Steel Toe Consulting brings technology to the trades through research, educationand development.
“I've worked every seat around the table— trade, engineering, VDC, IT, the C-suite of a mechanical contractor — and we build from that view.”
RESEARCH
Commissioned studies for MCAA, NECA, SMACNA and ELECTRI, published under the MEP Innovation Lab. One to two papers a year — the credibility engine behind everything else we do.
education
Keynotes, workshops and recurring curriculum — NECA cohorts, SMACNA University, multi-part webinar series. Built around one idea: understand the process before you buy the tool.
DEVELOPMENT
A team of application developers building tools for the trades, including our own product, StratagemPM, plus association and manufacturer work.
LATEST RESEARCH
2026 MEP Innovation Report
(MCAA/NECA/SMACNA, sponsored by Bluebeam)
The 2026 MEP Innovation Report What contractorstold us at the MEP Innovation Conference — a lookat where the trades stand on adoption, gapsand priorities heading into next year.
WHY WE BUILD
I like to build things — more than that, I like to build things with other people. Construction is the largest collaborative act most people will ever take part in. It gets built by a lot of people, most of whom will never meet, agreeing on how the work is going to go.
I've stood in most of the seats around that agreement — hands-on in the trade, design and engineering, VDC and BIM, IT, the C-suite of a mechanical contractor. Digital building is a large part of how that agreement holds today. But the technology isn't the point. The point is a crew that can do good work without fighting the system somebody handed them.
book your event
Shop Layout: From Process to Productivity — a 2–3 hour interactive workshop on evaluating and optimizing fabrication shop layouts using lean principles. One of 14 sessions ready to book now, each with published learning objectives for your Continuing Education submission.
LET’S TALK
Whether you're an association looking for aresearch partner, a contractor trying tofix something that's been broken for years,or a software team that needs someonewho understands construction.Start with a conversation, not a form.