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 service and support to the National Academy of Construction. In this episode, Dominick joins our host, Jerry Eyink, to discuss the qualities and importance of true leadership. Dominick shares what it means to be a leader and explores the latest trends and challenges in the construction industry. He offers valuable advice to young professionals, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and encouraging them to be a sponge, to listen and learn.

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-makers better to ensure facilities are not only built efficiently but also are an effective use of scarce capital. Carlos emphasizes the critical interaction between project and business teams. He shares strategies to enhance organizational collaboration, ensuring that teams work together effectively to achieve business and project goals.

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 reflect on their decision-making profiles, helping them identify and implement the most efficient project delivery methods. In the first episode of a two-part series, NAC and Pankow Foundation Board member Greg Gidez and lead BOAT project researcher Carrie Sturts Dossick join our host, Sue Steele. They outline the project's goals and explore the design process, offering valuable insights into how the BOAT tool was developed to address industry needs. Tune into part two to discover how the BOAT tool can be utilized and applied!

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 War. Admiral Nash, Ret. highlights the importance of collaboration and how to overcome failure.

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 describes her work to increase the comfort of our individual spaces within office settings, and relates this to measures of improved cognitive performance and productivity. The conversation shifts gears to discuss modeling human behavior in emergency settings and using the results to improve design and facility operations. The discussion provides insights into ongoing R&D that can tangibly improve the ways we interact with buildings.

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 explains the most damaging mental health stressors including financial stress and job demand. The guests elaborate on resources such as the 988 lifeline as well as Mr. Royer’s involvement with the Construction Industry Institute and the Construction Safety Research Alliance, where he was involved in Research Team 401 that reviewed medical literature and collected data from construction workers to create a practical mental health guide for construction professionals.

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 history of past safety weeks is discussed as well as their evolution and overall benefits to the construction industry.

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, in an eye-opening conversation about AWP's value in the construction process and across the project life cycle. Each guest provides their own fascinating anecdotes of their involvement with AWP during their careers.