Join Devon Tilly as he chats with Scott Avirett of Runding Corporation! Listen to Episode 83 and get your copy of 7 Pillars for Contractor Efficiency as mentioned in this episode! 

Scott Avirett is a seasoned construction executive with deep roots in the specialty contracting industry. Scott is on a mission to disrupt the status quo of construction software tech through open, non-proprietary approaches to digital transformation. Leveraging his real-world experience, Scott helps make contractors more efficient through practical, field-tested approaches to operational excellence. His work empowers the industry to unify systems, streamline processes, and leverage data to increase enterprise value.

In this conversation, Devon Tilly chats with Paul Wurth of Assembli AI! Enjoy a blast from the past and listen to AOC Episode 136 from 2019 which featured Paul as well!

Paul Wurth is the Founder and CEO of Assembli, bringing over 20 years of leadership experience in construction technology. At Assembli, Paul leads the charge in pioneering Al-driven solutions designed to transform the residential construction industry, delivering unparalleled quality, accuracy, and efficiency. Paul is deeply committed to leveraging innovative technology to redefine how construction professionals approach complex projects, driving significant improvements in productivity and client outcomes.

At Assembli AI, Paul's team is pioneering AI-driven solutions to transform the construction industry. Their mission is to deliver unprecedented quality and efficiency through innovative technology. With his leadership, they are redefining how construction professionals tackle complex projects by automating processes and optimizing workflows. Prior to founding Assembli AI, his role as VP of Digital Sales & Integration at Paradigm honed his expertise in integrating technology within construction operations. His tenure there cultivated a deep understanding of how to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency for their clients, ensuring they remain at the industry's forefront.

In this conversation, host Devon Tilly chats with Nitin Bhandari to discuss the complexities and challenges of construction scheduling. Nitin shares his journey founding Planera, a platform aimed at improving scheduling practices in the construction industry. They discuss how construction scheduling is often used as a compliance tool rather than a performance driver. The industry has unique challenges that require high-level and detailed scheduling perspectives. Nitin provides valuable advice for professionals on how to approach technology adoption effectively. 

From Planera's website:

"Planera provides the power of sophisticated project scheduling software, yet is as easy to use as a Whiteboard or Excel. Founded by a group of software entrepreneurs and construction executives focused on modernizing construction software with a vision to improve the lives of all construction professionals and the world we live in. Planera's greater mission is to build a world class global company that democratizes construction planning to improve project outcomes and worker safety."

In this conversation, Devon Tilly chats with Mike Cisar of Trimble! This podcast is a part of series recorded at or after the AEC Summit in Austin! Our episode photo cover was taken during this conference of Devon, Mike, and Nathan!

Mike believes that success—in any endeavor—requires a healthy cohesion of empathy, conviction, and vision. Empathy for the customer, his colleagues, and even those who ignore him (for now). The conviction to make the world around him a better place. The vision to understand how his daily activities correlate to the long-term goals of his team. He learned this working alongside some incredible leaders from INFUZ, OneSpace, Mentor Spaces, and Ryvit (acquired by Trimble in 2023!). He provides long-term value by approaching key issues with a fresh, creative twist. He specializes in brand strategy, growth marketing, and customer experience. He has done a little bit of everything—from daily sales prospecting, to content marketing strategy, to customer success planning. Currently, Mike works at Trimble as a Technology Partnership Senior Manager. His passion is captivated by telling brand stories; his heart is devoted to helping others.

Visit Trimble's Marketplace: marketplace.trimble.com

 In this conversation, Devon Tilly chats with Rachael Ferrera of Zachery Construction Corporation! This podcast is a part of series recorded at or after the AEC Summit in Austin! Our episode photo cover was taken during this conference of Rachael and Devon! 

