On The Surface with Delta

As we wrap up Season 1 of On The Surface , host Seth Stevens shares an important update on the podcast and reflects on the journey so far. Over the course of this season, we've had the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, share valuable insights, and engage with listeners who have made this podcast possible. In this special episode, Seth discusses what's ahead for the show, how...

What happens when a leader spends 22 years in the military, transitions into the private sector, and discovers that developing people can be just as important as completing the mission? In this episode of On The Surface , Seth Stevens, Brad Marotti, and Andrew Sapienza sit down with Nick Cullura, Learning & Development Manager for Reeves, to discuss his journey from the U.S. Army to the constr...

Why do some people keep growing throughout their careers while others stop learning and settle for the status quo? In this episode of On The Surface , Seth Stevens, Brad Marotti, and Andrew Sapienza sit down with Todd Quigg, Vice President of Operations for Reeves South Carolina, to discuss his unconventional path into the construction industry and the leadership lessons he's learned along th...

Why is the liquid asphalt business so critical to every road we drive on, yet so few people understand how it works? In this episode of On The Surface , Seth Stevens and Brad Marotti sit down with Eric Bowen, Vice President of Terminal Operations at Reeves, to explore the business behind liquid asphalt and the career journey that unexpectedly led him into the industry nearly four decades ago. Eric...

Why do employees stay with a company for decades while others leave after just a few years? In this episode of On The Surface , Seth Stevens and Brad Marotti sit down with Andrew Sapienza, Senior Director of HR at Reeves, to discuss leadership, employee engagement, workforce development, and what it takes to build a culture where people want to stay and grow. Andrew shares his unique journey from...

Why do some leaders consistently build high-performing teams, while others struggle to unlock their team's full potential? In this episode of On The Surface , Seth Stevens and Jordan Janet sit down with Jeff Glenn, owner of Glenview Strategies, leadership consultant, and strategic planning expert, to discuss what separates good leaders from great ones and how organizations can close the gap b...

Why do some people thrive in a career they never planned to pursue, while others struggle to find work that truly fits them? In this episode of On The Surface , Seth Stevens sits down with Christine Ostendorf, Market Developer at Thrivent Financial and former Catholic school teacher and principal, to discuss career transitions, discovering your strengths, and finding work that gives you energy ins...

Why do some communities grow, attract investment, and create opportunity—while others struggle to keep people and jobs? In this episode of On The Surface , Seth Stevens sits down with Shad Burner, CEO of SEMO REDI, and Lucas Presson, Business Development Director at SEMO REDI, to break down what economic development really is and why it matters to the future of Southeast Missouri. Shad and Lucas s...

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...