Construction Leaders Podcast

In this episode, co-hosts CMAA’s Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot welcome Pratik Salanke and Joe McKenna, directors of construction at Crusoe, for a conversation about the challenges and opportunities of developing data centers amid the rapid growth of artificial intelligence. The guests share how Crusoe’s vertically integrated approach to power development, data center construction and cloud services is reshaping traditional project delivery, and why managing these complex projects requires coordination well beyond the jobsite. They discuss navigating infrastructure demands, long-lead equipment procurement, workforce logistics and commissioning, while maintaining a strong commitment to safety and efficiency. The conversation also explores the importance of early community engagement, addressing concerns about energy and water consumption, and balancing the urgency of AI-driven development with responsible construction practices. Throughout the discussion, Salanke and McKenna offer practical insights into collaboration, adaptability and the evolving role of construction leaders in one of the industry's fastest-growing sectors. This episode is sponsored by Kahua.   The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, CMAA’s Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot welcome Marty Turner, CCM, Senior Director, Program Advisory at Turner & Townsend, and Damián Pizá, founder of PIZA International, to explore what meaningful technology adoption looks like in construction management. Drawing on CMAA’s recent technology survey, they discuss how tools such as BIM/VDC, drones, reality capture, digital collaboration, and AI are changing the industry and why successful adoption requires more than simply choosing the latest technology. The conversation explores implementation challenges, measuring ROI, the importance of training and change management, and why human expertise remains essential as AI takes on a larger role in construction.   The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, CMAA’s Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot welcome Sonya Bowman, executive director of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP), for a conversation about why mental health and suicide prevention belong alongside physical safety on every construction jobsite. Bowman shares the origins of CIASP and the sobering statistics behind its mission, including the reality that deaths by suicide in the construction industry far outnumber fatal workplace injuries. The conversation explores industry-specific risk factors such as chronic pain, substance misuse, isolation and sleep deprivation, as well as a culture that can make asking for help difficult. Bowman discusses the important role leaders can play in changing that culture and shares practical ways companies can start the conversation, from toolbox talks and crisis resources to simply making it clear that psychological safety matters. She also highlights CIASP resources, volunteer opportunities and the Miles That Matters 5K, offering ways individuals and organizations can help build a construction industry where reaching out for support is seen as a sign of strength.   The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, CMAA's Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot welcome Karyn deLeon, CCM, president and CEO of Peregrine Solutions, Inc., for a conversation about the critical role properly fitted personal protective equipment (PPE) plays in keeping construction professionals safe. Karyn discusses how evolving workforce demographics are reshaping PPE needs, highlights recent OSHA requirements for properly fitting equipment, and shares practical steps organizations can take to improve worker safety and compliance. She also explains how investing in well-fitting PPE strengthens safety culture, supports workforce retention, and helps create a more inclusive jobsite for everyone.   The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, CMAA's Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot welcome AJ Waters to discuss why so many digital transformation efforts in construction fall short and what organizations can do differently. Drawing on his experience leading technology initiatives for major construction projects, AJ explains why successful transformation starts with people and processes—not technology. He shares practical strategies for building effective transformation teams, improving technology adoption, avoiding common implementation mistakes, and ensuring digital tools solve real business challenges. The conversation also explores the growing role of AI, the importance of aligning technology with organizational goals, and how construction firms can create lasting change rather than simply adopting the latest tools.   The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, CMAA’s Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot are joined by Jesse Heimowitz, CCM, of Tectonic Engineering; Dana Hecht, of H&H; and Graham Briggs, PE, of PMA Consultants, for a conversation about project controls, scheduling, and the realities of delivering large public sector infrastructure projects. The guests share how they each found their way into project management and discuss the varying levels of maturity across public agencies when it comes to scheduling, earned value management, and risk analysis. Comparing highway agencies with rail and transit organizations, they explore how legacy processes, organizational culture, and client expectations can influence project delivery practices. The conversation also highlights the role consultants play in advancing more consistent project lifecycle scheduling, using case studies and accountability measures to help drive change. Throughout the episode, the group emphasizes the importance of early planning, concept development, constructability reviews, and resource management in shaping project schedules, budgets, and long-term outcomes.   