Beyond Prequalification

How prepared is your organization for the growing risks associated with lithium-ion batteries? 

In this episode of Beyond Prequalification, David Tibbetts, CSP, sits down with Miki Alroy, Founder of Commonwealth Risk Management Group and President of the ASSP Greater Boston Chapter, to discuss why lithium-ion battery safety has become one of the construction industry's most important emerging risks. 

Drawing from his experience in hazardous materials response, environmental remediation, and construction safety, Miki explains what causes thermal runaway, why traditional fire protection methods often fall short, and the practical steps organizations can take to reduce risk before an incident occurs. From charging and storage practices to inspections, emergency planning, and battery procurement, the conversation explores how companies can build safer systems without adding unnecessary complexity. 

Whether you're an owner, general contractor, safety leader, or trade partner, this episode offers practical guidance on identifying lithium-ion battery risks, strengthening emergency preparedness, and building proactive safety programs that keep pace with rapidly evolving technology. 

Learn more at highwire.com. 

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How can stronger contractor partnerships help prevent serious injuries and fatalities?

In this episode of Beyond Prequalification, David Tibbetts sits down with Vic D’Amato of the National Safety Council to discuss how owners, contractors, and safety leaders can move beyond checkbox prequalification and build more effective partnerships around high-risk work.

Vic shares lessons from nearly four decades in EHS, including why contractor risk cannot simply be transferred, how lower-tier subcontractors can introduce hidden exposure, and why lagging indicators like TRIR and EMR only tell part of the story. David and Vic also explore how SIF prevention requires better planning, stronger field monitoring, direct controls for high-energy hazards, and a culture that empowers workers to stop work when conditions change.

Whether you’re an owner, general contractor, safety leader, or trade partner, this episode offers practical guidance on using prequalification insights, humble inquiry, and shared learning to strengthen contractor relationships and prevent serious incidents before they happen.

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How do you manage subcontractor risk when everything can change mid-project?

In this episode of Beyond Prequalification, Shayne Gaffney, VP of Product Transformation and Delivery at Veriforce, is joined by Rob Wagoner, Vice President of Operations, and Haley Russell, Safety and Prequalification Coordinator at Howard Shockey & Sons, to discuss their shift from an annual subcontractor evaluation to project-based prequalification.

With greater visibility into subcontractor capacity, backlog, and financial health, their team has moved beyond static, once-a-year evaluations to a more dynamic, real-time approach. They share how this shift has improved decision-making, uncovered hidden risks, and strengthened accountability across projects. Haley and Rob also discuss how their prequalification process supports Shockey’s subcontractor default insurance (SDI) program and the practical steps they take to mitigate risk. 

Whether you’re refining your prequalification strategy or considering an SDI program, this episode offers practical insights into building a more proactive, transparent, and resilient approach to subcontractor risk management.

Learn more at highwire.com. 

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How do you turn millions in wrap-up losses into a model that transforms contractor risk management across the industry?

In this episode of Beyond Prequalification, David Tibbetts sits down with Garrett Burke, former Associate Director of Occupational and Construction Safety at Harvard University, to share the origin story behind Harvard’s owner-controlled insurance program (OCIP) turnaround and the creation of what would become ConstructSecure, now Highwire.

Facing significant financial losses and rising risk under its OCIP, Harvard needed a new approach. Garrett explains how he built a construction safety standard from the ground up, implemented stronger performance requirements, and developed a data-driven contractor prequalification platform to identify and target risk before it impacted projects.

What began as an internal solution to improve OCIP performance quickly gained traction beyond campus. As other owners and general contractors saw the results, the platform spun out of Harvard as ConstructSecure and ultimately evolved into Highwire.

Whether you are evaluating contractors, managing a wrap-up program, or strengthening your safety culture, this episode offers practical insight into how leadership, engagement, and proactive prequalification can drive measurable results.

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What separates inspection programs that truly prevent serious injuries from those that simply generate paperwork?

In this episode of Beyond Prequalification, Highwire’s Chief Safety Officer, David Tibbetts, is joined by Caitlin Bergin of BSI and Corey Silverman of Highwire to explore how organizations can turn their safety inspection programs into one of the most powerful leading indicators in their safety management system.

