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In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (30 min interview), we are excited to feature Mike Merrill (@michaeltmerrill), Co-Founder and Chief Evangelist at AboutTime Technologies - Workmax (@AboutTimeTechs), and our host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR). In 2003, with another General Contractor & two Software Engineers, he started AboutTime Technologies out of Payson, UT. WorkMax by AboutTime Technologies is the complete Employee Productivity collection software helping businesses reach their full potential. Combining the power of their TIME, FORMS, ASSETS, and INSIGHT modules businesses are able to track their mobile resources and manage project costs accurately. Since then, they have grown their client base to thousands of customers working in all 50 states, all provinces of Canada, & Internationally.Highlights of Mike’s interview with host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR) include: Mike's outlook on the next evolution of the culture of AboutTime Technology, and what this company of the future looks like His reasoning for his move from the traditional end of the industry to the opposite end, back when technology and software weren't as prevalent The appetite of companies to put a stake in the ground and begin to prioritize innovation for the future Opportunities for companies to layer on more efficiencies through artificial intelligence, visualization, digital twin, and other newer technologies In 1991, Mike started working in construction and after becoming a Foreman, Site Superintendent & Project Manager, he started his own building & development company focusing on custom homes, renovation work, subdivision projects & commercial jobs. As a Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer at AboutTime, Mike opened their first office & helped put the initial pieces in motion to get our business off of the ground & thriving. He has acted in various roles including managing Sales, Channel Partnerships & Business Development. AboutTime Technologies is currently expanding its operations, hiring new team members to continue to grow and expand its market presence!SHOW NOTES 0:12  Amy Peck introduces Mike Merrill, Co-Founder and Chief Evangelist at AboutTime Technologies - Workmax. 03:47  In the time that you've been doing your podcast and since you started your company, have you seen more awareness, and has there been an impetus to start to think about what is the next evolution of the culture of the company, but also what does the company of the future look like? 7:13  You moved from the traditional end of the industry to the opposite end, back when technology and software hadn't really become as ubiquitous as it is today, especially with our mobile devices. What made that happen? Were you always fascinated with technology? Why make that leap? 16:50  So I think it's important, and companies will have to put a stake in the ground and say they are actually going to prioritize innovation. Do you see more of an appetite for that or does it just depend on the company? 18:39  Looking forward to emerging technology that's coming, between looking at AI, blockchain, and immersive technology, do you see some opportunities there for companies to begin to layer on even more efficiencies through visualization, digital twin, and even some of these newer technologies? 27:30  If you could project yourself 20 years into the future, and if you could have any product or service or gadget or thing, that for you, would make your life better or make you personally happy, what would it be and what would it do?

In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (1 hour interview), we are excited to feature Joseph "Roee" Shua-Haim, Founder and CEO at Hathaware (@Hathaware). He graduated with a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the Technion Israel Institute of Technology in the summer of 2016. After graduating, Joseph moved to NYC and began his career as a structural engineer. Soon enough, Joseph took on an opportunity to shift into project management in RE development. Since making the shift, Joseph has managed over $85M in ground up developments. At Shadow Ventures, the focus is on investing in startups in tech-nascent markets where strategic capital is scarce. Their process and closed ecosystem of entrepreneurs, investors, designers, and developers are driven by both experience and technology to radically change how startups start and investors finish.  In Part 2 of this podcast, we are excited to feature Thai Nguyen, Director of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) at Hensel Phelps (@HenselPhelps). Thai has more than 20 years of experience in the architectural and construction industries. As Director of VDC, Thai drives the innovation of construction processes for Hensel Phelps, one of the United States’ largest employee-owned general contracting firms. In this role he leads VDC initiatives for all of Hensel Phelps’ district offices, managing a team of more than 80 individuals. This team provides company-wide leadership in VDC systems, tools and processes. They continually expand the use of virtual design and construction tools within Hensel Phelps, and within the Architecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC) industry. Highlights of Joseph and Thai’s interviews with host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR) include: The evolution of what's being built and opportunities for mid-size companies to bring technology in and improve processes How Joseph's developing Hathaware based on insights from conversations with customers Some of the unique challenges of bringing in new software to a large company Talent out of the BIM world that's leading innovation, and how that may be causing a shift in new innovation roles within Hensel Phelps and other companies SHOW NOTES  0:50  Amy Peck introduces Joseph "Roee" Shua-Haim, Founder and CEO at Hathaware. 10:31  So you're here and you've created this software, you're in the accelerator program now. Where do you see the evolution of what you're building, and some of the opportunities for mid-size companies to bring technology in and improve their processes? 13:25  So you also mentioned another thing that can be a trap the founders often fall into, which is too many bells and whistles, trying to make things too fancy and future rich. When you're talking to customers, what are some of the things you're hearing that are informing how you're developing Hathaware? 21:18  Amy Peck introduces Thai Nguyen, Director of Virtual Design and Construction at Hensel Phelps. 27:10  You mentioned some of the unique challenges of bringing in new software to a large company. There are a lot of legacy systems. Is part of your job just understanding how are you going to be able to bring in new technology and what systems do you need to alter or change to allow for all of this new technology? 39:28  Your CIO and CTO are two completely different functions. I've seen this pattern of talent out of the BIM world, that's leading innovation. You're comfortable on a job site. Have you seen a shift in that, because having a CIO or CTO is pretty foreign to our industry?

