Claim OwnershipGet the kNACk : A National Academy of Construction Podcast
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© 2026 Get the kNACk : A National Academy of Construction Podcast
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Having “the knack” is to be proficient in your industry’s ever-changing realities. Moderated by our hosts Jerry, Bill, Kevin, and Sue, Get the kNACk shares the knowledge, insights, and wisdom of NAC members to give you the skills and expertise to master your career.
The Get the kNACk podcast is published by the National Academy of Construction. NAC honors outstanding construction industry leaders and shares their collective experiences and expertise to help the Nation by improving their industry.
Visit our website at: https://www.naocon.org/get-the-knack/.
104 Episodes
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Host Sue Steele welcomes back Sandy Hamby, President and CEO of MOCA Systems Inc., and introduces Brett Adamczyk, President of MOCA’s Software Division, which provides Touchplan®. Together, they continue the conversation on the growing demands of the data center industry and the role of construction technology in meeting them. In the last episode, the discussion focused on the many factors driving the data center boom. In this episode, the conversation explores how technology can be utilized ...
The National Academy of Construction’s 2025 Symposia Series, Introducing and Embedding Safety Culture Concepts in Undergraduate Education, brought together faculty, students, and industry professionals to introduce undergraduate students to the concept of safety culture. The goal was to promote safety as a core professional value, equip future professionals to uphold ethical standards, and reinforce the importance of safety across the construction industry. In this episode of the Get the kNAC...
Construction workers have been considered nearly twice as likely as those in other industries to experience substance-use challenges, with alcohol playing a particularly prominent role. To spotlight alcohol awareness in the construction industry, host Kevin Hilton welcomes back Cal Beyer, Senior Director of SAFE Workplaces for SAFE Project (Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic). In this conversation, Kevin and Cal discuss current trends surrounding alcohol use in the construction industry and...
In this episode of Get the kNACk, host Sue Steele welcomes Sandy Hamby, President & CEO of MOCA Systems, Inc. and NAC member, along with Brandon Michalski, Chief Economist at MOCA Systems. Together, they explore how the rise of data centers is transforming construction and what this shift means for the industry, and for NAC’s vision of transforming the industry to build a better nation. Sandy and Brandon discuss how innovation through collaboration, data-informed planning, and a focus on ...
In this episode, host Jerry Eyink welcomes Paul Giroux, a leading construction historian with decades of experience on mega projects and a professor of engineering practice at the Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering at Purdue University, to discuss the current challenges facing engineering education. Paul explains that engineering programs are facing growing industry complexity and a gradual erosion of credit hours, both of which contribute to a widening skills gap. While incre...
Host Kevin Hilton welcomes back Cal Beyer, Senior Director of SAFE Workplaces for SAFE Project (Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic), to continue their powerful conversation on mental health and suicide in the construction industry. In this episode, they explore the intersection of substance use, mental health, and suicide to raise awareness of how these issues deeply impact individuals and communities across the industry. Together, Kevin and Cal discuss the urgent need to break the stigma s...
In the construction industry, half of all companies don’t make it past five years. In this episode of Get the Knack, host Jerry Eyink welcomes Jeff Ehret, founder and chairman of PENTA Building Group, to discuss starting and sustaining a construction company. Jeff shares his personal experience starting his own company and the lessons he learned along the way that allowed him to turn challenges into opportunities. He explains the leading causes of contractor failure, outlines different types ...
In recognition of Suicide Prevention Month, host Kevin Hilton welcomes Cal Beyer, Senior Director of SAFE Workplaces for SAFE Project (Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic), for an important conversation on mental health and suicide prevention in the construction industry. They discuss the severity of this issue and the urgent need for action to combat this growing epidemic. Cal discusses the initiatives he has been involved with to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote open dialogue ar...
Host Sue Steele welcomes back Lucian Niemeyer, CEO of Building Cyber Security and former Assistant Secretary of Defense, for the final episode of a three-part series on cybersecurity in construction. In the previous episodes, Lucian discussed the importance of establishing a cybersecurity standard of care and integrating cyber safety considerations into the design phase. In this final installment, he expands on those concepts with techniques and actionable tips to enhance cyber safety in cons...
