Building the Future of Sustainable Construction
Brent Vogt (EMDC '20) talks about his new role as lead construction manager for AESC, a company developing high-performance batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
Brent Vogt (EMDC '20) used to be a reactionary person. When a professional problem presented itself, his instinct was to respond immediately.
Today, he is more patient. He considers why the problem arose, what possible solutions could exist, and how those solutions will impact other individuals and processes.
"Whenever I speak about my educational experience, mentioning my time at Northwestern always grabs people’s attention," he said. "It is a very well-respected institution across the country."
Vogt is lead construction manager at renewable energy equipment manufacturer AESC, where he's worked since August. AESC develops high-performance batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
He previously served as project executive at NewGround, an architecture and planning firm, but was drawn to AESC because of the opportunity to focus on construction, design, and engineering within a more technical field than he previously experienced.
"AESC is an exciting global organization committed to solving the challenges of a sustainable future and becoming the leading supplier of full-value-chain battery solutions," he said. "I get to work each day, solve problems, and work with some outstanding folks to produce a product for our client in the near future. It's a team effort that I'm proud to be a part of."
According to AESC, the company's batteries will soon power more than 1 million electric vehicles. The company has 12 manufacturing sites in China, France, Japan, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the US. Vogt is based at the company's Smyrna, Tennessee facility.
As lead construction manager, Vogt sees himself building the future of sustainable construction. He knows the built environment sector is ripe for innovation, and he wants to be part of the evolution.
That desire is partially why Vogt turned to EMDC.
"Stick-frame construction has existed since the late 1800s. Getting good at something takes time," he said. "Building sustainably presents challenges in a typical project, coupled with the difficulty of doing something new in an industry whose productivity has actually decreased over the last 30 years. It’s not easy."
Vogt believes the difficulty has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic due to labor shortages, supply chain issues, and design problems attributed to rushed projects. In the face of those obstacles, Vogt practices lessons learned in EMDC.
In Lean Construction, Vogt developed a better appreciation for construction operations. In Human Resource Management, he learned how to determine the ideal size for a company based on its revenue. In Finance and Accounting for Executives, he discovered the unique characteristics of a project-focused organization and how funds are managed.
Perhaps most importantly, EMDC taught Vogt to know a project inside and out before ever stepping foot onsite. It's a lesson he continues to rely on to this day.
"I was taught all aspects of the construction business by many well-respected industry leaders in Chicagoland," he said. "They taught me to always read the contract, stick to the facts, and document everything. Thanks to EMDC, I familiarize myself with specifications and plans, understand the schedule, and really dig into the budget before I start a project."
