AC
Innovation Strategist · AECO Industry

Turning
Construction
Chaos Into Meaningful Results

I help construction teams connect operations, workflows, and data—so projects run smoother, decisions get clearer, and teams can actually execute with confidence.

15+
Years in AECO
50+
Speaking Engagements
1K+
Training Hours Delivered
500+
Industry Professionals Trained
Ariel Castillo
Autodesk Construction Cloud · 2023 Champion
"A true champion for innovation and digital advancement in construction — recognized by Autodesk for transforming how AECO teams operate."
Recognized by
Autodesk 40 Under 40 ACC Construction Champion ENR Top Young Professionals AU Top-Rated Speaker Chicago Build AGC National Technology Committee CEMEX Western Michigan University Autodesk 40 Under 40 ACC Construction Champion ENR Top Young Professionals AU Top-Rated Speaker Chicago Build AGC National Technology Committee CEMEX Western Michigan University

I didn't start in tech.
I started in construction
and saw what was broken.

Construction runs through my family. My mother was an architect, my father a construction engineer—I grew up inside the built environment before I could name it. I joined the industry aiming to build, but quickly discovered a much bigger opportunity: shaping how construction operates.

Over 15+ years on job sites, across leadership groups, and deep inside the systems that drive day-to-day execution, I've seen the same pattern repeat itself. The problem isn't a lack of technology—it's a lack of alignment between systems, processes, and the people expected to use them. Disconnected tools and misaligned teams don't just slow things down—they quietly drain momentum.

So instead of waiting for the industry to catch up, I leaned into rethinking how the work gets done—turning fragmented workflows into systems that actually support construction in practice. This work is shaped by real-world implementation inside active construction environments, not theory.

I operate in both English and Spanish, which has allowed me to shape technology adoption not only across the U.S., but across multiple continents—including Latin America, where the industry is undergoing its own transformation. Through all of it, my focus has stayed the same: aligning people, process, and technology to make construction execution clear, connected, and repeatable.

Implementation & Adoption Systems Integrations Autodesk Forma BIM / VDC Digital Transformation Construction Workflows Systems Standardization Training & Enablement CM-BIM Instructor buildingSMART Instructor
Industry
2020–
Present
Miller Davis Company
Director of Innovation
Leading digital transformation for a century-old construction firm—aligning operations, finance, and field teams through connected systems and integrated workflows.
2018–
Present
AGC of America
CM-BIM & CSF Instructor
Teaching BIM and Construction Supervision Fundamentals nationally and internationally—grounding concepts in real-world application.
2016–
Present
Nexus PMO formerly BIMTECH
Founder
Supporting construction firms across Latin America—developing BIM strategies, operational workflows, and systems that connect design intent to field execution.
Academia
2017–
Present
UNIBE & UASD
Associate Professor
Teaching construction technology and digital transformation—bridging academic learning with industry practice.
Education
2012–
2014
Western Michigan University
M.Sc. — Civil Engineering, Construction Technology
2011–
2012
Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC)
M.Sc. — Construction Management
Ariel Castillo speaking on stage at Autodesk University

Recognized by
the industry.

2019
Autodesk · Digital Builder
40 Under 40: Construction Champions
Selected among the biggest disruptors and change-makers in construction globally, recognized for innovation, BIM expertise, and industry-wide impact in Latin America and the U.S.
View Recognition →
2023
Autodesk Construction Cloud
ACC Construction Champion
Named an Autodesk Construction Cloud Champion for driving full-platform ACC implementation across seven market sectors—advancing collaboration, transparency, and efficiency at scale.
View Profile →
ENR
Engineering News-Record
ENR Top Young Professionals
Recognized by ENR Midwest's 2024 Top Young Professionals program—honoring industry professionals under 40 achieving excellence through leadership, career progress, and community involvement.
View Recognition →
AU
Autodesk University
Top-Rated AU Speaker
From attendee in 2013 to top-rated speaker. Published on the AU blog and featured in the Digital Builder podcast. A journey from student to trusted industry voice on construction technology.
Read the Story →
AGC
AGC of America
National Technology Committee Member
Active member of the AGC National Technology Committee and AGC Michigan Innovation Forum—shaping how the broader construction industry approaches digital transformation and technology adoption.
2025
Chicago Build Expo
Chicago Build Ambassador
The Chicago Build Ambassador Program welcomes individuals passionate about driving change in the Midwest's AEC industry. The program's mission is to ensure that everyone in the industry has the opportunity to thrive.
View Speaker Profile →

Systems,
not just software.

01
Build Before You Buy
The Problem
Most companies focus on buying software and wonder why nothing changes. Without structure and standards around it, technology is just expensive chaos.
What I Do
Build the frameworks, workflows, and standards that make technology work in practice—structure first, software second.
ResultTeams operate with clarity and consistency.
Document ControlWorkflow DesignGovernance
02
Integration & Data Flow
The Problem
Departments run as silos. Data is entered twice, reconciled manually, and decisions wait on reports that are already outdated.
What I Do
Connect the systems that run your business so information flows where it needs to go—automatically, accurately, and without the manual effort that slows everything down.
ResultDecisions are made with real-time, reliable data.
ERP IntegrationData MappingCost Alignment
03
Standards & Frameworks
The Problem
Organizations operate without clear standards for how information is structured, delivered, or managed. Every project starts from scratch, and inconsistency compounds over time.
What I Do
Develop information management frameworks, classification structures, and documentation standards that give organizations a consistent, scalable foundation for digital project delivery.
ResultLeaders operate from a single source of truth.
DashboardsReporting SystemsKPI Frameworks
04
Training & Adoption
The Problem
Technology doesn't fail because it's bad. It fails because people weren't set up to use it. Most rollouts underestimate the human side of change.
What I Do
Build the learning systems, role-based paths, and hands-on support that help people actually change how they work—not just learn a new tool.
ResultAdoption becomes standard, not optional.
Learning SystemsSOPsChange Management

Proof of
the system.

