The Matthew Byrd Podcast

Is AI making it harder to get hired? As artificial intelligence transforms the job market, resumes are becoming harder to distinguish, automated applications are flooding employers, and qualified candidates are struggling to stand out. In this episode of the Matthew Byrd Podcast, Matthew sits down with Jessica Cafferty, founder and president of RNG Group, to explore what's really happening behind the scenes in recruiting, hiring, and entrepreneurship. With more than a decade of experience connecting companies with top talent, Jessica shares her perspective on the rise of what she calls "AI slop," why traditional hiring processes are struggling, and what candidates can do to get noticed. But this conversation goes far beyond resumes and recruiting. Jessica also shares her journey of building a business from scratch, the realities of entrepreneurship, and why listening, adaptability, and genuine human relationships remain essential to success. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Why AI-generated resumes are making it harder for candidates to stand out. How automated job applications are overwhelming hiring managers. What recruiters actually look for in a great resume. Why human connection is still one of the most powerful tools in business. How headhunters identify and recruit top talent. Why the best candidates aren't always actively looking for work. The realities of starting, sustaining, and growing a business. How AI is reshaping hiring decisions and the future of work. Why networking, initiative, and personal outreach can open doors that online applications can't. Whether you're looking for your next career opportunity, building a business, or trying to understand how AI is changing the workforce, this conversation offers valuable insights into what it takes to stand out. 00:00 Episode Preview 01:07 Meet Jessica Cafferty, Founder of RNG Group 03:53 From Corporate Burnout to Entrepreneurship 08:09 Taking Action and Building a Business 16:00 Starting a Business vs. Sustaining One 20:27 The Risks and Realities of Entrepreneurship 24:36 Why Great Teams Need More Than Entrepreneurs 27:30 How Headhunters Find the Right People 31:15 Why Hiring Decisions Go Wrong 34:15 AI Slop: The Problem With Modern Resumes 36:08 How to Make Your Resume Stand Out 43:00 Finding Talent That Isn't Looking for a Job 59:00 Why Human Connection Still Matters 1:11:00 How AI Is Reshaping the Job Market 1:25:20 How to Stand Out and Get Hired 1:43:00 The Importance of Listening and Humility

What happens when surveying, reality capture, and AI collide? On this episode of the Matthew Byrd Podcast, Matthew sits down with professional surveyor, educator, YouTube creator, and geospatial technologist Rami Tamimi to talk about where the surveying industry is headed—and why simply owning the latest technology isn’t enough. Rami breaks down the growing disconnect between survey knowledge and rapidly advancing tools like drones, laser scanners, mobile mapping, and AI. They dig into why understanding accuracy and fundamentals still matters, how Rami is already using AI in real-world surveying workflows, and why professionals who refuse to adapt could eventually find themselves left behind. They also get into Rami’s journey into surveying, building his YouTube channel and The Survey School, the importance of sharing knowledge, educating the next generation, and what separates someone who simply uses the technology from someone who truly understands it. Because as Rami puts it: “If you do ordinary things, you will have ordinary results.” Rami Tamimi joins Matthew Byrd for a conversation about surveying, technology, AI, education, and what it will take to succeed in the next generation of the geospatial industry.

What actually makes something a digital twin and when is it just a 3D model with a better name? Kelly Watt joins Matthew Byrd in the Reality Capture Network studio for a deep conversation about the evolution of reality capture, digital twins, LiDAR, AI and the technology changing how we understand and manage the physical world. Kelly traces an unconventional career that took him from telecommunications across Asia to early forensic laser scanning, FARO, large-scale reality capture projects and eventually complex digital twin initiatives at DFW Airport. Along the way, Kelly and Matt unpack what years of testing emerging technology taught him about being an early adopter, why impressive-looking data still needs validation, and why organizations need to start with the business problem instead of the latest piece of technology. They also tackle one of the industry's most misunderstood terms: DIGITAL TWIN. Kelly breaks down why a digital twin is more than a static 3D representation, why the data and relationships behind the visualization matter, how information silos can be connected, and how AI could dramatically accelerate the ability to organize, validate and use that information. But as AI becomes more capable, another question emerges: Are we becoming better at using technology or becoming too dependent on it to think for us? From reality capture and digital twins to AI, robotics, critical thinking and the future of work, this conversation is about much more than technology. It's about learning how to question it, test it and understand where you fit as the industry changes.

