On The Surface with Delta

Why do we take infrastructure for granted until something goes wrong? In this episode of On the Surface , Seth Stevens and Jordan Janet sit down with Dustin Boatwright, Chief Engineer of the Little River Drainage District and Vice Chair of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, to explore the systems, investments, and leadership that shape our communities every day. Dustin shares his...

Why do some people figure out their career path early—while others struggle to find the right fit? In this episode of On the Surface , Seth Stevens sits down with Braxton Cousins to talk about his journey from intern to full-time safety professional and how hands-on experience helped him find the right path. Braxton shares how he went from a small-town athlete focused on basketball to navigating c...

Why does leading change feel so much harder than it should? In this episode of On the Surface , Seth Stevens and Brad Marotti sit down to talk through their real-world experience leading change inside a growing organization—and how John Kotter’s Leading Change framework is shaping the way they approach it. From early assumptions to hard-earned lessons, they unpack why change takes longer than expe...

Why do some teams speak up, share ideas, and collaborate, while others stay quiet? In this episode of On The Surface , Seth Stevens and Brad Collins sit down with Cheryl Suszczynski, Learning and Development Manager at Barrett Industries, to break down what separates average teams from high-performing ones. Cheryl shares her journey into HR and leadership development, then dives into the real driv...

What does it really take to build a personal brand as a leader and why does it matter more than most people think? In this episode of On The Surface , Seth Stevens and Brad Collins sit down with Stephan Mills, Director of Finance at Barrett Industries, to break down how your reputation, relationships, and authenticity shape your career over time. Stephan shares his journey from job cost accountant...

In this episode of On the Surface , Seth sits down with Brad Collins, Vice President of Finance and Development at Colas, to discuss his career journey and how leadership perspectives evolve over time. Brad shares how he found his way into finance, the importance of timing and intentional decision-making, and why being willing to say “no” to certain opportunities can be just as important as saying...

In this episode of On the Surface , Seth sits back down with Jeff Hotop and Blake Lingle for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about the construction industry, how it operates behind the scenes, and the external factors that influence pricing, strategy, and growth. The conversation starts with a simple but revealing question: what does Delta actually do? Jeff and Blake offer their outside perspe...

In this episode of On the Surface , Seth sits down with Brad Marotti to unpack the real-world impact of geopolitics on businesses—from tariffs and trade policies to wars, supply chain disruptions, and volatile fuel prices. What starts as a simple question—“What is geopolitics?”—quickly turns into a practical discussion about how global events ripple through industries, affecting everything from in...

In this episode of On the Surface , Seth sits down with Jeff Hotop and Blake Lingle for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about career paths, leadership development, and the roles that shape how organizations grow and operate. Jeff and Blake share how their careers unexpectedly led them into finance and banking—starting with small-town roots, early jobs, and moments where natural strengths began...

In this episode of On the Surface , Seth sits down with Brad and Taylor for an honest, practical conversation about one of the toughest challenges leaders face: building the right team. Using a culture‑versus‑skills quadrant as the framework, they unpack how employees typically fall into four categories—and why where someone lands matters more than leaders often realize. Seth, Brad, and Taylor bre...

In this episode of On the Surface , Seth sits down with Kris Latham to unpack a career built from the ground up—one shaped by engineering roots, hard-earned lessons, and a deep respect for people, process, and perspective. From growing up around construction sites in central Florida to leading operations in the aggregates industry, Kris shares the winding path that took him through engineering, fi...

In this episode of On the Surface , Seth is joined once again by Brad for a wide‑ranging, practical conversation about how AI is actually being used in everyday business—and why most people are still only scratching the surface. From Copilot and ChatGPT to Claude, Gemini, and agentic AI tools, Seth and Brad break down what works, what doesn’t, and where confusion still exists as these technologies...

In this episode of On the Surface, Seth sits down once again with fan‑favorite guest (and unofficial co‑host) Taylor Kirn for an honest look at what really happens when you step into a management role for the first time. From the shock of overnight responsibility to the emotional weight of leading people you once worked beside, Taylor breaks down the challenges new managers face—and the parts no o...

In this episode of On The Surface , Seth and Brad welcome back Taylor Kirn for a deep dive into one of the most pivotal decisions any company faces: internal promotions vs. external hires. From the real costs of leadership transitions to the morale boost of promoting from within, the trio breaks down what makes these decisions so impactful—and so challenging. They explore how to identify true lead...

In this episode of On the Surface , we sit down with Justin Counce—Delta’s Safety Coordinator—to explore the unconventional path that led him from chemistry labs and chromatography machines to job sites, quarry pits, and the front lines of safety culture. From studying finance for “30 minutes” to working in manufacturing and eventually discovering a passion for helping people work smarter and safe...

In this episode of On the Surface , we sit down with Brad Marotti and Jordan Janet to dig into the habits, mindsets, and daily choices that shape who we are as men, husbands, fathers, and leaders. What starts as a light conversation about podcasts turns into a deep exploration of why people crave long-form dialogue, how modern culture is reshaping connection, and why intentionality matters more th...

In this episode of On the Surface , we sit down with Craig McClellan and Russell Goss—Delta’s IT Manager and IT Technician—to uncover the technology, teamwork, and troubleshooting that keep our construction operations running every single day. From dial‑up internet and building their first PCs to supporting hundreds of employees across multiple states, Craig and Russell share how they each found t...

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...