The ConTechCrew

• The Silos Breaking in Construction for Superintendents to Align Planning and VDC with Ross Helleberg

  In this episode of The ConTech Crew, host Jeff Sample sits down with industry experts Ross Helleberg and Alex Belkofer from McCarthy Building Company. They discuss how their teams are pushing the boundaries of scheduling, planning, and virtual design and construction (VDC). They also explore the integration of advanced scheduling methodologies like Takt and Last Planner, the value of visual planning, and how these practices contribute to smoother project delivery and stronger collaboration between the office and the field.Ross Helleberg has been with McCarthy Building Company for 14 years, starting his career in the field and moving into a leadership role in scheduling. Alex Belkofer is McCarthy's Senior Director of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), where he plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between the pre-construction and operations phases.Key TakeawaysThe integration of advanced scheduling methods to improve efficiency on large-scale projects.How McCarthy uses 4D scheduling to visualize project progress and integrate planning and construction teams.The concept of Visual Planning and how it enhances communication on projects.The evolution of digital delivery in construction and how McCarthy is leading the charge with tools like 4D planning.The power of building strong relationships within the team and with leadership to ensure project success.Timestamps[01:46] - Ross’s background and role at McCarthy[04:36] - Alex introduces his role in VDC[05:54] - Why schedulers need to be on-site[10:08] - Integrating Takt and Last Planner systems[11:58] - Visual planning and 4D scheduling[16:04] - Success story of first visual planning project[24:20] - Leadership support and planning time[30:11] - Evolving with digital tools and virtual planning[34:21] - Spreading innovation beyond McCarthy[40:02] - Final thoughts on planning and scheduling evolutionFollow Alex Belkofer:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexbelkofer/Follow Ross Helleberg:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-helleberg-433a6a7b/Follow McCarthy Building Companies:Website: https://www.mccarthy.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mccarthy-building-companies-inc/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mccarthybuild/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mccarthybuilding/YouTube: https://youtube.com/@mccarthybuilding?si=8F6XN14s4uOCxvA6Follow the Host:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/Follow The ConTech Crew:Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew Twitter: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew

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• What Feeding 1500 Workers Taught Construction Leaders About Efficiency with Scott Kaplan

  In this episode of The ConTech Crew, the hosts Jeff Sample and Nathan Wood are joined by Scott Kaplan of Jerry's Kitchen, a mobile catering service that specializes in feeding large-scale construction projects, including data centers and remote job sites. Scott shares the journey of how Jerry's Kitchen evolved from a traditional food truck to a high-efficiency, mobile catering solution for industries that require food service at scale, especially in hard-to-reach areas. With a unique focus on feeding construction crews efficiently and at scale, Jerry's Kitchen has become a game-changer for companies looking to keep their workforce nourished and productive. Scott talks about the challenges of feeding 1,500 people in 30 minutes and how they use technology to predict and plan their catering operations.Key TakeawaysHow Scott transitioned from a traditional food truck to providing large-scale, mobile catering solutionsWhy predictability and efficiency are key in delivering high-quality meals for construction workersThe concept of a "micro niche" and how focusing on the construction industry led to successHow Jerry’s Kitchen helps boost productivity and morale on construction sites by providing nourishing, timely mealsThe positive side effects of construction projects on local economies and communitiesTimestamps[00:43] - Introduction to Scott Kaplan and Jerry's Kitchen[02:50] - Scott shares his background and how Jerry's Kitchen started[04:47] - Transitioning from food truck to catering and the importance of efficiency[08:51] - Focusing on large construction projects and the data center sector[11:40] - Feeding 1,500 people in 30 minutes: logistics and planning[15:52] - The importance of predictability in food service and construction[17:40] - Parallel between food service and construction operations[19:56] - How Jerry’s Kitchen improves employee culture and community impact[27:25] - Scott discusses the impact of data centers on local economies and education[31:17] - Scott's pitch: national presence and custom catering for construction sitesFollow the Guest:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_iamnotachef_/Follow the Company:Website: https://www.jerrys-kitchen.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerrysfoodtruck/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerrysfoodtruckYouTube: https://youtube.com/@scottkaplan5721?si=gRpD5dP_J_xTSMhMFollow the Host:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/Follow the Co-Host:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanaec/ Follow The ConTech Crew:Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew Twitter: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew

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• FREETO: Building a Career Toward CTO in Construction with Jen Clark

