Mac & Bleu

From a Chance Encounter in a Convertible to VP of Real Estate Development with Josh Tracy
Josh Tracy – VP of Real Estate Development at Ryan Companies US, Inc. shared an insightful perspective of what it’s like to be a national general contractor/developer. Josh attended ASU and was Ryan Companies’ first direct hire out of an undergrad program to be on their development team.

At Ryan Companies, we believe the value of the buildings we design, develop, finance, manage and construct is about more than dollars and cents – it’s also about the value they bring to the people who use them and the communities that surround them. That’s why we focus first on the “why” so we can give life to your vision and achieve the best possible outcome.

As a national leader in commercial real estate services, we know that our customers are as unique as their projects. That’s why, day after day, we’re driven to uncover their stories. To be inspired by what inspires them. To bring the right people to the table so we can collaborate on a deeper, more engaging level.

Together, we build something far more profound than the physical presence of a building. We build the backdrops to life’s stories.

At Ryan, our values – Safety, Integrity, Respect, Stewardship, Family, Excellence and Fun – define our culture and they shape and ignite the people who join our team. They are more than words in a mission statement, they are the inspiration that guides our decisions and shapes our belief that we offer something no one else can.

In the end, your building is better, your experience working with us more enjoyable, your community more vibrant and your project site safer – all because we embrace our values each day.
Josh Tracy provides valuable, highly strategic leadership as Vice President of Real Estate Development at Ryan Companies US, Inc. As a Phoenix native, Josh strives to make a difference in our community through his professional and personal efforts.

A highly motivated person, Josh started his first business at age 16, providing him with a source of income through high school and college.

After completing his Business Management and Real Estate studies at Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business, Josh secured a job at Ryan Companies, becoming the first person to be hired onto the Ryan development team straight out of undergrad studies. At Ryan, he has participated in developing over two million square feet of commerc

MAC & Bleu, your go-to podcast for the innovative minds shaping our nation’s future. Our topics are not only vast but advanced and forward looking, as we explore emerging trends in blockchain, AI, the Metaverse, and both virtual and augmented reality within the construction, business and entrepreneur market segments.

Our conversations are as diverse as they are enlightening, traversing not just the topics of economic development, supply chains, diverse market sectors, and celebrate the rich diversity underpinning each industry. We also dive into the intricate interplay between local politics and business, highlighting the far-reaching impact of political decisions on different market segments. Be sure to subscribe to the MAC & Bleu Youtube Channel

About the Host - JJ Levenske - President & Co-Founder of Bleuwave General Contracting

JJ Levenske is a seasoned construction executive with over 30 years of experience in the commercial & industrial sectors. From pre-construction services to complex quality controls and close-outs, he brings a commitment to delivering the highest levels of professionalism and customer service. J.J.’s dedication to construction has allowed him to become an industry expert which he aims to share with customers and investors alike.

Enhancing The Ability of Businesses From Every Sector of The Subcontracting Community w. Josh Umar
Josh Umar, Executive Director, of American Subcontractors Association of Arizona joined us for an informative session about ASA and the benefits they offer for members and non-members alike. Josh is all about engagement and ASA embodies his leadership. Stick around to the end and listen to the cool experiences of falconry (one of Josh’s main hobbies).

ASA of Arizona is a nonprofit association with more than 210 members. The vast majority are trades companies of every specialty and size. Their mission is to to enhance the ability of businesses from every sector of the subcontracting community to thrive via advocacy, collaboration, education, and networking.

Their vision is an Arizona in which the subcontracting community is the most respected and influential stakeholder in the construction industry.

Josh Umar is the Executive Director of ASA of Arizona, where he started in June of 2020. With over 210 members, ASA is a leading voice for the interests of trades companies statewide regardless of specialty or size.

He came to ASA-AZ by way of the award-winning Build Your Future Arizona (BYFAZ) campaign. Based out of the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation, BYFAZ is a three year, $3M industry-led career awareness effort aimed at inspiring the next generation of skilled tradespeople to take action and enter construction.

