BUILD St. Louis
Kerry Smith
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BUILD St. Louis presents the most innovative minds in construction and development across the St. Louis region. From contractors and designers to engineers and real estate professionals, this podcast covers all aspects of the industry. Tune in to stay up-to-date on who’s moving dirt and building projects in the region.
Available episodes
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3 hours ago
Episode 27: Staying Safe on the Jobsite with John Flynn, Contegra Construction
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith interviews John Flynn, Safety Director at Contegra Construction, about the importance of staying safe on the job site. They discuss Contegra Construction's safety culture, which is characterized by collaboration and involvement from all levels of the company, including the leadership team. John highlights the company's commitment to employee safety and the implementation of measures such as pre-job meetings and kickoff meetings to address potential risks and ensure safety protocols are in place. He also emphasizes the importance of employee buy-in and involvement in the safety program. For more information, visit www.informationworks.org
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5 days ago
Episode 26: IMEG: The Critical Importance of Big Data with Brendon Buckley
In this episode of the BUILD St. Louis podcast, host Kerry Smith interviews Brendon Buckley, leader of building intelligence and integration services at IMEG. They discuss the topic of big data and its life-saving power in the context of design and construction. Brendan explains the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) and how it relates to big data. He shares examples of how big data and IoT are being leveraged in different industries, such as airlines and theme parks, to enhance the consumer experience.
For more information, check www.informationworks.org
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Sep 13, 2023
Episode 25: Economic Development Done Right with Patrick McKeehan
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith interviews Patrick McKeehan, the economic development director for the city of O'Fallon, Missouri. McKeehan discusses the importance of creating a balanced community and how economic development is the creation of wealth. He explains the role of economic assets and the importance of matching them to the needs of businesses looking to invest in the area. For more information, visit informationworks.org
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Sep 5, 2023
Episode 24: Artificial Intelligence & Construction with Tomislav Zigo
In this episode of the BUILD St. Louis podcast, Kerry Smith interviews Tomislav Zigo, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Clayco, a global full-service, turnkey real estate architecture, engineering, design, build, and construction firm. They discuss artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the built environment, including its potential to optimize processes throughout the project delivery cycle, from design to handover. They also touch on related technologies such as machine learning and computer vision. Love emphasizes the importance of situational awareness and data governance in the adoption of these technologies.
For more information, go to www.informationworks.org
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Aug 30, 2023
Episode 23: Recruiting – Finding & Keeping the Very Best People
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith speaks with Matt Stack, President of Russell Co. St. Louis office, and Jill Niebuhr, Russell Co.'s Talent Acquisition Manager, about their strategies for recruiting and retaining the best people in the construction industry. They discuss how Russell Co's philosophy of investing in people before technology growth has helped them grow sustainably, as well as the importance of core values, competitive compensation, career development opportunities, work-life balance, and a supportive work culture in retaining top talent.
For more information, visit www.informationworks.org
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Aug 22, 2023
Episode 22: Expediting Development - Moving at the Private Sector’s Pace with Julie Powers and Lisa Bedian
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, Kerry Smith interviews Julie Powers and Lisa Bedian from the city of St. Peter's, Missouri, about their FasTrac program for expedited development and permitting for businesses. They discuss how the program was created and how it has helped both large corporations and small mom-and-pop businesses. The key to their success is their process of bringing the right people in the room early on and being solution-oriented.
For more information, visit www.informationworks.org
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Aug 15, 2023
Episode 21: Building a Healthy Workplace Culture with Geri Boyer
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, Kerry Smith interviews Geri Boyer, founder and president of Kaskaskia Engineering Group (KEG). Boyer discusses the unique culture at KEG, which emphasizes flexibility, work-life balance, and service to humanity. She also shares her experience as a woman in the engineering field and how she started KEG with the intention of creating a different work model that was more conducive to women and men who wanted to work in a different way.
For more information, visit www.informationworks.org
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Aug 7, 2023
Episode 20: Financing Construction: How Deals Are Getting Done with Gant Harper
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, Gant Harper, President of St. Louis Bank, discusses the financing of construction projects in the St. Louis area. He notes that while the pandemic slowed down construction, it also gave businesses the opportunity to plan for expansion or repurposing of their properties. Harper also discusses the trend towards mixed-use buildings, why construction projects have become more expensive and his advice to developers, owners, and contractors to reduce financial risks.
For more information, visit www.informationworks.org
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Jul 31, 2023
Episode 19: Augmenting the Audience Experience at Powell Hall with Brian Corry and Unitey Kull
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith speaks with Brian Corry, an acoustic consultant and partner at Kirkegaard, and Unitey Kull, vice president of marketing and audience experience for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, about the renovation and expansion of Powell Hall.
