ElevateAEC 2025 Preview: Growth, Innovation, and Networking Opportunities in San Antonio “Proximity is a place of power. If you are a design firm leader or design firm owner and you’re trying to take your firm to the next level, sometimes it means you need to get around other people that have actually already done it.” Randy Wilburn Episode Summary: Randy Wilburn and Luke Carothers deliver an exclusive preview of the 2025 Elevate AEC Conference, September 9–11 in San Antonio, Texas. Drawing on e...
Jun 12, 2025•35 min•Ep. 251
“I think the employee experience—and we've seen over the last five years how important the employee experience has been with how tight the labor market has been and how everybody is competing for the same people… To ensure good retention, you must survey your employees to see what they think of your firm.” Kyle Ahern About our Guests: Keith Sequeira serves as Senior Director of Analytics and Technology at Zweig Group, where he leads research, analytics, and technological innovation, driving new ...
Apr 24, 2025•45 min•Ep. 250
"Mistakes are not fatal, but don't keep them to yourself.” Mike Makris About our Guests: Originally from Washington, Duncan Robertson has spent the past six years honing his marketing and public relations expertise and now brings those skills to the design industry . After earning a Communication degree with a business emphasis from Boise State University, he dove straight into his career, channeling his versatile communication background to connect with diverse audiences. Duncan’s passion and c...
Apr 10, 2025•57 min•Ep. 249
"Every time we give an award to someone, there is one of our six values that's tied in with the citation." Don Young In this episode of the Zweig Letter Podcast , we share a panel session from the Zweig Group's 2024 ElevateAEC event. We delve into the evolving landscape of modern work environments and the importance of maintaining a thriving culture in the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Host Chad Coldiron is joined by industry leaders Joseph Campos, Don Young, and S...
Feb 27, 2025•54 min
From Specs to Stories: Cherise Lakeside's Podcasting Adventure! "A lot of architects are rather introverted as well, so it takes some work to pull that out. And for me, my win is, did I get you out of your shell to share your passion for what you do for a living and what you create?" Cherise Lakeside About the Guest: Cherise Lakeside is a seasoned Senior Spec Writer at RDH Building Science. With a rich career path spanning construction, architecture, and building science, Cherise has acquired a ...
Feb 06, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 248
ElevateAEC - How we Inspire and Transition Ownership to the Next Generation "The ownership transition is not just about percentages; it's about value and creating a legacy." John R. McAdams About the Guest: John R. McAdams is the founder of McAdams, a leading engineering, planning, and design firm that has shaped communities for over 40 years. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to innovation, John has led transformative projects in land development and infrastructure. In this ep...
Jan 23, 2025•59 min
"You never know where you are going to learn information that is going to potentially be game-changing for you." Justin Smith About the Moderator: Justin Smith is a renowned expert in project management strategies and tactics, providing strategic consulting and training for the Zweig Group. With an impressive track record in business growth and leadership, Justin brings a wealth of knowledge to the discussion. Episode Summary: Join us as Justin Smith moderates a panel of esteemed experts, includ...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 7 min
Bridging Design and Construction: A M King's Collaborative Success Story "25 years ago when I graduated the term design build, it wasn't unheard of, but it certainly wasn't something that we talked about." Dan Crist About the Guest: Dan Crist is the President of A M King, a prominent design, construction, facility services, and property consulting firm based in North Carolina. With a background in Construction Management from Purdue University, Dan has been a pivotal leader at A M King since its...
Jan 09, 2025•46 min•Ep. 247
Exploring Avail's Impact on AEC Content Management with Randall Stevens "I've really spent the last 25 years building software technology products that are being used in the architecture engineering construction market." Randall Stevens About the Guest: Randall Stevens is a long-time veteran in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, boasting over three decades of experience. He studied architecture but found his calling in software development, founding ArcVision in 1991...
Nov 21, 2024•39 min•Ep. 246
Riding the AI Wave: From Fear to Opportunities "AI is evolving every single second. I am begging you to start to use it today, just to see what it's like." Kristin Kautz Download the Presentation to Follow Along About the Guest: Kristin Kautz is a seasoned SMPS Fellow and AI enthusiast who specializes in integrating marketing and artificial intelligence into business strategies. Known for her dynamic presentations and educational sessions, Kristin leverages her extensive experience marketing and...
Nov 14, 2024•1 hr 2 min
AI Transforming AEC: From Design to Recruitment and Beyond "So I think AI will give an opportunity for people that maybe are less technical to use these tools to really execute more work." KP Reddy About the Guest: KP Reddy is the founder and CEO of Shadow Ventures , a visionary venture capital firm specializing in tech startups within the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) and real estate sectors. He has successfully founded and exited three tech companies, authored influential books...
