Building PA Podcast

The dynamic podcast duo, Chris Martin and Jon O’Brien are on the road and will be appearing in person at the GOSH Conference, Monday, October 31 from 1:15 PM – 2:30 PM to speak about “New Methods for Delivering Safety Information.”

 COVID has forced many safety professionals to seek new communication methods or vehicles to tell the safety story. The advent of the remote worker has also placed strains on the importance of safety on the job. In this presentation, audience members will learn about new methods for delivering safety information via social media, podcasts, and traditional print magazines.

 Listen to a preview of what the Building PA Podcast team plans to discuss.

To attend this year’s GOSH conference and to Chris and Jon speak, you can register at pasafetyconference.com. 

If you asked 100 construction professionals to define business development you would get 100 similar answers that sound something like this—When it comes to organizational growth, business development acts as the thread that ties together all of a company's functions or departments, helping a business expand and improve its sales, revenues, product offerings, talent, customer service, and brand awareness.

But we weren't looking for the same old answers. We wanted a new and fresh perspective on business development which is why we invited Business Development Manager for Gilbane Building Company, Tonya Byrd to share her definition of business development her way.

Byrd has been in the space of business development for 18 years and believes there are three keys that bring success to her role in the industry, one, you must love people, two, you must love problem-solving and three you must love people. You'll learn why Byrd list one and three as the same.

This is an episode that is filled with wit, humor, insight, and reality. Download this episode to listen to Byrd's candid messaging and learn why her LinkedIn profile reads, "Building relationships is my jam." 

Take our word for it. This is a 30-minute podcast you won't want to miss!

While the hazards faced in construction are in some ways similar to those in other industries, there are some unique issues that safety professionals and contractors must consider.

In our ongoing pursuit to educate and inform professionals in the construction industry about safety on the job site and in the office we are hosting Risk Manager and Certified Safety Professional, Brent Gates with Strickler Agency.

As the leader of the risk management program within his company, Gates works with clients to assess their risk management needs and how he can assist them in risk control. Many times small to mid-sized construction companies won't have a dedicated safety professional on staff so Gates and his company offer this value-added service for their clients to help with compliance and safety assessments. 

If clients "don't know what they don't know," Gates is there to help them put safety plans in place, train field workers and office personnel to heighten their safety IQ, and minimize injuries on the job.

Gates will be speaking at this year's GOSH conference at the Hershey Lodge, on October 31-November 1. The topic is Managing Subcontractor Safety- How General Contractors Can Mitigate Their Risk. 

To learn more about the Governor's Occupational Safety & Health Conference, GOSH, or sign up to attend go to pasafetyconference.com. 

If you are a professional working in a job that requires you to stay up to date on all things related to safety, then you need to listen to this podcast.

Chris and Jon invited Paula Loht, corporate director of safety for Gannett Fleming and PA Governor’s Occupational Safety & Health Conference, GOSH, committee member to talk about this year's upcoming GOSH conference, October 31-November 1 at the Hershey Lodge.

The GOSH conference is where safety, innovation, education, and best practices come together.

Over the past ninety-five years, the GOSH Committee has educated and empowered safety professionals, employers, and employees throughout the Commonwealth. More than 80,000 safety professionals have come together to learn, share best practices, and network to make Pennsylvania a safer place to work. 

Loht shares why topics like "active shooter" are gaining in attendance.  Informative speakers and sessions like this are why this year looks to be one of the most highly attended events by safety professionals in all fields. There's so much to learn about safety at the GOSH conference.

Go to pasafetyconference.com to register and learn more about the topics and speakers for this year's event.

This episode of the Building PA Podcast continues our commitment to talking about mental health and wellness and suicide prevention.

September 4-11 marked the one week set aside to highlight suicide prevention on a national level however, it's a topic that needs to continue to be at the forefront of conversation among all professions, especially in the construction industry. 

This month we've thrown out a lot of statistics about suicide in the construction industry and the number of deaths by suicide is staggering. Recognizing the warning signs is a great first step in helping to move the needle on this national crisis. 

Our guest today, Rich Jones, clinical therapist, a recovering addict, and chief clinical officer with YouTurn Health talks openly about his addiction and the importance of recognizing the signs that someone may need help. 

Jones says, "It can start with a simple question, are you OK?"  Jones believes the solution is in peer-to-peer conversations and humans supporting humans. He encourages people to set aside their old ways of thinking and the stigma associated with not being ok and slowly start to open up and engage co-workers, friends, and family who are showing signs that they may need help.

YouTurn Health is a virtual program that provides comprehensive addiction recovery and education and support. You can learn more at youtrunhealth.com. 

If you or someone you know needs immediate help or support, call or text the national suicide crisis hotline, 988.

Today's podcast continues the conversation about suicide prevention and mental health and wellness in the construction workplace. 