What happens when you spend nearly 30 years mapping thousands of schools—and watch reality capture evolve from paper drawings and early CAD to LiDAR, digital twins, AI, and Gaussian splats? In this episode of the Matthew Byrd Podcast, Matthew sits down with Jeremy Pilgrim, Managing Director of Building Spatial Intelligence Limited, to explore the evolution of spatial data and where the industry could be headed next. Jeremy has worked on more than 5,000 schools across the UK, building an incredibly unique perspective on how buildings are documented, managed, maintained, and ultimately understood. The conversation dives into why collecting data is only the beginning. The real opportunity is connecting that information so buildings can become living spatial databases—linking assets, maintenance records, environmental information, safety data, and institutional knowledge together. Jeremy and Matthew also explore the rapidly changing technology behind reality capture, including SLAM, LiDAR, photogrammetry, Gaussian splats, AI, and the possibility that cameras could eventually replace LiDAR for many applications. They also discuss one of the industry's biggest challenges: we already have much of the technology needed to transform how buildings are managed. The harder problem may simply be getting people to use it. KEY TAKEAWAYS: • Why Jeremy built an entire career around mapping schools • How reality capture evolved from paper drawings and 2D CAD into connected 3D data • Why spatial data should be treated as a corporate asset rather than a project cost • The importance of connecting building data instead of simply collecting it • Why geospatial referencing can bridge information silos • How digital models can preserve institutional knowledge when experienced employees leave • Why AI could fundamentally change how we interact with building information • The growing role of photogrammetry, Gaussian splats, and camera-based capture • Whether cameras could eventually replace LiDAR for certain applications • Why the required level of accuracy should be driven by the use case • How capturing buildings throughout construction could create a true operational record • Jeremy’s vision for giving people “X-ray vision” into buildings • Why problem-solving may become more important than memorizing information in an AI-driven world • Jeremy’s advice for younger professionals: believe in yourself, take chances, and just do it CHAPTERS: 00:00 – Coming Up 01:29 – Meet Jeremy Pilgrim 03:37 – From Pipe Fitter to Computers and CAD 13:13 – Taking the Leap and Starting a Company 16:48 – Why Jeremy Focused on Schools 26:27 – From Floor Plans to Connected Spatial Data 37:09 – Why Schools Need Better Building Data 44:05 – UK vs. US Technology Adoption 54:08 – Bridging Data Silos with Geospatial Information 1:01:04 – Bringing AI Into Building Management 1:08:55 – Why Spatial Data Is an Asset, Not a Cost 1:10:10 – The Biggest Reality Capture Technology Challenges 1:13:10 – Will Cameras Eventually Replace LiDAR? 1:20:41 – The Missing Link Between BIM and Operations 1:22:05 – The Future: Giving Buildings “X-Ray Vision” 2:10:20 – Reality Capture Network and the Value of Industry Collaboration 2:17:14 – Jeremy’s Advice to His Younger Self Subscribe for more conversations with the innovators shaping the future of reality capture, digital twins, geospatial technology, and the built environment.

Ken Smerz has built one of the larger VDC companies in North America—but the road there was anything but predictable. After breaking away from a previous business, Ken and 11 members of his team found themselves with no money and working together from a local park. A major relationship with Intel eventually provided the financial “dry powder” they needed to launch forward. Today, Ken is the founder and owner of ZELUS, a VDC and reality capture company operating across the United States. In this episode of the Matthew Byrd Podcast, Ken sits down with Matthew to talk about the evolution of reality capture, what it actually takes to build and scale a business, and why he believes the opportunity ahead for scanning, BIM, VDC, digital twins and AI is enormous. From early LiDAR adoption and choosing the right technology for the job to surviving COVID, building great teams and learning when to pivot, Ken shares lessons earned through more than 16 years of entrepreneurship. They also explore where the industry goes next—including AI-powered feature extraction, the growing demand for operational digital twins, and a talent shortage that could become one of the industry's biggest challenges. KEY TAKEAWAYS: • Why early work with Intel helped provide the runway for ZELUS • How Ken and his team went from working in a park to building a nationwide VDC company • Why the reality capture industry may still be in its infancy • Why the demand for skilled scanning, BIM and VDC professionals could outpace the available talent • How owner adoption could accelerate the next wave of digital twins • Why choosing the right scanner for the right application matters • How AI could dramatically change point-cloud-to-BIM workflows • Why collaboration between reality capture companies may be more valuable than competition • The difference between growing a company and truly scaling one • Why successful entrepreneurs have to be willing to pivot • Why great businesses ultimately come down to “people, people, people” • Why young professionals should chase knowledge and experience before money