Steve McGough stands in front of the HCSS Building 3 construction site. Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer
For the first time ever, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) chose a technology leader, Steve McGough, as their chairman. Why would a transportation agency choose the President and CFO of a construction software company as their leader?
One of the most critical focuses for the future of the construction industry is funding.
“Absent new revenue, starting in 2021, states could face a 40 percent cut in investment.,” says McGough. ARTBA’s primary goal is to grow and protect transportation infrastructure investment that will meet public and business needs for safe and efficient travel.
Companies that are dependent on infrastructure investment are continually looking toward technology and innovation to help them streamline, cut costs, and win new projects to help their companies continue to grow and thrive, even in tough political and environmental climates. With 35 years of experience in the construction industry and 15 years leading at HCSS, McGough brings a unique perspective to help ARTBA member companies meet their business and tech needs.
Another key business need that McGough is passionate about addressing is the construction workforce. By now, every construction leader has felt the pinch of trying to find, recruit, and retain skilled workers. Technology is playing a huge role in helping fill the gaps.
According to a recent Deloitte survey, 81% of C-Suite leaders expect to increase their artificial intelligence technologies over the next three years. AI can make construction sites safer and more efficient, and as it progresses, it has the potential to fill the workforce gap to the tune of hundreds of thousands of workers in the near future.
Other companies are focusing on re-skilling their current workers and putting new technologies in their hands that eliminate tedious, repetitive tasks. The most successful companies are implementing “relentless adaption” strategy to ensure they stay ahead of their competitors.
This is a critical moment for the construction industry, and organizations like ARTBA understand that every stakeholder in the industry–government agencies, technology companies, and industry organizations–must work together to prepare for building the future.
Written by: Tracy Howard
