In this episode, CMAA's Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot welcome AJ Waters to discuss why so many digital transformation efforts in construction fall short and what organizations can do differently. Drawing on his experience leading technology initiatives for major construction projects, AJ explains why successful transformation starts with people and processes—not technology. He shares practical strategies for building effective transformation teams, improving technology adoption, avoiding common implementation mistakes, and ensuring digital tools solve real business challenges. The conversation also explores the growing role of AI, the importance of aligning technology with organizational goals, and how construction firms can create lasting change rather than simply adopting the latest tools.

The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, CMAA’s Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot are joined by Jesse Heimowitz, CCM, of Tectonic Engineering; Dana Hecht, of H&H; and Graham Briggs, PE, of PMA Consultants, for a conversation about project controls, scheduling, and the realities of delivering large public sector infrastructure projects. The guests share how they each found their way into project management and discuss the varying levels of maturity across public agencies when it comes to scheduling, earned value management, and risk analysis. Comparing highway agencies with rail and transit organizations, they explore how legacy processes, organizational culture, and client expectations can influence project delivery practices. The conversation also highlights the role consultants play in advancing more consistent project lifecycle scheduling, using case studies and accountability measures to help drive change. Throughout the episode, the group emphasizes the importance of early planning, concept development, constructability reviews, and resource management in shaping project schedules, budgets, and long-term outcomes.

The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, CMAA’s Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot are joined by Joaquin Diaz, health and safety director at Gilbane Building Company and an ambassador for the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, for a conversation ahead of Construction Safety Week focused on the realities of near-miss reporting in construction. Drawing from his doctoral interpretive phenomenological study, Diaz shares insights gathered from interviews with 15 construction workers across projects in San Antonio, Houston, and Galveston. Guided by the theory of planned behavior, the research explores how workers perceive near-misses, why incidents often go unreported, and what organizations can do to improve safety communication and trust. Diaz explains that while workers generally understand the importance of reporting and want to protect their coworkers, many view near-misses as too common or already resolved by the time they occur. He also discusses how barriers to reporting are often self-imposed rather than driven by fear of punishment, and why visible employer follow-through matters more than incentives alone. The conversation also highlights the need for clearer, multilingual, and standardized reporting processes, while connecting the findings to Construction Safety Week’s “Recognize, Respond, Respect” theme. Along the way, Diaz reflects on how certifications like the CSP help strengthen discipline, credibility, and leadership within the safety profession.

The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, CMAA’s Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot are joined by Michael Griffin, partner at HKA, and Shawn Farrell, partner at Cohen Seglias, to discuss the evolving roles and responsibilities of construction managers and the growing risk and liability landscape. They outline the CM’s core functions—managing, advising, documenting, and keeping owners informed with “no surprises”—and compare the role to an air traffic controller coordinating schedule, cost, and multiple trades. The conversation highlights how early risk identification, timely owner decisions, and prompt payment can help prevent issues from escalating into disputes. Michael and Shawn also walk through practical steps to take when contractor performance begins to falter, including maintaining thorough documentation, providing proper notice, and operating within contractual authority. They conclude with a look at expanding CM liability, including exposure to negligent misrepresentation, and share a checklist of best practices, such as aligning contract language with actual duties, communicating carefully, and avoiding directives related to means and methods.

The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, CMAA’s Nick Soto and Evan Hendershot are joined by Brian Hanifin and Rachel Domingo of the LitCon Group to explore how construction managers can document the real story behind project delays and disruptions. Drawing on Brian’s decades of construction management and litigation support experience and Rachel’s forensic schedule and delay analysis expertise, they explain why close, real-time schedule monitoring is often the earliest indicator of emerging problems. Patterns such as repeated start-and-stop work can signal when a disruption is evolving into a true project delay. The conversation highlights the importance of contemporaneous, field-level documentation—including daily reports, meeting minutes, emails, logs, and native CPM schedule files—as the most reliable evidence in disputes. The guests also clarify key distinctions between delay, disruption, and productivity loss, and share practical strategies such as proactive meetings, clear notice practices, and effective use of existing tools to resolve issues early and keep projects out of court.

The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, Construction Management Association of America’s Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot are joined by Jim Ostrom, a professor of Construction Management at Joliet Junior College, for a conversation about career pathways in construction management. Jim shares his personal journey from a struggling student to an industry professional and educator, and why early exposure to construction management can be a game changer. He discusses the importance of reaching middle and high school students through targeted coursework and digital platforms to build awareness of the profession before career decisions are made. The discussion also explores the connection between skilled trades and construction management programs, the rising number of career switchers entering the field, and the role professional organizations can play in supporting education and workforce development. Jim offers practical advice for industry professionals interested in giving back by teaching part-time at community colleges, and the episode highlights CMAA’s Construction Manager-in-Training (CMIT®) program as a valuable resource for emerging professionals.

The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, CMAA’s Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot sit down with members of the CMAA Sustainability Subcommittee for an in-depth look at what resilience really means in the construction industry. Guests Randy Britt, director of Climate Adaptation and Resilience at Terravanta; Joyce Dawson, CCM, assistant director of Facilities Planning and Construction at Anne Arundel Community College; and Deeta Bernstein, group manager at Consertus, break down the essential distinctions between sustainability and resilience—and why both matter. The conversation explores the growing stressors affecting today’s projects, from extreme weather to aging infrastructure, and highlights why construction managers are on the front lines of preparing for and responding to these challenges. The guests share insights from the resilience course they’re developing for construction managers, set to launch in 2026, and explain how intentional planning, collaboration, and design choices can help protect communities and ensure long-term project performance.

This episode is sponsored by IHG Business Edge.

The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode of the Construction Leaders Podcast, hosts Nick Soto and Carly Trout of CMAA sit down with Bryan Vanlenten and Steve Warhoe of Arcadis to unpack insights from Arcadis’ 15th Annual Construction Disputes Report. The discussion explores how dispute values are rising even as resolution times shrink, and what that means for today’s construction landscape. The guests break down the most common causes—like contract errors, compliance lapses, and lingering labor and supply chain challenges—while sharing how technology such as AI and BIM is reshaping project management and dispute resolution. The conversation underscores the power of communication, contract clarity, and proactive risk assessment in preventing costly conflicts.

This episode is sponsored by IHG Business Edge.

The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode of the Construction Leaders Podcast, hosts Nick Soto and Carly Trout of CMAA sit down with Shannon McElveen, COO of AIA Contract Documents, to explore why standardized contracts are essential to successful projects. Shannon highlights how well-crafted agreements promote efficiency, strengthen collaboration, reduce disputes, and even support sustainability goals. She also offers a behind-the-scenes look at how AIA updates its contracts to reflect evolving industry practices and legal standards. The conversation wraps up with practical tips for project leaders on why keeping contracts current and consistent is key to smooth project delivery.

This episode is sponsored by STV. 

The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, hosts Nick Soto, Carly Trout, and Evan Hendershot from CMAA are joined by Daphne Bryant, executive director of the ACEC Research Institute, and Dr. Keith Molenaar, of the University of Colorado Boulder, to unpack the growing momentum behind Progressive Design-Build (PDB). Drawing from the ACEC report "Progressive Design-Build: Practice, Perceptions, and Potential," the conversation highlights how PDB fosters transparency, collaboration, and stronger outcomes compared to traditional delivery methods. The discussion also explores what’s driving adoption across sectors, how risk is more effectively managed, and the qualities that enable lasting owner–design builder partnerships.

This episode is sponsored by HNTB. 

The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.