The Importance of Team Dynamics in Architecture with Otis Odell - HED
E119 • Mar 4, 2025 • 54 minsOtis Odell joins the conversation to discuss his career and transition to HED, highlighting the merging of roles in business and architecture. He emphasizes the importance of core values and team performance, strategic planning, and organizational restructuring in AEC businesses. Otis explores adapting to virtual work, fostering a remote work culture, and maintaining connectivity. He provides market insights, including the launch of a Denver office and expanding project scopes. The discussion covers evolving business development strategies, sector-focused development, and resource sharing. Otis reflects on the future and offers advice, concluding with closing remarks and contact information.
A Different View: Challenging the Status Quo in Construction with Zach Simmons - Stronghold Construction
E118 • Feb 18, 2025 • 61 minsZach Simmons from Stronghold Construction shares his journey from his origin story to founding the company. He emphasizes the importance of building trust and selecting the right partners in the construction industry. The discussion covers managing relationships with subcontractors, fostering leadership, and the role of data-driven decision-making. Zach reflects on legacy and work-life balance while navigating industry challenges and delivery models. He explains the role of an independent cost estimator and managing change orders, as well as pre-construction cost structures and achieving project savings. The episode also addresses overcoming resistance to change and offers industry advice, concluding with Zach's closing thoughts and contact information.
Optimizing Operations: Using Automation for Time & Cost Savings with Jessie Terry - BlueOcean Edge LLC
Feb 4, 2025 • 48 minsJessie Terry shares insights on transitioning from employee to business owner and the challenges of post-holiday work. He discusses business planning, execution, and the impact of construction innovations and disruptions. Jessie provides an overview of Optimly and strategies for enhancing client experience. The episode delves into construction forecasting challenges, addressing labor shortages, and the importance of time management for entrepreneurs. Jessie emphasizes building and managing teams, continuous learning, and shares exciting projects and future plans. The conversation highlights the role of delegation and automation in job satisfaction, Jessie's positive influence, and concludes with his closing thoughts and a recap.
More Profit and Fun: Embracing Change in New Diverse Leadership with Jeff Meyers - DS Architecture
E117 • Jan 28, 2025 • 54 minsJeff Meyers discusses the evolution of DS Architecture and its new partnerships, emphasizing the importance of embracing diverse ownership and transitioning business roles. He explores leadership dynamics and the firm's office culture, highlighting the evolution of decision-making processes. The conversation delves into embracing change for growth, teamwork, and navigating business cycles, along with strategies for conflict resolution and client evaluation. Jeff shares insights on market strategy development, diversity inclusion, and process refinement through EOS implementation. He also discusses adapting to prevent operational fractures, the development of the 8 Ball software, and the future vision for scaling the firm.
The Things No One Teaches You About Becoming a Partner with Chris Hamer and Megan Walsh - Aria Group
E116 • Jan 21, 2025 • 53 minsChris Hamer and Megan Walsh from Aria Group share their career origin stories and the team culture at Aria Group. They discuss the path to becoming a partner or shareholder and address common misconceptions about bringing in new shareholders. The episode delves into strategic planning, partner responsibilities, and the role of structure and consultants in business growth. Chris and Megan explore growth strategies, company culture, and the alignment of performance reviews with core values. They emphasize the importance of core values in hiring and HR processes and how these values guide strategic business decisions.
Strategic Growth, Team Building, and Leadership Lessons with Tyler Sease - Southern Steel Engineers
E115 • Jan 14, 2025 • 51 minsTyler Sease discusses his background in structural engineering and the niche of Southern Steel Engineers, exploring the impact of large corporations on its culture and operations. He shares insights on balancing roles in different business cultures, hiring practices, team building, and ensuring safety and accuracy in engineering amidst growth. The episode covers strategic hiring, process evaluation, growth planning, and role redundancy. Tyler highlights training and retention strategies, managing people and processes, and documentation methods. He also addresses remote work dynamics, team communication, assessing new hires, and sustainable growth, offering leadership advice and closing thoughts.
