Behind the Barricade

Chad Cannon and Jim Christian reflect on one of the most important themes from the podcast’s first 12 episodes: effective communication. They explain why successful project delivery requires clarity, frequency, courageous honesty, and communication tailored to each stakeholder. The conversation covers when to move beyond email, how to deliver difficult news before having every answer, the value of...

 In this episode, Chad and Jim reflect on one of the biggest themes from Behind the Barricade : great projects are built through relationships, not transactions. Jim shares why Cornerstone treats clients, contractors, and project partners as true partners, not vendors. And how trust is built through small moments of integrity, clear communication, and doing what you say you’ll do. This episode als...

 In this episode, Chad Cannon interviews Jim Christian about why pre-construction is where construction projects are won or lost . Jim explains that great project management means owning the outcome, not just attending meetings, and that early planning helps align budgets, schedules, vendors, designs, and stakeholder expectations before problems become costly change orders. The episode emphasizes...

Most construction projects struggle with productivity, delays, and budget overruns  but what if the secret to success isn’t just more resources, but smarter management?  In this eye-opening episode, I sat down with industry expert Philip Angel to reveal how precise stakeholder collaboration, innovative project management tools, and understanding municipal bureaucracy can turn a chaotic project int...

Tomomi Marzan, Director of Retail Design at Belmont Park Village, shares a behind-the-scenes look at delivering high-performance retail construction projects. From starting work before leases are finalized to aligning landlords, tenants, and contractors, she breaks down what actually drives successful outcomes. The conversation highlights a critical shift in the industry: speed isn’t the problem,...

In this insightful interview, Charles Stark, CEO of Stark Engineering, shares his journey from childhood influences to leading a successful engineering firm. He discusses the importance of relationships, design challenges, and the future of construction technology, emphasizing human connection and innovative problem-solving.

In this episode of Behind the Barricade, Jim Christian sits down with Meri Gregg, Senior Project Manager at Avon Design Group, to explore what really drives performance in retail construction projects. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, Meri shares how she found her way into retail design, why she thrives in fast-paced project environments, and what Avon Design Group brings to...

Jenny Kim joins host Jim Christian to discuss her path from architecture into luxury retail construction, and the performance breakthroughs she's experienced managing store development projects. Her Background Jenny started in NYC architecture before transitioning into real estate and then luxury retail, building her career through brands like YSL before landing at Canada Goose. She thrives i...

What does it really take to make construction projects successful? In this episode of Behind the Barricade , Jim Christian sits down with Jim McNally of The Dimension Group , a construction veteran with more than 50 years of experience across civil engineering, retail development, grocery store construction, and large-scale rollout programs. From building bridges across the Ohio River to deliverin...

In this episode of Behind the Barricade, Jim Christian interviews Roy Barberry, a seasoned entrepreneur and market manager at 84 Lumber. Roy shares his journey from a young boy working in his family's lumber business to leading significant growth at 84 Lumber. He discusses the importance of communication systems in the construction industry, the lessons learned from failures, and the future t...

In this episode of Behind the Barricade, Jim Christian speaks with Pat Flood, founder and CEO of Quarter 20, about the intricacies of retail construction and design. They discuss Pat's journey into the industry, recent breakthroughs in retail execution, the importance of early involvement in projects, navigating challenges, the future of construction performance, and adapting to market change...

In this episode, host Jim welcomes Adam Hirsch, CEO of Hirsch Construction Corp, to discuss breakthroughs in the construction industry. Adam shares his journey into the family business, emphasizing the importance of urgency and communication in project management. He highlights a recent project where his team overcame logistical challenges to meet a tight deadline, showcasing their commitment to c...

In this episode of "Behind the Barricades," host Jim Christian sits down with Rachel Zsembery, President and CEO of Bergmeyer, to explore the evolving landscape of the construction industry. Rachel shares insights from her 23-year journey at Bergmeyer, discussing the importance of holistic design, strategic partnerships, and early collaboration with construction teams. The conversation d...

In the final episode of 2025, Jim Christian, founder and CEO, shares his insights on performance breakthroughs in the construction industry. He emphasizes the importance of controlling one's calendar, the power of deep work, and the necessity of having a clear vision for progress. Jim also discusses the impact of AI, the need for resilience in turbulent environments, and the irreplaceable val...

In this episode of "Behind the Barricade," host Jim Christian welcomes Tim Patrie, an expert in the construction industry, to discuss the nuances of value engineering. Tim shares his journey from working on construction sites as a kid to leading global store development for major brands. The conversation delves into the importance of relationships in construction, the impact of tariffs,...

In this episode of "Behind the Barricade," host Jim Christian sits down with Virginia Grant, Vice President of Store Development for Luxottica. Virginia shares her inspiring journey from a teaching background to leading major construction projects for iconic brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley. Discover how Virginia navigated challenges, embraced opportunities, and leveraged AI to enhance pro...

Construction looks clean on paper. In reality, it’s chaos. Delayed permits, blown budgets, and miscommunication that can make or break a project. In this short intro, host Jim Christian lays out why he’s pulling back the curtain on the industry. To expose the truth Behind the Barricade and start a new kind of conversation about how we build better.