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.

Welcome back to the next exciting session in our new series with NAC Masters. Mr. Charles (Chuck) Thomsen, former architect, construction manager, corporate executive, and educator, accompanies our host, Jerry Eyink, in an informative discussion about his leadership experiences. Mr. Thomsen reminisces upon his humble beginnings and talks about winning the Ted Kennedy Award in 2019. The guests elaborate on important leadership qualities, interpersonal skills, and offer advice for the younger generation.

Dr. Tanya Wattenburg Komas, President/CEO and Founder of the CPI Foundation and newest NAC inductee (2023), makes her podcasting debut with "Get the kNACk". The CPI Foundation is a non-profit educational foundation partnering with the US Departments of Defense and Interior to train active-duty military service members hands-on repairing landmark structures in national parks, most notably Alcatraz Island and the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, and as interns with construction industry companies nationwide. Dr. Komas connects with our host, Jerry Eyink, in a discussion about her program and how CPI’s military participants are prepared for full-time employment throughout the industry upon civilian transition.

Welcome to the newest edition of our "Leadership in Construction" series, where we learn invaluable wisdom from highly experienced NAC members. Mr. Thomas F. (Tom)  Gilbane, Jr., chairman and CEO of Gilbane, Inc, joins our host, Sue Steele, in a knowledge-filled conversation about imperative qualities of leadership and perspectives of the dynamic growth of the construction industry. Mr. Gilbane addresses the importance of a good reputation and offers priceless advice to upcoming professionals. The pair shed light on acknowledging mental health issues and how to promote open dialogue on the difficult subject. To close, Mr. Gilbane describes what good leaders look like.

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence requires careful attention and vigilance from its users. Ms. Jamey Barbas, project director at the New York State Thruway Authority, and Ms. Jill Tietjen, president and CEO of Technically Speaking, Inc., examine the benefits, challenges, and ethical implications of A.I. The two guests accompany our host, Dr. Anna Franz, in an enlightening review of the importance of human interaction with A.I. and themes of psychology. The episode travels to additional discussion upon developing a culture of no fear in the workplace as a bonus for listeners.

Internship Programs are a Win-Win for students and the construction organization.  Mr. Elie Homsi, Senior Vice President and Fellow at Parsons, and Ms. Daisy Dominguez-Hooper, student at Cal Poly Pomona University and Wayne A. Crew NAC Scholarship Recipient (2023), discuss the importance of internship programs. The two guests join our host, Jerry Eyink, in an engaging conversation about the benefits and challenges of internships. Mr. Homsi and Ms. Dominguez-Hooper highlight their perspectives as mentor and mentee.

As the new year advances, technological innovations continue to progress rapidly. Dr. Lucio Soibelman, the Fred Champion Estate Chair in Engineering Professor at USC, analyzes the growing integration of automation within construction. Dr. Soibelman accompanies our host, Bill O'Brien, in a compelling discussion about examples of current robotics usage and their limitations. He also explains why robotics integration is not as simple as some people may think and his expectations for automation in the future.

A new "Get the kNACk" series makes its debut. Jim Porter, retired chief engineer and vice president of DuPont, provides masterful wisdom and insight into imperative leadership qualities in construction. Mr. Porter joins our host, Jerry Eyink, in a fascinating conversation about leadership and navigating a successful yet challenging career. Eight compelling questions related to opportunity, collaboration, and innovation are discussed in this episode.

Welcome back to another exciting study of the Lessons of the Great Builders. Professor Paul Giroux, visiting professor of civil engineering at Purdue University, returns to expound upon the challenges and triumphs of the construction of the Panama Canal. Professor Giroux accompanies our host, Jerry Eyink, in an informative discussion about the context behind the project's origins as well as its technical, professional, and personal outcomes. Professor Giroux explains the differences in leadership during the project and the unique challenges faced during the Panama Canal's completion.

Planning for and managing risk is a vital component of all construction projects. Dr. William (Bill) J. O’Brien, professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, accompanies Jerry Eyink, in a thoughtful conversation about risk allocation. Dr. O’Brien breaks down the main parts of project risks and discusses factors that influence risk in certain ventures. Another topic examined during the session is the comparison between design-build and design-bid-build contracts. To conclude, Dr. O’Brien provides the definition of a “risk register” and offers lessons learned from his career experiences.

