RIB SpecTalk

Register for the next episode of RIB SpecTalk on July 15th. Topic coming soon!

In this special 2-year anniversary episode of SpecTalk, we go beyond templates and tools to explore the human side of specification writing. Hosts Dory Azar and Alex Bear are joined by industry leaders Amy Baker (Architect & Specifications Consultant) and Jennifer Keegan (Senior Director of Building & Roofing Science at GAF) to unpack the real-world challenges of collaboration between specifiers and manufacturers.

From guide spec frustrations to “quietly proprietary” pitfalls, this episode dives deep into how relationships, communication, and trust shape better specs, and ultimately, better buildings. Plus, hear why reps are more important than ever in a world of AI and information overload.

What You’ll Learn

• The biggest frustrations with manufacturer guide specs, and how to overcome them
• Why inconsistent formatting slows down spec workflows
• How to spot “quietly proprietary” specs that limit competitive bidding
• The role of product data sheets and how to interpret performance data
• Differences between product reps, architectural reps, and technical specialists
• Why reps are essential and why AI can’t replace them (yet)
• How trust, communication, and responsiveness build lasting industry relationships
• Why mentorship gaps are being filled by manufacturers and reps
• Strategies for balancing research time across multiple competing products

Presenters & Guests

• Alex Bear – Strategic Account Executive Team Lead, RIB Software
• Alex Fulton – Training Specialist, RIB SpecLink
• Jennifer Keegan – Senior Director of Building and Roofing Science at GAF
• Amy Baker – Architect and Specifications Consultant at Amy Baker Architect

What happens when you bring the SpecTalk booth LIVE to the AIA Expo floor? You get real, unfiltered conversations with industry leaders shaping the future of construction, architecture, and specification writing.

In this special episode, we go fully unscripted, connecting with manufacturers, innovators, and product experts across the show floor. From bulletproof window systems and automated drive-thru technology, to anti-slip safety solutions, high-performance insulation, bird-friendly glass, and AI-powered specifications, this episode captures the pulse of the AEC industry in real time.

Whether you’re an architect, specifier, contractor, or manufacturer, this episode is packed with insights, stories, and practical innovations you can apply to your next project.

What You’ll Learn

• The future of multi-threat building protection systems (ballistic + climate resilience)
• How automation is transforming quick-service & building interactions
• Why education-first marketing is key in niche construction products
• The rise of turnkey, frictionless specification solutions
• How SpecLink integrates with BIM workflows without requiring Revit licenses
• Real-world use cases of AI in specification quality control—not content generation
• The importance of retrofit-focused building solutions & high-performance materials
• Emerging trends like bird-friendly glass & sustainability-driven codes
• How manufacturers are reducing friction for architects through digital tools & data integration

Hosts Dory Azar and Alex Bear are joined by Tammy Tucker, Technical Support Manager at RIB Software and the powerhouse behind thousands of solved SpecLink support tickets. With 25+ years in technical support and 14 years dedicated to SpecLink users, Tammy shares the most common support questions, fast fixes, and hidden productivity tips every spec writer should know.

From the mysterious blue spinning wheel to printing failures caused by copy‑paste gremlins, to collaboration and licensing confusion, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you work faster, avoid repeat issues, and get the most out of RIB SpecLink Cloud.

What You’ll Learn

• How to find answers faster using the SpecLink Guide & upcoming customer portal
• The Fix Hierarchy tool, when to use it and why it’s a powerful QA/QC check
• What causes the infamous blue spinning wheel (and how to fix it instantly)
• Login & password reset issues explained (security tokens, blocked emails, and more)
• Why specs sometimes won’t print or export, and how to isolate the problem
• Best practices for copy‑paste from Word and manufacturer websites
• Collaboration basics: sharing vs. sending, licenses, and access control
• Using comments, tags, and reports to track spec progress
• How enhancement requests actually influence the SpecLink roadmap

How do you build smarter Office Masters, collaborate seamlessly with consultants, and avoid common SpecLink pitfalls as a new or infrequent user?

