Syndi Sim on Why we need more Women in the Glass Industry | Episode #14

Felix Mestas on Why Construction Still Operates Like It’s 1985 | Episode #16

SponsorArchitectural Glass & Aluminum (AGA)Website: https://aga-ca.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXNrak1yekRzTlhIczFNZk9KYmM5RlZHRWw5Z3xBQ3Jtc0trZU9oNVJuLVZZc0t4OWRza0hESmtyTEh2MXZFcG9hVnU3eXoyLXNtR2k2ZmozVXc1cENhQmJaa1Y5czZiMW1hTFo4dXVzRUY0X21yaURoTzU2TlV1TFdhOGUzcUd3Qy1oOW5oUHNESGhXcHlFU1ZfVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Faga-ca.com%2F&v=dwbx83VOxu4]LinkedIn:   / agaengineered   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXpFWFZYS3E3TXE0cmZDWlBTX0hFX253Sk41UXxBQ3Jtc0ttTF9nbXVyUnFfYzc4SU90OFExejktRFU3bjZ3TDRVVE1YSDNGVXlyR19IOTYwR3IxeUR6NlVva0pYVlh3cHVMVmVTVGdMaERTU0hKakVNWkZDV3BRaGpjaVIzTXVBVFN4WTBxUTZmUDNyOEw5bVVHYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fagaengineered&v=dwbx83VOxu4]GuestFelix Mestas: VP - Operations – California Sheet MetalLinkedIn:   / felix-e-mestas-06730b223   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0NhVW1nV1NnclBnN19Yenh5UG5TRHBsU0ZrZ3xBQ3Jtc0treG5ySnRCSl96cVZxSERiYkF0MTFyWG8ycmJqZC15V3hWRjRENEMzRExKN3U4bUNaSFBOM0R3bDRuSjdsVENYSmRGaFBVdUxidFRoX1pnWHZlYmV0YjdGMEVTLW15bWpxWlc4cHpHLVJLYmpBSWJsOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Ffelix-e-mestas-06730b223%2F&v=dwbx83VOxu4]Host:Tom Caldicott CEO of Unity SearchWebsite: www.unitysearchltd.comLinkedIn:   / tom-unitysearch   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkFkdDE5bFNLWl9qRFUwQTl1U2g1aWVCeWxHd3xBQ3Jtc0tsUzZIdnQ4TWxlYmJTaS1KanlIbHJOaXczSVpjdjFPRUNkNHFVN0FtdGo0N0ZTU09GZUR0a01EVE1MYkxZNW5QMi1BbEN6QXd3aTBpeTZVWUhwaUlfVVdLYXVDVVFlcHA1U2JldUZoM0FmR25zUmpWRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Ftom-unitysearch&v=dwbx83VOxu4]Chapters00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbx83VOxu4] Introduction to Felix Mestas01:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbx83VOxu4&t=60s] Career Journey and Experience in Operations03:06 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbx83VOxu4&t=186s] Engagement with Raze Robotics05:59 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbx83VOxu4&t=359s] Industry Challenges and Misalignment of Incentives11:58 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbx83VOxu4&t=718s] Taking Responsibility as Subcontractors15:09 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbx83VOxu4&t=909s] The Importance of Collaboration and Partnership18:08 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbx83VOxu4&t=1088s] Embracing AI and Technology in Construction22:01 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbx83VOxu4&t=1321s] Lean Principles and Reducing Waste29:06 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbx83VOxu4&t=1746s] Long-term Thinking in Construction33:09 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbx83VOxu4&t=1989s] The Essence of Capitalism38:07 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbx83VOxu4&t=2287s] Consultants: Value or Burden?42:12 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbx83VOxu4&t=2532s] The Importance of Communication in Construction47:56 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbx83VOxu4&t=2876s] Rethinking Subcontractor Responsibilities51:07 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbx83VOxu4&t=3067s] Value Over Price in Bidding58:09 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwbx83VOxu4&t=3489s] Lessons from Passion ProjectsHey guys, and welcome to another episode of the Facade Focus Podcast, where I aim to connect the global facade industry by sharing knowledge and experience for others to learn from.Over the coming weeks, I’ll be interviewing leaders and industry experts from across the world to discuss common challenges we all face and the innovative solutions helping to move the industry forward.This week, I’m joined by Felix Mestas.Felix is the Vice President of Operations at California Sheet Metal, bringing over 20 years of experience across glass, glazing, and the wider building envelope.He started his career out in the field, working his way up through the ranks at JR Butler, where he gained hands-on experience across installation, project delivery, and leadership.Today, he oversees operations across complex projects, giving him a full view of how jobs are actually delivered from pre-construction through to completion.Alongside that, Felix is also involved with Raise Robotics, where he’s helping explore how technology and AI can be applied on real job sites to improve efficiency, safety, and performance.What makes this episode especially interesting is Felix’s perspective across both operations and innovation.He’s seen first-hand how projects are delivered on site, but also where the inefficiencies, misalignment, and missed opportunities exist across the wider construction process.In this conversation, we talk about why construction productivity hasn’t improved in decades, the disconnect between subcontractors and general contractors, how AI is actually being used inside businesses today, and what needs to change if we want to deliver better outcomes across the board.It’s a really honest conversation about how our industry actually operates… and where the opportunity lies to do things better.Now, quick shout out to our podcast partners, Architectural Glass & Aluminum, otherwise known as AGA.They’re a leader in custom curtain wall systems and have been providing tailored glazing solutions for over 55 years.More impressively, they are one of the largest employee-owned businesses in the glazing industry across the US and have a phenomenal team that buys into their ethos of collaboration and craftsmanship.I’m delighted to have them as a partner of the Pod, so a big shout out to the team over there.In the meantime, let’s get into this week’s episode of the Facade Focus Podcast with Felix Mestas.

