The ConTech Crew 351: R&D in Tech and Construction with Stephen Poppe

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Welcome to The ConTechCrew, hosted by Jeff Sample!

Here, we discuss innovation and all things construction tech, including hardware, software, devices, apps, and the strategies for applying them to construction projects.

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EPISODE 409: Imagine a construction job site where every worker feels heard, and seen, where leadership is not about barking orders but about understanding and empathy. That’s what our guest came in for. In this week’s special Pause for the Cause episode, I sit down with Matt Ohley, a seasoned general superintendent from Ajax Paving Industries of Florida. With a solid 27 years of experience in the industry, Matt shares the dramatic changes he has seen in the construction industry over the years. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of mental health, empathy, and leading with vulnerability and how these three key factors can lead to higher productivity and a happier construction workplace. Curious to know more? Tune in now! 
 Key Takeaways:  Introduction (00:00) Meet Matt Ohley (00:47) How has the construction industry changed over the years (01:56) The real value of construction workers (06:08) Leadership and empathy in construction (11:27) The importance of mental health and servant leadership (16:52) Work-life balance and changing priorities (22:26) Handling workplace conflicts and emotional intelligence (28:05) The significance of empathy in leadership (38:54) How to build trust and a supportive work environment (42:00) Episode wrap-up (46:00) 
 Additional Resources: Listen to the show at: https://thecontechcrew.com  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew  —  Follow Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-ohley-a89769107/ —  The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.  Give us a follow so you never miss an episode! 


3 Must-Know Secrets for a Healthy and Thriving Construction Workplace | Matt Ohley of Ajax Paving Industries of Florida

EPISODE 408: Have you ever struggled to find good housing while on work travel? We all did at some point. With all these mega projects going on around the country, workforce housing is a very serious challenge. But most people don’t realize that bad housing conditions significantly impact traveling workers’ morale, especially those in construction. So, how are we supposed to address this silent crisis? In this week’s episode, my co-host Nathan Wood and I have the pleasure of interviewing Yeves Perez, a branding expert turned innovative and visionary CEO. Yeves is the CEO of WorkBnB, a B2B SaaS platform providing workforce rental homes for millions of traveling workers in the U.S. Today, Yeves shares his journey and how a call from his mother led him to revolutionize short-term vacation rentals to workforce rentals, highlighting the importance of proper branding. We also talk about the broader impacts of such housing solutions on employee morale and talent recruitment and retention in construction, what makes WorkBnB different from other booking platforms, and much more. Let’s dive in! 
 Key Takeaways:  Introduction (00:00) Meet Yeves Perez (01:23) From vacation rentals to workforce rentals (03:56) Market shifts and rental business strategies (08:06) What makes WorkBnB different from other rental platforms (11:13) Pivoting to mid-term workforce rentals vs. long-term (21:59) Improving traveling workers’ quality of life and morale (30:03) Branding vs. marketing in construction (43:13) Keep up with Yeves Perez and WorkBnB (47:02) Construction technology news of the week (48:38) 
 Additional Resources: Listen to the show at: https://thecontechcrew.com  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew  —  Follow Yeves on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yeves-perez-workbnbceo/ Visit WorkBnB for more information: https://www.workbnbapp.com/ Watch WorkBnB’s Techstars Demo Day Pitch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olek69P8suc —  See this week’s news articles! 

How Sketchy Motel Stays are Ruining Your Traveling Workers’ Morale with Yeves Perez of WorkBnB

