In this episode of X4 Talks, Joe Wood-Lowe sits down with Rick Stassi, Scheduling Manager for Business Analytics & Controls at Kitchell. With decades of construction experience and a passion for mentoring the next generation of schedulers, Rick shares practical insights on schedule analysis, earned value management, project controls, delay mitigation and the role AI is beginning to play in the profession. 

Drawing from his owner's representative perspective, Rick explains how contractors and owners can collaborate more effectively, why understanding schedule fundamentals is more important than ever and what it really takes to become a successful scheduler.

Key Topics Discussed

• Building effective baseline schedules and identifying early risk indicators
• The relationship between scheduling, cash flow, and project performance
• Earned Value Management (EVM) and why it provides a clearer view of project health
• Using Earned Schedule to forecast delays before they happen
• Managing milestone variance and delay recovery through collaboration
• The opportunities and risks of AI in construction scheduling
• Rick's journey into project controls and his passion for mentoring future schedulers
• The skills and characteristics that define great schedulers

Connect with Rick on LinkedIn to continue the conversation and learn more about scheduling, earned value management and project controls.

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Hosted by Joe Wood-Lowe, Head of Construction at X4 Engineering and featuring Rick Stassi, Scheduling Manager at Kitchell.

In this episode of X4 Talks, Ryan Lupton, Senior ERP Talent Partner at X4 Technology interviews René van der Zanden Senior SAP Sales Manager at KPMG Netherlands, who brings more than 25 years of experience across ERP, SAP innovation and enterprise transformation.

René shares his journey from HP, Micro Focus and Cognitus through to joining KPMG in 2026, reflecting on how SAP programs have shifted from traditional IT‑led upgrades to business‑wide, strategy‑driven transformations. 

Discussions in this Episode include:

• The evolution from ECC to S/4HANA and why the real value begins after migration
• How AI, data architecture and SAP’s Business Data Cloud are reshaping transformation strategies
• Why SAP programs now require alignment across business, IT, finance, supply chain and leadership
• The rise of agentic AI and cross‑functional automation
• KPMG’s global partnership with SAP and its rapidly expanding transformation practice
• Clear guidance on ECC end‑of‑support timelines 
• How organisations can reduce technical debt, simplify customisations and prepare for the next decade of innovation

René also dives into the mindset shift required for modern SAP programs, the importance of preparation and why companies must rethink long‑standing customisations to stay competitive in an AI‑driven landscape.

A must‑listen for SAP leaders, CIOs, transformation executives and anyone navigating the fast‑moving ERP ecosystem.

Hosted by Ryan Lupton Senior ERP Talent Partner at X4 Technology and featuring René van der Zanden Senior SAP Sales Manager at KPMG Netherlands.

In this episode of X4 Talks, host Joe Wood-Lowe continues his Project Delivery series with Luc Sutton, Scheduling Manager for PCL Construction’s Florida Buildings Group. 

Topics Covered:

• Luc’s unconventional path into scheduling
• How physics and fieldwork shaped his analytical mindset
• The moment he realised he inherited “the worst schedule imaginable”
• What makes a true planner‑scheduler
• Communication skills for influencing project leaders
• Habits of high‑performing schedulers
• How to level up your scheduling career

Luc’s journey is anything but traditional, from ski coaching in Alberta to labouring in a fabrication shop, running cranes in the oil & gas sector, earning a physics degree, then ultimately building a 13‑year career at one of the largest GCs in North America.

Luc shares how analytical thinking, curiosity and real‑world field exposure shaped him into a true planner‑scheduler, not just a software operator. He breaks down the difference between data entry scheduling and high‑impact project planning, the soft skills schedulers must develop to influence superintendents and owners and the habits that separate good schedulers from great ones.

Whether you’re new to scheduling, growing your construction career or leading project teams, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom, career insights and real‑world stories from someone who’s lived it.

Hosted by Joe Wood-Lowe, Head of Construction at X4 Engineering and featuring Luc Sutton, Scheduling Manager at PCL Construction.

In this episode of X4 Talks, host Sam Kent, Head of Food Safety & Social Compliance Recruitment at X4 Engineering sits down with Kris Middleton, Food and Forestry Business Unit Director at Bureau Veritas, to explore some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the food assurance industry today.

