Gabe Krebs is the competitor. Tom Wozniak is the coach. And no, we're not talking traditional sports here. Gabe is a diesel mechanic (among other things) by day, and a competitive mechanic by night. Tom has been training folks in a variety of disciplines with WorldSkills USA for years. And together, they've been prepping for Gabe to compete in international competition in China this fall.

This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt chats with Gabe and Tom to discuss the path that led Gabe to his spot on the American team for the WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai in October. They discuss the trade school path and what our schools and individuals can do to build successful careers in any trade industry. Some really great education and training perspectives are shared throughout.

Follow Gabe's story, he's @_gabe_krebs on IG.

You can also learn more about WorldSkills at worldskillsusa.org.

Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app.

To connect with other people who listen to this show, use and search for the hashtag #betterdirtworld and join in on the conversation.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

In this episode of Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex talk about wardrobe, the BuildWitt Store, and the importance of a good haircut. They dig into the lengths we go to protect nature, especially the beloved desert tortoise. Aaron expresses his anticipation around the Boston Marathon and an upcoming trip to Europe. They finish off the episode answering questions from listeners about workplace incidents and how you can maintain family life in the heavy civil construction industry. 

Let your voice be heard! Answer a few simple questions at buildwitt.com/feedback and help us find more awesome listeners like you. Together, let’s make the Dirt World a better place!

Don't forget that you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! Learn more at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

Owner of Bachtel Excavating in Northeast Ohio, Matt Bachtel talks with Aaron about starting out in the industry by working alongside his father. They reminisce about working for dealerships, excavating, and job-hopping during summers when you’re still young. Matt and Aaron also discuss starting and running your own business, focusing the conversation on leadership and the vital work and empathy required of a business owner. 

Don't forget that you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! Learn more at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

In this week's Monday Dirt Talk episode, Aaron and Alex discuss the unthinkable: quitting coffee. From there, they savor Aaron's list of restaurants followed by a discussion of the perils of gas station eating. They touch on the benefit of getting an entry-level start in the industry and answer questions on family support and females in the workforce. 

Let your voice be heard! Answer a few simple questions at buildwitt.com/feedback and help us find more awesome listeners like you. Together, let’s make the Dirt World a better place!

Don't forget that you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! Learn more at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

This week's guests move almost no dirt. They don't do demolition. They don't deal in aggregates. And yet, folks in their line of work visit hundreds of job sites per year.

Welcome Chris Moore (SVP of Internal Operations) and Preston Higgins (Project Manager) of GPRS (Ground Penetrating Radar Systems) to the podcast. Among other things, GPRS is a great example of your friendly neighborhood utility locator. And boy, did these guys pique Aaron's interest. If you've ever worked a job and had to communicate with someone coming out to do a locate, then you might know that this kind of work is often looked at as an annoyance... and yet, people still hit utility lines! This conversation was a great basic rundown of what that work looks like from their perspective, and if you're a fan of tech talk, then you'll really connect with these guys.

This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt chats with Chris Moore and Preston Higgins about ground penetrating radar/utility locating, why they (and companies like GPRS) can sometimes get a bad rap, and why GPRS likes to focus on developing their team members into good people, first and foremost.

Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

This week on Dirt Talk, Aaron and Alex discuss the first-ever BuildWitt Office Open House, before diving into a question from a project manager regarding how to communicate with foremen. They also dissected the most important question of the week: "Are there more wheels or doors in the world?"

Don't forget that you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! Learn more at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

In this week’s episode of Dirt Talk, Aaron’s joined by industry vet Jay Collup, founder of Collup Enterprises. 

Jay’s a longtime trainer and certified Dirt World expert, and he shares his insights on the state of training in the industry today, the ROI of proper training, and building a life in the Dirt World. He’s even got insights on relationships, team building, and the pros and cons of traveling for work. 

Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

In this week's episode of the Dirt Talk podcast, Aaron discusses his recent wilderness experience with the Basic Course by the 3-of-7 Project and how doing uncomfortable things helps shape our perspectives as leaders.

We also cover a range of listener questions, including how concrete differs from cement (no, they're not the same thing) and the books Aaron considers essential for all leaders in the Dirt World — and beyond.

Don't forget you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! You can learn more about it at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

"If it's worth having, then you're gonna pay for it upfront, but the return on investment is going to be realized pretty quick."

Ryan Goodfellow (of Rock Structures Utility and Excavating) is clearly passionate about heavy equipment. His company IG acct @rockstructures has almost 100k followers and consistently features his crew on jobs around Utah, ranging from digging basements to building intricate rock walls. But in addition to equipment, Ryan is a good time. He's got plenty of jokes and is a hoot to laugh with. While the Dirt Talk guys were in Utah, they asked Ryan to come out to Wheeler Machinery to come talk shop, and he didn't disappoint. From the get-go, this episode features a lot of technical talk about equipment, with points made about operating technique, 3D GPS, finding hidden grease points, and much more.

This week on Dirt Talk, host Aaron Witt sits down with Ryan Goodfellow to chat about Ryan's Dirt World story and his love and appreciation for heavy equipment. Aaron and Ryan discuss why Ryan would prefer to dig a basement vs build a rock wall, why he owns both John Deere AND Caterpillar equipment, and why investing in quality tools (among other things) is worth it.

To learn more about Ryan and Rock Structures, visit the website at rockstructures.com or follow along on IG at @rockstructures.

Don't forget that you can watch or listen to Dirt Talk on the BuildWitt app! Learn more at buildwitt.com/buildwitt-app.

If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to [email protected].

Stay Dirty!

This week, we have a special guest on the podcast: Dirt Talk alum Kimo Clark IN THE OFFICE from Hawaii. Kimo and Aaron headed out to the North Carolina mountains to do a challenging backpacking trip. Aaron, Alex, and Kimo dig into how folks in the Dirt World get paid, why most field workers are hourly, and how to beat the "Monday blues".