Voices of CFMA

Epizode

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  AI in Construction: What's Actually Working Right Now | Cindy Ly, ToolBox Consulting 11.08.2026 35min

  What does AI actually look like on a construction jobsite in 2026 — not the hype, the reality? In this episode of Voices of CFMA, host Sal Marino talks with Cindy Ly, founder of ToolBox Consulting, about her unconventional path from industrial construction cost control to yoga teaching in Europe to leading AI strategy for hundreds of construction companies. Cindy shares what she's seen across the industry in the last six months, where AI adoption is accelerating, where it's stalling, and why data standardization matters more than the tools themselves. In this episode:- Cindy's path from $500M industrial mega-projects to yoga teacher training in Europe and back to construction- Why she believes AI is a catalyst, not the solution, and data is the real work- The gap between field operations and financial control, and how AI is starting to close it- Common mistakes leadership teams make when rolling out AI tools- Her advice for CFOs and controllers navigating AI adoption right nowChapters: 00:00 Intro & welcome Cindy Ly 00:35 What Cindy does now 01:11 Growing up near Chicago, drawn to construction 02:06 From pharmacy major to construction management at Purdue 02:36 Industrial construction: blast furnaces and coke batteries 03:04 Burnout, and becoming a yoga teacher in Europe 05:26 The pivot into construction technology 06:36 Hiding her career changes from her parents 07:35 How yoga reshaped her approach to work 09:30 Reconnecting with the industry 10:10 The data problem before AI was a buzzword 12:49 What pulled her toward AI specifically 15:38 Her first AI project: Groundbreak 2025 and Procore 18:01 Why she started ToolBox Consulting 20:50 Hard lessons and the value of a slow burn 23:33 Where AI adoption is accelerating and stalling 25:27 Field operations vs. financial control 27:33 Hackathons and vibe coding, explained 30:27 Common mistakes in AI rollouts 32:07 Her #1 piece of advice for CFOs and controllers 32:59 Life outside work: DJing 34:06 Final advice: keep an open mindConnect with Cindy: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ly-cindyt/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ToolboxTechTalkAbout Voices of CFMA: Voices of CFMA brings you conversations with construction financial professionals and industry leaders on the trends, tools, and ideas shaping construction finance. Learn more at cfma.org. #ConstructionAI #ConstructionTechnology #CFMA #ConstructionFinance
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  From Fleeing Vietnam by Boat to Leading in Construction Finance | Tiffany Trang, CCIFP 16.06.2026 16min

  From a refugee boat in 1978 to chapter president, Tiffany Trang's journey into construction finance is one of resilience & reinvention.On this episode of Voices of CFMA, sponsored by Premier Construction Software, Tiffany talks about the mentor who put her next to him in every meeting, what her CCIFP credential did for her practice, and how CFMA helped her find the confidence to speak up in rooms where she was often the only woman.Her advice for anyone sitting quietly in the background?Speak up. It's the only way you'll be heard.Recorded live on site at CFMA's Annual Conference & Exhibition in Phoenix.🎧 Listen, subscribe & share with someone in the industry who could use it.#VoicesofCFMA #CFMA #ConstructionFinance #CCIFP #ConstructionIndustry #Leadership
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  Why 'This Is How the Industry Works' Is Holding Construction Finance Back | Claire Wilson, Siteline 12.05.2026 21min

  Claire Wilson is the co-founder and CEO of Siteline, but she started her career as a civil engineer and project manager at Tishman Construction — working on Hudson Yards and JP Morgan's corporate headquarters.In this episode, Claire talks about what she saw in the trenches, why Siteline was built specifically for subs (not GCs), and what it actually looks like when a contractor goes from scattered spreadsheets to a centralized billing system.She also shares her take on peer groups, the CFMA community, and why "this is just how the industry works" is the mindset holding construction financial management back.00:00 From Engineering to Project Management02:24 Identifying Industry Challenges05:25 Siteline: A Solution for Subcontractors08:49 The Importance of Community & Peer Support12:36 Lessons Learned & Writing for Professionals15:08 The Value of In-Person Connections19:32 What's Next21:13 Changing Mindsets in Construction FinanceLinksLearn more about Siteline: https://www.getsiteline.comConnect with Claire on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/construction-claireJoin CFMA: cfma.org#CFMA #VoicesofCFMA #ConstructionFinance #Subcontractors #CashFlow #LienRights #ConstructionTech #Siteline #ConstructionBusiness #FinancialManagement
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  A Conversation with Yvette Aubin 12.10.2020 10min

