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Embrace the Brave Path

Innovative    Pioneer    Bold

Charlene J Gilman - CEO & Founder Black Diamonds Evolve, LLC
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CEO & Founder of Black Diamonds Evolve

Charlene Gilman: A business professional with extensive experience in various industries, including finance, commercial real estate, AEC, and consulting. Her career spans roles in portfolio administration, client management, implementation, training, and business ownership. She has held leadership positions, and has also worked as an independent consultant and entrepreneur. Her expertise lies in project management, process optimization, team development, and client relationship management. She is also an author and former podcaster. Along with her business acumen, Charlene holds an MBA and is a professionally Certified Interior Designer.

She is the CEO & Founder of Black Diamonds Evolve LLC: A project consulting firm offering services such as Owners Representative, Project Consulting, and Interior Design Consulting for commercial and residential clients. Charlene is a leading voice in demystifying AI for AEC professionals, advocating for proactive engagement and responsible development.

Listen to my six-part podcast series (20 minutes total), created in collaboration with AI, for an overview of my career milestones and the diverse paths that have shaped my multifaceted professional journey.

MY TOP 10 QUALIFICATIONS TO EDUCATE AEC PROFESSIONALS ON AI

1. Cross-Industry Implementation Expertise My 25+ year career spanning finance, technology, and AEC gives me a unique perspective on how AI transforms different sectors. I've seen technology adoption cycles from financial software to construction - I understand the patterns.

2. Reality Capture & BIM Pioneer Experience My hands-on consulting work (2021-2025) with 3D laser scanning and BIM technologies positions me at the intersection of AI and construction technology. I'm not theoretical—I've implemented these systems on projects from 1,500 SF to 2M+ SF.

3. Full Project Lifecycle Understanding As a CRE Owner's Representative and through Black Diamonds Evolve, I've managed the entire construction lifecycle. I understand where AI can impact preconstruction, execution, and closeout - not just one phase.

4. Implementation & Training Methodology My Director-level roles in Implementation & Training demonstrate my proven ability to:

  • Design training curriculum for complex systems

  • Manage data migration projects

  • Streamline adoption processes

  • Develop coaching programs

5. MBA + Certified Interior Designer Combination This rare blend gives me business strategy acumen combined with design thinking - critical for explaining how AI impacts both business operations and creative processes in AEC.

6. Change Management & Process Optimization My track record of "designing new department structures" and "streamlining implementation processes" (few examples) shows I understand organizational change - essential for AI adoption.

7. Multi-Stakeholder Communication Skills From hedge fund clients to construction teams to dental practices, I've translated complex concepts across diverse audiences. AI education requires this versatility.

8. Entrepreneurial Resilience As a business owner and former author/podcaster, I've built platforms from scratch. I understand the entrepreneurial mindset many AEC professionals need when adopting AI.

9. Advocacy for Responsible AI Development My positioning as someone "advocating for proactive engagement and responsible development" addresses the ethical concerns many AEC professionals have about AI displacement.

10. Real-World Problem Solver I'm a practitioner, not just a theorist. From portfolio administration to managing construction projects, I solve actual problems - and that's what AEC professionals need: practical AI applications, not hype.

MY UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION

What sets me apart is the convergence: I'm not just an AI enthusiast or a construction expert - I'm someone who has:

  • Managed complex technology implementations in high-stakes environments

  • Worked hands-on with the very technologies (reality capture/BIM) that AI is now enhancing

  • Led teams through digital transformation

  • Built businesses and understand ROI

  • Created educational content (podcast, book, consulting)

I can speak to the finance executive about AI's business case, the architect about design implications, the contractor about field applications, and the owner about risk management -because I've lived in all these worlds.

My differentiator: I'm teaching AI not as a technologist teaching AEC, but as an AEC professional who has mastered technology adoption across multiple cycles. That's the credibility this industry needs right now.

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