Deliberate Words

Zoomed Out or Dialed In? Broad vs. Narrow Scope Specs in Construction When it comes to construction specifications, how much detail is too much—or not enough? In this episode, we unpack the tension between broad scope and narrow scope specs. Should specs paint the big picture or drill down into every nut and bolt?

Greg Holness wears two powerful hats—engineer and attorney—and he’s spent over 30 years walking the fault lines of construction projects gone sideways. From root cause analysis to expert witness testimony, he’s called in when things don’t go according to plan—whether it’s delays, design flaws, scope creep, or flat-out contract chaos. But here’s the twist to Greg’s story: he’s not just about pointi...

Tune in as Elias Saltz, Executive Vice President and Senior Specifier, recaps the Master Specifier's Retreat in Milwaukee, WI in July, 2025.   👉What is his perspective of this event?  👉Who did he meet? 👉What is new in the industry? 👉Should you join CSI?

To spec or not to spec....or HOW to spec. Architects & Hazardous Waste: Proceed with Caution AI's Next Asbestos Whose responsibility is the waste? Should the architect and specifier be aware of it? How should you document it?

From a 14 year old kid bending sheet metal in his family's basement, to receiving a lifetime achievement award at 70 years old, Dick Bus of ATAS International , breaks down how to help build the metal industry.  In this episode, Dick breaks down what it takes to build more than just a successful business. It's about investing in relationships, technology, and education —laying the ground...

W hat do muscle cars and global procurement have in common? According to Kevin Batche , Vice President of Procurement at IPS (Integrated Project Services)—quite a bit. It’s all about timing, control, and having the right engine under the hood when the road gets unpredictable, like the current climate with global tariffs.  Kevin is a mechanical engineer by trade and a Penn State graduate. His early...

What happens when you grow up in manufacturing surrounded by sheets of glass, the hum of cutting tools, and a father with a vision? You don’t just learn the business—you reshape it. In this episode, we sit down with Chris McGrory of McGrory Glass —a company that’s shattered expectations (and a few stereotypes) since its humble beginnings in 1984. From decorative and architectural to ballistic and...

One Hard Hat – The Concept that Built Air Products air and gas separation unit featuring Kevin Sell and Brandon Jordan from The Kwest Group What does it take to deliver a world-class facility? A willing owner and a passionate contractor team—fully aligned under one vision. This is the Deliberate Words podcast, hosted by David Stutzman and Steve Gantner, leaders in Conspectus, the specification com...

We found a kindred spirit with Matt Brennan - host of the podcast “ What the RFI ” with his ambition to improve project documentation and construction administration (CA) through that oh-so critical practice of communication! This is the Deliberate Words podcast, hosted by David Stutzman and Steve Gantner, leaders in Conspectus, the specifications company….where words have a power that can create...

As a new year kicks off, it is natural to look ahead with a bit, or a lot, of uncertainty.  What risks lie ahead and how can they be managed?  We invite Michael Dubreuil, managing partner of PTAG , to join us on to the show.  He works on projects that can span decades! In this episode, Michael dives into collaborative contracting, which basically is IPD (integrated project delivery) on steroids. ...

The idea of a good owner is more than just a philosophical idea or an anecdote. It is the member of the project team, who is intentional, aware, and deliberately behaves with responsibility to create a positive influence and success on the project. Jack Mumma is that owner.  Jack, educated in philosophy and law, is the Executive Director of Construction and Facilities Strategic Acquisitions at the...

Sourcing product information can be tedious, time consuming, frustrating!  Conspectus has been using 4specs.com for decades, and a reliable directory for information.  No, this is not an infomercial.  Instead we reveal the solution to the ongoing quest many are on to find a quality resource of building product content and manufacturers. Whether he's on a journey to connect with fellow ham rad...

Does the construction industry need more attorneys, or do we simply need contractors to better understand the construction contract process? Josh Levy , CEO of Document Crunch and an attorney, believes it's all about understanding the process rather than hiring more lawyers. He offers deep insights into how they are helping project teams navigate the complex area of construction contracts. Ma...

Saddle up for high stakes and hard hats! Ken Stonecipher , corporate director of construction for Global Gaming Solutions joins us to chat about what its like to build in the world of casinos, with Native American tribes.  As a true-blue rodeo guy, with a long career in construction, Ken knows a bit about risk and safety, culture and community, teamwork and coordination, and most importantly prepa...

In this episode we welcome Jeff Sawyer !  Researcher, business leader and educator who is the director of strategy for Simplar – a world-leading procurement and an organizational management consultancy, and is president of the board of directors at the Center 4 Procurement, home of the RFP Doctor !  Jeff, who considers himself the black sheep of construction research, introduces us to a new perspe...

Organization of information is critical when it comes to making design decisions, estimating costs, and constructing a building.  Structuring project data in an efficient manner allows members of the project team to make rigorous analysis of options to compare cost, risk, performance and design attributes.  This can be accomplished through the SPD, which stands for Systems and Performance Descript...

Let’s throw back to November, 2023 to the COAA Fall Conference in Orlando, FL. Our guests are:  Cy Rangel of Purdue University, Carli Cole of HGA Architects, Sarah Delphin and Kamila Andrzejak from MD Anderson.  In this episode host of Deliberate Words and president of Conspectus sits down with four colleagues who we have become friends with during our participation and attendance at COAA which st...

Conspectus continues to grow, doubling the size of the team in just one year.  The Conspectians got together for the annual meeting in December, 2023 in the world-wide headquarters - Tuckahoe, NJ.  Take a peek into our culture.  That is the secret to our success.  

A fascinating look at the career path of the AEC industry tech leader Marc Goldman .  From crafting his own arch/eng degree to software development to digital mapping and location intelligence, and many adventures in between that brought him to BIM, the digital twin and GIS - Geographic Information System . In his current position with ESRI, he educates the AEC industry on how to leverage the bene...

Specifications are not typically a celestial experience, but Brian Conroy helps us discover how the process of creating well written documents, when done correctly, can put one in a state of service that may have the effects of feeling spiritual.   In this episode we welcome Brian Conroy, fellow Philly CSI members and product rep of Master Wall, which is a manufacturer of stucco, coatings, exterio...

Welcome to the Continuum... during this episode, we welcome Doug Bevill , the very first General Manager of Conspectus Cloud .  Conspectus Cloud, the specification tool created by specifiers for specifiers, and designers, and contractors, and owners and building product manufacturers, is capturing attention in the industry at a tremendous rate.  In response to this growth, Conspectus brought on Do...

Pizza and prefab construction, an unusual pair that have quite a lot in common, according the Axel Webb, from TAS Energy, a prefabrication and manufacturing powerhouse.  Axel is a golf semi-pro and efficiency guru.  His career has taken him from operation over 40 Little Caesar Pizza restaurants to his current position as pre-construction manager at TAS Energy, a pre fab manufacturer specializing i...

Conspectus team members have been long time members of the CSI (Construction Specification Institute) at different capacities, all across the country.  We understanding the importance of this organization for, not just specifiers, but for the entire project team.  Which is why we decided this spring, to invest in CSI at a new capacity, and attend regional conferences across the country as a sponso...

Are you on a Lean Journey? Are you familiar with what a Lean Journey is? Conspectus has been attending COPs (community of practice) events across the country. We have been learning about Lean principles, and striving to understanding the tenants. We know it is a powerful practice, that drives project success, but we want to know how the Conspectus approach aligns with Lean.  So we sat down with on...

Courage is a powerful characteristic in a female architect, and is exercised in a number of ways, inspiring many along her journey.  In honor of Women In Construction month, we welcome Marissa Iamello , a New Jersey architect and the 2021 AIA-NJ Young Architect Award recipient. As she shares her story, we learn how she has shown a tremendous amount of courage throughout her entire career. She is c...