Wired to Build

Welcome to Wired to Build, a data-driven, technology-focused podcast digging into how owners and operators use technology to manage the full life cycle of their projects.

In this Guest Intro episode, hosts Nick Caravella and Christy Hunt sit down with Itzik Malka, CEO and co-founder of 4M Analytics — a company on a mission to bring visibility to what’s always been invisible: the subsurface.

Itzik shares how his experience in landmine detection and humanitarian demining shaped his understanding of risk, uncertainty, and the value of having trusted information before taking action. That perspective laid the foundation for 4M’s audacious goal: to build the first-ever digital map of underground infrastructure.

Together, they unpack:

• Why buried utilities are a universal problem — and a hidden opportunity

• How subsurface data impacts safety, budgets, and timelines on every project

• The difference between “as-designed” and “as-built” — and why that gap matters

• Why trust, speed, and collaboration are the new currency of construction

• What it really means to be Wired to Build in a fragmented industry

About our Guest

Itzik Malka is the CEO and co-founder of 4M Analytics, a technology company building the first nationwide subsurface infrastructure map — starting with the United States. A former Israeli Special Forces engineer, Itzik began his career in landmine detection before applying his expertise to civil engineering and post-conflict recovery. His passion for using data to reduce risk and improve decision-making led to the founding of 4M, which now partners with DOTs and public agencies across the U.S. to unlock visibility into what lies beneath our streets, highways, and cities.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• What’s underground is no longer invisible: 4M Analytics is creating structured, searchable data where none existed before.

• Construction is fragmented — trust is the glue: Speed, data access, and transparency drive better decisions and stronger partnerships.

• Documentation ≠ reality: “As-builts” are often incomplete or inaccurate — digital tools need to fill the gap.

• Utility data is infrastructure: Owners must treat utility information as a core input, not an afterthought.

• Change starts with good enough: Waiting for perfection holds back innovation. Actionable insight, even if incomplete, is better than none.

• Safety, schedule, and cost all depend on subsurface clarity: From project planning to incident prevention, underground visibility is foundational.

  
  

Welcome back to Wired to Build, the data-driven, technology-focused podcast that digs into how owners and operators use tech to manage the full life cycle of their projects.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Matt Caldwell, Director of AI/Cloud Data Centers at Hyper Solutions, we dive into the future of data centers—from managing gigawatt-scale projects to reimagining manufacturing with transparency, flexibility, and speed.

Matt breaks down:

• Why transparency is no longer a feature—it’s a foundation

• How decentralized manufacturing drives agility and quality

• The role of nuclear in future energy strategy

• AI’s impact on infrastructure demand (and global power dynamics)

From Lego-like modularity to universal basic AI, this episode explores the operational and geopolitical stakes of tomorrow’s data center economy.

📌 Don’t forget to:

• Subscribe and rate the show

• Sign up for the Avicado Toast Newsletter

• Share this episode with a friend or your next project team

Welcome to Wired to Build, a data-driven, technology-focused podcast digging into how owners and operators use technology to manage the full life cycle of their projects. In this episode, Nick Caravella and Christy Hunt sit down with Matt Caldwell, Director of AI/Cloud Data Centers at Hyper Solutions, to explore the transformation of data centers—from modest megawatt facilities to today's massive gigawatt campuses powering AI and cloud computing.

With over two decades in the industry, Matt shares his journey from accidental entry into the data center world to helping redefine how infrastructure is built, scaled, and delivered. The conversation spans everything from supply chain transparency to the future of nuclear-powered data centers.

🔑 Key Topics:

• The early days of data centers vs. today’s AI-driven demand

• Why cloud and colocation transformed the market

• How Hyper Solutions is rethinking supply chain and manufacturing

• The role of transparency, people, process, and technology in scaling

• What makes Matt Caldwell Wired to Build

📌 Don’t forget to:

• Subscribe to the show

• Rate and review us!

• Sign up for the Avicado Toast newsletter

• Share this episode with a friend or colleague

The demand for data centers has never been higher—and it’s evolving faster than most can keep up. In Part 2 of our conversation with Kaylen Bushell, we go beyond her career story to dig deep into the operational realities shaping modern data center design.

