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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Erik Narhi is the Computational Design Lead in Buro Happold’s Los Angeles office with educational experience in architecture as well as engineering.

Erik has experience with advanced computational techniques (Grasshopper, Dynamo, Digital Project, Processing), studio design projects at a wide range of scales, realization of a design from concept to CD’s using Revit, and construction methods in an academic setting. Erik’s experience also includes complex geometry rationalization / optimization, BIM, architectural and structural documentation from schematic design to construction documents, model making, and early stage design in a professional environment.

Erik has a wide range of shop and full scale design-build fabrication experience from extracurricular activities such as Global Architecture Brigades. Erik is especially interested in larger scale projects and design informed by unique structural and technological solutions, as well as the utilization of tools such as Digital Project and Grasshopper in order to rationalize complex geometries and streamline design processes via parametric modeling and scripting.

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.

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.

A software entrepreneur, Randall Stevens is passionate about creating solutions for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. He graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Architecture and shortly after founded the Rich Photorealistic Content (RPC)-focused company ArchVision. Leveraging his industry expertise further in 2016, Stevens started content management system (CMS) AVAIL that now boasts Gensler, Perkins + Will, IMEG, LEO A DALY, and Populous as customers.

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.

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.

Dionne Darling has been with The A|N Media Group for over five years. As A|N’s Associate Publisher, she manages A|N’s Texas headquarters and handles accounts in the West, Southwest and Chicago territories.

Dionne has over 25 years of direct B2B sales and business development experience. Dionne holds an Associate Degree from El Centro Junior College at Dallas, Texas.

Darling is CEO and cofounder of The Architect’s Newspaper, celebrating its 12th year. The A|N media company consists of print and digital publications covering architecture and design news, as well as the Facades+ conferences. As A|N’s publisher, Darling won the AIA National Collaboration Award, Grassroots Preservation Award, and ASLA NY’s President’s Award. She began her publishing career as director of print production for The Gap’s European markets. She holds a BS from The University of Texas at Austin.

Marty Wood is the Program Director for The Architect’s Newspaper’s Facades+ Conferences and other AN events and initiatives that bring together AEC professionals to share their stories, expertise, and projects. As a writer, he’s contributed to The Architect’s Newspaper, Metropolis, and other design publications. He is also a visiting instructor at Pratt Institute. Wood has a BA in Communications from San Francisco State University and a M.S. from Columbia University GSAPP.