Construction Hot Takes

Jeff Robertson and Greg Gorman settle the long-standing feud between Operations and Finance. They explore the root causes of friction between the two departments and show how building trust and implementing the right processes can bring both sides together. There is a great deal of time, money, and workplace productivity to be gained when Operations and Finance see eye-to-eye. Check out our whole...

Jeff Robertson, Greg Gorman, and Adam Cooper discuss the selection process for a new ERP. It’s important to have a clear understanding of your business needs and what you expect from the new system. Implementing an ERP is a lengthy process, which makes choosing the right one the most critical step. You’ll also need to define the timeline and resources required to fully learn, implement, and go liv...

Adam Cooper and Jeff Robertson are two of the co-hosts of the Construction Hot Takes Podcast, but besides being prolific podcasters, they have a combined 6+ decades of experience in the construction industry. In this episode, they reminisce on some of the best and worst construction projects they've been on in hopes to share with listeners in pains or inspire them regarding the growth that can be...

The construction industry in 2025 finds itself at a juncture of culture clashing and generational divide. The old guard is the Gen X workforce who have come up through the ranks and are now in leadership positions, but navigate the world much differently than the Gen Z workforce entering and navigating the construction industry. These leads to big hairy questions and uncomfortable feelings from bo...

After working with construction firm after construction firm on marketing... we see the same marketing mistakes over and over again. So in this episode of the podcast, Katherine Cooper gets unfiltered on the big mistakes even large construction companies are making very frequently. Check out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/constructio...

The big promise of A.I. was automation, hyper-efficiency, and a solution to all of our problems. Especially in the construction industry, there were so many frontiers in which A.I. innovation was supposed to transform, automate, and improve the workflow. However many of us find ourselves in the predicament of spending seemingly more time managing the technology than reaping the benefits of the tec...

Electrical work is often the last thing noticed on a job site, but it is the first thing missed when it is not done right. Behind the wires, conduits, and deadlines is a story of resilience, faith, and a husband-and-wife team who built their company by refusing to settle. In this episode of Construction Hot Takes, we sit down with Chris and Lean Gaskin, the leaders of Gaskin Electric. Their journe...

What if you could guarantee quality across every layer of a home’s exterior — paint, siding, gutters, roofs, decks, porches — without the chaos of endless subs and callbacks? In this episode of Construction Hot Takes, we sit down with Charlie Dallavalle Jr., founder of Painting Plus, Siding Plus, and Gutters Plus. Charlie started as a college side hustle, painting homes in his neighborhood, and gr...

Budgets don’t just vanish — they’re lost step by step, phase by phase. And here’s the uncomfortable truth: most of the time, it’s not the client’s fault. In this episode of Construction Hot Takes, Adam and Jeff break down the real internal reasons projects spiral over budget — from business development overpromises to estimating misses, sloppy buyouts, and execution mistakes in the field. You’ll h...

Imagine standing outside your home just hours after a fire. The structure is damaged, smoke still lingers, and you don’t know what to do next. Who shows up to help you in that moment? That’s where 1-800-BOARDUP comes in. And Leading the charge is Beth Toenies, Chief Operating Officer of the company that’s turned chaos into clarity for homeowners across North America. With 134 franchise locations s...

Margins don’t just disappear — they get chipped away by bad estimates, buyout mistakes, schedule delays, and one of the biggest myths in construction: thinking “remaining budget” is the same as a forecast. In this episode of Construction Hot Takes, we dig into the real reasons general contractors go from a healthy profit to barely breaking even. You’ll hear straight talk on: Why good forecasting i...

Most construction companies talk a big game about safety. PPE, compliance forms, toolbox talks—but why do crews still cut corners? In this episode, Adam and Jeff tackle the uncomfortable truth: safety programs don’t create safety culture—leadership does . They share raw stories from the field, call out lazy thinking, and unpack why most “compliance-first” approaches are doomed to fail. If you’re a...

Do General Contractors still deserve their fee—or are they just expensive middlemen? In this provocative episode, Adam and Jeff tackle a controversial listener question: "Do we even need General Contractors anymore?" With the rise of tech-driven management and self-performing owners, the traditional role of GCs is under scrutiny. Join the debate as they explore: Why GCs transitioned from hands-on...

