Mike Pink, SmartPM: Cutting Construction Delays and Overruns (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 910)
On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray talks with Mike Pink, founder and CEO of SmartPM. Mike explains why construction projects slip on time and budget, and how tighter use of the project schedule can prevent it. He breaks down CPM schedules, the detailed timelines used to plan a job. CPM stands for Critical Path Method, which is simply the chain of tasks that must finish on time for the whole project to finish on time.
Mike also demystifies schedule analytics. Think of it as software that reads the timeline like an auditor, checks whether the plan is sound, and spots early warning signs such as tasks starting out of order, the critical path bouncing around, or float shrinking. He shares examples of catching problems early, like a trade falling a week behind across several activities, or a logic link that quietly puts the project finish at risk. The result is fewer surprises, clearer conversations between the field and the office, and faster decisions that keep work moving for both owners and contractors.
Why it matters: Days turn into dollars. Each week of slippage can trigger liquidated damages, burn overhead, extend rentals, and push labor into overtime. Owners may delay revenue from a school, hospital, or plant that is not open. Contractors see margin erosion, slower pay apps, and a higher chance of disputes. Better schedule quality and frequent checks reduce those costs, speed decisions, and cut the odds of a claim.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
- The project schedule is data, not a document. If you analyze it regularly, you can spot risks weeks before they hit the jobsite.
- Good inputs matter. A clean baseline schedule is required before any tool can give trustworthy insights.
- Simple metrics beat guesswork. Track things like critical path changes, total float shrinking, and out-of-sequence work to see trouble early.
- Start small. Even mid-market contractors can begin with scheduled quality checks, then add regular risk reviews as they build the habit.
Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:00 Introduction and Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
00:36 Guest Introduction: Mike Pink from SmartPM
01:57 The Problem with Construction Projects
02:18 Mike’s Background and Passion
03:08 Challenges in Construction Projects
04:24 The Birth of SmartPM
07:47 How SmartPM Works
15:58 Building Trust in the Construction Industry
20:34 Customer Collaboration and Trust-Building
21:15 Introduction to Mike Pink and SmartPM
21:25 The Role of AI in SmartPM
22:07 Understanding and Leveraging Schedule Data
25:09 SmartPM’s Approach to Project Management
26:52 Symptoms Indicating the Need for SmartPM
32:53 Success Stories and Impact
37:27 How to Get in Touch with SmartPM
38:22 Closing Remarks and Additional Resources
Michael Pink, Founder & CEO, SmartPM
Michael Pink is the founder and CEO of SmartPM Technologies, a company he started in 2016 with a mission to transform construction project management through innovative schedule analytics. With over 20 years of experience in project controls, risk management, and forensic delay analysis across various sectors, Pink identified the construction industry’s struggle to effectively use vast amounts of schedule data. His background includes working with top consulting firms and earning a BS in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech, an MBA from NYU Stern, and certifications as a Planning and Scheduling Professional and Certified Cost Engineer. Pink is known as a thought leader who frequently speaks on how AI and machine learning can drive improvements in project controls and construction outcomes.
SmartPM Technologies, under Pink’s leadership, offers an AI-powered platform that automates schedule analytics to provide real-time, actionable insights for commercial construction projects. The software helps teams identify potential delays, reduce inefficiencies, and resolve disputes by converting complex schedule data into understandable information accessible to all project stakeholders. The company is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and has quickly grown as a pioneer in using advanced technology to improve construction project performance, making schedule management more precise, proactive, and collaborative across the industry.
Website | Company LinkedIn | Mike’s LinkedIn
Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio
Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $17 billion in assets and more than 180 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from each banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way to better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.
Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube
Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio
Whether you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.
Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.
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About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray
With over 900 episodes and having featured over 1,400 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!
The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their markets, communities, and professions. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, and it is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
You can find the complete archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.
John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.
John is the author of the five-star rated book, The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices, praised by readers for its practical insights on raising confidence, value, and prices.
