BUILD America

Join us and learn how an increasing number of general contractors are adding in-house development services and expertise. City of O'Fallon, Missouri Director of Economic Development Patrick McKeehan walks us through this intriguing industry trend.

Welcome to this episode of the BUILD America Podcast, owned and produced by Construction News and Review Magazine.

Join us as we learn from Patrick McKeehan, economic development director for the City of O'Fallon, Missouri. Patrick walks us through the fascinating trend of commercial construction companies that are successfully taking on the added role of developer.

In this episode, host Kerry Smith Buck talks with Josh Rizzo, a Bronze Star–decorated veteran and former construction leader, about mental health in high-pressure industries. Josh shares his personal journey from military service and construction leadership to seeking help, and explains why real resilience comes from connection, self-awareness, and intentional leadership - not silence or toughness.

In this episode, Kerry Smith welcomes Dr. Vince Hafeli, DBA, president of Ajax Paving Industries and a nationally recognized leader in construction mental health advocacy. Dr. Hafeli shares his deeply personal journey into mental health leadership, shaped by lived experience, industry loss, and decades in construction, and explains why meaningful mental health initiatives must begin in the C-suite to truly change culture. Drawing from his doctoral research and real-world implementation, he discusses leadership responsibility, vulnerability, suicide prevention, and how programs like peer “warrior” teams and construction-specific training can save lives. This conversation challenges outdated ideas of toughness in construction and reframes mental health as a core leadership and safety issue that directly impacts people, performance, and long-term industry sustainability.

In this episode, Kerry Smith Buck welcomes Cal Beyer, Senior Director of Safe Workplaces at the SAFE Project, as part of the show’s mental health, wellbeing, and construction series. Cal unpacks the critical intersection of substance use, mental health, suicide, and overdose in the construction industry, explaining why these issues must be addressed together rather than in isolation. Drawing from decades of experience, he emphasizes recovery-focused workplace strategies, peer support, psychological safety, and a shift from “mental illness” to “mental fitness,” offering a hopeful, practical roadmap for how construction leaders and crews can better support one another and reduce risk across job sites.

In this episode, Kerry Smith Buck speaks with Mike Cox, CEO of Crete United, about why safety is not a stand-alone program but a direct reflection of company culture. Mike shares how Crete United built an industry-leading safety record by focusing on non-punitive learning, near-miss reporting, field-first decision making and mental health awareness, while investing in dedicated safety leadership as the company scaled to over $1B in revenue. The conversation highlights how strong safety culture improves retention, reduces costs, strengthens acquisitions, and ultimately proves that when companies genuinely care for their people, safety performance and business results follow.

In this episode of BUILD America, host Kerry Smith Buck sits down with AJ Waters, Chief Evangelist at Kahua and the self-proclaimed “Chief EngiNerd” behind TheEngiNerdLife blog. Together, they explore the power of process, discipline, and authenticity in an industry that’s constantly racing to meet deadlines.

Borrowing a phrase from the U.S. Marines - “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast” - AJ unpacks how thoughtful, consistent processes can make projects more efficient, safer, and ultimately more successful.

In this episode of BUILD America, host Kerry Smith Buck talks with Tyler Myers, Assistant Vice President at Emery Sapp & Sons (ESS), a 100% employee-owned heavy civil contractor based in Missouri. Tyler shares how ESS attracts and retains top talent through employee ownership, hands-on training, and early engagement with students through trade schools and the ESS Foundation. He also discusses how culture, leadership, and clear career paths keep their teams strong across hundreds of infrastructure projects each year.

In this episode of BUILD AMERICA, host Kerry Smith Buck interviews Michael E. Cox, president of Horizontal Base Studs and inventor of StepStuds. Michael, a journeyman carpenter, developed StepStuds in 2018 after witnessing extensive flood damage in healthcare settings, seeking a "better way" to perform repairs.

StepStuds are the world's first patented horizontal base stud, designed to lift drywall off the floor, hidden behind cove base, to prevent water damage. This innovation dramatically cuts repair costs by 75% and reduces room downtime by half after water intrusion. While initially focused on healthcare, StepStuds have also been successfully used in schools.

In this episode of BUILD America, Kerry Smith Buck talks with Brian Conway, Principal Recruitment Consultant at LVI Associates, about the future of construction hiring. Brian shares how AI and data are streamlining recruitment—from sourcing candidates to speeding up placement timelines. They discuss the rise of hybrid roles, shifting Gen Z expectations, and why passive candidates are often the best hires. Whether you’re hiring or job hunting in construction, this episode offers real insight into where recruitment is headed.