Innovate iPM

Construction Tech with Eric Crivella of Digital Construction Works

In this episode we are honored to have Mr. Eric Crivella of Digital Construction Works on to talk about the technologies being developed in the field of construction. Eric’s passion for this topic is plain to see and his expertise is the product of decades in the field. Digital Construction Works is an outstanding organization that is developing the cutting edge of construction technologies that include:

o Digital Twinning in project execution

o 4D earth moving optimization

o Integrated AWP

o 4D construction verification

o And 4D temporary facilities and equipment planning

We get into what all this means in this fascinating conversation.

We talk a lot about technology on this show, but my favorite topics will always be about people and culture. After all, technology means nothing without the people who build it, operate it, and maintain it. Today’s guest, Stephen Coffee, has a keen understanding of people in the projects, in the critical importance of investing in culture in projects.

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Our guest today is Mr. Stewart White of Kiewit. He is the Director of Advanced Work Packaging and is here to tell us all about what advanced work packaging (AWP) really is. According to the Construction Industry Institute (CII) website - AWP is a planned, executable process that encompasses the work on an EPC project, beginning with initial planning and continuing through detailed design and construction execution. AWP provides the framework for productive and progressive construction and presumes the existence of a construction execution plan.

Stewart is a busy man and a true champion for the industry. In addition to his role at Kiewit, Stewart is also an active member of the the Construction Industry Institute where he serves on various teams and committees such as:

· AWP CBA – Leadership Team

· AWP Education & Outreach Subcommittee

· Knowledge Management Committee – Co-Chair

· Downstream and Chemicals Committee

He is also a AWP Conference Board Member, Texas A&M Construction Industry Advisory Council, University of Houston Industry Advisory Board, and a University of Houston Construction Management - Adjunct Professor. It is an honor to have Stewart on the show. Enjoy!

Joseph sheds light on the lesser understood legal aspects of emerging technologies within the engineering and construction fields. He does a great job illustrating why matters to everyone in the industry.

Innovate iPM is here to talk about the future of people practices and technology in the industrial engineering and construction world. What does it look like? How do we adapt to changing times?

Today’s show is all about Career Resiliency and Online Solutions. Specifically training. Our guest today is the Creative Learning Advisor at AspenTech. I’ve had the pleasure of participating in programs she has developed including the Aspen Capital Cost Estimator certification exam. It wasn’t easy, but I’m proud to say that I passed. Dagmar Kusiak is the brain behind this and much more at AspenTech and it’s an honor to have her on today.

Drew Horsely of Mollitiam, a Human Career Firm

Defiantly Human

When I meet someone, who is as unique in their professional approach as Drew, it gives me hope for the human side of the professional industrial world. Let’s be honest, in the process-driven, punch list driven, spec’d out world we could use more people who behave more like people and treat people more like people - especially in leadership. For those of you out there who are already there and growing into this people first mentality, I commend you and support you.

Drew goes deep into his philosophy and how his own personal challenges have affected his professional approach. I really think this was one of the best conversations we’ve had. I look forward to continuing a relationship and this conversation with Drew, he is now a friend and colleague. You will want to listen to this all the way to the end.

Before we jump into it, you can go to innovateipm.com and subscribe. You can also contact me there or on LinkedIn. Those of you who know me, know I love having conversations with people in the industry. I love talking entrepreneurship, content creation, technology, project controls, and project management. Don’t be shy, just schedule 15 minutes and let’s see if we can work together. Perhaps you or someone you know would like to be a guest on the show, perhaps you have a business opportunity you’d like to discuss, perhaps you need some career advice, perhaps you want to chat about the future of the industry, or whatever. I’m here. Let’s talk.

I have some exciting news! Cesar Ramos of Advanced Planning Analytics (from episode 2) have collaborated to put together a TIC Estimating for Industrial Projects class throughout July. The event pages will be up for that on the website soon and you will start seeing this on LinkedIn as well. Total Installed Cost or TIC Estimating is how we determine how much a project’s budget should be, how we determine if a project is economically viable, but it is much more than that. You hear me (and quite a few of my guests) say it all the time – project failure rate is dismal. The vast majority of project failures are due to improper TIC Estimating techniques. The discipline is too often handed off as just another deliverable, just a number. But true TIC Estimating practitioners have disciplined processes, deep knowledge, and special tools to get it right. So, if you a project manager, program manager, current estimator, or just want to know more about it. Hit me up. I’ll send you the details. Or be looking for the posts on LinkedIn.

