The ConTechCrew

EPISODE 425: Whether it’s misplaced cards or redundant training, managing construction credentials can feel like a full-time job–but not anymore with BuilderFax. In this week’s episode, my co-host Nathan Wood and I sit down with Christi Pilutik, CEO of BuilderFax, to talk about her mission to change how craft workers manage their credentials and career growth. With a solid background in HR and con...

EPISODE 424: Mental health in construction isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a necessity. But how do we empower the industry, especially its leaders, to talk about it openly? In this week’s Pause for the Cause episode with co-host Rob McKinney, we interview Paul Lawson, Risk Management Coordinator and Lead Mental Health Advocate at Mid-City Electric/Technologies, to explore his unique path from ministry...

EPISODE 423: How ready is your construction business for the future? If you haven’t thought about AI and automation yet, you could be missing out on something big! In this week’s episode of The ConTech Crew, my co-host Travis Voss and I sit down with Aaron Hilger, CEO of Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), and Carol Duncan, President of General Sheet Metal...

EPISODE 422: How reliant are digital technologies in improving construction safety?  In this week’s episode of The ConTech Crew, my co-host Rob McKinney and I sit down with Gabe Guetta, CEO and co-founder of SALUS, a young SaaS company specializing in construction safety. Gabe spent 15 years in construction, dealing with the challenges and stigmas that come with it. But when a near-miss job site i...

EPISODE 421: Do you ever wonder why construction accounting is so challenging? I did, too, and so did this week’s guest, who has not only lived through these challenges but also developed innovative solutions to tackle construction’s accounting and profitability issues. Meet Chris Lee. Chris is an entrepreneur who transitioned from IT to construction and then to tech innovation–solving some of the...

EPISODE 420: How do general contractors (GCs) spend most of their time? A recent study conducted on job sites reveals that GCs spend only 8% of their time in the field. The rest is consumed by tasks such as documenting discrepancies (16%), searching for the right information (15%), and meeting preparation (13%). Why are we wasting so much of these skilled professional’s time doing paperwork? Enter...

EPISODE 419: Have you ever faced costly errors in your construction projects? Imagine if you could prevent them before they even happen. In this week’s episode, Nathan Wood and I sit down with Shir Abecasis, an Israeli military intelligence and cybersecurity expert turned CEO of FIRMUS. FIRMUS is an AI-driven pre-construction tool that analyzes PDF construction drawings and identifies potential de...

EPISODE 418: How can the construction industry become safer and more efficient? When we talk about construction safety, the strict implementation of hard hats on job sites is the first thing that comes to mind. However, what’s happening under that hard hat is equally important. In this week’s episode, my co-host Rob McKinney and I sit down with Sebastien de Ghellinck, founder and CEO of SkillSigna...

EPISODE 417: We often view technology as a quick-fix solution, but it isn’t.  Take AI, for example.  Many companies rush to innovate and release AI-driven products to gain market advantage.  However, this often overlooks the ethical and practical issues that should’ve been addressed first. This is exactly what our guest will unpack today. Meet Ritwik Batabyal. Ritwik is the Chief Technology and In...

EPISODE 416: The construction industry has the highest rate of overdose deaths among major sectors. Yet, there’s still a stigma in tackling this opioid crisis. Thankfully, this week’s guest and his team have done the groundwork for creating healthier and safer construction job sites. To shed light on these critical issues, join me and my co-host, Nathan Wood, as we interview Cal Beyer, Senior Dire...

EPISODE 415: Have you ever wondered why some construction projects take so long and cost so much? Join me as I sit down with the incredible Maria Davidson, CEO and founder of Kojo, a construction technology platform built for trade contractors to manage procurement, tools, and warehouse support. Today, Maria and I talk about the critical role of materials management in construction delays and cost...

EPISODE 414: With today’s information right at our fingertips, a huge portion of the construction industry is still heavily reliant on siloed data. Could this be the hidden productivity killer costing the industry millions of dollars? In this week’s episode, my co-host Nathan Wood and I sit down with Bob Salaj,  Director of Customer Advisory Team at Quickbase, to explore the intersection of Lean p...

EPISODE 413: The construction industry has been using prefabrication for years, but there’s always been a bit of a disconnect. Typically, prefabrication doesn’t start until the bid is awarded to the fabricators. But what if there’s a way to speed up the process while building a sustainable future?  In this week’s episode, Nathan Wood and I speak with Michael Gustafson, vice president of strategy a...

