Women at WIRC

Writing the Book on AI for Residential Construction

In this episode of Women at WIRC, architect, contractor, tech expert, and author Grace Mase demystifies integrating AI to help boost predictability and profitability.

Using AI to Streamline Workflow and Meet Client Needs

In this episode of Women at WIRC, we talk to Ashley Sheaffer, principal of the Maitland, Fla.-based remodeling and design firm KBF Design Gallery. Sheaffer shares with us how AI is helping improve their performance and better meet client needs.

Why Transitioning Service Members Might Solve Construction's Hiring Crisis

Labor remains a critical challenge in residential construction. We just don't have enough boots on the ground. At the same time, thousands of service members are transitioning into civilian life each year. With the exact discipline and leadership skills that the trades are seeking. Joining us today are two people working to bridge that gap. Torri Broderick manages military and veteran services at the Home Builders Institute, which provides tuition free training in the building trades. Jess Maldonado is a carpentry instructor there and a longtime residential trade professional in her own right. She trains former military members and prepares them for life on a job site.

Rebuilding Better and Stronger Communities

In this episode of Women at WIRC, you'll hear from three women working in rebuilding and recovery in different parts of the country. DXA Studio's Allysa Taylor, lowernine.org's Laura Paul, and KAA Design Group's Lisa Copeland, share their stories, experiences, and strategies that help them create thriving communities in the aftermath of disaster.

Wellness is About More Than Amenities, With Liz Miles of WELL for Residential

We spend 90% of our time indoors—but how much thought do we give to how our homes affect our health? In this episode, Pauline Hammerbeck sits down with Liz Miles, Vice President of Residential at the International Well Building Institute (IWBI), to explore how the built environment passively impacts our wellbeing every single day—from the air we breathe to the lighting we're exposed to, the water we drink, and even that noisy neighbor next door. Liz shares her 12-year journey with IWBI, from the 2015 launch of the commercial WELL Building Standard to the development of WELL for Residential—a certification program specifically designed for homes, not just offices. She breaks down why residences needed their own approach (hint: raising kids and sleeping are very different from working), and reveals the surprising results from their pilot program.