Complete Story
08/17/2020
Powering Chicago featured in upcoming Chicago Building Congress webinar
September 16, 2020: Noon CST
The Future of Work: Leveraging Technology for Safer Built Environments in the COVID-19 Era
While it remains to be seen what the ultimate impact of COVID-19 will be on Chicagoland’s commercial real estate market, it is undeniable that the pandemic has brought about rapid changes in the way we work.
With remote work far more prevalent than it was at the beginning of the year, encouraging a return to offices in urban centers like Chicago and bolstering the construction and real estate industries in the process depends on creating safe built environments for people to congregate and collaborate in person.
Technology can play a vital role in this process, helping mitigate risk and allay concerns about the spread of COVID-19.
CBC Members: $15
Non-Members: $25
Join our expert panel to learn how technology can be deployed to power a safe return to the workplace in the weeks and months ahead.
Elbert Walters III, Director, Powering Chicago - Moderator
Elbert Walters III is the director of Powering Chicago, an electrical industry labor-management partnership between IBEW Local 134 and the Electrical Contractors’ Association of City of Chicago that invests in consistently better construction, better careers and better communities within the metro Chicago region. Employing the latest technology, Powering Chicago’s members are elevating industry performance through their commitment to safety, level of experience and reliability, while also investing in the future of skilled labor through an innovative, five-year apprenticeship program.
Daniel P. Allen, Executive Director, CISCO
Daniel P. Allen began serving as CISCO’s executive director in August 2013. The Construction Industry Service Corporation is a labor-management organization serving union building trades and contractors. CISCO currently represents more than 140,000 union construction workers and 8,000 union contractors in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake and McHenry Counties. CISCO’s primary mission is to strengthen the union construction market by promoting ourselves to developers and other end users. Dan is also a Board member of the Chicago Building Congress.
Thomas Pedergnana, Vice President, Malko Communication Services
Thomas Pedergnana is a vice president at Malko Communication Services, a complete communications installation and service contractor specializing in AV, DAS, Security, low-voltage solutions, services, and systems. In his role at Malko, Pedergnana is responsible for the overall management of operations and strategic direction for Malko’s Electrical, Wireless, AV, Security and TelData divisions.
Gary Shamasko, Project Executive / Division Manager, Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors
Gary Shamasko is an adaptive and solutions-driven leader with a 36-year cross-disciplined background in the electrical industry. His experience in Integration, Distribution, Service and Construction provides a perspective needed to manage and expand business performance in the current market.
Gene Kent, Director, IBEW-NECA Technical Institute
Gene Kent is the director of the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (IN-TECH), the premier education and training center for electricians in the midwest. Kent was named the director of IN-TECH in June 2019 after previously serving as an instructor and special assistant to the director of the institute. Kent began his career at the training institute himself before going on to serve as a foreman electrician.
