The ConTechCrew

Construction doesn’t necessarily have a technology problem. It has a connection, measurement, and predictability problem. In this episode, guest Amir Berman of Buildots challenges the idea that construction is technologically behind. From machinery and reality capture to legacy systems and project data, the industry already generates and uses enormous amounts of technology. The bigger opportunity is connecting those existing tools and data sources to understand what’s actually happening on projects and using those insights to improve future performance. 

Amir Berman is the VP of Industry Transformation at Buildots, bringing nearly 20 years of experience across technology, data, software, and product management. The conversation explores how Buildots uses AI, computer vision, reality capture, and project data to measure construction progress, identify problems earlier, and compare actual performance against the plan. Amir also introduces the Buildots Intelligence Lab and its effort to turn aggregated construction data into meaningful benchmarks that can help teams understand what “good” performance actually looks like.

• Why construction’s biggest technology opportunity is connecting and leveraging the tools already in use.
• How Buildots uses AI and reality capture to identify project risks before they become bigger problems.
• Why standardization and measurement are essential for improving predictability across projects and businesses.
• How industry benchmarks help teams understand what good construction performance actually looks like.
• How production data can uncover performance gaps and create more realistic plans for future projects.

[00:00] - Episode Teaser

[02:05] - Amir Berman’s Journey into Construction Tech

[07:45] - The Real Technology Opportunity in Construction

[10:45] - How Buildots Turns Reality Capture into Intelligence

[12:55] - Finding Repeatability Across Unique Projects

[15:47] - From Project Performance to Business Predictability

[18:28] - Why Buildots Created the Intelligence Lab

[28:01] - Bringing Construction Benchmarks to the Industry

[34:06] - The 95-Day Data Center Performance Gap

[41:51] - Connect with Amir 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amir-berman-12770411/
• Website (Company): https://buildots.com/
• LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/buildots/home/
• Facebook (Company): https://www.facebook.com/buildots/
• Instagram (Company): https://www.instagram.com/buildots/
• YouTube (Company): https://www.youtube.com/@Buildots

• Jeff Sample: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/

• Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en 
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew 
• X: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew

In this episode, hosts Jeff Sample and Nathan Hood sit down with Brian Tracy, Director of Construction Management at Ausonio Incorporated, to explore a more sustainable approach to construction technology: people first, process second, product third. Brian shares lessons from his career in construction management, technology strategy, teaching, and training, including the ideas behind Managing Construction Technology. The conversation goes beyond individual tools to examine why technology implementations fail, how owners and construction managers can influence change, the importance of interoperability and shared standards, and why the industry's future may depend more on thoughtful evolution than wholesale disruption. 

Brian Tracy is a structural engineer by education and an experienced construction management professional whose career spans general contracting, owner's representation, consulting, advisory services, technology strategy, teaching, and professional development. Brian is also an adjunct instructor connected with Notre Dame's College of Engineering and a co-author of Managing Construction Technology, a book focused on creating successful technology strategies through the framework of people, process, and product.

• Why construction companies should identify the problem before choosing the technology and how reversing that order contributes to failed implementations.
• How the people, process, and product framework can create a repeatable playbook for adopting and managing technology.
• Why owners and construction managers have more influence over industry technology adoption than they may realize.
• How construction managers serve as generalists and interoperability agents, connecting owners, designers, contractors, trades, technology teams, and other stakeholders.
• Why the future of construction technology is likely to depend on evolution, shared standards, and purposeful interoperability rather than replacing every existing workflow and platform.

[00:00] - Episode Teaser

[02:49] - Brian Tracy's Journey Through Construction, Training & Technology

[06:46] - Why Construction Technology Implementations Fail

[10:15] - Building a Repeatable People, Process & Product Strategy

[13:05] - Teaching Construction Technology Strategy at Notre Dame

[18:14] - How Owners Can Drive Better Technology Adoption

[25:28] - What Does a Construction Manager Actually Do?

[33:04] - The Construction Manager as a Generalist & Interoperability Agent

[39:34] - The Future Is Evolution, Not Disruption

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/btracy5/
• Website (Company): https://www.ausonio.com/
• LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/ausonio-incorporated/home/
• Facebook (Company): https://www.facebook.com/ausonioinc/
• Instagram (Company): https://www.instagram.com/ausonio_incorporated/

• Jeff Sample: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/
• Nathan Wood: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanaec/

• Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en 
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew 
• X: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew

Construction runs on communication. Superintendents, foremen, subcontractors, suppliers, and project teams make countless decisions through phone calls and conversations every day. The problem is that those decisions don’t always make it into project documentation and a seemingly small missed detail can lead to expensive rework. In this episode of The ConTech Crew, Jeff Sample sits down with Karly Heffernan and Alena Tuttle, co-founders of Hardline, to explore how technology can capture the conversations already happening in the field without forcing construction teams into entirely new workflows. 

