Build Perspectives Podcast: Recent Episodes
Carolina Albano and Tim Seims
Building Materials industry perspectives. We deal with the architectural and specifier side, all the trades in construction, dealers, distributors and manufacturers. Want to get into the industry? Or move up or laterally within it? Want to offer/hear new perspectives in sustainability and the future in building materials? This is the place for you.
In this episode of Build Perspectives, we sit down with KP Reddy. Investor, civil engineer, author, and one of the clearest thinkers in construction tech.
We get into the real questions founders should be asking: What makes a problem venture-fundable? Why does pricing determine your visibility? And why do so many startups build for the wrong customer?
KP started coding at 13 on an IBM PC his father handed him, funded his first startup on a Discover card, and pivoted a 1996 web-based project management tool into telecom - two people to 1,200 and an IPO in three years. Three decades later he's writing checks into material science, robotics, and the hard problems some VCs won't touch.
We explore:
- Why most construction tech could be bootstrapped, not VC-backed
- Pricing psychology: why $5,000 keeps you invisible and $50,000 gets you a meeting with the CFO
- The fragmentation problem KP's son is solving with OneBuild: turning offsite methods into vetted SKUs for regional builders
- Why affordable housing is the wrong place to test innovation
- Material science, AI, and the frontier problems worth solving, including robots carving stone
- Why real estate investors make terrible VCs (and why KP hates the word "proptech")
- What KP actually looks for before writing a check
- Leadership gaps in AEC, and why they create opportunities
- ALSO, you can hear more about one of his companies, ZeroRFI on a prior BP Pod!
If you're a founder, VC, builder, or building products leader, this is a masterclass in thinking clearly about innovation, adoption, and creating businesses that survive market cycles.
Links:
KP Reddy
- KP Reddy Co: https://kpreddy.co
- Email: kp@kpreddy.co
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpreddy/
- Substack (personal): https://kpreddy.substack.com
- Substack (KP Reddy Co / Insights by KP): https://insightsbykp.substack.com
- KP Unpacked podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1okdc2zZdBJTXALxnadBSw | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kp-unpacked/id1495750961
- Shadow Ventures: https://shadow.vc
Books
- Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B079HR189J
- Creating the Intangible Enterprise: The Critical Skills Required to Thrive in an AI-Driven World (2024) — https://www.amazon.com/Creating-Intangible-Enterprise-Critical-AI-Driven/dp/B0D2VJZTCJ
- What You Know About Startups Is Wrong (2018) — https://www.amazon.com/What-Know-About-Startups-Wrong/dp/1619618796
- BIM for Building Owners and Developers: Making a Business Case for Using BIM on Projects (Wiley, 2012) — https://www.amazon.com/BIM-Building-Owners-Developers-Business/dp/0470905980
The AEC Summit
- https://aecsummit.co — annual full-day gathering of innovation officers, CEOs, and owners, timed for strategic planning season
- Speaker archive: https://www.aecsummit.co/speakers
Also mentioned
- ICON: https://www.iconbuild.com
- Monumental Labs: https://monumentallabs.co
- Branch Technology: https://www.branch.technology
- MiTek: https://www.mitek.com
- Housing Innovation Alliance: https://housinginnovationalliance.com
- Builders FirstSource: https://www.bldr.com
- Schneider Electric: https://www.se.com
- Slate Auto: https://www.slate.auto
- The Goal, Eliyahu M. Goldratt: https://www.amazon.com/Goal-Process-Ongoing-Improvement/dp/0884271951
Build Perspectives
- https://buildperspectives.com
- Presented by Project Fluent
Timestamps:
01:00 — Second-generation civil engineer, an IBM PC at 13, and being told he'd replace his dad's whole team 03:30 — The first startup: 1996, web-based project management, and a general contractor telling him the internet was a fad 04:30 — "My first investor was Discover" — credit card limits and the WorldCom pivot that took him from 2 to 1,200 people 06:15 — Pricing as a visibility strategy: why $29/month goes nowhere and $50,000 gets you the CFO 08:00 — Targeting the wrong customer: ICON, $300K starter homes, and why the second move-up buyer was the real market 09:45 — Why anything new can't launch into the affordable segment — the iPhone analogy and the 50-acres-with-a-creek pattern 13:20 — OneBuild: cataloging panels, 3D printing, and offsite methods into SKUs, then handing builders the integration layer they don't have R&D teams to build 16:45 — Why 25-year-olds think in brand: "Powered by OneBuild" 17:45 — Why real estate investors make terrible VCs — and why he never asks early-stage companies about revenue 20:00 — Monumental Labs, robots chiseling stone, and why our buildings got so boring 21:00 — The lost trades: masonry, constrained labor, and why every building looks the same 22:20 — The sushi-in-Kansas-City theory of building materials distribution 23:45 — Material science as the industry's real unlock — and why AI-driven drug discovery is the model 25:00 — Greenbuild, adoption curves, and how green went from specialty catalog to core catalog 26:30 — Three reasons KP isn't sold on EVs 28:40 — Highway 1, the daily drive as meditation, and the ranch he almost bought 32:45 — The Summit, year nine — and Vibethon: 18 teams who'd never written code, 14 working prototypes in six hours 34:45 — Why every non-technical SaaS CEO should clear two days and try to build their own product 36:00 — What he looks for before writing a check: pattern of thinking, not domain credentials 37:00 — "I worked at Turner for 15 years, so this is the answer" — the trap of experiential product design 38:15 — "You're not venture fundable" is not an insult, it's permission to own more of your company 39:45 — Why he stays in this industry: investors who write $20K checks because they want you to succeed 43:30 — The incubator model: 20 companies, no exit pressure, and the CEO role he's hiring for 46:00 — Three books, a fourth in progress — and why he's writing fiction 47:50 — The Carolina Question: most AEC leadership is C+, and it's because tenure is the promotion criteria
Joe Rozza, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ryan Companies, doesn't run a sustainability strategy. He runs a sustainability business strategy, and the difference is the whole episode.
Joe spent almost half his career at Coca-Cola managing water risk across 1,000 plants in 200 countries before bringing that methodology into commercial real estate. Now he's applying it at a $5B developer-builder-owner: sustainability in the BD pipeline, decarbonization roadmaps for 23 classes of construction materials, and buildings designed to the same secondary modifiers insurers use to price flood, hail, and wind.
In this episode:
- Why Joe wants to erase "green premium" from the industry's vocabulary
- The Project Sustainability Planning process: total cost of ownership, NOI, cap rate, terminal value
- How building product manufacturers get into Ryan's supplier program, starting with a two-hour strategy gap assessment
- "Tell me when you're interested in my problem set" — the question suppliers should be asking their biggest customers
- Insurance costs up 88% in five years and what that means for materials and design
- Joe's prediction, on the record: sustainability becomes the primary selection criteria within one to three years
- The free Aqueduct water stress tool Joe helped create, and why water risk isn't just a Southern California problem
- Carbon footprint accountability: whose carbon is it, and why financial control should decide
Resources:
- From Vulnerability to Value playbook (Resiliency Company website)
- WRI Aqueduct platform: https://www.wri.org/aqueduct
- Joe Rozza on LinkedIn
Build Perspectives is made possible by Spec to Scale and the Advancing Construction Event series. Join us at Advancing Construction Decarbonization in Denver, July 28–30. 10% discount code: BUILDPERSPECTIVES10
LEED V5 got pushed to June 30, 2027 — and if your team hears "delay" and relaxes, you're going to be underwater. In this episode we sit down with Kristin Brubaker, Head of Sustainable Construction Solutions at Green Badger, to walk the industry through what actually changes and what a smart GC, sustainability director, or building product manufacturer should be doing with the runway.
Kristin brings her environmental science background, four years at Whiting-Turner, and a front-row seat to thousands of LEED projects into a conversation that is equal parts masterclass and gut check. We cover:
- Why sustainability submittals are still one of the most manual, RFI-heavy pain points in construction — and how Green Badger's 125,000+ product database (now integrated with EC3 and the HPD Collaborative) removes the busywork
- The mandatory embodied carbon assessment coming in V5 for structure, enclosure, and hardscape — and the carbon literacy your GC team needs to build now
- The commingled waste shake-up: new third-party facility rules, the East Coast / West Coast infrastructure gap, and what it means for anyone building data centers or campuses in the middle of the country
- The product selection credit that just tripled in scope — from documenting a few products to tracking every product in a category
- Buy Clean: the nine-state policy putting embodied carbon thresholds on public projects with real teeth
- The single most important document a building product manufacturer can invest in right now (hint: it's a product-specific Type 3 EPD)
- Green Badger Academy — the free sustainability curriculum designed for the project engineer, APM, or rep who just got handed a LEED project
Whether you're on the GC side wondering how to prepare your teams, on the manufacturer side trying to stay on the shortlist, or on the ownership side making the business case — this is the episode.
Episode Sponsor Brought to you by Hanson Wade's Advancing Construction Decarbonization. Denver, July 28–30, 2026. Kristin is speaking on day one and Green Badger has a table throughout. Use the 10% discount code below to register.