EPISODE 407: Are you struggling with inaccurate construction layouts? Well, say hello to precise projections! In this week’s episode, my co-host Jonathan Marsh and I sit down with William St-Pierre, co-founder and CEO at Mechasys, to discuss his journey from 3D printing to laser projection technology for construction layouts. Discover how this laser technology from Mechasys facilitates precise, efficient, and collaborative construction processes across multiple surfaces. Together, we dive into how laser projection works, its manufacturing and assembly processes, why it works better (even for non-BIM users), and much more. Whether you’re an expert in the field or just starting to explore new technologies, this episode is jam-packed with insights on why laser technology is crucial in construction layouts! Let’s get started! 
 Key Takeaways:  Introduction (00:00) Meet William St-Pierre (01:19) The process of pivoting business direction (03:23) Importance of collaboration in product development (07:19) Laser projection technology explained (10:37) Why laser projection works better (18:20) Overview of the manufacturing and assembly process (26:24) The other things you can do with laser projection (29:10) What does the future look like for FramR™? (34:39) How fast can someone learn laser projection (39:53) Keep up with William (42:29) Construction technology news of the week (42:50) 
 Additional Resources: Listen to the show at: https://thecontechcrew.com  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew  —  Follow William on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-st-pierre-840316b2/ Reach out to William at: williamstpierre@mechasys.ca Visit Mechasys for more information: https://mechasys.ca/ —  See this week’s news articles! 

Why Laser Projection Works Better Even For Non-BIM Users | William St-Pierre of Mechasys

EPISODE 406: How can a finance expert reshape the construction world and demonstrate its urgent need for cutting-edge technology? In this week’s episode, join my co-host Tannis Liviniuk and me as we dive into the extraordinary journey of Lisa Giuffra Diaz–a former managing director at Goldman Sachs turned construction technology trailblazer and mentor. With over two decades of financial expertise, Lisa shares her unique transition from Wall Street to spearheading innovation in construction. Today, we explore the role of technology in addressing industry challenges and the need for diverse perspectives and ethical leadership in driving construction innovation. Moreover, we talk about Lisa’s passion for mentoring and preparing the younger generation for diverse career paths in construction and how this can impact the industry as a whole. Join us in this riveting discussion now. Let’s get started! 
 Key Takeaways:  Introduction (00:00) From Wall Street to construction (01:47) How Turf connects with construction tech companies (06:11) Finding pain points in the construction tech world (10:37) 3 key traits of an archetype founder (14:47) Red flags to look out for when working with an entrepreneur (19:02) Linking diversity with innovation (22:40) Exposing the younger generation to construction (29:16) Career pathways in construction (39:19) Keep up with Lisa and her work (42:33) Construction technology news of the week (48:35) 
 Additional Resources: Listen to the show at: https://thecontechcrew.com  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew  —  Follow Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisagiuffradiaz/ Check out Turf Advisory: https://www.turfadvisory.com/ Visit the Boys and Girls Club of Vermont for more information: https://www.bgcmvny.org/ —  See this week’s news articles! 

From Wall Street to Construction Technology: How a Finance Expert Rebuilds the Construction Sector | Lisa Giuffra Diaz of Turf Advisory

EPISODE 405: As fewer students opt for trade schools, addressing today’s skills gap in construction seems far-fetched. But this episode might inspire others to step up and educate the trades of the future. In this week’s episode, I’m joined by an old friend of mine, Jim Jones. Jim is the program director of skilled crafts and trades at Colorado Mountain College (CMC). With a wealth of experience from his years in the construction industry, he built an automotive program for a local high school in partnership with CMC and eventually took on the directorship role. Today, Jim and I talk about his journey from his humble beginning as a lift mechanic to his current role as an educational innovator and how his unwavering passion for mechanics has crafted educational pathways for tradespeople. Discover how CMC is revolutionizing trade education to meet the evolving demands of the construction industry. We also discuss the significant role of partnerships in trade programs and CMC’s future projects aimed at integrating sustainability and modern technologies into trade education. Ready to explore how you can turn your trade skills into a thriving career and help shape the future of construction? Tune in now to learn more! 
 Key Takeaways:  Introduction (00:00) From on-site construction to classroom lessons (06:31) The importance of practical application in trade programs (13:22) Expansion of trade programs at CMC (18:45) Integrating sustainability and innovation in trade education (26:37) Opportunities for technology providers (33:42) Keep up with Jim (36:17) Construction technology news of the week (37:55) 
 Additional Resources: Listen to the show at: https://thecontechcrew.com  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew  —  Follow Jim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-jones-031b7067/ Visit Colorado Mountain College for more information: https://coloradomtn.edu/ —  See this week’s news articles! 

The ConTech Crew 351: R&D in Tech and Construction with Stephen Poppe

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