Episodes
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One of the most common industries for veterans to transition into when they return to civilian life is construction, and with that comes an opportunity to ensure that transition process can be as smooth as possible.
In this episode recorded live at AU2024, we will be diving into the role of veterans in the construction industry, personal stories of civilian life transition, how we can empower employers and veterans to be more successful as they continue their career journey. What better way to highlight how we can offer support than to sit down with veterans who have successfully transitioned into civilian life and a leader facilitating how we train them:
Ron McGuire, the Senior Program Administrator for the International Training Institute Sarah Velez, the Senior Technical Program Manager a& Global Co-Lead of Autodesk Veterans Employees Resource Group Anthony Williams, the OSM Project Coordinator for Dynamic Systems, Inc.Throughout the episode, you will hear about:
Effective support and training programs available to veterans looking to transition into the construction industry or the trades How to translate military skills into civilian jobs Comparisons between leadership and teamwork in the Armed Forces versus in the workforce Why veterans can be very favorable hires in the construction industry,How employers can make that transition process easier for veteransDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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Industrialized construction brings several benefits to construction, including cost reduction, improving safety, and building at scale. In this episode, we sit down with Ben Cochran, VP of Developer Enablement at Autodesk, and Tarika Jain Bhartiya, Co-founder and Head of Business at nCircle Tech, to talk about the global state of industrialized construction and its intersection with the AEC industry.
Here’s what we cover:
Risk factors associated with industrialized construction Improving collaboration between manufacturing and construction How purpose-built data tools are bridging the gaps between design, manufacturing, and construction The biggest challenges and opportunities for companies to embrace The complexities of balancing bespoke requests with manufacturing standardization Augmentation versus Replacement with AI’s growing adoptionDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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Missing episodes?
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Join us for this special episode of the Digital Builder Podcast, recorded live at AU 2024, the Design & Make conference!
In this episode, Eric celebrates the different milestones Digital Builder has reached this year, including 100 episodes, over 150 guests, and more than 500,000 streams across all platforms. In addition, he will also give you sneak peek into some of the episodes that have been recorded live during this year's Autodesk University.
Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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Join us for our milestone 100th episode of the Digital Builder Podcast, recorded live at AU 2024, the Design & Make conference!
We sit down with Esteban Corrales, Senior Technical Sales Manager at Autodesk, and Jenna Pellegrino, Senior Manager of Customer Experience Strategy at Autodesk, to talk about their experiences at Autodesk University so far, what to check out throughout the rest of AU, the conversations and interactions they've been having with customers, and the importance of empathy and trust for building effective partnerships.
Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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Join us for this special episode of the Digital Builder Podcast, recorded live at AU 2024, the Design & Make conference!
We sit down with Jim Lynch, Senior Vice President of Autodesk Construction Solutions, to talk about what he's been hearing from Autodesk's partners and customers over the last year, the current and upcoming trends in the AEC industry, and how technology is not just transforming how companies approach construction, but it's even changing how those same companies see themselves.
Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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Getting Preconstruction right is no easy task—it takes effective leadership, great communication strategies, and strong relationship-building skills. When it’s done well, projects can meet deadlines, budget expectations, and owner expectations , but when it's done poorly, the results can be catastrophic, from overspending to unexpected project delays, entire projects can be threatened by poor preconstruction strategies.
Alongside its importance to the overall construction process, there’s also never been a better time to build a career in Preconstruction. In this episode, we sit down with two precon powerhouses: Taimoor Khan, VP of Preconstruction at Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, and JD King, VP of Preconstruction at LEMOINE, to get a more thorough look at what’s happening in the precon world, how leaders can better manage their teams, and how to navigate the complex relationships GCs can have with subcontractors, trades, and specialty contractors.
