AEC Trailblazers: The Founders Files

What if your company’s drug test is measuring the wrong thing?

In this episode of AEC Trailblazers, Valentin Noves talks with Ken Fichtler, CEO of Gaize, about a critical blind spot in workplace safety—especially in high-risk industries like construction. While traditional drug tests detect chemical presence, they don’t measure impairment—and in a post-legalization world, that distinction matters more than ever.

Ken explains how Gaize’s AI-powered platform shifts the paradigm by analyzing eye movements and neurocognitive response to detect real-time impairment from cannabinoids, opiates, stimulants, and more. This allows construction firms and safety managers to move beyond legacy tests that can be unreliable, exclusionary, or even dangerously outdated.

“Chemical drug tests were built to detect what they were told to detect,” Ken notes. “If your test looks for heroin, it won’t find fentanyl. That’s a big problem when fentanyl is killing over 100,000 Americans a year.”

He also explains why THC detection is particularly flawed: “You can test positive for THC three weeks after using cannabis. But that doesn’t tell you if someone’s impaired right now. That’s why we focus on the body’s response, not residual presence.”

In this episode, Ken and Valentin dig into:

* Why impairment—not chemical presence—is the future of safety

* How Gaize detects synthetic cannabinoids and other hard-to-spot substances

* Why OSHA’s data fails to reveal the root cause of incidents

* How eye-tracking analysis creates a universal baseline across drug categories

* The unique challenges of cannabis and drug use in blue-collar and trades workforces

Ken also shares startling stats: nearly 20% of Americans used cannabis last year, with much higher percentages in the trades and construction sectors. In a workforce where relationships and muscle memory are king, impairment testing has often been overlooked—but it’s now a critical piece of safety, compliance, and legal protection.

If you’re in AEC, construction safety, HR, or operations, this episode offers a new lens on an old problem—and a real solution for how to move forward.

Success in construction isn’t just about building structures—it’s about resilience, strategy, and knowing how to navigate challenges. Few embody this better than Pat Miller, founder and president of Blue Diamond Construction.

With over 30 years in the industry, Pat has led commercial carpentry and metal framing projects across medical offices, retail spaces, apartments, and more. But her journey wasn’t just about business—it was about survival.

In this episode, Pat shares how she turned personal hardship into professional triumph, rebuilding her life and career after devastating losses. She dives into breaking barriers as a woman in construction, the lessons from building a business in a volatile industry and how her book, Kicking Karma’s Ass, inspires resilience with humor.

Pat’s story is about perseverance, reinvention, and leading with strength. If you’re facing obstacles in your career or business, this episode is proof that you can build something incredible—even from the ground up.

In the fast-paced world of construction, efficiency isn’t just an advantage—it’s a necessity.

Yet, material procurement remains a bottleneck for many specialty contractors and distributors.

That’s where Eric Helitzer, CEO and co-founder of SubBase, is making an impact.

A third-generation builder with a Master’s in Building Construction Management from the University of Florida, Eric has spent his career optimizing project workflows.

After managing over $250M in construction operations, he identified a critical gap: outdated procurement methods that slow down projects and squeeze margins.

Enter SubBase—a procurement platform that streamlines the entire process without disrupting how vendors and contractors already work. In this episode, Eric shares why Florida is a prime hub for construction innovation, how technology is improving vendor relationships and sales and the role of automation in procurement—beyond emails and spreadsheets.

With real-time quoting, seamless vendor communication, and accounting integration, SubBase is helping teams move toward a smarter, more efficient future.

If you're in the AEC industry and looking to reduce friction, boost profitability, and improve procurement workflows, this episode is a must-listen.

Prefab isn’t the future of construction—it’s the present.

Yet, many modular and offsite projects still face cost overruns, inefficiencies, and scalability challenges. That’s where Andrew Xue , COO and Co-Founder of Offsight, steps in.

With a background in engineering, software development, and construction consulting, Andrew has spent years optimizing prefab manufacturing.

His mission? To make offsite construction more efficient, scalable, and profitable.

In this episode, Andrew shares:

* Why “I think it’s all gonna be prefab” isn’t just a bold claim—it’s inevitable

* How software-driven workflows are solving quality control and project tracking issues

* The biggest business and margin challenges in prefab—and how to overcome them

* What the next decade holds for modular construction at scale

With $6.4M in seed funding, Offsight is helping manufacturers increase volume, reduce waste, and boost profitability. If you’re in the AEC industry, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Construction scheduling is broken. Gantt charts are outdated, teams are stuck in spreadsheets, and projects keep running over time and budget. But what if scheduling was as intuitive as a whiteboard and as powerful as CPM?

In this episode of AEC Trailblazers, we sit down with Nitin Bhandari, Co-Founder & CEO of Planera, to explore how collaborative and visual CPM-based planning is redefining construction scheduling.

Why traditional scheduling tools fail modern projects. How real-time, high-fidelity data is a game changer. And the role of AI & automation in smarter scheduling.

Nitin shares insights from his journey—building tech startups, optimizing mobile networks, and now tackling one of AEC’s biggest inefficiencies. Plus, he offers a free demo of Planera so you can experience the future of scheduling firsthand.

Don’t miss this conversation—because staying on schedule shouldn’t be this hard.

