CONFERENCE DESCRIPTIONS
Morning Panel Discussion
Generations: Groovy to Lit
8:45 - 10:00am
A lively conversation, debate, and exploration with panelists from every aspect of the AEC industry exchanging ideas for creating a successful company culture in a multi-generational workplace. This audience-driven conversation will span all generations in the workforce, from Boomers to Gen Z. Is corporate culture really the key to attracting and retaining a productive team? How do company goals compliment employee goals? This, and more, will be debated by our panelists.
An gela Cahill, QA+M Architecture
Anders Carlton, Fuss & O’Neill
Laura Crosskey, Crosskey Architects
George Fink, BRG
Rhonia Moreau, Gilbane Building Company
Tom Walsh, Moderator, A.P. Construction Company
industry RE design™ Breakout Sessions
Design a Company Culture
10:15 - 11:30am
Participants will work in teams with facilitators to first design a company culture and then brainstorm how to best engage the company’s team to guarantee success. The teams’ ideas will be published as a white paper.
industry RE design™ is a unique type of program offered by the Construction Institute, created with the idea that if we want to change the industry, change needs to be generated by professionals of every age and every discipline within our industry.
Ka itlyn Dobberfuhl, Gilbane Building Company, Room 304 A
Beth Dupont, O&G Industries, Room 304 B/C
Jesse Odell, Resource Options, Room 316/317
Leesa Schipani, KardasLarson, Room 318/319
CONFERENCE DESCRIPTIONS
Team Reporting 12:45 - 1:15pm
Teams report on their industry RE design™ exercise. Casy Study 1:15 - 1:45pm
Stabilize the Core - Add a Disruptive Edge at 100 years: The O&G Industries Story
To reach 100 years in existence, an organization must be resilient. Think about it… World Wars, the Great Depression, 9/11, a global pandemic and more. At O&G Industries, we believe that company history is an important part of who we are and that the past is connected to where we are headed tomorrow. Every organization has followed its own trajectory and has a unique story derived from its actions and its people over time. Come join us to learn about O&G’s origin story, the growth and evolution, and how that sets the stage for the future.
B eth Dupont, O&G Industries Group Workshop 1:45 - 3:45pm
Envisioning Life by Design: Why You Should Consider Work-Life Goal Setting Programs for Your Organization
In this hands-on workshop, our colleagues from Nexii Building Solutions will lead us through a unique cultural program that inspires life achievement planning for their entire team. We will come away with ideas about how to integrate work-life goal setting to strengthen our attraction, retention, engagement, performance, and cultural programming. This group workshop will inspire your teams to invite more purpose, profit and productivity into your work and life… and you might set a new personal goal or two for yourself!
M arla Gerein, Nexii Hilary Loudon, Nexii
DEVELOPING INDUSTRY LEADERS FOR 20 YEARS www.e2engineers.com new london, ct concord, ma DIMEO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Follow Us @dimeoconstruct www.dimeo.com proudly supports The AEC Leadership Conference
Angela Cahill, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, LEED AP, is an Associate Principal at QA+M Architecture. She has served nearly 30 years in architecture, and has worked on dozens of large, complex projects. Cahill brings a high level of project management expertise to her clients and leadership to her firm. She is a Gubernatorial appointee to the State of Connecticut Architectural Licensing Board and School Building Projects Advisory Council. For many years, Cahill served as a Design Studio Professor and she is currently a Visiting Critic at the University of Hartford’s Architecture program. She is Past President of AIA Connecticut, serves on the NOMAct Board, and chairs the AIA CT School Construction Coalition. She previously served on the ACE Mentor Program state board. Cahill still contributes time to mentor women and youth looking to succeed as architects, which exemplifies her passion for the profession.
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ANGELA CAHILL ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL QA+M ARCHITECTURE
Anders Carlton graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and began working as a Structural Engineer at Fuss & O’Neill. Initially, her career focused on bridge design; however, she expanded her skill set to encompass various water resources and vertical structures projects. This ultimately led to a shift in focus for her career to building and vertical structure design. This lateral move within Fuss & O’Neill has also resulted in a location change, all while remaining connected to the greater structural group within the company. Outside of the office, Carlton has developed leadership skills through being the Head Polo Coach at UConn for the past 3 years.
