Building Better Futures

Infinite Consulting
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Management
  • Updated Biweekly

Welcome to the Building Better Futures podcast, where host Eric Hirani connects with visionary thought leaders who are building the future. Together they delve into what it takes to not only build companies and structures but how to inspire individuals to reach their full potential, creating the leaders of tomorrow. This is the show for you if you’re interested in: - Learning more about building and delivering iconic projects and companies - Cutting-edge innovation - Cultivating positive work cultures - Helping everyone reach their full potential - Creating exceptional teams Together we can create a ripple effect of positive change in our communities and society, one inspired individual at a time.

  1. Aug 24

    EP 49: A Boss Is Followed, a Leader Is Chosen with Michael J. Vardaro of Zetlin & De Chiara

    Join us as we sit down with Michael J. Vardaro, Managing Partner of Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, to discuss the legal risks that quietly decide how construction projects end. Drawing on a career that starts with a framing crew and a civil engineering degree long before it reaches a courtroom. Michael explains why communication sits at the heart of most disputes, what firms get wrong about AI tools and indemnification language, and why the strongest firms come out of litigation with better processes rather than thicker files. KEY TAKEAWAYS 00:00 Introduction. 03:50 From construction family to laborer to framing crew to civil engineering degree. 08:07 What starting at the bottom on a job site gives you that other construction attorneys lack. 10:51 The biggest legal risk facing AEC firms today, and why it has not changed. 13:05 What AI note-takers get right, and why the fraction they get wrong ends up in dispute. 19:38 How firms come out of litigation well, and why defensive habits are the wrong takeaway. 22:48 Indemnification explained: who is liable versus who actually pays. 30:43 The qualities that make a good leader, starting with work ethic over talent. 35:08 Michael's optimism about construction, and his concern about attracting talent. 38:39 The one change he would want every listener to make. Thanks for listening to the "Building Better Futures" podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. RESOURCES MENTIONED Zetlin & De Chiara LLP website: https://www.zdlaw.com/ Michael J. Vardaro firm profile: https://www.zdlaw.com/professionals-michael-j-vardaro Villanova University (referenced as the guest's alma mater): https://www.villanova.edu/ Second Avenue Subway (project referenced in the episode): https://www.mta.info/project/second-avenue-subway-phase-1 Michael J. Vardaro LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelvardaro/ Zetlin & De Chiara LLP LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zetlin-&-de-chiara-llp #PeopleDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #AECpodcast ABOUT THE HOST Eric Hirani is the host of Building Better Futures and a principal at Infinite Consulting Corp., where he works with leaders in the AEC industry on project delivery, team building, and organizational growth.

    EP 49: A Boss Is Followed, a Leader Is Chosen with Michael J. Vardaro of Zetlin & De Chiara

  2. Aug 11

    EP 48: Building Credibility Before You Have the Title with Kevin Khemraj of Welkin Mechanical

    Join us as we sit down with Kevin Khemraj, Vice President of Welkin Mechanical, to talk about building a career and a team in heavy mechanical construction. He shares what separates good contractors from great ones, why mentorship is worth asking for directly and how young professionals earn credibility long before they earn a title. KEY TAKEAWAYS 00:00 Build the right balance, don’t rush into leadership.  05:00 Kevin Khemraj traces his path from working alongside his father to engineering school and a civil engineering career. 08:00 Being the second person hired at a growing contractor, and carrying eight projects at once. 11:00 The mechanical infrastructure New Yorkers rely on daily and never think about. 14:00 What separates a good contractor from a great one on public infrastructure work. 18:00 The opportunities and relationships that carry him from intern to executive. 25:00 Building a formal mentorship program, and why one dinner can outpace a year of tuition. 36:00 Rebuilding a Lincoln Tunnel car ramp inside a 49-day window and finishing in 23. 41:00 How young professionals build credibility before they have the title. 44:00 What leaders can do this week to support their teams without micromanaging. Thanks for listening to the "Building Better Futures" podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. RESOURCES MENTIONED Welkin Mechanical Website: https://www.welkinmechanical.com/ Iovino Enterprises, Welkin Mechanical's parent organization and the back-office partner referenced in the mentorship program discussion: https://www.iovinoent.com/ The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey (habits referenced by Kevin Khemraj, including “begin with the end in mind”): https://www.franklincovey.com/the-7-habits/ CMAA - Construction Management Association of America (mentorship program referenced in the episode): https://www.cmaanet.org/ DBIA - Design-Build Institute of America (Kevin Khemraj's credential): https://dbia.org/ Kevin Khemraj LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-khemraj-dbia-59b73a9a/ Welkin Mechanical LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/welkinmechanical/ #PeopleDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #AECpodcast #BuildingBetterFutures ABOUT THE HOST Eric Hirani is the host of Building Better Futures and a principal at Infinite Consulting Corp., where he works with leaders in the AEC industry on project delivery, team building, and organizational growth.

