Resources

John McManus, an award-winning editorial and digital content director for the Residential Group at Hanley Wood in Washington, DC, joins Clark Ellis to discuss John’s perspective on what is most interesting and most pressing for homebuilders to consider in the…

Kelcey Henderson speaks with Steve Dapper (P&G) in the second episode of a two-part miniseries on Lean Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) projects that won the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) Project Excellence award in 2018. They discuss this unique project experience…

Stephen Mulva, speaks with Geoff Ryan of Insight-AWP. Geoff has served on the Construction Owners Association of Alberta Workface Planning committee and was one of the key contributors in the development of the industry model for Workface Planning.  Listen to…

We strive to find and highlight innovation across the building and construction industries. Sometimes we find it in places that we wouldn’t necessarily expect. Please enjoy our conversation with Zenon Radewych, Principal with WZMH Architects in Toronto, Canada. Learn how…

Kelcey Henderson speaks with Scott Rice (P&G) and Kevin Anderson (Fluor) in the first episode of a two-part miniseries on Lean Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) projects that won the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) Project Excellence award in 2018. They discuss…

The Built Revolution podcast, including co-sponsoring host Stephen Mulva of CII, was thrilled to welcome Ted Blackmon of Construct-X to the show to discuss technology in the capital program delivery space. Ted’s background – he actually worked on the first…

The Internet of Things, where all of the physical devices that surround us are connected to the Internet and become super-powered by Big Data, is beginning to impact the built environment. The implications for facility owners, architects, designers, construction companies…

Dr. Pamela Meyer, author of The Agility Shift, joined the Build Revolution podcast to share her thoughts on agility and how to “make shift happen”. Dr. Meyer quoted an MIT study that found that highly agile organizations grow revenue 37%…

Barry Schrock from Chemours and Connie McLaughlin from KBR talk about a recent project involving the implementation of iPad’s in the field. Barry and Connie share insightful lessons learned on how to drive innovation from the top down and build…

Kristen Hansen, world renowned expert on neuroscience and leadership and author of Traction, sits down with Gretchen Gagel to discuss leadership, performance and more. 

Storytelling is a hot topic in management today, and the Built Revolution was thrilled to welcome Gabrielle Dolan, author of “Stories for Work: The Essential Guide to Business Storytelling”, to the show. Gabrielle shares tips for how storytelling helps build…

Ever had a great idea but nobody would listen? Advocating for ideas is an important skill in this era of change and the need for innovation in our industry. The Built Revolution welcomed University of Texas Professor John Daly, who…

The construction industry is realizing that the “soft skills” are really the “hard skills” and are critical to our ability to collaborate on construction programs. Dr. Peter Senge, famed author of the The Fifth Discipline, joined the Built Revolution to…

The Built Revolution was thrilled to welcome acclaimed author and Harvard Professor Emeritus Michael Beer to our podcast. Mike shares critical ideas about building a resilient, agile organization, both from his past books such as High Commitment, High Performance, and…

Unfortunately, Howard Ashcraft can’t make you a martini via the podcast, but he can answer a lot of your common questions about Integrated Project Delivery contracting and how to truly change the way you collaborate with your partners. In this…

Kelcey Henderson speaks with Ryan Maibach, President of Barton Malow, about innovation and driving efficiency through people and relationships. Ryan discusses Barton Malow’s innovation framework, as well as re-imagining and re-imaging the construction industry. In the future, our industry will…

Kyle Majchrowski’s LinkedIn profile says he has a passion for recognizing reality with others, and bringing folks together to collectively improve our reality. Eight years ago, he and a few colleagues created a forum to discuss common challenges in construction…

Tom Chermack, noted author, scholar and consultant, talks about scenario planning and its application to the construction industry. In today’s world of velocity and disruption, scenario planning is a critical tool to help organizations “think the unthinkable” and prepare themselves…

World renowned management guru Chris Worley is tough to catch – but The Built Revolution managed to connect with him at last months’ Academy of Management conference in Chicago. Chris, co-author of The Agility Factor, is a leading scholar and…

The Built Revolution welcomed Lori Traweek, Chief Operating Officer of the American Gas Association, who shared thoughts on innovation in the gas utility industry, as well as insightful remarks on leadership and the energy industry in general.

