You do so many things beyond your actual job description—including authoring a workbook to introduce children and teens to construction and other careers. What sparked this passion outside of your regular job description?

I love my job at B&G, and that includes helping people. Whenever anybody at the office asks me to help somebody or I get a phone call or somebody reaches out, I’m there. I wanted to take that generosity and use it to make a difference across Alabama. I’m involved in helping high school students find their career paths because I feel like I can talk to them—if someone doesn’t know something and they want to learn, that’s a good way to find out. By putting that in a book, I felt like I could impact more students.

Why is this book—and other resources like it—important for the future of the construction industry?

The students don’t know what they don’t know and they don’t always know those careers are out there, and throughout the book, the students do career research themselves. My first intention with this book is to get it distributed across the state of Alabama. You could go to rural Alabama and it might help kids realize that they can go work for a place like Brasfield & Gorrie as a carpenter or a laborer or work their way up to superintendent, all with no college education.

What did the process of publishing look like for you?

Once I finally got it written, I used my skills as a project manager and did some of my own research, but I relied heavily on one of my coworkers and really good friends who works in the marketing department here at B&G. She comes from the journalism world—she did that before she came here. She was a major asset.

Do you have plans to create something else or do you have other things already in the works?

In a perfect world, this book would be available across the whole country, but I do have something in the works for next year.

As a former student-athlete at the University of Alabama, do you have a favorite Alabama tradition?

I ran track at Alabama on a scholarship, so I’m a huge Alabama sports fan. My husband—who I met at Alabama—and I have season tickets to the football games. We try to make it to every single one. My personal tradition is I always have to wear my Alabama jersey on game day whether I’m at the game or not.

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The post Brasfield & Gorrie’s Virnetta Woodbury first appeared on Construction Executive.

Contractors are increasingly pursuing work tied to power generation, utilities and site preparation as tech companies race to expand AI capacity nationwide. Industry leaders also noted growing challenges tied to labor availability, electrical equipment lead times and power access, which are becoming critical factors in where projects move forward. Despite those pressures, firms remain bullish on long-term demand for AI and data center construction.

SEE ALSO: NONRESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION SPENDING GROWTHS ON PUBLIC SECTOR STRENGTH IN APRIL

The post Data Center Demand Drives Construction first appeared on Construction Executive.

KEY FINDINGS FROM THE REPORT INCLUDE:

• Governance concerns: Nearly 80% of executives said they lack strong confidence their organization could pass an independent AI governance audit within 90 days.
• Performance divide: Companies with fully integrated AI are nearly four times more likely to report AI-driven revenue growth than organizations still in the pilot phase.
• Strategy gaps: While most companies are investing in AI, only 22% reported having a fully developed and implemented enterprise AI strategy.
• Workforce readiness: Just 12% of executives said their workforce is truly prepared to effectively use AI technologies.
• Construction and real estate investment: In the construction and real estate sector, 79% of boards have approved AI investments, but only 40% have established formal AI governance policies.

Grant Thornton noted that organizations seeing the strongest AI outcomes are prioritizing governance, employee training and measurable performance metrics as AI adoption accelerates across industries.

SOURCE: “2026 AI Impact Survey” Grant Thornton // grantthornton.com/insights/survey-reports/real-estate/2026/construction-and-real-estate-insights-2026-ai-impact-survey

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The post The AI Accountability Gap first appeared on Construction Executive.

Key findings from the report include:

• Break-ins surged: TrueLook monitored more than 2,600 confirmed construction site break-ins in 2025, up roughly 50% from 2024.
• Early 2026 trend: More than 800 break-ins had already been recorded early in 2026, suggesting theft activity continues to climb.
• Growing vulnerabilities: Copper wire, lumber, tools and heavy equipment remain prime targets as higher material prices increase resale value.
• Smarter security demand: Contractors are increasingly investing in AI-powered surveillance, remote monitoring and access-control systems to deter theft and reduce downtime.
• Schedule impacts: Beyond material losses, theft and vandalism continue to create costly project delays and workflow disruptions for contractors and owners.
• The report noted that many jobsites remain most vulnerable during overnight hours and periods of low activity, pushing more contractors to adopt proactive monitoring and layered security strategies.

SOURCE: “State of Construction Site Security” TrueLook // truelook.com/guide/state-of-construction-site-security-report

The post Jobsite Security Risks Rise first appeared on Construction Executive.

The national not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rate was 6.7% in March, up 1.3% from the same month in 2025. Construction payroll employment also increased by 58,000 jobs compared to a year earlier, though hiring growth has continued to slow.

States with the lowest construction unemployment rates included Oklahoma, South Dakota and Tennessee, while Rhode Island, Connecticut and Minnesota posted the highest rates.

ABC noted that rising energy prices, elevated interest rates, labor shortages and higher insurance and material costs are creating new pressure on contractors and developers. Those conditions are causing some projects to be delayed, scaled back or canceled, contributing to slower demand for construction workers in parts of the country.

