2023 AEC Leadership Conference November 2023
proudly supports the
AEC Leadership Conference and the Construction Institute as they encourage the growth of industry professionals and leaders-in-training www.whiting-turner.com General Contracting • Construction Management • Design-Build • Integrated Project Delivery
AGENDA Thursday, November 2, 2023 8:30 - 10:30am In-Person Kickoff Workshop
Front End Alignment: It’s Not Just for Cars Ava Abramowitz, G eorge Washington University Law School
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 12:00 - 1:15pm Virtual Session
Building and Managing Complex Teams over Zoom Bernie Craig, Wexford Science & Technology Claire Drummond, Wexford Science & Technology
Thursday, November 9, 2023 Virtual Session
12:00 - 1:30pm
The Future of Collaboration in Construction: Technology Transforming Traditional Ways of Working Aaron Kettl, Procore Technologies Kristen Riley, Procore Technologies
AGENDA CO N TINUED Monday, November 13, 2023 Virtual Session
12:00 - 1:30pm
The Communicator’s Mirror: Virtual Reflective Practice Ava Abramowitz, George Washington University Law School
Wednesday, November 15, 2023 3:00 - 6:00pm In-Person Panel Discussion & Reception
uccessful Collaboration Strategies: A Case Study of Brown S University’s IPD Projects M ichael Guglielmo, Brown University Anthony Messina, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company Ron Simoneau, Shawmut Design and Construction E rik Tellander, William Rawn Associates, Architects
WELCOME TO THE CONSTRUCTION INSTITUTE Ignite, Empower, and Engage - that is our mindset for creating an inclusive network. We are powered by people with real world expertise. Our collective mission is to advance the AEC industry through education, innovation, and developing essential skills to deliver a better built world. Why? It’s really this simple: we create the connections that will revolutionize the future of our built environment. The Institute provides opportunities to share information, exchange innovative ideas, and build new relationships. The Construction Institute is a real and virtual think-tank.
CO N FEREN CE D ESCRIP TION S Thursday, November 2
8:30 - 10:30pm
Front End Alignment: It’s Not Just for Cars If you look at the causes of claims, all of them occur before the contract is signed. There has to be a better way to do it. Join Ava Abramowitz as she walks you through a new path to design and construction. After the keynote, Abramowitz will lead the group through an interactive exercise in communication and negotiation. Ava Abramowitz, G eorge Washington University Law School Courtyard by Marriott (4 Sebethe Drive, Cromwell, CT)
Tuesday, November 7
12:00 - 1:15pm
Building and Managing Complex Teams over Zoom Building teams in a post-pandemic world is difficult. Bringing together people over virtual platforms, where people can disengage or be distracted quickly, can lead to lack of cohesion, good communication, and ultimately jeopardize the team and the project. In the world of construction and development, where a majority of the team is out in the field and the team leads can be remote, hybrid, or in-person, building a strong team foundation is paramount to the project’s success. In this virtual session, we will dig into effective hybrid inter-team communication, tools for tough conversations, team building, and ensuring trust and transparency. The speakers come from a lens of building a 1.1mm sq. ft. office, lab, and residential development with the first two years of the project happening entirely remotely. They will address the lessons learned from cultivating a diverse and immense group of talented people to quickly build and keep confidence, engaging in difficult conversations over the phone, and safeguarding the project’s budget and delivery schedule. B ernie Craig, Wexford Science & Technology Claire Drummond, Wexford Science & Technology Virtual Session
CON FEREN CE D ESCRIP TION S Thursday, November 9
12:00 - 1:30pm
The Future of Collaboration in Construction: Technology Transforming Traditional Ways of Working Technology has transformed the way work gets done across industries. In construction, many large companies have already gone through an initial technology transformation by leveraging software to move from paper to digital documents and processes. Yet, there is still significant fragmentation across construction stakeholders from General Contractors, Subcontractors, Architects, Owners, and more - when it comes to collaborating together to get work done. Procore team members Aaron Kettl and Kristen Riley will share their perspectives on: • key trends for how companies are improving the ways they collaborate on construction projects • challenges these teams face and how technology can help address those challenges • their 3–5 year vision for collaborative construction technology and how you can start preparing your organization for that change. Aaron Kettl, Procore Technologies Kristen Riley, Procore Technologies Virtual Session