Chris Ball & Matt Verderamo on Leadership & Building Better Teams | Episode #15

Sponsors:Architectural Glass & Aluminum (AGA)Website: https://aga-ca.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agaengineered GuestsChris Ball: COO – John W McDougallLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisb-tn/Matt Verderamo: Division Vice President – Well Built ConsultingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-verderamo/ Host:Tom Caldicott CEO of Unity SearchWebsite: www.unitysearchltd.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-unitysearch/Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Guests and Their Backgrounds06:25 The Importance of Culture in the Workplace12:36 Balancing Profit and Employee Satisfaction19:49 Setting Clear Expectations and Accountability26:27 The Role of Individual Responsibility in Career Growth30:51 Navigating Company Culture and Employee Expectations36:59 Building Trust and Transparency in Teams39:14 Investing in People and Training40:18 Finding the Right Training for the Right Time45:40 The Challenges of Middle Management49:31 Promoting Operators vs. Managers52:08 Balancing Billable Time and People Development54:50 The Importance of Peer Support and CommunicationHey guys, and welcome to another episode of the Facade Focus Podcast, where I aim to connect the global façade industry by sharing knowledge and experience for others to learn from.Over the coming weeks, I’ll be interviewing leaders and industry experts from across the world to discuss common challenges we all face and the innovative solutions helping to move the industry forward.This week, I’m joined by Matt Verderamo and Chris Ball.Chris will already be familiar to some of you from Episode #11, where we talked about accountability, visibility, and building better teams. This time, he’s back with Matt Verderamo, Group Director at WellBuilt Construction Consulting, for a conversation that goes deeper into culture, leadership, and talent.Matt started out in the facade world working for a specialist contractor across metal panels, glass and glazing, and roofing, before rising to Vice President of Preconstruction and Sales. Today, at WellBuilt, he helps subcontractors and GCs build stronger businesses through strategy, leadership development, and training. What makes this episode especially interesting is the relationship between the two guests. Chris first connected with Matt through LinkedIn, where Matt had built a strong voice around people development. That connection turned into real collaboration, and for the last couple of years Matt has been working with Chris and the team at John W. McDougall on leadership training and development. In this conversation, we talk about culture add versus culture fit, why profitable businesses still need to reinvest in people, how to develop leaders instead of just promoting operators, and why talent retention starts long before a recruiter ever gets involved. It’s a really honest conversation about what it takes to build a company people actually want to stay and grow in.Now, quick shout out to our podcast partners, Architectural Glass & Aluminum, otherwise known as AGA.They’re a leader in custom curtain wall systems and have been providing tailored glazing solutions for over 55 years.More impressively, they are one of the largest employee-owned businesses in the glazing industry across the US and have a phenomenal team that buys into their ethos of collaboration and craftsmanship.I’m delighted to have them as a partner of the Pod, so a big shout out to the team over there.In the meantime, let’s get into this week’s episode of the Facade Focus Podcast with Matt Verderamo and Chris Ball.

