Podcast
Build Me Up
Hosted by Kraus-Anderson · EN
Build Me Up shares inspiring stories of innovators in the built marketplace. It's hosted by Kraus-Anderson's Laurisa Titterud and Kaitlin McCoskey. KA is a Midwest construction management firm, realty, development, insurance and financial services company. The podcast is designed to meet the needs of leaders and aspiring innovators in the construction industry.
100episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Mass Timber and Sustainable Building
Apr 9, 202400:51:07Tap to summarizeAt "Build Me Up," we've noticed a surge in articles discussing the use of mass timber in construction. While timber has been a construction staple for centuries, conversation about it has increased due to its role in addressing sustainability issues, particularly embodied carbon. Advancements in timber products, like cross-laminated or glue-laminated timber, have enhanced its strength, prompting the industry to take a fresh look at this long-used material. Kevin Bright, KA's Sustainability Manager, and Chad Rempe, KA's Design Phase Services Manager, join the podcast. Together, we delve into the realm of mass timber, aiming to debunk assumptions about embodied carbon and its significance in construction.
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2024 Industry Lookahead
Mar 26, 202400:43:14Tap to summarizeBack by popular demand, "Build Me Up" invited FMI's Partner and Managing Director of Research and Analytics, Jay Bowman and KA's EVP and COO Rich Jacobson back to chat! They join us each year as we give in to a look ahead for the year. Jay specializes in construction spending forecasts, strategic planning, and research and analytics for the A/C/E industry. We talk about strategic planning, tech, workforce challenges, and industry trends for 2024. Jay brings in the national perspective of what we can expect, and Rich gives a more focused, local approach of what is going on in the Midwest market.
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The Learning Jet: Where Passion For Aviation Takes Flight
Feb 13, 202400:45:58Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Laurisa and Lisa delve into the fascinating world of The Learning Jet with our special guests, Steve Hurvitz and Kraus-Anderson's Doug Jaeger! Wonder what The Learning Jet is and what it does? The Learning Jet's primary goal is to ignite students' passion for STEM subjects by immersing them in aviation education programs and activities. As the nation's pioneering nonprofit organization of its kind, they've transformed a Boeing 727 cargo jet into a one-of-a-kind classroom. Join us as we explore the innovative hands-on experiences The Learning Jet offers to students and community organizations alike.
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Season 5 Finale!!
Dec 5, 202300:09:51Tap to summarizeWow— Five seasons of "Build Me Up"! Thank you to all the guests who participated in Season 5, as well as to our listeners. We're grateful to have a platform where stories that build up the community can be shared. See you in the New Year!
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PowerGirls: Catapulted into the World of the Trades
Nov 21, 202300:40:44Tap to summarizeThis week, Abbie Lown from Girl Scouts of River Valley, Barb Pecks from the Carpenters Union, and Laurie Trousil, Kraus-Anderson's Director of Diversity and Inclusion, join Build Me Up. The group talks about the Girl Scouts' Power Girls program which focuses on exposing middle school and high school girls to the trades and the impact it's having on not only the girls but their families as well. We also discuss the current state of women in the trades and what keeps some women from looking at trade work as a viable career. Kraus-Anderson recently sponsored an event at the Carpenters Union with the Girl Scouts, so we recap the day's activities and discuss the possibility of future events.
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Simulating Success: How HealthPartners Fosters Growth through Simulation
Oct 24, 202300:51:28Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Lisa and Laurisa chat with the awesome folks from the HealthPartners Clinical Simulation Program. The group dives into the different procedures they practice, as well as discusses the lab's interesting features. Learn how the team uses this tool to boost the skills, both hard and soft, of the healthcare workers to make the patient experience even better. Discover the importance of simulation technology and the big difference it's making in healthcare.
