EPISODE 423: How ready is your construction business for the future? If you haven’t thought about AI and automation yet, you could be missing out on something big! In this week’s episode of The ConTech Crew, my co-host Travis Voss and I sit down with Aaron Hilger, CEO of Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), and Carol Duncan, President of General Sheet Metal and SMACNA, to discuss the evolving landscape of the construction industry. This conversation dives into the importance of adopting new technologies like AI and automation in construction to stay competitive, manage labor shortages, and improve efficiency.  We explore how industry associations like SMACNA can play a pivotal role in mentoring and collaboration, the significance of peer learning, and more. Curious how you can future-proof your business? Tune in now! Key Takeaways:  Introduction (00:00) What is SMACNA and its impact on the industry (03:17) AI’s potential to revolutionize construction operations (10:01) Leveraging technology to address labor shortage issue (19:30) How SMACNA supports small to mid-sized businesses (26:21) What it’s like planning the SMACNA convention (29:14) Why contractors learn best from their peers (32:01) What sets SMACNA events apart (36:30) SMACNA’s impact on contractor members (38:15) Succession planning and employee ownership (ESOP) (46:10) Additional Resources: Listen to the show at: https://thecontechcrew.com  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecontechcrew  —  Follow Aaron Hilger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronhilger/ Follow Carol Duncan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-duncan-31630710/ Follow Travis Voss on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-voss/ Visit SMACNA for more information: https://www.smacna.org/ —  The ConTech Crew is a construction news podcast dedicated to keeping you up to date with all the latest in construction technology.  Give us a follow so you never miss an episode!