The People Strategy Podcast

What if gratitude could transform how you lead through endings and unlock your next breakthrough? Here's what most leaders get wrong : You think finishing strong means immediately jumping to the next big thing. But what if I told you that the leaders who create lasting impact know a secret about endings that changes everything? After four transformative years and 213 episodes , I'm sharing the mos...

At Rolling Tides Construction , people aren't just employees—they're the heart of the company. CEO Matt Rasmussen has built a culture that truly cares about its team, fostering an environment where individuals feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow. This people-first approach is more than a philosophy—it's a business strategy that drives loyalty, engagement, and success. Matt shares how Roll...

What if the most successful companies aren't the ones with the best perks or highest salaries, but the ones that have cracked the code on engineering authentic human connection? Nick Lombardino , Co-Founder of CultureCon , stumbled upon this truth during focus groups that were supposed to validate a technology solution. Instead, he uncovered a startling revelation: people weren't craving another d...

The trades have often been seen as a fallback rather than a first-choice career. But what if we challenged that narrative and recognized the skilled trades as a vital, dignified profession with immense opportunity? James Faulkner , President and Founder of Site Max Systems , brings decades of experience bridging technology and the trades to shed light on how we can elevate the workforce from withi...

What if the issue isn't who you're hiring, but what they're walking into? That was the pivotal question Greg Brouwer asked himself when he took the reins of West Michigan Janitorial , overseeing a team of more than 200 employees and facing turnover rates nearing 200%. Instead of defaulting to reactive hiring or higher pay, Greg chose a different path... one centred on building belonging, not just...

When you think about core values in your workplace, what comes to mind? A few words painted on the breakroom wall? A mission statement buried in an onboarding deck? For many organizations, especially in fast-paced, high-pressure industries like the trades, core values become background noise. But if you're leading a team, here's the uncomfortable truth: your culture isn't built by what you say you...

If you've ever inherited more than a business—like a legacy, a mission, or a responsibility that feels deeply personal—this episode will resonate. For trades entrepreneur Craig Lenard , taking over Art Lenard & Sons wasn't just about business continuity. It was about honouring a foundation while building something stronger on top. When his mother was diagnosed with cancer and both parents stepped...

If you've ever led a business that looked impressive on paper but felt like it was quietly eroding your well-being behind the scenes, this episode will meet you exactly where you are. Many trades entrepreneurs begin with a craft, not a company blueprint. They hustle hard, fueled by grit, only to find themselves imprisoned by the very business they built—exhausted, reactive, and disconnected from t...

In the trades, it's not the perks that define culture —it's how your people show up when things get hard. On job sites, in tight deadlines, across five generations—real culture is built through clarity, trust, and showing up every day . And that doesn't happen by accident. Too often, trade businesses measure success in activity: 500 calls made, back-to-back shifts worked, 100 tasks checked off. Bu...

If your communication strategy only works for half your crew, it's not a strategy—it's a risk.  And in the trades, that risk doesn't just affect productivity—it affects safety, morale, and retention. Today's job sites are made up of multiple generations working side by side, each with their own preferences, assumptions, and expectations around communication. You've got Boomers printing out emails,...

Culture, Coaching & Core Values: How Highfill Retains Talent Through Purpose Forget ping-pong tables and pay raises—this is what actual retention looks like. In this episode of The People Strategy Podcast , Traci Austin sits down with Ray Cox , Co-founder and Senior VP of Marketing at Highfill Infrastructure Engineering , for a powerful conversation on what it means to build a people-first company...

If you're constantly hiring but still coming up short, the issue might not be the labour market. It might be something deeper— a generational disconnect that's quietly eroding trust, productivity, and retention. In today's trades workplaces, it's common to see four generations working side by side. You've got veteran employees who've built the company's foundation and younger workers who bring new...