On this episode of the Built Revolution podcast, Mona Haggag spoke with Charlie Atkinson and Brian Koches on Jacobs’ role as the construction manager for the award-winning $350M design-build GSA LA Courthouse project. This successful execution of the design-build delivery…

The Built Revolution was thrilled to have Eric Lamb, Executive and Board Member of DPR Construction as a guest. Eric shared how the organization’s work with Jim Collins during its founding in 1990 created the foundational values, such as “ever…

Ed Schein, recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on culture and leadership, is professor emeritus of MIT and author of several known books. Ed and his son, Peter, joined The Built Revolution to share insights on how leadership…

In 2015, General Motors made the decision to sole-source a $1B construction program with Barton Malow, effectively breaking the mold for how GM engages with their construction partners. A team of leaders from both organizations made the decision to strategically…

Brent Darnell has been working to help the building and construction industry understand how to leverage emotional intelligence to improve performance for 20 years. During this podcast, Brent shares his insights on how our industry can benefit from understanding emotional…

Gretchen Gagel sits down with the Executive Director of Bridges to Prosperity, Avery Bang. Avery talks about her recently released Ted Talk and what it was like to be on the “big stage” for Ted versus doing her earlier TedX.…

Gretchen Gagel of Continuum Advisory Group speaks with Rex Miller, Author of The Healthy Workplace Nudge and influential speaker and consultant in the Construction Industry. Rex talks about the ability to see forward, develop the insight to adapt and follow…

Kelcey Henderson Named New President of Continuum Advisory Group Founder of Construction Advisory Firm Succeeds Gretchen Gagel RALEIGH, NC (May 1, 2018) — Continuum Advisory Group has announced that Kelcey Henderson will succeed Gretchen Gagel as president of the firm.…

Continuum Advisory Group President, Gretchen Gagel, speaks with Linda Holbeche, author and Adjunct Professor at Imperial College London and a Visiting Professor at City University’s Cass Business School, at the University of Derby, and at London Guildhall Faculty of Business…

Continuum Advisory Group President, Gretchen Gagel, speaks with Barb Jackson, Director – Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management, University of Denver. They discuss revolutionary thinking and innovation within the construction industry.

Continuum Advisory Group President, Gretchen Gagel, speaks with Jan Tuchman, Editor in Chief of ENR Magazine. They discuss the importance of technology and innovation within the industry, driving diversity, lean practices and more.

2018 is off to a busy start for our team at Continuum Advisory Group.  We are working with several firms in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction space to build their strategic business development plans for the next five years.  With…

Episode 3 of the Built Revolution features Noé H. Sáenz, Burns & McDonnell’s business development leader of its petrochemicals sector and founder of the Capital Projects Professional Exchange (CPX), the first association for capital project professionals (individuals) across all disciplines.

What happens when a business consistently tells Wall Street it is going to construct a specific amount of capital improvements each year but consistently misses? And what happens when any type of owner organization must react quickly to changes in regulations by replacing a significant amount of its asset base but can’t?

Episode 2 of the Built Revolution continues our conversation with initial podcast guest Stephen Mulva, Director of the Construction Industry Institute. Please enjoy our conversation as Stephen shares some of his thoughts on how the Construction Industry can transform itself…or…

RALEIGH, NC (December 18th, 2017) — Continuum Advisory Group has released the inaugural episode of their new podcast, Built Revolution. Built Revolution is a podcast about how to transform the construction industry, how it’s already being transformed, and how professionals…

Continuum Advisory Group is proud to announce the first installment of “The Built Revolution Podcast”. Our initial guest on the podcast is Stephen Mulva, Director of the Construction Industry Institute. Please enjoy our conversation as Stephen shares some of his…

Like any industry facing sweeping change, we can either choose to innovate and surpass expectations — or we can sit back and let the shift overcome our businesses.