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience as both an auditor and business leader, Kris shares his perspective on the growing auditor shortage, the evolution of GFSI schemes, the balance between full-time and contract auditors and what upcoming changes to SQF Edition 10 and FSSC 22000 Version 7 mean for the industry.

Key Topics Covered

• Why the food safety industry is facing a significant auditor talent shortage
• How current qualification requirements may be limiting the next generation of auditors
• The importance of attracting graduates and early-career professionals into auditing
• The balance between technical expertise and auditing soft skills
• Why audits should be viewed as a partnership rather than a punitive exercise
• The evolving relationship between certification bodies and contract auditors
• Full-time vs subcontract auditor models and where the industry is headed
• Managing auditor burnout and improving retention

Kris Middleton is the Food and Forestry Business Unit Director at Bureau Veritas. With more than two decades of experience in food safety auditing, certification, training and operational leadership across North America, Kris remains active as an auditor while leading business growth, training initiatives and auditor development programs.

Connect with X4 Engineering

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#FoodSafety #GFSI #SQF #FSSC22000 #FoodManufacturing #Auditing #QualityAssurance #Certification #BureauVeritas #X4Talks #FoodIndustry #Leadership #Compliance #SupplyChain #FoodSafetyCulture #TIC

Hosted by Sam Kent Head of Food Safety & Social Compliance Recruitment at X4 Engineering and featuring Kris Middleton, Food and Forestry Business Unit Director at Bureau Veritas.

In this episode of X4 Talks, Joe Wood‑Lowe, Head of Construction at X4 Engineering continues his mini-series in Project Delivery, this time interviewing Alejandro Torres PSP, a seasoned planner and scheduler whose career spans oil & gas, heavy civil, healthcare, commercial and mission‑critical construction across the United States.

Alejandro and Joe explore:

• How early field experience shaped Alejandro’s communication style and credibility with PMs, supers and trade partners
• Why curiosity is the defining trait of great schedulers
• The realities of proposal scheduling vs. active construction scheduling
• How long‑term tenure builds deeper networks, better decision‑making and stronger project outcomes
• The unique challenges of scheduling in live healthcare environments
• What it takes to manage multiple concurrent projects without losing the nuance of each team’s ecosystem
• Why building schedules from scratch helps schedulers truly understand the project

 Alejandro’s story is anything but linear. Born in Houston into a construction family, he spent his childhood moving from state to state before settling in Eagle Pass, Texas. After earning a Bachelor’s in Economics & Mathematics from Denison University, he initially set his sights on a career in finance until the 2008 housing crash closed that door. What followed was a return to construction, working alongside his father and brothers on compressor stations and heavy civil projects from Nebraska to Pennsylvania.

Those field years became the foundation for everything that came next.

Driven to deepen his technical expertise, Alejandro earned a Master’s in Construction Management from the University of Florida, which opened the door to his first scheduling role with The Industrial Company. From there, he joined Kiewit Power Constructors, gaining exposure to pre‑construction scheduling, procurement strategy and large‑scale industrial planning.

In 2016, Alejandro found his long‑term professional home at Brasfield & Gorrie, where he has spent the past decade supporting scheduling efforts across hospitals, MOBs, high‑rise apartments, assisted living facilities, libraries and major commercial developments throughout Florida and the Southeast.

Alejandro’s journey is a testament to resilience, reinvention and the power of staying curious. For anyone considering a career in scheduling or looking to deepen their craft, this episode is full of grounded, hard‑earned insight.

Hosted by Joe Wood-Lowe, Head of Construction at X4 Engineering and featuring Alejandro Torres, Senior Planner & Scheduler at Brasfield & Gorrie.

In this episode of X4 Talks, Joe Wood‑Lowe, Head of Construction at X4 Engineering continues his mini-series in Project Delivery.  

Joe’s next guest is Regan Soldner, newly promoted Vice President of Scheduling at Ryan Companies.  Regan is a scheduling leader specialising in large, complex program delivery. Regan began her career in consulting before moving to the general contractor side, gaining deep experience across major projects, including large‑scale data centres. She is known for bringing efficiency and clarity to complex environments, aligning teams and improving how work is planned and executed. 

Regan’s path into construction is an interesting story. She grew up in a construction family and learned to read drawings as a teenager. After playing Division I basketball and teaching English in Rome, a chance encounter led her into consulting and eventually to roles across Hawaii, California and the mainland US. Her philosophy is simple: “Seize the opportunities… that’s what’s really got me to where I am today.”