Here’s what we cover:
The state of Preconstruction in recent years Nurturing trade partner relationships for successful precon How subcontractors, trades, and specialty contractors can position themselves to find and win more bids Why it’s a great time to build a career in preconstruction How to prevent burnout and create a healthy working environment The biggest organizational barriers to innovation and growth, both for team members and for the organization as a wholeDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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The move toward increasingly sustainable construction practices requires more than just a strategy. Without a significant paradigm shift that makes reducing our carbon footprint a top priority, sustainability will always remain just out of reach. That’s why we are excited to talk with Webcor's Senior Sustainability Officer, Sarah Rege.
In this episode, we dive into Sarah’s career transition from architecture to being a sustainability leader at a general contractor, how Webcor is integrating sustainability across their entire business, and how prioritization is enabling successful sustainability initiatives.
Here’s what we cover:
Webcor’s electric vehicle fleet initiative The significance of data in tracking emissions How to discuss sustainability in owner conversations The U. S. Green Building Council’s TRU Zero Waste for Construction system How health and wellness principles are influencing the way buildings and workspaces are developedDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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The most important factors to successful construction projects often revolve around effective collaboration between project stakeholders, and as innovation is happening throughout the industry, our efforts to work together and communicate effectively need to evolve, as well. This collaboration commonly breaks down between architects and contractors, as questions are left unanswered, and construction can be brought to a standstill until the confusion is cleared up.
In this episode, we are diving into the world of executive architecture with Alma Jauregi, Principal at House & Robertson Architects - San Francisco, to more deeply explore the relationship between architects and general contractors, how to succeed at early collaboration efforts, and how to find success early in your career journey.
Here’s what we cover:
What differentiates House & Robertson from other architecture firm types How to collaborate effectively with different project stakeholders before construction starts to influence planning and design choices How to build strong Contractor/Architect relationships Why self-advocacy is vital to securing new opportunities early in your career and how to do it effectivelyDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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Innovation, purpose-built tools, and the labor shortage have initiated an unexpected shift in roles across the construction industry, especially when it comes to superintendents. Traditionally, the majority of superintendents have a background in the trades and deeply engrained experience from the field. Now, more than ever, superintendents are entering the role from a variety of backgrounds, creating a unique mix of experiences, perspectives, and approaches to the role.
In this episode, we are sitting down with Erin Saiki, who pivoted from her career in Civil Engineering and now has fully embraced the superintendent role at DPR Construction. We explore her career journey and how she sees the superintendent role evolving alongside the construction industry.
Here’s what we cover:
Erin’s unique career path from civil engineer to superintendent The growing variety of experiences and leadership styles among today’s superintendents The superintendent’s role in streamlining and shortening project schedules The rising importance of trade skills for future superintendents How purpose-built tools are bridging the gap for newer superintendents How superintendents can empower the field more effectivelyDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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A core goal of Digital Builder has always been to highlight innovative approaches to the way companies are designing and making our world, which involves so much more than workflow processes, RFPs, and the often-overhyped threat of AI taking all of our jobs. Some of these innovations are happening at a much more granular level, which is what our friends at BamCore are doing with sustainable building materials like eucalyptus and timber bamboo.
In this episode, we sit down with two leaders from BamCore, Kate Chilton, the Chief Sustainability Officer, and Zack Zimmerman, Co-founder & Chief Commercial Officer. BamCore is dedicated to developing building solutions that minimize waste and shorten construction timelines with the goal of achieving a “beyond-zero” carbon footprint.
We discuss:
What makes BamCore unique as a green construction startup Common myths around alternative construction materials The advantages of timber bamboo and eucalyptus as construction materials Other, non-material factors that impact sustainability in construction projects Influencing a culture shift in North America that encourages builders and owners to consider new materials How BamCore’s emphasis on climate-smart practices and sustainability address a wide variety of objectionsIf you want to hear about more organizations doing work with sustainable building materials, go check out Episode 84 where we talk with Ariana Cohn about mass timber’s growing popularity, as well.
Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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As more and more companies are adopting data strategies and AI into their processes, they are also starting to see other areas of the business that data can empower. Thiago Da Costa, Co-founder & CEO at Toric, believes one of those areas is monetization.
