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In this engaging live broadcast roundtable, a panel of seasoned professionals from the retail, entertainment, and construction sectors delve into the ever-evolving landscape of the industry. They share their expertise on topics such as the current marketplace, the importance of entertainment in driving consumer engagement, the role of curation and collaboration in mixed-use developments, and the impact of entertainment on socialization and consumer spending. Panelists also touch on the challenges and opportunities in retail construction, the significance of early team building in the development process, and the need for adaptive repurposing to revitalize existing structures. Join this thought-provoking discussion to gain insights into the exciting world of retail, entertainment, and mixed-use development.

VCC Construction has long been dedicated to innovation, creating and implementing technology solutions to enhance construction efficiency, productivity, and predictability. By fully integrating technology into every stage of the project lifecycle, VCC provides clients with high-quality delivery, competitive costing, and seamless management of complex construction projects. The company's technology-driven approach, careful planning, and commitment to standardization set it apart from competitors. With a focus on continuous improvement and strong partnerships, VCC Construction is poised to lead the industry into a bright future, leveraging technology to transform construction practices.

In any project or initiative, those leading it set the tone. When expectations are unclear, or leadership doesn’t set them, failures can happen. And that’s not what anyone wants on a jobsite. Talking about good field safety leadership, Deconstruction with VCC host Tyler Kern spoke with the company’s Safety Director Scott Anders. “Leadership needs to set expectations before any work even starts. Nothing is status quo because construction is inherently dangerous. Every conversation should include safety,” Anders says.  Keeping safety top of mind requires communication, training, and reiteration. Without these things, safety may seem secondary to other aspects of the project. Unfortunately, that mindset can derail safety and cause failures in the field, which could have significant consequences. For leaders managing projects, Anders counseled that safety has to remain a priority. “Leaders have to manage safety, production, and quality together. One cannot be put in front of another.” Rhetoric on the job site should always include policies, procedures, and regulations. Besides verbal reminders, Anders also recommended investing in field safety training. “It should be a high priority. We expect that someone can do the job they were hired to do, but we need to always get all workers up to speed on safety topics.” Such an investment in training isn’t just for the workers. Anders noted that leaders also need to refreshers on safety to continue to create a culture that places it at the forefront.

Women’s History Month, which kicks off each March after its official designation in 1987, is a great time to recognize the importance and value of women in the workforce. Construction is one industry striving to welcome more women into its field. As of 2020, women comprised only 9% of the construction industry. Celebrating its 35th year in the building and construction industry, VCC looks to highlight the many contributions of the women leading the construction movement with its spotlight series, VCC Women in Construction. Host Michelle Dawn Mooney got recently acquainted with one such leader, Nancy Rodriguez, VCC’s Senior Risk Manager. Rodriguez joined VCC nine years ago as an assistant risk manager, and she’s continued her work with VCC up through her current role. Rodriguez spoke with Mooney about her construction career journey. Their discussion includes: How Rodriguez’s father’s masonry background influenced her interest in pursuing a construction careerThe aspects of Rodriguez’s job that motivate herThe rewarding aspects of being a woman in construction“We’re problem solvers, as women, and so my perspective on many things is what gets it done,” Rodriguez said. “That is very rewarding because we target problems differently as women. Most of us are multitaskers; we have children and schedules to try to be at work and coordinate school and events. It’s rewarding to me to be able to know I have a handle on what’s happening in my department, and I feel fulfilled.” Nancy Rodriguez is a risk management specialist with experience in construction risk and insurance. Rodriguez is also a notary public in Arkansas and received her BS in Biology/Biological Sciences from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

A recent study highlighted six major challenges faced by women in the construction industry. The construction industry is a traditionally male-dominated field, but there are many career opportunities for women who are interested in the construction industry. On today’s episode of the VCC Women in Construction miniseries, host Gabrielle Bejarano speaks with Gabby Saenz, Project Manager with VCC Construction, to discuss the involvement and experiences of women in the construction industry. Saenz developed an interest in construction from a young age, when she would accompany her aunt, an architect, to building sites. She eventually pursued a career in the field and is now a fully-fledged project manager in the industry, which is a significant accomplishment for her and an inspiration for women looking to pursue a career in construction. Bejarano and Saenz discussed: Challenges within the construction industryExperience working in the construction industry as a womanIs it worth having a career as a woman in the construction industry?“The best part of being in construction is seeing projects evolve and come to life from the designs on the paper to an actual building. A career in the construction industry is a great choice. It is rewarding and fulfilling to see a project evolve from designs to actual buildings. Imagine driving by a project you worked on, you will feel proud as a member of the team. Women can be significant members in the construction industry - women need to be proud of their work, let their abilities speak for them and never be afraid to speak up,” explained Saenz. Saenz received her B.S. degree in Architecture and B.S. degree in Construction Science and Management from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Saenz has been working at VCC since 2015.

