See Our Collection of Industry Insights

The Well Built Series is a special podcast designed for decision-makers in the construction industry, as well as those aspiring to be leaders. Hosted by Chad Prinkey and Matt Verderamo, this series delves into the best practices perfected by successful contractors. Join us as we explore the “Do’s” and “Don’ts” that transform good companies into truly “Well Built” organizations. Whether you’re an industry veteran or just starting out, this podcast offers valuable insights to enhance your construction journey.

AI and automation are reshaping the construction landscape. Technology enhances efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness by optimizing equipment usage, predicting maintenance needs, and streamlining processes. Companies that stay at the forefront of technological advancements position themselves strategically, ensuring they are well-prepared to address the evolving needs of future owners. Tune in to this engaging conversation with Adam Stark, CEO of Jet.Build, where we discuss how a top-down approach driven by construction owners, combined with contractor readiness, can shape the future of sustainable construction.

In this episode, we delve into the private side of the public-private discussion. We're joined by Neal Rackleff, Attorney at Law at Rackleff LLP, to uncover the challenges faced by professionals dealing with government entities. We’ll explore process-oriented reasons behind the distinct behaviors of government employees versus their private sector counterparts. Neal dispels common notions about the public and private sectors, sharing his unique experiences. Tune in to understand Neal’s impactful journey—from private roles to federal government positions and back again.

Join us on The Morning Huddle as Jeremie Harrison, Senior Project Manager at Leebcor Services, LLC, and guest host Tom Hughes, Vice President of Genesis AEC, delve into the pressing need for proficient Project Managers (PMs) in construction. Discover how the Project Management Professional (PMP) program provides a transformative solution, equipping PMs with vital expertise in contract language, project scheduling, and construction sequencing. Tune in to explore the impact of skilled PMs on project completion, efficiency, and innovation in the industry.

Join The Morning Huddle for an insightful conversation with Jennifer Todd, President of LMS General Contractors, as she explores the nuances of unconscious bias and its impact on the construction industry. Drawing from her experiences, Jennifer reveals how these underlying attitudes shape the industry, potentially impeding efforts toward inclusivity and diversity. Discover strategies for cultivating a more equitable future in construction as Jennifer uncovers the effects of unconscious bias and shares her insights.

In this episode, Pat McGettigan, Vice President of Excellerate Manufacturing, joins us to share his unique insights into modular construction. From UPS data centers to driving innovation in off-site manufacturing, Pat's expertise sheds light on the pivotal role of modular solutions amid labor shortages. Throughout the discussion our guest host, Tom Hughes, Vice President of Genesis AEC, also shares his valuable knowledge, enriching the conversation on the convergence of manufacturing and construction.

In this episode, join Chuck Rakich, Superintendent Safety Manager at Henley Construction Co., Inc., as he reveals the keys to running projects that meet OSHA standards and cultivate a culture of safety excellence. Chuck passionately emphasizes the transformative power of viewing OSHA inspections as collaborative partnerships rather than dreaded encounters. Tune in as Chuck shares invaluable strategies for establishing a robust safety culture from the highest echelons of management down to the frontline workers, setting your job sites up for unparalleled success. Don't miss out on this episode packed with essential insights that will empower you to navigate OSHA inspections seamlessly and turn them into catalysts for improvement and collaboration.

Mike Henderson has served the construction industry as a part of the Associated Builders and Contractors for over 30 years. In his role as the President of ABC Baltimore, his sights have turned to positively impacting the minority contracting community as well. Chad and Mike will discuss an innovative approach they're both working on in the city of Baltimore to create profitable growth for the minority contracting community and the good of the overall construction industry.

In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of social media strategies and transformative tactics in the commercial contracting sector. We'll examine the strategic collaboration where marketing, sales, and business development should converge, making "collaboration" a vital force in content creation. Our guests, Matt Graves, founder of Construction Yeti, and Jonathan Cor, founder of Customer Growth, share unique insights and uncover out-of-the-box approaches for securing optimal coverage and selecting the most impactful social channels. Join the conversation as we dive into innovative strategies to up your game in the competitive commercial contracting world.

In this episode of The Morning Huddle, explore the role of schedulers, debunk misconceptions, and delve into the necessity of schedules for all projects. Gain insights into software preferences, critical paths, and the complexities of delayed claims. Discover the evolving trend of a proactive scheduling model focused on efficiency, execution, and the challenges subcontractors face with CPM schedules. Uncover the value of a two-week look ahead and pull planning in this concise discussion on construction scheduling intricacies.