Rachael Ferrera is a dedicated professional with a robust background in civil engineering and over 17 years of experience with Zachry Construction Corporation. She earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and has since established herself as a versatile leader in the construction industry. Currently serving as the Manager of Investments & Ideation, she leverages her meticulous problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to thrive under pressure to drive innovative solutions and strategic investments for the organization. Rachael is also deeply committed to advancing opportunities for women in construction. She is a founding member of Zachry Women Breaking Ground, an Employee Resource Group dedicated to recruiting, retaining, and developing women in the construction industry. Through this initiative, Rachael plays a pivotal role in fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment within the organization and the broader industry. Her passion extends beyond her professional career into community service. For 14 years she served on the Zachry Corporation Volunteer Council, 6 of which she served as Chair and Co-chair. With a career rooted in innovation, leadership, and service, Rachael Ferrera exemplifies the power of combining technical expertise with a profound commitment to creating meaningful change.

In this conversation, Devon Tilly chats with Travis Voss from SMACNA! If you hear any background noise, that's because this episode was recorded LIVE at the AEC Integration Summit in Austin!

As the Director of Innovative Technology and Fabrication at the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA), Travis leverages his background in the tech field to explore, adapt, and potentially develop technologies and workflows for the construction industry, particularly as it undergoes its digital transformation. This role allows him to contribute to the cutting edge of the industry while assisting member contractors in staying ahead of the curve. Beyond his professional endeavors, he also prioritizes being a devoted husband and father. Additionally, he actively pursues his passion for powerlifting, continuously striving to improve and compete in this sport. He is dedicated to serving the community through his involvement in volunteer organizations, always seeking to make a positive impact to the best of his abilities.

Check out the Construction Dorks Podcast!

This episode revisits the National Housing Supply Summit in March 2025! In this conversation, Devon Tilly and co-host Dennis Steigerwalt chats with Matt Hoffman and Stephen O'Conner about affordable housing, the new administration, and the White Paper: Federal Policy Opportunities to Expand Housing Supply. Request a copy of the White Paper here: https://housingsupply.us/

Our co-host Dennis is active in all things real estate with a specific focus on innovation in the residential development and homebuilding ecosystems. He is a ULI Residential Neighborhood Product Council member, a Professional Builder 40 under 40 recipient, and an active member of Geek Estate. In his spare time he enjoys big adventures with his wife and sons on the water and in the mountains. Dennis is the president of the Housing Innovation Alliance, a future oriented community for production homebuilding. The Housing Innovation Summit is the best place to get engaged + connected where you’ll gather insights + have a voice at each turn. The 2025 Summit is co-hosted by the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation at the University of Pittsburgh. We’ll be at Phipps Conservatory in the Oakland neighborhood and hosting Innovation in Action tours around Pittsburgh.

Matt Hoffman has spent his career applying his strategy, business development, and innovation skills to solving problems that create growth and opportunity in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. With over 20 years’ experience building businesses in the housing and technology sectors, in February 2024 he completed a two-year assignment as the Senior Advisor to the Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service at the General Services Administration (GSA), which oversees the U.S. government’s civilian real estate portfolio of more than 365 million square feet. His core focus was the implications of “the future of work” on the office portfolio and transitioning federal buildings to net zero emissions. He helped launch the federal government’s Workplace Innovation Lab (WIL) and federal coworking offering (think WeWork just for federal employees). He represented GSA on the White House’s housing supply interagency policy council. Based in the Washington, DC area, Matt has a passion for finding housing solutions for the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) community and currently chairs the real estate finance committee of Benedictine Programs & Services, which helps I/DD children and adults achieve their greatest potential. He is a graduate of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government (MPP) and Brown University (BA).

Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. O’Connor has been deeply involved in addressing the multifaceted challenges surrounding the crisis in affordable housing. His long and effective history of advocacy focuses on the promotion of equitable housing opportunities through the development of inclusive communities to enhance the quality of life for diverse populations. With a Ph.D. in Planning and Public Policy, Dr. O’Connor’s expertise extends across various sectors within the housing spectrum, including affordable housing finance, housing policy analysis, and land use planning. He is often called upon by governmental agencies, political campaigns, and non-profit organizations to help develop effective policy frameworks and practical interventions to address housing disparities. As an educator, Dr. O’Connor is committed to developing the next generation of housing advocates, developers, and policymakers. He serves as a mentor and a teacher, inspiring students to explore the intersection of housing, social equity, and public policy. His dynamic teaching style and hands-on approach are informed by more than thirty years of housing industry experience. Personally, Dr. O’Connor and his wife, Sandy, have served long tenures with several medical mission charities. In addition, they have founded two 501(c)(3) organizations to raise money for cure-focused medical research. They have two children and two beautiful grandsons.  

Read James Rouse's book: https://a.co/d/4cVwaKN

Read the "Abundance" book:  https://a.co/d/1N0kr4e

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This episode is dedicated to honor the memory of Barb Ziegler, the founder of The Trailhead Community.

This episode revisits The Trailhead Community at their building opening and ribbon cutting ceremony. If you hear any background noise or laughter, that's because this episode was recorded LIVE in the lobby of The Trailhead Community building in April 2025! In this conversation, Devon Tilly and co-host Matt McMullen chat with various partners at The Trailhead Community!

Featured Guests:

At 17, James Harper’s stepfather told him, “James, you should find a sales job—you could sell anything!” Fast forward 17 years, and sales became his calling. Over the last 10 years, he has sold over $30 million in B2B marketing services and successfully exited two bootstrapped companies. His expertise and passion lie in helping B2B companies scale through effective outbound sales strategies that deliver results. He believes small businesses are the backbone of the economy, and entrepreneurship is its driving force. His mission is simple: to create opportunities that convert. He helps companies scale by blending sales, marketing, and operational strategy. He doesn’t just focus on growth—he makes it sustainable by refining operations, improving team performance, and creating scalable systems. If you're looking to grow smarter, not just harder, he’s someone worth connecting with.

Jeans Mobley worked as an Office Manager for an accounting firm for several years after college. She realized the accounting world was not the best fit and she decided to leap into the nonprofit world with Trailhead Community. Her degree is in Communication with a minor in Leadership Studies. Communication makes the world go 'round! She is passionate about making Trailhead the model for neuro-inclusive housing and building a community that supports one another’s ability to thrive.

Jim Shipton was born in the Midwest and raised in Story City, Iowa, the heartland as they call it. He loves being from a small town where you have an opportunity to participate in all aspects of life. Jim played football, basketball, golf and learned to work hard in the farming community. He completed one year of undergraduate civil engineering at Iowa State University before transferring to Colorado State University where he met his future wife and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture. Upon graduation he and his wife, Denise, moved to the San Diego area for several years, gained valuable experience and his first license in 1992, before moving back to the Denver Metro area. He has been delivering his exceptional services to owners and developers in the western region of the US for the last 35 years. Currently he and his wife live in Littleton where they are trying to figure out how to become empty nesters. Jim enjoys outdoor activities, skiing, golfing, camping and all things Ford Bronco.

Halie Behr of Behr Benefits is a force of nature in the auction industry, bringing forth the high energy and electricity to fire up a room and keep everyone engaged all night long. As the proud founder and lead auctioneer of Behr Benefits, Halie has spent the last decade raising millions of dollars for charities all over the U.S. Behr is a three-time champion auctioneer, becoming the first and only in history to win both the International Junior Auctioneering Championship in 2013 and the women’s division of the International Auctioneering Championship in 2023, competing against the very best in the industry on the world’s largest stage. Halie holds the title of Denver’s favorite Fundaneer, bringing an unparalleled sense of enthusiasm and passion to maximize fundraising results at benefit auction events.

Click this link to see previous episodes over The Trailhead Community.

In this conversation, Devon Tilly and co-host Nathan Wood chat with Todd Sutton from Zachry Corporation! This podcast is a part of a series of episodes that will be coming out from now until Spring 2025 covering the AEC Summit in Austin, Texas April 23rd – 25th 2025. We encourage our listeners and partners to share and engage with us during this conference coverage!

