Shows
Talk to me about A&ECommunication and documentation – Cornerstone #3In Episode 41 of "Talk to Me About A&E," Dan Buelow, Managing Director for WTW A&E is joined by Mark Blankenship, Director of Risk Management for WTW A&E, for this discussion of the third cornerstone: communication and documentation. They discuss the importance of establishing and managing client expectations through effective communication practices, offering a range of examples and tips that can mitigate risk of costly claims and client disputes. 2025-06-2737 min
Talk to me about A&ENegotiating insurable contracts – Cornerstone #2In Episode 40 of "Talk to Me About A&E," Dan Buelow, Managing Director for WTW A&E is joined by Mark Blankenship, Director of Risk Management for WTW A&E, for a discussion on allocating risk by contract, which is the second cornerstone of managing design professional risk. The episode delves into the importance of contractual risk management and how it can help design professionals mitigate potential liabilities. 2025-05-1439 min
Talk to me about A&EAI risks and guidelines for design professionalsIn this Talk To Me About A&E podcast, we review the recently released ACEC Guidelines on the use of AI by Design Professional Firms. Dan Buelow is joined by Mark Blankenship, Director of Risk Management for WTW A&E and co-chair of the sub committee on AI for the ACEC Risk Management Committee. Dan and Mark discuss the inherent risks of AI when it comes to the design profession and important guidelines firms can adopt in managing this evolving technology – specifically: Governance and Approval Process; Sources and Tools and Guidelines for Practice.2025-01-3125 min
Talk to me about A&EManaging residential and condo riskIn episode #35 of Talk To Me About A&E Dan Buelow talks to attorney Jeff Coleman from the Minneapolis law firm Coleman & Ericksen, LLC about the professional liability risks associated with residential projects. Residential Projects are considered one of the riskiest project types for design professionals when it comes to professional liability claims. Dan and Jeff review the specific reasons why residential projects are so risky – especially condominium projects – and what proactive measures firms can take to mitigate their exposures to costly claims and client disputes.2024-07-1040 min
Talk to me about A&ESeven deadly wordsIn Episode 34 of "Talk to Me About A&E," Dan Buelow brings back Dale Munhall for a follow up discussion on their two part CA series, “Why we no longer stamp shop drawings”. In this episode Dale reviews his “Seven Deadly Words” and discusses the importance of avoiding specific words in contract documents that imply unauthorized changes by architects and engineers. The CA process is often vague and misunderstood and words can create significant liabilities and misunderstandings in contract administration. Dan and Dale discuss the importance of effective communication and documentation in order to maintain the integrity of the original c...2024-06-0638 min
Talk to me about A&EManaging M&A RiskWhether you are buying, selling, merging, acquiring or closing your practice, there are some important considerations for the design professional when it comes addressing your Professional Liability risks and prior acts exposures. Dan Buelow is joined by Doug Hamilton, head of underwriting for Allied World's A&E division to discuss the pros and cons of the specific insurance coverage options every firm should consider.2024-04-1033 min
Talk to me about A&EWhat’s Your Liability IQ? Part IIIn Part II of this podcast series on What’s Your Liability IQ? Dan Buelow continues his discussion with two former DPIC claim managers, Laura Gualiardo, Managing Director of Design Professional Liability Claims for Travelers, and Mark Blankenship, Director of Risk Management for WTW A&E. Dan, Laura and Mark review a number of questions from the DPIC Liability IQ and discuss current trends on a wide range of issues challenging design professionals including risks specific to stamping drawings, defining and managing scope and client expectations, documentation, contract formation, limiting liability, etc. A fun listen for all levels of staf...2024-03-0731 min
