Shows
Deliberate WordsWhat A Week! | Universal Waste SpecsTo spec or not to spec....or HOW to spec.Architects & Hazardous Waste: Proceed with CautionAI's Next AsbestosWhose responsibility is the waste?Should the architect and specifier be aware of it?How should you document it?2025-07-1421 min
Deliberate WordsBending Metal. Building A Legacy. featuring Dick Bus of ATAS InternationalFrom a 14 year old kid bending sheet metal in his family's basement, to receiving a lifetime achievement award at 70 years old, Dick Bus of ATAS International, breaks down how to help build the metal industry. In this episode, Dick breaks down what it takes to build more than just a successful business. It's about investing in relationships, technology, and education—laying the groundwork not only for growth, but for lasting impact across the metal envelope industry.Dick shares how healthy competition inspired collaboration, how he read the market to dri...2025-06-3050 min
Deliberate WordsDriving Procurement Strategy - featuring Kevin Batche from IPSWhat do muscle cars and global procurement have in common? According to Kevin Batche, Vice President of Procurement at IPS (Integrated Project Services)—quite a bit. It’s all about timing, control, and having the right engine under the hood when the road gets unpredictable, like the current climate with global tariffs. Kevin is a mechanical engineer by trade and a Penn State graduate. His early career in the steel industry in western Pennsylvania laid the groundwork for a transition into the pharmaceutical sector—just as the industry began tightening capital project constraints. That real-world experience fuels his abi...2025-05-2958 min
Deliberate WordsShattering Expectations in the Glazing Industry featuring Chris McGrory from McGrory GlassWhat happens when you grow up in manufacturing surrounded by sheets of glass, the hum of cutting tools, and a father with a vision? You don’t just learn the business—you reshape it.In this episode, we sit down with Chris McGrory of McGrory Glass—a company that’s shattered expectations (and a few stereotypes) since its humble beginnings in 1984. From decorative and architectural to ballistic and fire-rated, Chris has taken the family trade far beyond the showroom—into the realm of safety, performance, and systems-based thinking.This isn’t just about panels and partitions...2025-05-0659 min
Deliberate WordsOne Hard Hat - The Model that Built Air Products Facility featuring Kevin Sell and Brandon Jordan from The Kwest GroupOne Hard Hat – The Concept that Built Air Products air and gas separation unit featuring Kevin Sell and Brandon Jordan from The Kwest GroupWhat does it take to deliver a world-class facility? A willing owner and a passionate contractor team—fully aligned under one vision.This is the Deliberate Words podcast, hosted by David Stutzman and Steve Gantner, leaders in Conspectus, the specification company….where words have a power that can create trust, transparency, and transform the process and can significantly impact the success of a construction project and team!In t...2025-03-2859 min
Deliberate WordsKeep Exploring | Keep Communicating featuring Matt Brennan from Part 3 and 'What the RFI?!' podcastWe found a kindred spirit with Matt Brennan- host of the podcast “What the RFI” with his ambition to improve project documentation and construction administration (CA) through that oh-so critical practice of communication!This is the Deliberate Words podcast, hosted by David Stutzman and Steve Gantner, leaders in Conspectus, the specifications company….where words have a power that can create trust, transparency, and transform the process and can significantly impact the success of a construction project and team!Beyond his podcasting success, Matt is an architect, a construction administration enthusiast, and a product specialist with 2025-02-2852 min
Deliberate WordsMEGA Collaboration on MEGA Projects Ensures Certainty featuring Michael Dubreuil of PTAGAs a new year kicks off, it is natural to look ahead with a bit, or a lot, of uncertainty. What risks lie ahead and how can they be managed? We invite Michael Dubreuil, managing partner of PTAG, to join us on to the show. He works on projects that can span decades!In this episode, Michael dives into collaborative contracting, which basically is IPD (integrated project delivery) on steroids. This powerful method of contracting provides balance, stability, and trust in the project team, providing confidence in risk sharing and management. Have you ever wondered how oil and g...2025-01-281h 01