Lastly, we are 5 stars on Itunes. Thank you so much for the support. If you haven’t already done so, please go on there and give us a rating and review. The more ratings and reviews we have, the more the Itunes algorithm will drive people to us so we can grow our community.

Now. Let’s talk to Drew…

In this episode Mr. Karl Vantine of ARES PRISM joins us to discuss data driven project solutions. In a world of ever-changing technologies, Karl and his team are at the forefront of developing cutting edge products that help project professionals do their jobs effectively. Listen in as we discuss how some things have changed over the years and some not so much. We discuss technology that is to come and even dabble in some high speed rail conversation. 

Today we talk with Steve Paterson of Paterson Consulting Partners LLC – Houston Ntooitive about what it takes to nurture a startup community. For those who don’t know, IiPM is located in the Houston area suburbs just across from NASA’s JSC. Maybe you are familiar with the famously quoted “Houston we have a problem”? Well, that part of Houston is where we live and work. From the massive campus of JSC to recently permitted Houston Spaceport at Ellington field, from all the engineering brainpower to the ventures of Boeing, Spacex, and a staggering number of other aerospace, maritime, and process manufacturing companies; the area known as Clear Lake or Bay Area Houston is a powerhouse of innovation and business savvy. 

Even with all of these resources and entrepreneurial energy, there is a lack of a cohesive startup ecosystem. That’s where Steve comes in. Steve spent over 40 years run print and digital media companies in over 60 markets in the US and Mexico. For several years he was in the San Francisco Bay market providing his services throughout the region including Silicon Valley. He has also served as the CEO of the League City Chamber of Commerce. League City is one of the fastest growing and highest rated communities in the US. It is located on the south shore of Clear Lake just across the water from the JSC. While here he recognized the need for this startup ecosystem and got busy figuring out what it would take to get the infrastructure in place. What he found along the way is a fascinating understanding of a startup talent underground that was there all along. Listen to Steve's findings and plan. 

You can reach Steve at Contact: steve@pcp-llc.biz, 965-244-6211

Oil markets are struggling in the midst of a global pandemic – this is a double-whammy for anyone in the business and global economies as a whole. Oil funds are crashing and storage is filling to the brim. Is this all a sign we’ve been asleep at the wheel too long? Perhaps a wake-up call is needed.

While all of this sounds dire, these kinds of large-scale challenges breed innovation and push us to do better. How will technology play a role in easing the stress in the markets? How will business improvements change the way we operate globally? What kind of policy changes might be in the pipeline as we learn to deal with these unprecedented times?

I believe we will come out on the other side stronger and smarter than before. History has overall shown consistent improvements in the livelihoods of people. So hold on, it’s going to be bumpy for a while. Take this time to level up your skills and knowledge. Take this time to keep your networks thriving. Figure out how, in this unusual time, you can continue to provide value in the market.

In light of all this I thought it would be great to get a feel for how the upstream side of the business is reacting. Our guest on today’s podcast is a friend of Innovate iPM and knows his business. Justin Gauthier is the host of Oil and Gas Global Network’s Oil and Gas Onshore podcast. He works in the upstream oil & energy industry dealing with drilling Fluids and drilling operations and is degreed in Petroleum Engineering from Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. 

Justin offers his personal insights into the oil and gas markets and what it means to personnel, energy companies, and what the future of the industry might look like. He unabashedly makes some predictions that might be considered contrary to popular opinion. For this reason, I really enjoy my conversations with Justin.

Links:

Lolita is a previous oil and gas professional turned stress management coach. Today she shares with us her tips and insights on dealing with stress while we are working from home. Additionally, we discuss the economic stress of the oil and gas markets and how to plan for and prepare our careers for transition into whatever may come next. 

Train up + Realign + Revitalize your Networks

We are working through what is turning out to be a defining moment in our lifetimes. This perfect storm of trade wars, politics, and pandemic is rocking the very foundations we’ve built our careers and businesses on. 

I believe we are not going to be the same after this is all over with. The optimist in me believes that: Remote working opportunities will be more available, especially to those who need it the most, the gig economy will become more obtainable for those who want it in the engineering, construction, and manufacturing worlds, technological advances will augment the workforce in positive ways.

