AI & AEC Tech Summit

KP Reddy is the Founder and CEO of Shadow Ventures, a seed-stage technology investment firm. He is a globally recognized authority in AEC environments, AI, robotics, automation, mobile applications, and cloud computing. KP is a Civil Engineer by background (BS, Georgia Institute of Technology) and wrote the textbook on BIM with his book: BIM for Building Owners and Developers. He is a frequent lecturer at Georgia Institute of Technology and is a sought-after subject matter expert, frequently speaking worldwide on BIM and the built environment. KP has exited three technology companies. Cereus Technology Partners which had an IPO on NASDAQ and has since sold to Verso (NASDAQ:VRSO) at a 35x Multiple, RCMS which was sold to ARC (NYSE:ARC), and Ampirix (sold to The Combine). KP formerly ran Enterprise Transformation at Gehry Technologies (started by world renowned architect Frank Gehry) which exited to Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB). He was also the General Manager of ATDC at Georgia Tech, one of the oldest technology incubators in the country.

Phil Bernstein is an architect, technologist and educator. He is currently the Associate Dean and
Professor, Adjunct at the Yale University School of Architecture, where he has taught professional
practice since 1989. He is a former vice president at Autodesk, and a former principal at Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. He lectures, writes and consults extensively on design practice, technology and project delivery in the building industry.

Jeff Echols is a Senior Advisor at Shadow Partners, a company that fosters innovation in the built environment and the delivery of architectural, engineering, and construction services. With over 30 years of experience in the AEC industry, Jeff is a purpose-driven culture shaper who creates authentic engagement between brands and their customers.Jeff's core competencies include social networking, record of success, and content marketing. He leverages these skills to generate provocative solutions to complex, high-stakes problems, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and lead continuous improvement. Jeff's mission is to drive innovation through advocacy, community building, education, partnering, and thought leadership. He has been published, featured, and presented in numerous industry platforms, and he is passionate about helping AEC-adjacent, SaaS, and Tech Founders reduce churn and accelerate customer acquisition.

Jeff's been published in numerous industry publications, featured on dozens of podcast episodes, and is constantly in demand to present from the stage.

Experienced in all three sides of the AEC, Stjepan has most recently worked as a Project BIM Lead at the starchitect company BIG in Copenhagen, Denmark. In February 2024, he decided to open his own firm called AI in AEC through which he empowers the AEC industry to learn, implement, and develop AI solutions and cutting-edge tech. One of his largest works to date is the AEC AI Hub - a free Notion page that lists more than 750+ AI tools and resources - the largest AI in AEC database in the world.

Edwin is leading all strategic and product engineering growth to build the best-in-class AI-powered AEC platform for the future as the Chief Technology Officer atOpenAsset. He previously served as CTO at RetainAI where he spearheaded the creation of the industry's first AI-powered workflow intelligence platform, tailored for customer and service enterprises. During his tenure as VP & Head of Engineering at Terminus, he played a central role in expanding the engineering organization from its modest beginnings to a robust, scaled entity. Through strategic leadership and overseeing over five acquisitions, he helped to strategically bring together all product offerings to construct an industry-leading Account-Based Marketing (ABM) platform, positioning Terminus as a trailblazer in the Martech space.

Kristin Kautz, CPSM is an experienced marketer with over 23 years of expertise in AEC and a leading expert in AI for the built environment. She advises organizations on how to integrate AI into their operations and provides customized structures, policies, procedures, and training to drive growth, efficiency, and productivity. Kristin is a sought-after speaker and thought leader in the field of AI for the built environment, committed to advancing the use of AI in our industry.

Rohan Jawali is founder and CEO of Joist.ai, a marketing enablement platform for the built world. Prior to founding Joist.ai, Rohan worked for more than 12 years with Hensel Phelps, where he focused on innovation and Virtual Design and Construction.

With over fifteen years of experience straddling the worlds of artificial intelligence (AI) and business strategy, Aadhar is a world-class expert in helping organizations define, implement, and govern their AI and Data programs across all areas of the project lifecycle.

Aadhar’s experience working with AI began in the labs of Georgia Tech, where he had the opportunity to work on government-funded research in autonomous vehicles (DARPA) and autonomous robotics and drones (NASA).

At IBM, he was one of the youngest named Client Executives at IBM, an inaugural Product Manager for IBM Watson, and led IBM Watson’s global ecosystem strategy. As an Associate Partner at Deloitte, Aadhar helped to launch the AI Strategy practice, was the AI Lead for the Energy and Automotive sectors and led strategy definition and the investment approval cycle for Deloitte’s $1B+, multi-year investment in AI. At CCC, Aadhar was the Sr. Director of AI, leading a team of 60+ data engineers and data scientists that developed a novel, transformer-based architecture for applying computer vision to the insurance claims cycle.

