RIMScast: Sustainability, ERM, and Construction with Kyle Van Hoeven

Sustainability, ERM, and Construction with Kyle Van Hoeven

Apr 6, 2021

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.

April is Earth Month and everyone at RIMScast has sustainability on their minds! Sustainability is becoming a prominent topic when it comes to construction and commercial real estate. Risk professionals are integral to the conversation and decisions when it comes to the long-term effects of any construction project.

Joining Justin today to shed some light on this topic is Kyle Van Hoeven! Kyle is the Director of Enterprise Risk Management at the Lane Construction Corporation and has 20 years of experience in construction and real estate risk management. She is also the vice-chair of the RIMS External Affairs committee.

Together, Justin and Kyle take a closer look at sustainability as a new frontier in real estate investment, the initiatives gaining greater traction across the investment market, and what you should be paying attention to as a risk professional when it comes to sustainability!

Justin and Kyle cover a lot of (sustainable) ground — so be sure not to miss out on this great conversation!

Key Takeaways:

[:01] About RIMS’s Global Membership.

[:25] About today’s episode!

[:34] About this year’s Spencer & Sedgwick 5K Fun Run!

[1:05] About RIMS LIVE 2021 virtual event on April 19–29, 2021.

[1:35] About today’s conversation with Kyle Van Hoeven!

[2:11] Justin welcomes Kyle to the podcast!

[4:19] How long has Kyle been a risk professional?

[4:59] About Kyle’s role and responsibilities at Enterprise Risk Management.

[5:09] How long has Kyle been a risk professional in the construction sector?

[5:49] Kyle shares what she believes to be the state of risk management when it comes to construction, real estate, and sustainability.

[7:42] Does Kyle look at Flint, Michigan as a worst-case scenario when it comes to accessible water?

[9:29] Resilience and sustainability are no longer buzzwords; they’re actionable. Are these calls-to-action starting from risk professionals like Kyle or are they coming from others in leadership in the decision-making process?

[11:12] How did COVID-19 change the way that construction is approached?

[12:48] About some fantastic upcoming RIMS webinars!

[14:06] Statistics from Facility Executive magazine say that the buildings sector currently contributes to nearly 40% of carbon emissions globally and nearly 70% of emissions in urban areas. Does Kyle keep these KPIs in mind as she approaches a project?

[15:12] RIMS Live 2021 keynote speaker Duncan Wardle believes that purpose will be the defining factor for a successful business. Sustainability and environmental awareness often correlate with this as it can influence a person’s decision to become a tenant (or even an employee) of a certain location. Does Kyle see things through this same lens?

[16:27] Kyle shares how sustainability is addressed in their ERM framework at Lane Construction Corporation.

[18:20] Kyle shares her hopes for the profession in general when she considers infrastructure projects, commercial real estate, and sustainability.

[19:57] Kyle’s experience in joining Lane just a month or two before the pandemic hit.

[22:27] The heart of ERM.

[22:52] Justin thanks Kyle Van Hoeven for joining RIMScast and shares some of the links to check out in this episode’s show notes!

Mentioned in this Episode:

ERM Q&A with Kyle Van Hoeven: “New Avenues for a Veteran Insurance Company” (2018)

RIMS-CRMP-FED Virtual Prep Course — May 24-26th, 2021

RIMS Webinars and Services:

April 6, 2021 | RIMS Presents: “How to Defeat Work-From-Home Burnout and Zoom Fatigue Using Neuroscience for Risk Management Professionals”

April 13, 2021 | “Thinking Differently About Risk: NextGen Risk Finance | Sponsored by Aon”

April 15, 2021 | “Understanding Your Fire Protections” | Sponsored by TÜV SÜD Global Risk Consultants