Peter G. Furst
Organizational and Human Performance Consultant
Mr. 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 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.
Mr. Furst 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, and 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.
Mr. Furst is a registered architect with the state of California, a Certified Safety Professional, a 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 Associated General Contractors (AGC) Safety Professional of the Year. He is a member of various American National Standards Institute and American Society for Testing and Materials committees, Construction Specification Institute, American Society of Safety Professionals, 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 American Institute of Architects, San Francisco and Los Angeles chapters; the Southern California Industrial Safety Society; and the Western Council of Construction Consumers.
Previously, Mr. Furst has taught (part-time) at the University of California, Los Angeles Extension, and the School of Safety and System Management, University of Southern California. 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, National Safety Council, Institute of Industrial Engineers, Instituto de Seguridad Minera Peru, Industrial Accident Prevention Association Canada, International Risk Management Institute, Inc., RIMS, World of Concrete, Construction Specification Institute Conference, Behavior Safety Now, Chicago Safety Conference, World Congress on Safety and Health, American Industrial Hygiene Conference, Utility Safety Conference & Expo, AGC National Conference, American Concrete Institute, Construct Conference, Associated Builders & Contractors, Construction Employees Association, and the NeoCon World Trade Show, as well as various state safety conferences, including Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Saskatchewan, the Canada Safety Council, and Cancun, Mexico. He has also presented at various symposiums, seminars, and over 120 private and public organizations.
