On The Surface with Delta

In this episode of On the Surface , we sit down with Austin Williams, Senior Estimator at Delta Companies, to explore a career built through unexpected turns, steady growth, and a willingness to step into unfamiliar territory. Austin grew up with sports at the center of his life and initially expected to follow his parents into education. A college drafting class changed everything and introduced...

In this episode of On the Surface , we sit down with Derrick Schatte, Delta’s Paving Superintendent for Missouri, to trace an unconventional path from a thousand-acre farm to leading crews and building winning asphalt operations. Starting on a tractor at nine years old, Derrick shares how farming shaped his work ethic—and why increasing red tape, unstable margins, and debt pressure pushed him to f...

On this week’s On the Surface, Seth Stevens and Brad Marotti talk with Zach Green, Executive Vice President of Colas Inc., about his career journey and the leadership lessons he learned along the way. Zach shares how he grew from an entry level role in quality control at the Cape Girardeau Quarry to leading multiple business units across the country, and how accountability, mobility, and strong me...

On this week’s On the Surface, host Seth Stevens and co-host Brad Marotti welcome two of Delta’s most experienced plant leaders, Andy West and Don Brumley, for an inside look at what it really takes to run an asphalt plant and keep production moving safely and efficiently. Andy and Don walk through the reality of the asphalt plant foreman role, including what their days look like, how they respond...

On this week’s On the Surface, host Seth Stevens sits down with two longtime leaders in Delta’s asphalt operations. Andy West, HMA Manager over all eight Delta asphalt plants, and Don Brumley, Plant Foreman with more than three decades of experience, join the show to break down what the plant foreman role looks like day to day and why the job matters. Andy and Don share how plant operations have e...

On this week’s On the Surface, host Seth Stevens and co-host Brad Marotti welcome Shane Moody, Paving Superintendent at Delta, for an inside look at what it really takes to lead a paving crew and build high quality roads across Arkansas. Shane walks through his journey from flagging in Missouri to running full paving crews and eventually stepping into the superintendent role. He explains what a pa...

School’s out, schedules are on pause, and we’re breaking from our usual programming for something a little different. Thanks to snow days at home, this episode flips the script and hands the microphone to the kids. From what they love most about unexpected days off to how much knowledge they have about their dad's job, this candid, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful conversation captures the...

On this week’s On the Surface , host Seth Stevens and co-hosts Brad Marotti and Jordan Janet welcome back Patrick Lemley, Construction Technologies Manager at Delta, for a deep dive into how paving has evolved—and where it’s headed next. Patrick maps the journey from labor‑intensive stringline control to today’s full‑GPS model-based paving that can auto-steer the paver, control end-gates, and hold...

In this episode of On the Surface , we unpack what project managers actually do—from planning and coordinating crews and subs to managing schedules, change orders, and milestones like traffic swaps. Patrick Lemley brings a surveyor’s eye and tech‑forward mindset to working smarter in the field. We cover the rhythm of the job, finishing without a punch list, and what success looks like. Plus: week‑...

In this On The Surface conversation, Seth Stevens and Jordan Janet break down the one metric that keeps every business alive: cash . Using plain‑spoken examples—from quarry rock to multi‑month construction projects—they map the full journey from opportunity → revenue → cash in the bank , and explain why profit on paper can hide real cash risk. You’ll hear how front‑end decisions (quotes, terms, cr...

In this episode of On The Surface , hosts Seth Stevens and Jordan Janet dig into what it takes to transition roles successfully. Drawing on recent role changes and real-world examples, they unpack why leadership transitions matter, how “sink-or-swim” cultures set people up to fail, and what smart companies do instead: build structured support, training, and clear timeline plans. Seth and Jordan co...

What does it take to lead more than 100 people, manage complex operations, and shape the future of a construction division? In this episode of On the Surface , Seth Stevens and Jordan Janet talk with Daryl Masingale, Regional Manager of Construction, about the realities of high-level leadership and the vision required to succeed. You’ll learn:  ✅ How Daryl transitioned from hands-on roles to lead...

Running a successful construction operation takes more than managing projects—it requires vision, strategy, and relentless focus on efficiency. In this episode of On the Surface , Seth Stevens and Jordan Janet talk with Brian Kelso, Delta’s Operations Manager for Construction, about what it takes to lead large-scale operations in today’s competitive market. You’ll learn:  ✅ How operations managem...

HR isn’t just paperwork—it’s a strategic driver of business success. In this episode of On the Surface , Seth Stevens and Jordan Janet talk with Taylor Kirn, HR Business Partner, about how modern HR goes far beyond compliance and recruiting. You’ll learn:  ✅ What it means to have a “seat at the table” in HR  ✅ How HR influences culture, leadership, and organizational strategy  ✅ Why collaborati...

What does it take to lead a sales team in a competitive, relationship-driven industry? In this episode of On the Surface , Seth Stevens and Jordan Janet sit down with Bryan Spach, Director of Sales at Reeves Construction Company, to explore the art of selling on values—not just price. Tune in to hear:  ✅ Bryan’s journey from hospitality and telecom to 15 years at Vulcan and now Reeves  ✅ Why rel...

Change isn’t easy—but it’s essential. In this episode of On the Surface , Seth Stevens, Brad Marotti, and Jordan Janet unpack the big moves Delta made in 2025: a major rebrand and a complete organizational restructure. Discover:  ✅ Why we kept the Delta name but refreshed our look  ✅ The thinking behind shifting from geography-based to line-of-business structure  ✅ How these changes position us...

Ever wondered what “heavy highway construction” really means—or how Delta grew from paving city streets in 1923 to becoming part of a global network? In this episode of On the Surface , Seth Stevens, Brad Marotti, and Jordan Janet take you on a tour of our industry, explain what we do, and share the fascinating history behind Delta’s evolution. From crushing rock and mixing asphalt to major acquis...

Ever wonder how careers in heavy construction really unfold? In this episode of On the Surface , hosts Seth Stevens, Brad Marotti, and Jordan Janet share their personal journeys—from broke college days and first internships to leadership roles shaping Delta’s future. Along the way, you’ll hear stories about IT surprises, plant fires, “street cred” in the field, and lessons learned about growth, cu...

Ever wondered why a heavy construction and materials company would start a podcast? In this debut episode, hosts Seth Stevens, Brad Marotti, and Jordan Janet pull back the curtain on the idea that sparked On the Surface . From a coffee shop conversation in Poplar Bluff (and a guy named “Scooter”) to tackling the big question—how do we connect better with our people and our industry?—this episode d...