Bridging the Gap: Insights & Innovations in Construction

Your Personality and The Team

How big of impact does a healthy culture have on a company? What does healthy look like and how do you build that culture? Join host Todd and guest Jake Olsen of DADO as they discuss the benefits of a healthy culture, how to adjust for remote work and how to bridge the gap between the office and field. They also unpack the importance knowing the personalities of your teammates, along with tools to help.
Jake Olsen, P.E. is currently the Co-founder and CEO of DADO, a construction software company that provides a voice-powered search for project data and documents. Jake was previously VP of Engineering at DEWALT where he built a team dedicated to developing and providing software and consulting services for architects, engineers and contractors. Jake has worked in the industry as an engineer and entrepreneur for over 20 years both in the USA and abroad developing new products, software and businesses to transform the way we build. Jake holds a master’s degree in Structural Engineering and is a licensed Professional Civil Engineer in California.
 
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts.
 
Vote for Bridging the Gap as the 2020 Best Construction Podcast
 
Podcast listeners can register for MEP Force Virtual for ONLY $99 with the code BTG99. Register Today.
 
Sign up for newsletter
Follow us on LinkedIn
Bridging the Gap Podcast Website
Todd’s LinkedIn
 
Thank you to our sponsors!
Applied Software
Applied Software LinkedIn
 
Other Relevant Links:
Dado Website
Dado LinkedIn
Jake Olsen’s LinkedIn
Jake’s Favorite Book on Company Culture
More Information around the Enneagram
 

Routine: The Enemy of Innovation

When you think of the word innovation, what comes to mind? Can some good come out of disruption, or have you always thought of change as a bad thing? Sit down with host Todd and Angie Simon of SMACNA (The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Association) as they discuss the HVAC trade, the untapped resource of women in the trade workforce, and the resilience of the construction industry that has kept it afloat in a rapidly-changing world.
Angie has been a leader in the Bay Area construction industry for many years. She has been with Western Allied Mechanical for over 33 years, became President in 2008 and recently took the CEO position. She is a registered Professional Mechanical Engineer in the state of California with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where she also played softball on the NCAA team for 4 years. 
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts.
 
Vote for Bridging the Gap as the 2020 Best Construction Podcast
 
Podcast listeners can register for MEP Force Virtual for ONLY $99 with the code BTG99. Register Today.
 
Sign up for newsletter
Follow us on LinkedIn
Bridging the Gap Podcast Website
Todd’s LinkedIn
 
Thank you to our sponsors!
Applied Software
Applied Software LinkedIn
 
Other Relevant Links:
Western Allied Mechanical Website
Angie’s LinkedIn
SMACNA Website

How AI and Origami Meet in Construction

Have you ever thought of construction as a way of communicating? As a designer, are your beliefs reflected in what you make? Sit down with Todd and Tal Friedman as they talk about origami-inspired “3D folding,” minimalistic design, and the work involved in integrating design and construction. Learn about the necessity of taking time for details and how 3D folding can be used as an alternative form of construction.
Tal Friedman is the founder and CEO of FOLDSTRUCT. He works in the realm of computational construction and digital fabrication technologies. As an architect, construction-technology engineer, and international keynote speaker, he has a passion for bridging the gap between industrial innovation and novel design. His work has been featured in Archdaily and Design Boom, and his portfolio can be found at talfriedman.com.
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts.
Vote for Bridging the Gap as the 2020 Best Construction Podcast
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow us on our social accounts.
Sign up for newsletter
Follow us on LinkedIn
Bridging the Gap Podcast Website
Todd’s LinkedIn
 
Thank you to our sponsors!
Applied Software
Applied Software LinkedIn
Other Relevant Links:
LiveLab Learning

The Holy Grail of the Industry…Productivity

How do you define productivity for the trades and construction? What are some hurdles that you’ve faced in achieving that productivity? What changes have you seen with internal communication across the board? Join host Todd and Rob McKinney, aka the ConApp Guru, of ICT Tracker as they discuss the “holy grail” of the construction industry, productivity tips, how safety is your best friend and the need for collaborative communication in every project. Learn how encouraging a mindset of openness, continual improvement, and being a lifelong learner can benefit your organization.
Rob is a pioneering Construction Technologist that works with apps every day to better understand how the can improve workflows in the Construction Industry. He is a founding member of the ConTech Crew podcast and speaks at conferences across the United States. During his time with the ConTech Crew, Rob has interviewed a number of thought leaders about the changing influence of Construction Technology. When he is not on the road at events, he enjoys spending time with his family in the outdoors, trying out a new BBQ recipe or sampling a local craft brew!
 
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts.
Vote for Bridging the Gap as the 2020 Best Construction Podcast
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow us on our social accounts.
Sign up for newsletter
Follow us on LinkedIn
Bridging the Gap Podcast Website
Todd’s LinkedIn
 
Thank you to our sponsors!
Applied Software
Applied Software LinkedIn
Other Relevant Links:
LiveLab Learning
Rob McKinney’s LinkedIn
Rob’s Blog – ConAppGuru
ICT Tracker Website 

Just Be a Builder

There is a Renaissance in construction technology and the recent uptick in disruption has increased the acceleration. But how comfortable are you leveraging the wide-ranging construction technology available? Are you using BIM to influence your detailing decisions? Join Todd and The Construction Brothers, Eddie and Tyler, as they unpack what BIM (Building Information Modeling) really is, the necessity of working together and getting back to the basics of being a builder.
Eddie and Tyler own a building information modeling business called ABSI, based in Downtown Milledgeville, GA with their dad. Throughout his career, he has tied rebar, been a carpenter, and remodeled bathrooms. After years of being in the field, Eddie turned his focus to 3D modeling and the new family business, ABSI, in 2005. There, he pursued becoming a licensed General Contractor in the State of Georgia. Tyler came into the family business as an apprentice at the beginning of 2012. Branching out from there, Tyler had a fascination with technology--how it can speed up work, and how it can improve accuracy. Beyond that, he became obsessed with User Experience design and the implications it could have for the construction industry.
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow us on our social accounts.
Sign up for newsletter
Follow us on LinkedIn
Bridging the Gap Podcast Website
Todd’s LinkedIn
 
Thank you to our sponsors!
Applied Software
Applied Software LinkedIn
Other Relevant Links:
LiveLab Learning
-
Guest Info:
Construction Brothers podcast
Tyler's LinkedIn
Eddie's LinkedIn

The World of Generative Design, Partnership with Designers and Augmented Workflows

Ever wondered about what generative design really means? Are you wondering what its presence implies for your job and your future? Sit down with Todd and Lilli Smith of the AEC Generative Design Team at Autodesk as they discuss the process of augmenting workflows, the partnership between designers and generative design, and the new dimensions that have arisen in the world of design. Learn more about the implications generative design and what it may be able to offer your company.
Lilli Smith, AIA, Sr. Product Manager for the AEC Generative Design Team at Autodesk is an architect with a passion for re-envisioning the way that buildings are designed. After working for several years as an architect, she joined Revit Technology as a fledgling start up and helped grow it to where it is today in almost every architect’s tool box. She has gone on to work on many Autodesk tools including Vasari, FormIt, Dynamo, Project Fractal and Project Refinery which has just graduated from beta to a new suite of tools included in Revit 2021.
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow us on our social accounts.
Sign up for newsletter
Follow us on LinkedIn
Bridging the Gap Podcast Website
Todd’s LinkedIn
 
Thank you to our sponsors!
Applied Software
Applied Software LinkedIn
Other Relevant Links:
LiveLab Learning
-
Guest Info:
Lilli Smith's LinkedIn