In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (23 min interview), we are excited to feature Todd Ogle, PhD, Executive Director of the Applied Research in Immersive Experiences and Simulations (ARIES) program at Virginia Tech (@virginia_tech), and our host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR). Todd and Amy were able to catch up at the 2022 Geo Week conference (@GeoWeekExpo) in Denver earlier this year to record this episode. We look forward to seeing you at Geo Week 2023, and you can keep up to date on all the Geo Week News here!Highlights of Todd’s interview with host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR) include: Some of the challenges Todd has found in leveraging reality technology and utilizing cross-functionality and how he overcame them using technology Difficulties in developing and processing renderings of a particular village project How some projects predate newer optimizations tools, and the industry is beginning to revisit them while determining if there are industry standards yet Exciting new developments in the world of technology and his ideal product for the future In his role at Virginia Tech, Todd leads the program, which applies immersive environments and simulations to the content creation and educational programs provided by the University Libraries, such as: Content to be held in the University Library’s learning object repository, Odyssey University Library instruction and student digital literacy programs Open educational resource creation Research and institutional data visualization Digital Collections-building and Digital Humanities The ARIES program supports applied research that brings together industrypartners, faculty, and students interested in the cognitive and affective aspects oflearning in immersive environments, games, simulations for training andperformance support, and more. It provides a destination for students to discover,create and share their own creations in the form of games, simulations, VR and AR experiences for learning and entertainment while having the informal interactions with interested peers, faculty, industry partners, and external researchers that are so valuable for student development.SHOW NOTES0:12  Amy Peck introduces Todd Ogle, Executive Director of the Applied Research in Immersive Experiences and Simulations (ARIES) program at Virginia Tech. 02:06  This project is one of the perfect use cases, leveraging augmented reality and virtual reality, and utilizing cross functionality. What are some of the challenges you've found, and how did you overcome them using technology? 10:26  So give us somewhat of a snapshot of this project you've been working on. I've been so impressed with how you're looking at open source and leveraging it wherever you can, and how important that is, so I'd love to hear your perspective. 12:38  So you had two former students who are out there in the wild, working in the industry, and you know, there are a lot of tools. Some of the renderings you shared of the village really looked fantastic, but it was not an easy process. Can you talk about that? 16:54  One of your students was talking about the different levels of decimation. Some of these projects were long before some of these optimizations tools were even out there, and it seems like now you're revisiting them. Are there even standards yet that tell you sizing, or are you just sort of guessing? 19:36  If you could project yourself 20 years into the future, and if you could have any product or service or gadget or thing, that for you, would make your life better or make you personally happy, what would it be and what would it do?

In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (30 min interview), we are excited to feature Adeniyi Ogunsua (@kogunsua), Senior Director and Industry Digital Strategist at Microsoft (@microsoft), and your host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR). In his role, Adeniyi helps design and create the intelligent future by igniting and enabling innovation via strategic partnership, industry-transforming initiatives, and innovative market platforms that leverage intelligent clouds. He leads teams to design and build the future of organizations facing Digital Transformation and transitioning to the Cloud. Lately, his focus has been on Sustainability (ESG) programs, Embedded Finance, RegTech, AI (Intelligent Bots, Cognitive Services, ML), Intelligent Buildings/Cities/Infrastructure (Digital Twins, IoT, Analytics), and Mixed Reality (HoloLens) for customers using 3 Horizons (core, emerging, disruptive business) growth model.In addition to his role at Microsoft, Adeniyi has attained extensive Big Four consulting and Fortune 500 experience within the financial services, healthcare, AEC, and retail industries. He holds PMP, CISA, and CSM designations. He has also received two Circle of Excellence awards for innovative sales and service Mobile applications that increase revenue and interest profit, improves customer loyalty, and increases customer acquisitions.At Microsoft, the mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Microsoft enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Microsoft operates in 190 countries and is made up of 181,000 passionate employees worldwide.Highlights of Adeniyi’s interview with host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR) include:- His suggested strategies to companies to help them overcome fear as an organization in the adoption of new technology- His key tactics, including BIM, that companies can utilize to make their buildings more responsive- Overcoming the economics and expense involved with introducing and integrating new technology- Exciting new developments in the world of technology and his ideal product for the future0:12  - Amy Peck introduces Adeniyi Ogunsua, Senior Director and Industry Digital Strategist at Microsoft.02:32  - The future is upon us and coming at us pretty quickly. When you're working with companies, what are some of the strategies that you're talking to them about? Are you find some fear and reticence for the level of change that needs to occur in companies these days?8:07  - So I love when you talked about responsive buildings. What are some of the tactics that companies can use? Not all companies are utilizing BIM. What are some of the strategies and how do we make this a standard?11:27  - As an owner or large construction company, or even an architecture firm, all of these industry innovations sound perfectly logical and extremely expensive. So what are some of the economics, with introducing new technology, to convince owners and construction companies to embrace technology?16:41  - Talking about some strategies that companies can leverage to really improve the output of their building, what are some of the things that you're seeing that are really exciting in the world of technology? 26:46  - If you could project yourself 20 years into the future, and if you could have any product or service or gadget or thing, that for you, would make your life better or make you personally happy, what would it be and what would it do?