They discuss why inspection volume doesn’t equal inspection quality, how misaligned goals and low-risk “easy” findings dilute impact, and why leadership engagement is essential to driving meaningful improvement. The conversation also highlights practical applications of AI in the field and how these tools can reduce friction, improve data quality, and help teams focus on high-risk activities.

Whether you’re an asset owner, general contractor, or trade partner, this episode offers practical guidance on using inspection data to strengthen partnerships, surface emerging risk, and drive continuous safety improvement.

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In this episode, hosts David Tibbetts and Shayne Gaffney break down risk mitigation plans and why they’re a critical part of managing both safety and financial risk. Using real-world examples, they discuss when corrective action plans, exception management plans, and other mitigation strategies are necessary, and how they should function as active tools, not paperwork that sits on a shelf.

They explore how to set the right tone when engaging contractors, what effective plans should include, and why follow-through and performance monitoring are essential to preventing serious incidents or project disruption.

Whether you’re evaluating contractors or managing active projects, this episode offers practical guidance on turning identified risks into meaningful action.

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In this episode, Shayne Gaffney, VP of Product & Engineering at Highwire, speaks with Heather O'Neill, VP of Construction Specialty Products, and Jen Chadd, AVP of Senior Commercial Line Underwriter at Arch Insurance, about how strong prequalification practices can reduce risk and boost profitability.

With deep experience in subcontractor default insurance (SDI), Heather and Jen explain why subcontractor evaluation must be an ongoing process, not a one-time event, and how it helps uncover hidden risks.

They discuss the evolution of SDI, the need for financial transparency, and the importance of aligning finance, ops, and risk teams. The episode also explores how tech can streamline prequal workflows and what’s next for the industry.

Whether you’re new to SDI or refining your approach, this episode offers practical insights to build a more resilient business.

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How do trust and leadership influence performance in construction?

In this episode of Beyond Prequalification, David Tibbetts, CSP, sits down with Tony Iannessa, Founder and CEO, and Chris Farrington, President, both of BIG Construction, to explore their career journeys and the values shaping BIG’s growth in the Chicago market.

Tony and Chris discuss how early experiences in the trades shaped their leadership philosophies and why BIG focuses on long-term relationships rather than transactional work. They explore how trust with trade partners, clear communication, and consistent follow-through create safer, more efficient projects, and how building emotionally safe teams allows people to learn, grow, and perform at a higher level across the organization.

Whether you’re a contractor, safety leader, or industry professional, this episode offers thoughtful insights on how trust, culture, and partnership drive safer projects, stronger teams, and long-term growth in construction.

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How do you educate and prepare the next generation of safety professionals for an industry that’s evolving faster than ever?

In this episode of Beyond Prequalification, David Tibbetts, CSP, sits down with Brady Keene of Keene State College and Corey Silverman of Highwire to explore Keene State’s unique position as one of the only institutions in the country offering dedicated degrees in safety, construction safety, and construction management.

Brady discusses the growth of these programs, the industry partnerships shaping their curriculum, and why integrating safety and operations is essential for real-world readiness. He also highlights how AI, hands-on internships, and soft-skill development are transforming what effective safety education looks like today. Corey adds perspective from the field, sharing how his Keene State experience prepared him for roles in manufacturing, construction, and safety technology.

Whether you’re an educator, safety leader, or an employer seeking emerging talent, this episode offers a clear look at how Keene State is building a future-ready safety workforce.

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In this episode of Beyond Prequalification, Shayne Gaffney, VP of Product and Engineering at Highwire, sits down with Chris Hillyer, Senior Vice President and Regional Director of Pre-Construction Services at Skanska USA Building. Chris shares his nearly 30-year journey in the industry and offers an inside look at Skanska’s central U.S. portfolio from higher education and healthcare to mission-critical, multifamily, and developer-led projects that are reshaping skylines.

Chris explains how his teams are navigating today’s market forces, from tariffs and cost volatility to labor shortages and specialized trade capacity, while still delivering predictable outcomes for clients. He also emphasizes the importance of the use of AI in pre-construction to help improve efficiency and create a more seamless work experience, where everyone can work in the same place at the same time

Whether you’re a preconstruction leader, operations leader, or trade partner, this episode is valuable to see how a major general contractor like Skanska is using data, technology, and relationships to navigate a changing construction landscape.

Learn more at highwire.com.

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