EPISODE 412: Burnout has long been a cause of higher suicidal rates in the construction industry. But what if there’s a way to detect burnout before anything worse happens? Join me in this week’s episode as my co-host, Nathan Wood, and I speak with Eitan Vesely, a former engineer turned successful founder. Today, we’ll talk about the world of employee well-being and how Eitan’s Watercooler, an AI-...

EPISODE 411: Imagine having a tool that makes it easier for construction workers at all levels to find the information they need. Builder Answers is designed to do just that! Join me in this week’s episode as my co-host, Nathan Wood, and I speak with Marcus Kirkwood, founder of Builder Answers. Builder Answers is an online tool that provides immediate, accessible answers to workers on-site. It aim...

EPISODE 410: Is digital twinning completely achievable in construction? In this week’s episode, my co-host Jacob D’Albora and I have the pleasure of speaking with Alexis McGuffin, National Director of Digital Delivery at Suffolk Construction. With a solid background in software engineering and nearly two decades of experience in the construction industry, Alexis shares how digital twin is reshapin...

EPISODE 409: Imagine a construction job site where every worker feels heard, and seen, where leadership is not about barking orders but about understanding and empathy. That’s what our guest came in for. In this week’s special Pause for the Cause episode, I sit down with Matt Ohley, a seasoned general superintendent from Ajax Paving Industries of Florida. With a solid 27 years of experience in the...

EPISODE 408: Have you ever struggled to find good housing while on work travel? We all did at some point. With all these mega projects going on around the country, workforce housing is a very serious challenge. But most people don’t realize that bad housing conditions significantly impact traveling workers’ morale, especially those in construction. So, how are we supposed to address this silent cr...

EPISODE 407: Are you struggling with inaccurate construction layouts? Well, say hello to precise projections! In this week’s episode, my co-host Jonathan Marsh and I sit down with William St-Pierre, co-founder and CEO at Mechasys, to discuss his journey from 3D printing to laser projection technology for construction layouts. Discover how this laser technology from Mechasys facilitates precise, ef...

EPISODE 406: How can a finance expert reshape the construction world and demonstrate its urgent need for cutting-edge technology? In this week’s episode, join my co-host Tannis Liviniuk and me as we dive into the extraordinary journey of Lisa Giuffra Diaz–a former managing director at Goldman Sachs turned construction technology trailblazer and mentor. With over two decades of financial expertise,...

EPISODE 405: As fewer students opt for trade schools, addressing today’s skills gap in construction seems far-fetched. But this episode might inspire others to step up and educate the trades of the future. In this week’s episode, I’m joined by an old friend of mine, Jim Jones. Jim is the program director of skilled crafts and trades at Colorado Mountain College (CMC). With a wealth of experience f...

EPISODE 404: Construction is always ahead of what is going to happen. You can’t have a data boom until you have the data center–and somebody has to build it.  Yet, most companies don’t put that much weight on extensive training to upskill their people. In this week’s episode, my co-host Jacob D’Albora and I sit down with Ian Theodore, the training director at Austin Commercial, to talk about the c...

EPISODE 403: Imagine a world where roads and bridges are designed and constructed with unmatched accuracy and efficiency. That future is NOW! In this week’s episode, my co-host Jacob D’Albora and I sit down with Connor Christian, the BIM (Building Information Modeling) operations manager at Kiewit, as we explore how BIM and generative design technology are transforming transportation infrastructur...

EPISODE 402: The biggest challenge in construction isn’t technology; it’s changing perceptions. When did you last hear field workers compliment a tech specialist on his latest software? It seldom happens, and it’s hurting the industry one way or another. In this week’s episode, my co-host Jonathan Marsh and I have the pleasure of interviewing James Faulkner, the CEO and founder of SiteMax. Started...

EPISODE 401: The construction industry consumes a staggering 40% of the world’s resources while simultaneously dumping 40% of waste into landfills. Building a more sustainable future may seem like a far-fetched dream, but this week’s podcast guest thinks otherwise. In this week’s episode, my co-host Nathan Wood and I sit down with Brittany Harris, the amazing founder and CEO of Qflow, to explore g...