They discuss Hardline’s origin story, including the communication breakdown that resulted in $150,000 of rework, and explain how AI can turn everyday calls and site conversations into actionable project documentation. The conversation also goes beyond efficiency to explore what giving superintendents time back could mean for mentorship, knowledge transfer, workforce development, and the future of construction. 

• How a $150K communication mistake sparked Hardline and exposed the costly gap between verbal coordination and project documentation.
• Why construction technology should augment existing workflows rather than forcing field teams to adopt entirely new processes.
• How AI can turn phone calls and site conversations into documentation, decisions, tasks, daily logs, and searchable project context.
• Why giving superintendents time back matters beyond productivity, creating more opportunities for mentoring, leadership, and transferring decades of field knowledge.
• What AI could mean for construction’s future, from fewer screens and better field experiences to more effective agents, safer jobsites, and attracting the next generation of talent.

[00:00] - Episode Teaser

[02:30] - Meet Hardline Co-Founders Karly Heffernan and Elena Tuttle

[05:24] - The $150K Mistake That Sparked Hardline

[07:05] - Turning Construction Conversations Into Documentation

[09:58] - Technology Should Adapt to Construction, Not the Other Way Around

[15:16] - What Hardline Does on the Jobsite

[22:45] - From 40 Phone Calls to a Completed Daily Log

[24:02] - AI as an Augmentation Tool, Not a Replacement

[32:17] - Preserving Field Knowledge and Creating Time for Mentorship

[41:41] - A Three-Year Vision for AI and Construction

• Karly Heffernan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karly-lynn-heffernan/
• Alena Tuttle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alenatuttle/
• Website (Company): https://www.hardlineapp.com
• LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/hardline-app/home/
• Instagram (Company): https://www.instagram.com/hardline.app

• Jeff Sample: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/

• Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en 
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew 
• X: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew

Trade contractors operate at the center of some of construction’s most complex workflows; estimating, procurement, scheduling, fabrication, field execution, change management, and closeout, yet their critical project data often lives across disconnected systems. In this episode, the crew previews Trimble Dimensions 2026 and sits down with Yael Hanan, co-founder and CEO of Pelles AI, to explore how AI could help trade contractors connect those fragmented systems without forcing them to abandon the tools and workflows they already rely on. 

The conversation digs into Pelles AI’s vision for an AI infrastructure layer for the trades, connecting information across estimating, takeoff, project management, fabrication, schedules, contracts, and other systems. Yael also shares Pelles AI’s experience with Trimble’s 0 to 60 Challenge, why interoperability matters more than an all-in-one platform, and how better-connected data can move experienced construction professionals away from repetitive work and toward higher-value decision-making. 

• Why trade contractors need a different approach to construction technology and why workflows can vary significantly not only between trades, but even between contractors working in the same specialty.
• How AI can connect an existing construction tech stack rather than trying to replace estimating, takeoff, project management, fabrication, scheduling, and other specialized tools.
• How connected project data can protect and improve margins, including comparing estimates against actual project outcomes and carrying lessons learned into future bids.
• Why construction AI needs to lead to action, turning information from drawings, specifications, contracts, markups, schedules, and other sources into RFIs, change-order processes, purchasing decisions, invoicing, and other workflows.
• Where construction AI and interoperability are headed next, including Pelles AI’s Trimble integrations, the importance of ERP connections, and why Yael believes the intelligence layer across multiple construction systems represents a major opportunity.

[00:00] - Episode Teaser

[03:47] - From Construction Law to Construction Tech

[05:56] - Building AI Infrastructure for Trade Contractors

[09:52] - What a Connected Trade Workflow Actually Looks Like

[11:51] - Closing the Gap Between Estimates and Actual Results

[14:15] - Connecting Schedule, Procurement, and Fabrication

[18:30] - Trimble’s 0 to 60 Challenge and the Integration Strategy

[20:04] - Why the Future Is Connected Tech Stacks, Not One Tool

[31:42] - Rapid Fire, What’s Next, and Trimble Dimensions

[38:09] - How to Connect

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yael-meretyk-hanan/
• Website (Company): https://www.pelles.ai/
• LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/pelles-ai/

• Jeff Sample: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/
• Nathan Wood: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanaec/

• Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en 
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew 
• X: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew

Construction is facing a growing labor shortage while jobsite safety and productivity remain major challenges. In this episode, host Jeff Sample is joined by Shamoon Siddiqui, founder of Human Friendly Robotics, who explains why the future of construction automation isn't humanoid robots. It’s purpose-built robots designed to solve specific, repetitive tasks. From robotic tile installation to intelligent wire pulling, Shamoon shares how robotics can enhance skilled trades by protecting workers' bodies, improving reliability, and helping the industry scale without replacing craftsmanship. 