Managing your construction budget is tough—but who's got it tougher? Subs or GCs? Adam (former trade contractor) and Jeff (former GC) face off in this episode to settle a classic industry debate: whose project budget is actually harder to manage? You'll hear: Why subcontractor budgets might actually be more complex. Hidden pitfalls subs face daily that GCs rarely experience. Real-world stories of...

“That Could Never Happen Here…Right?” – A Cautionary Tale of Financial Fraud   What if one trusted employee could quietly put your entire company at risk?   This week on Construction Hot Takes , Adam Cooper and Jeff Robertson dig into a real-life story that could happen in any construction business.   With Greg out on the road, Adam shares a case of financial fraud at a billion-dollar firm, where...

Fresh from a business leaders conference in Las Vegas, Adam brings back eye-opening insights on how rapidly AI is advancing… and why every construction company, big or small, can’t afford to sit on the sidelines.   Jeff and Adam unpack real-world ways AI can make a difference for contractors. From predictive scheduling and automated delay claims to AI-powered contract reviews, smarter procurement,...

Episode Summary In this mini-episode of Construction Hot Takes, our experts tackle a common challenge in the construction industry: what to do after purchasing Procore construction management software. They share practical insights on implementation, training, and maximizing the value of your Procore investment. Key Points Discussed - Beyond the "Orange Easy Button"- Why Procore isn't a magic solu...

There’s a huge disconnect between construction operations and finance teams—and when it comes to construction risk management, that divide can cost projects big. Who should really be responsible for reducing risk on construction projects? Is it construction accounting and finance, or does project management and field operations need to step up? In this episode of Construction Hot Takes, Adam, Greg...

In this episode of Construction Hot Takes, Adam, Greg, and Jeff reveal the 5 simple mistakes that can completely ruin and de-rail a construction project by causing delays and budget overruns and tanking profitability. According to Ascent CEO Adam Cooper, one of the biggest mistakes too many construction companies are making today is simple not fully reading or understanding construction contracts....

You can’t afford to miss this episode. The team at Ascent Consulting tackles the threat of risks hanging over your construction project.  Adam warns that most contractors are not sufficiently risk averse. They don’t see risks coming until it is too late. Jeff advises using risk as a lens to plan a project – by identifying every possible problem.  With a wide range of examples, Adam, Jeff and Grego...

In this episode the team at Ascent Consulting digs deeper into private equity in the construction sector and how they help companies prepare for exit and growth.  CEO Adam Cooper breaks down the perspective of private equity firms pre acquisition and post acquisition. Senior Consultant Gregory Gorman unpacks for listeners how each private equity firm has its own mandate and strategy as they prepar...

In this episode Adam Cooper, CEO of Ascent Consulting, and senior consultants Gregory Gorman and Jeff Robertson, pull back the curtain on their construction background.  The hosts reveal the paths that led to their current roles at Ascent Consulting. When his stepdad encouraged him to pick up summer work on a construction site, Jeff fell in love with the industry as a teenager. Gregory’s story sta...

This is a can’t miss episode for listeners who want to understand the ins and outs of private equity in construction.  Gregory Gorman, senior consultant at Ascent Consulting, kicks off the discussion by breaking down the difference between private equity and direct investment. The team discusses the various considerations when a construction company is looking to be bought out by a private equity...

Gregory Gorman and Jeff Robertson, senior consultants at Ascent Consulting, unpack the pros and cons of integrating construction software into your business. Together Gregory and Jeff answer the question: Is construction software all it’s cracked up to be?   They caution that there is no easy button when it comes to construction software. It’s important to consider the return on investment when it...

Adam Cooper, CEO of Ascent Consulting, together with senior consultants Gregory Gorman and Jeff Robertson, dig into how to maximize your return on investment after purchasing Procore. All three hosts agree that the construction management software is a Swiss army knife. But Procore is not in the business of helping new users get up to speed on how best to use the system.  That’s where Ascent Consu...