The Building BITE

Please tune in to this episode of The Building BITE Podcast, as we hear from industry experts about key topics to help you be successful. The Building BITE hosts Chris Epps, LEED AP, and Mike Diercksen, CRIS, welcome Joe Poliafico, Director of Client Experience at The Baldwin Group.

We begin the episode by learning about Joe and his unique career progression, from safety, to risk management. We see how Joe was able to leverage his on-site safety knowledge into a successful career in risk management, which has led him to his current role at The Baldwin Group. Through this conversation, Joe helps our audience better understand the various benefits of bringing your safety team into the fold when it comes to risk management, ultimately leaving us with three key takeaways.

1. Think Wholistically: When looking wholistically at your risk, it is best to draw on the experience of the various teams at your disposal. Tying a field piece with your safety team to the overall risk mitigation strategy is one such way to maximize the impact of your collective efforts.

2. Risk Management Doesn’t Happen In A Vacuum: Even if your firm does not want to bring a Safety Member into the Risk Management Team full time, you should still be looking to create a dialogue between the two groups. There is great value in fostering a relationship between these two groups which can act as the bridge between corporate strategy and on-site execution.

3. Maximize These Benefits: Once your team begins to create this synergy, there is a real opportunity to take this increased alignment and potentially increase your appetite for risk. With the correct programs in place, your team may be able to decrease premiums and find opportunities to request higher deductibles, ultimately increasing profits if the risk is managed correctly.

To learn more about how you can better prepare your firm for the opportunities ahead, listen to our full podcast episode with Joe on “The Evolution of Safety to Risk Management.”

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Please tune in to this episode of The Building BITE Podcast, as we hear from industry experts about key topics to help you be successful. The Building BITE hosts Chris Epps, LEED AP and Mike Diercksen, CRIS, welcome back Chief Economist for the Associated General Contractors of America or AGC, Ken Simonson.

Throughout the episode, Ken dives into AGC’s latest construction outlook report, as well as the 2024 Annual Workforce Shortage Survey. Ken dives into several compelling statistics throughout the episode, leaving our audience with three key takeaways.

1. Job Openings Remain hard to fill: As noted across the board through the AGC Survey, nearly all participants mentioned the challenges they are faced with when it comes to filling jobs with qualified workers.

2. Opportunities Are Coming: Even as others believe the economy may be slowing down, there is reason for optimism. Data Centers and Manufacturing Plants are continuing to pop up at a high clip along with infrastructure projects such as Solar Fields and Battery Plants. The expectation is that these projects will not slow down and if anything, are only gaining momentum.

3. Costs Should Stay Consistent: The market is looking to stabilize and should provide some level of comfort when it comes to project costs. The only outlier in this would be transformers and switch gear, so contractors should plan accordingly to accommodate for those needs specifically.

To learn more about Ken’s latest construction report, listen to our full podcast episode with Ken Simonson.

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Please tune in to this episode of The Building BITE Podcast, as we hear from industry experts about key topics to help you be successful. The Building BITE hosts Chris Epps, LEED AP, and Mike Diercksen, CRIS, welcome back Patrick McBride, Head of Construction Property at Zurich North America.

We begin the episode by revisiting our previous discussion with Patrick about Zurich and their evolving Parametric Offering. Patrick takes us through various examples of how the policy has grown, and ways in which he believes it will best impact the market at large. Through this conversation Patrick is able to help our audience better understand the various benefits offered through a Parametric Policy ultimately delivering our audience three key takeaways.

1. Less Talk, More Walk: It is time to lean in and take a deep dive on how Parametric Insurance can elevate your risk management strategy. By taking the time to work with your broker and seek out the quotation process, our industry will begin to elevate their understanding of the product and potentially find new and unique solutions to their risk profiles.

2. Stay Ahead Of Contract Requirements: While it is not yet standard, we are seeing a change in how contracts are being written when it comes to weather delays. Parametric Policies offer a unique solution, both for the contracts of today, and can be custom designed to help accommodate the contracts of tomorrow.

3. Policy Is Still Evolving: While many aspects of the Parametric Policy are still new to the industry, it is certainly not done growing yet. There is an active effort to expand coverage accounting for “Human Elements” such as air quality and extreme heat which is an area of growing need. Accounting for these new types of perils will allow for better alignment with site health and safety, aim to provide indemnity for project costs, and create alignment with other lines of insurance such as Workers Compensation.

To learn more about how you can better prepare your firm for the opportunities ahead, listen to our full podcast episode with Patrick on “Demystifying Parametric Insurance.”

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Please tune in to this episode of The Building BITE Podcast, as we hear from industry experts about key topics to help you be successful. The Building BITE hosts Chris Epps, LEED AP and Mike Diercksen, CRIS, welcome Tom Kellogg, Founder and Principal at Maple Insight.

We begin the episode by discussing the journey Tom took from Purchasing Manager of a large Construction Firm, to eventually founding Maple Insight. Tom explains his philosophy on how to best quantify and address risk, with continuous and diligent reporting. Through this process Maple Insight delivers top quality insights to the various stakeholders of the construction industry and paints a detailed picture size and scope of their risk portfolio. Before we end the conversation, Tom delivers to our audience his three key takeaways.

