Ricardo Khan

Co-Founder

Fort Myers, Florida, United States28 yrs 8 mos experience
Highly Stable

Key Highlights

  • Founder of OpEx5, driving AEC innovation.
  • Expert in operational excellence and knowledge management.
  • Pioneered industry standards in digital transformation.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a leader in AEC innovation, specializing in operational excellence and digital transformation.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Operations ManagementBusiness InnovationExecutive CoachingKnowledge ManagementOperational ExcellenceInnovation DevelopmentStakeholder EngagementBusiness StrategyStrategyBusiness DevelopmentCross-functional Team LeadershipCustomer EngagementComputer-aided Design (cad)

Other Skills

Digital StrategyManagement ConsultingPublic SpeakingStorytellingVDCTrainingTalent DevelopmentLeading transformational changeBusiness Process ImprovementTechnology Process ImprovementRecruitingThought LeadershipProduct DevelopmentProduct ManagementConstruction Site Management

About

In a 35 year career spanning the AEC industry, I have learned one fundamental truth: Innovation is not a technology problem; it is a purpose, people and process opportunity. I am an Executive Leader and "Intrapreneur" dedicated to bridging the gap between strategic vision and operational execution. My passion lies in leading transformational change, not by simply leveraging technology, but by building the systems that allow people to thrive. I believe that when you remove friction and provide clarity, "results" and "innovation" become the natural byproduct of a healthy culture. I have spent decades refining a philosophy rooted in Operational Excellence and Knowledge Management called the "OpEx5 OS™" (Operating System). My success, from scaling global technology startups to leading operational excellence in large corporations, is built on operationalizing this proven system. This approach moves organizations from reactive "policing" to proactive "solutioning," transforming cost centers into profit engines. The Knowledge Engine True scale requires converting the "tacit" knowledge of your experts into "explicit" business value. I specialize in building the mechanisms that capture this wisdom, democratize it across the enterprise, and use it to eliminate the "Time Tax" that drains our people. My mission is to help the next generation of AEC professionals be prepared for the future of the built environment. Whether in an executive boardroom, an academic setting, or an industry organization, I am focused on developing people and transferring the knowledge they need to lead. In Q1 2026, I am launching OpEx5 to fix this. I am taking everything I learned from building the "unbuildable" (like the Disney Concert Hall) and scaling innovation across thousands of employees, and distilling it into a single system: The OpEx5 OS™. OpEx5 is not just another consultancy. It is a partnership designed to help AEC leaders integrate: Purpose | People | Process | Platform | Performance Inspire One Person at a Time!

Experience

28 yrs 8 mos
Total Experience
4 yrs 2 mos
Average Tenure
--
Current Experience

Opex5

Founder

Dec 2025Present · 5 mos · Fort Myers, FL · Remote

  • Founder of OpEx5 LLC, a consultancy focused on individual leadership development and enterprise-wide organizational transformation within the AEC sector.
  • Leadership Mentorship: Deliver tailored 1-on-1 coaching that integrates professional strategy with personal wellness to help BIM/VDC specialists navigate legacy paradigms and prepare for executive influence.
  • OpEx5 OS™ Implementation: Lead live intensive group cohorts teaching a repeatable system to turn technical skills into organizational flow through the 5-Pillar Strategy™.
  • Fractional Leadership: Provide white-labeled IP and corporate strategy enablement to help firms scale innovation and achieve measurable performance at an enterprise level.
  • Strategic Advisory: Guide AEC Tech startups through product validation and GTM strategies, and assist Capital Project Owners in eliminating siloed friction to achieve lifecycle efficiency.
  • Industry Thought Leadership: Host workshops and keynote addresses focused on the evolution of the "Master Builder" and accelerating companywide innovation through Communities of Practice.
Operations ManagementDigital StrategyExecutive CoachingBusiness InnovationManagement ConsultingPublic Speaking+7

Viatechnik

Director, Mega Projects & Client Engagement

Feb 2024Dec 2025 · 1 yr 10 mos · Fort Myers, Florida, United States · Remote

  • Operational Lifecycle Transformation: Identify systemic productivity improvement opportunities and developed frameworks that recapture significant capacity through process re-engineering and enterprise change management.
  • Strategic Revenue Growth: Architect strategic pipelines for high-profile global clients and establish long-term market presence.
  • Innovation Scaling: Lead the development and deployment of AI-driven workflows to set new standards for scalable content delivery and digital maturity.
  • Brand Strategy: Serve as an industry brand ambassador, delivering keynote addresses and publishing thought leadership to position the firm as a leader in AEC digital transformation.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with internal teams to ensure seamless project implementation, client success, and holistic team development while mentoring colleagues on sales strategies and operational best practices.
  • Talent & Team Development: Recruit senior talent and leverage personal brand gravity to build high-performing teams that support operational improvements.
Operational ExcellenceKnowledge ManagementTalent DevelopmentBusiness Process ImprovementTechnology Process ImprovementRecruiting+2