Discount code: BUILDPERSPECTIVES10
Register: HERE
Connect * Kristin Brubaker on LinkedIn * Green Badger: https://getgreenbadger.com * Green Badger Academy
We're joined by Denyse Von Opbergen, Director of Climate and Sustainability at EllisDon — one of Canada's largest general contractors — to work through what decarbonizing construction actually looks like inside a project, not on a slide.
Denyse walks us through the influence-versus-control frame she uses to move the needle on scope 3 emissions a contractor can't dictate, the "no silver bullet" filter that weighs Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) against lead time, cost, and constructability, and why the transition to a decarbonized industry doesn't run brown-to-green — it runs through the murky green middle, including the roads and infrastructure that make sustainability possible in the first place.
What we cover:
- How EllisDon sets its own sustainability targets and tracks scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions
- What contractors actually ask manufacturers for beyond EPDs and why the right people in the room matters more than the perfect document
- Why pre-construction is where decarbonization is won or value-engineered out
- The "pilot small, then scale" playbook for de-risking new low-carbon materials (starting in landscape work before foundations)
- Recent projects: the PNE Amphitheater (mass timber, British Columbia) and the new Surrey Hospital (embodied carbon reduction through concrete mix optimization)
- Where the industry is still getting decarbonization wrong — and why the biggest barrier isn't technology, it's process
- The Canadian Construction Sustainability Alliance and what nine GCs collaborating unlocks that individual companies can't
- What Denyse hopes to bring back from Advancing Construction Decarbonization in Denver
Chapters:
- (0:00) Meet Denyse Von Opbergen from EllisDon
- (2:00) Translator — the identity of a climate lead
- (5:00) How EllisDon sets its sustainability targets
- (6:00) The Canadian Construction Sustainability Alliance
- (8:00) Scope 1, 2, 3 — influence versus control
- (10:00) No silver bullet — the "on this project" filter
- (13:00) Why early conversations kill the trade-off
- (17:00) Pilot low-risk before you scale
- (20:00) PNE Amphitheater and Surrey Hospital
- (22:00) Where the industry keeps getting decarb wrong
- (28:00) Where the biggest emissions spikes actually live
- (33:00) Build the infrastructure that enables sustainability
- (34:00) Murky green — what the transition actually looks like
About the guest: Denyse Von Opbergen is Director of Climate and Sustainability at EllisDon, one of the largest general contractors in Canada. She started in public policy in the Netherlands, moved through consulting in Toronto, and now runs EllisDon's climate strategy across a decentralized global construction business. Denyse will be a headliner at Advancing Construction Decarbonization in Denver, July 28-30.
About Build Perspectives: Build Perspectives is a podcast for building products sales leaders, construction executives, and the investors and innovators shaping where the industry goes next. Hosted by Carolina Baffigo (Spec to Scale, Project Fluent) and Tim Seims (Profit Arc). New episodes weekly.
Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Advancing Construction Decarbonization in Denver, July 28-30.
Homepage: https://ter.li/flqg1e1v Full Event Guide: https://ter.li/u995rat5 Registration: https://ter.li/7ioh2p6w Use Discount code BUILDPERSPECTIVES10 for 10% off admission.
Connect:
- Denyse Von Opbergen — LinkedIn
- EllisDon — ellisdon.com
- Carolina Baffigo — LinkedIn / carolinabaffigo.com
- Build Perspectives — LinkedIn
Recorded live at Advancing Prefabrication 2026 in Dallas, Tim walks the expo floor with James Haas, who leads modular and prefab efforts at Nichiha. (At the time of recording, Tim was also wearing a Nichiha hat. He's since moved on to a new adventure.)
The conversation everyone's having at Advancing Prefab this year? Data centers. But not the windowless boxes of yesteryear, municipalities are now mandating warmer, more inviting exteriors, and grid entropy is forcing data centers closer to urban cores where looks actually matter. That's a facade opportunity hiding in plain sight.
James pulls back the curtain on Nichiha's new AIA-certified CEU course tackling the industry's oldest bugaboo: mate line and plate line transitions. The unlock is a deceptively simple two-piece trim - base plate installed in the factory, face plate popped on after modules are stacked and stitched - letting manufacturers ship facades 85–90% complete instead of leaving whole panel runs off for field weaving. Proof points range from 7 Brew coffee shops delivered with 100% of the facade installed to major healthcare expansions hitting 80–90% factory completion.
CATCH THE LATEST IN MEP PREFAB Advancing Electrical Prefabrication: Dallas, July 22–24, 2026 Listeners get 10% off with code BPMP63295 https://advancing-electrical-prefabrication.com/
Also in this episode:
- Why the winning value prop isn't cost savings. It's certainty: material certainty, speed to occupancy, and getting out of the construction loan faster
- James's two-to-three degrees of separation theory: your next contact is probably already in your phone
- A challenge to event organizers: map how the industry actually connects, and get every trade it takes to deliver a building into one room
- A teaser for a future episode breaking down how developers actually underwrite deals: pro formas, cap rates, and where prefab moves the valuation needle
Thanks to our sponsors ProjectFluent and Advancing Prefabrication (Hanson Wade) for making this episode free for listeners. Connect with James Haas on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-haas-0a4832b0/ to learn more about Nichiha's prefab facade solutions.
Andrew Layman runs prefab at Enterprise Electrical, and he'll tell you prefab isn't the future of construction - it's already the gold standard.
BUT, the line that stuck with us came at the end: this next generation coming into the trades isn't lazy or soft, they just want to know "why". Andrew makes the case that "respect for people" is an actual lean pillar, that the prefab shop is the best classroom we've got, and that the contractors who get both right are the ones who'll actually solve the labor problem.
In this one:
- Why prefab stopped being "the future" and became the baseline, and what that means for ECs still treating it as a nice-to-have
- The shift from "do it exactly like this" to explaining the "WHY?" And how THAT is a recruiting edge, not a concession
- How a green apprentice can leave the prefab shop as the most proficient conduit bender on the job in under a year
- "Money is no object" data center jobs, 60 generators on one site, and why that's a prefab dream
- The Toyota line about seats and dashboards that reframes trade stacking for good
- Why "we don't expect you to read a tape measure yet" might be the most respectful thing a shop can say
Brought to you free by Spec2Scale and Advancing Electrical Prefabrication.
CATCH ANDREW AT THE EVENT HE'S CHAIRING Advancing Electrical Prefabrication — Dallas, July 22–24, 2026 Listeners get 10% off with code BPMP63295 https://advancing-electrical-prefabrication.com/
CONNECT Andrew Layman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewlayman99/ Enterprise Electrical: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enterprise-electrical-commercial-and-industrial-electrical-contractor-for-houston-tx/ https://enterpriseelectricalco.com/
Chapters (help Spotify/Apple/YouTube surface and chapter the episode): 00:00 Meet Tim & Carolina 01:00 Guest intro: Andrew Layman, Enterprise 02:30 Lean meets prefab 05:30 Kaizen, Gemba & the eight wastes 08:00 What Andrew wants suppliers to know 11:30 Vendors & customer experience 13:30 Selling prefab as risk mitigation 16:00 Prefab as boot camp 20:00 Data centers & the labor squeeze 22:30 Trade stacking & coordination 26:30 Conference preview 29:30 The "why" generation 36:00 Wrap-up & discount code
Safety leadership isn't about rules. It's about seeing people who've never been seen. Recorded live at Advancing Safety Leadership in Dallas, we sit down with Shane Harris and Lane Smith of Flintco to talk about how a 115-year-old GC is using recorded morning huddles, AI-powered conversation analytics, and a deep culture-change investment to close the gap between the planning table and the frontline crew.
This is what happens when you stop treating the pre-task plan as paperwork and start treating it as the tip of the spear.
Key Topics Covered:
- Planning as the tip of the spear — why the entire investment in a project ultimately lands on the frontline leader's five-minute morning huddle, and why the industry has ignored it for too long
- The paper PTP problem — how the industry has been saying one thing and doing another every morning, and what it actually costs in safety culture
- Smart Tag It and the Spanish-speaking workforce — how AI translation is bypassing the language gatekeeper to reach 80% of Texas construction crews previously invisible to safety leadership
- Question quality as a measurable leadership metric — why "what's our goal for the day?" changes everything
- Culture before technology — the JMJ investment, the lunch-and-learns, and why Flintco lost a third of its staff on purpose to get where it is today Connect with Shane and Lane: Find them on LinkedIn or visit flintco.com
Flintco Safety Music Videos on YouTube: Search: Flintco Lazy Man Load | Flintco Egg Man | Flintco Shortcut
https://youtu.be/tbFNXcxg8rU
When Scott Satory started his industrial roofing company 17 years ago with $10,000 and no capital for medical benefits, he made a decision. He'd pay people fairly, give them holidays and vacation from day one, and treat them like human beings. He figured he'd see how that worked out.
It worked out. Debt-free. Multimillion dollars. 17 and a half years later.