1. Risk Must Be Quantified: Creating an accurate assessment of your risk requires an academic approach with a focus on data. While it is natural to maintain industry relationships with vendors, proper risk assessment through academically driven data should be the leading determinant in future decisions.

2. Trust The Process: Whatever your process is, it needs to remain consistent. This is not to say that exceptions cannot be made, but should be done knowing that the fundamental process has been equal and equitable for all parties across the board.

3. We Need To Understand The Risks: There will always be risks, but we can’t let that impede us from moving forward. Just as you wear a helmet when riding a bike in case you fall, it is important to understand the risks ahead and plan accordingly.

To learn more about how you can better prepare your firm for the opportunities ahead, listen to our full podcast episode with Tom on “Construction Technology, Taking an Objective Look at Risk”

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Please tune in to this episode of The Building BITE Podcast, as we hear from industry experts about key topics to help you be successful. The Building BITE hosts Chris Epps, LEED AP and Mike Diercksen, CRIS, welcome Josh Rogove, President, and Trevor Casey, CRIS, New Business Development Leader at Consolidated Risk Solutions.

We begin our episode discussing how both Josh and Trevor found their way into the insurance business, Josh took a more direct path through a carrier training program while Trevor ultimately started on the financial and Life Insurance side of the industry before landing at CR-Solutions. Josh and Trevor showcase their impressive knowledge of the industry and leave our audience with three key takeaways.

1. Insurance Tracking On Large Projects Is Important: It is imperative that you have a clear plan when tracking your insurance. It is not enough to rely on the Certificate of Insurance or COI, but you must be aware and calculated when tracking your endorsements, policies, and insurance as a whole.

2. Choose Software That Works With The End User In Mind: There are many different software solutions out there now, but you should never settle for the status quo. Make sure you are finding solutions that really understand your core business and are designed to help you accomplish those goals rather than selecting a one size fits all options.

3. Education Is Key: Take the time to do your homework when making your business decisions. Weather you are expanding into new markets or identifying new products to help reduce your risk, you should always look to engage your network to learn best practices and lean on their experience. In short, measure twice and cut once!

To learn more about how you can better prepare your firm for the opportunities ahead, listen to our full podcast episode with Josh and Trevor on “Maximizing Your Insurance Risk Management Programs”

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Please tune in to this episode of The Building BITE Podcast, as we hear from industry experts about key topics to help you be successful. The Building BITE hosts Chris Epps, LEED AP and Mike Diercksen, CRIS, welcome Terence Curran, Chief Operating Officer with the Amphibious Group.

We begin the episode by discussing the various stops along Terence’s professional career, starting with his passion for helping the community as an EMT. Terence quickly saw an opportunity with Amphibious Medics, where he has since helped to expand the company, and is now COO of the Amphibious Group. Terence takes the time to walk us through his newest venture which is the creation of a Safety Captive Program, and leaves our audience with three key takeaways.

1. Robust Safety Programs Are Not Just For The Big GCs: There are options that exist out there for true robust safety programs. Never settle for the status quo and look for opportunities to innovate and join like minded groups such as a safety captive to help you get where you want to be.

2. Time To Dust Off Your Safety Manual: It should not be taken for granted that your safety manual has everything you need if you are not continuously reviewing and updating it. There is no such thing as being too prepared, so be sure to make the time with your team to get consistently together and update your safety program.

3. Work With Your Team: Make sure to utilize the resources that are available to you with either your broker or carrier as the ideal options. There may be solutions that they are aware of that would greatly benefit your business.

To learn more about how you can better prepare your firm for the opportunities ahead, listen to our full podcast episode with Terence on “Safety Captives, What They Are and How They Work”

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Please tune in to this episode of The Building BITE Podcast, as we hear from industry experts about key topics to help you be successful. The Building BITE hosts Chris Epps, LEED AP and Mike Diercksen, CRIS, welcome Ken Jones CCM, Risk Engineer at Liberty Mutual.

We begin the episode by discussing the various stops along Ken’s professional career, starting out in the Surety Industry before ultimately coming over to Liberty Mutual to focus on their SDI Product. Ken walks us through the various roles that Risk Engineers play both internally within their firm, and externally with clients depending on what the situation calls for. Before we wrap up, Ken leaves us with three key takeaways.

1. The Many Hats Risk Engineers Wear: From financials to operations, Risk Engineers have a huge scope of knowledge and can be vital to program success. With so much knowledge available, be sure to ask questions and lean on the experience of those dedicated risk professionals around you.

2. Geographic Diversity: With more and more mega projects coming to market, there is a great opportunity for GCs to expand their business, but not without risk. Having a geographically diverse team of Risk Engineers can help alleviate concerns for those entering new markets and provide local insight and information.

3. Experience Is Important: The experience of your Carrier is a critical component and should be evaluated by Insureds when looking to place coverage. Be sure to ask questions and take a deep dive into the various resources available to you when selecting your team.