Discussions in this Episode include:

• Why GCs have historically guarded native schedules 

• How trust and early collaboration with trade partners improve outcomes 

• The real state of AI in scheduling 

• The rise of scheduling collaboration tools that shift schedulers from data entry to true analysis 

A rich, insightful episode for anyone delivering complex projects or navigating the evolving world of construction scheduling and technology.

Hosted by Joe Wood-Lowe, Head of Construction at X4 Engineering and featuring Regan Soldner, Vice President of Scheduling at Ryan Companies.

In this episode of X4 Talks, Joe Wood‑Lowe, Head of Construction at X4 Engineering kicks off a new mini-series in Project Delivery.  

Joe’s first guest is Christopher Perkins, Senior Scheduling Manager at Barton Malow and one of the most respected scheduling leaders in U.S. construction. 

Born into a construction family and now responsible for more than $2 billion worth of work in place, Christopher brings a rare blend of field‑tested experience, technical mastery and an instinct for developing the next generation of schedulers.

Christopher’s portfolio spans some of the most complex environments in the built world including hospitals, high‑rises, aerospace facilities and major sports venues. Today, he’s deep into two headline projects: a $400 million renovation of Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL and a new $300 million municipal arena in Macon, GA.

Discussions in this Episode include:

• Why field experience is the most underrated advantage in scheduling
• The biggest misconceptions junior schedulers bring on day one
• How to teach sequencing, logic, and critical path thinking that actually sticks
• The art of getting buy‑in from PMs, supers and subcontractors
• What AI will and won’t automate in construction planning
• How humility, communication and curiosity shape elite schedulers

If you work in Project Delivery, Scheduling, Project Management, Field Ops or Executive Leadership this conversation really is a masterclass!

Hosted by Joe Wood-Lowe, Head of Construction at X4 Engineering and featuring Christopher Perkins, Senior Scheduling Manager at Barton Malow.

In this episode of X4 Talks, we sit down with Bruno Speder, Vice President Regulatory Affairs at Aletheia Life Science, who brings nearly two decades of experience guiding global drug development programmes and leading interactions with major health authorities, including the FDA and EMA. 

Having worked across CROs, biotech companies, and early-stage spin-offs in the UK, France, and Belgium, Bruno offers rare insight into why regulatory leadership is essential from day one.

Discussions in the episode:

• Why early scientific innovation must be matched with strategic regulatory thinking
• What leaders should know when preparing therapies for human challenge trials
• Why science alone isn’t always enough in early development
• The role of regulatory affairs in volunteer and patient recruitment
• Advice for those looking to move into regulatory affairs

This episode is hosted by Alicia Cliff, Head of Medical Communications at the X4 Group.

In this episode of X4 Talks, we sit down with Luke McAlpine, Chief Product Officer at B4B Payments, to explore how AI is being woven into modern payment experiences. 

With a background in scaling product strategy and driving innovation, Luke shares how B4B is experimenting with new tools, keeping compliance front and centre, and using AI to build faster, smarter and more intelligent payment journeys.

Discussions in the episode:

• How B4B is approaching AI across product, innovation and strategy
• Experimentation, new tooling and modern ways of working
• Where AI is already delivering real value in payments
• The biggest opportunities to make payments smoother, faster and more personalised
• How product roles are evolving with AI

This episode is hosted by Lydia Howard, Head of Payments and FinTech UK & Europe at the X4 Group.

In this episode of X4 Talks, we sit down with Jodie Taylor, Former Head of Marketing for the EU & UK at B4B Payments, to explore the evolving landscape of fintech marketing. 

Jodie shares how market nuance, data-driven strategy and brand storytelling shape success in a world where competition is fierce and change is constant.

Discussions in the episode:

• UK vs US marketing; how expectations, messaging and customer experience differ
• Prioritising industry recognition and using awards to elevate brand narrative
• Staying ahead in a competitive market through innovation and data-driven marketing
• Balancing long-term focus with short-term pressures in a rapidly shifting industry
• The soft skills that matter most when building a resilient marketing team

This episode is hosted by Lydia Howard, Head of Payments and FinTech UK & Europe at the X4 Group.