His wife Dr. Colleen Saringer spent that same stretch inside corporate America, consulting companies on workplace mental health and watching them not do it. In 2023 she left to keynote construction companies directly, because construction has one of the highest suicide rates of any industry. More suicides than on-site injuries. And the number is underreported.
Together they keynote on what it looks like to build a business and a life in construction without it killing you. Literally. Quick note about Upcoming Events 🏗️ Advancing Construction Leadership | April 28–29, Dallas TX | Safety as a catalyst, not a checkbox. Use code BUILDPERSPECTIVES10 for 10% off → advancing-construction-safety-leadership.com
Tim and Carolina caught up with Colleen and Scott on a sunny afternoon at Monday Night Brewing in Atlanta — and what started as a conversation about running a construction family became something harder to shake than that. Colleen's father nearly took his life when she was 13. Scott's two brothers both had heart attacks before 52. Scott is 52 and fine. He has a theory about why.
They get into: the coffee pot at 11:30pm that almost broke things, why kindness is a risk management strategy backed by actual research, what survivor accounts say people needed in their darkest moments, why small contractors can't buy loyalty but can absolutely earn it, and what building product manufacturers keep getting wrong when they go quiet on a sub.
One line from the research Colleen cites: people who had considered ending their life said, "I just need someone to see me today."
A smile. A good morning. Knowing the dumpster driver's name.
That's the episode.
Find Colleen at colleensaringer.com and on LinkedIn. Connect with Scott the same way.
Brought to you by ProjectFluent and the Advancing Construction event series from Hanson Wade.
What Would It Take to Actually Fix Housing? Tyler Pullen of Terner Labs & UC Berkeley on policy, prefab, and the graveyard of good ideas.
Tyler Pullen doesn't traffic in buzzwords. As leader of the Building Innovation Track at Terner Labs, the nonprofit accelerator spun out of UC Berkeley's Terner Center for Housing Innovation, he's spent years separating companies actually building homes from the ones just building pitch decks.
Recorded live on the expo floor in Dallas, Tyler gets candid about what it really takes to move the needle on housing affordability: 70 expert interviews in a single month, a dozen California bills already in motion, and the stubborn truth that the biggest barrier to innovation in housing isn't engineering. It's navigating the humans.
We cover the forthcoming California building innovation white paper, why hardware is categorically harder than software, and what innovators consistently get wrong when they try to enter the housing market without speaking the language.
Download the "Potential Pathways to Scale Innovative Construction Methods in California" white paper here https://ternercenter.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/PathwaystoScaleInnovativeConstruction2026.pdf
Apply to the Terner Labs Building Innovation Track: ternerlabs.org Reach Tyler directly: tpullen@berkeley.edu
Upcoming Events 🏗️ Advancing Construction Leadership | April 28–29, Dallas TX — Safety as a catalyst, not a checkbox. Use code BUILDPERSPECTIVES10 for 10% off → advancing-construction-safety-leadership.com
🌲 Int'l Mass Timber Conference | March 30–April 1, Portland OR — Use code IMTC26_SEIMS10 for 10% off → masstimberconference.com
Recorded live on the expo floor at Advancing Prefab 2026 in Dallas, this conversation with Robert Crotty, VP of Design & Construction at HCA Healthcare, is a masterclass in what it actually takes to run prefab as a program, not a project.
Robert was hired by HCA a decade ago to advance offsite construction, and the timing of this recording, at an event literally named Advancing Prefab, wasn't lost on either of us. We cover how a major health system tests, refines, and scales prefab components across hundreds of in-flight projects, why healthcare is the right proving ground for innovations that will eventually reach housing, and what manufacturers and trade contractors should be thinking about during slow periods. Key topics below!
- 🌲 Upcoming Events: Advancing Construction Leadership (APRIL 28-29, 2026 IN DALLAS TX) US employers reported 1.3 million workplace injuries IN 2024, and construction still sees some of the highest rates of serious harm. Leading firms recognize that safety is a catalyst for innovation, project quality, and profitability. The question remains: How do we bridge the gap between the boardroom and the boots on the ground? Use code BUILDPERSPECTIVES10 to save 10% off at registration. Register at: https://advancing-construction-safety-leadership.com/
- International Mass Timber Conference (IMTC) March 30 – April 1, 2026 | Portland, OR The premier gathering for the mass timber and tall wood building industry. Build Perspectives listeners get an exclusive discount! Use code IMTC26_SEIMS10 to save 10% off at registration. Register at: masstimberconference.com
Key Topics Covered in This Pod:
- How HCA manages hundreds of concurrent projects — from lobby refurbs to new hospital builds — using an incremental construction model that mirrors community demand curves and reduces the risk of large-scale prefab commitments gone wrong.
- Why moving work off-site typically delivers a 2x productivity improvement, and how that math becomes a survival strategy when 400,000 skilled tradespeople are leaving the industry with no pipeline of replacements.
- The case for making prefab decisions early in design — not late — and how HCA's partner program cross-trains GC teams by sending them to watch live installs before they're responsible for one.
- Why healthcare construction (often $1,000+/SF) is the innovation proving ground that makes prefab better and cheaper for housing and hospitality over time — and Robert's advice for factory operators on using off-peak demand to train workforce rather than curtail operations.
- How smaller health systems, trade contractors, and manufacturers can think programmatically about prefab without HCA's volume — through GPOs, collaborative buying, and latching onto GCs already building their own offsite capacity.
- The Toyota Production System truth that construction keeps learning the hard way: you can tour every factory you want, but without the culture, none of it sticks.
Connect with Robert Crotty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertcrotty/
This episode was recorded live at Advancing Prefabrication 2026 in Dallas and made possible by the support of Project Fluent and the Advancing Construction event series. Learn more at www.advancing-prefabrication.com.
Build Perspectives is hosted by Tim Seims and Carolina Baffigo. If this conversation resonated, please subscribe, leave a rating, and share with someone in your network who needs to hear it.
This episode explores how better access to building codes, plus AI, can slash rework, de‑risk projects, and speed up knowledge transfer in an industry facing a looming expertise gap. We walk through the origin story of UpCodes, why fragmented regulations quietly tax every project, and how combining deep domain knowledge with technical talent creates tools that actually match how architects, builders, and BPMs work. Along the way, we get real about code politics, the hidden cost of rework, and what it really takes to become valuable early in your construction career. Key topics below!
🌲 Upcoming Event: International Mass Timber Conference (IMTC) March 30 – April 1, 2026 | Portland, OR
The International Mass Timber Conference is the premier gathering for the mass timber and tall wood building industry — bringing together architects, engineers, contractors, manufacturers, and developers at the forefront of one of construction's most exciting movements.
Build Perspectives listeners get an exclusive discount! Use code IMTC26_SEIMS10 to save 10% off your attendee pass at registration. Register at: masstimberconference.com
Key Topics Covered in This Pod:
- Why rework is a systemic, multi-billion-dollar drag on construction—even in prefab and modular—and how catching errors "upstream" in design changes the entire cost profile of a project.
- How UpCodes aggregates millions of code sections and amendments into a single, searchable environment, and why grounding AI in actual code text is essential for accuracy and liability.
- What building product manufacturers can learn from assemblies, Miami-Dade, and Florida Building Code to position products correctly across fast-changing, high-risk jurisdictions.
- The looming retirement wave among building officials, why master–apprentice learning is breaking down, and how shared data and tools can accelerate competence for the next generation.
- Why successful contech founders need a real "marriage" between domain expertise and engineering talent—and what non-technical industry experts should look for in technical co-founders.
Episode Description Sets the scene at the Hush Tunnel, calls out consolidation and the shifting talent market — enough to make someone curious without over-explaining.
3 bullets:
- Trade show ROI — is a booth actually worth it?
- Musical chairs is coming — talent market read
- Big distributors, bigger stakes — the consolidation question
What We Cover * The Rockwool Hush Tunnel tradition: How the tunnel — and the podcast — have both evolved since 2019 * Trade show strategy: When IBS is (and isn't) the right show for your product — and why education sessions beat booth-staffing marathons * IBS as a recruiting event: Tim and Carolina's read on the talent movement likely coming in 2025–2026 and the 'musical chairs' dynamic in building products * Supplier consolidation: Home Depot/SRS, Lowe's/FBM, QXO — what it means for manufacturers and end users * Fire protection products: A standout category at this year's show, including the growth of Hilti's fire tape and caulk division * The NIE Ha booth: New gloss panel in blue, custom color brick, and the two-piece trim that's set to save installers 15–20% on install time * Selling aesthetic vs. functional products: Why going from 'behind the wall' to visible finishes is easier than the reverse * The value of tribal knowledge: What the podcast is really for — passing on industry perspective, experience, and guest insights
🌲 Upcoming Event: International Mass Timber Conference (IMTC) March 30 – April 1, 2026 | Portland, OR
The International Mass Timber Conference is the premier gathering for the mass timber and tall wood building industry — bringing together architects, engineers, contractors, manufacturers, and developers at the forefront of one of construction's most exciting movements.
Build Perspectives listeners get an exclusive discount! Use code IMTC26_SEIMS10 to save 10% off your attendee pass at registration.