  The third episode of Voice of CFMA is an interview with Yvette Aubin, CCIFP, on her experiences in the industry and her involvement with CFMA.   Interested in getting involved with your chapter? Check out cfma.org/chapter to find more information on events and opportunities. 
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  A Conversation with Steve Freinberg 09.11.2020 10min

  The fourth episode of Voices of CFMA is an interview with Steve Freinberg on his experience in the industry and information about CFMA's Financial Benchmarker.  Music Info: Fearless First by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3742-fearless-first http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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  A Conversation with Andrea Williams 08.02.2021 13min

  CFMA's seventh episode is an interview with Andrea Williams about her career and her experiences as a Black woman in the construction industry.  Music Credit: Fearless First by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3742-fearless-first License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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  A Conversation with Lynne Pace 14.04.2026 17min

  In this episode of the Voices of CFMA, sponsored by Premier Construction Software, Sal Marino sits down with Lynne Pace, CFO at Danson Construction in Arizona. Lynne didn't plan on a career in construction — she spent 20 years in transportation before a recruiter and a boss who just kept saying "just go" landed her at her first CFMA Annual Conference & Exhibition in Phoenix. A day and a half in, she was a member. Nearly two decades later, she's helping shape where the association goes next. T   hey dig into what it really means to get involved — from being "voluntold" onto the membership committee at the Valley of the Sun chapter, to the moment Lynne realized CFMA's community was the reason she could do her job confidently. She also makes the case for why "I don't have time" is the wrong reason to stay on the sidelines, and what it felt like to get that call from Jennifer Murphy asking her to join the Exec Committee. Learn more about CFMA membership and volunteer opportunities at cfma.org.
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  A Conversation with Jason Lovett 08.11.2022 10min

  Jason Lovett is Chapter President of CFMA's Knoxville Chapter and is passionate about growing as a leader. On this episode, Jason shares how he made the leap from working in assisted living to risk management, how he got involved with CFMA, why diversity is important, and advice he has for people who are new to the industry.    Links to check out CFMA's Chapters Construction Financial Management Association Music Credit Fearless First by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3742-fearless-first License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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  A Conversation with Tobin Paxton 10.03.2026 26min

  In this episode of the Voices of CFMA Podcast, sponsored by Premier Construction Software, Tobin Paxton, co-founder of Miter — CFMA's newest Elite Partner — stops by to discuss how a Thanksgiving payroll run with his bookkeeper mom, a co-founder obsessed with construction accounting, and a series of Bay Area job-site visits sparked the idea for a human capital management and workforce platform now used by 1,500+ contractors daily. The conversation covers the labor shortage reshaping construction, the "data backbone" problem costing finance teams time and visibility, and how Miter thinks about automation — not as replacing people, but as equipping them. Tobin also talks about what drew Miter to CFMA, what he hopes the Association becomes, and how he's balancing 18 weeks on the road with life as a new dad. Visit cfma.org to learn more about CFMA membership.
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  A Conversation with Craig Gramlich 10.02.2026 33min

  In this episode of Voices of CFMA, we are joined by Craig Gramlich of Lonewolf Consulting to unpack the real-world numbers behind fleet decisions. We dig into equipment economics — where money leaks across the equipment lifecycle, how internal rates influence behavior, and what it takes to get equipment, operations, and accounting aligned around smarter decisions.  
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  A Conversation with Kevin McCarty 11.02.2025 8min