Shamoon Siddiqui is the founder of Human Friendly Robotics, a New Jersey-based company building robots specifically for the construction industry. With a background in technology and startups, Shamoon brings an outsider's perspective to construction, focusing on solving real-world jobsite problems while empowering skilled tradespeople rather than replacing them. 

• Why purpose-built construction robots make more sense than humanoid robots.
• How robotics can reduce injuries while preserving craftsmanship in the skilled trades.
• The biggest engineering challenges of designing robots for unpredictable construction jobsites.
• How intelligent wire-pulling robots could improve safety, scheduling, and productivity for electricians.
• Why the future of construction depends on collaboration between technology companies, contractors, and unions.

[00:00] - Episode Teaser

[02:01] - Introduction to today's guest

[02:42] - Shamoon's journey from software startups to construction robotics

[06:34] - Why tile installation became the first robotics opportunity

[10:12] - Protecting craftsmanship while automating repetitive work

[13:48] - Labor shortages, attracting the next generation, and the role of technology

[15:33] - Inside Human Friendly Robotics' engineering culture: "Action generates information"

[16:53] - Building reliable robots for unpredictable construction environments

[22:42] - Adoption challenges: estimating, bidding, unions, and changing construction workflows

[25:36] - Introducing Sparky: the future of intelligent electrical wire pulling

[33:31] - Where to connect 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shamoons/
• Website (Company): https://www.humanfriendly.bot/
• LinkedIn (Company): http://linkedin.com/company/humanfriendlyrobotics/ 

• Jeff Sample: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/

• Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en 
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew 
• X: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew

What does it take to launch and grow a successful commercial construction company in today's market? In this episode, host Jeff Sample invites Melissa Drew to share her journey from spending two decades with a national contractor to building a nimble construction management firm focused on large-scale government projects. The conversation explores how smaller contractors can compete with industry giants by prioritizing relationships, quality, planning, and practical technology over unnecessary complexity. Melissa also shares hard-earned lessons on bonding capacity, company growth, and choosing technology that delivers real value. 

Melissa Drew is the Founder and CEO of InSite BUILD, a Maryland-based construction management firm specializing in commercial and state government construction projects. After more than 20 years leading major higher education and public-sector projects for a national contractor, Melissa launched InSite BUILD to create a more agile, relationship-driven approach to construction management. Under her leadership, the company secured a $53 million project immediately after launch and continues to grow by combining big-project experience with the flexibility of a small, highly collaborative team. 

• Why small construction firms can successfully compete against national contractors.
• How strong subcontractor relationships create better project outcomes and lower costs.
• The importance of planning, quality management, and "building it right the first time."
• Lessons learned about bonding capacity and scaling a government contracting business.
• How practical technology is transforming project planning and collaboration.

[00:00] - Episode Teaser

[00:21] - Introduction to Melissa Drew

[01:20] - From national contractor to launching InSite BUILD

[03:40] - Why smaller, more agile construction teams can outperform larger organizations

[05:31] - Building stronger subcontractor relationships through flexibility and trust

[09:04] - Winning work through teamwork, relationships, and a different approach to hard bid projects

[16:10] - Scaling challenges: bonding, risk, and growing a government construction business

[18:09] - Quality-first leadership and eliminating costly rework through better planning

[23:16] - Simple technology with powerful results: Excel, Bluebeam, AI, and visualization

[27:02] - Using Bluebeam to improve collaboration and communication

[38:40] - Choosing the right technology stack, and lessons from software investments

[50:01] - Final thoughts and where to connect

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissadrew/
• Website (Company): https://www.insite-build.com/
• LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/insite-build/
• Facebook (Company): https://www.facebook.com/insitebuildmd
• Instagram (Company): https://www.instagram.com/insite_build

• Jeff Sample: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/

• Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en 
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew 
• X: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew

What does it take to transform MEP engineering with generative AI? In this episode, host Jeff Sample sits down with Niklas Lindgren to explore how Endra is building a new AI-powered workplace for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineers. The conversation covers Niklas’s path from law school to founding and exiting a global design-build security company, assembling a world-class technical team, and creating technology that connects engineering calculations, 3D modeling, documentation, and manufacturer data. Niklas also explains how faster, more detailed engineering could improve decision-making for consultants, contractors, general contractors, owners, and manufacturers across the construction ecosystem.