Most new hires don't fail because they're unskilled. They fail because they're unsure —and no one showed them how to build confidence on the job. In the trades, technical ability is just the starting line . What determines long-term success is how leaders coach employees through the messy, uncertain moments of " firsts." In this recast episode, Traci Austin reveals the four coaching styles she see...

New hires in the trades don't just need a paycheck— they need a reason to stay. First impressions matter, and a lack of communication between the offer letter and day one can send the wrong message. Without an intentional preboarding and onboarding process, you risk high turnover, wasted training, and disengaged workers who walk off the job before they ever really start. In this episode, Traci Aus...

Ignoring mental health in the trades isn't just costly—it's dangerous. Stress, burnout, and unspoken struggles impact retention, decision-making, and job-site safety . Yet, mental health remains an overlooked part of workplace safety programs. In this episode, Bruce Morton , a 20-year safety expert and founder of the Wisconsin Construction Wellness Community , shares how companies in the trades ca...

How Mentorship Builds Stronger Trades Teams & Reduces Turnover Hiring is hard. Losing good people is even harder. So how do you keep top tradespeople engaged, growing, and loyal to your company? The answer isn't just better pay—it's  mentorship . In this recast episode, Traci Austin breaks down how  mentorship in the trades isn't just a "nice-to-have" but a critical retention strategy.  From  on-t...

From Revolving Door to Retention: The Hiring Fix That Worked Most companies hire fast and regret it later. Mid-States Concrete changed their approach—and their team has never been stronger. In this episode, Sam Kloppmann, HR leader at Mid-States Concrete Industries , shares how his team cut turnover, strengthened culture, and built a hiring process that actually works. Instead of filling roles jus...

Marliz Briano, Operations Manager at Cydcor, began her journey with the company six years ago as part of the compliance team. In this role, she oversaw agent onboarding and ensured ongoing regulatory compliance for representatives. As her responsibilities expanded, she transitioned into a leadership role, merging compliance with the service desk team to create a unified department focused on both...

Vera Quinn is the CEO and President of Cydcor, a global provider of outsourced sales. In her role, she's grown revenue by more than 35% and led the company's retail and omnichannel expansion. Vera began her career in door-to-door sales and joined Cydcor over 25 years ago, serving in various roles, including Senior Vice President, Director of Operations, and COO.  In this episode… When growing lead...

Hannah McKitrick is the Founder and CEO of My Intuitive Health, which helps corporate leaders transform employee wellness through luxury culinary wellness retreats and mind-body cooking programs. She is also a Chapter President at The Dames, LLC, which empowers women managing six- and seven-figure businesses to scale through events and membership communities. As a board-certified holistic nutritio...

David Murray is the Co-founder and CEO of Confirm, a performance management system that enables CEOs to increase capital efficiency. As a product designer, he began his career as a Product Manager at Google, where he received the Google Founders Award and EMG Award for his work on Gmail. In this episode… Performance review metrics are often based on an arbitrary rating system that favors managers'...

Philipp (Phil) Siegel is the Lead Product Manager at Maymont Homes, a full-service acquisition, renovation, and property management company. In his role, he drives customer-centric solutions using data-driven strategies. Before Maymont Homes, Phil held several leadership positions, including the Senior Technical Support Manager at Unanet and the Manager of Client Support Services at BrightEdge. In...

Tim Sackett is the President of HRU Technical Resources, an IT and engineering contract staffing firm. With over 20 years of experience in talent acquisition and HR, he worked as a staffing director, recruiter, and HR manager at companies, including Applebees, ShopKo Stores, and Pamida. Tim has been named a Top 10 Global HR Influencer.  In this episode… The rapid use of AI and other automated tech...

Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue's Information Technology Security Manager, where he reduced cyber risk while securing team member and guest information. As a network and security expert, Adam was also a Network Administrator at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, where he supported network resources and secured IT system delivery. In this epis...

Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue's Information Technology Security Manager, where he reduced cyber risk while securing team member and guest information. As a network and security expert, Adam was also a Network Administrator at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, where he supported network resources and secured IT system delivery. In this epis...