Industry Leaders in Built World are increasingly, not just putting money into tech, but they are also investing in creating new positions in their organizations for people who have the responsibility and the authority to plan for change, to foster a culture of innovation, and to help their organizations execute on change. “Adoption Leaders” are, not only champions of technology within their organizations, but also leaders who stepped into newly created roles that exist today as the result of increased commitments to tech adoption — and we’re seeing them becoming increasingly more common across AEC-RE companies today.
The complete list of Adopters through the years can be found in our Thought Leaders Directory. Members can also click through Thought Leader profile pictures at the bottom of this list or in the directory to learn more about them and to connect with them.
For more information on the Adoption Leaders 50 and to apply to be featured on the list, visit Adoption Leaders 50.
Roles created in 2014
1. Hitesh Dewan
Company: XL Construction
Job title: Operations Technology Manager
Former job title: VDC Project Manager
Hitesh handles operational technology initiatives to create a streamlined, efficient workflow within the company.
2. Damon Ranieri
Company: Lendlease
Job title: Senior BIM Integration Manager
Former job title: Design & Construction Technology Consultant
Damon provides experience in strategy, implementation, training, and execution of the latest advances in building design technology.
Roles created in 2015
3. Megan Conrad
Company: Ryan Companies
Job title: Virtual Construction Manager
Former job title: Virtual Design Coordinator
Conrad leads Ryan Companies’ efforts in their Great Lakes Region by leveraging the adoption of lean integration strategies, early design constructability reviews through VDC, BIM Coordination, 4D and 5D applications, and AR/VR.
4. Tyler Goss
Company: Turner Construction
Job title: Innovation Development Manager
Former job title: Development Project Manager
Goss works both within Turner and with outside partners to advance the company’s strategic innovation agenda. This agenda comprises not only technological advances, but process improvements and organizational culture transformation.
5. Susan Heinking
Company: Pepper Construction
Job title: Director of High Performance and Sustainable Construction
Former job title: Vice President, Sustainability Leader
Heinking serves as a resource for Pepper’s sustainable projects, with a specialty in existing buildings.
6. Jeff Hops
Company: Fluor
Job title: Innovation Implementation Lead
Former job title: Principal Specialist, Material Management
Hops helps Fluor employees develop new technologies, work and design processes, and execution practices to implement new strategies and ideas.
7. Ricardo Khan
Company: Mortenson
Job title: Senior Director, Project Solutions
Former job title: Director of Virtual Design & Construction
Khan is team leader of an operational excellence group that is made up of four primary functions; planning & scheduling, project management administration, virtual design & construction and operational innovation. His key objective is to drive efficiency and customer impact through the integration of innovative methodologies into design, construction, and facility operations.
8. Courtney Lamoreux
Company: Graycor
Job title: Virtual Design & Digital Communications Specialist
Former job title: Business Analyst, BIM Integration
Lamoreux is responsible for digital communication efforts including development and management of Graycor website and social media platforms alongside Graycor Virtual Design + Construction efforts to help produce 4D schedules, clash coordination models, more comprehensive visualizations of the construction progress, and logistics planning sequences.
9. Katerina Milovanoska
Company: Rudolph & Sletten
Job title: Senior VDC/BIM Manager
Former job title: Designer, BIM Specialist, Baker Nowiki Design Studio
Milovanoska uses BIM and VDC technologies to create innovative project management methods, including model data extraction for quantity takeoffs and estimating purposes, constructability reviews, design coordination using automated clash detection methods, and construction sequencing animations for preconstruction planning.
10. John Rygg
Company: Kiewit
Job title: Enterprise Architect — Field Devices, R&D Hololens Business Process Owner
Former job title: Technology Program Manager
Rygg identifies incremental and disruptive innovation opportunities for field technologies (IoT, AR/VR, autonomous vehicle control, and more) to drive operational excellence.