Sto building group

Senior Vice President, Chief Innovation Officer

Sep 2021Sep 2023 · 2 yrs · New York City Metropolitan Area · Hybrid

  • Innovation Architecture: Architected the 5-year innovation roadmap and data analytics strategy to drive organizational alignment for a multi-billion dollar enterprise.
  • Leadership Development: Designed and deployed innovation curricula for emerging leaders, empowering the next generation of executives with frameworks for continuous improvement.
  • Venture Capital Advisory: Optimized investment efficiency through rigorous evaluation frameworks for AEC startups within the AEC Angels investment group.
  • Service Unification: Led the centralization of critical BIM/VDC offerings by unifying disparate member organizations, ensuring operational consistency and waste elimination.
Stakeholder EngagementStrategyProduct DevelopmentProduct ManagementConstruction Site ManagementPerformance Measurement+26

Mortenson

4 roles

Senior Director of Innovation

Jan 2018Aug 2021 · 3 yrs 7 mos · On-site

  • Cultural Transformation: Architected and launched an enterprise innovation program to foster a culture of continuous improvement and formal change management across the enterprise.
  • Recurring Innovation Engine: Led a program of recurring innovation challenges that guided employee-generated ideas from problem identification to enterprise-wide deployment.
  • Full-Lifecycle Operations Improvement: Orchestrated the end-to-end development of strategic initiatives to streamline project delivery timelines for complex infrastructure projects.
Stakeholder EngagementStrategyProduct DevelopmentProduct ManagementConstruction Site ManagementPerformance Measurement+26

Senior Director, Project Solutions

Promoted

Aug 2015Dec 2017 · 2 yrs 4 mos · On-site

  • Full-Lifecycle Transformation: Led the transformation of the Project Controls department into a proactive "Project Solutions" engine by architecting knowledge systems to support project teams.
  • Enterprise Scale: Orchestrated the entire solution lifecycle, from problem identification to funding, deploying enterprise platforms to thousands of team members on accelerated timelines.
  • Venture Creation: Built and launched internal startups for Virtual Reality and Reality Capture, establishing new revenue streams and technical capabilities.
Stakeholder EngagementStrategyProduct DevelopmentProduct ManagementConstruction Site ManagementPerformance Measurement+25

Director of Integrated Construction

Promoted

Jun 2011Aug 2015 · 4 yrs 2 mos · On-site

  • National Industry Catalyst: Pioneered and scaled the "Virtual Mockup" process, transforming a project-level pilot for 10+ specialty trades into a recognized national industry standard for complex enclosure coordination.
  • Strategic Pursuit Coaching: Architected digital technology strategies and coached project teams to leverage technology for superior outcomes; led the technological narrative during mega-project interviews to drive better-informed client decisions.
  • Strategic R&D & Academic Partnerships: Orchestrated multi-year research collaborations with premier institutions like Stanford University (CIFE) and the University of Minnesota to validate the impact of emerging technologies. By pioneering the use of VR spatial cognition and Generative AI (MDO), I transformed academic research into proprietary enterprise platforms that optimized multi-disciplinary workflows and accelerated the lifecycle from design to energy production.
  • Scientific Validation: Led landmark studies to validate the direct cost and schedule impacts of digital delivery, providing the data-driven foundation for enterprise-wide adoption.
StrategyProduct DevelopmentProduct ManagementConstruction Site ManagementPerformance MeasurementBusiness Development+21

Senior Integrated Construction Coordinator to Manager

Oct 2005Jun 2011 · 5 yrs 8 mos · On-site

  • Regional Leadership: Served as the Denver office team leader for Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), orchestrating regional digital delivery efforts and team development.
  • Knowledge Ecosystem: Developed and led companywide community of practice to institutionalize the conversion of "tacit" knowledge into "explicit" business value; served as the regional VDC Knowledge Manager responsible for training, documentation, and implementation.
  • Strategic Project Support: Provided enterprise-level project support services focused on VDC startup planning, goal setting, and execution workflows.
  • Regional R&D: Spearheaded regional academic and technology vendor research and development to identify emerging solutions for the AEC lifecycle.
  • Process Management: Managed the full lifecycle of 3D visualization, 3D building coordination, and Design Review (Virtual Mockup) processes to improve project-level collaboration.
StrategyProduct ManagementConstruction Site ManagementBusiness DevelopmentProject ManagementOperational Excellence+14

Mediadev inc.

