Product Evaluation, Selection, and Procurement: Alternative Viewpoints of Priorities

Title of Panel Discussion: “Product Evaluation, Selection, and Procurement: Alternative Views of Priorities”

Moderator: Steve VanDyke, RA, CCS, CDT, NCARB

Nault Architects, Inc.

Worcester, MA

M: +1 (508) 340-0210; D: +1 (508) 755-6134

Evaluating, selecting, and procuring various products, materials, and equipment needed for modern construction is a complex and often-intimidating task. Marketplaces are dynamic, with constantly-shifting priorities, materials availability, regulatory landscapes, and preferences among a project’s principal participants. On projects where price-based competition is desired or required, such as for most types of public work, evaluating and documenting the basis for product selection often takes on greater importance, as product manufacturers’ representatives seek to educate the owner and design professional on the benefits and advantages available through their products, owners voice their preferences to achieve the desired form and function for their project, contractors attempt to balance advantages of material costs, installation costs, and time requirements, while design professionals like architects attempt to make sense of it all as they develop the project’s construction documents, respond to procurement and construction requests for approval of “or-equals” and substitutes, and review required submittals. In short, it sometimes seems as if each project participant’s priorities tug in entirely different directions.

This session will feature a moderated, panel discussion involving an architect, building product representative, contractor, and owner. In this session, a series of questions will be posed, one at a time, to each panelist concerning product evaluations, selection, and procurement. Attendees of this panel discussion will be able to clearly contrast the answers furnished by each panelist and thereby achieve a greater understanding of the drivers behind product selection for a capital project, based on each participant’s role.

After attending this panel discussion, participants should be able to:

Describe views of various project participants concerning priorities for evaluating building products.
Explain alternative preferences on how building product information should be furnished to be most useful.
Indicate top reasons for selecting or specifying certain products over similar, competing products.
Describe various project participants’ views concerning substitute and “or-equal” items.
Explain principal factors affecting procurement of preferred products.
Indicate what principal project participants wish other project participants understood better concerning product selection.

MODERATOR INFO

Steve VanDyke is a registered architect licensed in Massachusetts and holds a B. Arch degree from the Syracuse University School of Architecture. He has over 37 years of experience in the architecture field, starting as a college intern at Nault Architects in 1988 and eventually assuming ownership of the firm in 2003. His specialization is renovation/repair projects for State Agencies and Municipalities throughout Massachusetts, primarily institutions of higher education and public housing.

Mr. VanDyke is the current President of the Worcester County chapter of CSI and the former Worcester delegate to the Northeast Region. At the Region level, he has served as Awards Chair and Certification Chair and pioneered the Northeast Region CDT Training Program. He currently holds CDT and CCS certifications.

PANELIST 1 (OWNER) INFO

Kimberly Navarroli, AIA, is a registered architect in New York, with 17 years of experience in architectural design, construction, and facilities management, plus 10 years of experience in marketing and management. She has a BA from the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) School of Architecture, and a MBA, from the UB School of Management. She is the director of design and construction for UB, which is one of the largest universities in New York State. Prior to becoming UB’s director of design and construction, Ms Navarroli served as UB’s leader of operation, maintenance, and capital improvements for on-campus housing for 8,000 students. Prior to joining UB in 2015, she was employed by Cannon Design where she was responsible for the firm’s Pk-12 education practice, as market sector leader. Ms Navarroli is a NYS Certified Code Enforcement Official, and holds a CDT certification from the Construction Specifications Institute, and possesses a certificate of organizational leadership from Harvard Business School.

PANELIST 2 (ARCHITECT) INFO

Cam Featherstonhaugh is a registered architect in Vermont and holds a Masters of Architecture degree from Norwich University (2007).

Cam is a Fellow of the Construction Specifications Institute and currently serves on the CSI Foundation Board of Trustees, the Vermont CSI Board of Directors (Treasurer), and the Norwich University School of Architecture and Art Board of Fellows. Cam is a past Board Chair of CSI National.

As an Associate Principal and Partner at TruexCullins, Cam leads the Education studio as a specialist in K-12 public education design. He has extensive knowledge of sustainable design, building practices, building science, project delivery, and construction contracts. His recent projects include the Winooski School District, The Warren Elementary School, Southwick Hall at the University of Vermont, and multiple Master Plans for Vermont public school districts.

Cam is also a trained pipe organist and lives in Central Vermont with his wife Stephanie and their two sons.

PANELIST 3 (PRODUCT REPRESENTATIVE) INFO

Paul Fogarty is the president & CEO of WestWood USA, a building materials manufacturer specializing in innovative, PMMA-based liquid-applied systems for roofing, waterproofing, and trafficable surface applications. With more than 25 years in the commercial building envelope industry, his career has been rooted on the manufacturer and supplier side, with experience spanning technical support, sales, marketing, and industry education.

Paul has been actively involved with CSI since 2017. He previously served as president of the CSI Chicago Chapter and currently serves as a director with the Metro New York Chapter. He is a co-author of the Construction Product Representation Practice Guide and a long-time advocate for CSI certification and professional development. His work includes extensive involvement in certification efforts at the chapter, region, and national levels, including leadership of the nationally recognized CSI Chicago Chapter certification program.

PANELIST 4 (CONTRACTOR) INFO

Ken Lambert has worked as a construction project manager for over 25 years, and is currently the Director of Structures and Corrosion-Free Environments for Cocoon. Cocoon is a niche contractor that primarily works for the US military. Ken has built most types of structures over the course of his career, from single family homes to hotels to car dealerships and aircraft hangars. He has also worked in building product sales at different times, working for manufacturers and dealers. Ken holds a B.S. degree in Building Materials Technology, and maintains his Construction Supervisors License through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

In July 2025, Ken’s term was up as the President of CSI’s Northeast Region. He has been active in the Region and in the Northern New England Chapter for several years, including some work on the Editorial Board for Construction Specifier magazine.