This year’s CURT (Construction Users Roundtable) conference was centered around a simple idea: excellence in total project performance. But like any great idea, the steps to bring it to life can be far from simple. Our annual owners study seeks…

Last week, Stephen Mulva and CII unveiled a draft Manifesto, which you can read in full below, calling for transformational change in our industry. Continuum Advisory Group has been a proud partner in this effort, coordinating workshops throughout the country…

The recent decision by the United States International Trade Commission, in which the commission found that cheap imported solar panels and modules have harmed domestic panel manufacturers, is creating a good deal of uncertainty about the future of the solar…

Two of Continuum Advisory Group’s Senior Consultants, Nate Scott and Kelcey Henderson, just returned from an 11 day trip to India. Outside of it being a wild, unique adventure for both, full of many cows and heart-pounding traffic experiences, there was excellent progress made with one of Continuum Advisory Group’s global, multi-billion dollar clients. The challenge for Nate and Kelcey? Introduce Continuum Advisory Group’s proprietary Integrated Team Performance (ITP) processing addition to various Lean tactics, to a multicultural Indian-based construction team responsible for the construction of a large manufacturing facility.

This year’s CURT (Construction Users Roundtable) national conference was centered around a simple idea: excellence in total project performance. But like any great idea, bringing it to life can be far from simple. Our annual owners study seeks to outline…

The 2017 Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) Owner Trends Study – a collaboration between CURT and Continuum Advisory Group – focuses on excellence in total project performance in the capital construction industry. In this video, Gretchen Gagel goes over the study results. Data…

The purpose of owner E/C/F (Engineering, Construction, and Facilities) teams may seem obvious: build stuff so that business happens. You wouldn’t be wrong, in the same way that a computer’s purpose is to “do math fast.” The strategic benefits of…

“Lean” is a popular term these days. Its principles of improved productivity and minimal waste can be applied to almost any industry or operation. But to truly understand it, you should go back to its original application.

Continuum Advisory Group recently released the 2017 Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) Owner Trends Study, the newest installment of their Owner Trends series. The study – a collaboration between both organizations – focuses on excellence in total project performance in the capital…

We often equate work ethic with raw hours spent. But all that time behind a desk can have a serious impact on physical health…which matters as much for a great leader as any skill or business acumen.

Leaders are more effective when they exercise. In turn, your organization is more effective.

Building information modeling – or BIM – is a powerful business platform that uses 3D visualization to convey a building’s materials, construction, and architecture. Its complexity and power have made it ideal for large-scale commercial projects…but the time is coming for its use in single family and multifamily residential applications.

One of the core beliefs of Continuum Advisory Group is alignment. Put simply, alignment is all stakeholders in an organization being on the same page. Sometimes its scope is smaller – a two-person partnership, a business unit, or a project…

Welcome to Spring. How’s it feel? Pretty good for most of us, we’d say. Things are looking up for the building industry: this year, 73 percent of construction firms expect to hire new people to address demand. It’s a hopeful…

Looking at organizational agility is like looking at a spider web. The first level of observation is an entire, beautiful creation, a single unit. It’s just there; you don’t think much about how it was actually built. But look closer…

Continuum Advisory Group has released the 2017 Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) Owner Trends Study, the newest installment of their Owner Trends series.
The study – a collaboration between both organizations – focuses on organizational agility in the capital construction industry. Organizational agility is a measure of a company’s ability to rapidly adapt to a changing market, either proactively or reactively.

The purpose of owner E/C/F (Engineering, Construction, and Facilities) teams may seem obvious: build stuff so that business happens. You wouldn’t be wrong, in the same way that a computer’s purpose is to “do math fast.” The strategic benefits of that…

The purpose of owner E/C/F (Engineering, Construction, and Facilities) teams may seem obvious: build stuff so that business happens. You wouldn’t be wrong, in the same way that a computer’s purpose is to “do math fast.” The strategic benefits of that…

A few weeks ago, between a series of meetings with a homebuilder client, I was asked if I wanted try out their virtual reality prototype, which involved me donning a pair of heavy goggles and clumsily shuffling around within a…

Each year, Continuum Advisory Group partners with the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) to conduct an owner trends study. This year’s study was focused upon Excellence in Total Project Performance, and as we delved into the research an interesting theme arose around owner and A/E/C partner relationships. Specifically, what more these groups needed from one another to achieve project excellence.

