Coastlines to Cranes

College vs the trades is one of the biggest decisions a young person makes, and this episode puts both paths side by side in real time. Host Shandon Harbour sits down with two 22-year-old roommates born six weeks apart. Trent Harbour is a recent San Diego State business graduate searching for his first job. Mac Hamlin is a former server who went looking for a career and found it in ABC San Diego&#...

Multi-skilling, or cross-training, is finally getting a serious research treatment, and the early findings should interest any contractor who has ever watched a project schedule slip while one trade waited on another. Shandon Harbour breaks down what cross-training a construction workforce actually does to productivity, employee engagement, and safety, drawing on a new multi-university study commi...

Construction business succession planning is one of the hardest things a contractor will ever take on, and most owners start far too late. Kevin Hartnett came up through the electrical trade, founded Laser Electric in 1987, and years later sold the company to his son through a plan that took half a decade to build. He joins Shandon Harbour to talk about what it really takes to exit a contracting b...

Construction leadership during COVID meant making calls with no playbook and no guarantee they would hold up later. In this episode, Shandon Harbour looks back at the years when construction was declared essential work, apprenticeship labs moved into tents in the back parking lot, and ABC San Diego staff kept coming into the office while much of the region shut down. The recent Fauci hearings brou...

Most small to mid-sized construction businesses can only grow so far before the owner becomes the bottleneck. Leadership at that point is less about slogans and more about who can carry the load when the owner is away. Earl the Pearl returns for a third appearance to talk about building a second in command that you can actually rely on. A retired Marine Corps colonel and former commanding officer...

How do you stand out as a business when everyone is creating content? In this episode, Shandon sits down with Andre Elias and Luis Arteaga from Signature Sound Studio for a conversation that starts in the music world but quickly becomes a bigger discussion about marketing, brand building, and audience connection. Andre and Luis share what they have seen from artists trying to grow in a crowded mar...

Taxes, property tax discussions, public spending, and local government budgets can all have a direct impact on contractors, businesses, infrastructure, and the future of San Diego’s construction economy. In this episode, host Shandon Harbour talks with Mark Kersey, President & CEO of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association and former San Diego City Councilmember, about taxpayer accountabili...

What does “affordable housing” really mean in San Diego, and why is it so difficult to build? Shandon Harbour sits down with Aimee Faucett, President & CEO of the Building Industry Association of San Diego, to talk about housing affordability, home building costs, the San Diego housing market, and how fees, taxes, permitting, and policy decisions affect what actually gets built. Amy also break...

Construction loses 6 times more workers to suicide than to jobsite accidents. Suicide prevention in construction isn't a wellness topic — it's a safety emergency. In this episode of Coastlines to Cranes, host Shandon Harbour speaks from inside the industry about how ABC San Diego got involved in suicide prevention training, what employee check-ins actually reveal, and why total worker heal...

Shandon goes behind the scenes at Signature Sound Studios with Luis Arteaga and Miguel Rosales, the team helping capture the conversations and stories of the members and community partners featured on Coastlines to Cranes. From a 35-year studio legacy to the rise of podcasts, video, AI, and social media, this episode explores how stories are shaped, shared, and built for the audiences that need th...

AI is changing the world, but it cannot run without construction. In this solo episode of Coastlines to Cranes , Shandon Harbour breaks down the data center boom, the rise of AI, and why skilled trades are essential to the infrastructure powering tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, and more. Shandon also looks at proposed hyperscale data center activity in the Imperial Valley and what it could mean...

What does real support for small business growth in San Diego look like? Shandon talks with Chris Cate, President and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce , about why small and mid-sized businesses need stronger advocacy, better support, and a bigger seat at the table. From navigating regulation and rising costs to building a more connected pro-business community, this conversation is...

In this episode, Shandon Harbour sits down with Corey Klinke, Executive Vice President of West Coast Group Benefits , to talk about why benefits matter more than many construction leaders realize. This conversation breaks down how a smart employee benefits strategy can help a contractor stay competitive, support retention, and navigate the real-world demands of public works. Corey explains how the...

