Bridging the Gap: Insights & Innovations in Construction

After 6.5 years and more than 350 episodes, this marks Todd’s farewell as host of Bridging the Gap.

What started as a simple idea turned into an unexpected journey. With listeners in over 100 countries and more than a million video views each year, the podcast became a platform for exploring construction innovation, challenging ideas, and connecting leaders across the industry.

In his final episode, Todd reflects on the lessons learned, the growth that came through curiosity, and the deeper appreciation gained for an industry built by people who care deeply about what they create.

But more than anything, this episode is about the relationships.

The conversations on and off camera.
The trust that was built.
And the friendships that made it all meaningful.

 

You’ll Learn:

Why curiosity is the foundation for meaningful innovation

How to think beyond buzzwords and unpack real change

What it takes to contribute to progress within an industry

Why relationships are the most valuable outcome of any journey

Thank You to Our Listeners
Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or just recently discovered the show, thank you.

From weekly listeners to those who tuned in occasionally, your support, encouragement, and feedback helped shape what Bridging the Gap became and what it meant over the years.

Behind the Scenes
This podcast would not have been possible without an incredible team throughout the years:

Eric Daniel and Caitlin Dunn – Editors and Producers

Erin O’Connor – Designer

Carol Dunn – Content production

Meticulous Image – Video production at live events

Their work brought each episode to life and extended the impact far beyond each conversation.

Todd Takes

Curiosity drives better thinking and better outcomes

Innovation starts with asking better questions

Relationships are the foundation everything else is built on

 

While Todd is stepping away from the mic of Bridging the Gap, the journey is far from over.

Stay tuned for what’s next.

Keep innovating.

 

More Resources  
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts.

Bridging the Gap Website

Bridging the Gap LinkedIn

Bridging the Gap Instagram

Bridging the Gap YouTube

Todd’s LinkedIn

 

Thank you to our sponsors!

Graitec North America

Graitec North America LinkedIn

Autodesk’s Website

Autodesk Construction Cloud is now Autodesk Forma. But what does that actually mean for the industry?

In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Todd sits down with Lalith Subramanian to break down the shift from ACC to Forma and separate signal from noise. This conversation goes beyond the headline to explore what is really changing, what is staying the same, and how construction teams should be thinking about it moving forward.

This is not about hype or overreaction. It is about understanding the direction of the industry and how connected data, platforms, and AI are starting to reshape how projects are delivered.

You’ll Learn

What the Autodesk Forma rebrand actually changes for ACC users

Why this is more about direction than disruption

How data is becoming the foundation across the project lifecycle

Where AI is delivering real value today versus future vision

What teams should be thinking about over the next 6 to 12 months

Meet Our Guest
Lalith Subramanian is a leader at Autodesk focused on advancing digital transformation across the construction industry. He brings deep expertise in cloud platforms, data strategy, and AI, helping shape how Autodesk connects workflows across planning, design, and construction through Autodesk Forma.

Todd Takes
This is more about direction than disruption
The shift to Forma does not require immediate change, but it does signal where the industry is heading.

The bottleneck is behavior, not technology
Most teams already have the tools. The challenge is consistently working from a single source of truth.

AI rewards strong data foundations
The real advantage will come to companies that connect and structure their data first.

 

More Resources
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts.

Bridging the Gap Website

Bridging the Gap LinkedIn

Bridging the Gap Instagram

Bridging the Gap YouTube

Todd’s LinkedIn

Lalith’s LinkedIn

Lalith’s Blog: One Connected Industry for AECO

Autodesk Forma FAQ

 

Thank you to our sponsors!

Graitec North America

Graitec North America LinkedIn

Autodesk’s Website

Prefab is no longer just about speed. It’s about building smarter systems that connect people, processes, and technology into one cohesive workflow.

In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Todd Weyandt sits down with Thomas Mellendorf, process engineer at Panel Built, to break down what it really takes to optimize prefab operations. From transitioning to model-based workflows to building connected ecosystems and leveraging automation, Thomas shares a practical, systems-driven perspective grounded in real execution.

They also explore the human side of innovation, why communication is often the biggest constraint, how to approach change management, and where AI is actually delivering value today.

If you’re looking to move beyond theory and into what actually works in prefab, this conversation delivers.

You’ll Learn:

How to identify and optimize the weakest link in your prefab workflow

What a connected ecosystem should look like from design through fabrication

Where automation creates real value and where it does not

Why communication is the most overlooked driver of performance

How AI can free up time for higher-value, strategic thinking

Meet Our Guest
Thomas Mellendorf is a process engineer at Panel Built with a strong analytical background in mathematics and mechanical engineering. He brings a systems-first approach to prefab, focusing on workflow optimization, software integration, and improving how teams collaborate across the entire project lifecycle.