Advice from a BIM Manager, Putting the “I” in BIM and Mentoring Others

As a contractor, how can you help increase efficiency? As technology changes, what level of commitment should you make? Join Todd and David Francis from ICT Tracker as they discuss breaking down the barriers between departments, communication in the age of globalization, the evolution of augmented reality, and understanding your strengths and weaknesses. Learn about the importance of patience in any project and what it means to “know your people.”
David is the CTO at ICT Tracker, a mobile productivity software solution that utilizes augmented reality. He has had a distinguished career as a BIM manager, and he is currently MEP National Chairman for AGC BIM Forum MEP Group. He is a construction technologist who shows contractors how to dramatically increase efficiency and profits.
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow us on our social accounts.
Sign up for newsletter
Follow us on LinkedIn
Bridging the Gap Podcast Website
Todd’s LinkedIn
 
Thank you to our sponsors!
Applied Software
Applied Software LinkedIn
Other Relevant Links:
ICT Tracker Website
MEP Masterminds
David's LinkedIn

Thinking Unreasonably, Challenging Architectural Design and Stepping Outside of the Box

There are many roads for architects and artists to explore. For architect Renzo Verbeck and artist Sylvia Lisse, those roads led to teaming up on the creation of a Temple at Burning Man, for a second time. Join Todd, Renzo Verbeck, and Sylvia Lisse as they talk about the benefits of thinking unreasonably and how that allows creative artistic expression to flourish. Learn about their individual processes, journeys, and project takeaways, as well as how they feel about the status quo.
Renzo Verbeck of Verbeck Design Studio in Boulder, Colorado is an architect, sculptor and builder with three decades of experience. He is a Licensed Architect in the state of Colorado, and he is a member of the American Institute of Architects. He is passionate about upholding the client-architect relationship and committing himself to every detail of his projects. Sylvia Lisse of Jackson, Wyoming has been working on interactive art teams since 2013. She has worked on art projects for Burning Man, BM Regional events, Oregon Eclipse Symbiosis Festival, What The Festival, and for Sonic Bloom. She also works as a Travel Radiolic Technologist specializing in trauma and surgical imaging.
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow us on our social accounts.
Sign up for newsletter
Follow us on LinkedIn
Bridging the Gap Podcast Website
Todd’s LinkedIn
 
Thank you to our sponsors!
Applied Software
Applied Software LinkedIn
 

Our Favorite Memories, PodSquad Fun Facts and Bridging the Gulp

Are you curious about what goes on “behind the scenes” of Bridging the Gap? Have any favorite moments or interviews? If so, we’d love to hear from you! Sit down with Todd, Eric and producer Alyssa in our milestone 25th episode as they discuss stand-out conversations, inside jokes, receiving fan mail, and which countries and states we’ve reached so far. Here’s to 25 episodes and many more to come!
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow us on our social accounts.
Sign up for newsletter
Follow us on LinkedIn
Bridging the Gap Podcast Website
Todd’s LinkedIn
 
Thank you to our sponsors!
Applied Software
Applied Software LinkedIn
Other Relevant Links:
LiveLab Learning

The Inspiring Actions of Manufacturing, Blurred Lines with Construction and Quarantine Habits

American industries and manufacturing are doing some amazing things to step up and serve. How will this energy and creativity carry over when things “return to normal”? What lessons does manufacturing have in store for construction? How are those lines blurring? Sit down with Todd and Bianca Coury as they discuss remote work, the ins and outs of manufacturing, what’s happening in prefabrication, and the merging entities of construction and manufacturing.
Bianca Coury is the Construction Manager for Eagle Point Software. She is a builder, connector, change agent, and strategist responsible for facilitating process improvement and aligning technology with operational excellence across the AECO space. Bianca is a LEED Green Associate, currently serves as the Director of Partnerships for the Construction Progress Coalition and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Design and Architecture Studies from New York University.
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow us on our social accounts.
Sign up for newsletter
Follow us on LinkedIn
Bridging the Gap Podcast Website
Todd’s LinkedIn
 
Thank you to our sponsors!
Applied Software
Applied Software LinkedIn
Other Relevant Links:
LiveLab Learning
Todd’s Thoughts – Inspiring Actions of Manufacturing
Guest Information:
Bianca Coury LinkedIn