As builders begin to consider their tech plans for their businesses in 2027, Mycon General Contractors has named Michael Shepherd as its new chief information officer, the builder announced Nov. 3.
Shepherd brings a breadth of CIO and chief technology officer experience to the contractor. Before joining Dallas-based Mycon, he served as CIO for logistics specialist Gulf Winds International. From 2018 to 2022, he also served as CTO at another Dallas-based builder, Rogers-O’Brien Construction, per his LinkedIn.
In his role at Mycon, Shepherd will focus on advancing the firm’s tech infrastructure, streamlining enterprise processes and identifying opportunities for automation and artificial intelligence, per the firm.
AI has, for years, been a major eye-grabber in the construction industry as builders raced to figure out how to implement it into their workflows. Now, builders are starting to use the tools for design, modeling and construction-feasibility workflows. Shepherd emphasized his plans to leverage Mycon’s data to streamline the business and give teams access to tools that they can use without running into hurdles.
Chip Myers, Mycon’s COO, said the implications of Shepherd’s appointment went beyond simply adding a tech expert to the contractor’s team.
“It’s a competitive advantage, and making the CIO role part of our leadership team says exactly that,” Myers said in the release. “Michael will strengthen the systems our teams rely on every day, turn our data into real business intelligence, and push us to find new and better ways to build.”
Indeed, other contractors have been elevating technology oversight to the C-suite as well. Professional services firm STV hired its first ever chief technology officer this summer, and Consigli CIO Anthony Chiaradonna told Construction Dive earlier this year that AI had made the biggest impact in estimating for the company. Previously, Clayco appointed Jeff Miller as its CIO in 2024.
At Mycon, Shepherd will also oversee cybersecurity, a hot-button area that has served as a looming danger for the construction industry. Recent cyberattacks have hit major contractors that include Turner Construction, Kiewit and AECOM. In addition, Associated Builders and Contractors have created a cybersecurity roadmap for Department of Defense contractors to meet federal requirements.