Our guest, Mark St. Cyr, carpenter, union member, and construction superintendent openly shares his story of abuse and mental health issues that led him down a path of addiction at a very early age. 

St. Cyr is 15 years sober and has dedicated his life to helping men and women in construction struggling with substance abuse disorders. As a superintendent, he runs a job with an open door policy making it known to his workers that they can come to him with any problem or concern at any time and that they will be received with an open mind and no judgment. 

As the President and Treasurer of the nonprofit, Club Serenity, St. Cyr is actively fulfilling his life's mission to help those who haven't yet found their way to the path of sobriety.  

Club Serenity is a recovery group located in Charleroi, PA. The mission is to continuously work toward a drug-free society; one individual, one family, one community at a time.

If you or someone you know needs help text or call the national crisis hotline, 988. 

According to the CDC, men working in construction have one of the highest rates of suicide compared to all other industries. A shocking statistic, but one that can not be ignored.

Today's podcast is all about shining a light on mental health and wellness in construction. We're kicking off this month with a candid conversation with the Director of Safety for the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Washington, Mandi Kime.

Kime is an accomplished safety professional and leader within the construction industry on the topic of mental health & wellness.

This podcast conversation is candid, bold, and thought-provoking. To learn that men are two and a half times more likely to die by suicide than homicide is jaw-dropping. That statistic is worth repeating, MEN ARE 2 1/2 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE BY SUICIDE THAN HOMICIDE, and the only way to move the needle on this statistic is to talk, engage, educate and build awareness.

This podcast is filled with tips to help recognize the signs of depression or distress. We've included resources and links to help you gain assess to private mental assessments.

If you are in the construction industry, take a moment to listen to this episode. Do it for yourself, your staff, a coworker, or a friend.

If you or someone you know needs immediate help, text or call the Suicide and Crisis hotline 988.

Check out mantherapy.org and take a private mental health assessment. This is a great resource and starting point if you are dealing with anxiety, depression, and/or substance abuse.

Workforce development is a topic that we've talked about a lot on the podcast and written about repeatedly in The Keystone Contractor.  When we open up the topic for discussion, we're often left with more questions than answers.

There's no doubt that the construction industry is facing significant worker shortages. So rather than talking about the same grim statistics, we want to share a story of positivity and hope through one business owner's eyes. Neal Rivers, executive vice president of Easley & Rivers in Pittsburgh shares his positive perspective on workforce development and how fortunate he feels to be insulated from what much of the construction industry is experiencing. 

As a union contractor Rivers shares that they have been fortunate and haven't had to deal with the workforce issues others may be feeling.  He credits the trades and their efforts in getting quality people into the industry. Rivers also feels that his geography, western PA, and his clients have also had a strong and positive impact on limiting the issues of workforce development.

This episode is an uplifting story that we feel brings hope for what the future holds for the construction industry.

Easley & Rivers is a specialty sub-contractor working in interior construction, interior systems, and interior furniture. 

For 27 years, Pennsylvania has had the highest non-graduated tax in the United States. This tax rate of 9.9% has limited Pennsylvania's ability to be competitive in bringing new businesses to the Keystone state. With the corporate net income tax reduction, that's about to change.

To talk more about the tax reduction bill we invited the President of The Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, Matt Smith to be our guest. Smith is part of a team of dedicated business leaders, state officials, and legislators who worked diligently for many years to get this rate reduced. 

Smith talks about the advantages and growth opportunities for businesses in PA and how this will help stimulate the economy within the Keystone state.

The tax reduction will start at the beginning of 2023. 

In this podcast, we've broken down the details of this bill to give business owners and the business community some positive news about growth and opportunity that will happen in the not-so-distant future. 

We'd like to continue the conversation. Be sure to share your questions in the comments section of our social media. 

On the Building PA Podcast, we've talked a lot about workforce development and realize there's more to add to this conversation. Many businesses, not just in construction, are faced with workforce issues daily.  So we've asked the question, where are all of the workers?

We decided to bring an expert to the show with knowledge about workforce issues and solutions for businesses that find themselves unable to solve this dilemma day in and day out.

Jesse McCree, CEO of SCPa Works is bringing us some updates on current initiatives in place in PA and resources for employers. SCPa Works is a regional workforce development board that serves eight counties in south central PA. This workforce board is made up of public-private partnerships that serve to connect employers and job seekers. SCPa Works acts as an intermediary and provides funding, training, education, and programs to connect job seekers and learners to jobs that are available.

This episode touches on many different aspects of the workforce issue. Learn what McCree means when he talks about the "demographic drought" and why he believes this is a structural issue not cyclical.

This episode will not disappoint those trying to navigate their way through the evolving workforce development dilemma.  Be sure to share with your peers and coworkers in the industry.

For more information about SCPa Works, you can visit their website https://scpaworks.org/contact/.