  In this episode of Voices of CFMA, Kevin McCarty, CCIFP, Controller at Skiles Group, shares his journey — from an unexpected introduction to CFMA to leveraging peer networks for professional growth. Tune in as Kevin discusses succession planning, the power of industry relationships, and how CFMA’s peer groups and conferences have influenced his career.    Links to check out CFMA Peer Groups CFMA's 2025 Annual Conference & Exhibition — Early bird pricing ends 3/21! Become a CCIFP 12+ Membership Promotion Construction Financial Management Association Music Credit Fearless First by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3742-fearless-first License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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  A Conversation with Hannah Tullous 11.06.2024 20min

  On June's episode of Voices of CFMA, Hannah Tullous of Mobilia Consulting joins the podcast to discuss how she got started in the industry, what she enjoyed most about her first full CFMA Conference, why she won a hand-signed guitar, and advice that she holds close to her heart.  Links to Check Out: Hannah with Mike Rayburn as he signs her guitar Central Texas (Austin) Chapter   Music Credit Fearless First by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3742-fearless-first License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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  A Conversation with Rhett Ennis 14.12.2023 21min

  December's episode of Voices of CFMA features Rhett Ennis, Managing Director at CBIZ, as he discusses all of the amazing benefits that CFMA offers, what brought him to CFMA, the best advice he's received, and what he thinks about CFMA's Annual Conference & Exhibition.    Links to check out 12+ Membership Promotion CFMA's 2024 Annual Conference & Exhibition CFMA's Committees Peer Groups Construction Financial Management Association Music Credit Fearless First by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3742-fearless-first License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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  A Conversation with Bryce McDermott 10.01.2023 26min

  On this episode, join Bryce McDermott, CFO of Branco Enterprises and a founding member CFMA's Ozarks Chapter, as he talks about how he got started in the industry, what led him to CFMA, how he founded the Ozarks chapter, and some of the best advice he's been given along his journey.  Links to check out Construction Financial Management Association Music Credit Fearless First by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3742-fearless-first License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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  A Conversation with Francisco Enriquez 10.10.2022 13min

  Join Francisco Enriquez, the co-founder of Adaptive, as he talks about how he got started in the industry, his view on how technology and construction are both progressing, and his favorite part of CFMA.
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  A Conversation with Tom Borgia 12.04.2022 13min

  April 1 marks the beginning of the new year at CFMA, so this month's conversation is with the 2022-23 Chairman Tom Borgia. He shares his journey to the industry, career advice, and plans for his year leading the association.    Links to Check Out:  The rest of the CFMA Team – https://cfma.org/team Our new Strategic Plan – https://cfma.org/aboutus  CFMA's Annual Conference & Exhibition – http://conference.cfma.org Music Credit:  Fearless First by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3742-fearless-first License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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  A Conversation with Patsy Anderson-Dunn 23.09.2020 22min

  CFMA's second episode is an interview with Patsy Anderson-Dunn, CCIFP, on her experience in the construction industry and Suicide Prevention Month.
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  A Conversation with Shawn Erickson 11.04.2023 18min

  On April's episode of Voices of CFMA, Shawn Erickson, CFO of C.J. Erickson Plumbing Co., talks about how volunteering with CFMA has helped her both professionally and personally, her experience in the industry, and what she gets up to when she's not working.   Links to check out Shawn Erickson on Chat with the Chair Volunteer Opportunities at CFMA Construction Financial Management Association Music Credit Fearless First by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3742-fearless-first License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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  A Conversation with Ernest Ellis 08.02.2022 15min

  CFMA's podcast, Voices of CFMA, sponsored by Prophix, is all about industry leaders sharing their stories from, and experiences in, the construction industry.   In February, Ernest Ellis, President, CEO & Founder of FS 360, took time out of his day and sat down to discuss the importance of intentionality, growing D&I efforts within your organization. Plus, how a serial entrepreneur ended up in the construction industry and the best advice he's ever received.    Music Credit:  Fearless First by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3742-fearless-first License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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  A Conversation with Emilio Alvarez 12.10.2021 12min

  Emilio Alvarez is a long-time CFMA member and leader in the construction finance industry. He sat down with us during Hispanic Heritage Month to discuss his career, his family's journey from Cuba to the United States in 1960, and the best advice he's received, and what advice he gives to those new to the industry.