CONFERENCE D ESCRIP T ION S Monday, November 13
12:00 - 1:30pm
The Communicator’s Mirror: Virtual Reflective Practice Following up on her kickoff workshop, Ava Abramowitz will lead a virtual session designed to help participants reflect on their experience putting their communication skills into practice. During the session, participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences with other participants and learn from each other’s successes and challenges. Attendees will receive feedback from the speaker on how to improve their communication skills and develop a plan for continuous improvement. The virtual session will also cover how to use reflective practice on an on-going basis to improve one’s communication skills. Ava Abramowitz, G eorge Washington University Law School Virtual Session
Wednesday, November 15 S uccessful
Collaboration
Strategies:
3:00 - 6:00pm A
Case
Study
of
Brown
University’s IPD Projects Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) projects are designed to foster collaboration among project participants. How well do they actually work to promote collaboration among project participants? What practical strategies can be applied to other methods of project delivery? Brown University recently completed a number of major capital projects employing IPD. Michael Guglielmo, Jr., Vice President Facilities Management at Brown University, Ron Simoneau, Executive Vice President with Shawmut Design and Construction, and architect Erik Tellander of William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc, will talk about what a successful collaborative team looks like, drawing from their extensive experience with IPD project delivery at Brown. Michael Guglielmo, Brown University Anthony Messina, Moderator, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. Ron Simoneau, Shawmut Design and Construction E rik Tellander, William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc Courtyard by Marriott (4 Sebethe Drive, Cromwell, CT)
Dimeo Construction Company proudly supports
The AEC Leadership Conference Follow Us @dimeoconstruct www.dimeo.com
MEET THE KEY N OTE
AVA ABRAMOWITZ PROFESSOR GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL
A former assistant United States attorney for the District of Columbia, Ava Abramowitz teaches negotiations at the George Washington University Law School where she is researching the communication behaviors used in mediations. She is the author of The Architect’s Essentials of Negotiation (2nd ed.) (John Wiley & Sons 2009). She is also the writer of dozens of articles on critical negotiation and mediation issues facing lawyers and clients, including “Modern Consultative Sales Theory” published in 2019 by the ABA Section on Dispute Resolution in its newest book, Negotiation Essentials for Lawyers. Abramowitz has been serving as a mediator for the federal courts for the District of Columbia since the late 80’s, mediating a diverse assortment of civil cases including international and domestic corporate cases, class actions, and disputes involving such issues as civil liberties, intellectual property and employment discrimination – all of which have placed a premium on her negotiation skills. When not resolving disputes, she writes and lectures nationwide on negotiation, mediation and risk management. She is a graduate of Brandeis University and the George Washington University Law School.
MEET THE SP EAKERS
BERNIE CRAIG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CONSTRUCTION WEXFORD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Bernie Craig is a construction industry veteran with over 35 years of experience. ranging from general superintendent to senior executive of operations for a New York City construction firm. He is currently responsible for the 9-acre Aggie Square project in Sacramento, CA, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2024. His previous project was a 240,000 sq. ft. lab building in Phoenix, AZ. Craig has over 5 million square feet of core and shell tenant improvements buildouts in his career, and his experience covers everything from core and shell historical renovations to new construction out of the ground.
CLAIRE DRUMMOND SENIOR DIRECTOR & MARKETING EXECUTIVE WEXFORD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Claire Drummond is the Senior Director and Market Executive for Wexford’s inaugural California project, Aggie Square, a 1 million sq. ft. development at UC Davis’ Sacramento campus. She oversees design, construction, leasing, operations, and deal management, driving a $1.1 billion boost to the Sacramento market. Aggie Square features two 7-story lab buildings, an academic office tower, mixeduse residential space, and parking. Drummond also leads the introduction of Connect Labs by Wexford, a premier shared lab and office concept. With a background as Senior Program Manager at Arizona State University and experience at the Cambridge Innovation Center, she is well-versed in place-based innovation.
