Perrin Conferences North American Construction Summit 

HKA Partner Caryn Fuller and Director Nate Gockel are excited to be speaking at Perrin Conferences North American Construction Summit in Las Vegas. The conference takes place on January 17 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM PST and January 18 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST.  

Don’t miss Caryn and Timothy R. Brashear of Rimkus as they  present “Risk Management Planning: Top 5 Risk Avoidance Strategies for Contractors” on January 18 at 9:15 AM PST. In their session, they discuss some of the leading strategies contractors can employ to avoid risk. Andrew Mendelson of Berkley Alliance Managers will be moderating the discussion. That same day, Nate and Brian Kahn of Chapman Glucksman are speaking on “Forensic Delay Analysis Success with or without Contemporaneous Documentation” at 1:45 PM PST. Their panel explains the importance of accurate contemporaneous project documentation and why forensic schedule analysts rely on contemporaneous documentation. The moderator for this discussion is Murat Kilic of Rimkus. 

The North American Construction Summit also features panel discussions on construction trends, timeline analysis in delay in start-up (DSU) claims, contractor failure, the increase in large verdicts in construction accidents, workers’ compensation and injury claims, AI in construction, and the effect of litigation funding on construction accident claims.  

Notably, Perrin Conferences provides complimentary registration to in-house counsel and insurance claims professionals who assign work to outside counsel.  

Caryn Fuller, Partner 

Caryn Fuller is a Partner at HKA and manages HKA’s Houston practice. She has over 24 years of professional experience in engineering, construction, project management, project controls management, and construction claims analysis. Caryn is a project/program leader with a proven track record in leading high-profile, large-scale global construction initiatives with a focus on cost control, scheduling, and reporting. She was previously KBR’s Project Controls Department Manager in KBR’s Chicago office and the Senior Project Controls Manager from FEED through EPC on the successful $1.3B Koch Enid Fertilizer Expansion in Enid, OK. Caryn is familiar with day-to-day construction challenges and effective project control management. She currently works with clients (both contractors and operators/owners) involved with disputes and litigation. Caryn’s hands-on construction experience informs expertise in standard of care disputes, estimate development, productivity issues, procurement delays, forensic document investigations, and cost analysis and damages. She is proven as a credible expert witness under cross-examination in AAA Arbitration. 

Caryn’s publications include “Thinking about a Contract Termination? Consider This…”, Engineering News Record, August 2021; “What Can We Learn from the Last Oil Crash in the Current Crisis?”, Energy Institute’s Petroleum Review, November 2020 Edition; “Leading Practices to Help Manage COVID-19 Related Work Shutdowns”, www.HKA.com, June 2020; and “Best Practices Can Help Contractors Navigate COVID-19 Challenges”, www.HKA.com, May 2020. 

Caryn is the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee Chairperson and Board Member for the Rice Global Forum, an Advisory Board Member for EIC Connect Energy, and a Texas Triangle Executive Council Member for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The Houston Business Journal selected Caryn as an honoree for the 2020 Women Who Mean Business Awards. 

Nate Gockel, Director 

Nate Gockel, Director of Claims at HKA, is a construction professional with expertise in schedule delay analysis, disruption and productivity studies, and causation/entitlement analysis. Nate has authored numerous expert reports and provided mediation testimony on multiple matters. 

Nate has been involved in residential, education, hotel, and correctional facilities; roads and bridges; underground utilities; water and wastewater treatment facilities; and other heavy civil work. This experience includes working as part of active project teams and as a forensic analyst. 

Prior to his work in construction claims, Nate was employed by two prominent architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms as both a design engineer and construction manager. His background provides him with a unique and well-rounded perspective of the industry.