Author: Jeanie Clapp

Early hesitation gives way as AI proves itself on the jobsite. BY A.D. THOMPSON It is 5:30 in the morning and the team on the jobsite, coffee in hand, is about to start its planning ritual. Superintendents, foremen, safety reps, and others discuss the day’s objectives, identifying any high-risk activities, reviewing plans, and checking boxes on permits. They are looking for potential bottlenecks related to all the above. And it’s a lot of work. “Two, two-and-a-half hours of each day,” estimated Joshua Bullock, manager of safety for Gray Construction, a member of multiple AGC chapters. Optimally, of course, there is…

From a powerful panel at this year’s convention to the pages of Constructor, three industry pros discuss innovation around tech, corporate culture, and the very human places where they overlap. BY A.D. THOMPSON Lars Herman founded Herman Construction in 2009 and grew it for 10 years. In 2019, it was acquired by Bristol Bay Native Corporation. The transition did not go as smoothly as Herman had hoped. “There was a culture change,” he explained, “and it was a clash I was not expecting at all.” Creating alignment between two teams with very different cultures was challenging. “There’s this group of…

How drones redefine risk management on construction sites BY AMY KING On most construction sites, risk often hides in blind spots — on rooftops, behind façades, and within small misalignments that lead to costly rework or litigation. Contractors are increasingly turning to drones, not as a marketing tool, but as a component of their risk management strategy to reshape how projects are documented, monitored, and protected. Aside from capturing images, drones can also generate defensible data, reduce exposure, and provide visibility that traditional methods cannot match. For many firms, the shift is deliberate. Poettker Construction’s drone program sits squarely within…

Technology is reshaping construction safety, workforce, and operations Technology is moving from the margins to the mainstream on construction jobsites. Tools powered by artificial intelligence, automation, and connected data are helping contractors improve safety, streamline coordination, and gain better visibility into project performance. In this Q&A, Javier Pascual, director business development and preconstruction, Ferrovial, a member of multiple AGC chapters, discusses how these technologies are being applied in the field today, the challenges companies face when adopting them, how workforce roles are changing, and what contractors should consider as digital tools become more integrated into daily operations. Constructor: From your…

And changing how workwear must perform BY NADIA SINNER, PRODUCT MARKETING MANAGER MILWAUKEE TOOL, AN AGC OF AMERICA CAPSTONE SUPPORTER As more women join the construction workforce, their impact across the skilled trades continues to rise. Over the past decade, women’s representation in construction has grown from just under 9% of the workforce to more than 11% today. This shift marks meaningful progress, but it also highlights areas where the industry is still evolving, especially when it comes to access to workwear that is truly built for them. For years, jobsite apparel was created primarily with male workers in mind,…

Improving construction processes with better data In construction, uncertainty is often the only constant. Project managers, finance leads, and field teams are expected to deliver quality results on time and within budget — while working with tighter margins, persistent labor shortages, and escalating material costs. BY ROBERT JACOBS, CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP, A MEMBER OF MULTIPLE AGC CHAPTERS Despite the challenges and changes, one thing has become abundantly clear: The ability to access, interpret, and act on real-time information is now a necessity. Learn what data resources construction companies need to remain successful. Construction: The New Options forData and Reporting For decades,…

How one contractor is growing its future leadership bench BY JEANIE J. CLAPP As construction firms across the country wrestle with persistent workforce shortages and an aging leadership bench, some contractors are choosing to invest upstream — not just in recruitment, but in education itself. Chris Elliott, CEO, Caliber 1 Construction, an AGC Georgia member, is doing exactly that. The Georgia-based commercial general contractor recently committed $1.5 million to help launch a new construction management concentration within the University of West Georgia’s (UWG) Richards College of Business, designed to prepare students for leadership roles in project management, scheduling, safety, and…

BY IAN WARNER, DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & INNOVATIONSTRIMBLE, AN AGC OF AMERICAN CAPSTONE SUPPORTER Construction is experiencing a technology renaissance — an era of transformation that is redefining not only how we build, but who chooses to build. Gone are the days when advanced systems seemed out of reach. Today, solutions such as reality capture through mobile devices, GNSS-guided automated equipment and project management powered by artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly becoming everyday tools. But technology is more than a productivity enhancement; these solutions are a calling card to a new generation. With nearly half a million new…

Or step aside and let the process accelerate. Buildcheck is gaining international traction, with contractors reporting fewer RFIs and faster project delivery — leaving time for a well-earned fist bump. BY A.D. THOMPSON No matter how careful a review process or how detail oriented a person may be, human error still happens. On a jobsite, mistakes and/or omissions cause design and coordination issues. They cost big time. And big money. “Historically, as an industry, we’ve had issues with incomplete and uncoordinated drawing sets,” said Haig Seferian, senior manager of design support for AvalonBay, an AGC of Massachusetts member and a…

Under pressure, some teams tighten up and perform. Others fall apart and fold. BY KEYAN ZANDYCEO, SKILES GROUP The difference isn’t always the plan, the people, or the tools. It’s how leadership responds when uncertainty shows up. In those moments, calm — or the lack of it — spreads quickly and shapes what happens next. This idea isn’t new. In Special Operations training, there’s a lesson that’s been passed down for generations: Calm is contagious. Teams mirror their leaders. Not just their decisions, but their tone, urgency, and presence. Lose composure, and the team amplifies it. Stay steady, and they…