Construction Brothers

5,229 construction workers died by suicide in 2016 (the last year for which CDC numbers are available).    The industry category of “construction and extraction” has a higher rate of suicide than any other industry category.    That’s why suicide is a topic worthy of discussion on a construction-related podcast. That’s why we’re talking to Kevin Sells today.    People who aren’t involved in construction might wonder why in world those numbers are so high. If you are in the industry, however, you know that stress levels increase dramatically when supply chains experience hiccups that affect workflow. Also, many commercial construction jobs involve long stretches of time away from family. Unfortunately, many construction companies have almost no protocols or programs in place for addressing mental health concerns.    Creating a healthier overall bid-build process was the desire behind the new methodology proposed by Project Summit, an initiative that Kevin is involved in. Project Summit is total collaboration strategy intended to get back to a system based on producing predictable cost outcomes through true relationship and trust. The connection that this approach has to suicide is that it advocates a one-hard-hat philosophy that consciously places value on all workers and disciplines. It focuses on putting employees and the project first.   Kevin shares about the frustration–even the embarrassment–that he and others in the industry took so long to recognize this problem.    Kevin points out that we can’t realistically recruit young talent and muscle if we can’t show that we’re concerned about all-around employee wellness. This means considering several things:

• work site conditions,
• time away from family,
• length of the work day,
• consistency of jobs,
• availability of medical care for traveling workers,
• additional concerns that exist with military veterans, who might have lingering.

  Kevin explains that it’s about actually listening to and hearing the responses when we ask a coworker, “How are you doing today?”    Kevin emphasizes that no program will work if the leaders within the organization are not genuinely invested in promoting mental health. Leaders must realize their obligation to advocate in this area.   Here are a few specific resources that Kevin recommends for owners and managers interested in addressing mental health concerns with their companies:

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention
• United Group Services Youtube Channel (search for suicide prevention)
• Cal Beyer
• The Suicide Prevention Hotline: 
  • Phone #: 988
  • Text line: 741741 

  Kevin’s megaphone message: Our industry has a problem in relation to mental illness. It’s killing more workers than anything else. We need to address it.   (By the way, here’s a link to the Jennifer Castenson Forbes article in which she quotes Eddie.)

Find Kevin (and other organizations he mentioned) Online: Kevin on LinkedIn - Project Summit (2021 report) - The Simplar Research Foundation   Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frustration can eat you alive.  As Dad used to say, “Don’t let ‘em get your goat.”  Eddie shares that he has yet to be killed by any of the countless frustrations that have distracted him at various points over the years.  There’s always a way to figure something out. Very rarely will a single day’s frustration still be here in a couple weeks.  Allow your “That bothers me” threshold to grow as you gain experience.  This too shall pass. So let it pass. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a month since we’ve been here with a new episode. We’re excited to be back!   Joining us today is Steven Biersteker (pronounced beer-staker), a Canadian architect from Thinkspace.    As a child, Steven wanted to be an inventor. When he discovered that you couldn’t major in “inventing,” his combined strengths of art and math sent him in the direction of architecture. He attended University in Toronto and then moved to Vancouver. He recaps the training required to become a certified architect in Canada.   Steven’s time in small firms gave him a broad range of experience. The company that he works with now, Thinkspace, focuses on larger, institutional projects, such as schools, civic centers, etc.   We confront the fact that many people in the construction industry demonize architects, passing blame back to them. Steven shares the architect’s perspective that involves being two or three years into a project by the time a shovel digs in. He discusses the challenges of walking through the design process with decision-makers who don’t necessarily know what they want and might need a bit more hand-holding than clients in the corporate world.   We discuss the effect that Value Engineering has on the flow and budget of projects. Steven shares how he and his team will guide clients through the process of scaling back when a project begins to go over budget.    Here are some other things that come up in our conversation:

• the fact that logistic-minded construction workers may whine about complicated design that ultimately makes a space not just functional but inspiring,
• the effect that various software packages have on the design,
• AI image-generation software and the role that it can play in the design process,
• the excitement that sometimes comes with the challenge of considering the whole range of considerations and thinking about the ripple effects of design changes,
• the fact that many of the design choices a construction team might blame on the architect were actually choices made by an insistent client,
• the need to “elevate the conversation” in order to get design feedback from the people who actually use the spaces that we design and build. In the case of Steven’s work, this would be the teachers and students. 

