Building Progress

In construction, working with subcontractors can be vital to getting the job done right. Collaborating effectively with subs can significantly enhance project outcomes by bringing specialized skills and expertise to the table. However, the road isn’t always smooth; there are potential pitfalls around safety, communication, and payment that need careful navigation. In this episode, we are joined by our Senior Risk Management Consultant Andrew Walters, Chris Velez, the VP of Field Operations at Casey Construction in Gaithersburg, Maryland, as well as Casey Construction’s Safety Director, Karen Brioso. They stop by to talk about the things you should be looking out for before hiring subcontractors, how to effectively communicate on the job-site, what to do if an accident happens, and how to avoid any uncomfortable situations around payments.

With hurricane season bringing unpredictable and often severe weather, being prepared isn’t just a best practice—it’s a necessity. From ensuring the safety of workers on active job sites to securing materials and equipment, contractors have a lot at stake. But preparation doesn’t stop there. Understanding the right insurance needs and risk management strategies can mean the difference between a quick recovery and a costly setback.In this episode, we are joined by Jonathan Falk, the Director of Disaster Operations for the National Association of Homebuilders, and Lauren VanLandingham, our Director of Sales at Builders Mutual. Jonathan and Lauren stop by to discuss the importance of preparation before a storm hits, some steps to take to stay prepared, common mistakes to avoid moving forward, and the insurance considerations to keep in mind following a disaster.

At Builders Mutual, all that you do is all that we do, too. We are the industry experts, and with that expertise comes a responsibility to understand the current landscape of the construction industry. We are always looking to be more informed on what’s happening and what trends will shape the future of our industry.

In this episode, we are joined by Robert Dietz, the Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for the National Association of Homebuilders. He stops by to discuss the current state of the industry, what challenges we are facing in the current environment, and some positives when looking into the future. 

Note: This episode was recorded on April 14.

Our team at Builders Mutual is here to protect and advance the unique needs of the contractor community. Our risk management team is hard at work day after day with our policyholders to ensure everyone who steps foot on a job-site goes home safely at the end of the day. That said, we know that sometimes accidents happen. And when they do, it can be difficult to stay calm and respond properly. With that in mind, we’ve brought in two of our Senior Risk Management Consultants to walk through the proper response to an incident on the job-site. Michelle Fox and Alex Terrier are here to discuss the steps you should take if an accident occurs on the job-site, advice to follow to ensure the process following the incident goes as smoothly as possible, and some tips to ensure nothing like that happens again.

In 2014, Builders Mutual helped lead the creation of the Job-Site Safety Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conducting safety research for residential and commercial job sites. Since its inception, JSI has funded significant research and educational tool development through grants with local, state, and national partners. On today’s episode, we’re joined by Builders Mutual CEO Mike Gerber and JSI Executive Director Rob Matuga, who help explain how the idea for JSI came together, what projects have been funded and what else is currently in the pipeline, and what the future of the organization looks like.

We like to say that when it comes to keeping anyone who steps foot on a job-site safe, it is everyone’s responsibility. But who is everyone? Yes, at Builders Mutual our experts train and provide knowledge about job-site safety. We encourage contractors to promote a culture of safety and their workers to follow those guidelines. But what about the tools those workers are using? Are they being designed with safety in mind? What role do these manufacturers play in creating safer job-sites for workers? In this episode of Building Progress, we look for answers to those questions from our guests, Paul Lagerstedt from Super Anchor Safety, Dave Francis from Little Giant Ladder Systems, and Connor Crook from Diamondback Tool.

There’s no way to remove all the risks associated with construction, but Builders Mutual is giving it our best effort. Our purpose is to protect and advance the unique needs of the contractor community, and we are hopeful this episode will do just that. We’ll take a look at four of the most common safety mistakes on the job-site, sitting down with Builders Mutual Senior Risk Management Consultants Andrew Walters and Michelle Fox to find out why these mistakes happen so frequently and what we can do to ensure job-sites are taking the necessary steps to fix these issues.  

Have you always wanted to go out on your own? Thinking about taking the leap to start your own business? On this episode of Building Progress, we talk to two Builders Mutual policyholders who did just that. Carlos and Christina Calzadilla of SunSouth Carolinas and Ron Mitchell of MB Drywall join us to share what led to them starting their own business, the challenges they faced along the way, and advice they’d give to someone looking to get started.

In this special episode of the Building Progress podcast, we share a live recording from the North Carolina Home Builders Association’s Women in Construction panel. “Breaking the Concrete Ceiling” took place on the final day of the NCHBA’s 21st Century Building Expo and Conference and featured a celebration of women in the industry. The panel was moderated by the President of Brookline Homes, Andi Dirkschneider Bliss, and featured three leading women in building – 2023 NAHB Chairman Alicia Huey, author of “The House That She Built” Mollie Elkman, and the CEO and Founder of Hope Renovations and 2022 NAHB Woman of the Year, Nora El-Khouri Spencer. They discussed how they all got into the industry, what needs to happen to get more women involved in building, who inspires them, and much more.

How are businesses tackling current challenges and changing the way they work? What are some of the latest trends we see as the industry evolves? And what will the industry look like as we move into the future? In this episode, host Katie Mariani gets answers to those questions and much more from Builders Mutual Executive Advisor Bill Schaffner and the Co-Founder and CEO of Plantd, Josh Dorfman. Bill has spent his entire career in the industry and specializes in focusing on what’s happening in the world of construction, and Josh’s company manufactures carbon-negative building materials in an attempt to push the industry forward while protecting the planet.