Oct 24, 2024•50 min•Ep. 245
Innovative Startup Pirros Revolutionizes Detail Management for Design Firms "We saw a lack of new software being developed for the design industry specifically." Peter Johann Randy Wilburn sits down with Peter Johann, COO of Pirros, on the Zweig Letter podcast to explore the innovative intersection of technology and the design industry. Peter reflects on his career path that transitioned from structural engineering at KPFF to launching Pirros, a software company aimed at solving the prevalent is...
Oct 10, 2024•33 min•Ep. 244
Reg Prentice on Simplifying Data Management for Design Firms "The two most valuable things people have a design firm has is its people, number one. Right. That's obviously always going to be the case, but number two is really its history and its institutional knowledge, which primarily exists in the form of the information that's stored." Reg Prentice About the Guest: Reg Prentice is the CEO of TonicDM , a cloud-based information management system designed for the AEP and environmental consultin...
Sep 12, 2024•51 min•Ep. 243
We’re thrilled to bring back one of our most downloaded episodes on the Zweig Letter Podcast! In this popular episode, Scott Harvey-Lewis, a seasoned professional in the AEC industry, shares his unique perspective on leadership, innovation, and the power of resilience. Episode Summary In this episode, Scott delves into his career journey, highlighting the pivotal moments that shaped his approach to overcoming challenges in the ever-evolving landscape of architecture, engineering, and constructio...
Aug 29, 2024•35 min
We’re thrilled to bring back one of our most downloaded episodes on the Zweig Letter Podcast! In this popular episode, Justin Smith, a distinguished leader in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, joins the Zweig Letter Podcast to share his profound expertise on leadership and business development. Episode Summary In this episode, Justin dives deep into the key strategies that have shaped his career, emphasizing the significance of strong leadership in navigating the ev...
Aug 22, 2024•35 min
We're thrilled to bring back one of our most downloaded episodes on The Zweig Letter Podcast! In this popular episode, host Randy Wilburn sits down with Burke Pemberton, the Chief Financial Officer of Stok, a company dedicated to integrating sustainability into the built environment.In this episode, Burke shares invaluable insights on Stok's innovative approach to "Working Out Loud," a practice that fosters transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement. He explains how this methodology...
Jul 25, 2024•56 min
Mastering Recruitment in the Design Industry: Strategies and Insights "Being progressive and open-minded in how you define the roles that you need is critical to successful recruiting." Jeremy Clarke About the Guest: Jeremy Clarke : Jeremy Clarke is the Director of Recruiting and Retention at Zweig Group. He boasts a rich background as a combat veteran in the U.S. Air Force, followed by significant roles in recruiting at Rockwell Collins Aerospace and Walmart Corporate. Jeremy's extensive experi...
Jun 27, 2024•49 min•Season 2Ep. 242
Exploring The Knowledge Management Evolution in AEC with Christopher Parsons "What was the most important opportunity? And we heard two things. We heard learning management...and AI." Christopher Parsons About the Guest: Christopher Parsons is the founder and CEO of Knowledge Architecture, a firm based in San Francisco specializing in knowledge management solutions for the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. With a history degree and a political science major, Christophe...
Jun 13, 2024•49 min•Season 2Ep. 241
Adapting to the Future: Josh Fowler on Leadership, AI, and Engineering Excellence in the Palmetto State "You really need to work on building your network and working your network because you never know what kind of doors are going to be open for you." Josh Fowler About the Show Josh Fowler, President of Davis & Floyd, a multi-disciplinary civil engineering firm in South Carolina, brings a dynamic blend of experience in engineering, construction, and manufacturing to the table. With an impres...
May 23, 2024•44 min•Season 2Ep. 240
Small Design Firms Face Challenges in Talent Acquisition and Consolidation "The dynamic shift since post-COVID has started an all-out war on talent. Smaller firms like ours... we're getting marginalized trying to acquire that talent and to hold on to it." Scott Erricson About the Show Scott Erricson is a principal and the founding owner of e2 Engineers , a consulting engineering firm specializing in the building space. With their offices based in New London, Connecticut, Concord, and Massachuset...
May 09, 2024•47 min•Season 2Ep. 239
Luke Carothers on the Exciting Stories and Projects in the AEC Industry “I’m very excited for the future of where the AEC industry is heading." Luke Carothers About the Show Luke Carothers is the Senior Content Manager for Zweig Group and also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Civil + Structural Engineer Magazine. Specializing in content rooted in the architectural, engineering, planning, and environmental consulting industries, Luke boasts over five years of experience immersing himself in the A...