At the 2017 CURT National Conference in Chandler Arizona, Gretchen Gagel, President and COO of Continuum Advisory Group, presented the preliminary findings of the CURT and Continuum Advisory Group annual Owner Trends Study. Through this year’s study we explored the following.

A recent article from the Harvard Business Review says trust starts with the brain. What about your professional relationships? How can you build trust at work?

This week, Continuum Advisory Group and the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) will share the results of the 2017 owner trends study, focused on Excellence in Total Project Performance.

Amazon is no stranger to stirring things up, and their newest invention is no exception. Yesterday, I read an article about their first grocery store in Seattle – a pilot for now, but it’s really happening – with no cashiers…

Do you remember the classic episode of I Love Lucy, where our favorite comedienne got a job at a chocolate factory? The bosses kept speeding up her conveyor belt, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t keep up.…

Women make up 8.9 percent of the construction workforce.[1] Our industry has an inability to attract women and lack of flexibility may play a bigger part than we’re willing to admit. Changing the conversation around work-life balance will be critical…

The purpose of owner E/C/F (Engineering, Construction, and Facilities) teams may seem obvious: build stuff so that business happens. You wouldn’t be wrong, in the same way that a computer’s purpose is to “do math fast.” The strategic benefits of…

Modern-day companies tend towards size or complexity (the two are not mutually exclusive.) Both paths allow for highly specialized functions and a diverse array of abilities. This comes at the cost, however, of agility. Capital construction asset owners in particular…

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a psychological phenomenon that reveals a humorous, but worrying part of human nature. It dictates that people often perceive their ability inverse to their actual ability. Those with skill undervalue themselves, and those without overvalue themselves.…

The demands upon internal Engineering, Construction and Facilities (E/C/F) groups are increasing. They are being asked to do more with less faster to accomplish strategic business objectives. Continuum Advisory Group found this and more to be true in a recent…

The purpose of owner E/C/F (Engineering, Construction, and Facilities) teams may seem obvious: build stuff so that business happens. You wouldn’t be wrong, in the same way that a computer’s purpose is to “do math fast.” The strategic benefits of…

The purpose of owner E/C/F (Engineering, Construction, and Facilities) teams may seem obvious: build stuff so that business happens. You wouldn’t be wrong, in the same way that a computer’s purpose is to “do math fast.” The strategic benefits of…

What happens when a business consistently tells Wall Street it is going to construct a specific amount of capital improvements each year but consistently misses? And what happens when any type of owner organization must react quickly to changes in regulations by replacing a significant amount of its asset base but can’t?

September 13th and 14th Matt Marshall, Senior Consultant with Continuum Advisory Group, participated in the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) Member Meeting and Forum entitled “Owners In Transition: Doing More With Less.”

Where do we find opportunity for competitive separation in an environment with such constrained resources? As a homebuilder, how do we deliver high quality homes to our customers on time with a depleted trade base and high internal turnover? As a trade contractor, how do we establish a productive relationship with the builder that’s built on trust and transparency, in turn allowing us to meet their expectations regardless of our own internal capacity? As a supplier, how do we communicate our strategic capabilities in a way that addresses a builder’s cycle time challenges?

Doing More With Less Cars are a microcosm of human technology. We pour millions of dollars and hours into extracting more and more from arguably the same stuff: gas and metal. And efficiency isn’t just gas mileage, either. Take the…

The construction business is not always one for subtlety. When you’re building something huge – say a factory – brute force can seem like an effective way to power through the complexities of workforce coordination, materials management and other hurdles.…

When you think procrastination, laziness is definitely adjacent.

Procrastination is a big problem in the construction industry, but for entirely different reasons. Most builders learn quickly that outright laziness is not an option in an industry driven by deadlines, high production standards and shifting customer demand. Instead, procrastination in construction is a bit more complex.

An often-heard term at Continuum Advisory Group is “the Utility of the Future”. This most often describes a shift to new or emerging technology that will define a new era of efficient operation. It can change how construction takes place…

Order Takers or Value Creators? Your Engineering, Construction, and Facilities (E/C/F) Department Your facility is sort of like a favorite jacket. You wear it every day, so often that you forget it’s there. You walk through rain and wind, fixed…

While those embedded in corporate engineering, construction and facilities (E/C/F) teams have long understood the value they create for the corporate bottom line, internal business customers may not realize the vital role these teams could play in enabling corporate success. The role served by corporate E/C/F teams is becoming increasingly critical to the success and survival of the corporation. The Construction Industry Institute (CII) and Continuum Advisory Group joined forces to better understand the relationship between the internal E/C/F departments and the overall corporate strategic plan.

