Get the kNACk : A National Academy of Construction Podcast

In support of Construction Suicide Prevention Week, September 14–18, 2026, and National Suicide Prevention Month, this episode of Get the kNACk highlights the construction industry’s continued commitment to mental health and suicide prevention. Host Sue Steele is joined by NAC member Cal Beyer, Angela Crawford, Executive Director of Construction Suicide Prevention, and Kara McCaffrey, Chief Wellness Officer at Houck and Chair of the 2026 Construction Suicide Prevention Week initiative. Together, they discuss the growth of Construction Suicide Prevention Week and the industry-wide effort to make mental health and suicide prevention a priority. The guests highlight practical ways construction leaders and organizations can take action, from participating in the national stand-down and taking the pledge to using toolbox talks and promoting available mental health resources. They also share personal experiences and leadership lessons that demonstrate how creating a culture of care, connection, and open conversation can help save lives and build a healthier construction industry. Resources: Construction Suicide Prevention Week: · Register Your 2026 Participation · 2026 Stand Down · 2026 Webinars · Toolbox Talks SAFE Project: · NoShame Pledge · Treatment, Family Support and Recovery Housing Locator

In this episode of Get the kNACk, host and NAC member Sue Steele is joined by Cal Beyer of SAFE Project and Sonya Bohmann, Executive Director of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP), to discuss mental health, suicide prevention, substance use, and recovery in the construction industry. They explore why mental well-being is an essential part of workplace safety, the importance of safe and person-first language, and how leaders can be visible, vocal, and vulnerable in supporting their teams. Through personal stories and resources like Stronger than the Silence: The Road to Recovery Begins With a Voice, they emphasize how starting conversations, reducing stigma, and connecting people with support can help build a safer and healthier construction industry. Resources: Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention Video: Stronger than the Silence: The Road to Recovery Begins With a Voice Needs Analysis: & Implementation Tool Safe Messaging Guidelines Toolbox Talks SAFE Project: NoShame Pledge Treatment, Family Support and Recovery Housing Locator

In this episode of Get the kNACk, host Jerry Eyink brings together leaders from utility and construction sectors to explore a central theme: how building on tribal land differs from conventional construction. Joining him are NAC members Glenn Steiger, retired consultant for the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, and Jeff Ehret, founder and chairman of The PENTA Building Group, which has completed over $4 billion in tribal projects across 15 tribes since 2002. They share how sovereign immunity, tribal courts, and TERO (Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance) employment requirements shape every project, along with the logistical and financial realities of building in remote locations. Importantly, they reveal that success on tribal land depends as much on relationships, patience, and cultural understanding as it does on technical execution. The guests share the leadership lessons from their careers and what it takes to build lasting trust in order to transform the industry to build a better nation.

In this episode of the Get the kNACk podcast, host Sue Steele brings together leaders from academia and industry to explore a central theme: "safer does not always mean safer." Joining her are NAC members Jesus M. de la Garza, Professor and Director of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at Clemson University, and Craig Martin, retired CEO and President of Jacobs. Together they share their research on risk compensation, the tendency for people to adjust their behavior in response to changes in safety, and how this impacts safety outcomes. They share the story of how they got started with this research and what their key findings are. They reveal that safety is not just about processes and procedures, it is also about behaviors, perception, and the human willingness to take risks. Importantly, understanding this human behavior also creates the opportunity for breakthrough safety performance. The guests share the leadership implications of their research and what it takes to create lasting change to transform the industry and build a better nation. Read the full executive insight on this topic published by the National Academy of Construction here: Risk Tolerance in Safety More on Safety from NAC: Safety Insights NAC's Safety Culture Series: Understanding Safety Culture

In this episode of the Get the kNACk podcast, host Sue Steele welcomes Stuart Harrison, NAC member and Executive Director of the Charles Pankow Foundation, to discuss some of the Foundation's latest initiatives and its ongoing efforts to drive innovation across the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. The Charles Pankow Foundation has long been a leader in AEC industry research and development, supporting projects that challenge conventional practices and accelerate the adoption of new technologies, materials, and processes. Stuart shares updates on the Foundation's latest work, including efforts to accelerate construction through modularization, reduce embodied carbon in the built environment, and improve the energy performance of building envelopes. Stuart describes how these projects engage industry leaders, researchers, and practitioners from academia and the private sector, bringing together expertise from around the world to transform the industry and build a better nation. https://www.pankowfoundation.org/