It's time to get your foundational skills in order – you don’t want to be figuring out how to auto-sum as you are competing with what may soon be a competitive job market. Using your strengths and limitations (self-awareness) to determine the things you want to learn to hopefully prevent going too far down the wrong path in the first place. Understanding the future of your discipline and staying ahead of the technology and methodologies as they evolve will help fortify your career and business.

Be sure to check out our last episode (22) with Shohreh and Kamran of Project Control Academy for additional relevant information.

Some resources (no affiliations, not getting paid to say any of this):

Shohreh Ghorbani and Kamran Akbarzadeh are the founders of Project Control Academy, the leading provider of comprehensive online and in-house training in project controls. Since 2012 they have exhibited a clear passion for the project controls disciplines and powerful vision of the future of the professions. In addition to the training offering, Project Control Academy has a fantastic blog and podcast and even some free videos. Check it out!

They found the gap - no formal education or comprehensive training programs out there and worked hard to fill it. Project Control Academy is doing very well and Shohreh and Kamran deserve all the credit they have earned. I am always excited to have trailblazers from our professional world on the show. People who catalyze, progress, and empower project controls people to reach their potential.

In addition to the Project Control Academy, Kamran is an author, speaker, and coach at the Dream Achievers Academy, a company he founded to promote leadership and people skills.

Project Controls Summit is happening in San Antonio in September of this year and it looks awesome! Topics by experts in their fields include 4D planning, forensics, artificial intelligence risk management and project analytics, emerging trends for cost estimating, and many more you can see on the website linked below.

Well-known meditation coach, author, filmmaker, and former stock trader Tom Cronin Shares insights on how stress works and how to condition our responses to that stress. 

This is our bi-weekly segment we call “Big Action Fridays” where we will dig into actionable steps to level up your place career and business. Big Action Friday is published every other Friday, so you’ll want to subscribe and catch every single episode so that you can empower yourself to achieve growth in your business and career. Big futures are in store for those who take big actions in life. I believe this and if you do too, you’re in the right place

Today we talk with Todd Hockenberry of Top Line Results about inbound marketing and what it means for the people and businesses who work in the industrial world. If you are an employee in hopes of transitioning to an independent role or a small firm looking to keep an edge on your marketing, this show is for you!

Todd is the author of the highly rated book “Inbound Organization: How to Build and Strengthen your Company’s Future Using Inbound Principles” and the podcast host of the "The Manufacturing Show".  He is considered an expert in digital marketing, marketing consulting, lead generation, search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, blogging, and content strategy.

You can find out more about Todd and all his ventures by following these links:

Happy 2020! In episode 14, Mr. Roshan Vani and I spend quality time discussing people and culture. We also talk about being a boutique business, focusing on a tight niche, the changing markets, and how culture takes precedent over processes. But my favorite part of this episode is the startup story Nexus PMG. Listen for the minivan tour! 

After a 10+ year career in the EPC heavy industry sector, Mr. Vani’s background in engineering, construction, and project management enabled him to co-found Nexus PMG, where he is now the Chief Operations Officer. He also serves as the President of Cloud EPC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nexus PMG, that provides the internal operational software platform for Nexus PMG. Mr. Vani is heavily involved in project governance and oversight of all Nexus PMG projects to ensure project success. He also is involved in identifying and recruiting key talent to help achieve Nexus PMG vision of bettering the planet by focusing on projects that reduce carbon intensity and enhance resource efficiency.

Let’s talk with Nicholas (Nick) Pisano, the CEO of SNA Software out of Orlando Florida. Nick is a retired “Mustang” Officer in the United States Navy who has witnessed various phases or waves of Digital Transformation throughout his career. Digital Transformation isn’t new. We’ve already seen a first, second, at the end of the third, and entering the fourth wave digital transformation. Nick was there and has stories to tell about it and shares what he thinks the future holds. This is the kind of information we all need as we progress to the future in our projects professions.  

Notable moments from the podcast:

“Once we put this data together, what we are going to find…is that there are better things that we need to know.”

“The new SME’s are going to be integrated program managers, integrated program analysts, information analysts, business intelligence analysts. It’s not that the skillsets (of specialists) are no longer needed, it’s just that they’re broader.”