Syndi Sim on Why we need more Women in the Glass Industry | Episode #14

Sponsors Architectural Glass & Aluminum (AGA) Website: https://aga-ca.com LinkedIn: /agaengineered Syndi Sim Director, Sales and Business Development, Q-railing North America LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-cunningham-44a8031a/ Tom Caldicott CEO, Unity Search Website: www.unitysearchltd.com LinkedIn: /tom-unitysearch 00:00 – Introduction to Cindy Sim and Her Journey 02:47 – The Importance of Women in Glass and Glazing 06:11 – Addressing the Disconnect in Leadership 09:07 – Promoting Women in the Industry 11:57 – The Role of Mentorship in Career Advancement 15:03 – Creating Opportunities for Women 18:01 – Building a Personal Brand on LinkedIn 20:58 – The Value of Authenticity and Community 24:01 – Cindy's Role in the National Glass Association 27:01 – Conclusion and Call to Action 29:31 – Empowering the Glass Industry: Syndi's Journey 33:45 – Women in Glass: Building a Supportive Community 38:06 – Inspiring Change: Expanding Women in Glass Initiatives 44:22 – Global Connections: Women Supporting Women in Glass 47:34 – Quickfire Insights: Personal Reflections and Advice Hey guys, and welcome to another episode of the Facade Focus Podcast, where I aim to connect the global façade industry by sharing knowledge and experience for others to learn from. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be interviewing leaders and industry experts from across the world to discuss common challenges we all face and the innovative solutions helping to move the industry forward. This week, I’m joined by Syndi Sim, Director of Sales & Business Development at Q-railing North America, and one of the most visible and influential advocates for women in the glass and glazing industry. Syndi’s story is a brilliant one. She didn’t start in glass. She came from the broader AEC world, stepped into the glazing industry with zero experience, and built everything from the ground up through curiosity, consistency, and putting herself out there. Across 13 years, she’s worked with fabricators, suppliers, and now directly with the glazing community — all while building one of the strongest personal brands in the industry. She credits her rise to mentorship from both men and women and now sees it as her responsibility to give that same support to the next generation. In this episode, we dive into an important topic for our industry: the role, impact, and advancement of women in glass and glazing. We discuss the visibility gap in the C-suite, the stigma facing women entering the trades, the lack of formal mentorship programs, and why creating opportunity often starts with building your own brand. Syndi also opens up about the work being done through the California Glass Association’s new Women in Glass initiative — from heart-to-heart conversations to cross-generational support networks — and why she believes this movement needs to grow across the United States and beyond. It’s an honest, energizing, and much-needed conversation for anyone who wants to see this industry evolve. Now, a quick shout-out to our podcast partners, Architectural Glass & Aluminum (AGA) — an employee-owned business with over 55 years of curtainwall experience. Innovative people. Iconic projects. You won’t find another curtainwall contractor like AGA. Their culture and craftsmanship drive everything they do. Alright, let’s get into this week’s episode of the Facade Focus Podcast with Syndi Sim from Q-railing North America. GuestHostChaptersIntro for Notes Section

Every Building Has Secrets: Facade Engineering with Tali Mejicovsky | Episode 12

Sponsors: Architectural Glass & Aluminum (AGA)Website: https://aga-ca.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/agaengineered Guest: Tali Mejicovsky - Associate Principal Facade's - ARUP New YorkLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tali-mejicovsky-9b4727/Host:Tom Caldicott CEO of Unity SearchWebsite: www.unitysearchltd.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/tom-unitysearchHey guys, and welcome to another episode of the Facade Focus Podcast, where I aim to connect the global façade industry by sharing knowledge and experience for others to learn from.Over the coming weeks, I’ll be interviewing leaders and industry experts across the globe to discuss common problems people are facing and explore the solutions helping to move the industry forward.This week, I’m joined by Tali Mejicovsky from Arup New York.Tali has been at Arup for nearly three decades and has worked on some of the most recognisable cultural and civic projects in the US and abroad. Her focus is simple. Get in early, define what the facade wants to be, and make sure the design intent actually makes it through construction.We get into existing buildings, reclads, dealing with heritage and landmark bodies, how to improve performance without killing the architecture, and what makes a great relationship between facade engineers and glazing contractors.It is a proper masterclass in performance-based facade design.Quick shout-out to the sponsors of the podcast, Architectural Glass and Aluminum, otherwise known as AGA.They are a leader in custom curtain wall systems and have been providing tailored glazing solutions for over 55 years.More impressively, they are one of the largest employee-owned businesses in the glazing industry across the US and have a phenomenal team that buys into their ethos of collaboration and craftsmanship.I am delighted to have them as a partner of the pod.In the meantime, let’s get into this week’s episode of the Facade Focus Podcast with Tali Mejicovsky.00:00 Introduction to Tali Mejicovsky and Her Journey03:03 Exploring Facade Engineering and Project Involvement06:03 Challenges in Existing Buildings and Facade Renovations08:54 Balancing Design Intent and Performance in Facade Engineering11:58 The Emotional Connection to Historic Buildings15:02 Navigating Design Constraints in Facade Projects18:01 The Role of Performance in Facade Design21:01 Circular Economy and Sustainable Practices in Facade Engineering23:54 Collaboration with Glazing Contractors26:59 Improving Bid Documents for Glazing Contractors32:38 Integrating Engineering Disciplines34:52 Advice for Glazing Contractors35:44 Importance of Mock-Ups and Testing38:06 Quick Fire Questions: Personal Insights43:08 Reflections on Loss and Awareness46:42 Learning and Mentorship47:25 Travel Aspirations and Bucket List

