Constructing Greatness

A few months after leaving the buildings maintenance and cleaning company he was working on, Anthony Zurzolo got a massive lead. It was a half a million contract for working on two towers; the contract was ready to sign and start the following week. Without hesitation, he convinced his brother John to quit his job and join him; they were prepared to rock it. 

But, destiny had something prepared for them, a massive hurricane blew the roof of one of the buildings they were supposed to work on. The contract got canceled; they had to figure out something else. 

They didn't give up; they kept up the hard work, and today they run Premier Window Cleaning, a successful company with over 20 employees. 

Today, we re-release John and Anthony Zurzolo's episode, one of the most downloaded episodes of the podcast. They share their extraordinary story of how they got into the construction industry, how they managed to grow and learn new skills, and how they gathered the courage to make the leap of faith and start their own business. We also went through the massive setback they suffered at the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey. They talk about what kept them going forward against all odds and making it through to become a successful company.

Some Questions I Ask:

•  Anthony, when did it all start for you? Why did you choose the construction world, and how did that come about? (3:09)
• I know you guys do residential as well; what's the split between commercial and residential cleaning services? (8:35)
• What other services do you guys provide? (10:22)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• From 4 to 61 stories in one day. How it all started for Anthony (4:14)
• After 5 years of waiting for a salary raise, Anthony decided to go solo (12:05)
• The day of the hurricane. Time to start all over again (15:06)
• A piece of advice for those interested in joining the construction industry (27:07)

Resources:

• Premium Window Cleaning website
• Premium Window Cleaning Facebook
• Premium Window Cleaning LinkedIn
• Premium Window Cleaning Email: [email protected]

Connect with Anthony:

• LinkedIn

Connect with John:

• LinkedIn

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As she got out of college with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and Corrections, Kayla Paonessa DeJohn started working as a Juveline Case Manager, helping kids from 13 to 19 deal with anger management, goals setting, and personal development. After almost 4 years, Kayla was emotionally burned out; it was challenging for her to know that despite those kids' massive potential, their environment at home wouldn't be probably the best, and there was little she could do about that. 

Looking for a career change, and as she tried to figure out what to do, Kayla went back to serving tables, as she had done through college. She started working at Del Frisco's Restaurant Group in Philly, where she met the owner of Schnoll Painting, who offered her first sales job at his company. 

Our guest, Kayla Paonessa DeJohn, is the Business Development Manager at Hillmann Consulting Group. She is an authentic, energetic, and detailed professional, President of the IFMA Greater Philadelphia Chapter, and Executive Board Member of the Healthcare Facility Managers Association of the Delaware Valley. 

We had a great conversation about Kayla's background as a social worker, her father's influence on her interest in the construction industry, and how she got her first job in sales. We also went through how satisfying it is for her, taking clients to close deals at the same restaurant she used to work in and enjoying that full-circle moment. We also went through the negative impact of social media on kids, Kayla's hobbies, the amazing last year she had, and much more. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• You were at Diakon Youth Services for three years and nine months. Could you talk a bit about that experience? 2:06)
• Could you talk about how it was for you to learn about Construction Management? (7:05)
• You are the new President of the IFMA Greater Philadelphia Chapter. Could you talk about that? (14:35)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• How social work helped Kayla know about herself and about how challenging the real world can be (2:17)
• Being in the right place at the right time. Kayla talks about her first job in sales (5:50)
• Sales is a crazy, fun job. Kayla talks about her experiences as a salesperson (12:01)

Resources:

• Hillmann Consulting LLC website
• Hillmann Consulting LLC LinkedIn
• Hillmann Consulting LLC Instagram

Connect with Kayla:

• LinkedIn
• Email: [email protected]

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Growing up for Barbie The Welder wasn't exactly a fairy tale; it was more like the hero's path. She had a wonderful childhood, though; her mother constantly stimulated her creativity, and her father, a jack of all trades, taught her how to use tools, repair, and build stuff. Then, she became a single mom at a young age and fought her way through auto mechanics school, her second love; she graduated and tried to get into the Air Force, but she couldn't. Seven plus years in the automotive industry, dealing with never-ending sexism and personal issues pushed her to drug abuse, which she recovered from moved by the love to her son. 