Talk to me about A&EWhat’s Your Liability IQ? Part IFor this podcast, Dan Buelow has a lively discussion on the DPIC liability IQ with some former DPIC claim managers, Laura Gualiardo, Managing Director of Design Professional Liability Claims for Travelers and Mark Blankenship, Director of Risk Management for WTW A&E. The DPIC liability IQ test was based on DPIC’s Lessons in professional liability written over 25 years ago. Dan’s discussion with Laura and Mark offers some keen insights into a wide range of critical risk management issues still facing architects and engineers today.2024-01-3037 min
Talk to me about A&EEmerging contract issuesIn this lively podcast discussion, Dan Buelow addresses four specific emerging contract issues design professionals face: withholding of fees, retaining ownership of documents, informed consent and getting named as an additional insured on the general contractor’s general liability policy. Dan is joined by Lou Gale, General Counsel for the Chicago based architecture firm, SCB and Mark Blankenship, Director of Risk Management for WTW Architects and Engineers.2024-01-0848 min
Talk to me about A&EManaging a PL Claim Part IIDan Buelow continues his discussion on professional liability (PL) claims with Anthony Carolei, Director of Risk Management for Professional Liability for Hanover's A&E program. PL claims are taking longer to settle and costing more to resolve. Understanding the process, including working with defense counsel, alternative dispute resolution and important coverage features and obligations in a design firm’s professional liability policy is critical.2023-12-1833 min
Talk to me about A&EManaging a PL Claim Part IDan Buelow continues his discussion on professional liability (PL) claims with Anthony Carolei, Director of Risk Management for Professional Liability for Hanover's A&E program. PL claims are taking longer to settle and costing more to resolve. Understanding the process, including working with defense counsel, alternative dispute resolution and important coverage features and obligations in a design firm’s professional liability policy is critical.2023-11-2333 min
Talk to me about A&EManaging a PL Claim Part IDan Buelow talks to Anthony Carolei about what a design firm can expect and should be prepared for when faced with a professional liability (PL) claim against their firm. Anthony, Director of Risk Management for Professional Liability for Hanover's A&E program, has considerable experience in handling complex PL claims and offers some excellent insight and advice on this process.2023-11-0131 min
Talk to me about A&EInsuring Single Projects Part IIDan Buelow continues his discussion with Ryan Brennan, Specific Project Professional Indemnity Lead for HDI Global Insurance Company in part II of this two-part series of insuring single projects. In this segment Dan and Ryan review the underwriting process that goes into assessing and pricing a PSPL on large complex projects and discuss the history of this coverage, the constriction of the current PSPL marketplace as well as the future outlook for this coverage.2023-09-1239 min
Talk to me about A&EInsuring Single Projects Part IDan Buelow gets into the weeds with a two-part series on insuring single projects with Ryan Brennan, Specific Project Professional Indemnity Lead for HDI Global Specialty SE. In part I, the discussion includes an overview of specific job excess (SJX) versus project specific insurance (PSPL). Dan and Ryan review the features and benefits of a PSPL from both the design professional’s and owner’s perspective and why this coverage is an important consideration for certain large project types.2023-08-3130 min
Talk to me about A&EManaging Design Risk in a Hybrid Work EnvironmentDan Buelow talks to Clark Davis, Partner and Principal Consultant with Cameron MacAllister, respected advisors to architecture and engineering firms. Clark and his group were recently commissioned by WTW A&E to conduct an industry wide survey of design firms across the United States about the impacts of remote/hybrid work on design and technical quality in design practice. Dan and Clark review the results of this nationwide survey from the input of over 200 design firms. 2023-07-2634 min
Talk to me about A&EWhy We No Longer Stamp Shop Drawings Part IIDan Buelow continues his discussion with Dale Muhall, Director of Construction Phase Services for LEO A DALY. Part I of this two-part podcast series on shop drawings reviewed Dale’s AIA Best Practices article “Why We No Longer ‘Stamp’ Shop Drawings,” and the misconceptions, risks and errors surrounding basic construction administration procedures. In part II, Dan reviews a series of questions raised by design professionals on this same topic during a recent WTW A&E webinar with Dale.2023-06-2320 min