They discuss the challenges of modernizing a structure on the National Register of Historic Places, and the importance of preserving the beauty and historical architecture of Powell Hall while still making improvements. The episode also highlights the importance of considering the artist experience and the thoughtfulness put into every detail, including materials, lighting, and acoustics.
For more information, visit www.informationworks.org
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Jul 24, 2023
Episode 18: Managing and Improving Excavation Safety with Len Toenjes
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith interviews Leonard (Len) Toenjes, President of the Associated General Contractors of Missouri (AGCMO), about excavation safety and the Missouri One Call 811 system. Toenjes discusses the importance of the One Call system and the need for modernization to improve effectiveness and safety. He also mentions the federal study that ranked Missouri near the bottom of the list in terms of cost to utilities and rate payers due to inaccurate locates or locates not done on time. For more information, visit www.informationworks.org
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Jul 18, 2023
Episode 17: How B2B Companies Can Engage in Compelling Storytelling with Todd Imming
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith interviews Todd Imming, the Chief Marketing Officer at the Korte Company, a design build firm based in Highland, Illinois. They discuss how B2B companies in the architecture, engineering, and construction space can tell their stories in compelling ways. Todd emphasizes the importance of genuine storytelling and sophisticated grit, which is the hard work and challenges involved in the construction industry.
For more information, visit www.informationworks.org
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Jul 10, 2023
Episode 16: Reputation Management Done Right with Ron O’Connor
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith speaks with Ron O'Connor, owner of O'Connor and Partners, about reputation management in the architecture, engineering, and construction industries. Ron defines reputation management as the process of managing a firm's reputation as an asset and emphasizes the need for a long-term and proactive plan to manage reputation. He also shares insights on crisis management best practices, including the role of spokespeople and the messaging strategy during a crisis, as well as the importance of legal counsel in developing a crisis communication plan.
For more information, visit www.informationworks.org
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Jul 3, 2023
Episode 15: Building Effective Working Relationships with the News Media with Steve Houston
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith interviews Steve Houston, Founder and Owner of Compass Communications LLC, about building effective working relationships with the news media in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Houston shares insights on how to make a project newsworthy, when to approach the media, and communicating with clients about deadlines. He also emphasizes the importance of strategic PR planning and understanding the difference between news releases and pitches. The episode provides valuable tips for AEC marketing professionals and others seeking to gain meaningful traction with print and broadcast news media.
For more information, visit www.informationworks.org
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Jun 26, 2023
Episode 14: Tackling Building Code Consolidation with Charlie Hinderliter
In this episode, Charlie Hinderliter, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at St. Louis REALTORS, discusses the challenges of navigating building codes in St. Louis County and the Safer, Simpler St. Louis County coalition's goal to propose policy solutions for building code consolidation. The coalition aims to reduce inconsistencies in inspections by delivering resources to local governments to help with training and certification of their inspectors and ensure citizens have equal access to healthy and safe buildings.
For more information, check www.informationworks.org.
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Jun 19, 2023
Episode 13: True Business Development in 2023 with Doug Peters
In this episode, Kerry Smith and Doug Peters discusses the impact of the pandemic on companies' approach to innovation and growth, highlighting the importance of agility and resilience. He also emphasizes the role of culture, leadership, diversity and inclusion, data, partnerships, creativity, feedback, and technology in driving innovation and growth.
For more information, check www.informationworks.org.
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Jun 12, 2023
Episode 12: Building Project Diversity with Tony Thompson
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, Tony Thompson, Chairman and CEO of the Kwame Building Group, Inc. (KWAME), talks with host Kerry Smith about building project diversity in the construction industry. Thompson shares his experience as a minority-owned business owner in the construction management arena, and how he has worked to attract and retain a diverse workforce. He also discusses the challenges faced by minority-owned firms in the industry, including the negative stigma of being labeled as "disadvantaged”.
For more information, check www.informationworks.org.
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Jun 5, 2023
Episode 11: Construction Industry Opportunities for Women with Tracy Hart
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith interviews Tracy Hart, President of Tarlton Corporation. Kerry and Tracy talks about the lack of women in the construction industry and what Tarlton Coporation s doing to support women in their choice to play a role in the industry. Tracy also shares her own path into the industry and offers advice to women who are considering entering the construction industry or those who have recently entered.
For more information, check www.informationworks.org.
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May 29, 2023
Episode 10: Saving Historic St. Louis Buildings with Joel Fuoss
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith and Joel Fuoss, principal of Trivers Associates, discuss the importance of preserving historic buildings in St. Louis. Joel stresses the importance of willingness and money in embarking on these projects, as well as the need for creative thinking and working with what the building gives us.
For more information, check www.informationworks.org.
