Build America Podcast

In this episode of the Build America podcast, I sit down with Clem Kansisau, a veteran crane operator with over 37 years in the union. We are recording on location in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Clem and I have reunited on a project 20 years after we first worked together. Clem shares his deep history in the trades, stemming from a family legacy of crane operators, and offers a candid look at how the industry has evolved from the "muscle" of friction cranes to today’s high tech hydraulic machines.

We dive into the critical importance of safety, the reality of working within load charts, and the "feel" required to be one with a machine that holds lives in its hands. Clem also provides invaluable advice for young engineers and tradespeople on staying alert, avoiding the distractions of technology on site, and the value of learning through hands on experience rather than just a search engine.

Key Takeaways

• Family Legacy: Clem discusses growing up in a family of operators and how his father made a living running tower cranes in Waikiki.

  
  

• The Evolution of Cranes: A comparison between the "friction cranes" of the past that required immense physical energy and the computer assisted hydraulic cranes of today.

  
  

• Safety First: Why staying within the load chart is the only way to operate and the importance of never walking under a live load.

  
  

• Advice for the Next Generation: Clem explains why young professionals need to "keep their head on a swivel" and move away from their iPads to truly understand the job site cycle.

  
  

• The Trades as a Career: A look at the financial stability and quality of life offered by union trades in Hawaii.

  
  

• The Build America Book Series: Available on Amazon.

  
  

• Ted the Termite Children’s Books: A fun way to introduce kids to the world of construction, available on Amazon.

  
  

Resources MentionedThe Build America Book Series: Available on Amazon.

Ted the Termite Children’s Books: A fun way to introduce kids to the world of construction, available on Amazon.

Work safe.

#ConstructionLife #CraneOperator #BuildAmerica #SkilledTrades #HeavyEquipment #JobSiteSafety #ConstructionPodcast #BlueCollarLife #Engineering #WorkSafe

In this episode of the Build America Podcast , host Scott Jennings provides an unfiltered look at Smartsheet. Describing it as "Excel, but not Excel" , Scott explains why this cloud based platform is a "Contractor’s Dream" for managing critical project data like submittals, RFIs, and change orders.

Drawing from his experience as a heavy civil construction company owner , Scott explores how Smartsheet turns raw data into live dashboards and offers a level of customization that industry specific software often lacks. Whether you are in the office or the field, this episode highlights how to move away from reactive "firefighting" and maintain a professional overview of your project's health.

• Beyond the Spreadsheet: Learn about versatile data visualizations including Gantt charts, calendars, and Kanban style Card views.

• Extreme Customization: How the platform stays flexible enough to fit specific internal processes in construction, manufacturing, or even pharmaceuticals.

• Live Dashboarding: How sheets feed directly into visual dashboards to provide managers with immediate project metrics.

• Mobile Functionality: Using phone based "Forms" to log site deficiencies and photos that instantly populate the main grid.

• Cost and Licensing: Scott shares his experience with the price point, reporting a cost of approximately $450 per license per year.

• Submittal and RFI Logs: Track every stage of a request and identify exactly whose "ball" is in which court.

• Deficiency Tracking: Log issues line by line, attach photos directly to the row, and set automated alerts for subcontractors.

• Document Management: Keep project letters, pictures, and change orders organized and easy to find by attaching them to specific data rows.

• Team Coordination: Use collaborative calendars to manage office vacations and project milestones in real time.

• Website: https://sjcivil.com/

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/scott-jennings-p-e-1435103

• Email: [email protected]

• Blog: https://sjcivil.com/blog/

• Ted Determite Children’s Book Series: Available on Amazon.

  
  

If you found this episode informative, please rate and review the show to help more construction and engineering professionals discover these insights. Subscribe to the Build America Podcast on your favorite platform to stay connected.

#Smartsheet #ConstructionManagement #ProjectTracking #WorkflowAutomation #CloudCollaboration #SaaS #BusinessEfficiency #Dashboarding #ConstructionTech #BuildAmerica

Thinking about starting your own construction company? In this episode of the Build America Podcast, Scott Jennings breaks down exactly what it takes to build a professional, sustainable construction business—from the ground up.

Drawing on real-world experience, Scott walks through the critical first steps: choosing the right niche, securing paying clients, setting up your legal and financial structure, and building the credibility needed to win work. He also dives into the realities of entrepreneurship in construction—cash flow, risk, competition, and the mindset required to succeed.

Whether you're transitioning from employee to owner or looking to grow your existing operation, this episode delivers practical, no-BS insights you can apply immediately.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to choose the right construction niche

• Why securing clients is more important than anything else

• The role of attorneys, CPAs, and proper business setup

• How to manage cash flow, insurance, and bonding

• What it really takes to operate and grow a construction company

Starting a construction business isn’t easy—but with the right foundation, strategy, and persistence, it’s absolutely achievable.

🎧 Tune in and start building your path to ownership.

Follow & Connect:
Website: https://sjcivil.com/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/scott-jennings-p-e-1435103
Email: [email protected]

⭐ Don’t forget to rate & review the show—it helps more professionals discover these insights!

