Build Better With Anastasia Barnes

On season 2, episode 3 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia welcomes Bolanle (Bola) Williams-Olley. Bola is a partner and the chief financial officer at architectural firm Mancini Duffy, the founder of the SheBuilds Movement, and a mom of two. As a CFO, Bola is setting an example for women in the AEC industry. She talks about her passion for giving back and her advice for those wanting to make an impact, through their work or their philanthropic efforts.

In the second episode of season two, Anastasia talks with Yiselle Santos Rivera, a senior medical planner and the director of equity, diversity, and inclusion at HKS Architects’ Washington D.C. office. Yiselle is the co-founder of Latin American Interior Designers, Engineers and Architects (LA.IDEA), and the founder of Women Inspiring Emerging Leaders in Design (WIELD). She shares her thoughts on the importance of creating spaces for those in minority communities to have their voices heard, and providing development opportunities that can create truly equitable workplaces.

In the first episode of the second season of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia welcomes Julia Gamolina, founder and editorial director of Madame Architect, a platform highlighting women that advance the practice of architecture from all backgrounds, levels, and corners of the field. She is also the director of strategy for Trahan Architects in New York City.   To date, Julia has published over 100 interviews with women in the industry, aimed at encouraging young women to enter the field of architecture by showing the many choices they have in crafting a dynamic, meaningful, and interesting career.

On episode 26 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia welcomes Tyler Shannon, architect and data scientist, and Kate Bubriski, director of sustainability and building performance at Arrowstreet. Shannon and Bubriski joined Anastasia to talk about the Living with Heat report that was published in November of 2019. The project was led by the ULI Boston/New England Climate Resilience Committee, whose mission is to provide the Metro Boston region with design and policy solutions to tackle the risks and vulnerabilities of rising extreme heat predicted by 2070.  Along with over 70 other firms and organizations, Arrowstreet contributed to the report, and, as a company, is exploring ways to address rising temperatures, and the challenges it poses to our cities.

In episode 25 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia welcomes Dan Titus, CEO of HRP Associates, an environmental consulting firm headquartered in Farmington, Conn. As more AEC professionals begin returning to their places of work during the pandemic, Titus helps break down the requirements and recommendations for safe workplaces and offers guidance on effective protocols for staying in compliance and operating safely in the long term.  

In episode 24 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia talks with Daniel Stonecipher, senior director of innovation at PROCON, Inc., a design/build firm based in New Hampshire. Stonecipher talks about how companies can use technology to collect and transform data into usable insights, further streamlining operations and effectively developing an “end in mind” strategy. As the Senior Director of Innovation, Daniel is responsible for setting and overseeing the company’s overall innovation initiatives through effective change management and inspirational engagement across all company business lines. Daniel's primary role defines PROCON’s internal operational strategy, effectiveness and design-build capabilities using leading-edge technology and processes for a more efficient and interactive client experience as well as leading the Integrated Construction Services Team.   Daniel is a technology and process development entrepreneur and professional with over 25 years’ experience in the AEC+O and Software Development

In episode 23 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia welcomes Jane Henry, founder of SeeHerWork, a safety consultancy and product manufacturing company that designs workwear, safety equipment, and other job-specific products sized to the unique body needs of both women and men. By introducing properly fitting clothing and equipment, Henry says employers can promote safety in the industry, create more inclusive work environments for women, and address the workforce shortages that exist today. Special thanks to Elaine Construction for sponsoring Episode 23!

In episode 22 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia welcomes Alicia Washington, director of marketing at HRP Associates, and president-elect of the Society for Marketing Professionals Connecticut chapter (SMPS CT). Alicia talks about SMPS CT’s new Diversity and Inclusion Initiative and shares her own journey as a person of color in the AEC industry. She also shares how leaders can have those often difficult conversations about diversity and inclusion that promote real change within our industry.

In episode 21 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia talks with Matt Reiniger and Ben Callaghan, associate partners at Fathom, a future design firm helping manufacturers, architects, builders, and engineers go beneath the surface to reconnect people with what gives their work meaning and drives unprecedented performance. Reiniger and Callaghan share how their recent deep dive into their own company has influenced the work they do with firms in the AEC industry. They talk about how they’re helping people understand the meaningful difference they are making in the world, and share ways to transform the future of an organization by challenging the status quo. With over fourteen years of experience in brand development, innovation, storytelling, strategy, and business culture, Ben and Matt work with leaders and their teams to design and live into versions of themselves and their organizations that fuel a meaningful and exciting future. As Associate Partners at Fathom, Ben and Matt are creators and facilitators o

In our 20th episode of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia talks with Jay Calnan, CEO of J. Calnan and Associates, about Team IMPACT, a nonprofit whose mission is to connect and cultivate meaningful relationships between college athletic teams and children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. Calnan shares how the nonprofit he started in 2011 has grown, now working with over 650 campuses in all 50 states. He also talks about how philanthropic work positively impacts an organization and its employees, and the importance of passion and networking when companies are looking for ways to give back.