Todd Takes:

The best prefab systems come from understanding the full picture, not just your piece of it

Communication may sound simple, but it is the ultimate performance multiplier

AI’s biggest impact is giving teams back time to think, create, and solve better problems

More Resources
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts.

Bridging the Gap Website

Bridging the Gap LinkedIn

Bridging the Gap Instagram

Bridging the Gap YouTube

Todd’s LinkedIn

Thomas’ Linkedin

PanelBuilt Website

 

Thank you to our sponsors!

Graitec North America

Graitec North America LinkedIn

Autodesk’s Website

AI is already changing construction. The real question is whether your company is keeping up or quietly falling behind.

In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Todd Weyandt sits down with Shel Waggener, Chief Customer Officer at Lumber and former construction company president, to break down what AI adoption actually looks like inside a contractor’s business today.

This is not a future-focused conversation. It is a practical look at how AI is already showing up in the back office, in the field, and across workforce management. Shel shares why AI cannot be treated like just another tool, how “agentic AI” is eliminating administrative work, and what it really takes to build AI into your operations as a core capability.

The biggest shift is not technology. It is mindset. Contractors must move from doing the work to orchestrating it.

If you are not actively building AI into your workflows, your competitors will.

You'll Learn

Why AI in construction is happening faster than most leaders realize

What “agentic AI” actually means in real workflows

The most practical back office use cases you can deploy today

How field data, computer vision, and site capture reduce rework

Why AI should be treated as a workforce multiplier, not a threat

How to create feedback loops to scale AI across your company

Meet Our Guest
Shel Waggener is the Chief Customer Officer at Lumber, where he helps construction companies reimagine their back offices for the AI era. A former President of American Asphalt, Shel brings real operator experience to the conversation, combining deep knowledge of construction workflows with expertise in cloud, automation, and enterprise systems. His work focuses on helping contractors adopt practical AI solutions that drive efficiency, accuracy, and growth.

Todd Takes

Innovation requires pushing past the industry’s natural resistance to change

AI success depends on exposing and scaling ideas across your teams

The future belongs to contractors who think like conductors, not just doers

More Resources
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts.

Bridging the Gap Website

Bridging the Gap LinkedIn

Bridging the Gap Instagram

Bridging the Gap YouTube

Todd’s LinkedIn

Shel's LinkedIn

 

Thank you to our sponsors!

Graitec North America

Graitec North America LinkedIn

Autodesk’s Website

What does leadership look like when things go wrong?

In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Todd Weyandt welcomes back Ed DeAngelis, CEO and Founder of EDA Contractors, for a powerful follow-up conversation on Humanity as a Strategy. One year later, the focus shifts from philosophy to reality. What happens when leadership is tested under pressure?

Ed shares how leading with humility, empathy, and emotional intelligence creates stronger teams, better decisions, and more resilient organizations. From high stress jobsite moments to everyday leadership habits, this episode challenges the traditional mindset of construction leadership and offers a better path forward.

If you want to build a culture where people perform at their best and stay engaged long term, this conversation delivers practical insights you can apply immediately.

 

You’ll Learn

Why humility is critical for effective leadership and team performance

How to stay calm and decisive during high pressure situations

Why yelling does not drive long term results and what works instead

How to build trust and psychological safety on construction teams

Why caring for employees as people improves business outcomes

How to prepare your team for challenges before they happen

What the future of leadership in construction should look like

 

Meet Our Guest
Ed DeAngelis is the CEO and Founder of EDA Contractors, Inc. Ed’s innovative personality has helped position EDA as a leader in the construction industry. He is known for his people-first leadership philosophy, Humanity as a Strategy, which focuses on building strong cultures through trust, empathy, and accountability.

Under Ed’s leadership, EDA Contractors has been recognized for three consecutive years as a Top Workplace in Philadelphia by the Philadelphia Inquirer. He is passionate about developing leaders at every level of the organization and helping reshape how the construction industry approaches leadership and culture.

 

Todd Takes
Humility is the lubricant of leadership
Humility allows teams to function at a higher level. When leaders listen, invite feedback, and create space for ideas, teams become more engaged and collaborative. Ego shuts people down. Humility brings them in.

 

Practice the fire drill before the fire
Leadership under pressure is not accidental. It is built through preparation. When teams know their roles and expectations ahead of time, leaders can stay calm and provide clarity when challenges arise.

 

Humanity should be a real business strategy
Caring for employees is not just a cultural initiative. It is a strategic advantage. When leaders genuinely invest in their people, performance, loyalty, and long term success follow.

 

More Resources 
Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating and/or review and follow up our social accounts.

Bridging the Gap Website

Bridging the Gap LinkedIn

Bridging the Gap Instagram

Bridging the Gap YouTube

Todd’s LinkedIn

Ed’s LinkedIn

EDA Contractors, Inc Website

 

Thank you to our sponsors!

Graitec North America

Graitec North America LinkedIn

Autodesk’s Website