The association’s approach to industry challenges is a nod to its practical, collaborative philosophy. When faced with specialized issues like cybersecurity, CMAA takes a strategic approach to member support. “One of the things that CMAA does really well is to do what it knows and redirect people to others who know better,” Rutledge explains. This philosophy comes into play in how the association handles specific member needs, often leveraging its extensive network to bring in subject matter experts. The supply chain challenges that dominated industry conversations during the pandemic have largely resolved, according to Rutledge, though some specialized areas still face challenges.“We ask about supply chain, particularly for things that were hard to get in the pandemic or just took a really long time, and with a few exceptions for highly specialized equipment, the supply chain has smoothed out.” TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, AND THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION The rapid evolution of technology has become a central focus for CMAA members,prompting increased attention to emerging tools and methodologies in the construction management field. “Our members are understanding the opportunities and implications of the rapid developments in technology,” Rutledge says. “The accelerating nature of technology and technologies is something our members are talking about and wanting to know more about, from artificial intelligence to virtual reality, augmented reality, drones, and LiDAR technology.” CMAA has established a dedicated technology subcommittee to address these technological developments systematically.“We have a technology subcommittee that’s charged this year very specifically with exploring the opportunities and implications of this rapidly accelerating technology,” Rutledge explains. The committee examines not just what technology can do, but also its limitations, emphasizing what Rutledge calls “the human in the loop”– the critical ability to make judgments about technological outputs. CMAA disseminates technological insights through multiple channels to ensure comprehensive member engagement.As Rutledge notes,“We do that through tunnels, and bridges. This broad scope shows the essential role program and construction managers play in developing and maintaining critical infrastructure nationwide. In the Washington DC area alone, CMAA members are actively involved in two major infrastructure initiatives. “We have two huge important projects coming online here,” Rutledge shares. “One is the Long Bridge replacement and supplement across the Potomac, and the other is replacing the Key Bridge in Baltimore, multi-billion-dollar programs that demonstrate the scale and complexity of work CMAA members oversee.” 8 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 02
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx