Most AEC and manufacturing firms are leaving serious money on the table. Jordan Wilson , Director of Business Development at Corporate Tax Advisors , joins Jeff to unpack a major tax law change that could put hundreds of thousands back into your business. From reversing Section 174 amortization to unlocking retroactive R&D credits, this update has big implications for growth, innovation, and M&A. Whether you run a billion-dollar firm or a bootstrapped startup, you’ll want to hear how to ...
Aug 11, 2025•35 min
In this episode of KP Unpacked , the #1 podcast in AEC, Jeff Echols sits down with Chris Parsons , founder and CEO of Knowledge Architecture , to explore why knowledge management (KM) is no longer just an IT function—it's a strategic currency for AEC firms. Chris shares his 15-year journey building Synthesis , a knowledge platform purpose-built for AEC, and how today's KM 3.0 (powered by AI) is reshaping how firms capture, share, and scale what they know. From navigating firm growth to managing ...
Aug 05, 2025•1 hr 1 min
This episode of KP Unpacked pulls no punches. KP and Jeff dive into why real innovation in AEC doesn’t come from AI, tech stacks, or strategy decks, it comes from frustration. From timesheet tyranny to capital allocation myths, this is a wake-up call for founders, executives, and anyone stuck in the loop of “this is how we’ve always done it.” They unpack why most firms are afraid to change their business model, how brand is often confused with logos and websites, and why go-to-market matters mor...
Jul 28, 2025•52 min
In this special edition of KP Unpacked , Jeff and KP dive into the heart of KP’s viral Sunday Scaries post: Brackish Waters – The Startup Survival Zone . KP breaks down why traditional lines between VC and PE are blurring — and what it means for how startups should build, fund, and scale in today’s climate. From hybrid capital models to real-world disruption via AI and robotics, this episode is a must-listen for founders, investors, and corporate leaders alike. You’ll hear: What “brackish waters...
Jul 21, 2025•55 min
KP Unpacked is the #1 podcast in AEC—and for good reason. In this episode, KP Reddy and Jeff Echols start with baseball and end up somewhere way more urgent: the death of innovation-as-edge. From Moneyball to AI, from power drills to predictive hiring, they unpack what happens after everyone catches up—and what firms should do next to keep their advantage. KP drops insights on fast feedback loops, tech resistance in AEC, and why real innovation today comes from judgment, not just data. They also...
Jul 14, 2025•47 min
Welcome to KP Unpacked , the #1 podcast in AEC. In this episode, KP Reddy and Jeff Echols unpack a movement that's flipping tech, venture, and entrepreneurship on its head: vibe coding. What started as a LinkedIn post sparked one of the most active polls in Catalyst history, and it turns out, 73% of this high-performing AEC community is already doing it. They dive into: Why vibe coding is displacing CRMs (and entire startups) How a skeptical sales exec built a GC-specific CRM in 20 hours What th...
Jul 07, 2025•51 min
Welcome back to the number one podcast in AEC, KP Unpacked , where AI, innovation, and the built world collide. In this episode of the AI in AEC series, Jeff Echols (Executive Director, Catalyst ) is joined by Frank Lazaro (Head of Advisory , KP Reddy Co.) for a strategic deep dive into how AEC firms can assess and improve their innovation readiness before adopting AI or any new tech. They break down the DIAL Framework , a free assessment designed to benchmark your firm's innovation posture acro...
Jun 30, 2025•38 min
In this brutally honest episode of KP Unpacked , the number one podcast in AEC, KP Reddy and Jeff Echols take a sledgehammer to one of the industry's most overused and misunderstood buzzwords: digital twin . What even is a digital twin? KP unpacks why most people using the term don’t know what it really means, why having a 3D model doesn’t qualify, and how the lack of real-time sensing, integration, and meaningful data makes the concept nearly useless in today’s built world. From hilarious real-...
Jun 26, 2025•49 min
Every AEC firm faces it: Do we build our own AI tools or buy what's already on the market? In this episode of KP Unpacked, the number one Podcast in AEC, Jeff Echols and Frank Lazaro dive deep into the strategic dilemma that's dominating boardrooms and innovation teams across the built world. From skyrocketing subscription costs to the reality of custom bot deployment in under 10 minutes, they unpack the tradeoffs, timing, and total cost of ownership behind the build vs. buy decision. You’ll hea...
Jun 23, 2025•40 min
In this episode of KP Unpacked , the number one podcast in AEC, Jeff Echols sits down with Frank Thalakotur , Senior Research Advisor at KP Reddy Co., to dig into one of the core issues holding the AEC industry back—chronic misalignment between design, delivery, and owner value. Frank brings experience across HVAC engineering, MEP project management, startup innovation, and owner’s rep work. But in his current role, he’s stepping back from solutions and going deep into problem discovery. Togethe...