In the homebuilding industry, there is an unfortunate phenomenon in the 4th quarter. It is an intense time when up to 60% of units are closed in just a few months. Partners are pushed to their limits, employees work long…

On Tuesday, June 28th, Brandon Hart (Senior Consultant) and Clark Ellis (Principal) of Continuum Advisory Group spoke to members of the Greater Orlando Builder Association on one of the industry’s hottest topics: the trade shortage.  The repercussions of the recession…

In the homebuilding industry, there is an unfortunate phenomenon in the 4th quarter. It is an intense time when up to 60% of units are closed in just a few months. Partners are pushed to their limits, employees work long…

In the homebuilding industry, there is an unfortunate phenomenon in the 4th quarter. It is an intense time when up to 60% of units are closed in just a few months. Partners are pushed to their limits, employees work long…

Continuum Advisory Group has released the 2016 Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) Owner Trends Study, the newest installment of their Owner Trends series.
The study – a collaboration between both organizations – focuses on organizational agility in the capital construction industry. Organizational agility is a measure of a company’s ability to rapidly adapt to a changing market, either proactively or reactively.

Imagine you’re out on the ocean at the helm of a sail boat. It’s dark, late at night, and the stars are hidden by the clouds. In the precious light you have, you glance down at a damp map…only to…

The stay-at-home mom is becoming increasingly rare. According to the US Department of Labor, over 60% of women with children under three hold down a job. This is compared to just over 30% in 1976! As traditional gender roles disappear,…

Your organization needs to change. You might not know it yet, but you’ll find out. You may learn it when your costs are rising faster than your prices can increase. It might be obvious when skilled staff don’t come flooding…

The 4th quarter is a time most homebuilders should be coasting to a smooth finish. It’s a time to prepare a new budget, brainstorm new strategies, and learn from the highs and lows of the past twelve months. Unfortunately, this…

We all know that planning ahead is always wise. Yet in the homebuilding industry, many find themselves in a last minute December scramble. In a time where you should be discussing next year, drafting a budget and coasting into the…

Residential Industry Summary A new year is upon us, and so are the predictions. Housing starts are expected to come in north of 1.1 million in 2015, decent growth from the previous year. Despite a minor slippage in the closing…

My dad built my first sandbox. Located a few paces on to the back lawn, it was a place where I met my friends for hours of fun. All of our 6-year-old worries were parked outside of the homemade wooden…

Centers of excellence should be a catalyst for developing a process-driven culture that is focused on delivering world-class results.

Clark Ellis, Principal with Continuum Advisory Group, and author of the recent article featured on builderonline.com “Moneyball for Homebuilders: Take an ‘everything matters’ approach to operations, and ‘small ball’ will get you the wins”, was recently invited to join an…

At Continuum, we get a little excited when baseball starts. We love the game, and of course the weather that comes along with it. If you’re in the same boat, our recent Big Builder article is for you. We see a big…

Take an ‘everything matters’ approach to operations, and ‘small ball’ will get you the wins. “Pitchers and catchers reporting.” There may be no sweeter four words in the English language when they are assembled in the preceding phrase. Along with…

The operational challenges of serving the first time homebuyer segment in 2015 are different and more problematic for most builders than they were between 2000 and 2007. With significant margin risk, working capital management requires a sharper focus from management.…

Continuum Advisory Group advises homebuilders on how to eliminate waste from their business, develop scalability, achieve profitable growth, and realize enterprise value.