We sat down with Thiago at Autodesk University to pick his brain on all things data monetization: how proper data implementation can save companies money, how it can empower new revenue streams in project bids, and how that same approach also naturally leads to stronger relationships with project stakeholders.
Here’s what we cover:
The gaps in data collection and curation in AEC Best practices for data monetization Why data monetization strategies also help companies stay competitive The risks of trying to adopt AI without a robust data strategy already in place How and where to deploy AI tools in your operationsDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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When experiencing a period of rapid growth and fast-paced transformation, leaders can get caught up in optimizing processes and finding fast solutions to new problems. This means you may miss opportunities to build deeper connections between your teams and struggle to nurture a strong culture of trust that is ready to adapt to changes on the fly.
There are already so many important elements of the organization that need to be balanced, so how can leaders effectively navigate these high-growth periods without making their workforce feel like they’ve been left behind?
We sat down with Tomislav Zigo, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President at Clayco, during AU2023 to talk through these complex processes, how complex companies like Clayco are changing the way they handle tech deployment, and how leaders can properly invest in their teams now to navigate these periods of rapid growth, new technology, and massive workforce culture shifts.
We discuss:
How tech adoption practices have evolved over the last 15 years How Tomislav evaluates new technology for potential adoption How to empower leaders in a fast-scaling model How broad workforce culture shifts are impacting the way organizations scale The need for companies to adopt a strong data strategy to remain competitiveDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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Intentional investment in raising an organization's data quality, improving its access to information, and creating and implementing robust, purpose-built technology deployments in the field is already proving to be transformative for all stakeholders across construction projects.
For leaders like Christy Steffen, Assistant Director of Gaylor University at Gaylor Electric, and Brandon Floyd, Director of Quality at Rosendin, they are already seeing the major upside to upskilling their teams and implementing these tools on site. In this episode, we’ve invited them to share how their teams are approaching the implementation of data-driven tools, team training programs, and more.
We discuss:
Ways to maintain a safe environment within a culture of continuous improvement How Gaylor Electric and Rosendin are approaching data training and implementation How project management technology has advanced over the last 10 years in the AEC industry The biggest challenges facing specialty contractors with project delivery and on-site safety How better data and on-demand access are already making field teams more efficientDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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As new AI tools enter the scene at a rapidly increasing rate, they will transform the way CAD or Computer Aided Design is integrated into our existing workflows. From managing data security and intellectual property to transforming the workflows of workers at all levels of involvement in a project, there is a lot of noise for organ?
That’s why we sat down with Autodesk’s Global VP for Product Management & Development, Marcus O’Brien. In this episode, Marcus shares the history behind CAD, how it originally revolutionized the industry, and cuts through the noise to share the tangible ways that new AI and ML tools are shaping the way we work.
We discuss:
The history and purpose of both CAD and AutoCAD Which ML & AI tools are making a meaningful impact in AEC workflows How AI tools can avoid becoming another “Clippy” Organizational safety and data security when working with cloud-based AI tools How AI tools can empower better and wiser decision-making when utilized properly How AEC organizations are shifting from communication and documentation tools to collaborative tools How common data environments could affect the future of AECDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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Contractors that are still opting for outdated payment management processes, like paper checks and double entry accounting, are starting to experience trouble in the form of higher subcontractor prices and potentially fewer options of partners to bring into projects. With these problems growing in frequency and severity, there is an urgent need to modernize our financial processes.
In this episode, we sit down with Mike Milligan, Chief Growth Officer GCPay, an Autodesk Company, to explore the ins and outs of payment systems throughout the AEC ecosystem and make a strong case for why the financial side of our operations should be included in our technology adoption roadmaps.
We discuss:
How payment systems vary by region whether by culture or regulations The harmful mindset that is holding companies back from digitizing their payment systems How utilizing digital payment solutions builds stronger relationships with sub-contractors The first steps to modernize your company’s payment systemDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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One of the most important contributors to meeting project deadlines accurately and safely is having access to the most updated and accurate project information. For many years, issues like distance, storage, and communication methods have been major obstacles to onsite decision-making, project adaptations, and even building trust between on-site and off-site teams.