Defying All The Odds: Continuing Success With Longterm Thinking with Kendra Dinkins - Taylor Electric
E114 • Jan 7, 2025 • 52 minsKendra Dinkins shares her journey and the history of Taylor Electric, highlighting the role of family and the challenges of market diversification. She discusses partnering with larger contractors and navigating MBE/WBE obstacles while emphasizing the importance of building trust in business partnerships. Kendra talks about proving worth as a minority-owned business, evaluating customer fit, and the significance of learning to say no. The episode delves into family business dynamics, decision-making, and managing economic downturns, including the impact of COVID-19. Kendra addresses employee loyalty, overcoming imposter syndrome, and leadership as an introvert, offering advice on self-care and work-life balance.
Leadership, Team Dynamics, and Scalability with Brian Lotz - Lotz Custom Carpentry
E113 • Dec 17, 2024 • 58 minsBrian Lotz shares his journey from early life to founding Lotz Custom Carpentry and merging with AM Woodland. He discusses the current size and operations of his business, emphasizing leadership development and team dynamics. The conversation explores organizational structure, budgeting, and workforce management, highlighting the collaborative design process and technology's role in scalability. Brian addresses generational work ethic and workforce trends, offering insights into continuous improvement and advice for his younger self.
Navigating Waterfront Challenges: Leadership and Growth with Dena Prastos - Indigo River
E112 • Dec 10, 2024 • 53 minsDena Prastos delves into her journey in waterfront architecture and her mission-driven entrepreneurship at Indigo River. She shares the challenges of becoming a certified woman-owned business and the impact of creating New York City's waterfront code. The discussion touches on specialization and on-the-job training in AEC, delegation, and the balance between quality control and task outsourcing. Dena talks about leadership growth, managing senior leadership disagreements, and the role of consultants in scaling a business. The episode also explores evolving business processes, software tools, team feedback, company culture, and talent acquisition.
Scaling Success: Lessons in Team Building, Innovation, and Growth with Aaron Moore - PPD Painting
E111 • Dec 3, 2024 • 55 minsAaron Moore discusses his entrepreneurial journey, sharing insights from corporate America that shaped PPD Painting. He delves into scaling the business with a unique team and expanding into new markets, highlighting effective marketing strategies and the importance of employee accountability. Aaron addresses balancing emotions in business, managing opportunity costs, and making strategic decisions for growth. He emphasizes the value of forming industry associations, peer groups, and utilizing outside consulting. The conversation covers team development, adopting new technologies, fostering innovation, and building customer relationships, while exploring pricing strategies and recurring revenue models.
Modular Construction: Innovation & Efficiency In The Built World with Roger Krulak - FullStack Modular
E110 • Nov 19, 2024 • 63 minsRoger Krulak explores modular construction, comparing it to traditional methods. He discusses its efficiencies, challenges, and paradigm shifts in construction processes. The conversation covers planning, assembly, workforce considerations, quality assurance, and differences in construction drawings. Roger addresses organizational efficiency, risks, profitability, and technology's role in modular construction. He also tackles training, adoption, labor shortages, future challenges, and the need for continuous improvement. The episode concludes with insights on streamlining business processes, logistics, financing challenges, and advice for advocating modular construction.
Commercial Real Estate Adventures: Positivity, Success, & Fun with Rachelle Strole - Capital Asset Management
Nov 12, 2024 • 45 minsRachelle Strole shares her approach to success, detailing her background and the origins of her company. She discusses overcoming challenges in commercial real estate and emphasizes the role of failure in fostering innovation and sustainable development. Rachelle redefines success by balancing business achievements with personal well-being. She highlights the importance of building a strong team and fostering leadership, while also acknowledging how personal interests can influence professional growth. The episode underscores the value of collaboration and continuous learning, offering insights into how these elements contribute to both individual and organizational success.
Taking The Long Way: How Being Resilient Is A Mighty Superpower with Sarah Card - GC Legacy Construction
E109 • Nov 5, 2024 • 58 minsSarah Card shares her journey from overcoming the 2008 financial crisis to founding GC Legacy Construction and successfully navigating the challenges posed by COVID-19. She discusses securing Starbucks as a client and scaling the business through core values and long-term thinking. Sarah emphasizes the importance of daily reinforcement of these values and the strategic decision to bring trades in-house to drive growth. The conversation explores cultural integration, operational changes, and building new trades, along with offering logistics solutions that add value beyond construction.