Talk to me about A&EWhy We No Longer Stamp Shop Drawings Part ISeemingly mundane documents such as shop drawings and requests for information have been around for as long as designers have been designing and builders have been building. But costly misconceptions, risks and errors surrounding these basic construction administration procedures still abound. Dan Buelow talks to Dale Munhall, AIA, National Director of Construction Phase Services at LEO A DALY to discuss his Best Practices article “Why We No Longer ‘Stamp’ Shop Drawings."2023-05-2539 min
Talk to me about A&ECyber risk alert: Fraudulent funds transferWTW A&E has seen a recent rise in claims from design professional firms related to fraudulent fund transfers and rogue employees. Dan Buelow talks to two experts concerning this disturbing trend to get some advice on what firms need to do to mitigate this significant and pervasive risk. What is the standard of care of a design firm and what can firms do to mitigate this risk? Tara Albin, Midwest Region Cyber Leader and Liz Caldwell, Cyber Claims Leader from the WTW Cyber Group help us answer this question and share some claims stories as well as very...2023-04-2632 min
Talk to me about A&ENegotiating Limitation of LiabilityDan Buelow talks to Colleen Palmer, Risk Manager for Beazley DP, on the topic of negotiating limitation of liability (LOL) clauses in design professional agreements. Some firms have had considerable success in getting LOL clauses in their agreements. Dan and Colleen discuss the benefits of this clause and the arguments and rationale as to why LOL clauses are both important and reasonable to have in every professional agreement. We review some sample wording and tips on negotiating this important clause – and compare and contrast the benefits of an LOL compared to that of a design contingency and waiver of co...2023-03-2033 min
Catholic ChicagoBUILT ON THE ROCK -- Growing with the YearsIn our last show we interviewed Dan and Trish Buelow who have been married for over 35 years. Having met as
teenagers, they have consistently built their marriage on strong family ties, respect for each other and their
willingness to listen to the other. They have not been huge planners. They trusted more in Divine Providence than
in their own plans. In their parenting, they have insisted on following discipline and resisting the voices from the
outside. 2022-10-2430 minCatholic ChicagoBUILT ON THE ROCK -- An Interview with Trish and Dan BuelowCo-hosts Fr. Britto Berchmans and Sandy Labouvie interviewed Trish and Dan Buelow during the show. Married for over thirty five years, the couple has much wisdom to share. Through the ups and downs of their married life, they have maintained a strong sense of their Catholic Faith.2022-09-1531 min
Talk to me about A&EScope CreepEvery design firm is faced with managing scope creep and the challenges of project management to control resources to meet a certain objective by a specific date within a finite budget. Dan Buelow and guest Andy Mendelson from Berkley DP engage in an interactive discussion on how to manage the change process to maintain your client relationships and your firm's profitability through the use of some invaluable risk management tips – and effective communication and documentation practices.2022-01-2826 min
Fresh Takes On TechPMA Takes on Tech, Episode 39: Breakthrough Innovations at AeroFarmsAeroFarms is one of the early, venture funded Indoor Ag companies. In this episode, you will hear the interesting, long version of the origin story of the company. We also discuss the many partnerships and collaborations of AeroFarms and how the culture is built to support that. Roger Buelow, CTO + Stacey Kimmel, VP of R&D expand on AeroFarms innovations and vast R&D programs along with the building of the largest R&D indoor farm in UAE.2021-11-2346 min
Decades of Horror | Horror News RadioTrilogy of Terror (1975) "-- Zuni doll gibberish --" You might not know what he’s saying, but you’re definitely not hanging around to find out! Join your faithful Grue Crew - Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr - as they relive the impact they experienced when they first watched Trilogy of Terror (1975) from Dan Curtis. Decades of Horror 1970s Episode 108 – Trilogy of Terror (1975) Three bizarre horror stories all of which star Karen Black in four different roles playing tormented women. IMDB Directo...2020-01-101h 16