In this open house episode of SpecTalk, host Alex Bear is joined by Alex Fulton, RIB SpecLink Cloud training specialist, for a fast‑paced, question‑driven session covering the cornerstones of SpecLink Cloud. From Office Master strategy and collaboration workflows to comments vs. notes, reporting, sharing with consultants, and power‑user tips, this episode is packed with real‑world guidance straight from the experts.

What You’ll Learn

• Best practices for creating and managing Office Masters
• When to use one master vs. multiple sector‑specific masters
• Office Master templates built from real projects
• The difference between comments vs. notes (and when each should be used)
• How to collaborate with engineers and external consultants
• Sharing specs with active view vs. normal view
• Using tags, reports, and document attachments effectively
• Top 3 tips for new or infrequent SpecLink users
• Standalone fill‑in‑the‑blank fields, units, and section IDs
• How Smart Links work (green, yellow, and red logic)
• Where to find spec sections using the content guide & sections report
• Printing outline specs, short‑form specs, and attached documents

Getting started with specifications can feel overwhelming. Where do you begin? What comes first? And how do you avoid costly mistakes? In this episode of SpecTalk, hosts Dory Azar and Alex Bear break the process down into three clear, manageable steps with legendary specifier Marjorie Weibe-Reed of Mead & Hunt.

From identifying the right sections early, to evaluating products with confidence, to building a rock‑solid QA/QC process, this conversation demystifies specs for beginners and seasoned professionals alike. Along the way, Marjorie shares real‑world lessons, practical workflows in RIB SpecLink, and a memorable “recipe” analogy that makes the three‑part spec format finally click.

What You’ll Learn

• When to start specs and how early narratives guide section selection
• How to build a table of contents from drawings, keynotes, and product data
• A simple framework for understanding the three‑part specification format
• Practical strategies for product evaluation and selection
• How SpecLink linking automatically informs Parts 1, 2, and 3
• Using comments, reports, and active view for coordination and QA/QC
• Why peer reviews matter—and how to catch mistakes before bid day
• Encouragement and advice for architects considering a path into specs

In this episode of SpecTalk, hosts Dory Azar and Alex Bear are joined by industry expert Beth Stroshane to explore how treating specs as infrastructure transforms productivity, training, and long‑term success.

Beth, founder and managing partner of Applied Building Information, shares decades of experience helping firms build, automate, and maintain large master specification libraries. Together, the panel dives deep into how to structure a master spec, reduce manual editing, train the next generation of spec writers, and use automation in RIB SpecLink Cloud to turn institutional knowledge into repeatable workflows.

What You’ll Learn

• What a master specification really is — and why every firm needs one
• How to structure masters across building types, regions, and project scopes
• When to use one master vs. multiple masters
• Using configuration checklists for interiors, exteriors, regions, and codes
• Turning experience into automation with links, tags, and global logic
• Teaching specification fundamentals without “downloading the wizard’s brain”
• Using tags and reports for QC workflows and master updates
• Why aiming for a solid C+ master beats perfection every time
• How specs function as infrastructure, not overhead

Drawing and spec coordination touches every discipline, every project, and every firm—yet it’s one of the most common sources of errors, RFIs, and costly rework. In this SpecTalk episode, we bring together host Dory Azar, co‑host Alex Bear, and special guest Brian Payne, Director of Project Delivery at BSA, for a deep dive into the habits, tools, and workflows that keep drawings and specs truly aligned.

From early‑career lessons (including the infamous flagpole story) to advanced Revit–SpecLink integrations, quality assurance strategies, and how firms can build better coordination systems, this conversation is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why drawing–spec coordination breaks on projects
• The #1 issue teams voted as their top pain point
• How Brian approaches interdisciplinary QA and coordination
• Real-world lessons learned (including a $100K mistake)
• Revit + SpecLink BIM integration for automated alignment
• How to leverage comments, tagging, and office masters
• Keynoting strategies that prevent miscommunication
• How firms can reduce silos and improve quality
• The one change ANY firm can implement this year

In this must‑see episode of SpecTalks, we unveil the brand‑new Revit + SpecLink workflow that’s redefining coordination, accelerating project setup, and giving spec writers unprecedented access to BIM data, even without a Revit license.