To learn more about how you can better prepare your firm for the opportunities ahead, listen to our full podcast episode with Ken on “The Who, What, And The Why Behind Risk Engineering”

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Please tune in to this episode of The Building BITE Podcast, as we hear from industry experts about key topics to help you be successful. The Building BITE hosts Chris Epps, LEED AP and Mike Diercksen, CRIS, welcome back Cheri Hanes, CRIS, LEED AP, who is VP, Head of Innovation at AXA XL.

We begin the episode by discussing the various stops along Cheri’s professional career where she began to recognize her passion for sustainability and innovation as a driving force in her work. Now, as head of innovation at AXA XL, Cheri guides us through her own views on the current state of the industry, along with the work she and AXA XL are doing to elevate and drive the industry forward. At the end of our conversation, Cheri leaves our audience with three key takeaways.

1. Start With The “Why”: There are many new and exciting technologies entering the market, however, we should always be asking ourselves one fundamental question “What are we trying to accomplish and who are we trying to accomplish it for?” Clearly defining your goal with the chosen technology will help to increase company buy in and should be done early and often.

2. Bring Diverse Team Members To The Table? It is important to cast a wide net when seeking input for your AI implementation. By inviting a diverse group, you can gain greater insight into various use cases where AI can be implemented to help both your core business as well as your support staff which leads to an enhanced work product.

3. AI Is Not Going To Wait For You To Be Ready: We are in the here and now, so if you are not already thinking about how to best implement AI, you are likely behind. The good news is that these changes do not have to be grand sweeping changes. Cheri advocates that companies begin by looking at, and potentially amending, their Internet and Social Media Policy to include AI as they are so closely tied together now.

To learn more about how you can better prepare your firm for the opportunities ahead, listen to our full podcast episode with Cheri on “AI In Construction, Brave New World, or Old Hat?”

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Please tune in to this episode of The Building BITE Podcast, as we hear from industry experts about key topics to help you be successful. The Building BITE host Mike Diercksen, CRIS, welcomes Nick Caravella, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, Director of Growth and Industry Strategy at Avicado Construction Technology Services.

We begin the episode by discussing Nick’s professional career. He initially started working as an Architect out in Denver Colorado but found himself feeling compelled to elevate the industry at large. To do so, Nick joined Avicado where he helps streamline owners’ technology integration with various industry stakeholders and ultimately enhances the world of design and construction. Before we wrap up the conversation, Nick leaves us with three key takeaways.

1. There Is No Substitute for Good Planning: 95% of the industry data currently being collected is unstructured, meaning there is no clear-cut plan for how to optimize that data. Take the time to get ahead of the curve by reviewing your data and creating a road map for the “how” and the “why”. This will pay dividends when AI and other automations become even larger fixtures within the construction and design industry.

2. Who Else Needs to be at the Table? Nothing in the Construction and Design Industry happens in a vacuum, and while deadlines are tight, it is important to look around and make sure you are bringing in the right people. Seeking input from various stakeholders in the project along with industry experts will help you troubleshoot a wide range of problems before they happen, while keeping your team within their areas of expertise.

3. Ask How My Work Impacts Your Work: Whether your focus is on BIM or a specific trade, it is important to understand the impact your work has on those around you. Taking the time to communicate your process and understand the work of those around you will ultimately lead to better handoffs and reduce potential bottlenecks on the project.

To learn more about how you can better prepare your firm for the opportunities ahead, listen to our full podcast episode with Nick on “Maximizing Owners Operations Efficiency Through Construction Technology.”

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Please tune in to this episode of The Building BITE Podcast, as we hear from industry experts about key topics to help you be successful. The Building BITE host Mike Diercksen, CRIS, welcomes Nick Demonte, Cement Mason Coordinator, and Tim Nelson, Plastering Coordinator at ITF OPCMIA.

We begin the episode by discussing Nick and Tim’s professional career, which eventually lead them both to an educational role. Nick and Tim share the new technology they are bringing to the industry and demonstrate the need to incorporate these new strategies due to the labor workforce continuing to shrink. Nick and Tim leave provide excellent insight into the labor force at large, and ultimately leave us with three key takeaways.

1. Recruit: As an industry, we are losing more workers than we are bringing on and we need to find ways to recruit diverse talent. Using tools such as the VR Simulator is just one way that we are looking to engage with both our existing prospect pools and to expand into new groups that may not have otherwise looked at the trades.

2. Train: It is not enough to simply get more people to join the labor work force, but we need to train these new workers to be able to hit the ground running and shorten their learning curve. Using these technologies enables the industry to do exactly that, while offering opportunities to existing laborers to renew certifications and enhance their own experience.

3. Retain: As it stands, industry data shows that in the coming years we will be losing four workers for every one that enters the labor workforce. Investing in technology and demonstrating to new workers the career opportunities available to them will be instrumental to retention rates and the long-term success of our industry.

To learn more about how you can better prepare your firm for the opportunities ahead, listen to our full podcast episode with Nick and Tim on “Virtual Training, Enhancing On The Job Learning.”

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