People-First Builders Podcast

Tania Van Herle , Co-CEO of HED, shares how one of the nation's leading architecture and engineering firms has built a people-first culture that drives innovation, attracts exceptional talent, and retains employees through trust and flexibility. Drawing from her 30-year journey with HED, Tania discusses how integrating architecture and engineering creates stronger collaboration, why "kindness" has...

What does it take to successfully launch a construction management company and immediately take on a $53 million project? In this episode of People-First Builders , Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Melissa Drew, Founder & CEO of InSite Build, to discuss how strong relationships, trust, and people-first leadership can transform complex construction projects. Melissa shares her journey from spending...

What does it really take to build a high-performing roofing company in today's construction landscape? In this episode of the People-First Builders Podcast , Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Brad Strawbridge — Founder & CEO of Capital City Roofing, Chief Strategy Officer at Builderlync, and founder of Feeding the Future Project — to discuss how operational systems, leadership development, and peopl...

In this episode of the People-First Builders Podcast , Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Richard Douglass, President of TruMark Homes and Communities, to explore how decentralized leadership creates stronger teams, better projects, and thriving company cultures in the homebuilding industry. Richard shares lessons from decades of navigating California's complex building environment, why construction...

In this episode of People-First Builders , Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Carrie Stokes, CEO and President of Barge Design Solutions, to explore what it truly means to build a people-first engineering firm. Carrie's journey—from student intern to becoming the first woman to lead a 70-year-old, employee-owned company—is a powerful example of long-term growth, intentional leadership, and investing...

On this episode of the People-First Builders Podcast , host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Russ Seamon , President of Seamon Whiteside, a fast-growing civil engineering and landscape architecture firm in the Southeast. Russ shares how his firm transformed from a small, family-founded business into a 250-person, multi-office organization—without losing its culture. At the core of their growth? A d...

In this episode of People-First Builders , host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Uri Pearl, owner of Nealon Insulation, a fast-growing home services company in Connecticut built on a powerful people-first philosophy. Uri's journey into construction is anything but traditional. With a background in capital markets, startups, and even serving as a First Sergeant in the Israeli Defense Forces, Uri ent...

In this episode of the People-First Builders Podcast , host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Clark Lowe , President & CEO of O'Connor Company, to explore how leadership, culture, and innovation are reshaping the construction industry. Clark shares his journey from the United States Marine Corps to leading a national, fully remote construction firm—bringing with him a powerful philosophy rooted in d...

What happens when a construction company grows from a small operation to a national firm in just a few years? In this episode of the People-First Builders Podcast , host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Angelica Connor , CEO of Stansell  Construction , to discuss the leadership lessons behind scaling a people-focused company across more than 20 states. Angelica shares how Stansell Construction evol...

What does it really take to scale a franchise organization without losing your culture? In this episode of People-First Builders , Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Chris Bue to unpack the systems, leadership discipline, and people-first infrastructure required to drive high-performing franchise growth. Chris shares the behind-the-scenes framework that allows franchise organizations to expand strate...

In this episode of People-First Builders , host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Michael Feazel , Co-Founder and CEO of Roof Maxx , to explore how structured training, intentional leadership, and innovative business models are reshaping the roofing industry. With decades of experience as a roofing contractor and industry thought leader, Michael shares his journey from climbing roofs in the 1980s to...

In this episode of the People-First Builders Podcast , host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Chad Raymond , General Manager and Head of Sales at Henry Company , a subsidiary of Carlisle Weatherproofing Technologies . Chad brings a unique perspective from the supply-side of the construction industry, working daily with builders, contractors, architects, and developers across residential and light co...

In this episode of People-First Builders , host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Scott Menard , President & Chief Operating Officer of Homes Built For America , to discuss how strong leadership, accountability, and purpose-driven culture shape successful construction organizations. Scott shares his perspective on leading teams in the residential construction space, the importance of operational exc...

In this powerful episode of People-First Builders , host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Chad Abernethy , CEO of Abernethy Contracting, for one of the most honest conversations we've had about leadership, burnout, culture, and what it really takes to transform a construction company from the inside out. Chad opens up about: • Leaving his family's business after burnout and how it reshaped everythi...

What happens when a small crew of "hippie carpenters" grows into a nationally admired, employee-owned company that changes lives, families, and communities? In this inspiring episode, Fletcher sits down with John Abrams , founder of Abrams+Angell, formerly of South Mountain Company , who spent 50+ years proving that business can be both profitable and profoundly people-centered. John shares how he...

In this episode of People-First Builders , host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Jim Robinson , President & CEO of CGP Maintenance & Construction Services , leadership coach, and soon-to-be author of Lead With Empathy (co-written with Chris Voss). With 40 years in business, Jim has grown CGP into a people-first organization known for unmatched employee loyalty, multi-decade tenure, and an education...

In this inspiring episode of People-First Builders , host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Scott Walters , President of Walters Services, a family-run waste management company built on one simple belief: "We love people." From humble beginnings on a chicken farm to a thriving multi-location business, Scott shares how his parents' people-centered values shaped a 50-year legacy that continues to grow...

In this episode of People-First Builders , host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Scott Harvey-Lewis , founder of Billing Mavens and a seasoned engineering leader who left corporate consulting to build something of his own — a firm grounded in integrity, intentional hiring, and creative leadership. Scott shares how his background leading large engineering teams inspired his approach to people-first...

What happens when the discipline of the court meets the chaos of business? In this People-First Builders episode, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Uros Vasiljevic  to unpack how athletic rigor and coaching fundamentals translate into predictable, scalable operations . From daily cadence and clear roles to simple "scoreboards" that make performance visible, Uroš shares the systems leaders can u...

What if a construction company were known first for who its people become, not only for what it builds? In this People-First Builders episode, Fletcher Wimbush talks with Chad and Cory Kundert of Kundert Construction in Monroe, Wisconsin, about turning a job site into a launchpad for growth. They share how school partnerships and hands-on "Trades Day" experiences spark curiosity in students, how p...

What keeps great people from leaving? For Roggen Frick, it's all about replacing chaos with predictability. In this episode of People-First Builders , host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Roggen to explore how structure, consistency, and clear systems create trust, reduce turnover, and build loyalty in the construction industry. Roggen shares practical strategies leaders can use to strengthen rete...

In this People First Builders episode, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Matt Aston, founder and CEO of GPRS, a national leader in private utility locating, concrete scanning, and subsurface mapping. Matt shares how a single magazine ad in 2001 sparked an idea that grew from a one person startup into a coast to coast company with more than 900 team members and a reputation for accuracy, safety,...

In this episode of People-First Builders , host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Bo Jones, President of True Built Construction and CEO of CareerPathway.com, to explore a groundbreaking approach to workforce development in the skilled trades. With over 25 years of experience, Bo shares how his deep frustration with traditional hiring methods—and the dwindling talent pipeline in Nebraska—led him to...

In this insightful episode of the  People-First Builders Podcast , host Fletcher Wimbush speaks with Ryan Schmidt , CEO and Visionary at Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Contractors, Inc . His 300-person firm is redefining success in heavy civil construction by building a culture centered on growth, ownership, and values-driven leadership. Ryan shares the full story of how his firm nearly failed after a se...

In this episode of People-First Builders , host Fletcher Wimbush welcomes Brian Keller, CEO of Quest Building Corporation, a Wisconsin-based commercial contracting firm that's redefining what it means to grow a people-first construction business. Starting with four partners framing homes in 1998, Brian has spent the past 25 years scaling Quest into a 300-plus-person company that provides labor and...