In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (44 min interview), we are excited to feature Heather Widman (@HBWids), Principal at Building Ventures (@buildingvc, "BV"), and your host Amy Peck(@AmyPeckXR). In her role, Heather sources and evaluates investment opportunities in the operation and experience phases of the building lifecycle. Additionally, she advises portfolio companies leveraging her years of experience in developing and bringing tech products to market. She works closely with the founding teams at Canoa, Dandelion, enVerid, Envoy, GoContractor, Join.build, and Join Digital. She spearheads Building Ventures’ investment activities within the real estate tech (i.e., PropTech) community. Joining the firm in early 2019, she brings more than fifteen years of tech and startup operating leadership to the BV investment team. Before joining BV, Heather led the Product, Customer, and Brand Marketing functions at SaaS startup WordStream (acquired by Gannett (@Gannett) in 2018). Prior to WordStream (@WordStream), she held product management and marketing leadership positions at Boston startup ownerIQ (@ownerIQ) (acquired by Inmar) and Fortune 50 Express Scripts (acquired by Cigna (@Cigna)). BV is championing disruptive ideas for a better-built world. They offer the perfect mix of capital, mentorship, and industry connections. As-built environment pioneers, their mission is to provide access to funding, rich knowledge, and decades of experience, to entrepreneurs, partners, and disruptive thinkers. Together, they will build a better world. Highlights of Heather’s interview with host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR) include: Her understanding of the customer and go-to-market piece, coming from the "consumer-centric" side of the venture capitalism space Her passion for sustainability and how that drives some of the ways she looks at her investments Discussion about some of the new industry business models, what she's seeing, and what she thinks is really viable now Heather swapping roles with Amy as host and asking the everlasting personal question about what Amy wants to see in the future SHOW NOTES 0:12  Amy Peck introduces Heather Widman, Principal at Building Ventures. 09:11  Because you come from the "customer-centric" side of venture capitalism, you understand the customer and go-to-market piece, so I'd love to hear how you work with some of your portfolio companies? 14:11  Welcome back to the podcast! [Heather Widman] here with Amy Peck. We have time for one last question. So Amy, If you could project yourself 20 years into the future, and if you could have any product or service or gadget or thing, that for you, would make your life better or make you personally happy, what would it be and what would it do? 19:30  I know you're particularly passionate about sustainability and that drives some of the ways you look at your investments. So what are some other companies that are working to solve that with new buildings, but also solve it retroactively? 26:39  You mentioned the thesis of how you are looking at companies and what you're looking for, and in a combination of what are some of the new business models, new trends and ways owners can maximize space. Can we talk about some of those business models, what you're seeing and what you think is really viable now? 40:43  If you could project yourself 20 years into the future, and if you could have any product or service or gadget or thing, that for you, would make your life better or make you personally happy, what would it be and what would it do?

In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (37 min interview), we are excited to feature Dave Rhodes, Senior Vice President, General Manager - Digital Twins at Unity Technologies (@unity), and your host Amy Peck(@AmyPeckXR). In his role at Unity, Dave leverages a deep understanding of 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software to oversee the company's global business and growth strategy for industrial markets. Previously, Dave served as Executive Vice President of Sales, Services, and Marketing at Paradigm. Before that, he spent 11 years at Autodesk, where he last served as VP of the Americas and Worldwide Engineering Services Sales. Dave holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of San Diego and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of California at San Diego.“I’ve been following Unity for some time and am excited about the direction and vision the company has for the future of games and digital experiences...Between the amazing creations I’ve seen and the enthusiasm and knowledge of the team, I knew it was the right move for me.” - Dave Rhodes, SVP of Digital Twin, Unity Technologies. Unity Technologies is the creator of a flexible and high-performance end-to-end development platform used to create rich interactive 2D, 3D, VR and AR games and experiences. Unity's powerful graphics engine and full-featured editor serve as the foundation to develop beautiful games or apps and easily bring them to multiple platforms: mobile devices, home entertainment systems, personal computers, and embedded systems. Unity also offers solutions and services for creating games, boosting productivity, and connecting with audiences. Highlights of Dave’s interview with host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR) include: The industry divide between companies that are embracing innovative technology versus those that maintain utilization of archaic systems His outlook on when we will get to leveraging BIM and design data to effectively build digital twins The dream state in the industry of what we're able to do, and getting new technology in the hands of people to eliminate fear How companies are changing the mindset with their workforce to become more accepting of industry innovation SHOW NOTES 0:37  Amy Peck introduces Dave Rhodes, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Twins at Unity Technologies. 03:04  The AEC industry is a 3D industry, yet there are companies embracing all this technology and then there are the ones that are still working on these archaic systems. How do we bridge that gap? 5:41  So you mentioned a standard. At what point do you think we will get to leveraging BIM and design data to effectively build the digital twin during the process as the building is being built? Do you see trends toward that and where does that demand come from? 12:03  Let's talk a little bit about looking at the retrofitting of buildings, using photogrammetry or lidar scans to create an as-built, and how some of the tool kits of Unity. It's like we're at this dream state in the industry of what we're able to do. And now it's a matter of getting this technology in the hands of people, so they don't have fear because that's what's holding us back. 20:01  From a workflow perspective and practical perspective, how are you seeing companies change the mindset with their workforce because all of the technology in the world is meaningless if the workforce doesn't embrace it? 36:07  If you could project yourself 20 years into the future, and if you could have any product or service or gadget or thing, that for you, would make your life better or make you personally happy, what would it be and what would it do?