The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, CMAA’s Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot are joined by Joaquin Diaz, health and safety director at Gilbane Building Company and an ambassador for the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, for a conversation ahead of Construction Safety Week focused on the realities of near-miss reporting in construction. Drawing from his doctoral interpretive phenomenological study, Diaz shares insights gathered from interviews with 15 construction workers across projects in San Antonio, Houston, and Galveston. Guided by the theory of planned behavior, the research explores how workers perceive near-misses, why incidents often go unreported, and what organizations can do to improve safety communication and trust. Diaz explains that while workers generally understand the importance of reporting and want to protect their coworkers, many view near-misses as too common or already resolved by the time they occur. He also discusses how barriers to reporting are often self-imposed rather than driven by fear of punishment, and why visible employer follow-through matters more than incentives alone. The conversation also highlights the need for clearer, multilingual, and standardized reporting processes, while connecting the findings to Construction Safety Week’s “Recognize, Respond, Respect” theme. Along the way, Diaz reflects on how certifications like the CSP help strengthen discipline, credibility, and leadership within the safety profession.   The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, CMAA’s Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot are joined by Michael Griffin, partner at HKA, and Shawn Farrell, partner at Cohen Seglias, to discuss the evolving roles and responsibilities of construction managers and the growing risk and liability landscape. They outline the CM’s core functions—managing, advising, documenting, and keeping owners informed with “no surprises”—and compare the role to an air traffic controller coordinating schedule, cost, and multiple trades. The conversation highlights how early risk identification, timely owner decisions, and prompt payment can help prevent issues from escalating into disputes. Michael and Shawn also walk through practical steps to take when contractor performance begins to falter, including maintaining thorough documentation, providing proper notice, and operating within contractual authority. They conclude with a look at expanding CM liability, including exposure to negligent misrepresentation, and share a checklist of best practices, such as aligning contract language with actual duties, communicating carefully, and avoiding directives related to means and methods. The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, CMAA’s Nick Soto and Evan Hendershot are joined by Brian Hanifin and Rachel Domingo of the LitCon Group to explore how construction managers can document the real story behind project delays and disruptions. Drawing on Brian’s decades of construction management and litigation support experience and Rachel’s forensic schedule and delay analysis expertise, they explain why close, real-time schedule monitoring is often the earliest indicator of emerging problems. Patterns such as repeated start-and-stop work can signal when a disruption is evolving into a true project delay. The conversation highlights the importance of contemporaneous, field-level documentation—including daily reports, meeting minutes, emails, logs, and native CPM schedule files—as the most reliable evidence in disputes. The guests also clarify key distinctions between delay, disruption, and productivity loss, and share practical strategies such as proactive meetings, clear notice practices, and effective use of existing tools to resolve issues early and keep projects out of court.   The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, Construction Management Association of America’s Carly Trout and Evan Hendershot are joined by Jim Ostrom, a professor of Construction Management at Joliet Junior College, for a conversation about career pathways in construction management. Jim shares his personal journey from a struggling student to an industry professional and educator, and why early exposure to construction management can be a game changer. He discusses the importance of reaching middle and high school students through targeted coursework and digital platforms to build awareness of the profession before career decisions are made. The discussion also explores the connection between skilled trades and construction management programs, the rising number of career switchers entering the field, and the role professional organizations can play in supporting education and workforce development. Jim offers practical advice for industry professionals interested in giving back by teaching part-time at community colleges, and the episode highlights CMAA’s Construction Manager-in-Training (CMIT®) program as a valuable resource for emerging professionals.   The Construction Leaders Podcast is produced by Association Briefings.