Owner/Operator

Jan 2002Dec 2005 · 3 yrs 11 mos · Honolulu, HI

  • Strategic Global Partnerships: Transitioned the firm from a vendor to a Strategic Partner for Viewpoint Corporation, orchestrating global training and technical workflows to support international e-commerce growth.
  • Interactive Experience Engineering: Led the full-lifecycle production of custom 3D web applications and rich media content, utilizing proprietary technologies (VET) and web-based programming, to optimize digital engagement and the customer shopping experience for major global corporations.
  • Global Team Orchestration: Managed a worldwide network of developers and sub-contractors, organizing cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact digital solutions for world-class brands including Nike, AOL Time-Warner, Sony, and Toyota.
  • Digital Real Estate Innovation: Designed and implemented pioneering interactive 3D platforms for national real estate developers, managing the end-to-end production of complex models and animations to drive digital market presence.
  • Architectural Digital Pioneer: Provided advanced 3D rendering, animation, and CAD services for architectural firms, establishing an early foundation in digital design delivery and visualization.
StrategyProduct ManagementBusiness DevelopmentProject ManagementOperational ExcellencePublic Speaking+13

Viewpoint

Technical Producer

May 2000Sep 2002 · 2 yrs 4 mos · Greater New York City Area · On-site

  • Interactive Experience Engineering: Orchestrated the full-lifecycle development of custom 3D web applications and animations, from initial conceptual design to full-stack implementation using proprietary XML and web technologies, to optimize digital engagement for major global corporations.
  • Global Knowledge Transfer & Scaling: Led a comprehensive training and documentation initiative to scale Viewpoint Technology across international tech hubs. Empowered internal engineering departments and Value-Added Resellers (VARs) in global markets to build high-performance content.
  • Workflow Architecture & Tool Development: Developed advanced technical workflows and production documentation for VET content development. This foundational work served as a critical bridge between production needs and engineering tool development, directly assisting with new plug-in feature sets and platform enhancements.
  • Regional Strategic Leadership: Served as the New York office team leader for interactive online advertising, managing cross-functional teams and technical resources to deliver high-visibility projects for film and web-based platforms.
StrategyProduct ManagementPublic SpeakingCommunicationEmerging TechnologiesBusiness Case Preparation+9

Rjf fletcher thompson architecture

Associate

Sep 1997Jun 2000 · 2 yrs 9 mos · Edison, New Jersey, United States · On-site

  • Project Lifecycle Leadership: Orchestrated the end-to-end design and construction documentation process for diverse architectural and interior projects. Served as the Lead Designer for the Middlesex Academy for Mathematics and Science, managing the complete transition from design development through construction administration to ensure operational and design intent.
  • Digital Transformation Leadership: Spearheaded the firm's transition from traditional hand-drawing to advanced 2D CAD and 3D visualization for all new pursuits. By insourcing high-cost external rendering services, I provided the firm with real-time design flexibility and established a competitive edge in the market.
  • Strategic Visualization: Directed the production of 3D models, renderings, and animations as a core business development tool, leveraging digital delivery to align stakeholders and win complex new work.
Cross-functional Team LeadershipStrategyCustomer EngagementContinuous Improvement CultureCommunicationEmerging Technologies+9

Rafael vinoly architects

3D Modeler/Animator

Jun 1996Jun 1997 · 1 yr · New York City Metropolitan Area · On-site

  • Digital Transformation Pioneer: Served as an early catalyst for digital adoption at a global architectural firm, utilizing early-stage 3D modeling and CAD as strategic tools for landmark projects. Collaborated on the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Philadelphia) and the University of San Andres Library (Buenos Aires) during the conceptual and schematic phases.
  • Spatial Innovation: Orchestrated complex 3D atrium studies and spatial scenario modeling to drive better-informed design decisions during the early schematic stages of global mega-projects.
  • Foundational Change Management: Partnered with project teams to transition workflows from 2D drafting to immersive 3D visualization, establishing the foundational "hard-way" learning on how to inspire and scale digital transformation within a high-performance design culture.
Customer EngagementContinuous Improvement CultureCommunicationEmerging TechnologiesComputer-Aided Design (CAD)3D Modeling+2

Masters mechanical inc.

Pipefitter foreman

Jun 1990Jun 1996 · 6 yrs · New York, United States · On-site

  • Frontline Operational Catalyst: Orchestrated the end-to-end execution lifecycle for high-density, large-scale multi-family apartment renovations. Responsible for the field leadership and installation of critical piping systems, including plumbing, heating, and fire protection scopes.
  • Execution Leadership: Managed and mentored craft workers from site-level problem identification through Lean-driven project completion, ensuring rigorous adherence to safety protocols and operational standards.
  • Foundation of Innovation: Cultivated deep "tacit" field expertise and a firsthand understanding of construction delivery bottlenecks. This foundational experience served as the catalyst for architecting later enterprise-wide digital transformations, knowledge systems, and multi-billion dollar pursuit strategies.
Customer EngagementContinuous Improvement CultureEmerging TechnologiesComputer-Aided Design (CAD)3D Modeling

Education

New Jersey Institute of Technology

B. Arch — Architecture

Jan 1993Jun 1996

Farmingdale State College

Associate's Degree — Architectural Engineering / Construction

Jan 1991Jan 1993

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