Deliberate WordsThe Profile of a Good Owner - featuring Jack Mumma of UMD, BaltimoreThe idea of a good owner is more than just a philosophical idea or an anecdote. It is the member of the project team, who is intentional, aware, and deliberately behaves with responsibility to create a positive influence and success on the project. Jack Mumma is that owner. Jack, educated in philosophy and law, is the Executive Director of Construction and Facilities Strategic Acquisitions at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. His unique blend of legal expertise and philosophical insight sheds light on what it truly means to be a "good owner" in the realm of construction projects a...2024-12-171h 05
Deliberate WordsQuest for Quality Resources - featuring Colin Gilboy from 4specs.comSourcing product information can be tedious, time consuming, frustrating! Conspectus has been using 4specs.com for decades, and a reliable directory for information. No, this is not an infomercial. Instead we reveal the solution to the ongoing quest many are on to find a quality resource of building product content and manufacturers.Whether he's on a journey to connect with fellow ham radio operators or gathering insights for the specifying community, Colin Gilboy enjoys a good quest. Decades ago, he recognized that finding reliable, up-to-date product information is essential for creating timely and accurate project specifications. This und...2024-10-3058 min
Deliberate WordsCrunching Contracts, The Intersection of AI and Assessing Risk - Featuring Josh LevyDoes the construction industry need more attorneys, or do we simply need contractors to better understand the construction contract process? Josh Levy, CEO of Document Crunch and an attorney, believes it's all about understanding the process rather than hiring more lawyers. He offers deep insights into how they are helping project teams navigate the complex area of construction contracts.Many individuals are passionate about improving the construction industry through their expertise. In this episode, you will feel Josh's immense passion for making the industry safer and better through risk assessment and the negotiation process of construction contracts...2024-07-2554 min
Deliberate WordsRoulette, Rodeos, and the Role of a Casino Construction Manager Featuring Ken StonecipherSaddle up for high stakes and hard hats! Ken Stonecipher, corporate director of construction for Global Gaming Solutions joins us to chat about what its like to build in the world of casinos, with Native American tribes. As a true-blue rodeo guy, with a long career in construction, Ken knows a bit about risk and safety, culture and community, teamwork and coordination, and most importantly preparation. All of these play critical roles in running casino and racino projects for the Global Gaming Solutions. Join us as we uncover the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into building these type of...2024-07-0150 min
Deliberate WordsProcurement Mathematics featuring Jeff Sawyer from SimplarIn this episode we welcome Jeff Sawyer! Researcher, business leader and educator who is the director of strategy for Simplar – a world-leading procurement and an organizational management consultancy, and is president of the board of directors at the Center 4 Procurement, home of the RFP Doctor! Jeff, who considers himself the black sheep of construction research, introduces us to a new perspective in viewing the procurement process. A perspective that is backed by scientific data based on the results produced from executing thousands of projects, for hundreds of clients, across different contract delivery methods, in a large variety of geographic locat...2024-05-211h 00
Deliberate WordsDeconstructing the SPD - Featuring David Stutzman & Steve GantnerOrganization of information is critical when it comes to making design decisions, estimating costs, and constructing a building. Structuring project data in an efficient manner allows members of the project team to make rigorous analysis of options to compare cost, risk, performance and design attributes. This can be accomplished through the SPD, which stands for Systems and Performance Description. It is a way of documenting design in a highly efficient manner, offering tremendous value to the construction team. It combines an early project narrative with UNIFOMAT organization for ease of estimating. 2024-04-1240 min
Deliberate WordsBuilding Bonds - Friendship & Knowledge Exchange at the COAA ConferenceLet’s throw back to November, 2023 to the COAA Fall Conference in Orlando, FL. Our guests are: Cy Rangel of Purdue University, Carli Cole of HGA Architects, Sarah Delphin and Kamila Andrzejak from MD Anderson. In this episode host of Deliberate Words and president of Conspectus sits down with four colleagues who we have become friends with during our participation and attendance at COAA which stands for Construction Owners Association of America. This podcast is a peak into a discussion between Dave, Cy, Carli, Sarah and Kamila. It exemplifies why we, as specifiers, attend these conferences and get to...2024-03-1833 min