COSE's Building Your Business event focused on key issues shaping the sector.

On August 14th, COSE hosted the inaugural Building Your Business event, an exclusive gathering designed for construction industry leaders and focused on key issues shaping the sector. The event featured two insightful presentations that addressed both regulatory changes and technological advancements impacting the industry. 

Keenan Jones of Frantz Ward opened the evening with a timely discussion on the implications of legalized recreational marijuana for small business owners. With marijuana now more accessible, business owners must adapt their policies and practices to address the potential impact on workplace safety, legal compliance, and employee relations. For small business owners, this includes updating workplace policies to address the potential use of marijuana by employees, both on and off the job.  

The implications of legalization are particularly significant in industries like construction, where safety is paramount, and Jones emphasized the need for small business owners to proactively adapt to the changing landscape for the protection of both their employees and their businesses.  

Paul Franke, Chief Revenue Officer at MorelandConnect and member of the OhioX Ambassador Council, provided a deep dive on the transformative potential of AI in the construction industry, particularly through generative AI applications. Franke explored various use cases, including AI-driven design, project scheduling, cost estimation, safety monitoring, and regulatory compliance. He also emphasized the importance of AI adoption to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and bridge labor gaps, noting that the construction industry is poised for significant growth in AI usage.