Females encompass only 14 percent of the construction industry’s employees. However, that number is only expected to grow as women take on more engineering and leadership roles. What is it like to work in the construction industry as a female leader, and how can other women make a career in this industry? On today’s episode of the VCC Women in Construction Spotlight Series, Host Michelle Dawn Mooney speaks with Michelle Luce-Gilson, Corporate Scheduler at VCC Construction, Project Scheduler for VCC, to discuss Luce-Gilson’s responsibilities, her experience as a female in the construction industry, and how the industry has changed throughout her career. Mooney and Luce-Gilson also discussed… What Luce-Gilson does on a day-to-day basis as a scheduler and her experience as a female in a male-dominated industryWhat changes Luce-Gilson has noticed over the years in the construction industryAdvice for women who may be hesitant about working in constructionHow can females figure out the best role for them in the construction industry? “Do something you really love in construction. To get started, do anything in construction and try to figure out where your place is and then go with it,” Luce-Gilson stated. “The industry offers a lot—a really wide array of roles. It’s not just the operations side where there’s people physically building things,” she added. Michelle Luce-Gilson is Corporate Scheduler at VCC Construction and has previously worked in roles such as Scheduling Manager and Senior Project Scheduler at VCC. Luce-Gilson has over 30 years of experience in the construction industry and is a certified Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) per the AACE International.

Females encompass only 14 percent of the construction industry’s employees. However, that number is only expected to grow as women take on more engineering and leadership roles. What is it like to work in the construction industry as a female leader, and how can other women make a career in this industry? On today’s episode of the VCC Women in Construction Spotlight Series, Host Michelle Dawn Mooney speaks with Michelle Luce-Gilson, Corporate Scheduler at VCC Construction, to discuss Luce-Gilson’s responsibilities, her experience as a female in the construction industry, and how the industry has changed throughout her career. Mooney and Luce-Gilson also discussed… What Luce-Gilson does on a day-to-day basis as a scheduler and her experience as a female in a male-dominated industryWhat changes Luce-Gilson has noticed over the years in the construction industryAdvice for women who may be hesitant about working in constructionHow can females figure out the best role for them in the construction industry? “Do something you really love in construction. To get started, do anything in construction and try to figure out where your place is and then go with it,” Luce-Gilson stated. “The industry offers a lot—a really wide array of roles. It’s not just the operations side where there’s people physically building things,” she added. Michelle Luce-Gilson is Corporate Scheduler at VCC Construction and has previously worked in roles such as Scheduling Manager and Senior Project Scheduler at VCC. Luce-Gilson has over 30 years of experience in the construction industry and is a certified Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) per the AACE International.

Community describes a group of people that live in the same place or share similar characteristics. Every community is different, but one commonly shared theme is how businesses can impact their respective communities. Corporate philanthropy can spure great societal impact. But what causes are companies giving back to the communities they operate in and why? On today’s special episode of the Deconstruction podcast series, host Gabrielle Bejarano chats with panel guests Derek Alley, CEO of VCC, Stacy Bruce, President and Executive Director, Variety -the Children’s Charity of Texas, and Eric Coleman, Dallas Fort-Worth Regional Superintendent, KIPP DFW. The four examine…. How large companies, like VCC, can give back to the community they operate out ofWhy VCC has chosen Variety and KIPP DFW as two organizations to create social impactWhat particular missions drive Variety and KIPP DFW to continue serving the community“Regardless of what industry you’re in, community drives everything in our world and if you’re not an active participant in that…I think you’re missing a great opportunity to not only fulfill a deeper mission but also, you know, do real good that can be very much aligned with your corporate goals,” said Alley. As the CEO of VCC, Alley has worked to help grow the company for the past forteen years. Prior to his role with VCC, Alley worked as an Analyst for companies such as BlackRock and DeutscheBank. Alley earned his B.S. in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University. Stacy Bruce has been an active advocate within the child welfare system for over 25 years. She has served in various roles which include experiences in the direct delivery of services and administrative and agency leadership roles. Bruce is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a BA in Psychology and a MS in Social Work. Coleman has worked for KIPP DFW for over twelve years. As the Head of Schools, Coleman works to encourage underserved youth and empower development in education. Coleman is a graduate of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College at Baton Rouge with a BS in Mathematics.

Jon Herring, the Quality Control Director of VCC, joins Gabrielle Bejarano in this episode to discuss the role of quality control at VCC and how substitutions in supplies create complications. The VCC's Total Quality Management (TQM) department starts by assessing risk on jobs. TQM ensures the plan is in place and its key players understand their responsibility. Once construction begins, the team is on the ground to ensure that what was agreed is happening. Herring said, “TQM is a real-time feedback loop of understanding the consequences of decisions.” Battling with a shortage of supplies has forced VCC into more flexibility. Herring recalled, “No substitution policy, we don’t like to offer alternatives historically, but these days that’s not possible. Owners are demanding it, and designers need it.” Without substitutions, there are significant delays in building and supplier costs and lead times are rising. Project execution times have increased. It is expected that these trends will continue. Due to the changing landscape, projects experience many iterations. “They have to have a design that works based on the materials available,” said Herring. Materials change, and designs are reworked. “Owners have a lot of options still, but it's a matter of timing and price they’re willing to pay,” noted Herring. TQM's role has become more complex with the changes in the supply market. Each time a substitute is introduced, the product has to be thoroughly understood so that future impact and consequences can be considered. Herring said, “Every product is slightly different. Vetting products each and every time…Paying attention to the implications of the changes is the key.” To learn more about VCC, visit the website vccusa.com.

KEY POINTS: Design review should follow through the entirety of a construction project. Internal design team modeling can uncover issues not apparent from 2D documents. Modeling review reduces errors and keeps construction in scope with the original design. Design plays a critical role in the pre-construction phase of a project. At VCC, their In-House Design and Construction Integration team gets involved in all projects from start to finish. Donn Calaway, Chief Design Officer at VCC, heads up the design and construction integration group. He sat down with Gabrielle Bejarano to talk about some of the essential aspects of his work. One step in the pre-construction process Calaway’s team is involved with is peer reviews, which provide an in-depth study of the construction documents. “What VCC brings to the table is we have a fantastic group of architects, number one,” Calaway said. “But we have a great deal of experience on both sides of the project; in the design field and the construction side of the project.” Technology is the crucial driver for Calaway to accomplish project missions. On the project front end, VCC utilizes Bluebeam Studio® software and Autodesk® Revit® to review drawings and specifications. “Or if the design team hasn’t modeled the project, we do a lot of internal modeling and check for coordination based on the contract documents,” Calaway said. Calaway said they use Lidar technologies for scanning as the construction process progresses. It’s a way to capture a project at a point in time through point cloud generation. “We’re able to use that point cloud file to bring it into a Revit platform, compare it to our modeling and check the accuracy of the work in place. It’s been extremely beneficial in projects prior to placing concrete.” In addition to Lidar, drones scan the exterior of a building through every stage of construction. This process allows Calaway and his team to review progress remotely without being on-site.

Changing the behavior or mindsets of employees is one of the most challenging aspects of any workplace. That’s even more so in construction because a failure to change can lead to unsafe conditions and even injury. So, how can field safety leaders invoke change so that it sticks? VCC Safety Director Scott Anders shared his wisdom on the topic with host Tyler Kern on Deconstruction with VCC. Anders set the conversation by describing behavior change. “In construction, accidents happen because of human behavior. So, I want to know what causes it. Behavior change occurs when workers do the safe and right things without having to think about it.” What can drive a person to take a shortcut on a job? They may believe if they complete it faster, they’ll receive praise. However, if the result is injury, they cost the project time and money. Changing mindsets is a process that happens over time, and the best way to support it is positively. “Finding fault in what the person did isn’t going to change it. Understanding why they thought it was okay to do it gets at the root of the problem, which you can address,” Anders explained. While change is inevitable and usually for the best, the most significant challenge is making the change itself. “People do not like it. It’s a big hurdle, and the best approach is to be a positive influence on those I work with to take that big step,” Anders noted.

Construction job sites are full of hazards. That’s the nature of the industry; however, that doesn't mean that these risks are inevitable. Through task hazard analysis, construction leaders can be more proactive about safety and accident prevention. VCC Safety Director Scott Anders offers insights on this practice, who joined host Tyler Kern on Deconstruction with VCC. First, Anders described the process. “Task hazard analysis is taking every task and breaking it down into steps. Then identifying the potential hazards in those steps and making plans to mitigate them before they happen.” Since every task on a job site is inherently dangerous, there are no exceptions. Every task requires evaluation. Anders provided an example. “You may think a ground-level job of laying tile is simple, but there could be a crew two stories up working above you that could drop material on you. That’s a hazard.” In analyzing the dangers of a task, safety leaders always consider the environment, which can change daily. “That’s why the analysis is done every day on the job site. And they’re fluid and can change throughout the day,” Anders noted.  One area of injury risk that also falls into this category is repetitive tasks. “Muscular skeletal injuries are common. The same motion all day every day require mitigation, which could be changing tools for a more comfortable grip or rotating positions,” Anders said.  A final point that Anders made is on who should complete the process. “Task hazard analysis should be completed by the people doing the work in the field. They’ll notice the hazards and observe the risk.”

In any project or initiative, those leading it set the tone. When expectations are unclear, or leadership doesn’t set them, failures can happen. And that’s not what anyone wants on a job site. Talking about good field safety leadership, Deconstruction with VCC host Tyler Kern spoke with the company’s Safety Director Scott Anders. “Leadership needs to set expectations before any work even starts. Nothing is status quo because construction is inherently dangerous. Every conversation should include safety,” Anders shared.  Keeping safety top of mind requires communication, training, and reiteration. Without these things, safety may seem secondary to other aspects of the project. Unfortunately, that mindset can derail safety and cause failures in the field, which could have significant consequences. For leaders managing projects, Anders counseled that safety has to remain a priority. “Leaders have to manage safety, production, and quality together. One cannot be put in front of another.” Rhetoric on the job site should always include policies, procedures, and regulations. Besides verbal reminders, Anders also recommended investing in field safety training. “It should be a high priority. We expect that someone can do the job they were hired to do, but we need to always get all workers up to speed on safety topics.” Such an investment in training isn’t just for the workers. Anders noted that leaders also need to refreshers on safety to continue to create a culture that places it at the forefront.