In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (46 min interview), we are excited to feature Jamie Fleming, Founder and CEO at Altoura (@Altoura_XR). Jamie founded Altoura and developed it to be a pioneer in spatial computing (AR/VR/Mixed Reality) and the #1 choice of organizations in manufacturing, retail, healthcare, AEC, RE&F, and technology industries looking to harness the power of spatial computing to improve productivity, lower costs, and increase employee satisfaction. At Shadow Ventures, the focus is on investing in startups in tech-nascent markets where strategic capital is scarce. Their process and closed ecosystem of entrepreneurs, investors, designers, and developers are driven by both experience and technology to radically change how startups start and investors finish. The company was founded in 2018 and partners with exceptional founders to transform the built environment. Shadow Ventures' incubator is custom-built to grow the next generation of built environment startups. With less than a 5% acceptance rate, each startup undergoes a vigorous vetting process to be accepted. Their current portfolio is made up of companies tackling hard problems in construction and real estate tech with unique solutions. Companies range from idea stage through Series A. In Part 2 of this podcast, we are excited to feature Marcus Farquhar, Technology Innovation and Experimentation Leader at Microsoft(@Microsoft). He has delivered proofs-of-concept and experiments to validate the implementation of digital transformation technologies. Marcus is creating innovative solutions in regards to digital building technologies and assessing value through experimentation and prototyping of digital transformation technology for the benefit of Microsoft's GWS organization. Highlights of Jamie and Marcus’ interview with host Amy Peck(@AmyPeckXR) include: The journey of raising capital and how it differs for founders and investors Finding the balance between being a practical leader versus a visionary Where it makes sense to always have a digital twin of your building from an as-built perspective Jamie and Marcus' desired products of the future that would alter the structure of their lives in a positive way The Future Construct podcast is produced by the team at BIM Designs, Inc. BIM Designs, Inc. is a minority-owned, US-based, union-signatory preconstruction technology firm, offering turnkey BIM modeling, laser scanning, coordination management, and other VDC solutions to the AEC industry. We'd love to talk with you! SHOW NOTES 0:37  Amy Peck introduces Jamie Fleming, Founder and CEO at Altoura. 8:12  I definitely want to talk about the journey of raising capital. For founders it's "nightmare-ish" and investors listen to pitch after pitch. Can you talk about that process and what was that synergistic moment? 17:55  There is a visionary component to being a founder, and it takes vision to harness and sell technology. Is there a balance between the practical and visionary that you look for and is part of your day-to-day? 26:26  Amy Peck introduces Marcus Farquhar, Technology and Experimentation Lead at Microsoft. 32:29  I would be curious to see what you think some of the steps are to see where it makes sense to always have a digital twin of your building from an as-built perspective? 42:10  If you could project yourself 20 years into the future, and if you could have any product or service or gadget or thing, that for you, would make your life better or make you personally happy, what would it be and what would it do?

In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (48 min interview), we are excited to feature Shaun Cooley (@ShaunCooley), President and CEO at Mapped (@Mapped). Shaun is a former CTO and senior technical leader, with over 25 years of demonstrated success across a range of nascent and established markets. He is able to pull from a background rich in business management and deep in engineering to define and execute on product roadmaps and architectures, provide security and privacy design and oversight, establish and manage technical partnerships, drive standards organizations and consortia, advise government policymakers, champion innovation, and solve complex existing or anticipated industry and customer needs. Mapped started with the idea “What if every built space had an API?” Getting data out of buildings was a complex, time-consuming, and often manual process - weeks or even months of work. To solve the problem, they created a knowledge graph of people, places, and things using machine learning to automate the process of data extraction and identification. They then built a simple, secure, and unified API on top; now anything that generates data - devices, sensors, enterprise applications, and more - is accessible quickly, easily, and securely. In June of 2021, Mapped raised a $6.5 MM round to build out a universal API for connecting control systems for elevators, HVAC, and other physical assets.Highlights of Shaun’s interview with host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR) include: The complexity of the Internet of Things and how Mapped is solving its integration the future of technology Ideal strategies for companies looking to utilize artificial intelligence and servers in their business models His vision on how wearables and digital twins will co-exist to create better digital experiences in the future How mixed reality can be utilized in a multitude of ways aside from gaming and what use cases there could be to expand the realm of virtual reality SHOW NOTES 0:37  Amy Peck introduces Shaun Cooley, President, and CEO at Mapped. 01:00  Clearly you're a slacker with your 120 issued and 100 pending patents. How did you choose this path? What led you to this realm and engineering and IoT? 5:14  So let's talk about Mapped. We use these terms like IoT, and there's a complexity to it. It seems like Mapped is here to solve that. Is that the case? 10:30  With the type of technology that's coming and you're layering on AI and server and digital twins, what is the best strategy for some of these companies? 24:13  Wearables are going to start hitting the market, and there are going to be cameras everywhere. Are you envisioning some version of the future where all of these outward-facing cameras that we're using to play games and access digital experiences in a place that some of that data can be made accessible to this master digital twin of a building? 40:55  If you could project yourself 20 years into the future, and if you could have any product or service or gadget or thing, that for you, would make your life better or make you personally happy, what would it be and what would it do?

