Sustainability’s Missing Dimension: Time

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A Case for Measuring Sustainability in Decades, Not in Moments By Thomas L. Ketron I’ve spent more than 20 years around prefabricated concrete building systems — first on the manufacturing side, now working for the broader industry on sustainability initiatives. In that time, I’ve come to believe sustainability conversations are missing a dimension. Today’s dominant framing measures a structure’s environmental performance at a single moment: embodied carbon of the completed project. It’s an important number, but it’s also the easiest one to calculate, and that has let it stand in for the whole conversation. What’s missing is time — how […]

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Document Today. Protect Tomorrow.

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How to build a practical framework for getting it right By Ken Wanamaker Every superintendent has a story about their daily log making a difference. Maybe a new project manager took over mid-project and got up to speed in an afternoon because you’d kept thorough records. Maybe notes –– capturing exactly what was discussed and when –– cleared up a scope misunderstanding between an owner and trade partner. Maybe the log simply answered a question about when a delivery arrived or how many workers were onsite last Tuesday. Good records keep everyone informed and aligned. The reverse is also true. […]

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Elevating the Craft of Supervision: Leadership Training that Reinforces Today’s Role

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By: NCCER Staff Superintendents hold one of the most complex and demanding roles in the industry by simultaneously managing production, safety, communication, scheduling and risk under constant pressure. As projects grow in scale and complexity — and as crews become more varied in experience and background — expectations placed on field leadership continue to rise. Even seasoned superintendents are navigating an environment that looks different than it did just a few years ago; structured leadership training is emerging as a meaningful way to reinforce and expand the skills the role now requires. Shifting workforce The broader workforce landscape is shifting. […]

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How Superintendents Can Expand Talent Pipelines, Protect Jobsite Performance

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By: Alan Limoges Ask any superintendent what keeps a project on schedule in 2026 and the answer is simple: skilled operators. As the second quarter approaches, labor shortages and workforce development challenges continue to plague the construction industry. A 2025 survey conducted by Associated General Contractors found that 92% of construction firms in the United States struggle to hire qualified workers. Contractors have traditionally relied on hiring proven, experienced operators, but the constraints of the labor shortage make this an enduring challenge. Veteran operators are simply unavailable in sufficient numbers to meet demand. An aging workforce, increased infrastructure investment and […]

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What Superintendents Really Leave Behind

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Advocacy, mentorship + developing next-gen leaders   By Kiersten “KZ” Kaplan In more than 25 years in the industry, I’ve built almost everything except a bridge or a stadium. Today, I’m leading a major project in Baltimore, Maryland that will add more than a half-million square feet of life sciences research space. But it’s also an opportunity to reach more than 1,000 people, from carpenters and laborers to young professionals starting their careers. I’m at a point where I’m not just building projects; I’m building people. And that means I can help affect how my company shows up in our […]

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