    EP 48: Building Credibility Before You Have the Title with Kevin Khemraj of Welkin Mechanical

  3. Jul 30

    EP 47: Listen First, Lead Better with Phil Collin of Mott MacDonald

    Join us as we sit down with Phil Collin, Chief Growth Officer of Mott MacDonald, to explore what it takes to lead growth with purpose in the AEC industry. Drawing on three decades of engineering and program management experience, he shares lessons on culture, mentorship, communication and knowing your contract inside and out. KEY TAKEAWAYS 00:00 Introduction. 01:00 Phil Collin introduces himself and his path from Maine to a 30-plus-year career in engineering and construction. 08:00 What the Chief Growth Officer role actually looks like day to day. 12:00 Why sustainable growth means building a stronger business, not just a bigger one. 17:00 Connecting everyday project work to a larger sense of purpose. 19:00 Revisiting the Goethals Bridge replacement, a career-defining P3 project. 31:00 Why lessons learned and project reviews matter more than most firms admit. 33:00 What leaders should do first to build a stronger culture. 39:00 Advice for young professionals on understanding the business side of engineering. 46:00 The mantra that has shaped how Phil approaches every conversation. 53:00 Fast-fire questions on music, sports and Phil’s go-to comfort meal. Thanks for listening to the “Building Better Futures” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. RESOURCES MENTIONED Mott MacDonald Website: https://www.mottmac.com/ Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown (book referenced by Phil Collin): https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism/ CMAA - Construction Management Association of America (mentorship program referenced in the episode): https://www.cmaanet.org/ Phil Collin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-collin-29633712/ Mott MacDonald LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mott-macdonald/ #PeopleDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #AECpodcast

    EP 47: Listen First, Lead Better with Phil Collin of Mott MacDonald

  4. Jul 14

    EP 46: Building Great Teams by Letting Go of Being the Expert with Edward Broderick of Gilbane, Inc.

    Edward Broderick, Chief Executive Officer of Gilbane, Inc., joins us to discuss what five generations of family ownership teaches you about leadership, trust and building for the long term. We explore how leadership evolves at every stage of a career, why humility is a practice not a destination, and how Gilbane's integrated model of construction and real estate development serves clients across the built environment. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 02:34 Gilbane starts every meeting with a "Gilbane Cares moment," pausing to recognize the community and people before diving into work. 05:32 Edward grew up in Westchester, studied finance at Manhattan College, and began his career as a laborer at Gilbane before becoming a management trainee. 11:07 Leadership evolves at every career stage — mastering skills, managing teams, setting vision and relying on experts better than yourself. 15:46 Watching five different leaders with distinct styles early in his career shaped Edward's understanding of who he wanted to be as a leader. 18:36 Public-private partnerships allow Gilbane to bring construction, development, financing and planning together in one trusted relationship. 23:06 Eastern Michigan University case study: Gilbane helped the university downscale its campus while maintaining quality, delivering a full roadmap of cost, schedule and financing. 38:28 Humility is not a fixed state — leaders lose it, and the best ones recognize that and keep listening. 41:18 Edward never entered Gilbane with becoming CEO as an aspiration. Breadth of experience and trust built over decades prepared him for the role. 44:00 Five generations of family business: core values and evolving governance, including an outside-majority board, are what keep Gilbane strong. Thanks for listening to the “Building Better Futures” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. Resources Mentioned: Gilbane, Inc.: https://www.gilbaneco.com Trunk Tools: https://trunktools.com "Good to Great" by Jim Collins: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0712676090l "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R Covey: https://www.amazon.com/Habits-Highly-Effective-People-Powerful/dp/0743269519 #PeopleDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #AECpodcast

    EP 46: Building Great Teams by Letting Go of Being the Expert with Edward Broderick of Gilbane, Inc.

  5. Jun 30

    EP 45: How Great Leaders Delegate, Step Back and Let Teams Grow with Lawrence Fitzpatrick of The LiRo Group

    Lawrence Fitzpatrick, Senior Vice President and Deputy Business Unit Head of The LiRo Group, shares what great leadership looks like across a construction career built from the ground up. From running residential crews at 19 to leading large-scale public infrastructure programs, Lawrence offers a candid look at how to build client trust, develop young professionals and create the team cohesion that drives predictable project outcomes. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 05:34 Lawrence's path from Bronx jobsites to SVP, and why going back to construction after college was the best thing that happened to him. 09:55 What great construction leadership looks like: taking ownership, staying humble, leading by example and communicating openly across generations. 14:13 How to earn lasting client trust through execution, consistency and delivering on your word. 17:05 The armory project for the New York National Guard, and the ribbon-cutting moment that stopped Lawrence mid-sentence. 22:07 The structured post-meeting debrief that accelerates young professionals' growth faster than any training program. 26:31 How Lawrence learned to step back and let his team take the first shot, and why jumping in with the right answer can backfire. 38:35 Why team cohesion — not technology — is the single most important investment for predictable project outcomes. 46:09 What Lawrence lives by: explaining the why to everyone, every time. 48:28 Builder's Blitz: overrated leadership buzzwords, what every team should normalize and Lawrence's long-term bet. Thanks for listening to the “Building Better Futures” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. Resources Mentioned: The LiRo Group: https://www.ligrogroup.com “Never Split the Difference” by Chris Voss: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Split-Difference-Negotiating-Depended/dp/0062407805 #PeopleDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #AECpodcast

    EP 45: How Great Leaders Delegate, Step Back and Let Teams Grow with Lawrence Fitzpatrick of The LiRo Group

  6. Jun 16

    EP 44: Inspiring the Next Generation Through Advocacy and Architecture with Julia Murphy of SOM

    Julia Murphy, Partner of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), joins us to discuss architecture as a legacy and a force for community impact. We explore her journey as a third-generation architect, her advocacy for women in design and construction, the structural challenges of Manhattan West and why she believes the people behind every project matter more than anything else. Key Takeaways 00:00 Introduction. 03:42 Julia shares her path into architecture and the influences that shaped her career. 06:00 How SOM's collaborative culture differs from other firms. 11:38 The challenges facing women in architecture and the responsibility to make space for different voices. 18:47 The role of SOM's work in reshaping cities and landmark projects. 24:57 Walking through the early days of the Manhattan West development. 30:29 How AI and emerging technology are reshaping architecture's future. 41:10 Julia's people-first leadership philosophy and what it means to lead with care. 41:55 Where to connect with Julia and closing thoughts. Thanks for listening to the “Building Better Futures” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. Resources Mentioned Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF):  https://www.kpf.com Manhattan West (Brookfield):  https://manhattanwestnyc.com  SOM's Manhattan West project page:  https://www.som.com/projects/manhattan-west-development/ NYCHA  Preservation Trust:  https://www.preservationtrust.org  NYC Planning (Housing Opportunity):  https://www.nyc.gov/content/planning/pages/our-work?search=cityofyes  #PeopleDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #AECpodcast