In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (29 min interview), we are excited to feature Jenny Moshea, Chief Information Officer at Sellen Construction (@SellenConstruct). Jenny is an accomplished technology and transformation executive. She has been recognized for the ability to create business value through technology, develop high-performing teams, and establish cross-functional partnerships. Jenny is known for getting things done with creativity, energy, and adaptability. She has a proven track record in motivating and leading teams to deliver success under complex conditions. Sellen Construction builds iconic projects for the region’s tech, science, arts, health care and hospitality leaders. They believe in building community by creating unique spaces where significant things happen, and in giving back to non-profit organizations that make our community a great place in which to live and work. Sellen Construction operates primarily in the Pacific Northwest and offers a wide range of services from preconstruction support, cost estimating and constructability services, to Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), integrated project delivery and sustainability services. Sellen has a Special Projects group that regularly performs renovations and tenant improvements in existing buildings for a variety of office and health care clients.Highlights of Jenny’s interview with host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR) include: The work that Sellen Construction has done in the cybersecurity space developing their "Sellen S.O.S. Team" Some of the projects that Sellen Construction is currently working on How emerging technology plays a role in current operation and direction of Sellen Construction and how far ahead the company is looking at future technology Discussing the impact Sellen Construction's work has on the end user, how the "metaverse" will impact the workforce SHOW NOTES 0:37  Amy Peck introduces Jenny Moshea, Chief Information Officer at Sellen Construction. 05:08  You mentioned cybersecurity and where that's going. Where would you like to begin with that? 7:39  And so, when I'm perusing, I was drawn to some of the work you're doing in mixed reality. Are some of those, projects you can talk about? 9:09  So how are you looking at really enabling technology at scale? 14:23  So how far in advance are you thinking about emerging technologies, but then there's the day-to-day? How do we improve process today, but where do we want to go? And how do you balance that in your day-to-day? 25:10  If you could project yourself 20, 25 years into the future, and if you could bring with you any product or service that would make your life better or make you personally happy, what would it be and what would it do?

In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (29 min interview), we are excited to feature Sandra Benson, Global Head of Industry Transformation at Procore Technologies (@procoretech). Sandra brings over 25 years of experience in the building and building technology industry holding a number of executive positions including CIO/VP at Kentz/SNC-Lavalin, Global Industry Director of E&C at J.D. Edwards/Oracle and at Hexagon PPM. She has worked with many global E&C, EPC, and Real Estate companies throughout her career. Procore helps firms drastically increase project efficiency and accountability by streamlining and mobilizing project communications and documentation. This real-time data and accessibility minimizes costly risks and delays—ultimately boosting profits. Using their award-winning suite of project management tools, over a million registered Procore users across the globe manage all types of construction projects including industrial plants, office buildings, apartment complexes, university facilities, retail centers, and more.Highlights of Sandra’s interview with host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR) include: The focus of the National Institute of Building Sciences right now and how that will evolve over the coming years Some of the industry challenges being faced with multi-dimensional technology and how companies can think about that technology today Why we aren't seeing more adoption with BIMM in the construction industry The one product or service that would transform her life over the next 20 to 25 years SHOW NOTES 0:37  Amy Peck introduces Sandra Benson, Global Head of Industry Transformation at Procore Technologies. 03:58  So you touched on something that a lot of people struggle with, which is ethics around their job and role, and what their ultimate goals are.  I'd love to talk about what the focus is of the National Institute of Building Sciences and how that will evolve over the next few years. 7:49  And let's talk about that 3D, 4D, 5D, 6D, and how people are challenged with where they sit today. Give maybe a quick discussion of how you define this evolution and how companies can even be thinking about this technology today. 11:42  So let's dive a little bit deeper with BIMM. We're already having challenges having BIM really move through that building lifecycle management. It seems like such an obvious choice to be able to have this standard move through your building process and be the source of truth in an as-built environment. So what is the challenge, and why aren't we seeing more adoption? 17:58  Now, during our sponsor break, we got a look at your "interesting" water glass, can you show us and share the story behind that? 26:15  If you could transport yourself 20, 25 years into the future, and if you could have any product or service that would make your life better or make you personally happy, what would it be and what would it do?

In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (35 min interview), we are excited to feature Ryan Denehy, Founder and CEO of Electric. Ryan is a serial entrepreneur with three ventures and two exits to public companies. Ryan has served as an investor and hands-on advisor to numerous brands including Stadium Goods, Blackbird, and Anchor Worldwide. He has attained a broad level of experience in all aspects of revenue strategy through direct sales, channel sales, BD and M&A. He also has the proven ability to develop a vision, build the team, and get the job done in developing ideas into businesses. Electric is on a mission to revolutionize IT by making it simple, effortless, & lightning-fast for businesses everywhere. Through a "first of its kind" technology, paired with an elite squadron of IT technicians, Electric delivers lightning-fast IT support. Whether you're remote or onsite, Electric provides real-time issue resolution, security at the device, app and network levels, employee onboarding/offboarding and IT management. Founded in New York City in 2016, Electric is a Series D startup backed by Atreides Management, Bessemer Venture Partners, Primary Venture Partners, 01 Advisors, Greenspring Associates, Vintage Investment Partners and Slack.Highlights of Ryan’s interview with host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR) include: The challenges Ryan is seeing in the AEC industry around IT concerns and some of the ways Electric able to help solve that Some of the ways that mid-size companies can look at how to grow or how to pivot Where the puck is going in a lot of the major businesses and opportunities in immersive technology The impact that [our recent world health obstacle] has had on Electric, during a growth cycle SHOW NOTES 0:37  Amy Peck introduces Ryan Denehy, Founder and CEO at Electric. 05:36  What do you think are some of the ways that mid-size companies can look at how to grow or how to pivot? 8:42  And so without giving away your next company, what are some of trends? Where is the puck going in a lot of the businesses that we're all think about? Let's take immersive technology, do you see some opportunities there? 12:17  So we have a pretty broad audience in the AEC realm. I'm really curious on some of the challenges you're seeing in that industry around IT concerns and some of the ways you're able to help solve that? 21:19  So how has the situation that we're hopefully at the tail end of, how  did that impact your company, because it fell squarely in the middle of your growth cycle? Was that impactful in a positive way, negative, neutral? 25:40  If you could project yourself 20, 25 years into the future, besides the next two or three companies you will have built by then, and if you bring with you any kind of gadget or service that would make your life better or make you personally happy, what would it be and what would it do?