Before that, Josh was the Executive Director of the Highland County Chamber of Commerce in Virginia. His portfolio included government relations and member services, and he was responsible for organizing the county’s annual Maple Festival (50,000 attendees).

He has a strong background in nonprofit leadership, strategic planning, and advocacy.

MAC & Bleu, your go-to podcast for the innovative minds shaping our nation’s future. Our topics are not only vast but advanced and forward looking, as we explore emerging trends in blockchain, AI, the Metaverse, and both virtual and augmented reality within the construction, business and entrepreneur market segments.

Our conversations are as diverse as they are enlightening, traversing not just the topics of economic development, supply chains, diverse market sectors, and celebrate the rich diversity underpinning each industry. We also dive into the intricate interplay between local politics and business, highlighting the far-reaching impact of political decisions on different market segments. Be sure to subscribe to the MAC & Bleu Youtube Channel

About the Host - JJ Levenske - President & Co-Founder of Bleuwave General Contracting

JJ Levenske is a seasoned construction executive with over 30 years of experience in the commercial & industrial sectors. From pre-construction services to complex quality controls and close-outs, he brings a commitment to delivering the highest levels of professionalism and customer service. J.J.’s dedication to construction has allowed him to become an industry expert which he aims to share with customers and investors alike.

Mermaids in the Pool with Samantha Pinkal from GPEC
Samantha Pinkal from GPEC joined us for an unbelievably informative session on economic development. It was so interesting to listen to her describe how collaborative GPEC is with the various municipalities and agencies to attract and retain businesses and market sectors for the sustained growth of the greater Phoenix area.

We encourage you to especially listen towards the end of the episode about “the mermaids in the pool” story; it epitomizes how to “WIN”.

The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), named the top economic development organization (EDO) globally in 2021 by the International Economic Development Council, works to attract and grow quality businesses and advocate for the competitiveness of Greater Phoenix.

A data-driven regional EDO, GPEC works with 22 member communities, Maricopa County and more than 190 private investors to accomplish its mission and serve as a strategic partner to companies across the world as they expand or relocate to Greater Phoenix. Over the past 32 years GPEC has fueled the regional economy by helping 895 companies, creating nearly 164,000 jobs and $33.4 billion in capital investment.

Greater Phoenix is in a relentless pursuit of innovative and entrepreneurial-focused companies looking to thrive and scale in a vibrant, dynamic region. There is an undeniable spirit about Greater Phoenix; one rooted in strength, collaboration and resilience. Greater Phoenix is Greater Together.

Samantha Pinkal joined GPEC as Vice President of Business Development in June 2021. Sam’s primary focus is on the growth of the industrial and advanced manufacturing industries in the region.

With a diverse background in both the private and public sectors, her specialty is in acting as a liaison between clients and communities with a unique understanding of both side of the deal and how best to navigate to optimal solutions. From site selection to site layout and logistics, she’s passionate about helping clients make informed, strategic decisions.

Originally from southwest Nebraska, Samantha graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. She spent a decade working for The Weitz Company, a national general contractor in Phoenix, managing large commercial projects and in Business Development and Marketing.

Most recently she worked for City of Surprise Economic Develo

MAC & Bleu, your go-to podcast for the innovative minds shaping our nation’s future. Our topics are not only vast but advanced and forward looking, as we explore emerging trends in blockchain, AI, the Metaverse, and both virtual and augmented reality within the construction, business and entrepreneur market segments.

Our conversations are as diverse as they are enlightening, traversing not just the topics of economic development, supply chains, diverse market sectors, and celebrate the rich diversity underpinning each industry. We also dive into the intricate interplay between local politics and business, highlighting the far-reaching impact of political decisions on different market segments. Be sure to subscribe to the MAC & Bleu Youtube Channel

About the Host - JJ Levenske - President & Co-Founder of Bleuwave General Contracting

JJ Levenske is a seasoned construction executive with over 30 years of experience in the commercial & industrial sectors. From pre-construction services to complex quality controls and close-outs, he brings a commitment to delivering the highest levels of professionalism and customer service. J.J.’s dedication to construction has allowed him to become an industry expert which he aims to share with customers and investors alike.

