What do get when you pack over 200 industry professionals into one Zoom meeting? If you guessed 'have a virtual party', 'create an amazing conversation', 'push the industry forward', 'get a cooking demonstration', 'learn BBQ tips from a professional', or 'learn a new margarita recipe', you'd be correct! In this episode we too a look at Day 2 of MEP Force 2020 on the Bridging the Gap Podcast. This special episode took place during a Virtual House Party. If you have attended MEP Force in person, t...
Sep 02, 2020•33 min•Ep. 46
LIVE: A look at Day 1 of MEP Force 2020 on the Bridging the Gap Podcast. This special episode features a round table from some industry and podcast veterans: Rob McKinney, Nathan Wood, Travis Voss, and James Simpson. They unpack the biggest trends and conversations coming out of the conference and the trades. Two of our biggest takeaways? 1) Tons of folks in the industry (1300 of them!) are hungry to network and connect. 2) Amy Marks' Keynote, The Rise of the Subcontractor struck a chord with li...
Sep 01, 2020•35 min•Ep. 45
Join host Todd and Nathan Kirchner of as they discuss the intricacies of tracking AI software, situational awareness, and the issues of safety and work vs. idealization. Also, learn more about three things that matter when it comes to AI: vigilance, reliability, and consistency. Nathan Kirchner is the Founder and CTO at Presien - a cutting edge AI vision systems, a Special Advisor for Robotics, Ventures at one of the world’s largest private construction companies, a Director of the Robotics Aust...
Aug 26, 2020•40 min•Ep. 44
Join host Todd and guest Lt. General Robert “Bob” Caslen, Jr., president of the University of South Carolina, as they discuss the importance of character in leadership. Through Caslen’s time in the military, he has seen all kinds of leaders up close. Todd and Bob talk through the need to consistently perform to the upper level of your potential, and how to develop the leadership traits that are best suited to you. Learn more about the importance of character, determination, values and how that r...
Aug 19, 2020•47 min•Ep. 43
Join host Todd and guests “Queen of Prefab” Amy Marks of Autodesk, David Evans of Starr Electric, and Bob Snyder of Binsky and Snyder as they discuss misconceptions about prefabrication, increasing lack of labor and complexity of design, and what productization has to do with the rise of the subcontractor. Learn more about how education and proof of existence is changing the mindset around prefabrication, achieving longevity in the industry, and the new Industrial Revolution. Want to hear more f...
Aug 12, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 42
What does optimal performance look like for construction? What about your company? What steps will ensure everyone is on the same page while working on a project? Join host Todd and guest Clay Smith of eVolve MEP as they discuss the need for proper information flow in an organization, flattening and streamlining the communication process, and the danger in “flying blind” while on the jobsite. In addition, Todd and Clay discuss what’s in store for MEP Force—and what you can expect from it now tha...
Aug 05, 2020•34 min•Ep. 41
The MEP industry is full of grit but can it be used as a springboard for innovation? How can grit help lead to success in the industry? What should the combination of youthful energy, technical knowledge and real-world experience look like? Join host and guest James Simpson of eVolve MEP as they unpack the grit needed for success in MEP. Listen to James’ story on how he started full time in MEP at 16 years old and the lessons learned along the way. James Simpson is the Mechanical Product Manager...
Jul 29, 2020•41 min•Ep. 40
Join Todd for this exclusive interview episode unpacking the recently announced partnership between Autodesk, eVolve MEP and GTP Services to form a more comprehensive fabrication workflow that will enable MEP contractors to more easily adopt Building Information Modeling (BIM) Autodesk software products and workflows. Listen to Steve Butler, Sr. Industry Strategy Manager of MEP Design and Fabrication at Autodesk, Clay Smith, CEO of eVolve MEP and Amanda Comunale, COO of GTP Services, as they unp...
Jul 23, 2020•45 min•Ep. 39
Let’s face it, the world has changed over the last few months between remote work, zoom meetings, safety requirements and more. How is the COVID aftermath affecting you, your company and the construction industry as a whole? Todd welcomes back Mark Oden of BIM Designsto discuss what’s changed in the past six months, the importance of self-care, encouraging communication and collaboration, and what’s going on in the world of prefabrication. Mark Oden is the CEO of BIM Designs. He joined the BIM D...
Jul 22, 2020•40 min•Ep. 38
As a construction technologist, you know that your job comes with a unique set of difficulties and benefits. Can you pinpoint what those are? Do you feel that it would benefit all construction technologists to open up a conversation about it? Join host Todd and Walker Lockard of DADO as they discuss the technological trade, the cure and curse of construction technologists, and putting intentionality into initiatives. Walker Lockard is the Customer Success Manager at DADO. He is a construction te...