    EP 44: Inspiring the Next Generation Through Advocacy and Architecture with Julia Murphy of SOM

  7. Jun 2

    EP 43: What the Next Generation of AEC Leaders Gets Right — and What They're Still Missing with Danielle Dy Buncio of VIATechnik

    Danielle Dy Buncio, Co-Founder and CEO of VIATechnik, joins us to discuss why  VDC is far more than a BIM exercise, how digital twins are transforming building operations and what the next generation of AEC leaders needs to understand about business to make technology stick. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction.  16:20 VDC aligns people, process and technology around project objectives, not just BIM adoption.  17:03 Owner alignment through VDC turns project delivery problems into measurable competitive wins.  21:09 Digital twin adoption starts by asking what questions an owner needs to answer about their building.  27:30 AI chat interfaces on building data let owners query their facilities in plain language.  37:15 Ordering from the model, a trade contractor eliminated its entire overtime budget on a Hawaii project.  43:24 Understanding what leadership measures makes technology pitches far more likely to succeed. Thanks for listening to the “Building Better Futures” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. Resources Mentioned: “An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth” by Chris Hadfield: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0316253030 VIATechnik's digital twin platform: https://www.viatechnik.com/capabilities/operations/digital-twin/ Center for Integrated Facility Engineering, Stanford University: https://cife.stanford.edu/ #PeopleDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #AECpodcast

    EP 43: What the Next Generation of AEC Leaders Gets Right — and What They're Still Missing with Danielle Dy Buncio of VIATechnik

  8. May 19

    EP 42: What Early-Career Engineers Overlook About Leadership with Luke Martinek of HDR

    Luke Martinek, Senior Program Manager and Associate Vice President of HDR, joins us to explore how 19 years across survey crews, civil design, operations, and business development prepared him for the Penn Transformation Project. We discuss mentorship on hard days, the business side of engineering, making stakeholders "complicit," and the Kurt Vonnegut mantra that still guides his leadership. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction.  05:20 Growing up in San Antonio and finding engineering through family. 10:30 The Penn Transformation Project and the magnet that is Penn Station. 15:45 The change order that opened up the business side of engineering. 23:30 Stepping into a general manager role during the pandemic.  25:20 How variety has fueled two decades of career moves.  32:30 Why helping someone else is the fastest way out of a bad day.  35:45 Making every stakeholder "complicit" in the same mission.  38:15 The most impactful projects of his career.  44:05 A Kurt Vonnegut mantra he still leads by.  46:10 Hot takes on innovation, growth, and transparency. Resources Mentioned: Luke Martinek https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-martinek-p-e-8b979b6/ HDR https://www.hdrinc.com Penn Station Transformation Project https://media.amtrak.com/2025/10/penn-station-transformation-fact-sheet/ Texas A&M University https://www.tamu.edu Langan Engineering https://www.langan.com Sam Schwartz https://www.tylin.com/samschwartz AKRF https://www.akrf.com Grain Collective Landscape Architecture https://graincollective.com NYC School Construction Authority https://www.nycsca.org NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) https://www.nycsca.org NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) https://edc.nyc Matthews Nielsen Landscape Architects https://mnlandscape.com Thanks for listening to the “Building Better Futures” podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss any insightful conversations. #PeopleDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #AECpodcast

    EP 42: What Early-Career Engineers Overlook About Leadership with Luke Martinek of HDR
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About

Welcome to the Building Better Futures podcast, where host Eric Hirani connects with visionary thought leaders who are building the future. Together they delve into what it takes to not only build companies and structures but how to inspire individuals to reach their full potential, creating the leaders of tomorrow. This is the show for you if you’re interested in: - Learning more about building and delivering iconic projects and companies - Cutting-edge innovation - Cultivating positive work cultures - Helping everyone reach their full potential - Creating exceptional teams Together we can create a ripple effect of positive change in our communities and society, one inspired individual at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Infinite Consulting
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024
  • Show Website
    Building Better Futures