Professor Roger W. Liska serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Construction Science and Management at Clemson University. Besides managing the day to day activities of the department, Dr. Liska develops and teaches curricula for the university Tele-Campus and traditional courses.The department’s Master’s Degree Distance Learning Program is one of the first successful nontraditional such programs in the nation. Dr. Liska also oversees the development and administration of Continuing Education, Research, and Public Service for the Clemson Advancement Foundation for Design + Building.

George Hedley, CSP, "The Business-Builder," is a business building expert. He is an entrepreneur, business owner, and the recognized authority on how to build a growing business into a company that consistently produces bottom-line results, profits, wealth and equity. He has authored several books including: "On-Purpose-On-Target!"; "Everything Contractors Know About Making A Profit!"; "Conversations On Leadership" and "The Business Success Blueprint" series. George founded & built his major commercial construction company from $0 to $50 million dollars in only 7 years!

Professor Dean T. Kashiwagi, PhD, P.E. is a professor at the Arizona State University Del E. Web School of Construction. He also heads up The Performance Based Studies Research Group (PBSRG), a non-profit research group at ASU. He is considered one of the leading experts and researchers in performance-based systems. Since 1994, PBSRG has applied best value and leadership based concepts to develop organization and service models that enhance efficiency, performance, and minimize risk. These concepts are contrary to traditional price-driven procurement and project management. The technology has been tested over 600 times totaling $2.4 Billion ($730M in construction projects and $1.7B in professional service projects) with a 98% success rate. Kashiwagi's teachings are designed to minimize the client’s efforts in managing, inspecting, and settling conflicts with the designer, contractor, and professional service provider. It also focuses on risk and accurate performance measurements of the designer, contractor, and professional service provider throughout the entire project from start to completion.

Ronald Gafford is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Austin Industries in Dallas, one of the largest, most diversified construction companies in the United States. Operating primarily in the southern half of the United States, they provide nearly every type of civil, commercial and industrial construction services, capitalizing on the depth of expertise of three operating companies – Austin Bridge & Road, Austin Commercial and Austin Industrial. A former member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, Ron earned an undergraduate degree in building construction and is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard School of Business. Ron’s experience in the construction and real estate development businesses began in 1972. Prior to joining Austin Industries, he was a development and construction partner with Trammell Crow Company and a project manager with the Henry C. Beck Company.

Lorraine Kay is a pioneer for women, having entered the Construction Industry over 35 years ago. Lorraine has vast experience in all aspects of construction and development of commercial Real Estate and Products. Lorraine’s philosophy of “Delighting the Customers” is the basis on which she has been able to help Kay Construction to grow into one of the Top 25 Commercial Construction firms in the Philadelphia Region.

Henry C. (Peter) Beck III has been associated with Beck and its affiliates since 1978. During this period, he has held various positions within the firm, and since 1991, has served as Managing Director. The Beck Group is an integrated builder offering project finance, design, construction and development services through nine offices across the United States and Mexico. The firm completed transactions in excess of $780 million in 2006.

Dennis Feidner was born in New York and attended C.W. Post College where he received a B.S. Degree in Accounting. Relocated to Dallas and worked with a large heavy highway contractor holding the positions of Accounting Manager, Controller and Vice President of Finance. Relocated to California and held several different Chief Financial Officer positions for mid to large construction companies with revenues between $25-150 million annually.

Chris Hudson, AIA, President and Chief Executive Officer of Morris Architects, has been with the firm for more than 30 years. Mr. Hudson heads a core management team that guides the firm in terms of business development, marketing, operations, financial, personnel, and delivery in design and technology. In addition to his firm-wide management overview, he has actively participated in a number of the firm’s most prominent projects.

Robynne Thaxton Parkinson is a Seattle based lawyer with substantial experience in both construction and employment law. Affiliated with the law firm Groff Murphy PLLC, she started her own practice to provide legal services to a full range of clients performing construction work, including Owners, Contractors, Design Builders, Engineers, and Architects. Robynne is one of the leading experts in construction law and alternative procurement both in Washington State and on a national basis. She is on the Executive Committee of the NW Region for the Design Build Institute of America and is the President for 2008-2010. She is a designated Design Build Professional & a frequent instructor for DBIA’s Contracts and Risk Management course across the country.

Dan Whiteman, Ph.D. is a certified general contractor and President of Coastal Construction Group. Dan earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in building construction from the University of Florida. In addition, he has recently been awarded his Ph.D. in Design, Construction and Planning from the University of Florida. Dan has taught at the University of Florida, and is currently an Adjunct Professor at both the University of Miami and Florida International University.

Your Radio Show Host: Ted Garrison is your New Construction Strategies Radio (NCSradio) Show host. After spending 25 years in construction management positions, Ted has spent many years researching topics of importance to the construction industry. He shares his experience, knowledge, research and vision through his radio shows, books, articles, seminars and presentations to industry associations and companies. As the author of Strategic Planning for Contractors, and the host of NCSradio, he focuses on strategic thinking, what companies and individuals must do to differentiate themselves from the competition. Ted believes that enhanced collaboration among the various industry entities leads to better value for all parties.

In Memoriam - Honorary Advisor Roger Herman was instrumental in advising and supporting the NCSradio program at its inception. Sadly, he passed away in 2006. In his memory we posthumously recognize his contribution to our efforts in the construction industry. The company he founded in 1980, The Herman Group of Companies, continues to provide a variety of services to corporations and their leaders, trade associations, and government agencies. Concentrating on the human side of enterprise, they provide information, advice, and counsel through consulting, professional speaking, writing, and a number of educational products on workforce and workplace trends. Now led by President Joyce Gioia, you can find more on The Herman Group at www.HermanGroup.com.