Get the kNACk : A National Academy of Construction Podcast

This week is Women in Construction week, and host Jerry Eyink welcomes Gretchen Gagel to discuss building women leaders in the construction industry. Gretchen shares her extensive journey in the industry and discusses the significance of inclusivity, allyship, and strong relationships. She describes the leadership qualities of successful women leaders, emphasizing authenticity and staying grounded...

Proactively managing and mediating construction disputes is essential to minimize risks and keep projects on track. In this episode, host Jerry Eyink is joined by Mike Loulakis, president and CEO of Capital Project Strategies, LLC, to discuss the root causes of construction disputes and strategies for effective resolution. With over 45 years of experience advising public and private sector owners...

Host Sue Steele welcomes Lucian Niemeyer, CEO of the nonprofit organization Building Cyber Security and former Assistant Secretary of Defense, for the first episode of a three-part series on cyber security. In this episode, Lucian lays the foundation by discussing the evolving landscape of cyber threats to U.S. national infrastructure, and the critical need for a proactive response from the engine...

A career in ironworking offers women valuable opportunities while helping to grow the skilled labor workforce. In this episode of Get the kNACk,  hosts Sue Steele and Kevin Hilton sit down with Vicki O'Leary, Director of Diversity for the Ironworkers International Union, to discuss efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable construction industry. Vicki shares her journey into ironworking and...

Host Jerry Eyink welcomes Dr. Bill O'Brien and Fernando Espana to discuss research by the Construction Industry Institute focused on understanding and enhancing project culture. The discussion addresses the challenges of fostering a high-performance culture and strategically aligning industry practices with cultural norms to ensure sustainable and productive teamwork. Fernando shares the findings...

Culture is at the core of project success, as Host Jerry Eyink and NAC CEO and President Edd Gibson discuss in their exploration of the critical intersection between technology and people in the construction industry. They share their evolving understanding of balancing technical expertise with the human element and how this balance enhances project outcomes. Edd shares the importance of front-end...

In this episode, host Kevin Hilton, CEO of the Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT), sits down with IMPACT General President Eric Dean and Bill Brown, Executive Director of Ideal Contracting, to discuss how the Union Ironworker model consistently succeeds in staffing mega projects. Amid today’s skilled labor shortage, they explore the union’s unique ability to provid...

Why pursue a career in construction? With October being “Careers in Construction” month, Jeff Ehret, Chairman of The PENTA Building Group, explains why he finds the construction industry both exciting and rewarding. With no two days alike and the ability to see tangible results of your work, a career in construction management is especially fulfilling. In this episode, host Jerry Eyink sits down w...

The value and impact of mentorship is tremendous in transforming the lives of both the mentee and mentor. In this episode, Milo Riverso joins our host, Jerry Eyink, to discuss the importance of mentorship. Milo is the retired President and CEO of the STV Group and currently serves as the President of Manhattan University. Throughout his career, Milo has been involved in mentorship, having served a...

Temporary structures play a vital role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of construction projects. In this episode, Charles (Chuck) Jahren, Morrill Professor Emeritus at Iowa State, joins host Bill O'Brien to share his expertise. Chuck offers valuable insights into the significance of temporary structures and strategies to mitigate the challenges they pose. He emphasizes the importance of inve...

The Hoover Dam stands as one of the greatest civil engineering construction achievements in history, as it was unprecedented in its size, scope, and technical complexity. Built during the challenging times of the Great Depression, it not only showcased incredible project management and innovation but also served as a symbol of hope. In this episode of “Lessons of the Great Builders”, host Jerry Ey...

Join us for the sixth installment of our “Leadership in Construction” series, featuring Jan Tuchman, a remarkable leader in the construction industry. Jan served as the editor-in-chief of Engineering News-Record (ENR) and now leads content development for ENR’s live and virtual events. Her dedication to the industry extends to her work with construction organizations and nonprofits. She serves on...

Join us for the second part of our two part series on the Building Owner Assessment Tool (BOAT), developed by the Charles Pankow Foundation (CPF) and the University of Washington’s College of Built Environments. In this episode, host Sue Steele is joined by BOAT project collaborators: lead researcher Carrie Sturts Dossick, Pankow Foundation Board and NAC member Greg Gidez, NAC member Laura Stagner...