With over 35 years of construction industry service with Zachry Corporation, Todd has supported various business units and industry markets in finding user-inspired, process-based solutions through the implementation of technologies or construction methods to assist in project execution. He is an enthusiastic advocate for workforce initiatives, participating in Zachry's Career Exploration Program internship for high school students. At Zachry Corporation, he works on R&D to improve processes, as well as on the technologies that enable these improvements. He is currently involved in several industry data exchange standards, primarily focused on openBIM IFC efforts and FHWA, AASHTO, and State DOT-led digital delivery efforts.

Co-host Nathan Wood understands how rewarding the design and construction process can be when technology and culture embrace a new era of innovation. Nathan first earned his reputation as an industry thought leader in 2011, sharing his award-winning implementation of virtual design and construction (VDC) while working on integrated project delivery (IPD) healthcare projects. Nathan strives to share the best practices and lessons learned he’s gathered from over 100 project teams spanning the US, Europe, and the Middle East. These experiences have taught him that when it comes to adopting technology in construction, it’s not one size fits all. For that reason, Nathan founded SpectrumAEC with a clear goal — solving the human barriers to new process and technology adoption. As SpectrumAEC’s founder and chief enabling officer, Nathan helps organizations and project teams successfully adopt change through executive strategy sessions and end user workshops. Nathan continues to support industry progression through conference presentations, academic papers, and as President of the Construction Progress Coalition.

Additional Resources mentioned in this episode:

What is Digital Delivery?

National BIM Standards

BuildingSMART

BIM for Infrastructure

This podcast is a part of a series of episodes that will be coming out from now until Spring 2025 covering the AEC Summit in Austin, Texas April 23rd – 25th 2025. We encourage our listeners and partners to share and engage with us during this conference coverage! Use the promo code “AOCMFER” that will take $250 off registration. In this conversation, Devon Tilly and co-host Nathan Wood chat withNick Caravella in preparation for the  AEC Summit in Austin, Texas in April 2025!

With over a decade of experience in the industry, Nick Caravella has a unique outlook by starting his career as an architect. His passion for using new technology on projects led him to a career in construction technology, where he worked in a series of product and community focused initiatives which further highlighted how companies could be enabling growth through optimizing their technology approach. Through this journey, Nick joined Avicado Construction Technology Services, where he currently works as the Director of Growth and Industry Strategy, as well as the Host/Producer of the company’s construction technology podcast, Wired to Build. His background in architecture and expertise with technology provides a unique background that understands the needs of the AEC-O industry and how to apply the solutions being created to the problems we’re trying to solve today. Nick holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and is a registered Architect.

Co-host Nathan Wood understands how rewarding the design and construction process can be when technology and culture embrace a new era of innovation. Nathan first earned his reputation as an industry thought leader in 2011, sharing his award-winning implementation of virtual design and construction (VDC) while working on integrated project delivery (IPD) healthcare projects. Nathan strives to share the best practices and lessons learned he’s gathered from over 100 project teams spanning the US, Europe, and the Middle East. These experiences have taught him that when it comes to adopting technology in construction, it’s not one size fits all. For that reason, Nathan founded SpectrumAEC with a clear goal — solving the human barriers to new process and technology adoption. As SpectrumAEC’s founder and chief enabling officer, Nathan helps organizations and project teams successfully adopt change through executive strategy sessions and end user workshops. Nathan continues to support industry progression through conference presentations, academic papers, and as President of the Construction Progress Coalition.

Additional listening to Bill Allen Episode!

Listen to Nick on the ConTech Roadshow as a guest!

Listen to Nick on the Building Bite as a guest!

Listen to Nick on last year's WTB Epsiode on AECiS with Nathan!

Avicado Research on how Owner's are Using Technology: Optimizing Construction Technology for Owners