Register at: masstimberconference.com
Most building-product strategies fail because they ignore the human element inside construction systems. This episode is about seeing what actually moves projects, before you try to change them.
📅 ADVANCING PREFAB - DALLAS, FEB 2-4, 2026
Use code: BUILDPERSPECTIVES10 for 10% off! Register: www.Advancing-Prefabrication.com
Key Topics Covered: • How construction projects quietly shape material decisions long before a spec is written • Why sales language, technical fluency, and innovation strategy must converge • The hidden learning curve behind product adoption and market intelligence • How ecosystem thinking reveals overlooked commercial opportunities
And what it takes to observe real problems before trying to "innovate" solutions.
Take the Project Fluent
Real leadership isn't LinkedIn Oatmeal. In this episode, we share stories from 50+ years in building materials: the bosses who gave us range at 24, had hard conversations, and rewarded behavior over politics—plus the red flags every sales leader needs to recognize.
📅 ADVANCING PREFAB - DALLAS, FEB 2-4, 2026 Use code: BUILDPERSPECTIVES10 for 10% off Register: AdvancingPrefabrication.com
About Build Perspectives: Thought leadership from Carolina Baffigo & Tim Seims on building products, sales, and construction. 50+ combined years of experience.
Brought to you by Advancing Prefabrication, Feb 2-4 2026 in Dallas. Use the code BuildPerspectives10 for 10% off at checkout https://advancing-prefabrication.com/register/
On that note, most people wander through Advancing Prefabrication, IBS, or AIA hoping something "clicks."
In this episode, we break down how industry insiders actually plan events—mapping tracks, speakers, ICPs, and conversations. So, each conference becomes a strategic asset instead of an expensive field trip.
We get into why healthcare and data centers are leading prefab adoption, how to navigate the compressed decision cycle, and what sales leaders need to understand about timing, sequencing, and stakeholder pressure.
We also share our introvert-friendly networking playbook: how to reach out to speakers authentically, how to make conversations effortless with statements instead of questions, and how to become the person people want to introduce—not the one they avoid.
If you want to level up your prefab IQ, build relationships that matter, or turn events into real ROI, this episode gives you the blueprint.
Connect with us:
- Email: tim@buildperspectives.com or carolina@buildperspectives.com
- Find us on LinkedIn/Carolina LinkedIn/Tim
- Subscribe and leave a review to help us grow!
🔗 Take the Project Fluent Assessment at projectfluent.scoreapp.com
Brought to you by Advancing Prefabrication, Feb 2-4 2026 in Dallas. Use the code BuildPerspectives10 for 10% off at checkout https://advancing-prefabrication.com/register/
Most construction pros are never formally taught how contracts actually work—or how risk gets silently shifted onto the people doing the real work. In this episode, we sit down with construction attorney and UC Davis instructor Megan Shapiro, who has spent 15 years litigating disputes and helping subcontractors, manufacturers, and trades avoid the same avoidable mistakes she sees every day in court. We talk about why some manufacturers absolutely belong on job sites, the dangerous myths around "no redlines," and how Megan's OWN framework (Optimize, Weigh, Negotiate) helps subs protect their business without walking away from the work they need to win. We also get into power dynamics across the construction food chain, navigating contracts in high-pressure environments, and what it's really like to be a woman showing up with authority in a male-dominated industry. And of course, how Converge Construction Summit went from an offhanded LinkedIn comment to one of the most energizing collaboration hubs in the industry.
🔗 Take the Project Fluent Assessment at projectfluent.scoreapp.com
Connect with us:
- Email: tim@buildperspectives.com or carolina@buildperspectives.com
- Find us on LinkedIn/Carolina LinkedIn/Tim
- Subscribe and leave a review to help us grow!
Brought to you by Advancing Prefabrication, Feb 2-4 2026 in Dallas. Use the code BuildPerspectives10 for 10% off at checkout https://advancing-prefabrication.com/register/
Tired of 2-year sales cycles? Losing deals because you're not speaking the right language?
In this episode, Tim and Carolina breaks down Project Fluent - the training framework that helped her become the top salesperson at her company and now helps building product sales teams accelerate their speed to cash.
The 4 Key Areas You Need to Master: Stakeholder Savvy (who matters when) Market Intelligence (where to focus your energy) Technical Mastery (credibility without overcomplication) Job Site IQ (the most underrated sales accelerator)
Whether you're new to construction sales or leading a team that's stuck, this framework gives you control of your pipeline.
🔗 Take the Project Fluent Assessment at projectfluent.scoreapp.com
Connect with us:
- Email: tim@buildperspectives.com or carolina@buildperspectives.com
- Find us on LinkedIn/Carolina LinkedIn/Tim
- Subscribe and leave a review to help us grow!
We're back! And we're starting with the uncomfortable truth: your salespeople might be collecting hotel points instead of closing deals. Join Tim and Carolina as they unpack why job sites are where the real intelligence lives, how to get out of industry echo chambers, and why curiosity is your competitive advantage.
After taking a break, Tim Seims and Carolina Albano are reuniting to bring you fresh perspectives on the ConTech and building products industry. In this relaunch episode, they tackle one of the industry's biggest challenges: getting salespeople out of the office and onto job sites where the real opportunities live.
In This Episode:
- Why job site visits are the most underutilized sales tool in building products
- The shocking gap in sales training that's costing manufacturers millions
- How to break out of industry echo chambers and avoid the "rut" trap
- Why software salespeople need job site skills too
- The difference between commission breath and actually adding value
- How curiosity and learning create competitive advantages
- Insights from the Venveo Building Products Customer Workshop
- The timeless fundamentals that AI and software can't replace
Key Takeaways:
- Manufacturers are sitting on 70,000+ leads without a strategy to work them
- The building owner, GC, architect, and installer all speak different languages—and you need to learn them all
- "Don't assume other people know what you know"—your experience is someone else's gold
- A rut is just "a grave with the ends kicked out"
Whether you're in commercial, residential, sales, technical, or leadership, this episode will challenge you to think differently about how you engage with customers and invest in your own growth.
This episode is brought to you by Job Site IQ - Take the assessment at JobsiteIQ.scoreapp.com to discover your job site intelligence and learn how to add more value on every visit.
Connect with us:
- Email: tim@buildperspectives.com or carolina@buildperspectives.com
- Find us on LinkedIn/Carolina LinkedIn/Tim
- Subscribe and leave a review to help us grow!
The Musical Chairs of Building Products - Why Everyone's Changing Jobs (And What It Means for Our Industry) Recorded Live at AIA 2025, Boston Featuring special guest Michael Russo, National Sales Manager at Longboard Architectural Products
The Big Idea The building products industry is experiencing a massive talent shuffle. From the Rockwell acoustic booth at AIA (where you can literally hear the difference good products make), to LinkedIn feeds full of job announcements—everyone's moving. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.
What You'll Experience in This Episode We recorded this live from the Rockwell booth at AIA 2025—the first time any of us had been to the show in 6+ years. You'll hear the actual difference between being inside an acoustic booth and walking onto the noisy show floor. Because some things you just can't market—you have to experience them.
The Career Carousel: Where We All Landed 2019 vs 2025 - The Shuffle:
- Tim: Nichiha → Nichiha (leading Interiors Strategy)
- Carolina: Porcelanosa Facade → Nichiha → StoeCorp (leading VTECH team)
- Michael: Nichiha (13.5 years) → Longboard Architectural Products
We're all competitors now. Same customers, same projects, different products. But that doesn't mean we can't talk about what's really happening in our industry.
Why Everyone's Job-Hopping (And Why It's Actually Good) The Family Decision Reality Moving companies isn't just a career move—it's a family decision. Michael's perspective after 13+ years at one company: the first 60-90 days define everything. You're not just learning products; you're establishing pace and direction.
The Win-Win Dynamic When experienced professionals move, both sides win. Companies get proven expertise. Veterans get validation and appreciation for their accumulated knowledge. It's not just about changing jobs—it's about leveraging your "body of work."
What We All Have in Common:
- Pumpkin spice lattes (Carolina always sends the first text)
- Fall season excitement
- 15+ years of relationship-building in a tight-knit industry
- The ability to spot our cladding systems on family road trips
The Long Game That Keeps Us Here Why We Stay:
- Always work: Construction happens everywhere
- Making a difference: Helping architects, designers, building owners create better spaces
- The relationships: Small industry, long relationships, specification sales
- The payoff: Driving by buildings you helped create
The Industry Reality: People don't leave architecture to become builders. Builders don't become architects. Building products people stay in building products. It's hard to get out because once you're in, you see the impact.
The Talent Problem Nobody Talks About Everyone discusses labor shortages on job sites. But what about us? Building products manufacturing, sales, and marketing face the same challenge. How do we attract young talent to careers they don't know exist?
The Solution:
- Have these conversations publicly
- Share the rewarding reality of the work
- Show the financial mobility possible
- Highlight the gratification of seeing your work built
Walking through AIA 2025, we saw plenty of young professionals asking questions and moving with purpose. The next generation is here—we just need to be more vocal about the opportunities.