In this episode, we dive into the captivating world of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) with our guest, Ben Nichols, President of Harkins Builders, Inc. With over two decades of experience, Ben sheds light on the inner workings of Harkins' ESOP, dispelling myths and highlighting its role as a robust accountability and culture-shaping tool in the construction industry. We explore the tax benefits, recruitment strategies, and value-maximization tactics employed by Harkins, showcasing how being an ESOP isn't just a retirement plan but a key to empowering employees and building lasting wealth. Tune in for an engaging conversation as Ben passionately advocates for broader adoption of the ESOP model and shares Harkins Builders' success story beyond traditional retirement planning.

As governments and school districts recognize the massive need for employees in the construction industry and the phenomenal opportunity that need presents to their students and constituents, many are finally investing time, money, and energy in developing successful CTE programs. Our guest, Catherine Schoenenberger, joins us to share a time-tested and proven methodology she has been overseeing for years.

Sadly, too many construction projects fail to meet schedule and budget expectations and more than a few come completely off the rails in every mark in every year. Owners, architects, general contractors, and subcontractors alike retreat to their corners and focus only on protecting their selfish interests. In this episode, construction attorney Michael Wagner joins us to explore what happens to cause a project to become derailed, what behaviors worsen the situation, and what to do if it happens to you.

A significant number of our field employees do not speak English as their first language. This language barrier has contributed to thousands of injuries and even deaths each year. In this episode, two-time Morning Huddle guest, Oscar Garcia, joins us to discuss how he is using artificial intelligence to breakdown language barriers and create safer job sites for Hispanic workers.

While Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a part of our lives and work for many years now, the release of ChatGPT in 2022 has brought the possibilities of this advancing field to the forefront. People like Morning Huddle guest, Stjepan Mikulić dedicate themselves to researching the latest advancements and exploring the most viable technologies AEC firms can implement in the near term. He joins us to simplify the topic and help our audience understand how they might apply AI in their construction businesses.

Most construction companies recognize opportunities to improve their business. Few have a track record of capitalizing on those opportunities and driving positive change. In the fast-paced environment of designing and building, companies become accustomed to their problems and focus on getting their work done instead.

In a first for The Morning Huddle, host Chad Prinkey will become a guest and share his experience driving organizational change as a consultant for the construction industry over the past 15 years. We’ll discuss why companies get stuck and what employees and executives can do to get better today.

The spaces we occupy for our work can make a world of difference in profitability. Our guest, Nitin Govila, is the head of Sales and Marketing for global textile manufacturer Serge Ferrari. Their materials are integral to a wide array of construction products, ranging from acoustical panels to PT concrete. He’ll share insights on constructing workplaces with sustainability and profitability in mind from the start.

Virtual design and construction (VDC) as a tool for building better spaces is quickly becoming the norm, but our guest for The Morning Huddle's 47th episode, Darren Young, believes in taking things a step further.

What if your VDC efforts were aimed at reducing waste, creating scalable and resilient technical frameworks, increasing data quality, and leveraging opportunities to generate new revenue?

Join us as we discuss aligning proven VDC technology with compelling business goals to build a better future!

Ryan Lanser, the Dirt Jedi, joins our podcast to talk about how his company has applied GPS and Drone technology to revolutionize how site work contractors estimate and plan their projects. We'll talk about how it works, what value it adds, and the future of this exciting tech.

Advances in construction materials and methods are allowing us to achieve amazing levels of sustainable building. Passive house design is one of the latest advances toward net zero and net positive buildings. In this episode, we’ll speak with Trey Farmer, architect and owner of a passive house himself! He’ll walk us through the passive house design approach and demonstrate how it is more attainable than we may realize for residential and commercial applications.

Lean stands for reducing inefficiencies and removing waste wherever Lean principles are applied. Lean has been a buzzword around the construction industry for decades, and while some segments of the industry have fully embraced it, others have only a vague sense of what Lean is all about. Regardless of where you fall on that spectrum, this episode will invite you into the discussion in an approachable way.

Tom Hughes is a Lean practitioner who came up as a mechanical contractor, and his experience with Lean practices has led to outstanding results. He'll share stories to help us see how and why we can use Lean principles in practical ways to create better project outcomes.