Join us for the fifth installment of our “Leadership in Construction” series featuring Dominick Servedio. Dominick is chairman of STV Group, Inc., an organization he joined in 1977 following an extensive career with the New York Metropolitan Authority. His exceptional achievements have been recognized with the 2022 “Ted C. Kennedy” Award and the 2021 Richard Tucker Award, honoring his ongoing serv...

Capital effectiveness is essential for business success. In this episode, host Bill O'Brien is joined by Professor Carlos H. Caldas from the University of Texas at Austin. With over 30 years of expertise in construction engineering and project management, Carlos offers valuable insights into the concept and significance of capital effectiveness. Project teams need to support business decision-make...

Understanding team culture and selecting the optimal delivery method is crucial to a project's success. Building owners can now enhance collaboration and develop strategies to overcome challenges using a new tool created by the Charles Pankow Foundation (CPF) and the University of Washington’s College of Built Environments. The Building Owner Assessment Tool (BOAT) enables business owners to refle...

The fourth installment of our “Leadership in Construction” series has arrived! David Nash, senior vice president of MELE Associates, Inc. and retired admiral of the U.S. Navy, accompanies our host, Sue Steele, in a profound discussion about his career and life experiences. The former “Ted C. Kennedy” award-winner explains why he stayed in the Navy for 33 years after being drafted in the Vietnam Wa...

Technological advancements have the potential to make our buildings better adapt to our needs. Burçin Becerik-Gerber, Dean’s Professor and Department Chair of the Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Southern California, chats with our host, Bill O’Brien, about her vision for human-centric environments and shares examples of her research. Dr. Becerik-Gerber...

Conversations about mental health awareness are valuable, but taking action to improve mental health issues is how powerful changes are made. Kevin Hilton, CEO of IMPACT, and Bert Royer, 38-year member of the Iron Workers Union and IMPACT’s Canadian Regional Director, join our host, Sue Steele, in an open conversation about enacting meaningful advancements with mental health problems. Mr. Royer ex...

NAC is excited to announce a special release for Safety Week 2024! Mr. Dan Johnson, president and CEO of M. A. Mortenson Company, accompanies our host, Jerry Eyink, in a thoughtful conversation about this year's Safety Week. One of the major themes this year is to "value every voice" in the workplace. Mr. Johnson shares the value of Safety Week to highlight its importance and raise awareness. The...

Advanced Work Packaging can be an integral part of well-managed construction projects. Dr. Bill O'Brien, professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, and Jamie Gerbrecht, new Executive Director of the Construction Industry Institute (CII), discuss the functions and benefits of AWP. The pair accompany our host, Jerry Eyink,...

Welcome back to the next exciting session in our new series with NAC Masters. Mr. Charles (Chuck) Thomsen, former architect, construction manager, corporate executive, and educator, accompanies our host, Jerry Eyink, in an informative discussion about his leadership experiences. Mr. Thomsen reminisces upon his humble beginnings and talks about winning the Ted Kennedy Award in 2019. The guests elab...

Dr. Tanya Wattenburg Komas, President/CEO and Founder of the CPI Foundation and newest NAC inductee (2023), makes her podcasting debut with "Get the kNACk". The CPI Foundation is a non-profit educational foundation partnering with the US Departments of Defense and Interior to train active-duty military service members hands-on repairing landmark structures in national parks, most notably Alcatraz...

Welcome to the newest edition of our "Leadership in Construction" series, where we learn invaluable wisdom from highly experienced NAC members. Mr. Thomas F. (Tom)  Gilbane, Jr., chairman and CEO of Gilbane, Inc, joins our host, Sue Steele, in a knowledge-filled conversation about imperative qualities of leadership and perspectives of the dynamic growth of the construction industry. Mr. Gilbane ad...

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence requires careful attention and vigilance from its users. Ms. Jamey Barbas, project director at the New York State Thruway Authority, and Ms. Jill Tietjen, president and CEO of Technically Speaking, Inc., examine the benefits, challenges, and ethical implications of A.I. The two guests accompany our host, Dr. Anna Franz, in an enlightening review of th...