The Experience Economy in Action You can't print or market the acoustic difference you experience in the Rockwell booth. You have to be there. That's why events like AIA matter—not just for networking, but for experiencing what products actually do.
After a day of "constantly grinding" and networking, the unexpected reward: 12 genuine hugs from industry relationships built over 15 years. That's the human infrastructure that makes this industry special.
The Bottom Line With $5 billion in commercial facades construction over the next 3-4 years, there's plenty of work to go around. The career mobility we're all experiencing isn't disruption—it's evolution. The industry is strengthened when experienced professionals bring their expertise to new challenges.
We might be competitors, but we're all trying to create better spaces for customers. And in a relationship-driven industry built on specification sales, collaboration makes everyone stronger.
About Our Locations Tim: Interiors Strategy at Nichiha USA nichiha.com
Carolina: Leading VENTEC team at StoCorp - High-performance building envelope solutions
Michael Russo: National Sales Manager at Longboard Architectural Products - Expanding into interiors and landscape architecture applications
Sponsor Spotlight Advancing Prefabrication: Unitized Façades & Panelization June 9-11, 2025 | Dallas, Texas Part of the Hanson Wade suite of construction innovation events Use code BP10 for 10% off any Hanson Wade event registration advancing-prefab-unitized-facades-panelization.com
Build Perspectives explores the innovations, relationships, and career realities shaping construction. Sometimes recorded in acoustic booths, sometimes on noisy show floors—always authentic to the industry we love.
"Perspectives - something my dad says you can never have too much of."
The Big Idea The construction industry's 40-year experiment with specialization is ending. What I'm calling "encroaching vertical integration" isn't just a trend—it's a fundamental reshaping of how projects get built. And the companies that miss this shift will find themselves squeezed out of the value chain entirely.
Why This Matters Now Most commercial construction projects finish over budget and over schedule. That wasn't happening 40 years ago when GCs self-performed everything from grading to casework. The "ballooning" of our industry through specialization created layers of margin, scope gaps, and coordination nightmares that are finally forcing a correction.
The Three-Front War for Control 1. GCs Going Rogue Companies like Swinerton, DPR, and Windover aren't just managing projects anymore—they're bringing building envelope, carpentry, and concrete work back in-house. They're buying panel machines, butterfly tables, and steel rollers. Why? Because being a project manager with no control over performance is the least profitable way to build.
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Trades Playing Offense Drywall contractors aren't content being subs anymore. They're positioning themselves as prime contractors, offering GC services to owners directly. The specialists are becoming generalists again.
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Manufacturers Thinking Like Boeing Take Sango Ben's prefab partnerships. Manufacturers who traditionally just made "stuff" are now doing full wall assemblies. They're moving from component suppliers to system integrators—and that's where the real margins live.
The Dark Horse: Distribution's $100B Opportunity Here's what nobody's talking about: QXO's acquisition of Beacon isn't just about scale. It's about positioning for the biggest disruption in construction distribution since Home Depot.
Imagine ABC Supply or QXO calling on architects like manufacturers do. Running lunch-and-learns. Writing specs. Building primary demand instead of just fulfilling orders. Most distributors are glorified logistics companies collecting AR. The winners will become strategic partners who can prove ROI to manufacturers through specification influence.
The math is simple: If you control specification, you control everything downstream.
Case Study: The Future Happened in Dallas A 1000-room resort north of Dallas proved the concept. They built an assembly line right on the job site—welded tables, crane-ready facades with windows, waterproofing, rock wool, and cladding integrated. Two and three-story unitized assemblies installed like Lego blocks.
This wasn't just efficient construction. It was manufacturing mindset applied to building. And it's scalable.
What This Means for You If you're a manufacturer: Start thinking assembly, not components. The companies buying just your product are becoming your competitors.
If you're a GC: The question isn't whether to self-perform more. It's which trades to bring in-house first.
If you're in distribution: You're either becoming a strategic partner or a commoditized middleman. There's no middle ground.
If you're an investor: Look for companies crossing traditional boundaries. The biggest returns will come from businesses that control more of the value chain.
The Bottom Line We're watching a $2.2 trillion industry reorganize itself in real time. The silos that defined construction for 40 years are converging into something that looks more like manufacturing.
The companies that understand this shift aren't just adapting—they're designing the future of how we build.
Sponsors & Partners Nichiha USA - Where I lead Interiors Strategy, focusing on mass timber integration and adaptive reuse projects. Our fiber cement architectural panels are enabling the prefab revolution. nichiha.com
Advancing Prefabrication: Unitized Façades & Panelization June 9-11, 2025 | Dallas, Texas The event where these ideas get turned into action plans. Use code BP10 for 10% off: Register here
Build Perspectives explores the technologies and strategies reshaping construction. Hosted by someone who's spent years in the trenches—from swinging hammers to building go-to-market strategies for the industry's most innovative companies.
Subscribe, rate, and share if this resonates. The construction industry deserves better than "that's how we've always done it."
In this illuminating episode of Build Perspectives, we bring together two mass timber industry veterans to break down the economics, challenges, and future of this growing sector. Erica Spiritos and Roy Anderson to offer invaluable insights into the nuanced world of mass timber pricing and market dynamics.
Episode Highlights: * Understanding the Mass Timber Performance Index: Discover how the index helps quantify costs in an industry where traditional pricing models don't apply https://masstimberconference.com/report/content/mass-timber-price-index-2024/ * Debunking the "Commodity" Myth: Learn why mass timber is a value-added product rather than a commodity, despite some industry confusion * Capacity Reality Check: Current manufacturers are operating at under 50% capacity - addressing the "supply stalemate" holding back wider adoption * Regional Mass Timber Ecosystems: Why building with locally-available species is crucial for sustainability and market growth * The Complete Value Chain: From raw lumber to fabrication services, understanding the full cost structure of mass timber projects * Supply Chain Challenges: Issues with lumber thickness, moisture content requirements, and forest management policies affecting the industry * Future Outlook: Predictions on vertical integration, standardization, and the breaking of the "supply stalemate"
Key Quotes: "Mass timber accounts for 0.5% of softwood lumber consumption in North America - it's a drop in the bucket."
"I think our climate crisis and our housing crisis together are demanding [standardization] of us."
"In the next couple years... we're going to see a 25-50% increase in capacity in the United States with new facilities coming online on both coasts."
Connect With Our Guests: * Erica Spiritos: VP at Timber Lab and Director of Washington Mass Timber Accelerator https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-spiritos-7b34051b/ * Roy Anderson: VP at Beck Group and author of the International Mass Timber Report https://www.linkedin.com/in/royanderson1968/
Resources: * Last year's 2024 Entire Mass Timber Report https://masstimberconference.com/report/ * Use discount code Build-Timber to register for only $995 ($380 savings!) https://masstimberconference.com/register/ * www.Nichiha.com Episode Sponsor * Advanciwww.AdvancingConstruction.com - Episode Sponsor
A special thanks to Craig Rawlings and Arnie Didier for connecting us and supporting this important industry conversation.
Don't miss our next episode! Subscribe to Build Perspectives and leave a review - as Tim's dad always says, "You can never have too much perspective."
Great to catch up LIVE at www.Advancing-Prefabrication.com with Amy Marks from Symetri USA and https://queenofprefab.com/
Whats your next Hanson Wade event?
- https://advancingconstruction.com/
- https://advancing-preconstruction.com/
Chapter 1: Intro 00:00: Tim introduces the event, "Build Perspectives," and his interest in the building products industry. 00:48: Amy Marks introduces herself as the Executive Vice President of Global Strategy at Symmetry, AKA the Queen of Prefab!
Chapter 2: Advancing Prefab Event Overview 02:31: Amy Marks discusses the unique aspects of the Advancing Prefab event, emphasizing its focus on authentic conversations and business connections. 03:30: The event is described as a platform for making valuable business connections and fostering collaboration within the construction industry.
Chapter 2: Advancing Prefab Event Overview 04:54: The event's evolution over the years is noted, with increased participation from architects, engineers, and general contractors. 05:44: Amy mentions the diverse audience and the positive impact of having decision-makers from various sectors present at the event.
Chapter 4: Importance of Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing 07:45: Amy emphasizes the significance of sharing knowledge and experiences within the construction industry. 08:25: The discussion shifts to the need for companies to engage with social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to attract a more diverse workforce.
Chapter 5: Encouraging Diversity in the Construction Industry 09:48: Amy highlights the importance of promoting diversity in the construction industry, particularly in attracting more women and young talent. 10:41: The conversation extends to the role of social media influencers in showcasing diverse careers in construction and related fields.
Chapter 6: Amy's Advocacy for Change and Industry Engagement 12:33: Amy encourages companies to actively engage in social media platforms and support initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion in the industry. 13:25: The importance of providing platforms for change agents and fostering an environment of courage and openness is emphasized.
