Forging Success: Project Management, Leadership, and Collaboration on Megaprojects in the Sheet Metal Industry- Panel discussion
Wednesday, February 18 | 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
This panel session will examine the project management challenges unique to megaprojects broken into three specific areas: providing a large workforce to meet the needs of the project; partnership strategies for solving problems and addressing obstacles, and supply chain/logistics challenges. Through real-world case studies, speakers will showcase how effective partnering, project leadership, and problem solving can overcome obstacles and keep even the most complex projects on track.
Speakers:
Moderator:
Clark Ellis
Continuum Advisory Group
As Principal and Founding Member of Continuum Advisory Group, Clark Ellis provides consulting services to facility owners, engineering, and construction service providers, building trades unions, trade associations, home builders, real estate developers, manufacturers of building products, tools, and equipment, channel participants, and installing contractors. He has served these clients in North and South America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Clark has contributed his expertise to projects involving enterprise strategy, planning, leadership, market research, training and development, business process improvement, and technology deployment. These projects have spanned construction vertical markets such as industrial, oil and gas, infrastructure, general building, utility, as well as single-family and multifamily residential.
In addition to these specific responsibilities, Clark’s research priorities are focused on the application of new technology throughout the design, engineering, and construction value chain, the development of the new processes and collaborative business relationships necessary for the industry to leverage these transformative technologies, and the development of industrialized construction.
Todd Hill
Ventcon
Todd Hill is SMACNA’s President and is the president of Allen Park, Michigan-based Ventcon. Ventcon has a long history of serving companies in the Detroit area with commercial and industrial services, including several customers in the automotive industry. In 2022, Ventcon expanded its manufacturing footprint by building a new facility in Jackson, TN, to service the Blue Oval City in Haywood County and BlueOvalSK Battery Park in central Kentucky.
Hill began his career in 1990 as a sheet metal apprentice with Ventcon, during his career at Ventcon, he received his associate degree in applied science in computer-aided and mechanical design from Schoolcraft College. During his career climb at Ventcon, Hill became a CAD operator and advanced through several management positions, becoming president in 2005. In 2010, Hill and his two partners acquired the business.
Todd’s service at the national level has been exceptional. He sits on various committees and task forces, including the HVAC Contractors Council Steering Committee, Testing and Research Board of Directors, Contractor Operations Manual Task Force, and previously sat on the Pre-Insulated Phenolic Duct Construction Standard Task Force and the Green Building Task Force. Locally, he serves on the SMACNA Metropolitan Detroit chapter’s Board of Directors, Pension and Annuity Joint Trust Funds, Local Joint Adjustment Board, Joint Apprenticeship Committee, Labor Relations Committee, Fire Damper Committee, and Market Recovery Committee.
Rich Styles
Ventcon
Rich Styles Manufacturing Director at Ventcon & Third generation Sheetmetal workerhad the fortunate opportunity to be involved in six sheet metal factory start-ups throughout his 19-year career. Rich has been an instrumental Team member at Ventcon to where over the course of the past 9 years has successfully expanded into three new territories throughout the country. Highlighting one in particular was our expansion effort to Jackson, TN in 2022. Ventcon took on an 80,000 Square foot building that required structure renovations inside and out, upgraded mechanicals, shop layout with improved streamlined efficiencies, all while working with the Local 4 SMW’s union in effort to build a Team that topped out at 35 members, with a committed timeline of 120 days to full-fledged production. As the hourglass dwindled away, we found ourselves with a strong start-up crew with experience to form raw materials into Ductwork. Rich has an entrepreneur spirit that falls in line with the requirements of his role. Being resourceful proved to be key entering new territories as we established new supply chains complimented with legacy vendors along the way.
In destined preparation overtime Rich attended and completed Business Management University through SMACNA in 2018. With notable achievements at Schoolcraft College in 2007 to where he was nominated by his student peers, simultaneously winning both awards the semester had to offer of, “Most likely to lead our Nation during the 21st century” & “Most Likely to be promoted to the highest ranks of his profession”.