Growth Mindset: From A Dark Basement To The Forefront Of The Industry with Jed Richard - Richard Group
E108 • Oct 29, 2024 • 73 minsJed Richard shares his journey from the military to founding Richard Group, discussing the early financial challenges faced in the construction industry. He emphasizes the importance of consistency and keeping promises in entrepreneurship. Jed explores the balance of factors in construction projects and the significant role technology plays, particularly AI advancements and their ethical implications on jobs. He discusses the necessity of a technology code of conduct, effective data communication, and leadership development through technology. The episode highlights Richard Group's rebranding and future vision. Jed also offers advice on community engagement and self-improvement, concluding with reflections on AI's future in construction.
Balancing Metrics and Relationships in Construction with Sheley Brien - Brien Contracting
E107 • Oct 22, 2024 • 63 minsSheley Brien joins the episode to discuss her journey into the construction industry, emphasizing the balance between work-life and working with a spouse. She shares insights from her corporate background, highlighting how these lessons apply to construction, particularly in team building versus revenue growth. The conversation delves into the importance of business development metrics and the challenges of KPIs, including the impact of social media. Sheley talks about coaching subcontractors, building client trust, and navigating the bidding process. She addresses the pitfalls of low bids and compares construction to other industries. Sheley also offers advice to her younger self, underscores the importance of self-care, and reflects on career changes.
Construction Accounting: Focusing On Adaptability & Critical Thinking Skills with Scott Franchini - Red Hammer
E106 • Oct 8, 2024 • 58 minsScott Franchini joins the episode to discuss his career journey and the growth of RedHammer from Hawaii to Arizona. He shares insights on managing outsourced teams and addressing client concerns about outsourcing. Scott highlights the use of Predictive Index in hiring and performance assessments, along with the importance of performance feedback and construction accounting processes. The conversation covers common mistakes in construction accounting, including the segregation of duties. Scott also discusses expanding into new markets and adjusting sales approaches.
Flipping the Pyramid: Putting Your Employees at the Top with TJ O'Connor - Cemex
E105 • Sep 24, 2024 • 60 minsTJ O'Connor joins the conversation to share his career journey, detailing his pivot from a tile contractor to the trucking industry. He discusses his leadership philosophy and strategies for transforming a low morale team, highlighting a case study of employee behavior improvement through trust. The episode delves into servant leadership and the importance of including truck drivers in company decisions. TJ emphasizes the significance of employee engagement, tackling introversion, and improving public speaking skills. He reflects on his leadership legacy, transparency, and the impact of mentorship on career development.
Decentralized Execution: The Key to Effective Leadership with Tyler Johnston - Berg Enterprises Inc.
E104 • Sep 10, 2024 • 63 minsTyler Johnston of Berg Enterprises Inc. shares his journey and discusses how military leadership principles have influenced the AEC business. He details the growth and operational structure of Berg Enterprises. The conversation addresses hiring challenges in rural areas and strategies for leveraging local talent. Tyler emphasizes leadership development, technology in organizational change, and learning from predecessors to improve communication. He highlights the benefits of aggressive technology adoption, including transitioning to cloud solutions like Salesforce and implementing NetSuite for accounting. Tyler shares insights on using technology to stand out in competitive markets and embracing subscription-based models for continuous value.
Client Advocacy: The Path To Build Real Relationships with Jacqueline Loftis and Amanda Simon - Cresa
E103 • Sep 3, 2024 • 63 minsJacqueline Loftis and Amanda Simon from Cresa share their career journeys. Amanda discusses her career shift and how Cresa works with the right clients, emphasizing the value of hiring their firm. They explore business development, team recruitment strategies, and the importance of building careers and refining processes. The conversation covers cost savings, value engineering, and bid selection, along with client retention and the role of an owner's rep. They discuss managing change orders, becoming a preferred vendor, and the significance of transparency, honesty, and core values in partnerships. The episode also touches on the impact of technology and AI in the AEC industry and the role of data in construction.
True Innovation: Small Changes Create A Significant Impact with Eric Whobrey - ARCO Construction
E102 • Aug 20, 2024 • 59 minsEric Whobrey from ARCO Construction shares insights into his role and the company's approach to small incremental innovations. He addresses the challenges of naming conventions and change management in innovation. Eric discusses ARCO's business structure, venture capital insights, and entrepreneurial mindset for expansion. The conversation covers scaling challenges, standardizing processes, and measuring innovation ROI. Eric explains how Airtable streamlines project management and improves subcontractor rating processes. He highlights the role of technology in scaling, addresses automation and job security concerns, and emphasizes the importance of standards. Eric offers advice on embracing failure and leadership in innovation.