Dr. Tracy Brower

Principal, Applied Research + Consulting

Steelcase

Dr. Tracy Brower, PhD, MM, MCRW is a PhD sociologist and a principal with Steelcase’s Applied Research + Consulting group. Brower studies the sociology of work and the changing nature of work, workers and workplace. She is the author of a new book, The Secrets to Happiness at Work and also Bring Work to Life by Bringing Life to Work. She is a contributor to Forbes.com and Fast Company. Brower is an award-winning speaker and has over 25 years of experience working with global clients to achieve business results. She is an executive advisor to Coda Societies and to the MSU Master Industrial Mathematics Program. Her work has been featured in TEDx, The Wall Street Journal, Work-Life Balance in the 21st Century (book), Globe and Mail (Canada), InsideHR (Australia), HR Director (UK), T3N (Germany), Real Estate Review Journal, Fortune.com, Inc. Magazine, and more. Follow her on LinkedIn, Twitter, or at tracybrower.com.

Dr. Luciana Burdi

Director for Capital Programs and Environmental Affairs

Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport)

In her role, Dr. Luciana Burdi, Intl. Assoc. AIA, CCM is leading the shift of Capital Programs towards a more innovative, progressive, BIM and Design Technology-driven department. By adopting Lean and Lean Construction principles and concepts, she is also committed to create a culture of continuous improvement focusing on maximizing the value for our customers, improving quality outcomes, while reducing non-value-added activities. She was instrumental in implementing an employee engagement program in the department which received Authority-wide recognition and still exists today. Prior to joining Massport, she held several positions at the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Burdi is a member of the CMAA National Board of Directors, the Chair of the CMAA (Construction Management Association of America) Emerging Technologies Committee. In October 2015, she received the CMAA National Award in New Technologies techniques in CM for advancing the use of valuable new technologies in construction management. Burdi earned her CCM (certified construction manager) in 2019. Moreover, she is an active member of the BSA (Boston Society of Architects) BIM Roundtable, the Lean Construction Institute New England Community of Practice, the AIA TAP (Technology in Architectural Practice), and AGC (Association of General Contractors) of America. She received her Doctorate from Harvard Graduate School of Design. Previously, she was a SPURS Fellow (Special Program in Urban and Regional Studies) at MIT and she holds a Master's Degree from the Instituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia (IUAV) in Venice Italy.

Joy Clark

Vice President/Partner

Leggat McCall Properties

Joy Clark, LEED AP BD+C, PMP, is a VP/Partner at Leggat McCall Properties and as a Project Executive, she is responsible for various design, construction, and advisory assignments. Her primarily focus and passion is working on complicated, occupied healthcare renovations. Clark is a Civil Engineer by training and, prior to joining Leggat McCall Properties, was a Senior Project Manager at Dartmouth College where she managed all aspects of fast-track renovation activities from permitting through closeout for projects ranging from $1 million to $45 million+. She also worked for Turner Construction for more than 10 years in various capacities, including estimating, engineering, and project management, serving healthcare, higher education, and commercial real estate clients. Outside of work, Clark recharges her batteries with landscape photography. Some of her work can be seen at https://www.eastcoastwestcoastphoto.com/.

Olivia Gardner

Virtual Design & Construction Manager

BOND Building, Inc.

As BOND Building Construction’s Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) Manager, Olivia Gardner, CM-BIM, CM-Lean, is an expert in using the latest construction technologies to significantly improve the way projects are delivered. She works closely with clients, consultants, and design teams to leverage the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM), laser scanning, Autodesk BIM 360 and other technologies to reduce project cost and improve efficiency. Gardner is an advocate for using visual tools to enhance communication, speed project delivery, and facilitate Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Protection (MEP/FP) systems’ coordination. She has been instrumental in advancing the firm’s use of technology and has been a key contributor to successful pursuits and project delivery. Gardner holds certifications in BIM and Lean and a BS in Facilities Planning and Management from the Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Sonia Richards

Director of Capital Projects, Department of Facilities

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Sonia Richards is the Director of Capital Projects in the Department of Facilities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Over the 13 years she has been at MIT, she and her team have completed projects totaling over $800M in construction costs. These projects include major renovations of historic buildings as well as new construction such as the New Vassar Street Residence Hall and work in Kendall Square that includes Graduate Student Housing and the new homes for MIT’s Admissions, Innovation Initiative, Welcome Center and Museum. Richards and her team currently have another $700M in design. Prior to joining MIT, Richards was with Turner Construction Company for 26 years, the last 11 in Boston where she worked on the Genzyme Manufacturing Facility in Allston, the Reebok World Headquarters in Canton and the Genzyme Headquarters Building in Kendall Square along with numerous projects while a Project Executive with Turner’s SPD unit. She is a graduate of Lehigh University with a BS in Civil Engineering.