Liens and Preliens and Laughs Oh My with Amy Houk
Robert and J.J. meet up with Amy Houk, Chief Marketing/Product Officer with Prelien Pro Technologies to discuss all things liens and preliens. Amy is the authority and shares her wealth of knowledge with the guys, and shares the why behind Prelien Pro Technologies and the development of software for the world of construction. If you are a general contractor, subcontractor, or supplier this episode is a must have as a reference to often misunderstood statutes pertaining to the lien and prelien process and your rights.

General Contractors, Subcontractors and suppliers learn the answers to often misunderstood processes surrounding your lien rights.

Prelien Pro Technologies, Inc. began when a team of consultants were asked to develop an easier workflow for lien companies to manage the hundreds of prelien notices submitted to their company weekly. Once they dove into the structure and processes lien companies were utilizing, it became very obvious that the lack of “out-of-the-box” solutions was crippling this industry. Lien companies were spending 10’s of thousands of dollars to create custom, single-user solutions or relying on a dos-based, single desktop solution for software that was cumbersome, antiquated, and rigid. Shocked by what they found, they sought out the guidance of one of the most dynamic and successful CTO’s to wrestle the “ dot-com boom” they could find… one laptop, one monitor, and one hot conference room later, a dream team of developers, innovators, and consultants came together to form what would become Prelien Pro Technologies, Inc.

As they researched and learned more about this industry, they also found that construction companies were forced to submit their notice requests on an equally outdated interface. The team was shocked to hear that most construction companies weren’t too bothered by the legacy look and feel as most software they used at the time was just as clumsy. Realizing that the construction industry was ripe for a solution to weave together all of these processes and workflows, the team devised a strategy – to learn the lien management industry from the inside out. They achieved this by creating their own lien company, collaborating with the construction industry, and building a solution that solves all of the obvious (and not so obvious) issues this process had on the overall performance and cost of a project.

This strategy led to an immeasurable amou

MAC & Bleu, your go-to podcast for the innovative minds shaping our nation’s future. Our topics are not only vast but advanced and forward looking, as we explore emerging trends in blockchain, AI, the Metaverse, and both virtual and augmented reality within the construction, business and entrepreneur market segments.

Our conversations are as diverse as they are enlightening, traversing not just the topics of economic development, supply chains, diverse market sectors, and celebrate the rich diversity underpinning each industry. We also dive into the intricate interplay between local politics and business, highlighting the far-reaching impact of political decisions on different market segments. Be sure to subscribe to the MAC & Bleu Youtube Channel

About the Host - JJ Levenske - President & Co-Founder of Bleuwave General Contracting

JJ Levenske is a seasoned construction executive with over 30 years of experience in the commercial & industrial sectors. From pre-construction services to complex quality controls and close-outs, he brings a commitment to delivering the highest levels of professionalism and customer service. J.J.’s dedication to construction has allowed him to become an industry expert which he aims to share with customers and investors alike.

Blockchain & Digital Design with Tim Dufault of CONCERT
In this episode Robert and J.J. discuss with Tim Dufault, Co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer with CONCERT, how design and construction can utilize Blockchain to facilitate digital delivery and authentication of construction documents.

He believes that real collaboration will only happen when each member of the team can understand and control how what they create is used.

Anyone that works within the built environment will “geek out” on our discussion of Blockchain, Web3, BIM, and Digital Design.

Concert is a digital design data platform built on Blockchain and focused on creating a authenticating, authorizing, and recording the authorship of digital design data to facilitate digital delivery in design and construction.

The platform creates a permanent record of the author of any form of digital design or construction information along with the capability to authorize how the information should be used and to certify to and sign it with professional credentials.