  In this special re-release of The ConTech Crew Podcast, we're revisiting a powerful crossover episode from FreeTo CTO series, where hosts Jeff Sample and Trent Leinenbach are joined by Jen Clark, Project Integration Manager at General Sheet Metal. This conversation remains just as relevant today, diving into how unconventional career paths and curiosity-driven problem-solving can foster a new wave of construction technology leaders.Jen Clark is the Project Integration Manager at General Sheet Metal, a Portland-based mechanical contractor with nearly 100 years in business. With a background in civil engineering, Jen carved her own path from software support to field engineering, eventually stepping into a self-defined tech leadership role. Whether you missed it the first time or want to revisit Jen’s inspiring journey, this episode offers timeless insights into low-code innovation, managing shadow IT, and bridging the divide between operations and IT in the construction industry.Expect to LearnHow Jen transitioned from field engineering to a tech leadership role without formal tech training.What it means to act as a “human API” in a construction setting.Practical lessons from building low-code applications for project and data management.Strategies to drive tech adoption and gain executive support.How to handle shadow IT while fostering innovation in smaller firms.Episode Breakdown with Timestamps[00:00] - Introduction[01:21] - FreeTO Series by Construction Dorks[04:40] - Jen’s Unconventional Career Path[06:49] - Building a Role from Curiosity: Project Integration Manager[15:22] - Lessons from Low-Code App Development[19:01] - Jen Outlines Her Decision-Making Framework[26:57] - Collaboration and Strategic Growth[32:09] - Digital Transformation in the Fabrication Shop[37:22] - Selling Vision to Leadership[41:06] - Final ThoughtsFollow the Guest & CompanyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferaclark1/LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/general-sheet-metal/Website (Company): https://www.gsmw.com/Instagram (Company): https://www.instagram.com/generalsheetmetal/Facebook (Company): https://www.facebook.com/GeneralSheetMetal1932# Follow the Host:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/Follow the Co-Host:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trent-leinenbach-plmb-466018177/Company: https://www.stratus.build/Blog: https://www.constructiondorks.com/Follow The ConTech Crew:Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew Twitter: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew

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• The Future of Construction Scheduling for GCs to Improve with AI using Planera - Nitin Bhandari

  In this episode of The ConTech Crew, the hosts Jeff Sample and Nathan Wood sit down with Nitin Bhandari, Co-founder of Planera, to discuss the transformative impact of technology on construction scheduling. Nitin shares how his journey from hardware engineering to software entrepreneurship led him to tackle one of the industry's biggest pain points: scheduling inefficiencies. The discussion covers the vision behind Planera, how they are revolutionizing scheduling, and the future of construction planning with AI and data-driven insights.Nitin Bhandari is the Co-founder and CEO of Planera, a platform designed to transform how construction projects are scheduled. Nitin started his career as an electrical engineer and later moved into software entrepreneurship, co-founding two successful software companies before diving into the construction tech world. Partnering with a general contractor, Nitin identified a massive scheduling gap in construction and built Planera to solve this issue.Key TakeawaysThe challenges in construction scheduling and how Planera bridges the gapHow AI and natural language processing will soon allow users to interact with schedulesThe approach of moving scheduling from a “compliance tool” to a “business decision tool”How Planera integrates high-level schedules with day-to-day field activities to create a seamless flow of dataHow Planera is using AI to automate scheduling tasks and provide actionable insightsTimestamps[00:00] - Episode Introduction[02:04] - Nitin’s background and journey into construction tech[04:33] - The challenge of scheduling in construction and how Planera is solving it[08:14] - How Planera is democratizing scheduling for more stakeholders[10:15] - Connecting field schedules with office schedules for seamless data flow[15:21] - The cultural shift from compliance to business decision-making[18:03] - The impact of mission-critical projects like data centers on scheduling[26:07] - The role of AI and natural language processing in scheduling optimization[33:59] - Planera’s portfolio-level planning for better resource management[37:55] - Connect with Nitin and PlaneraFollow the Guest & The Company:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-bhandari/Website: https://www.planera.io/LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/planera-inc/Follow the Host:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/Follow the Co-Host:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanaec/ Follow The ConTech Crew:Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew Twitter: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew

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• How Field Robotics Are Protecting Workers & Solving Deadly Risks in Construction with Tyler Williams

  In this episode of The ConTech Crew, the hosts Jeff Sample and Nathan Wood chat with Tyler Williams from DPR Construction. He returns to discuss the latest advancements in robotics on construction sites, how they're being integrated into the field, and their potential to revolutionize the industry. Tyler shares insights on the challenges and opportunities robotics presents, particularly in reducing risks, improving efficiency, and enhancing the experience for frontline workers. Tyler Williams is a part of the Corporate Innovation team at DPR Construction, where he focuses on field innovation and robotics. With a background as a union carpenter and superintendent, Tyler is deeply connected with the field workforce and works to bring innovative technologies to improve their safety and efficiency. Key TakeawaysThe role of robotics in reducing ergonomic strain on construction workers and improving their experience on-site.How teleoperated robots are being used for high-risk tasks, such as electrical shutdowns and working in confined spaces.The use of material-moving robots to improve efficiency on construction sites, reducing the need for heavy lifting and manual labor.The future of AI in construction, particularly in construction management and project coordination.Challenges of integrating new technologies into the construction field and how innovation teams can support adoption.Examples of innovative technologies, like wind-resistant crane systems, that improve safety and efficiency.Timestamps[00:00] - Episode Introduction[01:38] - Tyler’s role at DPR Construction[05:08] - Working with the self-perform work group at DPR[06:44] - Examples of robotic solutions, like Hardhat Robotics and its applications[12:22] - Insights on the potential of material movers[15:10] - The focus on safety and how robots are reducing high-risk tasks[19:46] - Ergo Robotics and interior construction planning[29:57] - Discussing the future of AI in construction management[38:12] - Closing thoughts and final messageFollow the Guest & The Company:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-williams-74203788/LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/dpr-construction-inc/Website (Company): https://www.dpr.com/Instagram (Company): https://www.instagram.com/dprconstruction/?hl=enFacebook (Company): https://www.facebook.com/DPRConstruction/Twitter (Company): https://x.com/DPRConstructionFollow the Host:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/Follow the Co-Host:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanaec/ Follow The ConTech Crew:Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew Twitter: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew

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