Barbie would spend years struggling financially, running a small business on e-Bay, living on welfare and food stamps. Until one day, she saw a pair of giant angel wings in Castaway, Tom Hanks' movie. At the beginning of the film, we can see a woman welding enormous metal angel wings. The moment she saw that Barbie knew she had to become a sculptor. 

Barbie The Welder is a Metal Sculptor, Author of 6 books, and Skilled Trades Advocate. Without any business experience nor arts education, her unique and self-taught sculpture style put her in the spotlight on social media, capturing the attention of major corporations and art specialists. She designed and created sculptures for The American Welding Society, Miller Welders, Chicago Pneumatic, Harley Davidson, Carolina Shoe Company, and exclusive clients in 15 countries.

Some Questions I Ask:

• Can you talk about your life leading up to your brand and becoming Barbie The Welder? (1:55)
• Can you talk a bit about the jobs you did for Harley Davidson? (18:39)
• You have exclusive clients in 15 countries, can you talk a bit about that? (25:04)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About Barbie's dream of getting into the Air Force (5:18)
• How Barbie got into welding (9:41)
• The humbling comparison between the places Barbie has been and where she is today (13:17)
• Barbie's message for artists and skilled trades enthusiasts (25:49)

Resources:

• Barbie The Welder website
• Barbie The Welder books

Connect with Barbie:

• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Facebook

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following her passion for art and math, Elizabeth Graziolo decided that getting into an engineering university was an excellent way to leave her house. She was a teenager that just immigrated to the US, but dealing with puberty and starting to build her future didn't seem much for her; in fact, it was one of her traits - she enjoyed challenging herself. She got into the Cooper Union's Architecture program, which she thought she'd use to get into The Albert Nerken School of Engineering, Cooper Union's largest engineering school. But after a semester of Architecture, she fell in love with it. The feeling was mutual; Elizabeth became an award-winning architect and built an outstanding career, which she is sharing with us today. 

Elizabeth Graziolo is the Founder and Principal of Yellow House Architects, PLLC. She is the recipient of the "City of Design Award," a distinction awarded by the Museum of The City of New York in 2018. Elizabeth is also a trustee of The Museum of the City of New York and The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art and serves on the Delano & Aldrich/Emerson Fellowship Committee of the American Institute of Architects.

In this episode, we explore Elizabeth's successful journey into a male-dominated industry. We talk about her mentors and what she learned after school when she started doing the real thing. We also go through her decision of leaving a great job in a great company where she had become a partner to start her own architecture company. Elizabeth also shares the projects she most enjoyed working on, her opinion on general contractors, and her advice for those interested in joining the construction industry.

Some Questions I Ask:

• How did you get into architecture? And why architecture. Can you talk to us a bit about that? (3:23)
• You worked at Peter Pennoyer Architects for almost 18 years and you became a partner there. What made you decide to take a chance on yourself and go out on your own? (7:34)
• Can you talk to me about the favorite projects that you've worked on? (13:48)
• When you hear about general contractors, what comes to your mind? (20:27)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• How Elizabeth ended up loving Architecture (4:11)
• A bit about the fun stuff Elizabeth learned that Architecture School doesn't teach (7:10)
• It is hard to leave a job, and when that job is outstanding, it is even more complicated (9:58)
• The future plans for Yellow House Architects (18:16)

Resources:

• Yellow House Architects website
• Yellow House Architects Instagram

Connect with Elizabeth:

• LinkedIn

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Early in his life, Gregory Finkle tasted the pleasure of accomplishing something and getting paid for it. At 14 years old, he was already ambitious and a hard worker; he started helping in an extermination company, handling an eighty-pound hammer drilling holes in a basement. Encouraged by his parents and incentivized by his desire to accomplish more, the habit of being rewarded for his job accompanied him through college as well. After becoming a civil engineer, his desire to consistently achieve more, faith, and hard-working mindset helped him go from Engineer to Operations Manager in his first job and start his own company. 

