Soft As Steel

Dennis welcomes Deb Coviello this week. They discuss the construction industry and the importance of soft skills in the workplace. Deborah shares her insights and experiences from her involvement in the industry through her husband and daughter's boyfriend. They emphasize the need for compassionate leadership, effective communication, and understanding in the construction field. The conversati...

In this podcast episode, the host, Dennis Duran, introduces his guest, Roberta Ndlela, and they discuss the importance of soft skills and effective communication in the workplace. Roberta shares her career journey and emphasizes the need for engineers to develop their soft skills, as they are often promoted based on technical abilities but struggle with communication and management skills. They al...

In this episode of the Soft as Steel podcast, host Dennis Doran welcomes Maurice Thibodeau as his guest. They discuss the importance of soft skills, such as love, social justice, inclusion, and compassionate leadership, in both personal and professional lives. Maurice, with a background in the construction industry, explains that these topics transcend industry boundaries and are crucial for the i...

This week, host Dennis Doran interviews Chris Bagatelos, the founder and CEO of Bagatelos Architectural Glass Systems. They discuss the importance of people in business and creating a culture of respect and character. Chris emphasizes the value of treating people with respect and making each other better. They also talk about the challenges and opportunities in the glazing trade, leadership within...

Dennis Doran has as his guest Jeff Perry, the host of the Engineering Career Coach podcast. They discuss the importance of employee connection in the workplace and its impact on individual well-being and organizational success. They highlight the health risks and economic costs associated with loneliness and lack of connection. Leadership is emphasized as crucial in fostering a culture of connecti...

In this podcast episode, host Dennis Doran interviews Wayne Crew, a veteran in the engineering and construction industry. They discuss the qualities that make leaders in the industry stand out, such as integrity, ethics, and commitment to excellence. Wayne also addresses the challenges facing the construction industry, including the shortage of skilled workers and the need for mental wellness init...

Dennis Doran welcomes guest Bruce Orr, founder and chief data scientist at Pronovos Construction Analytics. Despite Bruce's expertise in construction analytics, Dennis explains that his work is crucial in the industry and aligns with the podcast's focus on love, inclusion, social justice, and compassionate leadership. They discuss Bruce's perspective on these topics, emphasizing the im...

Dennis Doran interviews Nitin Govila, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Search Ferrari Group. They discuss the importance of soft skills in leadership and how they impact the construction industry. They emphasize the need for compassion, empathy, and mindfulness in leadership to create nurturing environments that foster innovation. They also explore the role of culture, diversity, and inclusio...

In this episode, host Dennis Doran introduces his guest Pierre Quinn, a renowned leader and speaker. They discuss the importance of relationships in happiness and success, highlighting the impact of strong connections on overall well-being. They also emphasize the power of love and positive energy in serving others and building long-term relationships. The conversation touches on the complexities...

Do you work in the construction industry? Do you feel like you're just a number, a commodity to be used up and replaced? In this episode of the Soft as Steel podcast, host Dennis Duran and guest Teresa Magnus discuss the importance of valuing individuals in the construction industry and attracting and retaining talent. Magnus, an accountant and lawyer with over 23 years of experience in the in...

What is the role of love in leadership? In this episode of the Soft as Steel podcast, host Dennis Doran interviews Deb Martinez, CEO of the Mission of Love Charities, about her experiences in nonprofit organizations and her current work serving homeless and low-income families and individuals in the community. Martinez emphasizes the importance of providing hope to those in need and shares her tho...

Dennis' guest this week, Pat Skodje, is known for his leadership built on soft skills in the construction industry. Skodje emphasizes the importance of empathy, peaceful problem-solving, and partnership in the engineering and design industry. He also shares his experience of starting a new operation for Coatings Unlimited, highlighting the importance of recruiting and training younger workers....

This episode features host Dennis Doran and guest Vicki O'Leary, a union leader and chair of North America's Building Trade Unions Trade Women's Committee. They discuss the challenges of diversity, inclusion, and social justice in the construction industry, particularly for women and people of color. They emphasize the importance of early education and mentoring programs, as well as th...

This episode features a conversation between host Dennis Doran and guest Christine Merden, a leader in the construction industry with over 30 years of experience. They discuss the importance of soft skills in the construction industry, as well as issues related to women's participation and mental health. Christine shares her experience working on the successful restoration of the Capitol Dome...

This episode features an interview with Stephen Philipp, the President of Coatings Unlimited, a family-owned company that provides coating and lining systems for various markets. The conversation focuses on the importance of soft skills in business and the value of building relationships with people. Stephen emphasizes the need to prioritize soft skills over hard skills, the importance of communic...

In this episode of the Soft as Steel podcast, host Dennis Duran interviews John Posilicco, a senior lecturer at Birmingham City University School of Engineering and the Built Environment in England, who shares his thoughts on soft skills in the workplace. Posilicco emphasizes the importance of human interaction and communication in the workplace and how technology can both help and hinder this. Th...

The Soft as Steel podcast discusses suicide prevention in the construction industry with Cal Byer, Vice President of Workforce Risk and Worker Wellbeing at Holmes Murphy and Associates. Byer highlights the importance of mental health and suicide prevention as a source of sustainable competitive advantage in the industry. He notes that the industry has a multi-generational workforce, and that it ha...

Jeff Granberg, CEO and co-owner of the PD Group of Companies, recently shared valuable insights and experiences in this episode that emphasized the importance of soft skills in leadership. Jeff's journey in the construction industry, including his experience working with street kids, taught him the significance of recognizing one's weaknesses and hiring people with different skillsets. He...

Sean Strickland is executive director of Canada's Building Trades Union (CBTU) and association of 14 construction trade unions representing 600,000 unionized skilled trades men and women across Canada. He shares his expertise on improving soft skills and creating a positive work environment. He specifically focuses on the importance of diversity, inclusion, and respect in the workplace. Strick...

Nick is corporate director of Project Delivery Services at the Boldt Company. With over 25 years of experience in the construction industry, Nick is very unusual in the fact that his entire progressive and successful career has been built with Boldy. That says something very positive about Nick, and also about Boldt.

I've been looking forward to this conversation for a while. I've got a really interesting, humorous, practical, down to earth, authentic guest today. His name is Dominic Rubino.

Helice ‘Grandma Sparky’ Bridges. She's the founder of Blue Ribbons Worldwide. The ‘Who I Am Makes a Difference’ Blue Ribbon ceremony was born out of her desire to create a world where all people would be connected, valued, and loved. In 1979, she was a 37-year-old wife, mother and successful businesswoman going through a divorce, feeling lost alone and desperate for love. She began to teach ki...

Gretchen Gagel has done so many things. And so many experiences change so many lives with her wide ranging endeavors. Among her many accomplishments is a book that she wrote, entitled 'Eight Steps to Being a Great Working Mom'. That tells you something very important about this globetrotting thought leader, educator, consultant, podcast hosts, and motivator. In a word or words, she's a...

Wally Adamchik is a widely recognized and sought after speaker, coach, and consultant, with over 23 years experience in the construction industry. He says with genuine values-based humility, that he transforms construction leaders to increase production, improve retention, and deliver a bigger bottom line for their businesses.

A practical, beneficial and interesting conversation concludes in this third segment.