Chapter 7: Connecting with Amy Marks and Conclusion 14:43: Amy shares ways to connect with her on social media platforms and through Symmetry for further engagement and collaboration. 16:05: Tim acknowledges Amy's contributions and the value of her insights in driving positive change and innovation in the industry.
- Announcement! Tim teases his upcoming podcast, "ConstructionVerse: Building Empires," a deep dive into the origin stories of influential figures in the building industry who have transformed humble beginnings into multi-billion dollar enterprises.
- Paying Tribute: Tim remembers Gerry McCauley and Mark Mitchell, acknowledging their significant contributions to offsite construction and building materials marketing.
- www.Advancing-Prefabrication.com
- A Titan's Impact: The podcast teases an in-depth look at the Building Industry's newest Titan, highlighting his strategic investments and significant influence in reshaping industries like waste management, equipment rental, and logistics.
- Introduction of QXO : Tim discusses this new Titan's latest venture, QXO, and its potential to revolutionize the building materials distribution industry through technology and consolidation.
- How to Make a Few Billion Dollars: The teaser encourages listeners to engage with the full series for more insights and to read the book, "How to Make a Few Billion Dollars," for a deeper understanding of successful business strategies.
Advancing Prefabrication is North America’s largest prefab & modular summit, uniting over 1,200 of the industry’s biggest names & brightest minds. Join us in Denver in February for four days of unmissable content & networking, to keep your finger on the pulse of the latest and greatest in prefab & modular!
Resources:
- The Book: "How to Make a Few Billion Dollars" on Amazon or wherever you buy books
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timseims/
- Tim's Website www.TimSeims.com
Tim shares the latest activities and learnings in building materials / building systems / housing / real estate:
- unexpected things about advisory / consulting needs
- thoughts on recent factory, lbm, and job site visits
- Columbus OH and how it impacts our industry
- Whizard Summit highlights (purchase recordings here) about tactical empathy and land developers like Guerrilla Development, who posts their project pro formas directly on their website
- Venveo and Farnsworth Group BP Event
- ConnectingPoint events, the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, and how it reminds me of the adaptive reuse hospitality properties by Mcmenamins in Portland.
- www.TimSeims.com is done! Thanks to Ana at FING Commit Coaching for her help
- www.TheBuildersDaily.com is going to be a regular resource for the pod as we break down one topic with every episode
- Recap of www.LaymansGuide.com column topics, including "We Are Where We Should Have Been"
Resources:
- Tim is presenting on some of this at www.Advancing-Prefabrication.com. Use Discount Code BP10 for 10% off and join us in Phoenix March 14-17th, 2023
- You can check out my LBM and housing column at www.LaymansGuide.com and Carolina's online course at www.HowToJobsite.com
- www.TimSeims.com
In this pod, I’m sharing a bit of a signal on construction labor. It's not what you might think, it’s not about the labor market and data.
This story isn't just about my friend Mark. It’s about new creative human capital opportunities.
I'll be presenting on some of this at www.Advancing-Prefabrication.com. Use Discount Code BP10 for 10% off and join us in Phoenix March 14-17th, 2023
You can check out and support my housing column at www.LaymansGuide.com and Carolina's online course at www.HowToJobsite.com
www.TimSeims.com
Tim and Carolina discuss the many upcoming points of interest coming in the following episodes by bringing contrarian viewpoints and thinking differently than before in order to build perspectives.
Sustainable growth in the building product space. A dosh and curve alignment is important to ensuring pricing power is more balanced. Reminder: Do not panic- Make progress, expand and make way for the better, and success will come.
Modes of going to market, construction, and what is the secret of the universe.
Influencer and creator economy in the builder space.
They will highlight building industry news at the beginning of each episode.
How to use keyword research to have more effective conversations with customers.
Using title's to get people’s appointments and referrals.
How to use targeting, positioning, and strategy, to ensure you call on the right people.
Getting people to understand the process of what developers go through to underwrite deals.
Stay tuned for more updates on relevant and exciting industry topics to come on Build Perspectives.
Join us for shepherd's pie at The Ivy in London, on this second installment of Build Perspectives, live on location.
Conversation on sustainability, the future of construction, life on the planet, and more.
Recorded during Wimbledon June 2022
Live on location from London June 2022
The sounds of the tube, the streets of Soho, architecture, and more.
Live on location from London June 2022
The sounds of the tube, the streets of Soho, architecture, and more.
Interview by www.buildperspectives.com
Nick Gray is on a mission to get 500 people to build new connections using his new "The 2-hour Cocktail Party" book and format NICK (Name tags, Icebreakers, Cocktails only, Kick them out at the end).
Nick is the founder of Museum Hack and the best-selling author of "How to Make New Friends" and "Build Big Relationships".
He discusses the value when you bring together a mixed group of people with simplicity but added structure to ensure everyone makes meaningful connections. He offers many tools and tactics for anyone who wants to create successful mixers and events to expand your network and reach your goals.
This is not the average Build Perspectives episode. Carolina and Ryan point out many interesting observations while en route to Germany from Switzerland. They take back roads through many small towns describing many differences noticed between Europe and the US.
Interview by www.buildperspectives.com
Tim goes live from Washington D.C. at the Innovate Housing Showcase co-hosted by NAHB.
Tim discusses some common challenges, technology that addresses these problems and encourages the Housing Action Plan that was released recently from the Biden Harris administration to get a future into the vision for funding construction.
Interview by www.buildperspectives.com
With: Dave Simonsen https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericstiller/ & Eric Stiller https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-simonsen-b72863132/
Eric and Dave, started https://trueblueproducts.net/ in 2013 where they bring their expertise to build partnerships and opportunities for improving the Rainscreen industry from cladding to structural studs.
We discuss the evolution of new products, how construction has changed over time, thermal performance and the future of construction.
What were the Top 3 takeaways from the Advancing Prefab 2022 event in Phoenix? How can people connect more easily at in-person events?
Carolina and Tim share commentary on these PLUS... what shocked Tim the most.
His answers might surprise you.
Finding commonalities with the client, and having the technical chops to back it up opens up a career for millennial architecture students graduating into poor economic times, like these. We talk about serving the specification from the manufacturer's perspective; ethically and holistically.
Architectural sales is not a zero-sum game.
The beachside Aqui y Ahora cafe in Cozumel is where Tim goes to connect in person with like-minded locals and expats. Advancing Prefabrication in Phoenix April 26-29 is where he is going to connect in-person to learn and ideate with the vibrant, diverse, tech-agnostic prefabricated construction community.
Save 10% ($200 savings) with the Build Perspectives coupon code BP10 at checkout https://www.advancing-prefabrication.com/take-part/register/
This isn't a "Debbie Downer" episode, but it is an episode to help you to consider ways to pivot and respond to the labor shortages presenting in our industry today.
Is global youth disillusionment to blame? Employers, managers, builders, developers, etc. must creatively solve the biggest problem we face this year in construction.
Do you think the grass is greener on the side fertilized with bullsh%t? then this one is for you.
In this Tim solo episode, he walks you through purpose-built cities and communities. Tim flying solo today (no Carolina) and so low that...he starts off with the Fly the Fields development - super cool and innovative. A short one but a good one!
Tim and I talk about the 6 climate risks caused by climate change. We talk about how climate events affect the building industry, real estate, the economy and beyond. We explore ways to mitigate risk and more.
Welcoming in the new year with Omicron and looking hopefully to get rid of the bad and only bring in the best things from 2021 to this year. Getting out of the home office and creating a year of conscious connection!
Is our industry going from the laggard to innovators in the adoption bell curve?
Follow the conversation on the latest in building technology with Tyson Kindstrom's nonlinear path to Vice President of Industrialized Construction at Sto Corp.
We tease upcoming topics like digital construction, pre-fab, block chain, and where our industry is headed.
What do the words parapet, rabbeting, and butt-joint have in common?
or efflorescence, visqueen and rebar? Where else can you find all of these words in one conversation?
Listen and tell us what you think!
Mark Mitchell, a.k.a. The Whizard of building materials sales and marketing, has now become famous for finding hidden talents throughout the building materials industry.
Every year Mark puts on the Whizard Summit in Boulder and various other cities. This is a MUST-SEE event, especially if you're new to the industry. The presenters and keynotes come from complementary backgrounds that will make the most well-rounder marketing or sales leader in your product segment.
Topics: How architects want to hear from you, latest SEO technology, how to properly launch a product, the new chasm in real estate, where do you need to be in social media, messaging, video prospecting and much more.
We give you the Build Perspectives happy hour (tequila may or may not have been involved) take here.
The people at Katerra are the women and men "in the arena". You might think about hiring them to bring that experience and resilience into your organization.
Here is the substack blog mentioned in the episode: https://tinyurl.com/mks5mt5n
Do you know which construction type is most common? most expensive? most robust?
Special nerdy edition of Build Perspectives talking about the relevance and importance of knowing construction type.
And here is the link to the Whizard Summit where we are both presenting.
www.buildperspectives.com
The need for connection is not going away. Should you pay for summits when AIAs and CEUs and all kinds of free training abounds in the interwebs?