Gregory Finkle is the Principal at Trinity Subsurface Engineering, LLC. He holds a BSCE in Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware and a Professional Engineer Certificate from the Delaware Association of Professional Engineers. Gregory is also part of the Church Leadership at the Gateway Community Church; he is a loving husband and father of three kids, with one more already on the way. 

In this episode, we talk about Gregory's journey into the construction industry, his dreams as a kid, faith, and the positive mindset that helped him succeed. Gregory shared details of his first job at Master Locators, where he learned the basics of being on the field as an engineer first and the secrets of being an operations manager later. We also talk about his passions, future goals, and what he still wants to accomplish with Trinity. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• You started working at 14 years old at an extermination company. Could you talk a bit about that? (3:08)
• Could you talk about the process of getting your Professional Engineering license? (6:06)
• Could you talk about the moment when you told your bosses at Master Locators that you would leave them to start your own thing? (15:46)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About Gregory's first steps in the trades as an assistant of an extermination company (3:26)
• A broken hand made Gregory miss the PE exam and added more pressure to the second try (7:27)
• Gregory's path from the field to Operations Manager at Master Locators (10:51)
• What made Gregory gather the courage to make the leap of faith and start his own company (17:05)

Resources:

• Trinity Subsurface Engineering website
• Trinity Subsurface Engineering YouTube
• Trinity Subsurface Engineering Facebook
• Trinity Subsurface Engineering LinkedIn

Connect with Gregory:

• LinkedIn

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back in 2004, Revolution Recovery was just a couple of people working the phones from home, seated in front of the computer trying to get a client. They would rent a side lot, a small place, their first physical space two years later. Then, in 2008, the company opened its first Philly spot, where they poured a big concrete slab and built a retaining wall. After eight years of hard and honest work, they opened their second plant in Newcastle, Delaware. The company now has three plants; the third one opened in 2018 in Allentown. Today, Jon and Jamie Wybar join us to talk about the journey of this company leader in waste management. 

Jon Wybar is the co-founder and owner of Revolution Recovery, and his brother Jamie works in the company's Business Development. Their passion for sustainability and their desire to revolutionize the recycling industry led them to be featured in several news and media articles since 2006. They've also been featured as speakers for the MIT Ecologies of Construction Seminar, Green Advantage, Greenbuild, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Advisory Board, and many more places. 

In this episode, Jon and Jamie share bits of their journey into the recycling industry, the first tough years in business, and how they stay committed to keeping up the hard work. We also talk about hazardous waste, how they deal with it, and their actions to keep their personnel and themselves safe. We went through their entrepreneurial background, what motivated them when they were young, and they kindly gave their take on the best way to lead a company. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• You mentioned that 9/11 kind of guided your path. Could you talk a bit about that? (3:45)
• You have three offices, two in PA and one in Delaware. How quickly were those offices built? (11:23)
• Could you talk a bit about LEED management and your LEED program? (16:09)
• Where do you see Revolutionary Recovery going? Do you see it growing further to where you're at now? (31:20)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• A bit of Jon and Jamie Wybar's story (4:01)
• How it all started in 2006 (8:20)
• How Revolution Recovery deals with hazardous waste (17:09)
• What happens with the things that are not supposed to be dumped (23:09)
• Honesty and fairness. Jon and Jamie talk about their style of conducting a company and treating their employees (337:43)

Resources:

• Revolution Recovery website
• Revolution Recovery Instagram
• Revolution Recovery Facebook
• Revolution Recovery LinkedIn

Connect with Jon:

• LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie:

• Email: [email protected] 

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since he was very young, Marvin Bowe knew his destiny wasn't far from advertising, marketing, and brand building. He went to college and became a graphic designer. At the time, he had this idea of having only one talent, and if he didn't use it, he would be lost. He made understanding every aspect of pharmaceutical advertising his mission, and he became one of the best at it. Time and experience would let him know there was more waiting for him; he learned and expanded his horizons, and today, he tells us everything about that. 