Hardhats are no longer the safest option to protect construction workers from traumatic brain injuries. William (Bill) Calhoun, Jr., Vice Chairman and Executive VP of Clark Construction, and Kris Manning, Chief Operating Officer of Clark Construction's Infrastructure Group, join Sue Steele in a discussion about the construction industry's dire need to transition from hardhats to helmets on project sites. The guests examine the vulnerabilities of hardhats and explain why helmets can be safer alternatives. Calhoun and Manning provide research findings on helmet standards that can be applied to future integration within construction projects. To conclude, the guests establish their goals for a successful helmet transition and emphasize its imperativeness in order to prevent further brain injuries.

No matter what the circumstances are, it is always important to finish strong. Ron May, retired executive from DTE Energy, joins our host, Anna Franz, as they accentuate the imperativeness of closing out projects successfully. May provides several strategies to assist in thorough project resolutions. Lastly, Ron May mentions the use of high-level planning to ensure projects are effectively finished.

In today’s successful construction projects, establishing a strong safety culture is paramount. Jeff Ehret, Chairman of the PENTA Building Group, joins our host, Sue Steele, in a discussion about the evolution of safety culture within the construction realm over the past 25 years. Ehret explains how earlier projects typically emphasized schedule and minimizing cost, placing safety as a third objective. To conclude, Ehret provides strategies for creating and upholding a “Safety First” culture in the workplace.

Life is sprinkled with an infinite supply of twists and turns. Few scenarios can be executed perfectly. Ron May, retired executive from DTE Energy, discusses adaptations to change with our host, Anna Franz. In the session, May outlines a plan of action for responding to unexpected changes during projects. May reveals the secret to balancing life’s curveballs and how to stay ahead  when it comes to project management.

Explore the marvels of iconic projects in this Lessons of the Great Builders. Our guest, Paul Giroux, has 5 decades of mega project industry experience and currently is a visiting professor of civil engineering at Purdue University.  Paul joins our host, Jerry Eyink, on a journey to share the story of the captivating construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. Paul mentions his personal outcomes in regard to the project as well as the lessons learned from its project execution. Lastly, Paul provides the most important aspects from his experience and explains how these lessons are still relevant today after 150 years.

What qualities define a leader and how does one become successful? Jamey Barbas, project director at the New York State Thruway Authority, and Jill Tietjen, president and CEO of Technically Speaking, Inc., join our host, Anna Franz, to craft a brilliant process for successful leadership. The guests elaborate on characteristics of exceptional leaders and provide their own fascinating anecdotes from their work experiences. To conclude, Jamey and Jill emphasize the importance of emotional intelligence, the need to excite people about their careers, and empowering innovation in the workplace.

Joint Venture collaboration unlocks new ideas and opportunities that cannot be obtained individually in project execution. Jeffrey Ehret, Chairman of The PENTA Building Group in Las Vegas, NV, joins our host, Jerry Eyink, to explore the details of joint ventures in the construction sphere. During the session, Jeff highlights several fascinating joint venture arrangements that had significant impacts. He shares the value of team alignment, collaboration and culture to create trust for successful JV project delivery.  To conclude, four major challenges of joint ventures are outlined to provide a recipe for success in future projects.  The bottom line- a successful joint venture is a Win, Win, Win opportunity for all stakeholders.

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform the way we live and work. Burcu Akinci, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, accompanies our host, Bill O’Brien, on a fascinating journey through the functions of AI in construction and civil engineering. Akinci also defines a “Digital Twin” and explains its importance when used in combination with AI functions. The revolutionary AI program, ChatGPT, is discussed with respect to the implications of generative AI for our industry. Also discussed are the concerns about the use of these tools and the related education of our professionals about AI. To conclude, Burcu Akinci emphasizes the value of civil engineers leading the transformation in the future instead of letting AI steer the wheel.

Innovation is how the world advances beyond obsolescence. Richard (Rik) Kunnath, president of the Charles Pankow Foundation, accompanies our host, Jerry Eyink, on a fascinating discussion about the importance of innovation within the construction realm. Rik evaluates the symbiotic relationship between innovation and research during the session. In order to remain competitive on the global stage, the United States construction industry must innovate often. Rik concludes the podcast with imperative lessons learned from his experiences with innovation.

Improving construction productivity begins in early project design. Paul Goodrum, Professor and Department Head of Construction Management at Colorado State University, returns to explore construction productivity with our host Bill O'Brien. Paul explains that there is "no silver bullet" to improve productivity, but there is still hope for future usage of advanced technologies such as augmented realities and robotics. Additionally, productivity in planning is also seen as central to improvement during the session. The importance of cost indices and standardization of design are highlighted to improve productivity measurement.