We have some amazing content to celebrate our 1-year anniversary episode for you to check out during the holiday season. Thank you to all of our guests that made this past year an amazing experience for the team at BIM Designs, Inc.! We are thrilled to bring back our very first Future Construct Podcast (23-min interview) guest, Salla Eckhardt, Director of Transformation Services at Microsoft (@Microsoft). Salla has been Director of Transformation Services at Microsoft since 2018, bringing with her an impressive background in construction and digital design. Since her last appearance on the show, Salla has been named chair of the National BIM Program Steering Committee by the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS).Salla has established herself as an industry pioneer, and innovative leader in emerging technology and digital transformation. She is committed to building up others and preparing the next generation in the built environment industry. She volunteers with or holds a chair with several construction-related organizations and is a Women in BIM Mentor. Salla specializes in BIM, digital construction, digital twins, extended reality (AR, VR, MR, CAVE), and the Digital Building Lifecycle. At Microsoft, Salla leads a multi-million-dollar R&D program as well as the Microsoft WW Construction community. She’s also established the Digital Building Lifecycle, resulting in a 50% reduction in design and engineering expenses, 33% reduction in construction budgets with digital program management, and 20% reduction in operational costs with digital twin supported business intelligence; and established the organization-wide BIM, digital construction, and digital twin programs.Highlights of Salla’s interview with host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR) include: Salla talks about adjusting to the pandemic’s effects on the workplace (home)  How the metaverse might affect the social environment Is the metaverse on the radar at Microsoft? Salla discusses upcoming technologies she’s most excited about SHOW NOTES  0:37  Amy Peck introduces Salla Eckhardt, Director of Transformation Services at Microsoft. 02:52  In terms of current trends, how are you thinking about all of this hype around the metaverse and digital twins? 07:00  How do we close the gap between the future vision of how we can do everything in a different and better way, from where we are right now? 13:11  We have this opportunity of actually being able to work with data in 3D environments from the inside out. And I don't think we've quite cracked what that visual language looks like. We're still bringing in these 2D constructs into 3D. Is this something that you've looked at, or have you seen anyone really pushing the envelope in terms of how we can start to parse this data and make completely new and broader inferences? 15:10  Buildings are the anchors of cities and then the built environment in digital twins are really going to be the anchor for smart cities. What does that kind of workflow look like? 22:11  If you could project yourself, you're 20, 25 years into the future, and you could have any kind of gadget or service or just something that would make your life better or make you personally happy, what would it be and what would it do?

In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (37 min interview), we are excited to feature Howard Berger (@bergerhl), Managing Partner, SVP Programs at RealComm (@RealComm). He is responsible for all programming for the Realcomm, IBcon, CoreTech conferences and the CIO Forums globally. Howard has a combined 30 years experience in both the technology as well as real estate industries.Highlights of Howard’s interview with host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR) include:- RealComm was one of the first organizations to hold a hybrid conference in response to the pandemic- Howard’s journey from IT to real estate, to digital transformation in commercial real estate- The necessity to have someone in an organization with a vision, ultimately driving change- The gross underutilization of most major office spaces in buildings, whether it’s a classic, urban, or even a suburban office- Howard's vision to have a device that doesn’t just translate words but translates what the speaker is really thinking, what’s in their heartSHOW NOTES00:37  - Amy Peck introduces Howard Berger, Managing Partner, SVP Programs at RealComm.01:06  - Can you tell us a little bit about your journey to this industry and how you became involved with RealComm?18:41  - One of the things that I think is remarkable in this industry is that you have those who are out there kind of forging a path but then you have others that are clinging to these arcane systems because it’s what they know. And it's going to be very difficult for them to compel their workforce to embrace the new technology. So, the companies that are getting it right – what is the secret?22:12  - The way space is going to be utilized is changing because people are home and not necessarily going back to work. How do you think this will impact the use of space and how will technology kind of help us redefine workspaces? What do you see as some of the technologies that are emerging to support this kind of fractious workforce?34:44  - If you can project yourself 20, 25 years in the future, and you could have a service or a gadget, or just something that makes your personal life better, what would it be and what would it do?

In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (24 min interview), we are excited to feature Amy Bunszel, who is the EVP of AEC Design, Autodesk (@AmyBunszel). Autodesk is changing how the world is designed and made, their technology spans architecture, engineering, construction, product design, manufacturing, media, and entertainment, empowering innovators everywhere to solve challenges big and small. From greener buildings to smarter products to more mesmerizing blockbusters, Autodesk software helps its customers to design and make a better world for all. Some highlights of Amy’s interview with host Amy Peck (@VirtualGirlNY) include: Amy’s career path starting as an electrical engineer    Training new employees in modular construction in a safe, low-waste factory setting Autodesk works with schools: K - 12, community colleges, and secondary education How exciting high-tech construction is for the next generation while passing the knowledge along from the retiring generation Show Notes: 00:37  Amy Peck introduces Amy Bunszel, EVP of AEC Design, Autodesk. 06:07 You're in a business that is 3D in nature, and we live in 3D environments, and yet we really have trained ourselves to work in 2D. How has the evolution of moving these sorts of 3D designs and assets into the 3D realm affected workflow, and how difficult is it to manage that end-to-end workflow? 12:38 So we talked about training the next generation who have no construction experience, but on the other side, there is an incredible amount of knowledge within the workforce who may be retiring over the next decade or so. Are there some ways that companies can capture and leverage that knowledge and expertise for this next generation of construction professionals? 16:37 And then with this next-generation workforce, there’s a big challenge in recruiting and showing that these industries are leveraging cutting edge technology and great software, it really does require this kind of marketing effort to show what a day in the life of this future worker might be. And so, are there some examples of that we might be able to share that would be interesting for people listening? 20:05 Yeah. And just looking into the future again, and we talked a little bit about some of the emerging technologies, you know, are there some other things that just, you know, you're really excited about or, or some technologies you've seen or, or uses of technology that really, you know, can, can make a huge difference in, in process and how it improves outcomes? 21:55 So taking us to the future, I'd love to ask you the question that I ask everyone. And that is if you could project yourself 20, 25 years in the future, and you could bring with you any gadget or service that would actually just make your life, you know, on a personal level better, or make you happy, what would it be and what would it do?