01
Digital Transformation · Project Management
Company-Wide Autodesk Forma Rollout
Problem
A mid-sized general contractor operating without a central hub for managing projects—resulting in inconsistent documentation, confusion, reduced efficiency, and limited visibility across the organization.
Action
Led the implementation of Forma across the organization. Established governance frameworks, defined workflows, and enforced consistent structures to align teams and projects under a unified approach.
Outcome
Common Data EnvironmentMobile AccessCross-team collaborationImproved operational visibility
02
Integration · PM + ERP
Forma Cost Management + Sage 300 via Agave — Real-Time Financial Visibility
Problem
Cost data lived in Sage. Operations data lived in Forma. Teams lacked real-time visibility, and financial reporting lagged behind project execution.
Action
Implemented Agave API integration between Sage 300 and Forma Cost Management. Defined directional flows, aligned data structures, and automated synchronization to eliminate redundancy and ensure consistency across platforms.
Outcome
Eliminated duplicate entryReal-time cost visibilityKeep staff on the platform they masterReduced reconciliation time
03
Government · Industry Standardization
BIM & Information Management Frameworks for Public Entities
Problem
Public entities lacked standardized BIM and information management frameworks. Deliverables were inconsistent, data structures varied across projects, and there was no clear foundation to support coordinated digital delivery.
Action
Developed BIM-aligned frameworks for information management, classification, and documentation standards. Defined structured requirements and aligned stakeholders to establish consistent data environments that support coordinated workflows and digital project delivery.
Outcome
BIM StandardsConsistent information structuresDefining industry baselineScalable BIM implementation
04
Adoption & Change
Driving System Adoption Across Teams
Problem
Technology was implemented, but adoption across teams was inconsistent. Users lacked clarity on processes, leading to workarounds, inefficiencies, and underutilized systems.
Action
Developed structured training programs, documentation, and support systems aligned with real project workflows. Embedded processes into daily operations to ensure consistent usage and long-term adoption.
Outcome
Higher system adoptionLess rework and supportConsistent executionMore confident, efficient teams

Thinking out loud
about construction tech.

Ariel on stage
Tech Pain Points
Shark Bites vs. Mosquito Bites: Prioritizing Innovation
Not every problem deserves the same urgency. The companies that move fastest on technology aren't the ones chasing every trend—they're the ones who know which pain points will kill you and which ones just itch.
Listen to Episode
Hype vs. Reality
Hype vs. Reality—and How to Tell the Difference
Every year brings a new wave of tools promising to transform the industry. The real skill isn't knowing what's new—it's knowing what's worth your team's attention and what can wait.
Listen to Episode
Speaking
What It Takes to Go From Attendee to Speaker
From sitting in the audience in 2013 to becoming a top-rated speaker — the path wasn't linear. Here's what it actually takes, and why you should stop waiting to submit that proposal.
Read Article
BIM in Latin America
The BIM Revolution Nobody Is Talking About
Watch an industry move from skepticism to mandate and you learn something profound about what it actually takes to change the way people build—regardless of where you are in the world.
Read Article
Global BIM Adoption
Why BIM Adoption Is Still an Uphill Battle
BIM adoption isn't just a technology problem—it's a culture problem, an education problem, and a leadership problem. The companies that get there fastest are the ones who understand all three.
Listen to Episode
SocialTek · Spanish Podcast
Focusing on People, Not Platforms
The conversation about construction tech is often dominated by the tools. This one focuses on the people—the operators, instructors, and change agents doing the real work of making technology stick.
Visit SocialTek
Construction site

Live from the
industry's biggest stages.

AU 2024 — Day 3 Highlights
Latest · Autodesk University 2024
AU 2024 Day 3
AU 2024
Day 3 Highlights
AU 2024 Day 2
AU 2024
Day 2 Highlights
AU 2024 Day 1
AU 2024
Day 1 Highlights
AU 2023 Day 2
AU 2023
Live from AU — Day 2
AU 2023 Day 1
AU 2023
Live from AU — Day 1

Trusted by Teams
Across the Globe.

Across construction, technology, and public sector organizations

AGC of America
USA
Ashghal — Public Works Authority
Qatar
Autodesk
USA
Berrilan
Spain
CII BIM
Costa Rica
Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y Arquitectos
Costa Rica
Constructora Proycon S.A.
Costa Rica
Gensler
USA / Costa Rica
Hermosillo
Mexico
Lean Construction Institute - Qatar
Qatar
Miller Davis Company
USA
Plusval Inmobiliaria
Dominican Republic

Working with teams that value clarity, execution, and systems that actually work.

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Let's Fix
What's Not
Working.

If your workflows are fragmented, your systems don't connect, or your tech isn't delivering—let's talk.