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ANDERS CARLTON STRUCTURAL ENGINEER FUSS & O’NEILL
LAURA CROSSKEY PRESIDENT CROSSKEY ARCHITECTS
Laura Crosskey, AIA, has been an influential member of the family business, Crosskey Architects, over the past ten-plus years. She is a hands-on leader involved in all aspects of the firm, from day-to-day operations and technical services, to strategic leadership and business management. With life long exposure to the management and development of the business, Crosskey possesses the principles and values of the first generation of Crosskey Architects and carries them into the second generation for consistency and continuity of the firm. With a technical background from the University of Hartford and a design background from the Southern California Institute of Architecture, her architectural training brings a well-rounded approach to each project. As a licensed Architect and Interior Designer, she collaborates on both rehabilitation and new construction projects with a focus on community revitalization and sustainability. Crosskey’s interest in architecture stems from the social responsibility architecture inherently possesses and a belief that successful architecture can create change in the lives of individuals and communities.
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As a Project Engineer, Kaitlyn Dobberfuhl works for Gilbane Building Company and is currently in an Owner’s Rep position at UCONN Main Campus, Storrs. She is a member of the team for the construction of the ground up building for STEM Sciences (Science 1) and North West Science Quad Infrastructure (NWSQ) which includes extension of the underground utility tunnel connecting the Campus Utility Plant (CUP) to future Supplemental Utility Plant (SUP). Within Gilbane, Dobberfuhl greatly values participating in her company’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) included ones focusing on Emerging Professionals and Women Empowerment. These groups also engage and host joint events with other employee groups. As a part of the Construction Institute, this is Dobberfuhl’s 4th consecutive year participating on the planning committee for the AEC Leadership Conference. She also sits on the board of directors and has been a Co-Chair of the Young Professionals Council since 2016.
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KAITLYN DOBBERFUHL PROJECT MANAGER - AGENCY/CM GILBANE BUILDING COMPANY
BETH DUPONT CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES & EEO OFFICER O&G INDUSTRIES, INC
Beth Dupont is Chief Human Resources and EEO Officer for O&G Industries, one of the region’s leading providers of construction services and materials. Based in Torrington and in business since 1923, O&G employs up to 1,000 skilled employees. Dupont joined O&G in 2018 after serving 5 years as Chief of Staff at Club Quarters Hotels/Masterworks Development Corporation based in Stamford, CT and New York City. Her previous positions included serving as Director, Organizational Services for the Connecticut Hospital Association. Dupont has served on the boards of directors for several organizations, including the Department of Correction’s Re-Entry Advisory Board, Wallingford Hawks Youth Hockey, and most recently, the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board, Career Resources, and Prime Time House. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Connecticut and also has a master’s degree in labor relations from the University of New Haven.
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GEORGE FINK MANAGING DIRECTOR BRG
George Fink is a Managing Director of Berkeley Research Group (BRG) with over twenty years of expert construction consulting experience and forty years of industry experience. This experience spans project management, scheduling, inspection, estimating and coordination on residential and housing, hotel and hospitality, multi-use high rise, transportation, wastewater, education, healthcare, federal, courts and corrections, and energy projects. He is an expert in construction deficiencies and construction management standards of care, schedule delay analysis, insurance claims, cost entitlement, working with both owners and contractors to identify and resolve insurance claims, construction deficiencies, dispute construction claims and prepare requests for additional time and compensation.
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MARLA GEREIN VICE PRESIDENT, LEARNING NEXII BUILDING SOLUTIONS
Marla Gerein is a learning and change leader with a passion for purpose-driven organizations. Over the last 20+ years, Gerein’s focus has been on leveraging learning to enhance professionalism and to contribute to a healthier, more ethical world. She has a track record of designing and implementing learning systems that support operational excellence and engage the hearts and minds of learners in the strategic goals of the organization. Gerein has previously served as the Director, Restaurant Training and Transformation for A&W Food Services of Canada, Director of Education for the British Columbia Real Estate Association, Head of Virtual Communities for the International Baccalaureate and Director of Academic Technology Services at Colorado College. She holds a Masters in Education and Human Development with a specialization in Educational Technology Leadership and is also a certified Insights © personal effectiveness coach and an experienced ProSci © Certified Change Practitioner.