In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (32 min interview), we are excited to feature Sanjay Mistry, Co-Founder of VIM (@vimaec). Sanjay is an experienced Vice President with a demonstrated history of working in the design industry. He is a strong professional, skilled in game design, ZBrush, computer animation, graphics, and MEL.  Founded in 2016 with the goal of providing AEC professionals easy access to BIM (Building Information Model) data in real-time and on as many devices and platforms as possible, VIM is transforming the way that architects, engineers, and construction professionals design and build buildings. By removing the artificial walls between the AEC disciplines, and borrowing innovation from the gaming industry, VIM-equipped teams are delivering and sustaining a building’s design intent, from its originally approved conception to its ongoing operation.Highlights of Sanjay’s interview with host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR) include: Sanjay's journey into the industry of Building Information Modeling and what led him to start VIM How the entertainment industry impacted gaming and how game engines can influence smart buildings, smart cities, and IoT Operating on a job site without access to internet connections, and making data accessible on personal devices His desired gadget of the future that would completely transform his personal life and the automotive industry entirely SHOW NOTES 0:37  Amy Peck introduces Sanjay Mistry, Co-Founder of VIM. 2:00  "Through your journey, was it a natural progression into the world of AEC [from computer graphics], or did you start off on more of the creative bend?" 24:12  Sanjay discusses the operating on a work site without internet connections and making data accessible on personal devices. 29:14  If you project yourself 25 years into the future, and you could have any kind of gadget or service or just something that would make you personally happy or make your life better in some way, what would it be and what would it do?

In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (40 min interview), we are excited to feature Cristina Savian, Managing Director of BE-WISE. Cristina is a highly accomplished director with two decades’ experience in technology and engineering. As an expert in the built environment, Cristina has driven consulting engagements and delivered the adoption of technology, digital transformation and innovation across a number of sectors. She has been recognized for unsurpassed levels of commercial awareness underpinned by strong problem-solving, client management and leadership qualities. BE-WISE is a London and Melbourne based consulting firm specializing in innovation, technology and digital transformation for the built environment. The company launched in 2018, and their current client list consists of global construction technology companies, NGOs, and numerous educational institutions.Highlights of Cristina’s interview with host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR) include: The start of Cristina's career, and what inspired her to found BE-WISE The importance of having the level of confidence for yourself and providing inspiration for others The rapid evolution of technology, and the role it plays in the progression of different industries. Her desired gadget or service that would make her life better on a personal level SHOW NOTES 0:37  Amy Peck introduces Cristina Savian, Founder and CEO at BE-WISE. 01:12  You have such an interesting background. What was your journey, and what led you to start BE-WISE? 17:05  Talking about so many cool things, including your crazy clubhouse adventure, which seems to be expanding at an exponential rate. I'd love to hear a little bit about what is the importance of having the level of confidence for you, even just to inspire others? 26:28  You know, you talked about digital twins. What are some of the things you're hearing that are the honest challenges about how  we leverage digital twins? 37:36  Let's take a little trip to the future. Let's go 20 to 25 years past that edge you live on, on a daily basis, and you could bring with you any kind of gadget or service or just something that would make your life better on a personal level, what would it be and what would it do?

In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (35 min interview), we are excited to feature Jag Mallela, Managing Director of WSP USA. In April 2021, Jag was appointed to the National Institute of Building Sciences BIM Program Steering Committee, which is tasked with creating a national BIM program. His impressive body of work, while closely associated with highway infrastructure, is cross-cutting and touches many areas of surface transportation including innovative project delivery, civil integrated management, highway traffic operations, sustainability and resiliency, highway maintenance, asset management, highway safety, planning, performance measurement, and organizational/institutional capacity building.Highlights of Jag’s interview with host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR) include: Mallela’s inspiration(s) and how he came to combine his cerebral and creative roots  How vision, imagination, science, and technology together lead to innovation The importance of using technology to solve social and infrastructure problems How the pandemic has changed communities and how to plan around the changes SHOW NOTES 0:37  Amy Peck introduces Jag Mallela, Senior Vice President and Managing Director at WSP. 05:37  We see news about failing infrastructure. What are some of the things — whether trends or cures — you see as solutions for some of these infrastructure challenges? Especially where things were not constructed in a way that supports scalability and sustainability? 15:43  What are some of your thoughts on ways companies can close that digital divide? How can diversity, equity, and inclusion become more than a company mandate? 21:22  With remote work becoming the norm, do you find that you’re able to collaborate with a broader group of people globally within and outside the company to gain better insights into some of the problems you're solving? 29:02  Due to the pandemic, some streets were taken over to allow restaurants and shops to have outdoor seating areas. So we’re seeing more people walking, biking, relishing this new sense of community. How do you now start to plan around this new paradigm? 33:00  If you could project yourself, 20, 25 years into the future, and you could have any kind of gadget or service or just something that would make your life better or make you personally happy, what would it be and what would it do?