Marvin Bowe is a Life Sciences Marketing and Communication Leader. He is the Co-Founder & Managing Director of Biophilia Partners and Co-Founder of Swedesboro Brewing Company. Marvin served as a Managing Director, COO, and Executive Creative Director for both East Coast and Midwest agencies, which granted him a unique perspective on leadership, problem-solving, and brand building. 

In this episode, we explore Marvin's fascinating journey from Fine Arts professor to Creative Director, COO, co-founder, and entrepreneur. Marvin shared his thought process behind the decision of starting a brewery, why he chose Swedesboro, and his experiences raising money to finance his project. We also talk about Marvin's future projects and goals for the brewery and himself, and much more. 

Some Questions I Ask:

• You worked at The Hal Lewis Group for eight years as a creative director. Could you talk about that experience? (3:56)
• In December 2018, you decided to take a leap of faith and start your advertising agency. What can you say about that experience? (6:54)
• How did Swedesboro Brewing Company come about? (11:14)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• A bit about Marvin's background in the advertising industry (5:42)
• How Marvin's interest in brewing started (11:28)
• How hard it was to raise money to establish the brewery (13:06)
• Marvin shares a piece of advice for those interested in creating their own company and pursuing their dreams (27:47)

Resources:

• Swedesboro Brewing Company website
• Swedesboro Brewing Company Facebook
• Swedesboro Brewing Company Untappd
• Swedesboro Brewing Company Twitter
• Biophilia Partners website
• Biophilia Partners Twitter
• Biophilia Partners Facebook

Connect with Marvin:

• LinkedIn

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When John McCarroll's father came to America, with little money in his pockets, uneducated, and college not being an option, he got advice to join a trade. John would grow up watching his father who became a steamfitter, and his uncle and cousins working on the construction. John knew he wanted to be in construction from a young age, but he also knew he wasn't very good with his hands, so he decided to go through the college path. 

Visiting us today is a great person, a fantastic professional, and a dear friend, John McCarroll. John holds a BS in Construction Management from Drexel University, an MBA from Temple University, and an MS in Construction Management & Real Estate from Drexel University. He is the Senior Management of Business Development at Gilbane Building Company.

In this episode, we travel through John's vast experience in the construction industry, highlighting the victories and mistakes of his journey and looking at the lessons learned. John talks about his current position and how impactful it was for him to find a job that perfectly aligned with his skills, and most importantly, with his personality. We also talk about John's work at Cannonball's Kids Cancer, a non-profit organization that helps kids fighting cancer.

Some Questions I Ask:

• Why construction management? What drove you through that path? (4:11)
• You took a nice opportunity with Temple University as the director of construction. How was that experience? (10:54)
• You were the Senior Director of Construction at Brandywine. Talk about that transition on that side (16:04)
• What would your advice be to somebody who wants to get into construction management or just follow their passion? (39:04)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Pivoting from civil engineering to construction (5:19)
• About John's experience at Temple University (10:56)
• Lessons learned from John's bad decisions (22:47)
• The impact of what people see in ourselves that we don't (29:13)
• What is John passionate about, and his work at Cannonball's Kids Cancer (37:01)

Resources:

• Gilbane website

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Connect with John:

• LinkedIn
• Email: jmccarroll@gilbaneco  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the many challenges small businesses face is the lack of affordable options for hiring consulting firms. Large consulting firms won't bother to work with solopreneurs or firms with less than ten employees because of their uniqueness. Most of those small firms are hands-on businesses that can't afford to invest the time or the resources, and on the other hand, those high-priced consultants tend to sell services that aren't needed, ignoring their clients' needs.

