Background
Peter G. Furst, who frequently lectures at universities, consults with
numerous organizations, and speaks at numerous conferences, contributes
articles on construction
safety as well as quality
for IRMI.com.
Mr. Furst has almost 25 years of experience consulting to a variety of
firms, including architects, engineers, construction, service, retail, and
manufacturing organizations. He has provided guidance in the design and
implementation of innovative integrated organizational strategic and tactical
solutions resulting in efficiencies along the value stream, utilizing Six Sigma
lean and balanced scorecard metrics optimizing human and business performance.
He has also provided motivational presentations at various organizations to all
levels of management and employees. Some of the consulting was with Liberty
Mutual Group customers, helping them manage their safety programs more
effectively and efficiently, thereby improving business outcomes as well as
substantially reducing their cost of risk.
Mr. Furst has more than 20 years of construction experience with a
multinational general contractor, Turner Construction Company, serving as
estimator, superintendent, and project manager on numerous projects varying in
size with some more than $500 million and involving many hundreds of craftsmen
and subcontractors. He also had overall safety and labor relations oversight
for projects amounting to more than $450 million annually with resultant
experience modification rates of under 0.35.
Mr. Furst teaches at both the University of California, Berkeley, as well as
the California State University East Bay, in courses related to architecture,
engineering, management, and construction, providing students with innovative
and challenging perspectives on a wide variety of subjects. He has lectured at
Harvard University as well.
He has practiced architecture at various firms in Southern California for
approximately 10 years and been involved in design and project administration
on both commercial, institutional, and public projects. He has worked with
consultants, contractors, and owners to devise design and project delivery
solutions with an enhanced sustainability value focus.
Mr. Furst received a bachelor of science degree in construction engineering
with honors, a bachelor of architecture (professional degree—5 years) with
honors, as well as a master’s degree in business administration with emphasis
in management from the California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo.
He also has taken a number of postgraduate courses.
He is a registered architect with the state of California, Certified Safety
Professional, Registered Environmental Assessor, and an Associate in Risk
Management. He has published numerous articles in professional magazines and
various websites covering such subjects as organizational culture, climate,
leadership, management, strategic and tactical planning, process and systems
improvement, lean thinking, Six Sigma, organizational scorecards, metrics to
drive organizational behavior, sustainability, supervision, performance
management, enterprise risk management, human error, quality, and safety.
His affiliations and awards include: Honored Instructor, University of
California, Berkeley School of Engineering extension; member, advisory board,
University of California, Berkeley Construction Management Program; member,
advisory board, California State University East Bay Construction Management
Program; and California AGC Safety Professional of the Year. He is a member of
various ANSI and ASTM committees, Construction Specification Institute, ASSP,
National Safety Council, and the AGC Safety Council, Labor relations. He serves
as a commissioner for the state of California, Board of Architectural
Examiners. He is a past member of the AIA, San Francisco and Los Angeles
chapters, Southern California Industrial Safety Society, and the Western
Council of Construction Consumers.
Previously, he has taught (part-time) at the University of California, Los
Angeles (UCLA) Extension, and the School of Safety and System Management,
University of Southern California (USC). He worked in the undergraduate
programs at the School of Engineering, California State Polytechnic University,
Pomona, and the School of Industrial Technology, California State University,
Long Beach, teaching courses in construction organization and management,
fundamentals of estimating bidding and pricing, planning and scheduling,
project management, cost control, construction materials and methods,
principles of management and supervision, safety management systems, facility
management, construction safety management, quality management, performance
metrics and management, human performance, and advanced accident
investigation.
Mr. Furst is a recognized motivational speaker, having spoken at conferences
in both North and South America, at some over 10 times, these include the
American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), National Safety Council (NSC),
Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE), Instituto de Seguridad Minera (ISEM)
Peru, Industrial Accident Prevention Association (IAPA) Canada, International
Risk Management Institute, Inc. (IRMI), Risk and Insurance Management Society
(RIMS), World of Concrete (W of C), Construction Specification Institute
Conference (CSI), Behavior Safety Now (BSN), Chicago Safety Conference, World
Congress on Safety and Health, American Industrial Hygiene Conference, Utility
Safety Conference & Expo, AGC National Conference, American Concrete
Institute (ACI), Construct Conference, Associated Builders & Contractors
(ABC), Construction Employees Association (CEA), and the NeoCon World Trade
Show, as well as various state safety conferences including Oregon, Hawaii,
Alaska, Alabama, Saskatchewan, the Canada Safety Council. and Cancun, Mexico.
He has also presented at various symposiums, seminars, and over 120 private and
public organizations.