Jul 15, 2020•43 min•Ep. 37
As someone in the construction industry, you’re probably aware of the constant what-ifs that accompany you as you work. How does the impact of the uncertainty on you and your coworkers? How about the project you’re working on? Join host Todd and Mike Zivanovic of United Association Technology as they break down stigmas around mental health, momentum and coordination on the job site, and the importance of mental health awareness in the construction industry. They also talk on the importance of ha...
Jul 08, 2020•44 min•Ep. 36
As someone in the construction industry, how do you see the adoption of innovation? Are you open to doing things differently, or do you prefer the way it’s “always been done?” What has the edge in the battle of soft vs. hard skills? Join host Todd and guest Graham Thiel as they discuss different roles in the AEC industry, the surge in adoption of technology, and using remote connectivity. Learn more about the benefits of collaboration, sharing information, and mutual respect. Graham Thiel has sp...
Jul 01, 2020•42 min•Ep. 35
As someone in ConTech, do you remember what inspired you to engage in this field? What makes you passionate about what you do, and what makes you continue in the face of adversity? We welcome Bianca Coury back as she and Todd discuss what brought Bianca to the construction industry, the challenges of being female on a job site, the work/life balance in quarantine, and the successful crossovers between art and construction. Bianca Coury is the Construction Manager for Eagle Point Software. She is...
Jun 24, 2020•35 min•Ep. 34
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...
Jun 17, 2020•52 min•Ep. 33
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...
Jun 10, 2020•44 min•Ep. 32
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 comput...
Jun 03, 2020•27 min•Ep. 31
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, c...
May 27, 2020•43 min•Ep. 30
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 bu...
May 20, 2020•44 min•Ep. 29
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, AI...
May 13, 2020•37 min•Ep. 28
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 produc...
May 06, 2020•40 min•Ep. 27
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 Verbec...
Apr 29, 2020•28 min•Ep. 26
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 acc...
Apr 27, 2020•25 min•Ep. 25
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 ...
Apr 23, 2020•31 min•Ep. 24
As a technologist, you’re dedicated to making project document and information accessible, but you might face the common dilemma of becoming “chained” to your creation. Technology permeates nearly every aspect of our lives, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Join Eric and Todd for the third installment of The Innovation Briefs. Sit in on their discussion about the difference between innovativeness, innovation, and inventiveness, and reflect with them about the peculiar ways that humans inte...
Apr 17, 2020•26 min•Ep. 23
Have you and your company embraced innovation? Have you done it to the level that you should? Join Todd and Jason Barber of Manufacton as they discuss being an agent of change for prefabrication, and learn more about how you can contribute to the growth and innovation that will keep the construction industry moving forward for the better together. During the conversation, they will unpack the need to harness the power of disruption as a prefab catalyst, search for the “Uber” of construction, the...
Apr 08, 2020•37 min•Ep. 22
Are you working remote these days? You’re most likely being faced with the unique set of challenges that come with such a transition. Join Todd and our editor Eric in this edition of our “Innovation Brief” bonus episode as they discuss how people are reaching outside of their industries to enact change, how companies have been coming together, and how you can be a better collaborator. Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow us on our social accounts. Sign ...
Apr 02, 2020•21 min•Ep. 21
Got grit? Where do you find grit? Should you turn on your camera for that zoom meeting? There are #sharedpains we all have as technology shifts us into unfamiliar and sometimes uncomfortable territory. But disruption doesn’t have to be scary. It can be transformative. Join Shared Pains podcast host Nathan Wood for insights into the culture of working from home, how social distancing can be a catalyst for digital transformation and multi-generational workplace communication. Learn how you can tak...
Mar 25, 2020•34 min•Ep. 20
Why do we exist, would you live in a 3D printed house and would you live on the moon or Mars? In our first-ever “Innovation Brief” bonus episode, you’ll get the chance to sit in on Todd and show editor Eric Daniel’s discussion about these questions and much more as they unpack news in the AEC, MEP and manufacturing industries. 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 Po...
Mar 19, 2020•19 min•Ep. 19
Are you looking for a good read? Interested in the subjects of prefabrication and the small house movement? Join us as we sit down with Forbes writer Sheri Koones, whose newest book, Downsize: Living Large in a Small House, has recently debuted. If you’d like more information about Sheri and this podcast, make sure to check out our video at bridgingthegappod.com to watch the interview, see pictures of Sheri’s favorite houses, and buy her books! Sheri has written multiple books about living “off ...
Mar 11, 2020•31 min•Ep. 18
Have you faced the daunting task of buying something that might not be worth it? As someone in construction, you know that the stakes are much higher when you buy construction equipment. Join us as we discuss the vast amount of innovation happening in construction and MEP with Jonathan Marsh from Steel Toe Consulting. He is reviewing those big products so you can get the most out of your dollar. Jonathan is the founder and CEO of Steel Toe Consulting. He has worked for over two decades in the AE...
Mar 04, 2020•35 min•Ep. 17