How to network in construction is an episode we're going to do in the coming weeks. It is such an important skill to stay relevant and thrive in our industry. We touch on it a bit in this episode.
We will be at Mark Mitchell's Wizard Summit May 18-20.
Will we see you there? Sign up before May 7th to receive $50 off.
You get what you pay for, how will you spend your time?
www.buildperspectives.com
The need for distilled thought and difference of opinions and experiences is more important now than ever!
How do you see it? Do you have a process for consuming knowledge and combing through all the information coming at us in all directions?
Today Tim and I discuss practices of consuming information and the ability to squeeze our truth, through the filter or our education, culture, upbringing, and experience.
www.buildperspectives.com
Lumber pricing is sky high. Is there a silver lining?
What is going on with the lumber shortage?
We start off with the basics, then get into the goods. And a review of the Global Mass Timber Conference.
www.buildperspectives.com
Alison and Matt Raes, of ILA Marketing, have built a thriving sales and marketing business in the building materials industry for the past 23 years.
In today's episode they reveal the top 3 secrets to success beyond their wildest dreams, despite recessions, being in Canada promoting non-Canadian products, raising kids while being busy entrepreneurs and so much more.
www.buildperspectives.com
Demand shock, supply shock and labor shock are all occurring simultaneously. Orders haven't stopped but fulfillment has not caught up.
How do we keep happy clients in this craziness? Tune in, evaluate, rate us and leave a review!
www.buildperspectives.com
Have you heard of 3D Printed houses? Is this a thing builders, manufacturers and installers need to worry about?
In this episode we create a foundation of knowledge for the 3D printing technologies we've seen out in the field in the construction industry.
We are scratching the surface of this intriguing use of a technology and process that has been around over 30 years. But it is taking on a new form, and the uses one can think up are fascinating to say the least!
Please rate and review our podcast and share it with folks you think would like it!
www.buildperspectives.com
This is a long one, because it’s a topic Tim and I both are super passionate about.
How to increase sales, be more efficient, get more business by deeply understanding and relating to your clients.
This a deep dive follow-up to the VE Conundrum episode we dive deeper into the players at the VE table.
How do you figure out who you’re talking to? We get into the nitty gritty and break it all down for you. This episode will make you lots of money and greatly diminish heartache and stress if you implement this into your everyday life.
www.buildperspectives.com
In this very exciting episode The Uneducated Economist shares how he picked himself up from a down-and-out economy in 2008 and has become a YouTube influencer with over 45,000 followers. He is generous with all the knowledge he shares and is an example of how hard work and determination are the main keys to massive success.
www.buildperspectives.com
We get into the dirty world of value engineering. We get into ways and anecdotes of getting VE'd into and out of projects.
How do you protect your spec? And how can you position yourself to be the natural solution a contractor or goes to when needing alternates?
www.buildperspectives.com
Are you a goal-setter? Are you a let life lead me kind of a person? Or somewhere in between, perhaps?
Many folks have been burned out by goal setting, discouragement is easy. But goal setting does not have to be complicated or lead to disappointment. What if goal setting is just a way to be intentional with how you live your life.
Maybe this is the year where you really make things happen instead of letting things happen to you. Give this method a shot and tell us what you think! What's the worst that can happen?
www.buildperspectives.com for all the downloads.
Have you ever kept your opinions to yourself in meetings for fear of getting judged, chastised or even fired?
Are employers losing out on the brilliance of their employees by having them hold back on who they really are? Are you ok with giving free-rein to your team?
How would you do your job if you were not afraid to get fired? We get real about following your heart, avoiding the ego and the money trap to reach true career fulfillment in the industry.
www.buildperspectives.com
In April 2020 - when the pandemic hit we came up with personal development plans for the stay at home order. How did we actually do? We recorded this after hours, with Woodford Reserve as our witness.
www.buildperspectives.com
Come on in to Build Perspectives coffee talk where we review how far this pandemic has taken the housing crisis, the great migration out of cities, the revamped work space, building materials sales, distribution and so much more.
www.buildperspectives.com
This self starting NC State grad and former imagineer walks us through his path to a successful business in human centered modular home building.
This is next level, design focused housing. Brian graciously shares details and inspiration for his business and we go into a case study: The Latham House, featuring Nichiha panels for the exterior and Fireclay tile inside.
www.buildperspectives.com
As we close the first year of Build Perspectives episodes, we share with you the most downloaded episodes, our most memorable shows and what we're planning for this coming year for you.
www.buildperspectives.com
Ever been the only woman in the room? Ever want to get into real estate investing but don't think you can afford it? Think you're too old to start investing? Think you don't know enough about the industry? Britt and Ash are here to dispel all these myths and excuses have you become a real estate investor right now!
This information is super relevant to those of us in this industry who have the knowledge base and network to lower the barrier of entry into this area of investing.
www.buildperspectives.com
This young lady is going to be CEO someday in the not-too-distant future. Olivia Glazer walks us through a day in the life in a territory manager in the residential building materials trades.
How to be successful, love your job, get more client exposure, convert installers, builders, and end users. She shows us how she deals with competitors and how to get around being value-engineered out of projects. Full of actionable ideas you can apply right now.
www.buildperspectives.com
Is the construction industry the most passionate industry?
Join us as we talk to veteran building materials marketing gurus Zach Williams and Beth Popnikolov of Venveo. We talk about the business of building materials, highlights of their podcast, and great advice for anyone working in this industry.
www.buildperspectives.com
Join us as we talk with Paul Lagerstedt of Super Anchor Safety, to discuss the business of keeping your crew safe at job sites. Commercial construction already, largely, does this well. Residential construction still faces stigmas and other obstacles in adopting safety practices.
Paul shows us how easy and inexpensive it is to stay safe and accident free at the job site.
www.buildperspecives.com
The Wizard: Mark Mitchell talks with thousands of architects, designers, manufacturers, facilities managers, lumberyards, dealers, distributors, builders, developers, installers - literally every player in the industry. Here he condenses their needs and wants - golden advice for anyone who wants to succeed in this industry. MUST LISTEN!
Best practices for becoming the trusted resource for your clients. Whether you're in sales, marketing, management, accounting, HR, in the estimating office, or in the field.
Deep understanding of the channel, and so much more.
www.buildperspectives.com
We talk with Jon Harris, Set Decorator for shows like Stranger Things, The Originals, and movies like Respect (releasing in 2021).
Find out what it takes to make a construction career in the film/TV industry. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how set building and decorating works, scene continuity, and more. Jon tells you exactly how to transition from the job site to the movie set.
Plus: they're all back at work after the Covid quarantine. See how they've adjusted to making entertainment safely, in a pandemic.
www.buildperspectives.com
Be inspired by Carly Althoff, architect and Erika Layman, development director at Journeyman International. A nonprofit that connects young architects, designers and engineers with established mentors, to work on humanitarian projects around the world, focusing on using sustainable materials, fighting poverty and improving the human experience. Get involved. Be the change. www.buildperspectives.com
As the great-granddaughter of Frank Lloyd Wright, Melissa Galt is design legacy. Being the daughter of Ann Baxter and goddaughter of Edith Head, also makes her Hollywood legacy.
Listen in as Melissa walks us through the path to her zone of genius. An experienced, successful designer who found her zone of genius helping designers to level up their business and practice.
Dewayne takes you on a journey to success in building materials despite your race and gender. This is a valuable, detailed, practical step-by-step roadmap for those of us feeling passed over for a promotion or stuck in a place with little opportunity for advancement.
It's not easy. It takes work, but it is possible. Leave a rating on itunes and tell us what you think.
Ecospec: "Eco sustainable products that are economically achievable"
www.buildperspectives.com
Susan comes from a "construction" family, but did not make it into a career until later in life after becoming a single parent.
We talk about the transition from going to design school, being a full time designer, then getting into sales and becoming a manufacturer's rep. Susan has only represented sustainable materials and feels lifecycle and maintenance costs are a topic we need to bring to awareness in our industry right now.
"Brick has been trending for the last 7-9 thousand years."
We also get into what Covid has done with and not letting obstacles and current events derail you. Life cycle of building materials is an important topic we get into and what we all need to be paying more attention to.
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"The greenest building is the one that already exists," former AIA president Carl Elefante is quoted as saying. Historic preservation is an integral part of sustainability in architecture and the building industry at large. Cindy Olnick is a communications consultant with over 20 years in the historic preservation community. A lover of architecture and old buildings, with a deep passion for fundraising and engaging support to save buildings In this episode we talk about the role historic preservation plays in sustainability and the ways we can get involved to save buildings and build for the long haul. https://buildperspectives.com/podcast/sustainability-and-historic-preservation-with-cindy-olnick/
You'll learn so much, and hopefully, be inspired to do more and take part in sustainability efforts in whatever role you play in our field. Dave Cooper and Mark Wille are thought leaders and early adopters of "green," in their own right. Both experts in the field of modular and sustainability, building materials and trades and are both influencers in their communities, and now the building science world at large. And they're a lot of fun to listen to.
We talk passive house, sustainability, general building science, mentoring, getting involved in your community and so much more.