How can real-time field data revolutionize construction? In this episode of AEC Traiblazers, we sit down with Zach Scheel, CEO and co-founder of Rhumbix, to explore the game-changing impact of workforce automation and paperless field management.

With experience leading engineering operations in the US Navy, managing megaprojects with Bechtel, and holding dual master’s degrees from Stanford, Zach brings a unique perspective on optimizing labor efficiency through data-driven solutions.

We dive into the challenges of manual job site tracking and how Rhumbix's real-time performance monitoring is reshaping the industry by eliminating inefficiencies, reducing costs, and ensuring projects stay on schedule.

Zach shares insights on the rise of robotics collaboration on job sites, the untapped potential of AI-powered workforce planning and how unlocking better data will drive the next wave of construction innovation.

Plus, a fun fact—Zach is fascinated by Singapore Changi Airport’s architecture, calling it the best in the world. Tune in to hear why!

Get ready for a deep dive into the future of mechanical design—where precision meets innovation. Chris Barton, the brilliant mind behind Drafter, is rewriting the rules of engineering workflows with a blend of technical genius and entrepreneurial vision.

Imagine turning complex engineering challenges into elegant, automated solutions. GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) has always been the unsung hero of mechanical design—a cryptic language that can make or break multimillion-dollar projects.

Drafter is transforming this landscape, turning those painstaking 30-minute manual drawings into instantaneous, laser-precise digital workflows. We're talking about intelligent algorithms that bridge the gap between design intent and manufacturing execution, making what once seemed impossible now look effortless.

Tune in to AEC Trailblazers, e-verse's podcast that goes beyond the surface, and hear how Barton is driving the next wave of technological revolution.

This isn't just another tech story—it's a blueprint for the future of design automation. You'll walk away with insights that challenge everything you thought you knew about mechanical engineering, and a glimpse into how cutting-edge technology is reshaping entire industries. Don't miss this game-changing conversation.

Buckle up for a wild ride through the digital construction world with Alex Hanna—a high school dropout turned BIM rockstar. From drafting tables to disrupting talent recruitment, Alex's story is anything but ordinary. In this e-verse podcast episode, we're diving deep into how one person can transform an entire industry.

STRIVE isn't just another recruiting platform—it's a game-changer. Imagine an AI-powered matchmaker for BIM professionals that does more than swap resumes. We're talking intelligent connections that make general contractors' lives easier and help talented pros find their dream projects. No more endless job boards, no more guesswork.

Want to know how Alex is reshaping workforce development across Canada, the UK and Ireland—with eyes set on Mexico and South America? Tune in to this episode and get the inside scoop on the future of construction talent.

Spoiler alert: It's not just about hiring, it's about building careers, challenging traditions and proving that innovation has no limits.

Catch the full story on the AEC Traiblazers podcast —where technology meets human potential.

In this episode of AEC Traiblazers, we dive deep into the construction industry’s persistent challenges with project schedule accuracy—where 88% of schedules fail to meet best practices.

Michael Pink, founder and CEO of SmartPM Technologies, breaks down why this gap exists and how real-time analytics can help project teams turn unreliable schedules into powerful, actionable insights.

Michael’s extensive experience in project controls, risk management and dispute resolution has given him a unique understanding of what it takes to keep construction on track, on budget and free of disputes.

SmartPM’s innovative approach leverages AI-driven Schedule Analytics™ to bridge the gap in project controls, reducing risks and preventing disputes.

Michael discusses the technology’s capability to transform complex data into a clear picture of performance, helping stakeholders—from owners to general contractors and insurers—gain transparency and make informed decisions.

By bringing advanced analytics and machine learning into schedule analysis, SmartPM provides an accessible and powerful way for industry leaders to control project outcomes proactively.

Whether your focus is on construction timelines, dispute resolution or better risk management, Michael’s insights reveal how SmartPM’s tools are tailored to meet these needs, ultimately saving time, reducing costs and improving the reliability of construction schedules.

This episode is essential for those seeking to modernize their project management strategies with cutting-edge solutions tailored for today’s AEC industry.

In this captivating episode, Jack Sadler, the brains behind Part3, peels back the layers of product management tailored for the drafting tables and hard hats of architects and engineers.

He illuminates how cutting-edge innovation is giving the AEC industry's pricing structures a much-needed facelift, hammering home the point that flexibility is key in this tough-as-nails business model.

Jack doesn't sugarcoat it: "Construction's a beast to tame when it comes to turning a profit," but he's got a toolbox full of insights on how to nail success through game-changing product ideas.

Jack also geeks out on AI's role in turbocharging the design process, dropping this gem: "AI won't be stamping blueprints, but it'll sure as heck come prepared." He spotlights how data is the new time-saving superhero for architects, putting them in the driver's seat of their projects while eyeing those juicier profit margins.

Having walked in the shoes of both boutique architects and big-league firms, Jack serves up a 360-degree view of the market, underlining the AEC world's "all hands on deck" spirit.

With laser focus on busting biases in product design and putting customer feedback on a pedestal, Jack challenges listeners to flip the script on their strategies. He's not mincing words when he says, "If you're gonna roll out something new, it better knock socks off," egging on pros to innovate without flinching.

So, buckle up as we dive into the rollercoaster world of architecture and product management, and learn how to turn these nuggets of wisdom into your secret sauce for success.