Having these issues in mind, using their background in the corporate world and their experience working for Fortune 500 companies, Julie Traxler and Corey Harris founded SB PACE, whose mission is to offer value to every client, never sell services that aren't needed, and fully understand what a client needs before selling them anything. 

Julie Traxler and Corey Harris are business coaches passionate about helping small businesses owners succeed. They also have a podcast, QuizBiz, and they are best-selling authors of the book "Seriously? Now What?!: A Small Business Guide to Disaster Preparedness."

Julie is a Certified Business Coach, an expert at project management, communication, and mergers & acquisitions. Corey is an expert at process planning, execution, and disaster preparedness. He owned and managed restaurants; he completed his Undergrad at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and his Master’s at VCU. 

In this episode, we talk about Julie and Corey's mission at SB PACE, how they started their business, its name origin, and the thinking process behind its creation. We also chat about the challenges small businesses face, the growth of the construction industry during the pandemic, and their passion for helping small firms. 

Some Questions I Ask: 

• I am learning that you guys are best-selling authors. How did that come about? (5:28)
• When did you guys meet? And, you know, what was the business plan? (7:25)
• You guys had families that were business owners. Do you think that that's why you have your entrepreneurial spirit and desire to help entrepreneurs? (12:21)
• Could you talk about your services, how you're different? (21:34)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• A bit about Julie and Corey, their decision to start a business, and the origin of their book (3:23)
• What if you fail? The origin of Julie's entrepreneurial spirit (13:17)
• The effects of the pandemic on entrepreneurship (14:48)
• Why Julie and Corey feel good about the services they offer (25:13)

Resources:

• SB PACE website
• QuizBiz Podcast
• SB PACE LinkedIn
• SB PACE Instagram
• SB PACE YouTube
• SB PACE Twitter
• SB PACE Facebook
• Book: Julie Traxler and Corey Harris - Seriously? Now What?!: A Small Business Guide to Disaster Preparedness.

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should do it; Kyle Depiesse learned that the hard way. He went for a degree in business administration and started working on finances because he was good with numbers. He got into the corporate world and began pursuing what he was taught to, climb the corporate ladder, work for the next promotion, be the first to get there, and be the last to leave. After 13 years of that insane race, he ended up exhausted, in debt, and burned out. He and his wife decided to regroup, and as a first step, he was promoted to a stay-at-home dad, which was his first step into his transformation.

Kyle Depiesse is an Experience Creator, Podcaster, Adventure and Fulfillment Coach, and Community Builder. He is the Creator and Founder of the Reaching Beyond Experience, where he helps people achieve their highest level of fulfillment in how they connect with others and themselves and build their careers. Kyle is the host of the Reaching Beyond podcast, a loving father, and husband. 

In this episode, Kyle shared his journey from being an exhausted man in the corporate world to a successful entrepreneur. He explained his view on people's lives and how we decide when is the right time to start something new. Kyle talked about the lessons he learned along the way working in toxic environments, and he also gave his take on finding what we are passionate about and working on it.  

Some Questions I Ask:

• You were in the finance world. How was your experience in that industry and with your employers? (5:06)
• You say you hit rock bottom; what caused that? (8:09)
• You had to change your habits. What were the significant changes that you made to change that around? (13:35)
• You became a licensed financial solicitor. Was that after teaching? (18:12)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Giving his life for the promotion. How Kyle was educated to be in the corporate world (6:02)
• How did rock bottom look like to Kyle (8:26)
• Paying attention to who we spend time with (11:26)
• Just because you can do something doesn't mean that you should do it (18:24)
• Kyle's experience in building his brand (21:53)

Resources:

• The Reaching Beyond Experience website
• Reaching Beyond podcast
• Book: Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life

Connect with Kyle:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Vimeo

Let's Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.