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The All-Encompassing Nature of Parks and Recreation
Oct 10, 202300:53:59Tap to summarizeDirector of Parks and Recreation for the City of New Brighton Jennifer Fink, Parks Superintendent for the City of Eagan Chris Fleck, and Eric Quam, a project manager in Kraus-Anderson's Government sector join this week's episode of "Build Me Up." We chat about the impact parks have in our lives (especially post-COVID), the many "hats" Jennifer and Chris wear in their jobs, how fulfilling a career in Parks + Rec can be, and more! "What I hear when I'm being yelled at is people caring really loudly..." -Leslie Knope
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Tomorrow's Reality: Artificial Intelligence with Justin Grammens
Sep 26, 202300:55:03Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we'll discuss all things artificial intelligence (AI) with Justin Grammens – a local educator and AI expert. With much discussion surrounding ChatGPT, Bard, and other AI-related tools, we're diving in to find out what its impacts are and will be on our lives – both at home and at work. What is it? Where does it get its information? How reliable is it, and how is it being used? Join us as we take a look into the future with this local expert. More about Justin Grammens and his work below: Bio: Justin Grammens is a lifelong learner, passionate about Software Development and Artificial Intelligence, and enjoys giving back to the community through non-profit organizations and teaching. He is the Founder and CEO of Recursive Awesome, a management consulting firm helping executives leverage Artificial Intelligence to bring efficiency and automation to their business. He is the Founder and CEO of Lab651, where his team helps companies quickly and efficiently build their custom software applications by guiding them with a proven process and talent to a successful release. He is the owner of IoT Weekly News, a co-founder of AppliedAI and Captovation, the host of the Conversations on AppliedAI Podcast, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Saint Thomas in their Graduate Programs in Software. A proven leader and builder of technology, Justin speaks regularly at meetups, conferences, and on the Lab651 and AppliedAI YouTube channels. Grammens was named one of the (Real) Power 50 by Minnesota Business Magazine and launched the first-ever Artificial Intelligence conference in Minnesota. He is a mentor to students of all ages through CoderDojo Twin Cities and Macalester College's MacStartups program. Most importantly, he is blessed to have a loving wife and two amazing boys who are the light of his life. - Myself https://justingrammens.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/justingrammens https://twitter.com/justingrammens My Business on Artificial Intelligence Consulting https://recursiveawesome.com My business on Software Development https://lab651.com My Business Using AI Speech Coach https://captovation.ai Applied AI & Emerging Technologies North Conference - https://appliedaiconf.com Monthly Meetup - https://appliedai.mn Podcast - https://podcast.appliedai.mn YouTube Channel - https://video.appliedai.mn Weekly Curated News - https://appliedaiweekly.com Monthly Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/appliedai/signup LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/appliedai-mn Emerging Technologies North - https://www.emtechnorth.org/ University of Saint Thomashttps://software.stthomas.edu/about/faculty-staff/biography/justin-grammens/ Resources: Gartner Hype Cycle - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gartner_hype_cycle Ideaflow - https://www.ideaflow.design/
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A Referendum Reflection with White Bear Lake
Sep 12, 202300:55:50Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we'll discuss the 2019 White Bear Lake referendum experience with Kraus-Anderson's retired director of K-12 project planning and development, Tony Sjolander, and Tim Wald from the White Bear Lake School District. While work is in full swing and the new high school is being built, we wanted to hear from Tony and Tim as they reflect on the referendum experience. We discussed the process and details of what went into passing the referendum, the challenges they faced in communicating the District's needs to the community, and the planning it took to pass the (now second) largest referendum in Minnesota's history.
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Navigating Healthcare Facilities: Expert Insights for Long-Term Planning
Aug 29, 202300:40:37Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we're joined by Northfield Hospital + Clinics' Director of Facilities, Scott Norman, Kraus-Anderson's Director of Facilities Assessment, Tim Kittila, and Kraus-Anderson's Director of Project Planning and Development (Healthcare Group), Mike Stark. The group chats about Scott's experience with KA's facility assessment team— how it's impacted the hospital and assisted with long-term planning.
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