Aadhar has had the privilege of serving numerous leading, global organizations across industries, including Google, ServiceNow, IBM, Qualtrics, SAP, USAA, State Farm, Allstate, Exelon, Southern California Edison, ExxonMobil, PepsiCo, Ace Hardware, Jones Lang LaSalle, Hitachi, Spirit Aero, Sigma Aldrich, UK’s NHS, and General Motors.

Aadhar is an avid Sci-Fi fan and lives in Overland Park, KS with his wife Whitney and their two sons.

Chad Clinehens is the president and CEO of Zweig Group. Passionate about the business side of design and technical service firms, Chad has built a career on leading them through growth and change. He has worked with AEC firms throughout the U.S. on a variety of needs – strategic business planning, turnarounds, partner separations, organizational restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, marketing and sales, growth campaigns, and more. As a registered professional engineer, Chad brings an in-depth knowledge of what makes professional service firms and the people who work for them unique. Working in the industry for more than 20 years, he has been involved in many aspects of the business including design, project management, department management, regional office management, and directional leadership. He holds a MBA and BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Arkansas and is a registered professional engineer in several states.

Will leads Zweig Group’s research team and ownership transition consulting group. He received his BS in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and his MBA from the University of Arkansas with a focus on entrepreneurship. During that time, Will developed financial models and aided in the fundraising for a startup that has raised over 20 million dollars in capital. Will has worked closely with management teams across the US to develop ownership transition plans, ranging from simple one-to-one transactions to complex projects that require a great deal of modeling and stakeholder education. Will analyzes and reports on the data AEC managers need to run successful firms. From developing benchmarking tools to compensation programs for transition planning, Will builds resources for decision-makers. Prior to joining Zweig Group, Will provided navigation and telemetry services for oil exploration projects, conducting data analysis for the integration of GPS and seismic readouts. Will comes from a long line of architects and has a passion for the industry that is unmatched.

Jeremy Clarke is the Director of Executive Search & Recruiting at Zweig Group and the CEO of Emissary Recruiting Solutions. As a recognized AEC Recruiting strategist, he brings deep insight and experience into helping AEC firms and HR teams to integrate forward-thinking recruiting programs established on the tenets of speed, accuracy, and efficiency. Notably, Jeremy's 25+ years of critical thought leadership in the areas of recruiting strategic planning, measurement/metrics design, selection process flow, employee referral programs, interview methodologies, ATS integrations, and recruiter training programs have helped to bring about game-changing talent acquisition outcomes for AEC clients across the country. Jeremy is proudly a U.S. Air Force Combat Veteran and an advocate for Veterans' programs/initiatives. He is a Certified Targeted Selection Administrator (CTSA), a Competitive Intelligence Professional (CIP), and attended American Military University. He lives with his wife and two daughters in Northwest Arkansas.

A firm believer that complacency breeds failure, Ying is driven by innate curiosity and life-long learning with a growth mindset. She is passionate about leading with purpose, inclusion, and authenticity. With over 13 years of diverse experience in the AEC industry, Ying has served in various capacities including strategic planning, design, and implementation; marketing and business development; CRM operations and commercial pipeline; client team management and capture win plans; as well as proposal development and oversight. Her unique strengths lie within her ability to integrate tactical thinking and strategic insights into business planning and capture qualitative and quantitative components to convey a cohesive message. Prior to joining Zweig Group in 2022, Ying served as the Deputy Chief Strategy and Growth Officer for the US Operations of a Paris-based multinational architectural and engineering consulting firm specializing in public transportation and mobility solutions. Recognized as an innovative strategist who can integrate multiple perspectives into a shared vision, Ying was promoted to this growth-focused strategic role at the onset of COVID to partner with C-suite executives and cross-functional teams to develop a 2-3 year strategic plan for organizational survival and return to growth. She was also responsible for managing the implementation and execution effort of the strategic plan by facilitating regular performance reviews against pre-established KPIs to drive organizational growth and profitability. Ying holds an MBA with a concentration in management and strategies and a Bachelor of Business Administration in international marketing, both degrees from the City University of New York (CUNY) Baruch College. Spurred by simple curiosity and a genuine interest in sustainability, Ying obtained her LEED AP BD+C credential in 2021. She is also multilingual - fluent in English, Korean, and Chinese, with intermediate proficiency in French and Japanese.