Me and Mr. Sami Jaroudi got after it again to talk about blockchain tech and how it will impact the engineering and construction world. In this conversation we talk about cryptocurrency. We can expect that this technology will make global endeavors more accessible to companies looking to add value and build new opportunities. The tech is emerging and there are some caveats which Sami goes over well. But make no mistake, Facebook and Google recognize the potential. Sami does a good job explaining how this works and it’s potential. This is the second episode in a series on this topic.

Sami Jaroudi is:

· Board member and a certified cost professional with AACE

· 20+ years of experience in Project Controls Management for both government agencies and in the private sector.

· In his career he has worked in all kinds of project controls roles

· Worked on everything from Power and Chemical Plants, Drilling Platforms, NASA International Space Station, Nuclear projects, and even Mining & Minerals Projects.

Some blockchain resources:

1. Where can I buy one right now?

Today we talk about Smart Contracts using Blockchain technologies with Mr. Sami Jaroudi. This is a term that, until I met Sami, I was completely unfamiliar with. This technology will introduce an ocean of centralized data and vastly increase efficiency in the projects and operations world. Sami offers a good basic primer on this episode and you will get just as excited as I did on the show. This will be the first in a series on this topic.

Sami Jaroudi is:

· Board member and a certified cost professional with AACE

· 20+ years of experience in Project Controls Management for both government agencies and in the private sector.

· In his career he has worked in all kinds of project controls roles

· Worked on everything from Power and Chemical Plants, Drilling Platforms, NASA International Space Station, Nuclear projects, and even Mining & Minerals Projects.

Lastly, share with your peers, then rate and review us on Itunes!

Some blockchain resources:

Natalia Urquiaga of the Cleopatra is our guest on Episode 9. Natalia shows a genuine interest in making project professionals lives easier and talks about her technology is designed to do just that. From the tech to professionalism to career advancement and professional networking we touch on a little of everything. Also some big announcements from the IiPM team you won't want to miss!

Today's guest is Magdalena Jovanovska of the Seavus Software Development company. Magdalena called in from North Macedonia! Needless to say, the time differences between East Europe and Houston were a slight challenge to overcome, but I'm an ultra-early bird so we made it happen anyway! Magdalena is wonderful to talk to and Seavus is really making huge improvements to the way we communicate between field and home office.  We talk about the technologies they are developing to improve communications and work processes around project scheduling, what it takes to develop software in the engineering and construction sectors, how the user can get involved in development, and the excitement of a new software launch. 

Mounir Ajam is the co-founder and CEO of the award-winning SUKAD Group that works all over the world providing project management expertise, training, and is busy coming up with a ton of solutions that, I believe, will positively affect our industry in the years to come. He is an entrepreneur, speaker, and author who is very passionate about project management in capital projects as you will hear throughout this interview. We discuss everything from front end engineering, to joint ventures in the Middle East, to what it takes to be an entrepreneur in the business. 

Links to some of the things we discuss in this episode:

What is the biggest risk in all projects? What are the consequences of 'fast-tracking'? What separates successful project managers from the rest? How are we doing as a project management community? 

Ed Merrow, Founder and President of Independent Project Analysis, Inc. (IPA), breaks it all down in this episode. You'll love listening to Ed's decades worth of insight and wisdom that comes from analyzing projects around the world across multiple industries. 

Harvey Welker is an independent Aspen Economic Evaluator consultant with over thirty years of Aspen Capital Cost Estimator experience as a user and trainer. Harvey has a Masters Degree in Mechanical engineering and has lengthy experience in construction and engineering. He has worked as an estimator for Sun Oil, FMC and Kvaerner Engineering. His clients include DuPont Engineering, Arkema Chemicals, British Petroleum, Mosaic Agricultural Chemicals, Phillips Refining, Orbital Engineering and Jacobs Engineering.

Interesting thing about Harvey:

His daughter Kristen Welker is the White House correspondent for NBC news!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

In this episode We talk about how Cesar went from a West Texas oil hand to a West Houston consultant. He has been in the business for more than 20 years is the owner of Advanced Project Analytics, an Oracle Gold Partner P6 trainer, and has true entrepreneurial spirit. In this episode we talk about Training, Data dashboarding, the future of project controls, and the 2019 Houston Gulf Coast Section AACE Project Controls Symposium.