Join host Dory Azar and co‑host Alex Baer as they welcome Nish Patel (Group Product Manager) and Matt Phillips (Product Owner) for a deep dive into real‑time BIM–spec alignment, automated section suggestions, version comparisons, model auditing tools, and the long‑awaited web-based BIM viewer. This episode is packed with demos, insights, and answers to hundreds of audience questions, making it one of our most interactive sessions ever!

What You’ll Learn

• How to sync your Revit model directly with SpecLink for real‑time coordination
• How SpecLink suggests sections automatically based on Revit element data
• How to review model versions with “Compare BIM” to track added/removed/modified elements
• How to navigate the new web‑based BIM viewer without needing Revit
• How to use phases, design options, and linked models in the new workflow
• How non‑Revit users can inspect BIM data directly inside SpecLink
• Why better model intelligence leads to better, faster specifications • What’s ahead for automation, governance, and model–spec connectivity

In this SpecTalk episode, we dive deep into the real-world speed editing techniques used by some of our most advanced RIB SpecLink users. Today’s guest, the legendary Eric Letbetter, walks us through the top five strategies he uses to work faster, smarter, and more accurately — from global terms and choice fields to template optimization and hidden editing shortcuts most users don’t know exist.

Hosted by Dory Azar, Architect & Product Consultant, and Alex Bear, Strategic Account Executive Team Lead, this episode is packed with live demonstrations, pro tips, user Q&A, and feature insights that will instantly level up your SpecLink editing workflow.

What You’ll Learn

• How expert users build time-saving “workarounds” without breaking automation
• Why global terms are one of the biggest speed editing opportunities
• How to edit, expand, and customize choice fields for complex project needs
• How SpecLink’s behavior changes based on cursor placement — and how to use that to your advantage
• Tips for breaking and rebuilding paragraphs cleanly
• Keyboard shortcuts you should be using (but probably aren’t!)
• How to optimize your template section for massive long-term time savings
• Copy/paste behaviors explained — plus the hidden pitfalls
• When to override RIB automated links, and how to do it safely
• Bonus: The “mind-blowing” trick for copying text directly from Print Preview

In this SpecTalks episode, host Dory Azar is joined by Kevin Wang, Director of Specifications at Moore Group, to dive deep into what it really takes to manage and scale a modern spec team. From consolidating multiple SpecLink masters to aligning education, healthcare, and civic work under one spec strategy, Kevin shares how his nationwide team collaborates, maintains quality, and keeps projects moving—whether they’re fully remote, hybrid, or somewhere in between.

Kevin brings 26+ years of specification and architectural experience across healthcare, education, government, commercial, and mixed-use work. As a CSI Fellow and longtime chapter leader, he’s helped shape how specifiers practice, mentor, and collaborate—and now oversees spec teams across Moore Group’s brands (Huckabee, E4H, TSK, RossTarrant).

What You’ll Learn

• How Moore Group manages a nationwide, multi‑brand spec team
• The process behind consolidating multiple SpecLink masters
• Best practices for aligning specs across healthcare, education & civic work
• How to maintain quality and consistency in remote/hybrid teams
• When to bring specifiers into a project for maximum impact
• Practical SpecLink tips for collaboration, comments & version control

In this first SpecTalk episode of 2026, we dive deep into the specifier–rep relationship and uncover why collaboration matters more than ever. From slow response times and overly sales-driven approaches to the qualities that make reps indispensable, this conversation is packed with real-world examples and practical advice.

We also explore how collaboration tools like SpecLink transform the way specifiers and reps work together. Holly Jordan shares why technical expertise and trust matter most, while Dory and Alex dive into the future of reps in an AI-driven industry. Plus, hear candid stories about what happens when manufacturers eliminate reps—and why relationships beyond the spec sheet are critical for success.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why specifiers and reps need each other for successful projects
• The top qualities of a great product rep (and what NOT to do!)
• How collaboration tools like SpecLink streamline communication
• Why relationships in the industry go beyond projects
• The future of reps in an AI-driven construction world