MEET THE SP EAK ERS
MICHAEL GUGLIELMO JR. VICE PRESIDENT FOR FACILITIES & CAMPUS OPERATIONS BROWN UNIVERSITY
Michael Guglielmo Jr. has over 33 years of expertise in strategic planning, building design, and construction management. His journey at Brown University began as a project manager, culminating in his current position as VP. Guglielmo holds a Bachelors of Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design. At Brown, he fosters collaborative environments where stakeholders work together with designers, engineers, and subcontractors, facilitating optimal project solutions in the context of a $1 billion capital plan. His contributions have been vital to various strategic projects, including the Granoff Center for Creative Arts and the Engineering Research Center, employing the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) approach.
AARON KETTL HEAD OF DESIGN STRATEGY PROCORE TECHNOLOGIES
Aaron Kettl is the Head of Design Strategy at Procore. Born to a general contractor, Kettl began his journey on construction sites as a heavy equipment operator and steel fabricator before transitioning into architecture. Armed with an MBA in Design Strategy, he has dedicated the past decade to designing software for IBM and Expedia Group. Now, as the Head of Design Strategy at Procore, Kettl passionately guides teams to drive innovations in construction, empowering the people in construction to make safer, more informed decisions through artificial intelligence and predictive tools.
MEET THE SP EAKERS
ANTHONY MESSINA VICE PRESIDENT THE WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY
Tony Messina, a Vice President at The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company in Shelton, CT, also serves as the firm’s Retail National Leader, overseeing 50+ operating groups in the retail industry. Since launching his career in 1997 as a project engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Messina has collaborated with dynamic retail developers and consultants in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and California. Recognized as an ICSC Leader Under 40 in 2014, he presently sits on the 2021 ICSC CenterBuild Conference Planning Committee, promoting industry awareness, best practices, and networking for retail real estate professionals.
KRISTEN RILEY DIRECTOR PROCORE TECHNOLOGIES
Kristen Riley is a Director at Procore Technologies. Riley has spent over a decade working in technology at companies like Adobe and Amazon and has a background in operations, lean principles, and industrial engineering. She joined Procore 3 years ago and is passionate about helping companies improve their processes and drive greater efficiency and quality using technology. Riley manages a team at Procore that is focused on improving collaboration in construction with an emphasis on communication and driving awareness across project teams, and across companies, of important updates and work to be done. She lives in Santa Barbara with her family, including two young boys who keep her on her toes.
MEET THE SP EAKERS
RON SIMONEAU EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT SHAWMUT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Ron Simoneau, LEED AP, DBIA, CM LEAN, is a vital member of Shawmut Design and Construction’s Executive Leadership Team, a national construction management firm with $1.5 billion in annual revenue and offices across the country. With 33 years of experience, he has spent 28 years pioneering innovative delivery methods for Commercial and Education clients at Shawmut, becoming a leader in the Top 10 US Higher Education Builders. As Executive Vice President, Simoneau oversees strategic planning, client relations, work procurement, operations, and P&L management, championing Lean and alternative project delivery models. He has been instrumental in driving Lean as well Design-Build, IPD, and Strategic Partnerships at Shawmut.
ERIK TELLANDER ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL WILLIAM RAWN ASSOCIATES, ARCHITECTS, INC
Erik Tellander, AIA, LEED AP, is an Associate Principal at William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc. He has had a leadership role across the firm’s projects, including Brown University Wellness Residence Hall, Brookline High School, the Foundry at Babson College, Jacobs Center Redevelopment at Northwestern University, the Hoover Institution Traitel Building at Stanford, a Student Leadership Center at Alfred State University and the Weill Concert Hall and outdoor venue at Sonoma State University. Tellander has been instrumental in expanding his office’s approach to collaborative project delivery with clients. He earned his Masters of Architecture from University of California, Berkeley, and his B.A. from Princeton University.
Leadership is action, not position. – Donald H. McGannon
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P L ANNING CO MMIT T EE The Construction Institute appreciates the time and dedication of this year’s Planning Committee. Jim Cecil, Program Chair A.P. Construction Company Kaitlyn Dobberfuhl, Program Chair Gilbane Building Company F. Michael Ayles Antinozzi Associates Tiffany Cartier Fuss & O’Neill, Inc. Tony Messina The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
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