Niknaz Aftahi

Founder & CEO

aec+tech

Niknaz is the CEO and co-founder at aec+tech, an all-in-one innovation platform and community connecting AEC/O (Architecture, Engineering, Construction & Operations) professionals with the latest tools and technologies. Prior to launching aec+tech Niknaz practiced architecture in the bay area, California, both as a design professional as well as a design technologist. Niknaz is passionate about technology and innovation in the AEC space, and she has been a keynote speaker at various international aec-tech events. Niknaz is a member of AIA San Francisco design technology committee, and has also been developing curriculum and teaching architecture courses online to Bahai students in Iran who continue to be deprived of access to universities in their own country.

Stjepan Mikulić

Founder

AI in AEC

Stjepan Mikulic is the Founder & CEO at AI in AEC. Stjepan’s mission is to empower every AEC professional to solve challenges through learning, implementing, and developing AI and cutting-edge tech.

Curtis Rodgers

Partner

Brick & Mortar Ventures

Curtis Rodgers is a construction technologist and investor at Brick & Mortar Ventures, with six years of construction operations experience across federal, energy, industrial, infrastructure, and commercial markets at both Kiewit and McCarthy Construction. Curtis founded The Society for Construction Solutions (SCS) in 2014, contributed to the NASA Centennial 3D Printed Habitat Challenge, and participated as a lecturer for the US DOE’s Project Leadership Institute.

Thesla Collier

Design Technology Manager

HNTB

Thesla Collier is a Design Technologist at HNTB. Her background is in Architecture, and she works with designers, architects, engineers, and contractors in all phases of building, design, and construction. Thesla uses design technology to develop methods and workflows to improve project outcomes and processes. She also holds leadership positions in AIA Technology in Architectural Practice (TAP) National Knowledge Community at both the National and Los Angeles Chapters.

Sam Keville

Studio BIM Leader

NBBJ

Sam connects architecture and technology through meaningful and progressive practice. His focus remains fixed on cutting edge modes of representation and realization leadership. This translates to hard skills in design and production software, computational design, rendering, and design fabrication. Alongside soft skills involved with personal development programs, training, and standards. His work experience includes all phases from competition to construction administration, as well as assisting firms develop new initiatives and pilots with follow through to project team adoption. His collaborative attitude makes him an open team member with a sense of responsibility and drive to meet deadlines and produce exceptional results.

Argelia Bárcena

Regional Lead Women in BIM

WIB

Argelia Bárcena is an architecture graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, with an executive education certificate from Harvard Graduate School of Design. With a diverse career in the field of architecture, she has been affiliated with renowned firms, from small to global-sized companies. Currently she is a Regional Manager of Design Technology at Gensler, for their Northwest Region. Her commitment to the profession extends to her role as adjunct faculty at the Academy of Art University School of Architecture, having previously taught at City College of San Francisco and California College of the Arts (CCA).

Argelia is an award-winning international speaker. Her notable achievements include receiving Top Speaker Awards at Autodesk University and contributing to the development of Autodesk’s Revit Certified Professional Exams. Recognized with a BIM Hero Medal and as an Autodesk Expert Elite, Argelia’s transition from traditional architecture to design technology was driven by her exceptional technical proficiency. Additionally, she holds the esteemed position of Associate Director for the American Institute of Architects San Francisco Board of Directors, serves as a Regional Lead for Women in BIM and is the Chair of the Technology in Architectural Practice AIASF Knowledge Community.

Ali Nasiri

Director of Computational Design, West Coast

Flad Architects

Ali Nasiri is the Director of Computational Design at Flad Architects on the West Coast, where he merges over 15 years of experience in the AEC industry with his expertise in parametric and computational design. Ali is passionate about innovative approaches to integrating advanced technologies into sustainable architectural solutions. His responsibilities include researching and integrating cutting-edge technologies, creative problem solving, data-driven design and decision making and design process automation into Flad’s projects.

Miles Smith

North American Solutions Manager

Graphisoft

Miles Smith is GRAPHISOFT’s North American Solution Manager, overseeing the delivery of North American-specific products and services. As a Solutions Manager, Miles advocates for customer needs, specializing in BIM implementation and software transitions. His leadership in aligning client requirements, exploring emerging technologies, and advancing IFC practices drives GRAPHISOFT’s innovative edge, fostering seamless integration and collaboration in the industry.

Gregg Wallace

Partner

Nirman Ventures

Gregg is a Partner with Nirman Ventures, a San Francisco based venture capital firm. Nirman invests globally into startups focused on AEC-related. Previously, Gregg was a Partner at Building Ventures, and the Founding Director of Hilti Group’s Silicon Valley Ventures office. He spent nearly a decade with Hilti Group, starting in global strategy at headquarters in Liechtenstein, and continuing on with the leadership team in Spain. His early career was at Bain & Co. He holds a BA from Davidson and an MBA from Wharton.

Peter Johann

Chief Operating Officer / Co-Founder

PIRROS

Pirros was started by two structural engineers turned entrepreneurs. Peter and his Co-Founder, Ari, spent time at a handful of different structural engineering firms and kept experiencing the same problems when it came to detail management and production. The technology industry has overlooked the AE design space and the importance of details to a firm’s success. Pirros is on a mission to change that.