#ConstructionBusiness #Entrepreneurship #StartYourBusiness #ContractorLife #SmallBusinessGrowth #ConstructionIndustry #BusinessStartup #Leadership #BuildAmerica #BusinessTips

In this episode, Scott Jennings, PE, reviews Excavation Systems Planning, Design, and Safety—often called the Excavation Systems Bible—by Joe M. Turner, PE. This contractor-focused resource takes a practical, OSHA-driven approach to excavation and trench shoring, prioritizing worker safety over theory-heavy design.

Listeners will learn why this book is a must-have for contractors, estimators, superintendents, and engineers working in excavation and temporary works. The discussion breaks down how Joe Turner simplifies complex engineering concepts using real-world examples, simple math, and field-tested logic, making shoring design accessible without an advanced engineering background.

The episode also explores key topics such as reading geotechnical reports and boring logs, understanding soil behavior, using tabulated data for shoring systems, and addressing real jobsite challenges like road plates, equipment loads, and utility support. Whether you’re new to excavation safety or a seasoned professional, this episode offers practical insight you can use immediately in the field.

Work safe.

#ExcavationSystems #TrenchSafety #ConstructionEngineering #OSHACompliance #ShoringDesign #ExcavationSafety #CivilEngineering #ContractorLife #ConstructionManagement #TemporaryWorks #GeotechnicalEngineering #TrenchShoring #WorkSafe

In this episode of the Build America Podcast, Scott Jennings takes a practical, no-nonsense look at how artificial intelligence is already changing the way construction professionals work. From summarizing complex legal cases and analyzing hundreds of geotechnical boring logs to checking advanced engineering math and supporting doctoral-level research, Scott shares real-world examples of how tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude are being used today. He explains what AI really is in plain language, where it adds value, where it can fall short, and why verifying results is critical. Whether you’re an engineer, contractor, estimator, educator, or simply curious about technology’s role in construction, this episode breaks down why AI is less about hype and more about staying relevant in a changing industry.

#ArtificialIntelligence #AIinConstruction #ConstructionTechnology #EngineeringPodcast #BuildAmericaPodcast #ConstructionInnovation #AIforEngineers #DigitalConstruction #FutureOfConstruction #ConstructionLeadership #TechInEngineering #PodcastEpisode

In this episode, we dive into one of the most misunderstood—but most powerful—tools in construction: the project schedule. Often treated as paperwork or a box to check, scheduling quietly drives daily decisions, risk allocation, and even multi-million-dollar delay claims.

We break down what construction scheduling really is, why it goes far beyond a simple timeline, and how it becomes the shared language between owners, contractors, and project teams. From baseline schedules to monthly updates, we explore how schedules evolve over the life of a project—and why those updates tell the real story of what’s happening in the field.

The conversation also demystifies industry terms like critical path, float, and time impact analysis, explaining how they affect responsibility, risk, and outcomes when delays occur. Whether you’re managing small projects or complex, multi-year builds, this episode will change how you think about scheduling—and why getting it right from day one matters.

🎧 Tune in to learn why effective scheduling isn’t just planning—it’s a contractual, financial, and legal safeguard that protects everyone involved.

In this episode of Build America, host Scott Jennings breaks down a powerful truth every contractor needs to hear: if you want to finish on time, reduce overhead, and protect your profit—you must drive the bus. That means taking charge of your work, guiding the owner, and nudging the engineer so the entire project keeps moving.

Scott dives into why owners and engineers often respond slowly, what motivates their decisions, and the simple strategies contractors can use to stay in control. From smarter RFIs to color-coded submittals, tight change-order packages, agency coordination, field walks, and quick-hit explanation meetings, Scott gives practical tools to eliminate friction and accelerate progress.

You’ll also hear real stories from the field, insights from major project management, and the mindset shift every contractor needs to finish strong—and finish smart.

• Why owners may seem “slow” and how their incentives shape response times

• How engineering billing, over-analysis, and liability concerns affect decisions

• The strategic advantage of providing the answer in your RFIs

• How color-coding submittals speeds up reviews

• The three essentials every change order must include

• Why contractors should sometimes do light design to unlock workflow

• How brief explanation meetings can drastically reduce delays

• The importance of prioritizing your requests instead of pushing everything at once

• Why field walks strengthen trust and teamwork

• How proactive communication prevents disputes, delays, and extended overhead claims

“If you want the job done on your terms, you can’t sit in the passenger seat. Get in the driver’s seat, drive the bus, and pull the owner and engineer with you.” – Scott Jennings

Leadership—not waiting—is what drives projects forward. When contractors take control and guide owners and engineers with clarity and professionalism, projects stay on track and conflicts stay low. Driving the bus isn’t doing extra work—it’s protecting your schedule, your budget, and your team.

Scott Jennings – Build America Podcast
Website: sjcivil.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-jennings-p-e-1435103
Email: [email protected]
Blog: sjcivil.com/blog
Podcast: anchor.fm/sjccsitesurvey

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🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode💬 Quote from Scott✔️ Final Thoughts🔔 Subscribe & Stay Connected

#ConstructionManagement #Contractors #ProjectLeadership #DriveTheBus #ProjectControls #ConstructionInsights #JobsiteLife #OwnerEngineerContractor #RFIs #ChangeOrders #FieldManagement #ConstructionTips #BuildBetter #InfrastructureProjects #ConstructionPodcast

Step inside year two of Scott Jennings’ PhD journey—a raw, honest, and unexpectedly dramatic chapter of the Build America Podcast. This episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to pursue a doctorate while juggling a full career in construction.

Scott shares long weekends spent buried in research, late-night study sessions, conference presentations, and the academic pressures no one warns you about. But the biggest twist? After months of work and nearly 300 research papers reviewed… he discovers his planned dissertation topic already exists. Topic rejected. Back to zero.

Instead of quitting, Scott recalibrates, pivots to a new research direction, and finds fresh motivation to push forward. If you’re curious about what the PhD path looks like—especially later in life—or you’re navigating your own academic or career setbacks, this is a must-listen.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What year two of a PhD program actually demands

• The difference between coursework and dissertation reality

• The hidden expectations behind conference papers and presentations

• How Scott handled discovering his dissertation idea was already published

• The new research direction he’s pursuing

• How to stay motivated when your biggest plans fall apart

This episode is part inspiration, part reality check, and all about perseverance.

💬 Connect with Scott Jennings
Website: sjcivil.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-jennings-p-e-1435103
Email: [email protected]

If this episode resonates with you, don’t forget to rate, follow, and review—it helps more listeners in construction and engineering find the show.

BuildAmericaPodcast, PhDJourney, DissertationLife, OldGuyPhD, EngineeringEducation, ConstructionIndustry, DoctoralStudent, ResearchSetback, LifelongLearning, HeavyCivilConstruction, GroundwaterControl, ShoringMethods, AcademicResearch

In this episode, Scott Jennings breaks down what it truly means to grow beyond “business puberty” and step into real executive leadership in the construction industry. Drawing from decades of hands-on field experience, Scott reveals why leadership isn’t earned behind a desk — it’s built through time, adversity, and life-tested moments that no textbook can teach.

From navigating age bias at different career stages to managing high-pressure jobsite crises and emotionally charged decisions, Scott shares the pivotal experiences that separate seasoned leaders from those still climbing. If you want to lead at the highest level, this conversation is a reminder: wisdom comes from living the hard lessons, not skipping them.

🎧 Tune in to learn:
• Why leadership maturity takes time, grit, and patience
• How age and experience shape executive readiness
• Defining real-world moments every leader must face
• The emotional resilience required to lead through crisis
• Why experience — not shortcuts — creates true credibility

Whether you’re a rising professional or a seasoned construction veteran, this episode offers timeless perspective on leadership growth, humility, and the value of earned experience.

#BuildAmericaPodcast #ConstructionLeadership #ExecutiveMindset #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #HeavyCivilConstruction #EngineeringLeadership #CareerEvolution #ConstructionManagement #RealWorldExperience #LeadershipMatters #WorkforceDevelopment #CivilEngineeringLife #ConstructionIndustry #ProfessionalGrowth #HardLessonsLearned #LeadershipJourney #NoShortcuts #ConstructionCareer #InspiringLeaders #AgeAndExperience #BusinessPuberty #ScottJennings #LeadWithExperience

Welcome back to the Build America Podcast, where host Scott Jennings brings you unfiltered, no-BS insights into the world of construction. In this episode, Scott breaks down a real-life legal case that combines four critical construction contract concepts every contractor should understand: Value Engineering, Reservation of Rights, No Damage for Delay, and Cardinal Change.

Through a detailed case study between a major contractor and the New York City DOT, Scott explains what went wrong, why “no damage for delay” clauses can be devastating for contractors, and how to protect yourself before signing that next change order. You’ll also learn why reading the fine print is non-negotiable — and how even seasoned pros can get tripped up if they don’t.

Whether you’re a contractor, project manager, or construction executive, this episode will help you navigate risk, protect profits, and stay one step ahead of costly legal traps.

• What “No Damage for Delay” really means — and why it matters

• How Value Engineering can be profitable (if done right)

• Why a “Reservation of Rights” letter may not actually protect you

• The definition of a Cardinal Change and when it applies

• Key takeaways from a real court decision that ruled against the contractor

• Practical advice for reading contracts and avoiding financial loss

Scott Jennings is a seasoned heavy civil construction professional, company owner, author, and host of the Build America Podcast — a show dedicated to real-world lessons from decades in the field. His mission? To help you build smarter, safer, and more profitably.

• Learn more at: buildamericablog.com (add your actual site link)

• Check out Scott’s book series on Amazon: Build America & Ted the Termite

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💡 In This Episode We Discuss:

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#BuildAmericaPodcast #ConstructionLaw #ConstructionManagement #NoDamageForDelay #ValueEngineering #CardinalChange #ReservationOfRights #ConstructionContracts #ProjectManagement #ConstructionIndustry #Contractors #Infrastructure #CivilConstruction #ConstructionClaims #RiskManagement #HeavyCivil #ConstructionProjects #LegalInsights #ScottJennings #WorkSafe