11. Kelsey Stein
Company: Skanska USA Building
Job title: VDC Manager Preconstruction
Former job title: Senior Preconstruction Technology Specialist
The VDC Manager | Preconstruction Technology Expert is a new hybrid role within Skanska USA’s construction division that marries typical preconstruction activities like quantity take-off and estimating with innovative workflows and technical expertise like the use of building information modeling, immersive experiences (VR/AR/MR) and collaborative cloud technologies.
12. Weston Tanner
Company: The Walsh Group
Job title: Director of Construction Technology
Former job title: Virtual Construction Manager
Tanner guides the adoption of innovative new technologies to improve Walsh internal operations, keep on top of emerging tech in the market, and provide more to clients.
Roles created in 2016
13. Trino Beltran
Company: VINCI
Job title: Director, Innovation, Research & Development
Former job title: Director of Open Innovation and Environment
Beltran is in charge of the deployment of all innovation initiatives for VINCI Construction France as well as participation in transversal projects.
14. Kelly Benedict
Company: Lendlease
Job title: Senior Vice President, Innovation and Customer Focus, Americas
Former job title: Senior Vice President
Benedict develops and executes the Global Innovation Program aimed at influencing the climate of Lendlease to be highly supportive and effective in innovation.
15. Jeff Berg
Company: Arup
Job title: Urban Systems Software Designer
Former job title: Data Lead, Computation Lead and Lead Developer
Berg’s consulting experience and code expertise brings thought leadership to Arup software initiatives and solutions for the built environment.
16. Kevin Bredeson
Company: Suffolk
Job title: Vice President, VDC
Former job title: Director, VDC
Bredeson works in conjunction with owners, designers, and trade partners from initial project development through turnover and facility operations to provide insight and guidance for the project team. He provides guidance to ensure Suffolk teams develop and coordinate models that drive project safety, budget, schedule, and quality.
17. Nicholas Cameron
Company: Perkins+Will
Job title: Director Digital Practice, Assoc. Principal
Former job title: Vice President
Cameron’s central charge is to develop and execute Perkins+Will’s Digital Practice strategies, advancing tools, workflows, and emerging technologies that enable design teams to deliver solutions for clients.
18. Chandra Dhandapani
Company: CBRE
Job title: Chief Digital & Technology Officer
Former job title: SVP, CIO at Capital One
Dhandapani is responsible for all aspects of the company’s technology and digital enablement, including those serving clients and CBRE professionals.
19. Kaushal Diwan
Company: DPR Construction
Job title: National Director of Innovation
Former job title: Regional BIM Manager and National Virtual Building Training Program Leader
Diwan develops resource allocation processes to take potentially disruptive innovations forward from concept to implementation.
20. Zach Downey
Company: FullStack Modular
Job title: Chief Innovation Officer
Former job title: Technology and Innovation Manager
Downey’s focuses include identifying new, emerging markets and market disruptions, building, researching, and testing innovation tools and processes to assist product development, and utilizes design automation to minimize effort and maximize effect.
21. David Epps
Company: Winter Construction
Job title: Director of Construction Technology
Former job title: Manager, Building Information Modeling, Holder Construction
Epps ensures that BIM and related technologies are consistently leveraged through Project Concept/Design Support, Project Pursuit, Preconstruction, Operations, and Facilities Management/Owner Handover.
22. Todd Heitman
Company: Heitman Architects/Heitman Technologies
Job title: Director of Technology, Business development
Former job title: Real Estate Broker
Heitman researches and implements of emerging technologies in relation to BIM, UAVS site scanning, and VR/AR.
BuiltWorlds published a Spotlight delving deeper into Heitman’s role. Click here to read on.
23. Sree Kala Kadiani
Company: Balfour Beatty Construction
Job title: Manager, Integrated Projects
Former job title: Assistant Manger, Integrated Projects
Kadiani is responsible for technology process development and VDC at Balfour to create more value for customers while using fewer resources.
