It's a Controls Problem

How do you protect a building’s brain while pushing the boundaries of what it can do? Jacob Jackson of Aptitude returns to the show to trace his journey from the trenches of building automation to becoming a self-published author and independent publisher. We catch up on his latest role, the massive insights he’s unlocked since his last visit, and what it’s really like to build a media engine from...

Everyone is talking about artificial intelligence right now, but how much of it is just marketing noise, and how much is actually moving the needle in the mechanical room? This week, we are welcoming back industry visionary Keith Gipson to move past the surface-level talk and dig into the front-line realities of AI adoption in building automation. Keith updates us on some massive recent project wi...

The building automation industry is facing a massive talent crisis, but the bottleneck isn't a lack of bodies, it’s an outdated approach to finding, training and hiring them. On this episode of It's a Controls Problem , we dive deep into the human architecture of smart buildings with Diana Vargas of Stacks+Joules. A non-profit powerhouse, Stacks+Joules is completely disrupting traditional workforc...

This week, we sit down with Nicholas Gayeski, co-founder of Clockworks Analytics, to break down the sheer physics of how buildings actually work—and why our current systems so often fail them. Nick took a very different path into building automation, moving from the academic research labs of MIT straight into the messy reality of the mechanical room. In this conversation, we look at the industry t...

In this episode, we sit down with Matthew Oliver of Static Air and Static Grow to explore the high-stakes world where building automation meets precision agriculture. We track Matthew's journey into the smart building industry and dive deep into why standard commercial HVAC strategies often fail when applied to the sensitive, volatile environments of indoor grows. From the financial risks of m...

In this episode, we sit down with Justin Thomson to track his journey from the early days of WASP Technologies to his current role with Logan Pass Construction pushing the boundaries of the industry. We dig into the philosophy behind building a Linux-based Niagara station and why Justin leans so heavily into open-source foundations for critical infrastructure. It’s a great look at how technical cu...

Ever stood in a mechanical room wondering why your data feels like a guaranteed hand-delivery while other times it’s just tossed into the ether? Scott Sammarco is officially breaking it down in the premiere of MicroSwitch , our brand-new short-format series designed to give you the technical goods without the fluff. In this first episode, Scott dives into the backbone of BAS networking: UDP vs. TC...

This week on the show, we’re joined by the powerhouse trio behind the Automation Ladies podcast: Nikki Gonzales, Ali G, and Courtney Fernandez. If you’ve ever wondered how three people from such distinct paths end up dominating the industrial automation space, this is the conversation for you. We dive deep into their individual origin stories, moving past the resumes to the actual grit it took to...

In this weeks episode, we’re joined by Jonathan Spooner of Stacks+Joules to look at how the next generation is rewriting the rulebook for Building Automation. We also discuss the "DAB Lab," where students move past bench testing to get their hands dirty with real-world troubleshooting on active boilers and AC units. From the philosophy of "messy but functional" wiring to why Re...

In our latest episode we catch up with a guest from last season, BASGFX.com automation graphics guru Louis Laurents. There is a specific kind of magic that happens when you stop treating building automation like a backend chore and start looking at it through the lens of high-end user experience. Louis has been at the forefront of that shift, and having him back on the show feels like a masterclas...

In this episode of It’s a Controls Problem , we are joined by Aaron Hastings, the president and founder of Apex Consulting Systems, for a conversation that covers everything from DIY hardware to the high-stakes world of building automation consulting. Aaron’s entry into the industry is a classic "origin story" involving a custom-built Super Nintendo controller he made in high school wood...

In this episode of It’s a Controls Problem , we’re getting into the weeds of how we actually pass on knowledge in an industry that never seems to sit still. We’re joined by Scott Sammarco, a veteran who’s been deep in the trenches. Scott walks us through his own start in the business before taking a deep dive into the different ways he and Charles approach training. It’s a bit of a methodology fac...