In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (36 min interview), we are excited to feature Kimon Onuma (@KimonOnuma), Founder and President of Onuma, Inc. Onuma, Inc. enables the “I” in BIM. They are a team of architects and computer scientists that build software for the rapidly changing AEC industry. The ONUMA System is an open-source, web-based ecosystem of tools, platforms, and services for buildings, cities, and more, built by architects and programmers who have been using BIM for over 30 years. The open-source architecture supports better quality designs, sustainable data, improved efficiency, and fewer unwelcome surprises throughout the built lifecycle.Some highlights of Kimon’s interview with host Amy Peck (@AmyPeckXR) include:- Kimon’s interest in information and things – and how that motivated him to fix inefficiencies in the architecture industry- How he came to combine BIM with traditional design- The importance of open source, taking software outside the box- Automating tasks so creativity can remain humanSHOW NOTES0:37 - Amy Peck introduces Kimon Onuma, founder and president of Onuma, Inc.04:10 - At what point was it really evident that software was going to go hand in hand, not only with design, but with the practical elements, the data that goes along with it?07:52 - I think one of the challenges is that there's so much technology now, there's this broad swath of technology that's not as advanced as we'd like it to be. Do you think that’s stagnating some growth on the practical use cases, because there's just too much for companies to experiment with?12:27 - I think we have an opportunity, augment human potential. To build machines that free us up to do what we're best at – which is the creativity and the nuance of our individual industries. So, I'm wondering if you hear that from your clients and what your thoughts are in terms of that kind of blend of automation and human creativity?18:49 - So much of this is parallel to open-source software. The more that we open source,  the more we can all learn from the same construct. But there's still a corporate veil of secrecy. They're concerned about their shareholders, which is fair, but how do we change that mindset?25:10 - I'd love to hear some of your thoughts on VR. We're really at the very early stages of this, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on what role you think immersive technology plays in the future.32:45 - If you could project yourself, 15, 20 years into the future, and you could bring with you an object or service that makes your life better, what would it be, and what would it do?

Our team is excited to bring you this new episode of the Future Construct Podcast (28 min interview), where we spotlight Danielle O'Connell, Director of Emerging Technology at Skanska USA (@SkanskaUSA). Skanska USA creates sustainable solutions and aims to be a leader in quality, green construction, work safety, and business ethics to drive profitability and reduce construction timelines.Some highlights of Danielle's interview with host Amy Peck (@VirtualGirlNY) include:- Danielle's day-to-day responsibilities at Skanska USA and how she remains up to date with the landscape of emerging technology.- The next wave of emerging technologies that will be at the forefront over the next three to five years.- Danielle's top three solutions that will most impact the industry now and in the future.- The technologies that are being most adopted within the industry.SHOW NOTES0:37 - Amy Peck introduces Danielle O'Connell, the Director of Emerging Technology at Skanska USA.4:45 - So, how do you stay abreast among the current landscape of emerging technology?9:26 - What are some of the emerging technologies you see over the next three to five years that we're going to see more of?11:36 - What are your top three solutions that are really going to impact the industry, that you're implementing now or that you see in the near future?16:16 - Are there some other trends that you're seeing or leveraging some other technologies like blockchain or AI that are getting adopted more?25:50 - If you could project yourself 20 to 25 years in the future, and you can you could have a product or service that makes you happy or makes your life better, what would it be and what would it do?

In this week's episode of the Future Construct Podcast (41 min interview), we are excited to feature James Benham, CEO, and Co-founder of JB Knowledge. JB Knowledge offers technology solutions for Insurance & Construction companies, transforming risk management technology and implementing technologies to transform construction projects. You name it; they can build it! JB Knowledge aims to make the world a more tech-savvy place; insurance and construction are just where they started.Some highlights of James' interview with host Amy Peck (@VirtualGirlNY) include:● A recap of James' career, including his University degrees, founding JB Knowledge, and traveling and working worldwide. ● The future of employment, particularly how technology and automation will influence the future of work. ● James' time as a City Council Member with the city of College Station and how he introduced innovation to the 125,000 residents to create a smarter city. ● Why the world needs more doers and fewer critics for us to move forward. ● The difference between wasting time or making time and how the human brain is the best computer ever built.SHOW NOTES00:12 - Amy Peck introduces James Benham, the CEO and Co-Founder of JB Knowledge, and his work experience. 02:52 - What inspired the move to Texas, with it being a tech hub? Explain your thought-process for the move. 07:38 - How do you ensure that you are intentional with the way you spend your time? What do you think of people who spend a lot of their time complaining, rather than acting on the things they want to do?17:52 - What are some strategies that you’ve employed at your company and that you recommend to other business owners? In terms of retraining the workforce, and integrating technology in a positive way. 23:55 - How can companies stay relevant with the technology life cycle and innovation cycles being so short? 35:26 - Tell me about your daughters. Are they interested in technology? Are they interested in flying? 38:22 - If you could project yourself 20 years into the future, and you can bring one product or service with you that makes your life better, what would it be and what would it do?