Chris Ball on Accountability, Visibility & Building Better Teams

Sponsors: Architectural Glass & Aluminum (AGA)Website: https://aga-ca.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnYzQkdoLVNocHIzTGJuS180VF83SkpnSlFhZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttRmxFaGxxak5XYXlRMXRIY0hDQmdsaVBpTzJBRjd6amJTT3ppclVsYmktcWdJdFNpU0k3V1JGWVczc1ZUUGFWUUhqaURseWpFenpXeGFQaDFoalJVMDJrSkZoc01IZFYxQzhzajEwT2NTS193Wk5Jbw&q=https%3A%2F%2Faga-ca.com%2F&v=VVyUKXtNlRs]LinkedIn: linkedin.com/agaengineered Guest: Chris Ball, Vice President at John McDougallLinkedIn:   / chrisb-tn   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTBzSTRWSlVjQ0NkSExmVWJjaTc4Q0V0MXFtd3xBQ3Jtc0ttY0I4N0ZGbElOSVZEOWZQc3QyOGFlYzNaMzdKcnVENmZqOU9sRTNJM1RjeHo0Y0xVOGxXVmUwdFU0RjlVRVE1dXFaRnVKczlubkxWdlhsb3ZuTF9sY1o0NUNHLTZQdjNsTVcyYUJpR19vZngxRFJMQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fchrisb-tn%2F&v=VVyUKXtNlRs]Host:Tom Caldicott CEO of Unity SearchWebsite: www.unitysearchltd.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/tom-unitysearchHey guys, and welcome to another episode of the Facade Focused Podcast, where I aim to connect the global facade industry by sharing knowledge and experience for others to learn from. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be interviewing leaders and industry experts across the globe to discuss common problems people are facing and explore innovative solutions that help move the industry forward.This week, I’m joined by Chris Ball, Vice President at John McDougall Company in Nashville. Chris’s story is a fascinating one—originally from South Africa, he started out in roofing and ACM before moving to the U.S. in 2017. After spending some time with a leading glazing and panel contractor in Salt Lake City, he joined John W. McDougall to lead their architectural division—the team behind complex metal facade projects.These days, Chris calls Tennessee home, though you’ll still catch his accent. As he jokes, when he tells people he’s from “the South,” they don’t always realize he means pretty far south—as in, the other hemisphere. At McDougall, the company runs two divisions: a metal processing division and the architectural division that Chris leads, delivering everything on the exterior—think metal panels, IMP plate, ACM, and louvers.In this conversation, we discuss everything from building accountability through visibility and smart dashboards to really trying to reward outcomes and not just opinions. Chris has a great ability to balance systems with individuality, and he talks about how tools like Smartsheet and Document Crunch—alongside some serious in-house fabrication capability—are helping teams deliver on time, on budget, and with full buy-in across the business.You’ll find Chris brings clarity, pragmatism, and a real builder’s eye to the table. So whether you’re a contractor, a project manager, or even an executive, there’s a ton to take away from this one.Before we dive in, a quick shoutout to our sponsors of the podcast, Architectural Glass and Aluminum—otherwise known as AGA. They’re a leader in custom curtain wall systems and have been providing tailored glazing solutions for over 55 years. More impressively, they’re one of the largest employee-owned businesses in the glazing industry across the U.S. and have a phenomenal team that truly buys into that ethos of collaboration and craftsmanship. I’m delighted to have them as a partner of the pod—so big shoutout to the team over there.In the meantime, let’s get into this week’s episode of the Facade Focused Podcast with Chris Ball.00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs] Introduction to Chris Ball and His Journey02:59 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=179s] The Problem of Accountability in the Industry05:55 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=355s] Driving Visibility for Accountability09:05 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=545s] Implementing a Traffic Light System for Project Management12:09 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=729s] Learning from Data for Future Projects14:56 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=896s] The Role of Individuality in Project Management17:52 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=1072s] Rewarding Accountability and Performance21:09 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=1269s] Employee Buy-In and Transition to New Systems24:01 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=1441s] Future Growth and Technological Advancements27:02 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=1622s] Leveraging AI and Automation in Construction30:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=1811s] Becoming a Leader in Design and Project Execution33:43 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=2023s] Value Addition in Construction34:50 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=2090s] Choosing the Right Tools for Clients35:37 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=2137s] Measuring Positive Impact36:32 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=2192s] Accountability in the Industry37:16 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=2236s] Culture and Systems Interplay39:17 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=2357s] The Importance of Accountability40:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=2411s] Navigating Change and Expectations41:05 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=2465s] Building Custom Systems43:31 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVyUKXtNlRs&t=2611s] Quickfire Questions: Personal Insights