What Do We Need to Do as an Industry to Drive Digital Transformation?

RJ Reed is a Vice President in the Tampa, Florida Whiting-Turner office, beginning with the firm in 2008. RJ was an architect in the Orlando area for 5 years after graduating from the University of Florida, where he met his wife, Kristen. His leadership has propelled him to the forefront of innovation, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technology and lean methodologies to cultivate unparalleled team performance. RJ's influence extends far beyond the Southeast, as he lends his expertise to projects spanning the nation, perpetuating a legacy of excellence and advancement.

Blake Jackson is an architect working at the nexus of sustainability, wellness, resiliency, and equity. He is the global Director, Sustainability for NORR, which is an 800-person integrated architecture, interiors, planning, and engineering company, headquartered in Toronto, with 12 locations across the US, UK, and Canada.

He has 23 years’ experience in the AEC industry, holding a Bachelor of Architecture from Kennesaw State University in Marietta, GA and a Master of Architecture in Sustainable Environmental Design from the Architectural Association (AA) Graduate School in London, UK. Over his career, he has supported the _inclusion of sustainability and evidence-based approaches across multiple sectors, and award-winning projects, including retail, hospitality, commercial, workplace, labs, healthcare, higher-ed, industrial, multifamily, justice, and planning efforts._

Blake is also a prolific author, speaker, and educator on topics affecting the built environment, having spoken, published and taught at many leading industry events, publications, and institutions. He currently serves on the Advisory Board for UMass Dartmouth’s Interior Design Program, he is a former board member of A Better City (Boston), and from 2016-2018, he was elected Vice President of Advocacy for the Boston Society of Architects. He has gained industry wide recognition as a 2015 BD+C Magazine "40 Under 40" award winner, by being named to the 2021 Class of LEED Fellows, and as a 2024 recipient of the AIA Young Architect Award - all for his contributions, promoting an entrepreneurial career in "green" buildings.

Andy has amassed a wealth of experience spanning over 25 years within the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry, donning various hats as an architect, builder, and technologist. His role has consistently placed him as an instrumental figure in shaping strategies founded on a visionary outlook toward lifecycle technology, ushering in a modern era for the industry's master builders.   In his current capacity as the Head of Product at ConCntric, Andy shoulders the responsibility of strategic planning, fueling innovation, nurturing partnerships, orchestrating seamless integrations, and steering the implementation of enterprise-grade technologies. His collaborative efforts extend to close-knit associations with leading industry technologies through integrated partnerships, wherein he is leveraged as a thought leader. Furthermore, Andy has spearheaded numerous investments in budding technology startups.   At the core of Andy's approach lies a data-centric 360-degree mindset. This approach not only bolsters project workflows but also harmonizes with enterprise management objectives, facilitating a continuous and uninterrupted flow of information accessible from any location. His tenure at esteemed industry giants like PARIC and Clayco underscores his pioneering spirit as an early adopter of cutting-edge technologies, encompassing BIM, Simulation, Reality Capture, Robotics, AI/ML, Analytics, and Cloud computing.   Andy's enduring commitment to collaboration and feedback loops has finely tuned his ability to fashion exceptional user-centric experiences, secure projects, and propel ongoing innovation throughout the industry.