Solving the AI Puzzle With Terracon’s Jason Kephart

In this episode, Jason Kephart, Chief Technology Officer at Terracon, joins Eileen M. Canady, Chief Marketing Officer at BST Global, to delve into his career path and the evolving role of technology in the AEC industry. 

Jason reflects on his transition from consultant to technology leader, highlighting the critical role of aligning technology with business needs to drive efficiency and innovation. He discusses the evolution from basic technology to the transformative potential of AI, emphasizing that AI should complement human expertise, not replace it. In his experience, the key to leveraging AI effectively is using it to phase out non-value-added tasks and enhance value-added work, thereby improving team efficiency and distinguishing the firm's offerings from its competitors. 

The Terracon CTO also addresses the importance of a robust data strategy, the need to embrace new technologies while managing change, and the growing requirement for engineers to be tech savvy. He believes future technological advancements should boost efficiency and client value rather than merely generate designs. Finally, Jason offers advice on learning the business as well as the technology and urges others to adopt a growth mindset.