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Kelly Benedict needs to assist folks in development assist themselves.
The newly appointed head of innovation and transformation at Windfall, Rhode Island-based Gilbane Constructing Co., Benedict has twenty years of expertise main enterprise growth at Lendlease, Pepper Building and different contractors.
Right here, Building Dive talks with Benedict about Gilbane’s innovation priorities similar to carbon discount, find out how to deal with evolving cybersecurity threats and the alternatives girls have in development.
Editor’s Observe: This interview has been edited for brevity and readability.
CONSTRUCTION DIVE: What do you do in your innovation function at Gilbane?
KELLY BENEDICT: Each day is completely different, and each hour is completely different, as you may think about.
I am chairing our Innovation Council, which is comprised of 17 folks throughout the group of assorted completely different disciplines and completely different ranges.
Kelly Benedict.
Gilbane Constructing Co.
We have landed on 5 areas of focus for our digital transformation: a shared roadmap and innovation for the enterprise, course of simplification and collaboration, information analytics, clever constructing applied sciences and cybersecurity.
What we’re attempting to do is be very intentional, and look by and have interaction with the enterprise and establish the true ache factors. Are there processes that we will streamline earlier than we truly usher in and speak in regards to the expertise piece? That helps keep away from simply automating complexity.
I am additionally operating numerous digital boards with the groups the place we’re having facilitated conversations and we’re asking open-ended questions and actually understanding and studying from the enterprise what the ache factors are.
Cybersecurity is rising to the highest of mainstream threats to contractors and demanding infrastructure. How is Gilbane getting ready its cyber defenses?
We’re working with the board and the chief management crew and going by and evaluating our cyber dangers, as a result of it is going to be baked into our complete digital transformation.
We have numerous aims and we’re placing key measurements and outcome trackers in place to guarantee that we’re ready for the long run.
What is going to the largest game-changer, long-term, within the trade?
One of many issues I am most enthusiastic about is the chance within the trade to cut back the carbon footprint.
You are having coverage change, however you are additionally having the trades bounce in and wish to work on this effort collectively. I feel there’s numerous white house for innovation and discount of embodied carbon specifically for our trade.
We’re experimenting with embodied carbon with an organization known as CarbonCure, which provides recycled carbon dioxide to concrete to cut back the carbon footprint. We’re operating a reasonably large experiment with a really giant healthcare consumer out in Indiana.
What recommendation do you could have for ladies trying to become involved within the development trade?
I did not actually suppose this was a factor till Gilbane introduced my place. I heard again from so many individuals, folks I did not even know, writing and saying it is so nice that they put a lady on this place.
I feel it is much less in regards to the girl factor. I feel it is extra a few mindset.
I bear in mind once I was first put into the innovation roll over at my former firm. The CEO got here to me and he mentioned he needed me to do that function, this new factor known as innovation. I requested why me? He mentioned, “You do not stroll right into a room performing like you realize all of the solutions, and I would like any individual who understands the enterprise — understands what folks do, how we become profitable, how we lose cash — and work with the groups to develop the most effective concepts.”
I feel there’s numerous alternative for ladies within the trade, particularly now. It is in regards to the mindset of coming in and actually rolling up your sleeves, understanding what persons are going by and attempting to deliver actual options to the desk.