Jun 19, 2025•42 min
Welcome back to KP Unpacked , the #1 podcast in AEC. In this episode, KP Reddy (Founder & CEO of Shadow Ventures) and Jeff Echols (Executive Director at Catalyst) unpack a powerful metaphor that’s reshaping how we think about startups, business models, and the built environment. We’re not just talking features or fixes. We’re talking about delivering outcomes that actually cure real industry problems. From aligning incentives in AEC to rethinking how firms deliver value, this episode is pack...
Jun 16, 2025•1 hr 2 min
🎙 Featuring: Jeff Echols , Chief Executive Director Catalyst, KP Reddy Co. David Niewadomski , Senior Research Advisor, KP Reddy Co. In this episode of KP Unpacked , the number one podcast in AEC, host Jeff Echols sits down with David Niewadomski , Senior Research Advisor at KP Reddy Co., to dive into the inefficiencies of construction—and how rethinking them through the owner's lens could change everything. David shares insights from his journey across construction, development, and Lean Six S...
Jun 12, 2025•43 min
On this episode of KP Unpacked —the number one podcast in AEC— Jeff Echols sits down with Alan Montpellier , Principal and Chief Innovation Officer at PAE, to explore what it really takes to embed innovation into the DNA of an AEC firm. Alan shares how PAE shifted from ad hoc ideas to a fully resourced innovation group, why innovation can't live in a silo, and how they prioritize experimentation—without sacrificing project delivery or profitability. You’ll learn: How PAE structured its innovatio...
Jun 09, 2025•54 min
In this episode of KP Unpacked , the number one podcast in AEC , Jeff Echols , Executive Director at Catalyst, KP Reddy Co. kicks off a brand-new series featuring the in-house research team at KP Reddy Co . He’s joined by Senior Research Advisor Ted Kenney , who brings years of experience in AEC technology and building product specifications. They explore the untapped potential of specifications in driving collaboration across architecture, engineering, and construction. Ted explains why specs a...
Jun 05, 2025•39 min
This week on KP Unpacked —the number one podcast in AEC — Jeff Echols and KP Reddy unpack the Sunday Scaries post that broke the internet (or at least LinkedIn). It all started with a Talking Heads lyric and a throwback photo… but quickly sparked a bigger conversation: What’s your 10-year plan—for yourself, not your startup? KP shares hard-won lessons from building (and walking away from) multimillion-dollar businesses, why too many founders confuse “ in flight ” with “ on course, ” and how to e...
Jun 02, 2025•48 min
In this episode of KP Unpacked —the number one podcast in AEC — Jeff Echols sits down with architect and senior research advisor Zig Rubel to explore a bold question: What if the biggest issues in AEC aren’t what we think they are? Zig brings his unique lens—from massive healthcare projects to tech startups—to unpack why most industry “solutions” may be missing the mark. Together, they dig into how KP Reddy Co.’s research team is flipping the script—asking not how we fix problems, but whether we...
May 29, 2025•36 min
In this episode of KP Unpacked , the number one podcast in AEC , Jeff Echols and Frank Lazaro unpack the rising wave of custom GPTs —and why every forward-thinking AEC firm should be building one. From knowledge centers to proposal bots, this episode dives into how AI tools like Azure Foundry and ChatGPT Projects are reshaping how firms capture experience, accelerate onboarding, and win more work. What you’ll learn: The two AI tools leading the charge in AEC: Azure Foundry vs ChatGPT Projects Wh...
May 26, 2025•37 min
In this special episode of KP Unpacked , the number podcast in AEC , Jeff Echols sits down with Hope Alexander , senior advisor at KP Reddy Co., to spotlight the one voice often missing in AEC innovation: the owner. From her days helping grow a startup into a 2,000-person firm (later acquired by AECOM) to building BIM with Frank Gehry, Hope’s career has centered around understanding what owners actually need—and why the AEC industry keeps missing the mark. You’ll hear about: Why owners are the m...
May 22, 2025•36 min
In this episode of KP Unpacked —the number one podcast in AEC — Jeff Echols and KP Reddy go deep on awards, ethics, and why it’s time to rethink how innovation gets recognized in the built environment. KP unpacks the launch of the 2025 AEC Innovators Award in collaboration with Zweig Group, and doesn’t hold back on the industry's pay-to-play culture. From shady award models to what makes innovation actually count, this episode lays out why the best ideas don’t always get the spotlight—and how th...
May 19, 2025•51 min
AI isn’t just about flashy tools—it’s about transforming how AEC firms research, analyze, and make decisions. In this episode of KP Unpacked - the number one Podcast in AEC , Jeff Echols and Frank Lazzaro dive deep into the power of AI research tools and how you can use them to work smarter, not harder. Key takeaways from this episode: Why AI research tools are changing the game for AEC firms Frank’s personal formula for finding 12 minutes of efficiency daily using AI Real-world examples of how ...
