This Is DesignIntelligence

We’re in Washington DC continuing our series “Demystifying the Infrastructure Bill” and today we’re speaking with James Reilly. Jim is a Senior Policy Advisor at Venable and the former chief of staff for Senator Tom Carper (D-DE). He is an experienced leader and skilled strategist with a track record of creating practical, bipartisan solutions to climate, infrastructure, energy, and environmental issues. He’ll share his thoughts about why the Build Back Better Act failed to pass, whether there is still hope for any of its parts or pieces, and the important climate issue that isn’t getting a lot of attention in the public media.

Today we’re speaking with Todd Lang and Fred Wagner. Todd is the Director of Transportation Planning at the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, where he oversees the MPO work program, including development of the region’s short and long range transportation plans. Fred is a partner at Venable, where he focuses on environmental and natural resources issues associated with major infrastructure, mining and energy project development. They’ll give us insight into what MPOs are and how they operate, what their planning process means to the expenditure of funds, and how built environment stakeholders can engage and add value to community planning.

The most effective investment in another's life is expressed through listening. Leaders who listen are exponentially more powerful than those who operate from distraction, selfish agendas, or fear.

We’re speaking with Art Guzzetti and Fred Wagner. Art Guzzetti is a 40 year professional in public transportation at the local, state, and national levels, and serves as Vice President of Mobility Initiatives and Policy for the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Fred Wagner was appointed chief counsel of the US Federal Highway Administration during the Obama administration and now focuses on environmental and natural resource issues associated with major infrastructure, mining, and energy project development. They’ll give us insight into how this bill is different than previous infrastructure bills and why that’s important, the changing model of public transportation and what that means to communities, and the opportunities that this bill brings to build differently for more sustainable, equitable and resilient outcomes.

We’re speaking with Fred Wagner for part 2 of our ongoing series “Demystifying the Infrastructure Bill. Fred was appointed chief counsel of the US Federal Highway Administration during the Obama administration and now focuses on environmental and natural resource issues associated with major infrastructure, mining, and energy project development. He’s going to give us insight into what it takes for the money to find its way into the public realm, the lessons we have learned to make this a more efficient, effective, and equitable endeavor, and what the built environment industry needs to consider to better understand the opportunities afforded by this bill.

We begin our series "Demystifying the Infrastructure Bill" with the Honorable James H. Burnley IV and James D. Reilly. James Burnley served as the US secretary of transportation from 1987 to 1989 and is one of the nation’s foremost authorities on transportation law and policy. James Reilly is the former chief of staff for Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) and a skilled strategist who is highly regarded for his ability to work with both sides of the aisle to pass key legislation in Congress. We’re going to hear from them about what this bill includes, the foreign relations impact of the bill, and the opportunities and challenges that could impact the built environment industry and the US economy at large.

What are you investing in your own leadership life? What are you investing in the next generation of leaders? How are you refilling the tank that fuels effectiveness?

Paul Finch is the Program Director of the World Architecture Festival and was editor of the Architect’s Journal (1994-1999) and editor of The Architectural Review (2005-2009). Paul has had a storied career and he has a firm grasp on the history of the architectural profession and its meaning and relevance today. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, he speaks with Dave about the state of design education, the catalyst for the World Architecture Festival, and what the past can tell us about the future of the built environment industry.

Tyler Goss is a thoughtful and strategic leader focused on catalyzing change in the built environment industry through the leverage of novel technologies, business models, process improvements and policy reform. Blaine Wishart has extensive software design, management and development experience in diverse industries including financial, medical, insurance, shipping, software development, AEC, publishing, aerospace, and manufacturing. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, they join Dave to talk about accelerations in technology and innovation and to discuss whether any progress is being made in the built environment from a technology standpoint.

Paul Conder is a principal and customer experience expert at CallisonRTKL. Paul has a 25-year track record of developing new customer experiences for global retail brands. He has led research and design projects for brands like Nike, SoulCycle, Starbucks, Ford, and Starwood. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, he joins Dave to talk about what experience design really is, the types of talent on an experience design team, and the space where he sees the biggest opportunity for improvement.