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HILARY LOUDON LEARNING DESIGNER NEXII BUILDING SOLUTIONS
Hilary Loudon has a passion for co-creating learning in service of impact-driven communities. At Nexii, she designs and delivers cultural and sustainability learning experiences for all audiences. Throughout her career, Loudon has worked internationally and across sectors, bringing together her multidisciplinary experience to build out learning systems and award-winning cultures from the ground up. She has nurtured cultures of learning for brands including Intel, Fraser Health, G Adventures, Me to We, and the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Her approach to learning design focuses on creating intentional spaces that spark connection and collective genius to drive organizational change. Loudon holds a Master of Science in Organization Development from Pepperdine University and a Bachelor of Science from Queen’s University.
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RHONIA MOREAU LEAN PRACTICES MANAGER GILBANE BUILDING COMPANY
Rhonia Moreau, CM-Lean is the Lean Practices Manager for Gilbane Building Company. Since starting with Gilbane in 2015, she has held positions ranging from project engineer and purchasing associate to department lead in the Corporate Lean program. In her current role, she provides hands-on coaching and mentoring of lean implementation to her colleagues and project team members with a goal of improving efficiencies and reducing waste in their workflows. Moreau earned her Certificate of Management - Lean Construction (CM-Lean) from AGC and is currently co-chair of the Southern New England Chapter of Lean Construction Institute, board member of ACE Mentoring Connecticut Board of Directors, and former National Chair of Gilbane’s Young Professionals Employee Resource Group. She has her Bachelor of Science in Industrial & Systems Engineering (ISE) from the University of New Haven.
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JESSE ODELL REGIONAL MANAGER, ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION RESOURCE OPTIONS INC
Jesse Odell is a Regional Manager of the Environmental Division at Resource Options. Since joining ROI 16 years ago, he has held positions as a Recruiter, Account Manager, Division Manager and Branch Manager and has influenced the growth of teams in multiple offices. He has a Business Administration Degree from the University of New Hampshire and is an active member of his local community in Manchester, CT. Odell focuses on growing individual groups through the recruitment, retention and development of internal staff. His passion lies in developing future leaders at ROI. Resource Options is a full-service recruiting organization specializing in the construction, design, and environmental industries that provide customized staffing and recruiting solutions to the built and natural environment in the Northeast.
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LEESA SCHIPANI BUSINESS OWNER KARDASLARSON
Leesa Schipani is a business owner at KardasLarson, a Human Resources consulting firm working with small, medium and large organizations across industries. Her expertise is in team design, change management, workplace culture, employee engagement and succession planning. She has a unique ability to act as a catalyst for change and help organizations to transform their people practices to develop stronger people and achieve stronger results. When Schipani is not with a client, speaking in the community or participating on a committee, you will find her hiking, cycling, skiing and looking for a new adventure.
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TOM WALSH EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT A.P. CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
Tom Walsh is Executive Vice President of A.P. Construction Company, a division of The Ashforth Company. He is responsible for managing all departments within A.P. Construction including Preconstruction Service and Estimating, Project Management, Accounting, and Business Development. Walsh is a member of A.P. Construction’s executive committee which helps develop and implement new strategic initiatives for the company. He has over 40 years of experience in the construction industry including construction management of high-tech facilities, high-rise office facilities, and heavy industrial/cogeneration projects. Walsh has a wealth of out-of-ground and specialty project experience, and his projects range from medical centers to sports arenas, from corporate office buildings to courthouse facilities. Some of the more notable projects include Chelsea Piers Connecticut, the Arena at Harbor Yard, the White Plains Hospital Dickstein Cancer Center, Peconic Landing Assisted Living Facility on Long Island, 66 Summer Street Residential Tower, IBM’s Advanced Semiconductor Technology Center, and a 600,000-square-foot Pharmaceutical Research Center for Bristol Myers Squibb.
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– Donald H. McGannon
