Innovation Overload

"When looking at new technology, you need to be realistic about what your use case is because you are going to be spending a good amount of money to have access to that product and if you are not going to use it to its full capability, it may not fit into your workflow and what you really need.”  On this weeks episode of the Innovation Overload Podcast, Contractor Takeover edition, Justin Kohlman Executive Vice President of Schaffer Electric discusses the leadership transition to the second generation or new owner of an electrical contractor.  They also dive into and best practices and strategies for the exploration and sucessful implementation of new technology.

“Don’t hesitate, just jump, …there’s never a right time.  Go after the things you want, don’t look at all the obstacles in your way, look at what you want and when that comes into view and focus, you’ll find a way and you’ll be able to do it.”  Join Mike Oakes, Founder and CEO of First Choice Electrical Solutions to discuss turning his dream of starting a contracting business into a reality, lessons learned along the way, and how he sees innovation as paramount to his success and the success of his company. 

“I like to make sure I have my finger on the pulse of what's going on in the industry and share the lessons learned and the best of the best that we can all come up with.” Join Rosendin Electric CIO as he delves into insightful discussions, sharing strategies and best practices. This episode focuses on vital aspects such as recruiting IT talent, negotiating software contracts, navigating the legal process, and avoiding potential challenges along the way. Stay ahead of industry trends and gain valuable insights from this engaging conversation.

"Innovation is really just constantly re-evaluating all the different things around you and re-imagining what it could be, or why it should be different." Anna Jochim, MODL, Director, Future Workforce Development from Electri shares the challenges faced for our growing skilled labor gap and the use of innovative solutions to try to solve them.

"AI is not just a tool; it's becoming the foundation for smarter, more efficient construction practices." In this second part of the Contractor Takeover edition of the Innovation Overload podcast, hosts Jared Christman, Director of Innovation and Technology at Big State Electric, and Sean Lazarian, CFO of ESSCO, continue their in-depth exploration of the transformative role of artificial intelligence in the construction industry.

"AI is not just a tool; it's becoming the foundation for smarter, more efficient construction practices." Whether you're aiming to leverage AI to streamline operations or stay ahead of industry trends, this episode of Innovation Overload: Contractor Takeover delivers valuable insights and expert discussions with Jared Christman, Director of Innovation and Technology at Big State Electric, and Sean Lazarian, CFO of ESSCO. Their expertise provides practical tips and tools to help you stay competitive in a rapidly evolving industry.

“Ultimately we all need to make money.  Being efficient and trying to innovate and find new ways to do things is at the top of our list.”  Join Lance Beck, VP of Contract Operations for an insightful discussion on the dynamic shifts occurring within the electrical construction industry. In this episode, we explore how self-improvement initiatives can serve as a catalyst for fostering innovation at both the team and organizational levels.

We see the amount of work going up and the number of electricians going down, so we have to focus on process improvement and automation. We need to shift the mentality from "technology is taking our jobs" to "we are filling holes that cannot be filled fast enough." Join the Contractor Takeover with hosts Jared Christman of Big State Electric and Sean Lazarian of ESSCO, as they discuss solutions for the skilled labor shortage with AEC Inspire co-founders Adam Ketterer and Lonnie Cumpton.

Innovation is how you make something better for somebody.  Whether it's a very simple solution or a very complex solution, how can you make it faster, simpler, and easier to implement. Chris Lamb, Hilti North American Trade Marketing Manager, embodies this ethos, championing solutions tailored to the nuances of the electrical and mechanical trades. This episode of Innovation Overload explores the importance of understanding your customers and embracing how technology has reshaped the construction landscape.  Chris discusses the value of a customer-centric approach that transcends simply providing a service to instead foster genuine partnerships aimed at catalyzing growth and elevating safety, speed, productivity, and profitability across all organizations.  He shares transformative innovations spanning products, processes, and technology, empowering contractors to curb theft, eradicate downtime, overdrive ergonomic safety, and optimize resource allocation to scale their businesses.

“Innovation can be defined in a number of different ways. I think it can be tangible in terms of a product that you are actually using that is very different than anything you've seen before.  I think for me, I work for a company that is very innovative and we breathe the culture of that but for my day-to-day, it's really innovation in the way you approach things, your thought process.  Be ok with trying different things." Sarah Bardot, Director of Electrical Trades, Milwaukee Tool joins the Innovation Overload  Podcast and discusses networking, mentorship,  collaboration, and taking note of those who have paved the way in our industry.