May 12, 2025•35 min
Are Gen Z professionals really unambitious, entitled, and disconnected—or just playing by a different set of rules? In this bold episode of KP Unpacked , KP Reddy and Jeff Echols break down the generational clash transforming AEC firms, sparked by this LinkedIn post from KP. They cover: Why “pay your dues” thinking no longer works How Gen Z’s ambition is faster and bigger What real relationships look like in a remote-first world Why merit > networking for this generation How inauthenticity ki...
May 05, 2025•58 min
What if your “too early” is actually right on time ? In this episode of KP Unpacked - the number one podcast in AEC, Jeff Echols sits down with structural engineer turned AI innovator Kevin Jeswani to unpack one of KP Reddy’s boldest articles: Your Career Deserves a Firestarter Moment . Kevin’s story is the ultimate proof that you don’t need a senior title to start driving change in the AEC industry. From automating his own workflows to launching data-driven initiatives at startups, Kevin shares...
Apr 30, 2025•39 min
AI is building faster than the law can keep up. In this episode of KP Unpacked — the number one podcast in AEC — Jeff Echols and Frank Lazaro dive into a messy question every firm needs to answer: Who owns the work when AI creates it? From copyright law updates to court cases nobody’s talking about yet, they break down where the real risks are for architects, contractors, owners, and innovators. You'll learn why "lazy AI" is a legal nightmare, where the real landmines are for your firm, and why ...
Apr 28, 2025•31 min
In this episode of KP Unpacked , the number one podcast in AEC , KP Reddy and Jeff Echols go full throttle on the one thing most AEC startups get completely wrong: ignoring the owner . You’re selling to GCs. You’re marketing to architects. But if the owner doesn’t see the value, you’re just noise in the vendor stack. KP unpacks the real reason BIM didn’t deliver, why most conferences are a year behind, and how smart startups are turning owners into their secret sales weapon. 🔹 Why your value pr...
Apr 23, 2025•46 min
In this episode of KP Unpacked (AI in AEC edition) , Jeff Echols and Frank Lazaro —KP Reddy Co.'s in-house AI expert—tackle one of the biggest blind spots in AI adoption: training your team. Everyone’s talking about AI. Few are doing anything useful with it. From underused tools to forgotten policies, they break down why most firms are missing the mark—and how to fix it. As always, the number one podcast in AEC brings you practical, no-fluff insights designed to help you move fast and build smar...
Apr 21, 2025•36 min
🎙️ In this episode of KP Unpacked , we’re calling out the innovation fluff—and the leaders who can’t pitch their way out of a checklist . Host Jeff Echols sits down with KP Reddy to unpack one of his most pointed LinkedIn posts yet: “Does your AEC innovation group have a pitch deck?” Spoiler alert—if it’s just two slides with drones and BIM screenshots... you’re doing it wrong. They dive into the real talk around : 🔹 Why most innovation teams don’t deserve a seat at the table 🔹 How storytelli...
Apr 14, 2025•26 min
In this episode of AI Unpacked , Jeff Echols is joined by Frank Lazaro , KP Reddy Co.'s in-house AI expert, to dive into the latest trends and innovations in AI for the AEC industry. Together, they break down how AI is transforming business operations, from improving efficiencies to boosting productivity. In this bite-sized, actionable episode, Jeff and Frank explore the various AI tools reshaping the AEC world, offering insights that you can implement in your firm today. Whether you're new to A...
Apr 07, 2025•25 min
Proposal writing is the backbone of AEC firms—but it's also a time-consuming and resource-intensive process. In this episode of AI in AEC , Jeff Echols and Frank Lazaro break down how AI-powered tools are transforming the way firms create proposals, saving time, improving efficiency, and boosting win rates. From ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot to industry-specific tools like Joist AI, WorkOrb, and Uninet’s AI-powered proposal system , we explore how AI streamlines proposal creation by repurposing ...
Apr 02, 2025•27 min
The AEC industry isn’t just stuck—it’s dying . In this episode of KP Unpacked , KP Reddy and Jeff Echols pull no punches in discussing why the industry's obsession with mediocrity and outdated methods is dragging us down. From stagnating leadership to a lack of true innovation, this conversation exposes the uncomfortable truths that no one wants to face. How can AEC finally break free from its comfort zone? What’s holding us back from truly disrupting the industry? And how can we push past the s...
Mar 31, 2025•42 min
Sounds like you? Join the waitlist at https://kpreddy.co/ Check out one of our Catalyst conversation starters, AEC Needs More High-Agency Thinkers Hope to see you there!
Mar 26, 2025•30 min