SEE ALSO: NONRESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION ADDS 15,700 JOBS IN MAY

The post Hiring Holds Steady: Construction Workforce Weathers Economic Turbulence first appeared on Construction Executive.

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The post Eye in the Sky: A New Italian Ferris Wheel first appeared on Construction Executive.

DEEPER INTERGRATION OF DESIGN AND ESTIMATING

Today’s cloud-based tools have improved collaboration, but design and estimating still offer major opportunities for improvement. As projects grow more complex and timelines compress, tighter integration will become essential.

In the near future, design and estimating will be highly data-driven and in real time. Cost feedback will surface instantly as designs change, allowing teams to understand the financial impact of decisions as they’re made. RFIs, issues and design updates will flow seamlessly between design and preconstruction, reducing silos and helping teams identify problems earlier.

The result will be faster iterations, better alignment and greater transparency. Contractors gain stronger cost and schedule certainty, while owners and designers gain confidence in the decisions they make upstream.

PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS FOR PROACTIVE RISK MANAGEMENT

Predictive analytics already help teams anticipate budget and design risks, but their capabilities will expand significantly over the next several years. By analyzing historical data and patterns, AI will surface potential risks earlier and more accurately.

Machine learning will also inform broader contingency planning by accounting for factors like market volatility and supply-chain disruption. These insights will allow teams to adjust designs, budgets and strategies before risks materialize, leading to more reliable outcomes and a competitive edge for those who adopt early.

AUTOMATION AND THE EVOLVING ESTIMATOR ROLE

Automation will continue to remove repetitive work such as manual takeoff and data entry, but it won’t replace estimators. Instead, estimators will shift from tactical execution to strategic advisory roles.

With AI handling routine tasks, estimators can focus on scenario analysis, value engineering and client guidance. As a result, data literacy and technology fluency will become as important as traditional estimating skills.

2030 PREPARING FOR 2030

Preconstruction is moving toward a more intelligent, connected future. AI and automation are already shaping workflows today and that impact will only grow. Teams that start planning now by investing in tools, building data skills and rethinking workflows will be best positioned for success in 2030 and beyond.

The post The Future of Preconstruction: Looking Ahead to 2030 first appeared on Construction Executive.

Ken Lloyd’s “Performance Appraisals & Phrases For Dummies” offers practical guidance for managers looking to improve how they evaluate and develop employees. The book explains modern appraisal practices—including continuous feedback, collaborative goal-setting and regular check-ins—while providing more than 3,300 ready-to-use phrases to deliver constructive, productive feedback. It’s designed to help supervisors run more effective reviews, strengthen coaching skills and boost employee performance, motivation and career growth.

The post Performance Appraisals & Phrases For Dummies first appeared on Construction Executive.

Key findings from the report include:

• Modest spending growth: Total U.S. construction put in place is forecast to increase about 1% in 2026 to roughly $2.2 trillion after a slight decline in 2025.

• Sector divergence: Public infrastructure and government-funded projects are expected to remain relatively strong, helping offset weaker activity in several private building segments.

• Soft private markets: Sectors such as multifamily housing, lodging and traditional office construction continue to face headwinds from high financing costs and economic uncertainty.

• Megaproject drivers: Data centers, infrastructure and certain advanced manufacturing projects are expected to remain key growth engines for the industry.

FMI notes that contractors are increasingly forced to make “sharper choices about where to compete and how much risk to take on” as growth becomes more selective across construction markets.

SOURCE: “2026 Engineering & Construction Outlook” FMI // fmicorp.com/insights/construction-outlook

The post Selective Growth: FMI’s 2026 North American Engineering & Construction Outlook first appeared on Construction Executive.

Construction as a Technology Leader

One of the defining moments of CES 2026 came during Caterpillar’s keynote address. CEO Joe Creed addressed a packed room with a question many may have been thinking: “Why is a construction equipment company delivering a keynote at CES?”

The answer became evident quickly. Modern construction equipment is no longer just mechanical—it is digital, autonomous, connected and powered by sophisticated technology stacks. Caterpillar announced five autonomous construction vehicles and demonstrated Level 4 autonomy capabilities. The shift underway is significant: Operators are transitioning from inside the cab to remote environments where fleets can be managed simultaneously. Perhaps the most notable unveiling was the CAT AI Assistant, scheduled to go live in Q1 2026. During a live demonstration, a simple voice command adjusted an electrical line warning height to 13 feet. The assistant integrates speech, text and image recognition—representing a move toward multimodal AI systems that assist real-time field operations. Construction is no longer simply adopting technology—it is helping define how technology is applied in the physical world.

A Connected Equipment Ecosystem

Across the LVCC West Hall, the evolution of heavy equipment was unmistakable.

Oshkosh and JLG showcased paired scissor lifts engineered specifically for lifting structural steel—an example of equipment designed around task optimization rather than generalized capability. John Deere continued expanding its autonomous ecosystem, reinforcing the trend toward intelligent fleet coordination.

