, of the University of Colorado Boulder, to unpack the growing momentum behind Progressive Design-Build (PDB). Drawing from the ACEC report "Progressive Design-Build: Practice, Perceptions, and Potential," the conversatio...

In this episode, hosts Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot with CMAA sit down with Chuck Ainsworth, Founder and Chief Coaching Officer, and Ed Palpant, Chief Construction Specialist at Epic Rivers Leadership. Together, they explore the significance of having tough conversations in the construction industry, from giving effective feedback to navigating conflict and building trust. Chuck and Ed unpack t...

In this episode of the Construction Leaders Podcast, Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot from CMAA talk with Tim Singleton, PMCM  business leader at Jacobs, and Ai Kurokawa, architect and principal at Isgenuity. Together, they explore what it takes to build high-performing teams in the construction industry. The conversation highlights the value of resilience, diversity, and psychological safety in dr...

In this episode of the Construction Leaders Podcast, hosts Nick Soto and Evan Hendershot from CMAA are joined by members of CMAA’s Technology Subcommittee—including Jarvis Alridge, CCM, project controls department manager at HNTB; Marty Turner, CCM, director of projects for Turner & Townsend; and Vincent Testa, PE, CCM, director of strategic growth at Procon Consulting—for a forward-looking co...

In this episode of the Construction Leaders Podcast, Carly Trout and guest host Evan Hendershot from CMAA talk with Jim McConnell,  a seasoned expert in corporate security and CEO of Ask McConnell. The conversation dives into the concept of converged security, integrating physical protection, cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and more. Jim unpacks the critical differences between safety and securit...

In this episode of the Construction Leaders Podcast, Nick Soto and Carly Trout from CMAA talk with Marcia Alvarado, a structural engineer, professional model, activist, former NCAA athlete, and founder of The Alvarado Experience. They discuss the power of authentic leadership in the construction industry. Marcia shares how her diverse experiences have shaped her leadership style, emphasizing the i...

In this episode of the Construction Leaders Podcast, Nick Soto and Carly Trout from CMAA chat with Andrea Janzen, CEO of Ambition Theory, and Doreen Bartoldus, PE, CCM, a member of the Construction Manager Certification Institute Board of Governors and past chair of the National Association of Women in Construction. They dive into the value of leadership training, the role of mentorship, and the i...

In this episode of the Construction Leaders Podcast, hosts Nick Soto and Carly Trout from CMAA sit down with Jonathan Cinelli, host of the People First Leadership Podcast and partner of The Construction Life Podcast. Jonathan shares his journey from electrician and project manager to coach and author, emphasizing the power of human-centric leadership. The conversation explores how leaders can fost...

In the season 4 premiere of the Construction Leaders Podcast, hosts Nick Soto and Carly Trout from CMAA welcome Thomas Gannon, President of Fortitude Advisory; Emma Davies, Director at Atkins Realis; and Raoul D. Ilaw, PE, CCM, FCMAA, Vice President & Senior Program Manager at STV. Together, they explore the founding of Fortitude, the transformative impact of its mentorship initiatives, and th...

In our season 3 finale of the Construction Leaders Podcast, hosts Nick Soto and Carly Trout from CMAA welcome Randy Britt, Chair of CMAA's Sustainability Subcommittee, and Smitha Radhakrishnan, Executive Vice President of Planning, Development, and Maintenance at Tampa International Airport, to explore the increasing role of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) in construction. The conversa...

In this episode of the Construction Leaders Podcast, hosts Nick Soto and Carly Trout from CMAA sit down with Tammy McConaughy, Director of Education & Certification for the Lean Construction Institute; Katie Wells, Vice President of Project Delivery with Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC; Christopher Vine, Project Superintendent with Hensel Phelps; and John Zachara Integrated Facilities Solutions an...

In this episode of the Construction Leaders Podcast, hosts Nick Soto and Carly Trout from CMAA sit down with Kyle Grandell, CCM, founder and CEO of Dell Management, to discuss the company’s innovative approaches to project management and dedication to delivering top-tier results. They delve into the critical role of capital management, the impact of cutting-edge technology like augmented reality,...

In this episode of the Construction Leaders Podcast, hosts Nick Soto and Carly Trout from CMAA chat with Michael Bempah, PE, president and CEO of Pinpoint Precision Engineering, and Kevin P. Nolan, PE, CCM, senior associate at STV Incorporated. They explore the workforce challenges facing the construction industry and highlight the critical importance of resilience and continuous learning. The con...

In this episode of the Construction Leaders Podcast, hosts Nick Soto and Carly Trout from CMAA sit down with members of CMAA's Technology Subcommittee, including Brian Tracy, PE, CCM, director of construction management at Ausonio; Marty Turner, CCM, director of projects for Turner & Townsend; and Vincent Testa, PE, CCM, director of strategic growth at Procon Consulting. The discussion centers...

On this episode of the Construction Leaders Podcast, CMAA's Nick Soto and and Carly Trout chat with Lucian Niemeye,  CEO of Building Cyber Security, a non-profit organization that aims to improve physical security and safety. They discuss the importance of investing in cybersecurity to maintain building safety throughout its lifecycle, the potential of artificial intelligence and digital twins in...

On this episode of the Construction Leaders Podcast, CMAA's Nick Soto and and Carly Trout chat with Justin Ganschow with Caterpillar Safety Services. Together, they discuss psychological safety in the construction industry, focusing on the need to create an environment where workers feel safe in sharing concerns and speaking up about unsafe practices.   Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by...