Kaylen shares why failure domains, redundancy models, and maintenance planning aren’t just checkboxes—they’re the foundation of uptime in an AI-driven world. From the surprising gaps in design thinking to how AI workloads are “melting racks,” this episode is a masterclass in how to build smarter, not just bigger.

If you’ve ever asked, “How do you design for resilience when failure isn’t an option?”—this one’s for you.

🔌 Topics include:

• Rethinking redundancy: distributed vs. block models

• How AI demand is reshaping load profiles

• The operational cost of poor design decisions

• Why automation and robotics are the future of construction

• Building trust between trades, designers, and operators

🎧 Hit play and stay Wired to Build.

🎙️ Episode Summary:
How do you go from serving on the high seas to managing high-stakes infrastructure? Meet Kaylen Bushell—a data center strategist whose journey from the U.S. Coast Guard to leading hyperscale initiatives proves that the path to tech infrastructure leadership isn’t always a straight line. In this episode, Kaylen shares how adaptability, mission-driven thinking, and cross-disciplinary fluency helped her translate service experience into technical excellence across some of the world’s most sophisticated data centers.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Military experience cultivates unmatched adaptability and operational discipline, ideal for infrastructure roles.

• The ability to “speak multiple languages”—technical, strategic, operational—is essential for success in complex environments.

• You don’t need a traditional tech or construction background to thrive in the data center space.

• Empathy and curiosity are underrated superpowers in technical leadership.

🧑‍🚀 Guest Bio – Kaylen Bushell:
A Managing Consultant at Avicado, Kaylen supports hyperscale data center clients through strategic advisory, asset management, and operational excellence. Drawing from a foundation in military service and field-level experience at AWS and Meta, she excels in aligning construction and operations to reduce risk and improve lifecycle outcomes.

Welcome to Wired to Build, a data-driven, technology-focused podcast digging into how owners and operators use technology to manage the full lifecycle of their projects.

In this episode, we’re bringing back Hannah Misch, Quality Manager at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), for a deeper conversation about a topic that rarely makes it onto the schedule: vibes.

From navigating multi-layer inspections and fire-stopping challenges at the Denver Airport to coordinating with bomb squads on federal jobsites, Hannah shares how energy, trust, and emotional awareness impact project outcomes. We explore how “reading the room” and planning with intention can reduce rework, improve quality, and build stronger teams.

Topics include:

• What happens when the vibes are off—and how to reset

• How to balance accountability with empathy

• Creating trust through transparency and preemptive action

• Why “too chill” can sometimes become a risk

• Lessons in leadership, communication, and culture-building

This episode is packed with practical takeaways for anyone managing teams, quality, or complex projects—and proves that managing the people side of construction is just as critical as managing the plan.

🎧 Subscribe, rate the show, and sign up for the Avicado Toast newsletter to stay in the loop. And don’t forget to share with a colleague who’s ready to build with better vibes.

🔑 Key Takeaways

1. Culture is Contagious: Energy—good or bad—spreads quickly on job sites. Intentional planning and communication help set the tone.

2. Process Drives Vibes: Poor planning leads to bad vibes. Start with clear documentation, expectations, and knowledge transfer.

3. Chill Can Be a Risk: Even positive cultures need balance. Too relaxed, and critical warnings (like potential unexploded ordnance) might be ignored.

4. Trust Fuels Progress: Teams that self-report issues early, call before problems escalate, and lean into feedback loops succeed more often.

5. Empathy is a Tool: Noticing someone's bad day, offering a water break, or just being human goes a long way.

6. Quality is Human: You’re not just checking specs—you’re checking culture. Be the calm in chaos, and people will rally around you.

Welcome to Wired to Build, a data-driven, technology-focused podcast digging into how owners and operators use technology to manage the full life cycle of their projects.

In this guest introduction episode, we sit down with Hannah Misch, a civil engineer-turned-quality-leader at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Hannah brings over 14 years of experience across residential, industrial, and commercial construction—starting on job sites with her dad, and now representing owners on some of the nation’s most sustainable builds.

