Building Scale

Jenny Williams discusses her journey in the family construction business and the significance of assembling the right team. She explores the CMGC delivery method, emphasizing its benefits in balancing work-life and technology adoption in construction. Jenny shares strategies for attracting and training new employees, highlighting the role of community engagement through events like construction ro...

Darlene Cadman joins Justin Neagle to discuss Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) in the AEC industry. They explore IPD contracts, focusing on collaboration, risk, and reward sharing, and emphasize target value design and team selection in lean construction. Darlene shares insights on lean practices, including respect for people and understanding flow, as well as pull planning, visual planning, and...

JP Jaramillo discusses his extensive experience in talent acquisition and recruitment, beginning with an introduction to Building Scale and his role at Nox Group. The conversation covers leadership's influence on recruitment, evolving technology, and the sales aspect of recruiting. JP delves into compensation strategies, growth opportunities, and balancing internal equity. He highlights the costs...

Dr. Gretchen Gagel shares her journey in the construction industry, focusing on her role in industry committees and promoting diversity. She discusses technology's impact on scaling AEC businesses, overcoming gender biases, and the importance of diversity and organizational agility. Dr. Gagel reflects on leadership differences in various-sized companies and her chair role at Brinkman Construction....

Jennifer Bookspan joins the discussion to explore the candidate experience in corporate America, emphasizing hiring the right person and role alignment. The conversation delves into the book "Who Not How" and the challenges of rapid company growth, identifying candidate stages, and being honest about growth trajectories. Jennifer highlights the importance of core values and true company culture re...

Nicole Rodriguez shares her marketing journey, emphasizing understanding client needs and the evolution of content creation. She discusses advanced analytics, strategic thinking, and the importance of aligning sales with marketing. The episode covers building client relationships, identifying target markets, and crafting effective marketing plans. Nicole also explores SEO, PPC strategies, and the...

Otis Odell joins the conversation to discuss his career and transition to HED, highlighting the merging of roles in business and architecture. He emphasizes the importance of core values and team performance, strategic planning, and organizational restructuring in AEC businesses. Otis explores adapting to virtual work, fostering a remote work culture, and maintaining connectivity. He provides mark...

Zach Simmons from Stronghold Construction shares his journey from his origin story to founding the company. He emphasizes the importance of building trust and selecting the right partners in the construction industry. The discussion covers managing relationships with subcontractors, fostering leadership, and the role of data-driven decision-making. Zach reflects on legacy and work-life balance whi...

Jessie Terry shares insights on transitioning from employee to business owner and the challenges of post-holiday work. He discusses business planning, execution, and the impact of construction innovations and disruptions. Jessie provides an overview of Optimly and strategies for enhancing client experience. The episode delves into construction forecasting challenges, addressing labor shortages, an...

Jeff Meyers discusses the evolution of DS Architecture and its new partnerships, emphasizing the importance of embracing diverse ownership and transitioning business roles. He explores leadership dynamics and the firm's office culture, highlighting the evolution of decision-making processes. The conversation delves into embracing change for growth, teamwork, and navigating business cycles, along w...

Chris Hamer and Megan Walsh from Aria Group share their career origin stories and the team culture at Aria Group. They discuss the path to becoming a partner or shareholder and address common misconceptions about bringing in new shareholders. The episode delves into strategic planning, partner responsibilities, and the role of structure and consultants in business growth. Chris and Megan explore g...

Tyler Sease discusses his background in structural engineering and the niche of Southern Steel Engineers, exploring the impact of large corporations on its culture and operations. He shares insights on balancing roles in different business cultures, hiring practices, team building, and ensuring safety and accuracy in engineering amidst growth. The episode covers strategic hiring, process evaluatio...

Kendra Dinkins shares her journey and the history of Taylor Electric, highlighting the role of family and the challenges of market diversification. She discusses partnering with larger contractors and navigating MBE/WBE obstacles while emphasizing the importance of building trust in business partnerships. Kendra talks about proving worth as a minority-owned business, evaluating customer fit, and t...

Brian Lotz shares his journey from early life to founding Lotz Custom Carpentry and merging with AM Woodland. He discusses the current size and operations of his business, emphasizing leadership development and team dynamics. The conversation explores organizational structure, budgeting, and workforce management, highlighting the collaborative design process and technology's role in scalability. B...

Dena Prastos delves into her journey in waterfront architecture and her mission-driven entrepreneurship at Indigo River. She shares the challenges of becoming a certified woman-owned business and the impact of creating New York City's waterfront code. The discussion touches on specialization and on-the-job training in AEC, delegation, and the balance between quality control and task outsourcing. D...

Aaron Moore discusses his entrepreneurial journey, sharing insights from corporate America that shaped PPD Painting. He delves into scaling the business with a unique team and expanding into new markets, highlighting effective marketing strategies and the importance of employee accountability. Aaron addresses balancing emotions in business, managing opportunity costs, and making strategic decision...

Roger Krulak explores modular construction, comparing it to traditional methods. He discusses its efficiencies, challenges, and paradigm shifts in construction processes. The conversation covers planning, assembly, workforce considerations, quality assurance, and differences in construction drawings. Roger addresses organizational efficiency, risks, profitability, and technology's role in modular...

Rachelle Strole shares her approach to success, detailing her background and the origins of her company. She discusses overcoming challenges in commercial real estate and emphasizes the role of failure in fostering innovation and sustainable development. Rachelle redefines success by balancing business achievements with personal well-being. She highlights the importance of building a strong team a...

Sarah Card shares her journey from overcoming the 2008 financial crisis to founding GC Legacy Construction and successfully navigating the challenges posed by COVID-19. She discusses securing Starbucks as a client and scaling the business through core values and long-term thinking. Sarah emphasizes the importance of daily reinforcement of these values and the strategic decision to bring trades in-...

Jed Richard shares his journey from the military to founding Richard Group, discussing the early financial challenges faced in the construction industry. He emphasizes the importance of consistency and keeping promises in entrepreneurship. Jed explores the balance of factors in construction projects and the significant role technology plays, particularly AI advancements and their ethical implicati...

Sheley Brien joins the episode to discuss her journey into the construction industry, emphasizing the balance between work-life and working with a spouse. She shares insights from her corporate background, highlighting how these lessons apply to construction, particularly in team building versus revenue growth. The conversation delves into the importance of business development metrics and the cha...

Scott Franchini joins the episode to discuss his career journey and the growth of RedHammer from Hawaii to Arizona. He shares insights on managing outsourced teams and addressing client concerns about outsourcing. Scott highlights the use of Predictive Index in hiring and performance assessments, along with the importance of performance feedback and construction accounting processes. The conversat...

TJ O'Connor joins the conversation to share his career journey, detailing his pivot from a tile contractor to the trucking industry. He discusses his leadership philosophy and strategies for transforming a low morale team, highlighting a case study of employee behavior improvement through trust. The episode delves into servant leadership and the importance of including truck drivers in company dec...

Tyler Johnston of Berg Enterprises Inc. shares his journey and discusses how military leadership principles have influenced the AEC business. He details the growth and operational structure of Berg Enterprises. The conversation addresses hiring challenges in rural areas and strategies for leveraging local talent. Tyler emphasizes leadership development, technology in organizational change, and lea...

Jacqueline Loftis and Amanda Simon from Cresa share their career journeys. Amanda discusses her career shift and how Cresa works with the right clients, emphasizing the value of hiring their firm. They explore business development, team recruitment strategies, and the importance of building careers and refining processes. The conversation covers cost savings, value engineering, and bid selection,...