While Chris Lane’s company employs more than 430 West Virginians and Pennsylvanians, he says their goal isn’t to be the biggest, just the most complete pipeline contractor in the region. The 27-year-old of vice president, Ronald Lane Inc. say creating a turnkey experience for clients has been the secret to their success. The company has 13 locations, over 500 pieces of equipment and handles every aspect of pipelaying including clearing land, processing trees, directional drilling, painting, welding, backfilling and hydrotesting.

Chris and Guest Host Dusty Weis also discuss:

• The pros and cons of a family business
• The importance of having dedicated safety staff
• Installing environmental controls
• Digitizing asset management
• Taking pride in your people
• Road tripping to CONEXPO-CON/AGG

He goes by “Chief Dirt Nerd” and he’s taking the construction world by storm with his unique ability to tell stories about the hard-working men and women mining for our materials and building our communities. While Aaron Witt hasn’t taken a traditional path into the industry, it’s one he loves, and one he thinks others should love too.

His goal as President of BuildWitt Media Group is to inspire others to think about construction and mining as a way of life through his photography, videos and lighthearted approach.

Aaron and Host Missy Scherber discuss using social media to educate and inspire your current and future workforce.

They also cover:

• Taking responsibility for the changes happening in the industry
• The biggest mistakes construction companies make when it comes to marketing
• The importance of being authentic and vulnerable
• Considering the safety implications of your employee’s mental wellbeing
• Aaron’s first trip to CONEXPO-CON/AGG and how it helped launch BuildWitt

• The "Gray Tsunami" and the impending skills gap
• When to say "no" to work
• Coaching and facilitating conversations to strengthen your team
• Providing authentic care, trust and help to your employees
• Reflections on 20+ years of attending CONEXPO-CON/AGG

Armed with a Blackberry and mad operating skills, Scott Colclough started PushySix® in 2012 as a YouTube channel affectionately named after his Caterpillar D6. Scott has grown PushySix® into a globally recognized brand with a mission of inspiring the next generation of heavy equipment operators. Scott joins host Missy Scherber to talk about his passion for equipment and technology, as well as his vision for workforce development.

They also dig into:

• The most critical factor for successful technology implementation
• The technologies that will bring the most dramatic change to the industry in the next five years
• The untapped talent pool you’re overlooking
• How your managers and corporate culture are driving away good employees
• Tips for your trip to CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020

Are your legacy operators hesitant to use machine control? Are you worried the barrier to entry is too high? Ryan Goodfellow, owner of Rock Structures Utility & Excavating, joins Host Missy Scherber to talk about what technology to take advantage of now to increase productivity for your business.  

They also cover:

• Mastering the groundwork to move from laborer to operator
• Building your clientele and repeat customers
• Persevering through times of economic turmoil
• Investing in your staff for improved performance and morale
• Planning your trip to CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020
• And six things you didn’t know about Ryan from his first job to his gas station guilty pleasure!

• Taking the leap into starting your own business
• Where the mining industry is headed in the next 24 months
• Estimating, bidding and dealing with losses
• What technology and equipment is changing the game for Turner
• Using social media to tell your story and recruit your workforce

With the emergence of the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics, and prescriptive analytics, wireless connectivity is the foundation that is needed to make all these connected strategies successful. Host Peggy Smedley and Marc Eisenberg, CEO, ORBCOMM, discuss how the industry is continuing to evolve, the different types of wireless connectivity available today and still emerging for the future, and trends that will continue to drive automation and digitization forward in construction.

Fred Fakkema, vice president, compliance, Zonar, joins CONEXPO-CON/AGG Radio to dive into the topic of telematics—and how it can help improve safety and compliance on construction projects, answering if digital records do in fact help with audits. Fakkema and Host Peggy Smedley dig into the top areas that telematics can help a construction fleet become safer, as well as the barriers to adoption. They also identify what a construction company should look for when investing in a telematics solution.

No matter the size of your aerial fleet, managing equipment is a priority. This podcast digs into how telematics can help monitor how equipment is performing, how often a piece is being used, where each unit is located, and if it is ready for maintenance. Host Peggy Smedley and Christine Zeznick, Genie Senior Product and Business Development Manager, Terex AWP, talk about telematics and the company’s new Genie Lift Connect. They also discuss how we are moving from a world where information is currently descriptive to one that is more predictive and prescriptive.