Battery innovation companies, including Lyten, demonstrated advances in energy density and battery chemistry, highlighting that electrification is moving beyond experimentation and toward jobsitewide energy strategies.

Electrification discussions at CES 2026 extended beyond machines themselves. Charging infrastructure, energy management systems and power optimization software were part of the broader narrative. As cities push for lower emissions and reduced noise pollution, electric equipment is becoming a practical solution for urban and indoor projects.

It is no longer just about whether electric machines can perform—it is about how entire jobsites can be powered efficiently and sustainably.

Innovation from Startups: Solving Field-Level Problems

The Venetian’s Eureka Park, home to emerging startups, provided a view into construction’s next wave of innovation.

Autodesk demonstrated advancements in component modeling, reinforcing the growing integration between design intelligence and field execution. As digital models become more detailed and connected to real-world data, the gap between virtual planning and physical construction continues to shrink.

Cosito introduced AI-powered voice and sensor technology capable of automatically generating daily reports and field documentation. For an industry burdened by administrative paperwork, automation in this space could unlock significant productivity gains.

MIMO Detect presented underground pipe detection technology using ground-penetrating radar. While still in prototype phase and currently stronger in horizontal positioning than depth accuracy, the technology reflects ongoing efforts to reduce subsurface risk and prevent costly utility strikes. 

What stood out across the startup ecosystem was focus. Solutions were not speculative—they were targeted at real-world construction challenges: documentation, detection, visualization and efficiency.

Robotics and Spatial Computing

Robotics once again drew attention throughout the North Hall, with humanoid platforms, quadrupeds and service robots on display. However, the emphasis has shifted from novelty to application.

Exoskeleton technologies continue improving in wearability and ergonomic support, aiming to reduce strain injuries and extend workforce longevity. AI hardware companies such as DeepX demonstrated embedded processing systems powering autonomous vision and robotics applications. One particularly compelling development was spatial computing integrated through hard hat-mounted camera systems. By capturing and processing real-time visual data from a worker’s perspective, these systems aim to enhance hazard detection, progress tracking, and documentation. Robotics at CES 2026 felt less like spectacle and more like support—tools designed to augment skilled workers rather than replace them.

Workforce and AI Literacy

Technology alone does not build infrastructure—people do. Several CES sessions focused on preparing the workforce for rapidly evolving tools.

In the session “Next Gen Skills: Preparing Students for Tomorrow’s Tech,” leaders from Amazon, Oshkosh, CTA, and Tech Access emphasized AI literacy as a foundational skill. Amazon has committed $2.5 million to certify students in AI education and pledged to prepare four million students to use AI by 2028. Apprenticeship models are expanding to support data center construction and advanced infrastructure projects.

Key themes included:

• Prompt engineering as an emerging skill
• Understanding how to work alongside AI agents
• Collaboration between industry and education
• Ensuring technology remains accessible

Construction faces ongoing labor shortages and safety challenges. With less than 5% of the workforce employed in construction but accounting for nearly 20% of safety incidents, AI-powered safety systems and automation could play a transformative role.

New roles are already emerging: fleet autonomy managers, digital twin specialists, AI operations coordinators and construction data analysts. Preparing for jobs that do not yet fully exist is becoming part of the industry’s responsibility.

Connectivity: The Infrastructure Behind Innovation

Discussions involving FCC and NTIA leadership highlighted another critical factor: connectivity. Universal broadband access, spectrum policy, 6G development and WiFi 7 readiness are not abstract regulatory topics — they are foundational to connected construction ecosystems. Autonomous fleets, remote equipment management, real-time drone processing and AI-driven safety systems all depend on reliable, high-speed networks. As infrastructure becomes smarter, connectivity becomes as important as concrete and steel.

Lingering Thoughts Towards a Shift in Equipment Design

In conversations with industry leaders, an intriguing idea surfaced: As autonomy advances, equipment design itself may fundamentally change. If machines no longer require operators in cabs, what happens to traditional controls? Do we eliminate joysticks, operator compartments, and certain mechanical components altogether?

Autonomy does not just change how machines operate—it may redefine how they are built.

Looking Ahead

CES 2026 demonstrated that construction technology is no longer niche. It is integrated across AI, robotics, electrification, manufacturing and policy.

The industry is entering a phase where digital intelligence and physical infrastructure are inseparable. One key takeaway resonated: Technology should be deployed to solve problems, not simply to showcase innovation. That principle applies directly to construction. Adoption must be strategic, measurable and outcome-driven.

Autonomous fleets, AI assistants, spatial computing, electrified equipment and workforce AI literacy initiatives are not distant visions—they are active deployments.

Construction is not standing on the sidelines of innovation. It is helping build it.

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The post Building the Future: Construction at the Center of Technological Innovation at CES 2026 first appeared on Construction Executive.