From early exposure to luxury home construction in Indiana to managing quality control at billion-dollar airport expansions, Hannah shares how her passion for processes, documentation, and doing things right the first time shaped her career. We explore her mentors, her love of structured workflows, and her approach to coaching the next generation.

Oh, and there’s plenty of personality here too—video games, gardening, and the real-life chaos of working from home with pets.

This episode tees up our next conversation: how emotional “vibes” and mental health directly impact safety, productivity, and risk on the job site.

🎯 Key Takeaways

• Quality roots run deep: Hannah's journey started in childhood, working alongside her dad on luxury residential builds.

• Process = peace: From document control to LEED tracking, her love for structure and detail emerged as a superpower.

• Mentorship matters: Hannah highlights the power of being mentored—and now mentoring others—with openness and humility.

• Humanizing the jobsite: From video games to vegetable gardens, Hannah reminds us that personal balance plays into professional performance.

• Prepping for "vibes": We set the stage for a powerful conversation on how psychological safety and culture affect project outcomes.

Welcome to Wired to Build, a data-driven, technology-focused podcast digging into how building owners and operators use technology to manage the full life cycle of their projects.

In this episode, Nick and Christy dive back in with contractor, TV host, and fierce trades advocate Kayleen McCabe.

From toolboxes in third grade to high school pre-apprenticeships and post-prison re-entry programs, Kayleen unpacks the urgency—and opportunity—of workforce development. She shares actionable ways the industry can engage youth, support skilled professionals, and make the trades an aspirational career path for everyone.

Expect a lively and heartfelt discussion on how video games, 3D printing, and tiny hammers are shaping the builders of tomorrow.

🔧 Topics covered:

• Building early engagement in elementary and middle school
• Trade schools, apprenticeships, and the ROI of training the next gen
• How gaming culture is influencing process thinking in construction
• Why soft skills like grit, communication, and failure are critical
• Supporting today’s workforce with simple but powerful changes

📌 Key Takeaways

• Start early: Engage students in 2nd and 3rd grade with hands-on projects like toolboxes tied to basic math and fractions.
• Make it visible: Careers in construction can be inspiring—when students see them in action. Think job site tours, volunteers in classrooms, and real-world exposure to tech.
• Soft skills matter: The shop class is one of the last safe places for students to fail and develop perseverance, teamwork, and problem-solving.
• New media = new outreach: Want to recruit tomorrow’s talent? Try Xbox ads, movie theater clips, or meet them in the virtual worlds where they already build.
• Take care of today’s workforce: From portable microwaves to mental health plans and rideshare credits, small changes can create a culture of respect and care.

🧵 Episode Summary:

In this episode of Wired to Build, we sit down with contractor, TV host, and workforce development champion Kayleen McCabe. From growing up around tools and sawdust to hosting DIY Network’s Rescue Renovation, Kayleen’s journey is anything but ordinary. She opens up about her winding path through construction and television, founding the McCabe Foundation, and her unwavering mission to advocate for vocational education and mental health on the job site.

This guest introduction episode dives deep into how early tinkering turned into a lifelong calling, why storytelling matters in construction, and how being a former 911 dispatcher gave her the resilience to lead crews and inspire the next generation of tradespeople.

🎧 “This isn’t just a job—it’s art.”

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Mental health is a job site safety issue: Through her chaplaincy work, she’s helping normalize check-ins and emotional awareness on crews.

• TV taught her speed, construction taught her humility: Her time in production shaped how she leads and educates with compassion and efficiency.

In this deep-dive episode, we explore how digital twins are reshaping capital programs and facilities management. Chris Hussey of TransformXD unpacks the real-world applications of digital twins across design, construction, and operations. We discuss how to virtually prototype your facility, the ROI of integrating data early, the role of digital PMOs, and what it means to become your own “digital owner’s rep.”

Whether you’re building a new data center or retrofitting a legacy facility, this conversation is your blueprint to staying ahead.

🔑 Topics Covered:

• What a digital twin really is (hint: it’s not just 3D)

• Virtual prototyping & coordination to reduce RFIs

• Building metaverses of real estate portfolios

• Predictive maintenance using IoT and sensors

• Data strategy: when, how, and why to collect and structure information

• Creating contractual standards for asset data deliverables