Concert is the first Web3 platform for design and construction, empowering the author to own their digital data and determine under their own terms who can use that data and for what purpose.

Concert is the foundation for realizing real digital collaboration and delivery for the built environment.

Tim Dufault is the co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) for Concert and is responsible for bringing the technology to design and construction professionals across the country.

He believes that real collaboration will only happen when each member of the team can understand and control how what they create is used.

Prior to starting Concert, Tim was the CEO of Cuningham, a large national design firm with offices throughout the West Coast, Southwest, Mountain West and Midwest. He was with the firm for 30 years and served as CEO of the firm for 15 years.

While leading the firm, he grew it from annual revenues of $15M to over $100M and personally oversaw the firms growth and acquisition strategies. Concert was created while Tim was CEO of Cuningham and he stepped down last year to focus full time on the Concert platform.

Tim is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a licensed Architect in Minnesota. He is a graduate of North Dakota State University and lives in the Minneapolis area.

MAC & Bleu, your go-to podcast for the innovative minds shaping our nation’s future. Our topics are not only vast but advanced and forward looking, as we explore emerging trends in blockchain, AI, the Metaverse, and both virtual and augmented reality within the construction, business and entrepreneur market segments.

Our conversations are as diverse as they are enlightening, traversing not just the topics of economic development, supply chains, diverse market sectors, and celebrate the rich diversity underpinning each industry. We also dive into the intricate interplay between local politics and business, highlighting the far-reaching impact of political decisions on different market segments. Be sure to subscribe to the MAC & Bleu Youtube Channel

About the Host - JJ Levenske - President & Co-Founder of Bleuwave General Contracting

JJ Levenske is a seasoned construction executive with over 30 years of experience in the commercial & industrial sectors. From pre-construction services to complex quality controls and close-outs, he brings a commitment to delivering the highest levels of professionalism and customer service. J.J.’s dedication to construction has allowed him to become an industry expert which he aims to share with customers and investors alike.

Insurance Conscious Capitalism with Casey Kendel
Casey Kendel – Prosperity North Advisors. Casey offers a full-service insurance brokerage but specializes in small businesses and additionally hosts “Casey’s Corner”. On his program he highlights and promotes many small business owners and their visions of growth and importance in their own communities. Conscious Capitalism is at the forefront of everything Casey is involved with.

Prosperity North Advisors was founded in 2015 with one mission: To protect the prosperity of our clients.

We understand that you have worked hard to build your business, acquire personal and professional assets, and want to create a legacy that will support you and your family for a lifetime. We also understand that without the right protection everything can be gone in an instant.

This is why we take a unique approach to collaborate with our clients to create strategies to break the status quo, offer a high level of client service, and seek to establish long lasting relationships.

Listening to our clients means understanding their needs, making recommendations, and encouraging positive financial outcomes.

We want to be your partner in protecting your legacy and securing your prosperity!

We founded Prosperity North Advisors in 2015 to protect and grow the prosperity of our clients. As a business enhancement advisor, Casey Kendel has worked with small and large businesses, including 26 of the Fortune 100.

As a personal financial enhancement advisor, we collaborate with our clients to create short- and long-term solutions to protect your legacy.

We believe that collaboration allows for creativity, sets expectations, and delivers the best financial results for you.

Casey earned his bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University and an MBA from Grand Canyon University. He lives in Gilbert, Arizona with his beautiful wife Marissa and their 2 children.

In his spare time, he enjoys coaching soccer, fishing with the kids, playing my bagpipes, pretending to be a rockstar, DIY projects around the house, hosting his video series “Casey’s Corner”.

MAC & Bleu, your go-to podcast for the innovative minds shaping our nation’s future. Our topics are not only vast but advanced and forward looking, as we explore emerging trends in blockchain, AI, the Metaverse, and both virtual and augmented reality within the construction, business and entrepreneur market segments.

Our conversations are as diverse as they are enlightening, traversing not just the topics of economic development, supply chains, diverse market sectors, and celebrate the rich diversity underpinning each industry. We also dive into the intricate interplay between local politics and business, highlighting the far-reaching impact of political decisions on different market segments. Be sure to subscribe to the MAC & Bleu Youtube Channel

About the Host - JJ Levenske - President & Co-Founder of Bleuwave General Contracting

JJ Levenske is a seasoned construction executive with over 30 years of experience in the commercial & industrial sectors. From pre-construction services to complex quality controls and close-outs, he brings a commitment to delivering the highest levels of professionalism and customer service. J.J.’s dedication to construction has allowed him to become an industry expert which he aims to share with customers and investors alike.

Career Readiness & Literacy with Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement of Arizona is a non-profit organization equipping Arizona students to succeed in work and life by giving them the knowledge and skills to plan for their future and make smart academic, career, and financial choices.

JA Alumni are more likely to further their education, feel confident managing money, have career success, and be more participative in their communities.

Sims Business Systems is a family owned 43 year old local technology company. They offer a turnkey approach to a business’s technology environment.

Scot Taggart is a native to Arizona, was the 1st graduating class of Perry Highschool in the Chandler Unified School District. He serves on two boards currently.

The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona which he chairs their Young Professionals Committee and The American Subcontractors Association of Arizona which he chairs their New Members and Events Committee.

Junior Achievement of Arizona is a nonprofit equipping students to succeed in work and life by giving them the knowledge and skills to plan for their future and make smart academic, career and financial choices.

JA’s proven programs in work/career readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy positively impact the futures of students. In fact, JA Alumni are more likely to have a degree, feel confident managing money, have career success, and have started businesses as an adult.

JA lessons align with national/state standards and are delivered to 90,000 AZ students/annually with the help of our education partners and local community volunteers.

As VP, Strategic Impact, Anne Landers is acutely focused on how students, educators, individuals, corporations and other entities experience and engage with JA.

Anne is committed to ensuring that the Arizona community has a high-impact and positive experience with JA, so the organization can continue to shape the futures of tens of thousands of students each year.

In tandem with JA’s president, Anne is the primary driver of ensuring the organization’s unique value proposition, thought-leadership, track record and impact on our community is represented in key education, career readiness, and financial literacy conversations.

Additionally, she oversees all digital, PR, marketing, and advertising for the organization, in addition to leading the organization’s data management programs for donor and

MAC & Bleu, your go-to podcast for the innovative minds shaping our nation’s future. Our topics are not only vast but advanced and forward looking, as we explore emerging trends in blockchain, AI, the Metaverse, and both virtual and augmented reality within the construction, business and entrepreneur market segments.

Our conversations are as diverse as they are enlightening, traversing not just the topics of economic development, supply chains, diverse market sectors, and celebrate the rich diversity underpinning each industry. We also dive into the intricate interplay between local politics and business, highlighting the far-reaching impact of political decisions on different market segments. Be sure to subscribe to the MAC & Bleu Youtube Channel

About the Host - JJ Levenske - President & Co-Founder of Bleuwave General Contracting

JJ Levenske is a seasoned construction executive with over 30 years of experience in the commercial & industrial sectors. From pre-construction services to complex quality controls and close-outs, he brings a commitment to delivering the highest levels of professionalism and customer service. J.J.’s dedication to construction has allowed him to become an industry expert which he aims to share with customers and investors alike.

Advocating For Cities Of All Sizes To Be Safe, Livable, and Inviting with Charles Marohn
Charles Marohn, known as “Chuck” to friends and colleagues, is the founder and president of Strong Towns. He is a land use planner and (retired) professional engineer with decades of experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning, both from the University of Minnesota.

Strong Towns is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit media advocacy organization. They produce content that analyzes the failures of the post-war North American development pattern while giving citizens the knowledge and tools to start making our places better today.

They seek to replace America’s post-war pattern of development, the Suburban Experiment, with a pattern of development that is financially strong and resilient. They advocate for cities of all sizes to be safe, livable, and inviting. They work to elevate local government to be the highest level of collaboration for people working together in a place, not merely the lowest level in a hierarchy of governments.

Chuck offers an insightful look into the paradigm shift of development and how through education we can all become better stewards of the communities we work and live in.

Strong Towns is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit media advocacy organization. We produce content that analyzes the failures of the post-war North American development pattern while giving citizens the knowledge and tools to start making our places better today.

We seek to replace America’s post-war pattern of development, the Suburban Experiment, with a pattern of development that is financially strong and resilient. We advocate for cities of all sizes to be safe, livable, and inviting.

We work to elevate local government to be the highest level of collaboration for people working together in a place, not merely the lowest level in a hierarchy of governments.

Charles Marohn, known as “Chuck” to friends and colleagues, is the founder and president of Strong Towns. He is a land use planner and (retired) professional engineer with decades of experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning, both from the University of Minnesota.

Marohn is the author of Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity (Wiley, 2019) and Confessions of a Recovering Engineer: Transportation for a Strong Town (Wiley 2021). He hos

MAC & Bleu, your go-to podcast for the innovative minds shaping our nation’s future. Our topics are not only vast but advanced and forward looking, as we explore emerging trends in blockchain, AI, the Metaverse, and both virtual and augmented reality within the construction, business and entrepreneur market segments.

Our conversations are as diverse as they are enlightening, traversing not just the topics of economic development, supply chains, diverse market sectors, and celebrate the rich diversity underpinning each industry. We also dive into the intricate interplay between local politics and business, highlighting the far-reaching impact of political decisions on different market segments. Be sure to subscribe to the MAC & Bleu Youtube Channel

About the Host - JJ Levenske - President & Co-Founder of Bleuwave General Contracting

JJ Levenske is a seasoned construction executive with over 30 years of experience in the commercial & industrial sectors. From pre-construction services to complex quality controls and close-outs, he brings a commitment to delivering the highest levels of professionalism and customer service. J.J.’s dedication to construction has allowed him to become an industry expert which he aims to share with customers and investors alike.

The Mentor & The Protege with Brad Leavitt, of AFT Construction & Rod Cullum Founder Cullum Homes
Luxury Home Building with Two Arizona Legends – The Mentor and the Protege – Rod Cullum and Brad Leavitt E5 Robert and JJ's guests Rod Cullum, a Founder and Principal at Cullum Homes, and Brad Leavitt, Founder and Principal at A Finer Touch Construction are both Luxury Home Builders in Scottsdale Arizona.

Mac and Bleu is the hot new podcast dedicated to all things related to building Arizona. Topics discussed range from construction, economic development, supply chain, and market segments.

Mac & Bleu also includes diversity in construction, local politics affecting construction, women in construction, construction technology, and more.

The hosts, Robert Johnson of Tori Contracting, LLC and JJ Levenske of Bleuwave have their finger on the pulse of the people building Arizona.

The show brings in the brightest minds in their perspective positions and industries and JJ and Robert have a unique ability to touch on the subject matter that you want to hear.

If you want to know who’s building Arizona, tune in and subscribe to Mac and Bleu today!
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Robert Johnson is a knowledgeable construction professional with over 40 years of experience. His experience ranges from residential to commercial and industrial sectors. Robert began working in the trades immediately out of high school and quickly advanced to Journeyman status.

Robert went to estimating, operations, senior-level management, as well as business development. Robert is consistently building relationships and networking with those associated with all aspects of development and construction. Robert has become a respected source for prefabricated construction solutions. 

Robert enjoys spending time with Pam, his wife of 42 years, their 3 children, and 10
grandchildren.

JJ Levenske is a seasoned construction executive with over 30 years of experience in the commercial and industrial sectors.

From pre-construction services to complex quality controls and close-outs, he brings a commitment to delivering the highest levels of professionalism and customer service.

J.J.’s dedication to construction has allowed him to become an industry expert which he aims to share with customers and investors alike.

J.J. does not believe in mediocrity and st

MAC & Bleu, your go-to podcast for the innovative minds shaping our nation’s future. Our topics are not only vast but advanced and forward looking, as we explore emerging trends in blockchain, AI, the Metaverse, and both virtual and augmented reality within the construction, business and entrepreneur market segments.

Our conversations are as diverse as they are enlightening, traversing not just the topics of economic development, supply chains, diverse market sectors, and celebrate the rich diversity underpinning each industry. We also dive into the intricate interplay between local politics and business, highlighting the far-reaching impact of political decisions on different market segments. Be sure to subscribe to the MAC & Bleu Youtube Channel

About the Host - JJ Levenske - President & Co-Founder of Bleuwave General Contracting

JJ Levenske is a seasoned construction executive with over 30 years of experience in the commercial & industrial sectors. From pre-construction services to complex quality controls and close-outs, he brings a commitment to delivering the highest levels of professionalism and customer service. J.J.’s dedication to construction has allowed him to become an industry expert which he aims to share with customers and investors alike.

Architecture: Present and Future with Lance Baker of Synectic Design Inc. Lance Baker, Principal at Synectic Design, Inc. joined us on MAC & Bleu today. Lance is an accomplished architect that has been in the Valley since 1996 and has owned his own shop for 23 years. Lance brought an infectious energy about adapting technology and fostering collaboration into the AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) industry.

Lance discussed how REVIT and BIM (modeling) are the new normal and how design is being delivered to the clients and the associated consultants and contractors. Lance is excited and passionate about taking the modeling to the next level; incorporating future technology to help on items like energy efficiency, life cycle costs, and return on investment. Lance focuses on a strong culture for his firm and his client base. It was a pleasure to have Lance on the program as the first Architect in the series.
Synectic Design, Inc. (SDI) is an architectural design and planning firm created in January 2000 with the idea of bringing together an intimate, carefully-selected group of individuals of diverse personality and specialization. The result is a unique blend of design excellence backed by technical expertise.

The size of the firm ensures that each project receives the full attention and stewardship of one of the two principals, Lance Baker and David Hamblen. Together they continue to create constancy of purpose for the improvement of their product and service. For this – and many other – reasons, they enjoy great loyalty from their clients in the commercial, private, government, and residential environments.

The structure of Synectic Design is tailored around serving their clients with a continuity of service. Unlike many larger firms that spread the work among many departments, they entrust each project to a project manager who shepherds the project through completion. They feel that having a knowledgeable, experienced staff helps deliver a coordinated and quality product.

Lance Baker, founding partner and principal of Synectic Design, has successfully completed many projects in the Federal, public, private and commercial markets. As an owner and designer, Lance participates in the design, documentation and administration for every project Synectic Design completes.

With 27 years of experience, Lance works closely with each and every client to ensure that he understands both their needs and their expectations.

MAC & Bleu, your go-to podcast for the innovative minds shaping our nation’s future. Our topics are not only vast but advanced and forward looking, as we explore emerging trends in blockchain, AI, the Metaverse, and both virtual and augmented reality within the construction, business and entrepreneur market segments.

Our conversations are as diverse as they are enlightening, traversing not just the topics of economic development, supply chains, diverse market sectors, and celebrate the rich diversity underpinning each industry. We also dive into the intricate interplay between local politics and business, highlighting the far-reaching impact of political decisions on different market segments. Be sure to subscribe to the MAC & Bleu Youtube Channel

About the Host - JJ Levenske - President & Co-Founder of Bleuwave General Contracting

JJ Levenske is a seasoned construction executive with over 30 years of experience in the commercial & industrial sectors. From pre-construction services to complex quality controls and close-outs, he brings a commitment to delivering the highest levels of professionalism and customer service. J.J.’s dedication to construction has allowed him to become an industry expert which he aims to share with customers and investors alike.