In episode 19 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia welcomes Rob DiNinni, founding member of StageCoach Improv. Rob talks about some of the major challenges facing leaders and sales professionals today, and how they can overcome those, fostering growth and productivity. By building connections through humor and focusing on soft skills, teams can cultivate relationships, empower collaboration, and exceed desired outcomes in the workplace.  

In episode 18 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia welcomes Elizabeth Skidmore, business representative with the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (NASRCC), and co-founder of the Policy Group on Tradeswomen’s Issues (PGTI).  Skidmore talks about the achievements that have been made in recruiting and hiring women in the trades. She also shares how she and many others are working to reach upcoming goals with events and programs such as Mass Girls in Trades and Build A Life, and by creating concrete guidelines for industry professionals to follow. This episode is sponsored by Commodore Builders. 

In Episode 17 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia welcomes Mark Reed and Stephanie Goldberg, founding principals of the Boston-based architecture and design firm, LAB/LSA. They talk about the threat climate change poses to the city of Boston, and their proposal for a permanent solution to rising sea levels, titled The Blue Necklace. Listen to hear more about their project, which includes increasing Boston’s coastline and providing opportunities for affordable housing, cultural amenities, and additional open space; and what industry professionals can be doing to approach this complex challenge.

In episode 15 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia sits down with Brian Anderson, founding partner of Anderson Porter Design, to talk about the unique challenges associated with designing and building cannabis cultivation facilities and retail dispensaries. Listen to hear more about how Anderson and his team are leading the charge in this exciting new industry with innovative technologies and deliberate regulatory procedures, and designing facilities with a focus on sustainability and long-term success.

A Passive House building "comprises a set of design principles used to attain a quantifiable and rigorous level of energy efficiency within a specific quantifiable comfort level". As we progress through the 21st century, it is clear that employee health and well-being has emerged at the forefront of workplace culture and as a primary component of a successful, happy lifestyle; Kathy MacNeil's work in developing the Winthrop Center in alignment with Passive House Standards continues to prioritize workplace diversity, environmental sustainability, and resiliency in the city of Boston.  In episode 14 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia sits down with Kathy MacNeil, principal at Millennium Partners Boston, to talk about the Winthrop Center, a $1.3 billion development in downtown Boston. To be completed in the summer of 2022, Winthrop Center will be a market leader in sustainability and resiliency and the largest passive house office building in the world. Listen to hear more about how Kathy and her team are a

In Episode 13 of Build Better, Anastasia sits down with Kyle Reagan, Managing Partner, and Paul Rocha, General Manager of Fabrication of DECCO, Inc. to discuss the industry's shortage of trained workers and how DECCO's unique recruiting program is working to address the issue. 

In Episode 12 of Build Better, Anastasia sits down with Bridget Akinc, CEO of Building Impact, to discuss how the organization is transforming corporate volunteering by partnering with civic, business and nonprofit leaders in addressing complex social issues through volunteering.

A living building is built to mimic natural processes with the intent of improving the surrounding environment. A building that achieves Living Certification must meet the performance requirements of seven “Petals” or categories: Place, Water, Energy, Health & Happiness, Materials, Equity, and Beauty. In Episode #11 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia chats with Sam Batchelor of designLAB Architects and Jessica Schultz of the Hitchcock Center for the Environment to discuss the Hitchcock Center's recent global recognition as the 23rd building in the world and the 4th in Massachusetts.  They detail how the Hitchcock center achieved the certification and how they are both educating people on the importance of building sustainably.

When we hear the word crisis, we most commonly think of an emergency situation; but a crisis can be any incident that is disruptive to business operations or that negatively impacts staff, customers or an individual's reputation. Crisis can refer to a computer network going down to an active shooter situation.   In Ep. #10 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia sits down with Lisa Nickerson, the CEO and founder of Nickerson Peopler Relations and Nickerson Real Estate Partners. Lisa discusses the importance of having a good crisis management in place and gives tips on what companies and individuals can do to better manage a crisis.