The Preconstruction Podcast - Commercial Construction.

Marc Apicella, Co-founder and CEO of Belidor, joins Gareth McGlynn at Advancing Preconstruction 2026 in Phoenix. A product designer by background with graduate research in recommendation systems at Google DeepMind, Marc is building AI-powered tools to take the friction out of scope generation and bid leveling in preconstruction.Discussion Highlights:Founding Story: A GC brother in upstate New York exposing the real pains of how the industry works, and why that became the foundation for Belidor.What Belidor Does: Scope generation from specs and plans in under 10 minutes, Building Connected integration, and bid leveling across any format.Knowledge Retention: Why the retirement wave is the core problem Belidor is solving, and the 30-year estimator hired back at 30% more as the reality check.Three Product Promises: User friendly, outputs linked to source documents, and reliable on bid day.Handling Change Resistance: Why estimating takes longer to master than almost any profession, and how Belidor builds around existing workflows rather than disrupting them.Data & the Five-Year Vision: SOC 2 compliant, historical data shareable to supercharge the platform, and a longer-term goal of going from prompt to ready-to-build in days to weeks.You can connect with Marc via his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcapicella/Or reach him directly at marc@belidor.aiStay connected with The Preconstruction Podcast for more conversations with the innovators shaping the future of preconstruction. Don't forget to subscribe!

Gareth McGlynn sits down with Daniel Beatty, Founder of Constructive Leadership Solutions, to talk about leadership, management, and growth in construction. With 36 years in heavy civil infrastructure, Daniel brings a wealth of perspective on what it takes to strengthen organizations from the inside out.The critical role of middle management in construction and why it is often overlookedDefining great leadership and how it shapes recruitment, retention, and staff developmentTraits that set successful managers apart in today’s industryWhy everyone is a salesperson, from internal teams to external stakeholdersYou can connect with Dan via his Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danbeattycls/

Our host, Gareth McGlynn, sat down with Ben Neff, Director of Preconstruction at Motz, during Advancing Preconstruction 2025 in San Diego. Together, they discussed the complexities behind creating world-class sports turf systems.Discussion Highlights:Beginnings in Construction: From studying business at the University of Kentucky to a pivot into construction management and early hands-on fieldwork.Joining Motz: Transitioning from vertical construction to leading preconstruction at Motz.About Motz: A 100% employee-owned specialty contractor building natural grass and synthetic sports fields.Turf Systems: What it really takes to deliver a professional-quality field.Mechanics & Maintenance: The engineering and upkeep involved in maintaining top-level surfaces.Recent Project: Insights from Motz’s work on the Oakland A’s minor league ballpark.You can connect with Ben via his Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-neff-14043214/

Gareth McGlynn speaks with Matt Boeggeman, Senior Preconstruction Manager at Holder Construction, during Advancing Preconstruction 2025 in San Diego.Discussion Highlights:• Early career experience in HVAC and its value in data center projects• Holder’s role as one of the largest data center builders in the U.S.• Key challenges: inflation, supply chain, electrical demands, land, power, and scheduling• Using historical data to improve project efficiency• Integrating AI into the preconstruction processIf you have questions for Matt, connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-boeggeman-53277513/

Bid leveling is handled differently in nearly every company, with plenty of confusion and no clear standard across the industry. After a recent pre-con roundtable webinar on the topic, Gareth McGlynn sat down with Dan Shaw, CEO & Co-Founder at Bridgeline, at Advancing Preconstruction in San Diego to get straight answers on how technology can simplify this essential step.Discussion Highlights:Automating Bid Leveling: How Bridgeline handles the data movement so teams can spot scope gaps faster.Real-World Impact: What Bridgeline’s traction at APC 2025 reveals about industry demand.AI Features: Where artificial intelligence fits into the process.Value for Owners and Subs: The benefits beyond just GCs.Looking Ahead: What's next for Bridgeline in preconstruction tech.To connect with Dan Shaw, You can check out his Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danshaw1/For more conversations with innovators shaping the future of preconstruction, subscribe to The Preconstruction Podcast.

Gareth McGlynn sits down with Geoff Devlin, EVP – Head of Growth at SUSA International, to discuss how sustainability is becoming a strategic advantage in preconstruction.SUSA International may be new - just three years in - but they’re already making an impact. Specialising in sustainability, they step in during the decommissioning phase of a project to recycle materials and resell them, helping companies turn what’s usually a cost into a profit.Discussion Highlights:The business model behind SUSA International and how they generate revenue from recycled materials.Career Journey: From carpenter to estimator to executive - Geoff’s path through the industry.What it means to be at the forefront of sustainability in construction.A great conversation with someone who’s seen the industry from every angle.You can connect with Geoff via Linkedin.

Our host, Gareth McGlynn, sits down with Joe Ledger, Vice President of Project Controls at Intel, as part of our Advanced Tech Series on The Preconstruction Podcast.This episode offers a look inside one of the most complex and high-stakes project controls roles in the industry.What’s covered:Joe’s early years as an electrical engineer and his transition into design work across top engineering firmsHow further education in finance, management, and economics shaped his approach to large-scale programme deliveryThe scope of his current role at Intel, overseeing $17–$30 billion worth of active projects across multiple countriesManaging a global team of 100+ professionals, most of them based in ArizonaDay-to-day operations and how he structures his workload around multi-billion-dollar initiativesThe impact of global tariffs on project strategy and deliveryHiring and keeping the right people engaged at scaleWhere AI fits into Intel’s estimating, scheduling, and risk functionsA closer look at how preconstruction is integrated into Intel’s global planningFor follow-ups on any of the topics discussed, you can contact Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-joe-ledger-cpe-7715306/Watch out for more engaging conversations, industry challenges, and behind-the-scenes stories each week on The Preconstruction Podcast.