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May 22, 2023
Episode 9: Women Construction Company Executives with Amy Berg
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith interviews Amy Berg, president of S.M Wilson and Company, a St. Louis-based design build construction management and general contracting firm. Berg, who has 30 years of experience in the construction industry, discusses her experience as one of the first women to hold the title of the Office of President in St. Louis Construction History. She talks about women in construction then and now, and how the industry is changing to better support women and people of color.
For more information, check www.informationworks.org.
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May 15, 2023
Episode 8: Smart Cybersecurity Strategies with Jennifer Beckage
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, Jennifer A. Beckage, Esq., CIPP/US, CIPP/E, founder and managing director of The Beckage Firm, discusses the unique vulnerabilities that construction companies and developers face from cyber attacks. She outlines two main categories of attacks: fraudulent wire transfers and ransomware, and provides a checklist for protecting against these threats. Beckage also stresses the importance of strong contracts with third-party vendors, multifactor authentication on email accounts, and having a plan for handling data security incidents. She recommends investing in cybersecurity insurance.
For more information, check www.informationworks.org.
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May 8, 2023
Episode 7: Why Aren’t Contractors Bidding on Public Projects? with Steve Bannes
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith interviews Steve Bannes about the lack of interest in public projects from contractors and the potential reasons behind this. They discuss the traditional delivery system and alternative methods like design-build, as well as the federal government's use of QBs for project execution strategy.
For more information, check www.informationworks.org.
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Apr 30, 2023
Episode 6: Avoiding Construction Defect Litigation with Quinn Murphy
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith interviews attorney Quinn Murphy, who heads the construction and receivable recovery industry teams at Sandberg Phoenix. Murphy discusses construction defect litigation and provides six tips on how to avoid it. The episode covers topics such as the parties involved in construction defect claims, types of claims, and the importance of a well-defined scope of work and strictly enforcing the change order process.
For more information, check www.informationworks.org.
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Apr 30, 2023
Episode 5: The Anatomy of the St. Louis Region’s Construction Workforce with Timothy Sullivan, PhD
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, Kerry Smith interviews Timothy S. Sullivan, in the Department of Economics and Finance and the Director of the Office of Regional Economic Analysis in the School of Business at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. They discuss the shortage of workers in the construction industry, particularly among young men. Tim shares statistics on labor force participation rates and discusses the impact of inflation on wages and the need for programs to expose young people to construction occupations.
For more information, check www.informationworks.org.
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Apr 30, 2023
Episode 4: Clayco’s Diversity and Inclusion Program with Sandra Marks
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith interviews Sandra Marks, Senior Vice President at Clayco. They discuss Clayco Rising, the company's diversity, equity, and inclusion program, and specifically its efforts to promote minority participation on job sites. Marks explains that the program is the culmination of over 25 years of work by the company to be inclusive of all contractors, regardless of race, gender, religion, or background. They also discuss the construction industry's efforts to address mental health and suicide rates, as well as the growing importance of diversity in the industry.
For more information, check www.informationworks.org.
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Apr 20, 2023
Episode 3: The Rise of Speculative Industrial Space in St. Louis with Steve Zuber
In this episode of the BUILD St. Louis podcast, host Kerry Smith interviews Steve Zuber, a partner at BARBERMURPHY, about the rise of speculative industrial space in the St. Louis region. Zuber discusses the supply of industrial warehouse space, the difference between heavy industrial and consumer good users and the challenges of finding enough labor to support the growth of industrial space.
For more information, check www.informationworks.org.
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Apr 20, 2023
Episode 2: Hammering Out Solutions to the Construction Labor Workforce Shortage with Scott Byrne
In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith interviews Scott Byrne, St. Louis regional director of the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council. Scott discusses the increasing demand for construction workers in the St. Louis region and how the Carpenters are addressing the workforce shortage. He talks about the importance of recruitment, especially among women and minorities, and how the union is reaching out much earlier than ever before and in new and creative ways to schools and communities to educate young people about careers in the trades. Scott also emphasizes the need for strong relationships between contractors, owners and labor organizations to ensure success in the construction industry. Overall, the episode provides valuable insights into the current state of the construction industry in St. Louis and the efforts being made to build a strong and diverse workforce.
For more information, check www.informationworks.org.
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Apr 20, 2023
Episode 1: St. Louis Freight Corridor - A National Hub in the Making with Mary Lamie
In this episode, Kerry Smith interviews Mary Lamie, Executive VP of Multimodal Enterprises at Bi-State Development. Kerry and Mary talk about the factors that influence the St. Louis freight corridor, including the role of Interstate 70 and multimodal connectivity. Mary also addresses the challenges of funding and delivering projects in the current climate, highlighting the importance of being creative and flexible in project delivery.
For more information, check www.informationworks.org.
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