In this episode, we sit down with BAS professional Jonathan Henderson for a candid look at the messy, often frustrating reality of modern industry workflows. Rather than just listing achievements, the conversation dives into the "human" side of the business—the grit and trial-and-error required to actually move the needle in a complex corporate landscape. A central theme of the discussio...

We’ve all seen it: A new product launches with incredible specs and "game-changing" features, only to gather dust because it didn't solve a real problem for the facility manager. So, how do manufacturers stop building "cool" things and start building necessary things? In this week’s episode we sat down with Joseph Aamidor of Aamidor Consulting for a masterclass on product s...

In this episode, we are Mucking Through Digital Sludge with Andrew Rodgers of Ace IoT Solutions . We explore why the promise of the "Smart Building" often gets bogged down in a messy reality of unorganized, untagged, and unusable data. Andrew takes us on a journey through the three stages of the data crisis: The Descent: How he first entered the industry and realized that despite the hig...

Join Charles and Matthew this week as they dive into the very real and pervasive issue of burnout in the modern workplace. It's more than just a bad day; it's a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged or excessive stress. The guys share their own past struggles with the demanding pace of their careers and break down the often-missed signs of burnout , from c...

This week, we sit down with Gulai Shen of the Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities. Gulai helps us unpack the complex world of AI-driven building management, focusing on the many factors that influence how and where AI can be applied effectively with a people-centric focus. We dive deep into the critical role of data quality, discussing how clean, reliable data is the single most importan...

The security of Building Automation Systems (BAS) is a hot topic, but what exactly is the threat landscape? In this episode, we're joined by Michael MacMahon, Director of the Intelligent Building Studio at Newcomb & Boyd. He'll walk us through the evolving risks that smart buildings face, from an increase in identified vulnerabilities to the challenges of securing complex, integrated systems....

We are very excited to have the one and only Ed Merwin, who recently celebrated 50 years with Honeywell, join us in this episode. We jump into his introduction to the controls world, his career in the pursuit of more intelligent buildings, the protocol wars, and more. We highlight some of Ed's contributions to the industry and just barely scratch the surface of his hard-earned experience.

In this episode we sit down with Brian Vaughn of Technify, exploring a provocative idea: that our relentless pursuit of innovation has, paradoxically, hindered true interoperability. Brian reveals how the drive for proprietary systems and quick wins has led to a fragmented landscape, leaving us with smart tech that struggles to truly communicate. He argues that we're often skipping a crucial q...

In this episode, we sit down with John Albanese, Director of Smart Buildings at The QuestCom Group, Inc., to explore his fascinating journey into the world of smart buildings. John shares insights into his evolution within the industry and elaborates on why the design-build approach just works, highlighting its effectiveness and benefits in modern project scoping and smart building initiatives.

This week, we're rewinding to the very beginning to explore the genesis of the Building Automation System. Long before "smart" was a marketing buzzword, pioneering academics and engineers were tinkering with the foundation of intelligent buildings as we know them today. In this episode, we'll cover the onset and chart the critical developments of a transformative decade. Learn ho...

Ever wondered what it takes to power a university sustainably? In our latest episode, we sit down with Kenny "Kenergy" Seeton, the brilliant mind behind Central Plant Operations and Strategic Energy Projects at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Get ready to learn about cutting-edge energy strategies, campus innovation, and Kenny's unique approach to a more sustainable fut...

Join us as we sit down with Jacob Jackson, a true "automation wizard" and a leading voice in the smart building industry. With over 20 years of experience in building automation and operational technology (OT), Jacob shares his invaluable insights into the complexities of integrating modern building systems. In this episode, we'll delve into his journey in the field, explore the chal...

In this episode, we sit down with Louis Laurents of BASGFX to explore how high-quality graphics are transforming building automation. We discuss the impact of visual design on user experience, system understanding, and overall efficiency in modern building management. Louis will delve into the practical applications of these advanced graphics, demonstrating how they provide intuitive dashboards fo...