Conference Day One

Tuesday April 15, 2025

Day One

Tuesday April 15, 2025

Day Two

Wednesday April 16, 2025

7:00 am Registration & Coffee

7:50 am Chair’s Opening Remarks

Foundations of Data Analytics Excellence

8:00 am Igniting Analytics Excellence with a Powerful Strategy for Sustainable Growth

Jad Chalhoub Director of Business Analytics, Rosendin

Synopsis

Exploring the stages of analytics growth, from fragmented data to AI-driven
Creating key metrics to assess your analytics maturity and understanding how to drive progress to the next stage
Reviewing where companies commonly make mistakes along their journey and how you can avoid making the same mistakes

8:40 am Building a Robust Data Tech Stack to Streamline Data Integration, At Scale

Sri Murali Director, Enterprise Solutions and Analytics, McCarthy Building Companies

Synopsis

Exploring versatile API and iPaaS solutions for seamless, cost-effective data integration, highlighting their advantages over SQL in reducing complexity and improving data accuracy
Examining the potential for tools like Power Automate, Workato, and Retool for automating data flows
Assessing the suitability of top industry tools through a Magic Quadrant-style evaluation based on company needs
Tackling challenges mid-sized companies face when scaling and introducing new data technologies

9:50 am Morning Refreshments & Speed Networking

Track 1: Data Engineering & Governance Track 2: Analytics Insights & Visualization Track 3: Evolving Your Analytics Practice

Track 1: Data Engineering & Governance

Data Security & Governance

10:30 am Collaborating with End Users to Streamline Data Input for Increased Accuracy & Efficiency

Sharing essential documentation practices before project initiation, including templates for capturing data requirements
Identifying reasons users hesitate to provide data and exploring techniques to encourage accurate data entry
Discussing methods for integrating data from trade partners and external entities for a comprehensive project view
Sharing best practices for coordinating technologies to ensure immediate usability and relevance of collected data

Matt Fairbanks, Chief Information Officer, VECA Electric & Technologies

11:40 am Developing Strategies for Effectively Cleaning
Data to Ensure Integrity & Accuracy in Decision Making

Showcasing success stories and challenges in ensuring data integrity, emphasizing the shared accountability and support required from all parties in data practices
Utilizing detailed reports to identify and highlight specific data quality issues, enabling targeted resource allocation to address these problems effectively
Exploring best practices for training employees in data entry and cleaning techniques

Eric Anderson, SQL Developer & Data Engineer, Miller Valentine Construction

12:20 pm Building a Standardized Data Governance
Framework to Improve Quality & Timeliness of Data
Inputs

Join this breakout to collaborate with your peers on strategies for establishing clear definitions for data and KPIs to align stakeholders, improve reporting accuracy, and enhance collaboration. Participants will also explore strategies for mapping data ownership and identifying key metrics to measure and improve data governance effectiveness.

Track 2: Analytics Insights & Visualization

Transforming Data into Actionable Insights

10:30 am Panel: Benchmarking The Most Effective
KPIs to Provide Visibility to Executives on Overall
Organizational Health & Performance

Sharing effective KPIs for functions like Project Management, Finance, and Operations
Creating a robust operational scorecard for performance measurement across all functions
Promoting accountability for tracking and transparent reporting across the organization

Tomislav Zigo, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President, Clayco
Chris Martin, VP Of Technology Services, Mycon General Contractors
Ariel Castillo, Innovations Manager, Miller-Davis Company

11:40 am: Utilizing Predictive Analytics for Proactive
Decision-Making & Risk Mitigation

Using historical data to understand early indicators for project issues and forecast manpower needs
Analyzing historical data to identify trends that can inform predictive KPIs that offer early warning signs for timely intervention
Cultivating a proactive mindset to drive proactive rather than reactive decision-making

Pelin Bicer, Director of Construction Technology, Conti Federal Services

12.20 am Audience Discussion: Integrating Real-Time Data for Agile Decision-Making

Join this breakout to explore how real-time data can enhance the accuracy and responsiveness of decision making in the field. Showcase your experiences with innovative tools and technologies that provide realtime data and visualizations

Track 3: Evolving Your Analytics Practice

Developing a Comprehensive Analytics Strategy

10:30 am Envisioning an Analytics Roadmap for Small
Companies to Foster Data-Driven Growth

Defining achievable objectives that align with business needs
Learning how to define relevant KPIs that reflect your business goals and measure progress effectively
Leveraging existing software to start collecting meaningful data with minimal investment
Determining the optimal timing for your firm to initiate additional investments

Patrick Quick, Chief Technology Officer, All Weather
Contractors

11:40 am Transforming Your Analytics Department into a Cost-Effective Business Function

Determining where analytics fits in your organization:
IT, existing business units, or as a standalone function
Establishing analytics as a separate budget line item with a supportive management structure
Presenting methods to demonstrate the value and ROI of analytics to leadership using quantitative and qualitative metrics
Balancing internal and external analytics resources and capabilities to optimize team size

Caitlin Plein, VP Data Analytics & Engineering, Clayco

12:20 pm Audience Discussion: Creating Scalable Analytics Strategies With Cost-Effective Tools & Technologies

Join this breakout to discuss how you can create scalable analytics strategies that align with growth objectives. Share your experiences in creating roadmaps that evolve with your organization’s needs, and exchange recommendations on cost-effective tools and technologies that have proven successful in supporting analytics functions across companies of all sizes.

12:40 pm Lunch Break

Track 1: Data Engineering & Governance Track 2: Analytics Insights & Visualization Track 3: Evolving Your Analytics Practice

Track 1: Data Engineering & Governance

Optimizing Data Storage & Processing

1:40 pm Developing a Robust Data Lake to Enhance Large-Scale Storage & Processing

Identifying the trigger for when a data lake becomes necessary for a construction organization: What are the benefits that a data lake can offer?
Exploring the various approaches and tools used to quickly and efficiently ingest data into data lakes
Harnessing robust ETL processes and effective management of data extraction pipelines to enhance data lake performance

Ryan Foshage, Director of Analytics, Alberici
Constructors

2:20 pm Streamlining Data Warehousing Practices to
Create Quick Insights from Raw Data

Evaluating the advantages of outsourcing versus inhouse development for data warehouse creation and identifying which approach is most effective for your firm
Discussing strategies and tools used by organizations for cleaning and validating the data in their data lakes
How to best structure data in the data warehouse for speed of analysis and reporting

Trish Bradshaw, Senior Data Analyst, Keeley Co.

3:00 pm Audience Discussion: Discussing Best Practices for Data Organization, Accessibility & Quality in Data Lakes & Warehouses

Join this breakout to explore effective practices for organizing and accessing data within data lakes and warehouses, including cleaning legacy data to enhance quality. Exchange your innovative strategies for refining data workflows to ease retrieval and analysis, and uncover actionable insights to elevate your organization’s infrastructure.

Track 2: Analytics Insights & Visualization

Forecasting Resource Requirements

1:40 pm Enhancing Workload Forecasting for Effective
Resource Allocation & Optimal Productivity

Discussing the limitations of existing time-tracking software in accurately predicting workload distribution and the need for more dynamic forecasting methods
Analyzing typical workload patterns such as bell curves and ramp-up phases and their effects on resource allocation
Exploring ways to combine project phase data and actual hours for realistic workload predictions
Discussing how AI can enhance workload forecasting and boost productivity through data insights

Jennifer Hohman, Chief Information & Technology
Officer, Baker Construction

2:20 pm Enhancing Schedule Quality & Reliability with
Data-Driven Insights

Exploring methods for assessing the reliability of schedules to prevent misrepresentation of project timelines and outcomes
Visualizing multiple metrics such as Earned Value Management (EVM), float trends, and Budgeted Expense Index (BEI) to provide a more holistic view of project health in schedules
Reviewing new scheduling technologies that are enhancing available data and visualizations

Sherif Agha, National Director of Scheduling, Skanska

3:00 pm Audience Discussion: Leveraging Data for
Proactive Resource Management

Join this breakout to collaborate with your peers on leveraging data to improve resource management decisions. Share your experiences in effectively anticipating workload demands and adjusting resources.

Track 3: Evolving Your Analytics Practice

Navigating Change & Resistance

1:40 pm Overcoming Resistance to Build Trust & Advocacy
for Analytics in Operations Teams

Identifying social factors behind resistance to analytics in construction, like fear and skepticism
Building trust in analytics by developing internal advocates and promoting transparency, ethics, and governance
Fostering end user involvement and advocacy in analytics to enhance engagement and ensure the solutions meet their needs

Adam Krob, Information Technology & Process Director, Boh Bros. Construction

2:20 pm Panel: Empowering Your Analytics Team to Drive Continuous Innovation

Empowering teams to refine analytics capabilities and introduce new data initiatives
Exploring the advantages of having dedicated R&D personnel to drive innovation and keep the organization at the forefront of industry advancements
Identifying key skills needed in your team for future AI adoption and how to integrate this into today’s workforce

Tim Buma, Senior Director of Construction Technology, The Austin Company
Adam Krob, Information Technology & Process Director, Boh Bros. Construction

3:00 pm Audience Discussion: Driving Engagement &
Advocacy for Analytics Organization-Wide

Join this breakout to collaborate with your peers on effective methods for engaging operations teams and driving advocacy for analytics within organizations. Exchange success stories that showcase the value of analytics and spark new ideas to inspire your team.

3:20 pm Afternoon Refreshments

Unlocking the Future of AI

4:20 pm Panel: Sharing Strategies, Risks & Real-World Use Cases of AI in Construction

Jennifer Hohman Chief Information & Technology Officer, Baker Construction
Ben Ferrer Senior Leader in Artificial Intelligence, Turner Construction
Olivia Su Corporate Data Manager, ECC

Synopsis

Analyzing the critical first steps in formulating an AI strategy that aligns with your business objectives: How have we set realistic goals, established clear expectations, and built a framework for trust in AI systems?
Discussing best practices for data collection, management, and governance to ensure the accuracy and integrity of AI outputs
Selecting pilot projects, measuring success, and scaling successful initiatives across the organization
Sharing real-world examples of missteps in AI adoption, including lack of stakeholder engagement, unclear objectives, and inadequate training

5:00 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks

5:10 pm End of Conference Day One

PRE-CONFERENCE

DAY TWO

April 14-16, 2025
Phoenix, AZ