Bobby McCally
Southland Industries
Bobby is a fourth-generation contractor with more than 48 years of full-time experience in the construction industry. His career began in 1980 at Sam P. Wallace Company, where he was tasked with learning computer programming on newly acquired personal computers to support job cost tracking and forecasting. This early exposure to emerging technology became a foundational element of his professional identity, enabling him to effectively integrate technological solutions with construction operations throughout his career.
Bobby has worked across numerous phases of construction and has collaborated with full-service MEP and general contracting firms. In 1990, he joined his father at McCally Group as a consultant, providing dispute resolution and training services to a diverse range of clients, including owners, developers, designers, general contractors, and subcontractors.
In late 2009, Bobby joined Southland Industries (formerly The Brandt Companies), where he led the transition from paper-based timesheets to an electronic time-tracking system. He is a named patent holder for the company’s fabrication production planning, material ordering, and labor tracking system. In 2022, Bobby played a key leadership role in Southland’s implementation of Autodesk Construction Cloud, overseeing the migration of more than 300 projects from multiple platforms and servers within four months and coordinating training for over 200 team members in just six weeks.
Bobby has served on the SMACNA Operation Task Force and various steering committees for over seven years and has been a member of the SMACNA Board of Directors for over two years. He also served on the MCAA Technology Committee from 2021 to 2023.
Outside of work, Bobby is an avid golfer and enjoys spending time with his wife of 41 years, his three adult children, and his two grandchildren.
Brad Veraska
Southland Industries
Brad’s 37 years of industry experience have shaped his deep technical expertise, leadership acumen, project execution capabilities, and strategic vision. He began his career in the field as a sheet metal mechanic before expanding his skill set to include pipefitting and welding. In 1995, he transitioned into project management and later advanced to the role of Project Executive. Today, he serves as North Texas Director of Operations for Southland Industries.
Throughout his career, Brad has built a distinguished record of success on large-scale healthcare, advanced technology, and mission critical projects. He is recognized for his strategic foresight, collaborative approach, and hands-on leadership style. Most recently, he has provided leadership on a data center mega-project designed to support some of the world’s largest GPU clusters, enabling next-generation breakthroughs in AI. The purpose-built facility has garnered global attention and features high-density data halls specifically designed for AI workloads, incorporating plans to utilize local renewable energy sources. Leveraging prefabrication and innovative construction techniques, the team delivered the first data hall wing and core (28 MW) in just twelve months—from design kick-off to client occupancy. The site is ultimately designed to scale to more than 1 GW of computing capacity.
Brad is committed to a people-first leadership philosophy, leading by example and fostering positive, lasting impacts on both his teams and the projects they deliver.
Outside of work, he enjoys leatherworking and precision long-range shooting.
Mike Thorne
SMART Local Union 4
Mike Thorne serves as the Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer of SMART Local 4, elected by the membership in 2023. He has been part of the sheet metal industry for nearly three decades, beginning his career in 1995 when he joined SMART Local 4. In 1998, he entered the Local’s apprenticeship program, graduating early and moving into architectural sheet metal work. Where he advanced to foreperson. During this time he also became an instructor at the Local 4 apprenticeship school, a position he continues to hold, helping develop and mentor future journey-level workers.
Thorne’s leadership path within the organization began in 2004, when he was appointed Organizer, focusing on strengthening member engagement, promoting fair workplace standards, and expanding the Local’s presence across its jurisdiction. In 2011, he was elected Vice President/Recording Secretary, serving by virtue on the Executive Board for more than a decade and contributing to policy development, negotiations, and long-term planning before assuming his current role.
Today, as Business Manager/FST, Thorne remains committed to supporting SMART Local 4’s continued growth and stability. His work centers on responsible benefit administration, strategic organizing efforts, strong apprenticeship and training opportunities, and collaborative partnerships that reinforce the Local’s role in the community and the sheet metal industry.
Joe Powell
SMART