Skender, a vertically integrated design, construction and manufacturing firm based in Chicago, has hired Stacy Scopano as chief technology officer. Scopano will be charged with ensuring Skender is continually evolving its technological capabilities and integrating industry-leading innovations across the company.
Scopano’s new role will also include oversight of the advanced manufacturing technology underlying the operations of Skender’s manufacturing facility. The factory will produce modular building components, including smart apartment units and healthcare pods, in spring 2019, using a technology-based model that replaces traditional blueprints and building plans. Scopano brings experience working with a broad spectrum of technologies used by the real estate, architecture, engineering and construction industries to develop and implement new strategies in an increasingly complex environment.
“We’re thrilled to bring Stacy’s industry and technical knowledge, commitment to innovation and enthusiasm for new ideas to Skender,” said Mark Skender, CEO. “As we continue to use technology to revolutionize the building process and our manufacturing capabilities, Stacy’s experiences will be invaluable to our success. His entrepreneurial spirit and solution-oriented approach is an ideal fit for the award-winning culture we’ve built.”
Most recently, Scopano was vice president of innovation at Skanska USA, the American arm of the multinational construction and development firm, based in its Atlanta office. There, he was responsible for developing a company-wide culture of open innovation, while facilitating various research and development efforts.
Prior to Skanska, Scopano was the senior strategist for building construction at Autodesk, Inc. where he partnered with the global construction community to identify, develop and deliver innovative digital workflows. He has served as a past chairman of technology for the AGCBIMForum and was a former board member of the National Institute of Building Sciences Offsite Construction Council. Currently he sits on the advisory board of Smartcityworks.IO, an incubator and accelerator focused on disruptive startups in the built environment. He holds a degree in economics from the Georgia Institute of Technology.