  Our discussion reveals the confounding disconnect between architects and the workers tying rebar or pouring footers. How ridiculous is it that the majority of people working on a building might not have a clue about the end function of the building that they’re building?    Steven’s Megaphone Message: As an industry, we need to be working together to produce better spaces. If we can see ourselves as common players.    Find Steven Online: LinkedIn, His Website, His Thinkspace Page Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listeningSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've heard it a million times: Treat others as you would like to be treated. Today we discuss how to balance the classic moral principle of The Golden Rule with an age-old business maxim: The customer is always right. In the service industry, employees and managers often face challenges when attempting to implement the practice of treating others as you’d like to be treated.  Tyler reflects on a tough job from his younger years, and we discuss how his manager could have handled the process differently.  Any organization that conscientiously puts the golden rule at the center of their operation across the board will likely see great benefits. Not only will customers feel respected, but employee’s will be assured of their value in the eyes of the company’s leaders. Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(This episode is a rebroadcast of an interview we did in February of 2022.)   Allen Angle is the VDC-FM Integration Manager at JLL. Allen is full of insights when it comes to the role of technology in construction. Most of JLL’s construction clients have some sort of system in place for operations, maintenance, and space management. Allen’s job is to help them discern the sexy from the practical. He helps them understand how to capitalize on the modeling that is available and tie together data from various places.    In an effort to ensure better communication, Allen has advocated for some vocabulary shifts. One problem he sees is people just “handing over” projects and then leaving. He discusses the benefits of maintaining communication in an “exchange” format.  Another vocabulary switch he has tried to make is related to the words specifications or guidelines.    JLL’s people encourage clients to focus on these three things:

• Being BIM-driven rather than BIM-dependent. They try to focus on execution/implementation plans,
• Speaking a common language to reduce confusion about specific assets throughout the design-construction process.
• Focusing on an owner-driven process that centers on the usability of the end result.

  Allen explains that JLL sometimes serves as a broker. Sometimes they play primarily a technological role. Sometimes they operate in more of a consultative capacity. At still other times, they function as owner. Ultimately, everything they do is focused on helping the relevant parties leverage information to more effectively execute the various aspects of the construction process.   Allen walks us through a helpful hypothetical scenario to discuss how BIM and VDC can function together to maximize efficiency. Then we discuss all of these software packages:

• Revit 
• Vela
• BIM 360 Field 
• Layer 
• Smartsheet

  After talking through all of this, we come around to acknowledge that what BIM means to some construction people is different from what it means to other people. What’s important is that we seek to use these tools in productive ways.   Allen’s Megaphone Message: Don’t get completely caught up in the sexiness of BIM and 360 3D. Your core business needs are what are most important. If you get excessively caught up in buzzword bandwagons, you won’t be serving your clients as well as you should be.   Find Allen online: Allen’s LinkedIn  Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After reviewing hundreds of Architectural sets over the years, here are the main pain points we see most often. - Stair stringers have width - Do final coordination with your engineer before issuing the documentation - Use grids (and coordinate) - Know the actual dimensions of materials like masonry - Dimension walls to face of stud - Be a builder. Not an artist. Thanks for joining us this week! Make sure you check out our sponsor Trimble ProjectSight! - https://projectsight.trimble.com/ Please consider subscribing! SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL Like us on LinkedIn! Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Instagram! Eddie's LinkedIn Tyler's LinkedIn (Our day job) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

(This episode is a rebroadcast of an interview we did in 2020.)   Brian Ringley is the Construction Technology Manager Boston Dynamics. Much of his work centers on the Spot robot. You could call it an “agile mobile robot” or a “quadraped.” Or you could just call it a robot dog.    But it’s more than just a robot dog, and it’s more than just an agile quadraped. It’s a platform for all kinds of functions. Spot can carry various payloads that serve a range of functions:

• Autonomous laser scanning 
• Continuous site monitoring with continuous 360-degree video 
• Examination of environments that are radioactive or otherwise dangerous to humans

  In short, Spot can provide the large data sets that allow project managers to employ some of the more ambitious AI solutions that are now available. Brian shares about a Boston Dynamics partnership with Drone Deploy.     We discuss some unexpected applications of Spot, including some work in the entertainment industry:

• Latte, the steampunk dog at Universal Studios park
• A performance with Cirque du Soleil
• Youtube influencers making weird videos

  Brian walks us through Spot’s abilities and limitations, explaining how much human guidance is needed for various functions. He’s clear about the fact that Spot won’t fix all of the challenges with BIM, but he discusses how integrations with things like Avvir show promise.  We discuss the social aspects of robots like Spot, including how people respond when they first encounter a robot like this one. Eddie shares that his initial reaction when he saw Spot was, “That’s cool, but what would I do with that?”   Brian discusses the fact that Spot can help contractors pay subs more quickly by verifying the status of their work. (Tyler makes the connection between this insight and our interview with Pete Dumont.) As you can imagine, this technology is advancing all the time. If you’re interested in seeing an update on the Spot developments (since this interview was recorded in 2020), check out this video.    Brian’s Megaphone Message: Don’t confuse technology problems with business model problems. Businesses will benefit when they intelligently take on risk where there’s a potentially substantial reward. Find Brian online:  Brian's LinkedIn - Brian's Instagram - Brian's Twitter - Boston Dynamics and Spot  Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we are going over 4 Tips For Project Managers! Here's a list of what we cover. - Don’t be a project pile-it. Don’t hit forward on the email saying “Please advise” before you understand and clarify the request. - Stay in front of the airplane. - Don’t be a box checker. - Have integrity. Never lie to get somebody to do something for you.   Thanks for joining us this week! Make sure you check out our sponsor Trimble ProjectSight! -https://projectsight.trimble.com/
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Take me out to the ballgame! Today we’re re-airing a really fun conversation we had last year with Angie Simon.   Angie can hit a nasty curveball, but when she’s not standing at the plate, she’s working in one of these roles:

• Advisor to the Board at Western Allied Mechanical. (She was CEO when we recorded this interview last year.)
• Immediate Past President Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA)When we conducted this interview, she was WAM’s CEO. 
• President and co-founder of the Heavy Metal Summer Experience (HMSE), a great program that introduces high school students to opportunities in trades.

  Our conversation today starts out with Angie and Eddie geeking out about the similarities between baseball and construction. 

• A team with mediocre talent but exceptional cohesiveness can outperform a team with superstars but no trust. 
• When you’re on the field, you should be talking–not just to communicate with your teammates, but to cement in your own mind what you need to do.
• Practical IQ–an understanding of how to approach a complex situation–is more important than some sort of technical giftedness or talent.
• Leaders who genuinely respect the workers in the field will have stronger teams. 

  Angie talks about the repeat business that her company gets simply because they do really, really good work. This is the case because of the culture of trust within their team. She explains the importance of getting a sense of buy-in from your team when you’re facing decisions. Communicate. Explain the whys and hows. Answer their questions.    We go on to talk about the ever-present issue of workforce development. Angie explains that 40% of the sheet metal workers in the country will be retiring in the next five years. Incoming apprentices are averaging 27 years of age. This means we need to get more focused with our recruitment. So, Angie’s doing something about it.   Angie spearheaded the Heavy Metal Summer Experience. When we recorded this episode in 2021, they were just about to run the first 12-session camp experience. If you want to see Angie share more about how this program has gone, check out this video. Angie also tells us about a number of other programs that she is working with to increase workforce diversity within the construction industry.    Angie’s Megaphone Message: The construction industry is a great industry. To participate in the process of building something is exciting, and there are so many opportunities. Construction workers make a difference in the world.    Learn more about Angie: Angie on LinkedIN - Angie’s SMACNA page - Angie talking about the HMSE program Find Us Online: BrosPodcast.com - LinkedIn - Youtube - Instagram - Facebook - Eddie's LinkedIn - Tyler's LinkedIn If you enjoy the podcast, please rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to us! Thanks for listening! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you love the undo button as much as us? This week we are talking about mistakes that happen and what we can do to make the situations better.    Topics that we cover: Mistakes happen! How to compare mistakes to baseball Slow down, think- then act!   Thanks for listening! Please be sure to leave a rating or review and follow us on our social accounts! SUBSCRIBE!      Like us on LinkedIn!      Like us on Facebook!    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.