Artificial intelligence is transforming the construction industry. In this episode of Get the kNACk, host William O’Brien is joined by Dr. Burcin Kaplanoglu, Vice President of Oracle’s Industry Lab, to explore the evolving role of AI in construction. Burcin shares insights on where AI is delivering value, its current and future applications, and how emerging technologies are reshaping the industry. He also discusses how professionals can navigate challenges by adapting best practices, embraci...
Construction Safety Week brings the industry together to promote safety, celebrate its importance, and strengthen safety culture across all jobsites. In this episode of Get the Knack, host Jerry Eyink is joined by Mike Choutka, CEO of Hensel Phelps and 2025 Chair of Construction Safety Week, to recap the week’s impact and share key takeaways. Mike discusses how the focus has expanded beyond compliance to embrace total human health, including mental wellness, psychological safety, and holistic...
Careers in the skilled trades not only address critical workforce gaps but also provide long-term opportunities for growth, stability, and impact within the construction industry. In this episode of Get the Knack, hosts Sue Steele and Jerry Eyink are joined by Don Pohl, President of Ranken Technical College, for an insightful discussion on the value of technical education. Don shares why a student might choose a path in technical education, highlighting benefits such as faster entry into the...
In this episode, host Bill O’Brien is joined by Keith Molenaar, Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado Boulder, for a conversation on the evolving landscape of project delivery and risk management in the construction industry. Drawing on decades of experience, Keith reflects on how industry values have shifted and how modern delivery methods are helping build trust and confidence among stakeholders. Additionally, Keith emphasizes the role of conti...
In this episode of Get the Knack, host Jerry Eyink is joined by Dr. Sam Ariaratnam, professor and program chair at the Del E. Webb School of Construction at Arizona State University, and Mackenzie Schmader, a 2024 NAC Scholarship recipient and the 2025 Outstanding Graduate of ASU’s School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment. Together, they share valuable insights on the impact of student internship programs. Mackenzie reflects on completing four internships during her time at...
In this episode of Get the kNACk, host Sue Steele is joined by Michael Loose, the 2024 recipient of the Ted C. Kennedy Award, to discuss leadership in construction. Mike was honored with the Ted C. Kennedy Award for outstanding career achievement that has measurably improved the design and construction industry. He is a retired Vice Admiral and former Deputy Chief of Naval Operations in the U.S. Navy, as well as a former executive in the infrastructure construction sector. Mike shares key les...
Host Sue Steele welcomes back Lucian Niemeyer, CEO of the nonprofit Building Cyber Security, for the second episode of a three-part series on cybersecurity in the built environment. In the first episode, Lucian emphasized the importance of taking a proactive approach to cybersecurity threats. Now, he builds on that foundation by exploring how the engineering industry can reduce risk during the design and planning stages. He outlines six key strategies, including the appointment of a technolog...
In this episode, host Jerry Eyink welcomes Lillian Borrone to share valuable insights on career choices and lessons learned in the construction industry. Lillian retired from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as Assistant Executive Director and served over 12 years as Director of the Port Commerce Department, overseeing the New York and New Jersey Marine Terminals. She also served as a political appointee at the U.S. Department of Transportation and remains active on industry boar...
In this episode, host William O’Brien welcomes Doug Omichinski for a discussion on leading change within project organizations in the construction industry. Doug recently retired as a Principal Vice President and Corporate Manager of Construction for Bechtel. He has an extensive background in implementing best practices and technological innovations on projects and within organizations. In addition, he has conducted significant research with the Construction Industry Institute on Advanced Wor...
This week is Women in Construction week, and host Jerry Eyink welcomes Gretchen Gagel to discuss building women leaders in the construction industry. Gretchen shares her extensive journey in the industry and discusses the significance of inclusivity, allyship, and strong relationships. She describes the leadership qualities of successful women leaders, emphasizing authenticity and staying grounded in purpose and values. Gretchen offers her advice to women in the industry on navigating conflic...
Proactively managing and mediating construction disputes is essential to minimize risks and keep projects on track. In this episode, host Jerry Eyink is joined by Mike Loulakis, president and CEO of Capital Project Strategies, LLC, to discuss the root causes of construction disputes and strategies for effective resolution. With over 45 years of experience advising public and private sector owners on project delivery, procurement, and contracting, Mike provides expert insights into risk manage...
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