What if safety wasn’t just a requirement, but one of the smartest ways to grow a stronger construction business? In this episode, Shandon talks with Marjorie Del Toro of ehs International about leadership, compliance, and building a company that protects people while supporting long-term growth. Marjorie shares how her personal story shaped her mission, and why safety, smart delegation, and the ri...

In this episode, Shandon sits down with Jen Fulton from San Diego Backflow Testing to talk about what it really takes to build a business in a specialized trade. What started as an unexpected career pivot turned into a growing company, and Jen shares honest lessons on entrepreneurship, resilience, leadership, and long-term business development. This conversation is packed with value for small and...

In this episode, Shandon brings you along if you were not able to attend ABC's 2026 Convention in Salt Lake City. She highlights the moments that stood out - from leadership lessons to meaningful connections, she breaks down how to turn a few days into real momentum for your business and your people. If you missed Convention this year, put it on your calendar for next year, Denver 2027! Listen...

In this episode of Coastlines to Cranes , Shandon Harbour sits down with Inez Robinson-Odom to talk about why leadership can no longer be treated like a soft skill in construction. From communication and workforce development to instructor training and retention, this conversation explores what it takes to build stronger teams and stronger companies in a changing industry. Inez shares practical in...

In this episode, Tanita Antonio, Co-Founder and Director of Marketing at Tenacious Digital Marketing shares why marketing matters for small and mid-sized contractors. She breaks down why social media is more than just Facebook and LinkedIn, why viral content does not always turn into real business, and what contractors can do right now to build a stronger presence online and make it easier for cus...

In honor of Women in Construction Week, Shandon sits down with Marcella Garofalo, Director of Marketing at Lusardi Construction Co., to talk leadership in a male-dominated industry, why “getting involved” is career rocket fuel, and how community, associations, and service shape the construction world from the inside out. Key Takeaways If you want a bigger seat at the table, your first move is ofte...

Valerie McGuire (Controller at Pacific Rim Mechanical, CCIFP, CPA) joins Shandon Harbour to talk construction finance the way it actually happens: pressure, deadlines, tough calls, and the ripple effects on crews, subs, and customers. Valerie has lived on both sides of the business. She shares how her path moved from running work to running numbers, and how tough market shifts shaped the way she t...

If you’ve ever walked into an industry event and wondered what to say (or how to make it worth your time), this episode is for you. Jennifer Hopper, Community Affairs Manager at ABC San Diego, breaks down what her role really does for members: building relationships in the community, creating connections that matter, and helping the merit shop story get heard in a way that lands. Jennifer shares a...

Shandon welcomes Terri from the CDC Foundation and Ernie from the San Diego-Imperial HIDTA to unpack why construction is getting hit so hard by fentanyl, from injuries and opioid exposure to counterfeit pills that look like “normal” meds. They share real local impact, including two deaths at a Coronado residential site and the story of Connor Gerhart, then lay out what employers can do now, especi...

Shandon sits down with Chad Fischer to break down the money moves that matter for contractors, without the accounting fog. Get practical insights on how to lower taxable income, stay compliant in California, and keep your numbers looking strong for banking and bonding. Chad, Senior Tax Manager at Aldrich CPAs + Advisors, also touches on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act so you can understand what cou...

This is Part 2 of our Fentanyl on the Jobsite series with Bill Perno (SAY San Diego). If you missed Part 1 , start there for what fentanyl is, why it’s so dangerous, and the key overdose warning signs. In this episode, the focus shifts to what to do when it’s real and it’s happening. Bill walks through response steps, unpacks California law as it relates to overdose situations, and explains Narcan...

This is Part 1 of our two-part series, Fentanyl on the Jobsite . Today, Shandon Harbour talks with Bill Perno (retired deputy sheriff and senior prevention specialist with SAY San Diego) about what fentanyl is, why it’s so dangerous, and how it’s showing up in the construction world. Part 2 airs next week , covering how to respond step-by-step, California law, Narcan (naloxone) plus its limitation...