Apr 11, 2024•33 min•Season 2Ep. 238
About the Show "Having a good strategy enables good organic growth, both revenue and people.” Dave Witsken About the Guest: Dave Witsken is the CEO of UES, a company widely recognized in the architectural, engineering, planning, and environmental consulting spaces for its exceptional growth and industry impact. UES, under Dave's leadership, has notably achieved the status of a three-time "Hot Firm" winner, identifying them as the number one firm in the Hot Firm awards for three consecutive years...
Mar 21, 2024•35 min•Season 2Ep. 237
Building the Future: Kyle Cheerangie's Blueprint for Young Engineers "You have to practice designing... You have to know what it feels like to load that information into your brain." - Kyle Cheerangie Summary: In this insightful episode of the Zweig Letter podcast, host Randy Wilburn sits down with the brilliant Kyle Cheerangie, a department manager in South Florida whose expertise in roadway and highway design is shaping the future of infrastructure. Kyle's passion for engineering and his dedic...
Feb 29, 2024•50 min•Season 2Ep. 236
"You have to be like Superman; you're a risk-taker. But once you've attained success and you have a larger entity, it's important to shift your mindset to that of a risk manager. " Harry Clark Summary: In this special episode of the TZL podcast, we feature an enlightening keynote speech by Harry Clark, delivered at the Zweig Group's 2023 Elevate AEC Conference. Known for his exceptional track record as a serial entrepreneur and business advisor, Harry Clark shares his wealth of experience and in...
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 235
"The ability to access decades worth of industry data in seconds is a game-changer. It's time to leverage this knowledge and stay ahead of the competition." Keith Sequeira, Zweig Group 🎙️ In our latest TZL Podcast episode, we dive into an enlightening chat with Zweig Group's data analytics guru, Keith Sequeira. We unpack how data is revolutionizing decision-making in design firms. 🌟 Key Highlights: Talent Attraction & Retention: Discover how the 'Best Firms to Work For' program is reshapin...
Nov 09, 2023•45 min•Ep. 234
"In this day and age, storytelling is a powerful tool for design professionals to amplify their brand and foster collaborative relationships." - Carey Balogh, Brand Groupies In this episode of The Zweig Letter Podcast, Randy Wilburn welcomes Carey Balogh and Lauren Genest, founders of Brand Groupies . With backgrounds in fashion PR, they've carved out a niche in social media management, public relations, and personal branding specifically for the design industry. The episode dives into the impor...
Oct 26, 2023•49 min•Ep. 233
About the Show: "People want to work for firms that have a great vision and a mission. How are we going to get there? What's your purpose in terms of culture, can you rattle it off?" - Bill McConnell, Vertex In this special episode of the TZL Podcast, recorded live at the 2023 Elevate AEC Conference in Frisco, TX, host R Wilburn brings you an enlightening conversation with Chad Clinehens, CEO of Zweig Group, and Bill McConnell, co-founder and CEO of Vertex. The episode dives right into the press...
Oct 12, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 232
About the Show: "We recognized that if we were going to take it to the next level, we're going to have to really develop a brand. Your people deserve a brand that's as great as them." - Jerrod Hogan, OWN, Inc. Jerrod Hogan's path to leadership is anything but conventional. He grew up learning the virtues of empathy and service from a devoted Baptist pastor. A pivotal moment came when his family moved to Missouri due to his mother's cancer diagnosis. Following her passing, Jerrod decided to make ...
Sep 28, 2023•54 min•Ep. 231
"You have to have some level of grace in the ability to deflect certain things that come your way and not necessarily lose your cool if things don't go right.” -Anna Finley Summary: Join host Randy Wilburn for an enlightening conversation with Anna Finley, Director of Operations at Zweig Group . In this episode, Anna unpacks the power of recognizing and celebrating workplace achievements to foster a positive culture. She stresses the importance of grace and kindness in cultivating strong relatio...
Sep 07, 2023•30 min•Ep. 230
AI and how it will impact the Design Industry "Every role and every person in your firm is going to be impacted by AI. It's not just for the marketing or IT department, it's pervasive throughout your organization.” - Kristin Kautz Summary: In this episode of the TZL Podcast, we are joined by guest Kristin Kautz, an AI consultant, to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the design industry. Kristin shares her expertise in implementing AI to improve efficiency and productivity in ...
Aug 24, 2023•55 min•Ep. 229