Niklas Lindgren is the Co-founder and CEO of Endra, an AI platform designed to help MEP engineers automate repetitive workflows, generate documentation, and capture institutional knowledge. Before launching Endra, Niklas co-founded and scaled a global design-build security systems company serving hyperscalers, government organizations, logistics providers, and enterprise clients. After selling the company to private equity, he partnered with experienced AI and autonomous systems engineers to build Endra and pursue a broader vision to transform how engineering work is delivered.

Key Takeaways

• Why generative AI can dramatically accelerate MEP design without removing engineers from the process.
• How Endra connects 3D modeling, engineering calculations, documentation, and manufacturer-level data.
• Why capturing and productizing institutional knowledge is becoming a strategic priority for large engineering firms.
• How faster, data-rich design can improve cost analysis, procurement, collaboration, and downstream construction workflows.
• What Endra’s $50 million Series A signals about investor interest in AI-driven engineering technology.

Timestamps

[00:00] - Episode teaser

[01:42] - Introduction to Niklas Lindgren and Endra

[03:48] - From law school to building a global design-build security company

[05:51] - Founding Endra and recruiting an elite technical team

[11:42] - The core problem Endra is solving for MEP engineers

[13:01] - Automating repetitive design work while keeping engineers in control

[17:48] - Capturing institutional knowledge and productizing engineering expertise

[19:39] - Enterprise adoption, global demand, and Endra’s go-to-market strategy

[25:57] - Raising a $50 million Series A and building for long-term transformation

[33:12] - How AI-powered engineering can improve construction downstream

[39:31] - Final thoughts and where to connect

Follow Niklas Lindgren:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niklaslindgren-endra/ 
• Website (Company): https://www.endra.ai   
• LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/endraai/?originalSubdomain=se 

Follow the Host:

• Jeff Sample: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/

Follow The ConTech Crew:

• Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en 
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew 
• X: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew

The construction industry is facing an unprecedented wave of complexity. Mega-projects, data center expansions, labor shortages, and increasingly interconnected project teams are creating more risk and information overload than ever before. In this episode, host Jeff Sample sits down with the team behind Primepoint AI to discuss how artificial intelligence, knowledge graphs, and connected project data can help construction teams navigate complexity, reduce risk, and make better decisions faster. 

Lubomir Bourdev is the Co-Founder and CEO of Primepoint. A computer vision pioneer, he previously worked at Adobe, where he helped develop some of the earliest commercial computer vision applications. Kamran Azarbal serves as VP of Strategy at Primepoint. With a background in Civil Engineering from UC Berkeley and years of experience working for leading general contractors including Turner Construction and Webcor, Kamran brings deep operational knowledge of large-scale commercial construction projects.

Key Takeaways

• Why construction may be one of the most challenging industries for AI to solve.
• How knowledge graphs connect drawings, RFIs, submittals, schedules, and specifications into a unified project intelligence platform.
• Ways AI can reduce project risk while increasing productivity across operations and field teams.
• How construction organizations can preserve decades of institutional knowledge before experienced leaders retire.
• Why the future of AI in construction is about augmenting human expertise rather than replacing it.

Timestamps

[00:00] - Episode Teaser

[02:05] - From Adobe and Facebook to Primepoint

[05:31] - Kamran Azarbal's Construction Background

[06:59] - Why Primepoint Built a Construction Knowledge Graph

[09:49] - Eliminating Information Overload on Construction Projects

[13:51] - How Connected Project Data Changes Everything

[18:39] - Practical Field Applications for AI-Powered Project Intelligence

[23:01] - Scaling Expertise Without Replacing People

[27:42] - Lubomir's Vision for the Future of Construction Intelligence

[33:16] - Building Trust While Moving Fast with AI

[37:04] - How to Connect

Follow the Guests:

• LinkedIn (Lubomir): https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubomir-bourdev-51a8652/
• LinkedIn (Kamran): https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamran-azarbal/
• Website (Company): https://www.primepoint.ai/
• LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/primepoint-labs/

Follow the Host:

• Jeff Sample: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/

Follow The ConTech Crew:

• Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en 
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew 
• X: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew 

In this episode, hosts Jeff Sample and Nathan Wood sit down with Cameron Page, Founder and CEO of Clearstory, to discuss one of construction's most misunderstood and critical processes: change orders. The conversation explores how change orders impact every stakeholder on a project, why transparency matters more than ever, and how AI is beginning to transform construction workflows. The episode also dives into technology adoption, process standardization, innovation teams, and the future of connected construction data. 