Thanks to new technology, federal partnerships, and innovative approaches to these old problems, Departments of Transportation around the United States are seeing major improvements in how quickly they work, how much more they can accomplish, and how much more robust their team operations are.
During last year’s Autodesk University, we sat down with Andrew Pangallo, Construction Digital Delivery Lead Engineer at The Indiana Department of Transportation, and Kelly Barber, Division Chief for Systems Management at The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to hear more about how they are seeing these innovations are transforming the way their organizations work.
We discuss:
Core functions and goals of DOTs How INDOT and PennDOT are using technology to build trust between field and office workers, enable faster decision-making, and empower onsite leaders How INDOT and PennDOT are interfacing with the FHA’s Digital Construction Program How they are maintaining strict regulatory compliance while adopting new technologies How ongoing federal and industry partnerships are empowering innovationDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) programs are growing in their impact and importance across the entire AEC industry. When implemented correctly, DEIB improves profits, worker productivity and satisfaction, collaboration across business units, and makes companies more attractive to new and upcoming talent.
We had the chance to sit down with Randi Lucas, former Project Manager at CNY Group (now with Cord Meyer Development Company), and Reana Maglis, BIM VDC Manager at Hansen Yuncken, during Autodesk University to explore how you can create a high-impact, successful DEIB program in your organization.
In this episode, we explore:
Why DEIB Matters in Construction How Diversity in multiple categories improves creative thinking and problem solving A closer look at how Hansen Yuncken and CNY Group are approaching DEIB Current “gaps” in DEIB across the industry Where to start when building a DEIB program How to scale your DEIB programDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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Construction is a balancing act from start to finish, that includes careful supervision of the finer details of each project like safety, budget, quality, while also managing multiple stakeholders, on and offsite teams, and staying on schedule.
That’s why improving predictability at all phases of a project is a top priority at companies like DPR Construction. At Autodesk University, we had the chance to sit down with DPR’s CTO Atul Khanzode and Tim Gaylord, DPR’s Corporate Director of Innovation to learn more about how DPR is approaching technology deployment across all levels of the organization, how IPD is transforming collaboration throughout the entire construction process, and how other organizations can benefit from their learnings.
In this episode, we cover
Why consistent predictability is a challenge in construction How to maintain employee confidence when implementing new processes or technology How to win support for IPD DPR’s approach to technology deployment The advantages of specialization and how subject matter experts can bridge the gaps between various business unitsDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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Intuitive Machines aimed to be the first private, US commercial company to send a spacecraft to the moon. On February 22, 2024 they accomplished that goal. Helping Intuitive Machines realize their dreams was today’s guest, Stephen Brooke, a Digital Delivery Manager at Burns & McDonnell.
With the recent completion of the SuperBAB operations and testing facility in Houston, TX, Stephen joined us at Autodesk University to share how the project was brought to life, how Burns & McDonnell approaches value delivery and client success, and how data and AI will continue to impact the future of the AEC industry.
We also talk about:
Stephen’s career journey through the industry Intuitive Machines’ testing facility How to encourage an innovative mindset in the next generation Collaborating with vendors to bring value to clientsAssets Mentioned:
The MuralDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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One of the most exciting ways the AEC industry is continuing to find new ways to increase sustainability and safety is through mass timber construction. That’s why we’ve invited Ariana Cohn, a Digital Construction Engineer at Timberlab, an organization dedicated to advancing the mass timber’s mainstream adoption.
Whether it’s mass timber’s impact on the environment, or its ease of use in prefab and modular construction, there is so much potential for it to be a game changer for the industry.
Here are some of the topics you can look forward to in this episode:
The top misconceptions about mass timber Timberlab’s approach to its mission A day in the life of a Digital Construction Engineer at Timberlab The biggest obstacles for mass timber’s mainstream adoptionDigital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.
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