The MBI EDGE

In October, MBI Cares turns its focus to breast cancer awareness by supporting CanDo Cancer—an organization that stands beside women during one of life’s hardest journeys. Host Tara Rinehart welcomes CanDo Cancer’s Deonne Winkel and Leah Hill for an inspiring discussion about vulnerability, resilience, and the impact of community giving. Together, they remind us that the power to heal often begins...

This podcast is sponsored by McGill Junge Wealth Management “This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended as legal or tax advice. McGill Junge does not render tax advice. Consult with a tax professional for tax advice that is specific to your situation.”

In this episode of The MBI Edge: What Were You Thinking , host Tara Rinehart sits down with keynote speaker and founder of Fear:LESS Inside™, Darryl Bellamy Jr. Together, they explore how fear shapes our lives and leadership—and how we can transform it into a tool for growth. Get a preview of what’s in store at MBI’s 2026 Winter Conference and discover your own path to fear less.

In this episode of What Were You Thinking? , host Tara Rinehart of Master Builders of Iowa sits down with Sonya Bohmann, Executive Director of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention. Together, they explore the urgent need to remove stigma around mental health in construction, share practical tools and resources for workers and leaders, and highlight how simple actions—like a con...

You’ve probably heard Ryan Leak on leadership podcasts or read one of his bestselling books. We get to dig into his brand-new book: A New York Times best-seller " How to Work with Complicated People." And boy are we complicated to work with. Ryan will also be joining us in person for an exclusive session at our 2026 Winter Conference on Tuesday, February 24th, from 2–4 PM . We are gifting every pa...

For the first time, The MBI EDGE is moving to YouTube! We are Iowa’s premier association for the commercial building industry focused on advocacy, education and resources and we are pleased to show you around our new studio. We hope you’ll subscribe to our channel and follow along as we educate, develop, grow, and enhance our member companies and the industry at large.

MBI is partnering again with Construction Angels for the 3rd year in hosting a golf tournament to benefit those who have lost a loved one due to a jobsite fatality. Hear from CEO Kristi Ronyak and MBI’s Ben Hammes on details about the charity, who they serve and how you can get involved in supporting this effort!

Planning your exit from your business might feel like a distant prospect, but exit planning is simply proper business planning and a process that should begin long before you’re ready to transition out. To simplify the complex process of exit planning into actionable concepts that every business owner should understand, listen in on how our sponsor coaches the use the Exit Planning Institute’s 5-4...

Join us for a conversation with Jay Montgomery of Montgomery Companies who will be facilitating a session at MBI on May 1st, 202 titled "Building, Keeping and What Kills Culture." In this session of What Were You Thinking, Jay will tell us what he has been thinking about when it comes to the heartbeat of any organization, their culture.

If you are stuck in an uncomfortable position of asking yourself, “what am I going to do with my business?”, please know that there are resources available at no cost for businesses of all sizes. Through Advance Iowa at the University of Northern Iowa, you can find confidential resources that will guide you on your succession planning path. Join us for this episode with Stacy Mullinex of Advance I...

Georgia Van Gundy, Deputy Director at the Iowa Workforce Development will be keynoting the April MBI's BuildHer session where she will be speaking about the journey from groundbreaking to glass ceilings. Join us for this podcast as we discuss why MBI's BuildHer is critical to Iowa's workforce.

Allan Kehler will be keynoting this year’s Wellness Breakfast speaking about Finding Your Voice. Finding Your Power. Prioritizing safety, mental health, and wellness in the construction industry. Join us for this podcast as we discuss how in an effort to avoid being perceived as weak or vulnerable, many individuals in the construction industry have a tendency to bury their emotions deep within and...

In this episode, we are joined by Mike Huguelet and Kris Byam, both experts and educators in the public charter school space. Hear about how they are transforming educational experiences for many students in Iowa and what role trades-based education can play.

Jess Ekstrom, entrepreneur and author, will be keynoting this year’s Build Iowa Breakfast speaking about how to create motivation that lasts. Join us for this podcast as we discuss how she has turned her passions into success.

MBI has a long-storied history of partnership with Construct Connect. In this episode, Chief Economist Michael Guckes takes a dive into some recent findings and information related to labor concerns the industry continues to face.

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with Jake Thompson, a renowned leader with a proven track record of success. In this episode, Jake Thompson shares his insights on the benefits of a competitive mindset, the qualities that define effective leaders, and the importance of balancing competition with collaboration. Discover how competition can foster innovation, motivate teams, and help ind...

Dr. Chris Larimer is a professor of political science at the University of Northern Iowa specializing in data and election issues. He joins the MBI Edge to preview the 2024 elections and what voters attitudes are heading into a pivotal election in November.

Representative Carter Norman of the Iowa House joins the podcast this week to talk about school security of our buildings. He represents Perry Iowa, the location of a school shooting tragedy in January 2024. The Iowa Legislature took action this year, and we discuss those actions on the podcast.

Listen in about our upcoming Construction Angels Golf Outing and how you can help us support the mission of Construction Angels.

Contractors are facing new questions about Federal OSHA's new "walkaround" rule and how it is going to impact state-run plans like Iowa's. AGC of America's Kevin Cannon (Senior Director of Health, Safety and Risk Management) joins us to talk about the impact, the lawsuit that AGC has filed and how contractors can prepare for the rule.

Join Tara Rinehart, Director of Industry Education for a discussion with Iowa State University’s Master Builders of Iowa Scholarship Winner, Molly Stanhope and Adam DoBraska, MBI’s Members Services Manager and Membership Engagement and Workforce Development. Tara, Adam, and Molly will discuss Molly’s journey to the construction industry and how the scholarship and internship will impact her contin...

Join Tara Rinehart, Director of Industry Education for a discussion with CSSI Director of Education and Training, Brandon Black. Tara and Brandon will dive into how ADHD impacts wellness and strategies that are impactful and relevant to their lives.

Join Tara Rinehart, Director of Industry Education for a discussion with Jordan Montgomery, owner of Montgomery Companies and speaker at MBI's EliteX. Tara and Jordan will give our listeners insight into what to expect from the upcoming MBI Exclusive event.

Join Tara Rinehart, Director of Industry Education for a discussion with MBI CEO Chad Kleppe on The Gap and the Gain: The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success by Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan. Tara and Chad dive into the book and takeaways that were impactful and relevant to their lives.

Construct Connect has been a valuable MBI partner for many years, doing what they do best – helping contractors find business. They provide access to different contractors, assisting with bids and using their technology platform to source information about projects. Hear from Jennifer Johnson about the capabilities of the platform and where they are focusing on the value in the future for their cu...