Cameron Page is the Founder and CEO of Clearstory, a construction technology company focused on streamlining change order communication, visibility, and workflow management across owners, general contractors, and specialty contractors. Before launching Clearstory in 2018, Cameron spent nine years at Devcon Construction, one of Silicon Valley's largest builders, where he worked on projects ranging from tenant improvements to large-scale corporate campuses. 

• Why field experience is invaluable for anyone entering the construction industry.
• How change orders have become the central workflow connecting design, schedule, budget, and project execution.
• The hidden costs of poor visibility into change management.
• How Clearstory is helping contractors, owners, and trade partners improve transparency and reduce risk.
• The role AI agents may play in accelerating change order review, pricing, and approval workflows.

[00:00] - Episode Teaser

[00:43] - Meet Cameron Page & Clearstory

[02:15] - From Construction Management Student to Founder

[08:19] - The Change Order Problem

[11:33] - Creating Value for Contractors, GCs, and Owners

[16:53] - Design Evolution, Risk, and Cost Exposure

[19:24] - AI, Data Intelligence, and Predictive Insights

[23:47] - The Future of Change Order Management

[26:50] - AI Agents for Construction Workflows

[30:05] - Industry Standards, Adoption, and Innovation

[36:51] - Why Construction Tech Needs Construction Experts

[42:15] - Full-Circle Industry Connections

[44:41] - Final Thoughts & Where to Connect

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-page-740aa722/
• Website (Company): https://www.clearstory.build/
• LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearstory-build/
• Facebook (Company): https://www.facebook.com/Clearstory.build/
• Instagram (Company): https://www.instagram.com/clearstory.build/
• X (Company): https://x.com/ClearstoryBuild
• YouTube (Company): https://www.youtube.com/@Clearstorybuild

• Jeff Sample: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/
• Nathan Wood: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanaec/ 

• Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en 
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew 
• X: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew

In this episode, hosts Jeff Sample and Nathan Wood sit down with Bryan Guess to explore one of the most overlooked challenges in construction, technology, and business operations: mistaking symptoms for root causes. Drawing from his experience, Bryan explains why organizations often jump straight to solutions without first understanding the real problem they're trying to solve. The conversation explores systems thinking, organizational accountability, communication breakdowns, technology adoption, and why most operational problems are ultimately people and process problems. 

Bryan Guess is the founder of Bartizan Strategic Group, a consulting firm focused on helping organizations diagnose operational challenges, improve business systems, and solve complex organizational problems. Prior to launching Partizan, Bryan spent over a decade working with commercial building owners and AEC stakeholders, where he discovered that many challenges attributed to construction, engineering, or technology are actually universal business problems involving people, processes, incentives, and communication. 

Key Takeaways

• Why organizations often prescribe solutions before fully understanding the problem.
• How authority, accountability, and communication create recurring project failures.
• Why technology and software are rarely the root solution to operational challenges.
• How systems thinking can uncover hidden organizational inefficiencies.
• Practical ways to diagnose recurring business and project problems before investing in new tools or processes.

Timestamps

[00:00] - Episode Teaser

[03:56] - Bryan's Journey from Building Consulting to Business Consulting

[05:21] - Universal Business Problems Across Industries

[07:11] - Systems Thinking, Shared Language, and Organizational Diagnostics

[10:34] - Authority, Accountability, and Why Projects Break Down

[15:07] - Technology Isn't a Magic Bullet

[19:15] - Diagnosing Before Prescribing Solutions

[30:53] - Lessons Learned, Repeatability, and Improving Project Systems

[37:15] - Communication Systems, Software Creep, and Operational Complexity

[46:11] - Final Advice: Stay Curious and Challenge Assumptions

Follow Bryan Guess:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-guess/
• Website (Company): https://bartizan.group/
• LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/bartizan-strategic-group/

Follow the Hosts:

• Jeff Sample: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/
• Nathan Wood: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanaec/ 

Follow The ConTech Crew:

• Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en 
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew 
• X: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew