BUILD St. Louis

Episode 25: Economic Development Done Right with Patrick McKeehan

In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith interviews Patrick McKeehan, the economic development director for the city of O'Fallon, Missouri. McKeehan discusses the importance of creating a balanced community and how economic development is the creation of wealth. He explains the role of economic assets and the importance of matching them to the needs of businesses looking to invest in the area. For more information, visit informationworks.org

Episode 24: Artificial Intelligence & Construction with Tomislav Zigo

In this episode of the BUILD St. Louis podcast, Kerry Smith interviews Tomislav Zigo, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Clayco, a global full-service, turnkey real estate architecture, engineering, design, build, and construction firm. They discuss artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on the built environment, including its potential to optimize processes throughout the project delivery cycle, from design to handover. They also touch on related technologies such as machine learning and computer vision. Love emphasizes the importance of situational awareness and data governance in the adoption of these technologies. 
 
For more information, go to www.informationworks.org

Episode 23: Recruiting – Finding & Keeping the Very Best People

In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith speaks with Matt Stack, President of Russell Co. St. Louis office, and Jill Niebuhr, Russell Co.'s Talent Acquisition Manager, about their strategies for recruiting and retaining the best people in the construction industry. They discuss how Russell Co's philosophy of investing in people before technology growth has helped them grow sustainably, as well as the importance of core values, competitive compensation, career development opportunities, work-life balance, and a supportive work culture in retaining top talent.
 
For more information, visit www.informationworks.org

Episode 22: Expediting Development - Moving at the Private Sector’s Pace with Julie Powers and Lisa Bedian

In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, Kerry Smith interviews Julie Powers and Lisa Bedian from the city of St. Peter's, Missouri, about their FasTrac program for expedited development and permitting for businesses. They discuss how the program was created and how it has helped both large corporations and small mom-and-pop businesses. The key to their success is their process of bringing the right people in the room early on and being solution-oriented.
 
For more information, visit www.informationworks.org
 

Episode 21: Building a Healthy Workplace Culture with Geri Boyer

In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, Kerry Smith interviews Geri Boyer, founder and president of Kaskaskia Engineering Group (KEG). Boyer discusses the unique culture at KEG, which emphasizes flexibility, work-life balance, and service to humanity. She also shares her experience as a woman in the engineering field and how she started KEG with the intention of creating a different work model that was more conducive to women and men who wanted to work in a different way. 
 
For more information, visit www.informationworks.org

Episode 20: Financing Construction: How Deals Are Getting Done with Gant Harper

In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, Gant Harper, President of St. Louis Bank, discusses the financing of construction projects in the St. Louis area. He notes that while the pandemic slowed down construction, it also gave businesses the opportunity to plan for expansion or repurposing of their properties. Harper also discusses the trend towards mixed-use buildings, why construction projects have become more expensive and his advice to developers, owners, and contractors to reduce financial risks.
 
For more information, visit www.informationworks.org

Episode 19: Augmenting the Audience Experience at Powell Hall with Brian Corry and Unitey Kull

In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith speaks with Brian Corry, an acoustic consultant and partner at Kirkegaard, and Unitey Kull, vice president of marketing and audience experience for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, about the renovation and expansion of Powell Hall.
They discuss the challenges of modernizing a structure on the National Register of Historic Places, and the importance of preserving the beauty and historical architecture of Powell Hall while still making improvements. The episode also highlights the importance of considering the artist experience and the thoughtfulness put into every detail, including materials, lighting, and acoustics.
For more information, visit www.informationworks.org
 

Episode 18: Managing and Improving Excavation Safety with Len Toenjes

In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith interviews Leonard (Len) Toenjes, President of the Associated General Contractors of Missouri (AGCMO), about excavation safety and the Missouri One Call 811 system. Toenjes discusses the importance of the One Call system and the need for modernization to improve effectiveness and safety. He also mentions the federal study that ranked Missouri near the bottom of the list in terms of cost to utilities and rate payers due to inaccurate locates or locates not done on time. For more information, visit www.informationworks.org