In this episode, I talk with Josh Levy, co-founder and CEO of Document Crunch, about how ongoing economic shifts are disrupting the construction industry and why managing construction project risks with contract clauses and technology is essential.
***The video version of this episode can be viewed here.***
Engineering Quotes:
Here Are Some of the Questions I Asked Josh:
- How are today’s tariffs affecting the cost of materials and construction contracts?
- Why is it so important for engineers and project managers to check contracts for clauses that mitigate construction project risks?
- What can civil engineers do to reduce risk and keep projects stable in today’s economic climate?
- How can working together across the industry help construction teams deal with challenges like tariffs and inflation?
- In what ways can technology like Document Crunch make it easier to analyze contracts and spot construction project risks?
- What final piece of advice do you have for civil engineers who want to better manage risk, deal with economic changes, and use tech to stay ahead?
Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About How to Manage Construction Project Risks to Survive Economic Shifts:
- Tariffs increase material costs and create sudden pricing shifts that can break previously agreed budgets. Construction professionals must stay proactive by building construction project risk planning into contracts before issues arise.
- Price escalation clauses protect teams from absorbing rising costs they cannot control. Reviewing these terms ensures financial risk is shared fairly and helps avoid project failure.
- Civil engineers reduce construction project risks by negotiating contracts that reflect real conditions and by pricing known challenges into their proposals. When they understand the exposure early, they create space for better outcomes and smarter decisions.
- Collaboration leads to better risk sharing, which supports stable project delivery. When all parties contribute to solutions, projects are more likely to succeed without breakdowns or costly delays.
- Technology like Document Crunch helps teams quickly understand their contract risks and meet compliance requirements. By using automated tools, they reduce mistakes and gain confidence in how they manage construction project risks.
- Civil engineers need to build knowledge around contract terms and risk accountability from the start. When supported by smart technology, they spend less time figuring things out and more time driving project success.
More Details in This Episode…
About Josh Levy
Josh Levy currently serves as the CEO of Document Crunch, a contract intelligence platform for the construction industry. With a strong leadership background and expertise in construction law, Josh co-founded Document Crunch to bring his extensive experience to the field. Throughout his career, he has worked for top-ranking construction firms and led departments with annual revenues of $1 billion.
Josh graduated with honors from the University of Florida, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in construction management. He also holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami, graduating with high honors. These educational achievements, coupled with his professional experience, have shaped his vision for Document Crunch and his desire to raise the standards of the construction industry.
Under Josh’s leadership, Document Crunch is on a mission to empower everyone in the construction industry to know what’s in their contracts. With a focus on innovation and
excellence, the company strives to make a positive impact and drive industry-wide improvements.
Josh Levy’s expertise, combined with his passion for transforming how the industry mitigates risk, uniquely positions Document Crunch as a trailblazer in the construction tech space.
About the Host: K. James Taylor, Jr., P.E.
K. James Taylor, Jr., P.E., is a licensed professional engineer and an associate vice president at Verdantas, an emerging environmental, engineering, and technical consulting company with a green, sustainable, and people-first approach in the foreground. James has over 17 years of experience in civil engineering in the land development and municipal fields. Land development services include the design of subdivisions and site plans for compliance with local codes and ordinances, civil/site engineering, stormwater management, road design, and utility design. James has served as a project manager since 2018. In 2021, James was recognized with the Outstanding Project Manager Award at Duffield Associates (now Verdantas) for outstanding performance as a project manager and his consistent display of leadership traits valued by the company, including scheduling, management, proactive communication, collaboration, responsiveness, and client-focused service.
James was selected as the 2021 Young Engineer of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Delaware Section and served as the president of the Delaware Engineering Society and the New Professionals Director on the NSPE Board of Directors from 2021 to 2023.
Sources/References:
Document Crunch
Connect with Josh Levy on LinkedIn
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