24. Atul Khanzode
Company: DPR Construction
Job title: Technology and Innovation Leader
Former job title: Director of Construction Technologies
Khanzode is responsible for all of the virtual building, operations and preconstruction technologies, as well as strategic technology initiatives for DPR. He works with project teams across the country to implement virtual building and lean construction tools and processes.
25. Ryan Lawrence
Company: BE&K Building Group
Job title: Director of Technology & Innovation
Former job title: Senior BIM/VDC Process Manager
As the Director of Technology & Innovation, Lawrence works to put into practice the most innovative technological practices and preconstruction services to meet client needs.
26. Misha Nikulin
Company: Bechtel
Job title: Head of IT Innovation & Emerging Technology
Former job title: Head of Global Collaboration Services and Information Technology
Nikulin develops the Digital Transformation part of the Enterprise IT Strategy, and defines IT role in digital transformation, building interfaces between digital disruption, transformation, and operations.
27. Chris Ovens
Company: Modern Niagara
Job title: Executive Vice President — Strategy & Innovation
Former job title: President
Ovens provides outside-in expertise and perspective to the Modern Niagara senior executive team, as well as to manage the investments in innovation throughout Modern Niagara. This includes field technology and methods optimization, IoT of buildings, and new revenues stream opportunities.
28. Pierce Reynoldson
Company: Skanska
Job title: Senior VDC Manager — Metro NY
Former job title: VDC Manager
Reynoldson oversees planning, training and implementation of all VDC for Skanska in metropolitan New York.
29. Jennifer Suerth
Company: Pepper Construction
Job title: VP — Technical Services
Former job title: Integrated Construction Manager
Suerth advises project teams on constructability and implementation strategies throughout the early stages of project design and development, as well as provides leadership on construction, fabrication, LEAN, and facility management through the use of technology.
30. David Wilson
Company: Bechtel
Job title: Chief Innovation Officer
Former job title: Manager of Innovation and Virtual Project Delivery
Wilson manages Bechtel’s Future Fund, a program designed to encourage colleagues across the company to create, share, explore and develop new ideas to enhance performance and competitiveness.
31. Morgan Vawter
Company: Caterpillar
Job title: Chief Analytics Director
Former job title: Head of Data Management, Accenture Interactive North America
Vawter helps develop and provide predictive analytics capabilities to customers. Vawter works to maximize the use of data and analytics to optimize end-to-end business.
32. Travis Voss
Company: Mechanical, Inc.
Job title: Technology Manager
Former job title: Technical Lead/Sales Engineer
Voss helps Mechanical, Inc. get out ahead of the digital transformation in construction. He researches new technologies to see how they might benefit Mechanical, Inc., and works with partners to press the industry forward in tech utilization that benefits everyone.
BuiltWorlds published a Spotlight delving deeper into Voss’ role. Click here to read on.
Roles created in 2017
33. Amrita Bajwa
Company: Jacobs
Job title: Virtual Design & Construction Lead — West Area
Former job title: Practice Technology Manager
Bajwa develops innovative strategies to implement in existing and new projects to improve workflows.
34. Ajoy Bhattacharya
Company: Suffolk
Job title: Senior Director of Innovation and New Technologies
Former job title: Director IT Infrastructure
Bhattacharya oversees the introduction of new technologies that will change the construction experience across Suffolk’s national offices. He works on researching new technologies to solve complex problems and creates go-to-market strategies to introduce these technologies to the construction operations teams.
35. Ryan Blackmon
Company: LStar Ventures
Job title: Vice President of Advanced Technologies
Former job title: Assistant General Counsel
Blackmon leads LStar Venture’s Smart Cities and Sustainability initiatives at Union Point, focused on creating the leading technologically advanced and environmentally conscious development in the world.
36. Josh Bone
Company: DEWALT
Job title: Construction Technology Specialist
Former job title: Principal Specialist, Material Management
As the Construction Technology Specialist at DeWalt, Bone helps implement strategies to create a cordless yet connected jobsite.
37. Mark da Gama Rose
Company: Clayco
Job title: VDC Operations Manager
Former job title: Design Technology Manager
Da Gama Rose is the VDC Operations Manager for Clayco and helps implement VDC practices into Clayco’s processes to ensure an effective design-build experience.
38. Hilda Espinal
Company: CannonDesign
Job title: Chief Technology Officer
Former job title: CTO, VP
Espinal is responsible for the evolution and implementation of the firm’s computational tools and workflows, augmented and virtual reality, building information modeling, and advanced building analysis and visualization.
39. John Jurewicz
Company: Walbridge
Job title: Leader Technology Optimization
Former job title: General Manager
Jurewicz identifies, researches, recommends, implements, and optimizes technology solutions that have value across his entire organization as well as addressing needs specific to Walbridge clients. This includes improvements to data capture, streamlining startup and closeout processes as well organizational training and implementation to increase the overall skill level of Walbridge’s operations.
40. Aaron Landolt
Company: Enerfab
Job title: VP — Strategy and Innovation
Former job title: VP, Business Development
Landolt works to bring innovation and rapidly evolving construction technology to Enerfab.
41. Kris Lengieza
Company: Stiles
Job title: VP of Operational Excellence
Former job title: Director of VDC
Lengieza leads the Stiles team in continuous improvement efforts focused around safety, technology, QA/QC, analytics, and innovation.
42. Filippo Lodi
Company: UNStudio
Job title: Head of Innovation and Knowledge Management
Former job title: Innovation Manager / Knowledge Platform Coordinator
Lodi is Head of Innovation and Knowledge Management at UNStudio, a Dutch architectural design studio specializing in architecture, urban development and infrastructural projects. He works to bring the most innovative methods and practices to the UNStudio team.
43. Terrence McNamara
Company: A. Teichert & Son, Inc.
Job title: Director of Technology Innovation
Former job title: Business Analysis and Technology Systems Manager
McNamara provides technology strategy and direction, consulting for business groups to innovate, and introduction of new technologies or processes.
44. Lars Olsen
Company: Rockwell Partners
Job title: Director of Innovation
Former job title: Associate
Olsen identifies, selects, and assesses the potential impact of all new technology, as well as oversees implementation at Rockwell Partners.
45. Anthony Rosignolo
Company: Berglund Construction
Job title: Director of Technology & Innovation
Former job title: BIM Manager
Rosignolo is the Directory of Technology & Innovation for Berglund Construction, a Chicago-based general contractor that provides restoration of facades, historic preservation, general construction, construction management, design build, pre-construction, and interior build-out and renovation services.
46. Hannah Santiago
Company: City of San Antonio
Job title: Senior Innovation Specialist (Smart Cities)
Former job title: Strategic Planner
Santiago is a part of the City of San Antonio’s Innovation Team and works to find solutions through assessment of business performance, deploy project management methods to manage high-profile projects, and research best practices to to introduce new ideas to the organization.
47. Stacy Scopano
Company: Skanska USA
Job title: Vice President of Innovation
Former job title: Senior Strategist
Scopano is responsible for developing a company wide culture of open innovation, while facilitating various research and development efforts.
48. Chip Staples
Company: APTIM
Job title: Chief Innovation and Technology Officer
Former job title: Executive Managing Director
Staples is the Chief Innovation and Technology Officer at APTIM, a multi-billion dollar firm focuses on operations and maintenance, environmental engineering and consulting, design and build, and program management.
49. Benjamin Stephenson
Company: Pepper Construction
Job title: Technical Services Manager
Former job title: Assistant Manager, VDC
Stephenson is responsible for developing, implementing, optimizing, and supporting the delivery of construction services by leveraging building information modeling and other technically integrated collaborative tools.
50. Bryan Van Kampen
Company: Ozinga
Job title: Data Architect
Former job title: Business Systems Analyst
As a data architect, Van Kampen designs and builds relational databases for data storage and processing, and develops strategies for warehouse implementation, data acquisition, and archive recovery.
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