Ten years ago, I left the construction industry because I needed a change. I wanted a break from the constant travel, and I wanted to get to know my home town of Denver again. So I took an opportunity to…

These are sage words of wisdom, especially when one considers this advice within the context of the U.S. construction industry. Capital asset owners — large American corporations and government agencies who spend roughly one trillion per year to construct pipelines,…

A strong estimator that is trained to accurately estimate a house and understands material management at the field level can be a home-run hire for any homebuilder. Unfortunately, in-house estimating functions were largely eliminated during the downturn. Most builders outsourced…

[mpc_button text="View Publication" url="http://utilitycontractoronline.com/index/webapp-stories-action?id=993" icon="link" size="big" color="#999999" color_hover="#ffffff" background="#f5f5f5" background_hover="#216189"] Success in 2015 Depends on Being Flexible in the Utility Market. In an environment that will exhibit disruption and change, being nimble is a necessity. The concept of being flexible…

Survivors Proactively Structure the Capital Sourcing Process to Fit their Requirements While Victims React to What is Offered Banks are re-entering the market and are looking for new customers. Funds have been raised and investors are looking for opportunities to…

As our industry recovers from the “Great Recession” and student debt grows, the construction industry rates as a strong educational investment. Recent research conducted by The Hamilton Project analyzed Census Bureau data to compare lifetime earnings of different college majors. Not surprisingly, engineering fields…

While Trade Capacity Concerns Take A Breather, Smart Builders Take Advantage How well do you know the supply base in your market or markets? Are you controlling the best resources or are you taking second or third best as compared…

I’m pleased to announce that Continuum Advisory Group’s Survivor or Victim series is now being published on Hanley Wood’s Builder Online under the Big Builder marquee. The series introduction on how to excel in a resource constrained environment, originally posted on the Continuum Advisory Group blog,…

The potential for the use of hydraulic fracturing as a technique to purse shale oil/gas in North Carolina has received lots of attention and recent legislation proposed by the state government might ease the path to using this technique that…

[mpc_button text="View Publication" url="http://www.pccaweb.org/images/stories/magazine/PCCAJournal2ndQuarter2014/index.html#13/z" icon="link" size="big" color="#999999" color_hover="#ffffff" background="#f5f5f5" background_hover="#216189"] In the immortal words of Led Zeppelin, the overall utility construction market has seen both good and bad times. The current market is perhaps the best in 60 years, and…

I really enjoyed speaking to the CURT YP group last week in Philadelphia at the Construction Users Roundtable Young Professionals Summit. This group of 75 of the next leaders in our industry, from owner organizations, contractors and engineering firms, came together for…

Mark Bridgers kicked off the AGA’s Utility Contractor Workshop on Tuesday, April 29 in Chicago with a speech entitled “Pipeline Construction Waves: Will You Thrash or Crash?” The speech outlined the drivers of the next several waves of pipeline construction…

Imagine that you were lost in the Arctic for months, or 7 years as the case may be. It has taken every ounce of your strength, endurance and resources to make it back to civilization alive, barely. You have lost…

An update on Trends Related to the Shale Oil/Gas Revolution – Power Production & Crude Oil Transport Continuum Advisory Group is continually tracking trends that will drive your business now and in the future. In this blog post I’ve provided a…

Mark Bridgers spoke on Tuesday, March 24 in Houston at the Pipeline Opportunities Conference, sponsored by Oildom Publishing. This speech focused on the outlook for pipeline construction through 2035. Continuum has identified three waves of pipeline construction: one that is concluding,…

I am pleased to announce Part I of Continuum Advisory Group’s two-part series: The Past, Present and Future of Capital Construction. In this article we explore the economic cycles and key trends in capital asset construction of the past decade.…

These are sage words of wisdom, especially when one considers this advice within the context of the U.S. construction industry. Capital asset owners — large American corporations and government agencies who spend roughly one trillion per year to construct pipelines,…

[mpc_button text="Download PDF" url="https://www.continuumag.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/SurvivingInScarcity.pdf" icon="download" size="big" color="#999999" color_hover="#ffffff" background="#f5f5f5" background_hover="#216189"] This 2014 Utility Outlook investigates the spending, scarcity and opportunity in the Electric and Gas Transmission and Distribution; Water, Waste Water and Sewer; and Communication sectors. Suc­cessful contractors will recognize…

Virtually all large U.S. builders are losing an average of $2,000 to $4,000 per home due to inaccurate takeoff procedures, inflated waste factors and careless use of materials on site, according to research conducted by Continuum Advisory Group. Continuum has…