CONFERENCE DAY TWO - Wednesday, August 27

Download the Full Event Guide to see the expert speakers, a full in-depth 3-day agenda, the hours of networking opportunities, and how you can get involved in the discussion - all in one document!

7:00 am Check-In, Coffee, & Networking

7:50 am Chair’s Opening Remarks

  • Joshua Weyand Director, Emerging Technologies, Suffolk Construction

Accelerating End User Adoption

8:00 am Developing Training Programs to Empower Field Teams to Use New Technology Effectively

  • Chase Roles Operating Group Director, Integrated Technology and Virtual Design & Construction, Mortenson Construction

Synopsis

  • Discussing the challenges that arise in knowledge transfer between project teams and how training can be used to bridge these gaps
  • Creating repeatable and standardized training programs for field teams to help them understand the ROI, improve their existing skills, and gain confidence with new tools: How have we made sure that we accommodated for different learning styles and differing attitudes towards new technologies?
  • Ensuring that the implementation of training programs is complementary to jobsite activity to stay on schedule

9:10 am Panel Discussion: Simplifying the End User Experience to Ensure Business-Wide Adoption & Maximum ROI of Every Tool

  • Amol Soman Director, Virtual Design and Construction, Samet Corp
  • Robert Leon Chief Innovation Officer, Structure Tone Inc
  • David Stone Northeast VDC Leader, DPR Construction
  • Dwayne Sellars Director of Virtual Design & Construction, W.M. Jordan Co.
  • Tim Kelleher Operational Standards and Innovation Manager, Brinkman Construction

Synopsis

  • Getting feedback from end-users on the primary challenges with utilizing new tools, to continuously improve their experience
  • Finding creative ways to automate and refine the user-interface to save time in the compilation of reports for clients and internal stakeholders
  • Supporting new tools with user manuals and access to training resources to help users solve their own problems, real time

9:50 am Morning Refreshments

Enhancing Project Partner Collaboration

Track 1: Enhancing Project Partner Collaboration


Enhancing Trade/GC Collaboration


10.30 Using Integrated Planning Tools to Minimize Waste & Control Project Delivery Timelines

  • Evaluating the benefits of harnessing technology over more manual pull and takt planning processes
  • Discussing the tools available to support lean planning workflows: How is this information captured and easily fed to all stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle?
  • Ensuring field teams are accountable to keeping plans up to date with real
    time progress

Alonso de Avila, Senior Project Manager, General Motors

John Raad, Principal, Ruby & Associates


11.10 Audience Discussion: Maximizing Efficiency When Integrating with Different General Contractor Workflows & Platforms

  • Discussing the primary hurdles that can inadvertently affect General and Trade Contractor integration
  • Sharing some of the most impactful changes to streamline integration of systems and minimize disruption to our project teams
  • Engendering cross-stakeholder support and collaboration to ensure that monitoring technologies are not perceived negatively by our field workers

12.00 Networking Lunch Break


Navigating Data Sensitivity & Sharing


1.00 Panel Discussion: Managing Integration of Various Technologies Across Stakeholders to Reduce Disruption to Project Operations

  • Reconciling early challenges between GC and Client requirements for different technology platforms to avoid duplication of data input for teams
  • Outlining the step-by-step process of creating a collaborative cloud environment for all teams to work in
  • Establishing clear data input standards across stakeholders to ensure transparency of information in a timely manner

Logan McGuiness, Virtual Design & Construction Manager, The Weitz Co

Mike Ruizzo
, Building Information & Virtual Design & Construction Manager, Robins & Morton

Alonso de Avila
, Senior Project Manager, General Motors

Robert Crotty
, Assistant Vice President, Capital Productivity Improvement & Strategy, HCA Healthcare


1.40 Audience Discussion: Creating a Positive Culture of Data Sharing to Create a Single Source of Truth Between Project Partners

  • CEnsuring project kick offs effectively cover the expectations surrounding sharing, reporting, and integrating data at every stage
  • Aligning the mindset of the team to find solutions to share versus reasons to not
  • Re-enforcing security of data with upfront agreements clarifying the ownership and storage of data to help everyone feel comfortable

2.20 Afternoon Networking Break

Building Information Modeling
Applying Technology in the Field
Technology & Innovation Strategy

Establishing an Effective AI Implementation Road Map

2:50 pm Scaling Our Adoption of AI Tools to Drive Efficiency Across the Organization

Synopsis

  • Building a strategic AI adoption plan that provides benefits across the project life cycle: How did we identify the specific problems that AI can solve?
  • Mapping the step-by-step of introducing AI tools to our business: What were the biggest learnings and challenges along the way that made sure AI was complementary to, not disruptive, of existing workflows
  • Looking to the next wave of AI powered workflows, where is our team focused next?

3:30 pm Panel Discussion: Evaluating How More AI Tools Can Be Successfully Adopted & Implications for Future Business Operations

  • Jennifer Hohman Chief Information and Technology Officer, Baker Construction Enterprises Inc.
  • Barry Doerscher Chief Information Officer, Hunt Electric Inc.
  • Michael Warren Associate Vice President - Digital Practice Innovation, AECOM
  • Dana Erdman Vice President - Technology & Innovation, Chair Diversity & Inclusion, Bulley & Andrews
  • Alex Gutman Chief Technology Officer, Gilbane Building Company

Synopsis

  • Comparing perspectives on the uncertainty of the current AI landscape, and how to evaluate potential investments that are fit for purpose
  • Visualizing the future of AI within the construction industry, including strategies to make existing tools work for their processes and how to approach building custom tools
  • Looking at how AI implementation can support workforce development and enhance operational efficiency

4:10 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks

  • George Franco Chief Innovation Officer, Alberici Constructors Inc.

4:15 pm End of Advancing Construction Technology 2025