This episode is a longer format but packed with amazing content.
https://buildperspectives.com/podcast/sustainability-passive-house-modular-and-housing-with-dave-and-mark/
We talk with Steven Gaynor, technical services, testing and certification testing expert. Through his company, Pivoth, Steven is helping building manufacturers fill in the technical knowledge gaps and help them implement new certifications to expand reach.
Steven is also the founder of Raina, the only Rainscreen association in North America.
https://buildperspectives.com/podcast/pivot-growth-pivoth-talking-rainscreen-with-steven-gaynor/
We get raw and candid about why we did not publish any podcasts in June . What direction are we taking the podcast?
We take your feedback, emails, and comments to heart!
New era of Build Perspectives starts now!
www.buildperspectives.com
Today we take a deep dive into what workspaces are starting to look like now that some of us are returning to work.
We also discuss sanitizing surfaces, work areas, and products to use. We talk about the role wayfinding plays now more than ever to keep social distancing protocols and allow for safe return to collaboration in our industry.
www.buildperspectives.com
What is the most important thing we aren't talking about in the building industry? From Tim Hamilton's (owner at Dixie Exteriors and Distribution) perspective we are missing quality more than anything else.
Tim is third generation in the exterior cladding installation and distribution segment of the building industry. His company distributes and installs cladding throughout the United States, though based in Louisville, KY.
He and his right hand man Justin Mosteller, discuss the current state in the industry and measures they're taking to ensure their business thrives and comes through the pandemic even stronger than before.
www.buildperspectives.com
There is still time to be, do, read and work toward those goals and dreams you set out when the quarantine started.
It's Tim's turn to share timeless resources he uses and wholeheartedly recommends for improving your work, quality of life and how you serve your clients, loved ones and all people in your life.
Recorded during Covid-19 Quarantine, April 2020.
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Quarantine learning updates, marketplace updates and a deep dive into a Fireside Chat with Tim Seims and Dean Wehrli of John Burns Real Estate Consulting at the Design Lens Summit 2020.
Check out the show notes on www.buildperspectives.com
While none of us can predict exactly what life will be like post-pandemic, the more we talk about the facts and think of different perspectives and scenarios the better prepared we will be for thriving.
How do we position our work? What does design and construction look like? What materials will be in demand? What industries are going to see spikes? This and more...
http://www.buildperspectives.com
Architects and founders of RFRM Collaborative Javier Meier Borrani and Nefer Fernandez share their insights.
- What does RFRM stand for?
- Higher education
- Community Inclusiveness
- Dialog among all stakeholders
www.BuildPerspectives.com
www.Nichiha.com
Topics discussed:
- Current supply chain issues within our industry,
- Focus on your circle of control, not circle of concern,
- Personal development IS professional development,
- List of things to focus on while #WorkingfromHome
- What is next, how we can help and encourage others,
- Plan for being better than before this pandemic started,
- Because WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS
Carolina and Tim's Personal Development Recommendations
Even - or especially - in times of uncertainty, it is important to reflect on the fundamentals. On our stewardship of the planet and the legacy we are leaving for the generations to come.
www.buildperspectives.com
www.venveo.com
www.nichiha.com
As discussed today, assess then tell time what to do with these tools:
Time Pie: Shade in hours (different color per activity is useful) https://www.dropbox.com/s/dkumcnw5rfe8llc/Dayinthelifetimepie.pdf?dl=0
Example of Carolina's from 2015: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dkumcnw5rfe8llc/Dayinthelifetimepie.pdf?dl=0
Template to Ideal Day and Ideal Week: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oSwUQRjF1royAW6m5AywscbnDF5oXSn5p6BJ4kpc51k/edit?usp=sharing
Share yours and tag us on LinkedIn!
Unedited conversation with Tim and Carolina where we discuss the new normal in the next few weeks. People working from home and adjusting to a different way of doing their jobs.
Factories and others who can't work from home. What are companies doing about it?
How do we all make the most of this very bad situation?
www.buildperspectives.com
buildperspectives@gmail.com
Find out how one can become a construction expert and code official and then grow beyond that to start your own consulting business, while continually learning and training others in what you've learned.
Inspirational and educational.
www.buildperspectives.com
www.wfbconsulting.net
Tim and Carolina today discussing 2-step, 3-step and direct distribution for manufacturers. Helpful? or take away control? Disintermediation isn't just about selling direct, and supply chain is more than just materials and logistics.
How staying close to your client and end user affects sales, culture, product quality and success.
www.BuildPerspectives.com
www.venveo.com
https://www.epiphany-studio.com/webinar-a-crash-course-on-building-material-buyers
https://www.seethewhizard.com/blog/how-commercial-building-materials-sold/
Entrepreneurial in every sense, Audree from www.ModularSureSite.com has specific career advice for all of us in the industry. A not-to-be-missed, live from IBS2020 in Las Vegas, www.BuildPerspectives.com episode.
In an industry saturated with 200+ product certifications, how is a consumer, designer, specifier, end-user, installer, municipality, building official, or developer supposed to tell what's good and what's bad? What material to use over another?
A lot of these so-called certifications are self reported. Some are simply good marketing. What if a building materials manufacturer certified the whole company rather than just a specific line of products?
How does that change what's possible in our industry? www.BuildPerspectives.com
This is one you do NOT want to miss, folks!
Brittanie is intelligent, a lifelong tinkerer, and lover of good design. She shows you the path she has taken to bring out her creativity, to network and meet folks despite being an introvert, to rise above career setbacks, and much more. Check out her website www.Constructrr.com
Enjoy! www.BuildPerspectives.com
Looking for a ritual to let go of 2019 and use it to make 2020 that much better?
Here is a quick but very effective ritual to be intentional and let 2020 be the best year yet.
Here's to the next decade!
Carolina and Tim
www.BuildPerspectives.com
Find out how Graeme hacked Georgia Tech in-state tuition, as a North Carolinian. Follow his journey from textile engineering all the way to stormwater systems design and implementation. www.BuildPerspectives.com
A music major in San Diego, Andrew took his smarts, talent and charm in a new direction to become Centria's Business Development Manager in New York City and founding member of Raina: Rainscreen Association of North America.
www.BuildPerspectives.com
Tim interviews Carolina to trace the non-linear steps Carolina took to get to where she is today. Topics include immigrating to a new country, college and career paths, job searching, productivity, time or self management, recommended books and digital tools.
Lots to dissect and lots to take away. This is the first in a series of interviews of how folks find themselves in the construction industry. And finding satisfaction, and a sense of purpose in this or any industry.
www.BuildPerspectives.com
What are we losing through the progression of time that we still need in current building practices?
Are you outraged by old buildings, homes or historic neighborhoods suddenly being torn down to make room for new, snazzier homes or redevelopments?
What should we do we abandoned properties, even those that are condemned? Can and should buildings be saved and repurposed?
How can having maintenance plans, or easy-to-maintain buildings help support sustainability?
Leave a review today! We want your feedback...email us at www.BuildPerspectives.com
We are talking about the nuance of construction material terminology. Differences between cladding, rainscreens, building envelope, building enclosures, siding, ventilated facades, and on...
We also delve into careers in construction and how you can get into the trade.
Is college necessary? What about apprenticeships? www.BuildPerspectives.com
Should the facade be related to what the interior of the building holds?
Should one dictate the other? Can they be totally independent? Does it matter?
Does the interior design have a bigger budget than the building exterior? Check it out in this episode.
In this episode we open the can of worms that is open joint vs. closed joint ventilated facades.
Which is best?
How does cladding material selection affect rainscreen performance?
Can you meet IECC guidelines without one?
How do you manage dew point in the wall?
This and more in this week's www.BuildPerspectives.com.
The planet is facing its biggest housing crisis in history.
In California alone, there is a massive housing shortage. Homelessness is on the rise. Rental rates are at an all-time high and stock is hard to find.
Is modular housing the solution? Check out this edition of Build Perspectives podcast and join the conversation! www.buildperspectives.com
You've felt it at one point or another. Even presidents have felt it while running their countries. Impostor Syndrome is real and part of the human condition. What can we do about it?
Listen in and comment!
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"Community begins where competition ends." -FDR
To what point is competition necessary for success? In any market, not just building materials. Do you troll your competitor's web site, tradeshow booth, or marketing materials in disguise? Or are you up front and open about it?
What environment best serves you and your clients? Competition? or Community?
In this episode we ask the questions and delve into the answers.
www.buildperspectives.com
In this episode, Tim is at the airport after having spent three weeks in Puerto Rico helping in the Hurricane Maria relief efforts.
Why are things so far behind, over 18 months later?
What can someone in the building material community do?
What is disaster relief architecture and how can you get involved?
This and more in today's edition of Build Perspectives!
Coming to you live from Las Vegas at the A19 Conference on Architecture. Tim and Carolina wonder if the AIA is dead?
We talk to building industry experts on a weekly basis, some say the AIA is dead.
What do you think?
Carolina and Tim explain who the podcast is for, and why they're doing it. This is actually the outtake, which turned out to be better than the original recording!