We've had on a few guests with leading views about integrating more manufacturing practices with construction. It seems like a relatively new trend to most, but to people like our guest Gerry McCaughey, offsite construction is how things have been for a long time.

Gerry has been building offsite for over 30 years between Europe and the US, and he joins the show to tell us why any other method is a mistake. Join us to hear from a true veteran in a construction space that is gaining traction.

For companies and project teams that have embraced prefabrication and other concepts from manufacturing, the results are undeniable. To bring these ideas home to more contractors, we at the Huddle want to showcase more stories!

The Queen of Prefab, Amy Marks joins The Morning Huddle to continue her mission of advancing industrialized construction. Her role at Autodesk puts her in a position to meet and interview some of the industry's most successful leaders in Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA).

We get to hear her real-world stories of Prefab in action and hold a Q&A for practical tips for our audience.

Many construction companies develop meaningful innovations that create strategic advantages in their market in a crowded field of competitors. Perhaps they develop a tool, a fabrication method, or an operational process that gives them the upper hand only to have an employee leave and bring that information to the competition, diminishing a hard-won advantage.

When you think of Intellectual Property (IP), the industries that come to mind immediately are manufacturing and software, not construction! Greg Stone, IP Attorney with Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, joins us to see how construction companies can protect and monetize their IP.

For most Americans, shopping online has become the norm for so many items in their lives. I mean, can you even remember what shopping was like before Amazon? As consumers, we have the ability to check pricing across platforms, read reviews, and buy the best available options with a click. Could we be seeing the same consumer experience developing in the construction industry?

Michael Wisnefski is working to foster the evolution of commerce in commodity raw materials. His company, MaterialsXchange is a digital marketplace for lumber.

During this show, we discuss the impacts of this kind of shopping experience on the construction industry. Who is for it, who is against it, and why? Join us as we reimagine the future marketplace for raw materials and beyond.

What is the difference between BD and Marketing, and how should they complement one another? Many construction companies get it wrong, and some don't even incorporate these efforts into their business.

Ronnie Brouillard and Taylor Tobin might have it figured out better than any tandem in the construction industry. These two have been a tandem with the general contractor, Chesapeake Contracting Group for five years, setting a high standard for professionalism in their crafts. Ronnie (BD) and Taylor (Marketing) are in lock-step with their efforts and will show us how to learn from their model.

We welcome them to The Morning Huddle to share their strategies with our audience in a fun and educational discussion.

Improving contractor procurement must remain close to the top of the list in our search for positive change. George Nash joins us to share his personal experience in 35+ years with traditional versus alternative procurement methods. We'll talk about what has worked and what hasn't, and we hope to inspire you to lead positive change in contractor procurement wherever you are in the construction industry!

In what has always been a high-pressure industry, now more than ever, teams in the building industry are facing breaking points and burnout. Everyone seems to be too busy, feeling overwhelmed, and can barely keep up with the fires from day to day. It's not sustainable and an industry with a poor quality of life won't attract the bright young people we need for the next generation.

Rex Miller joins the huddle to talk about creating and maintaining healthy construction teams that place an emphasis on mental health and wellness. Rex is passionate about helping leaders transform "the grind" into an inspired performance that leads to more energy rather than burnout. His experience with construction professionals in particular makes him a perfect fit for this discussion.

Since most office-based workforce was forced into working from home over two years ago, many theories have been swirling around about "the future of the office". While the debate isn't entirely settled, today it at least seems clear that offices will indeed continue to exist and play an essential role for most companies.

Kelly Ennis is a workplace strategist and the Founding Principal of The Verve Partnership, an interior architecture/design firm. Kelly joins the huddle to share her expert views on the future of the office and what that could mean for the construction industry in terms of trends in the types of construction projects we'll see in the office market sector and other related topics.

Of all the ways the building industry is innovating and evolving, the use of modular construction methods is perhaps the most practical and promising way to increase efficiency in the field.

Nancy Novak joins The Morning Huddle to talk about her experience with Modular Construction in her role as the Chief Innovation Officer at Compass Datacenters where she brings immense experience as a General Contractor to perhaps the most forward-thinking sector in the construction industry.

Nancy's passion for creating positive change in the industry will inspire you to start thinking differently about what is possible no matter what market sectors you build in.