Keepin' The Lights On

I’ve always been impressed how Milwaukee Tool works to improve the construction industry through associations. Their support goes beyond simply paying membership fees. It takes a well-thought-out strategy and plan to benefit both the industry and the business.

Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app.

To get a hold of us here at Keepin’ The Lights On, please email: [email protected]

To reach Bill on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-hughes-4368331a/

Find all the latest from Milwaukee: https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Company/Milwaukee-Story

Botto’s Line Restaurant: https://bottos.com/restaurant/

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/PEkPU8ACPco

For an electrical contractor, choosing the right software can be daunting. Chandler Brooks, Director of Industry Partnerships & Alliances at Procore Technologies, joins me during the NECA tradeshow to share his perspective on what an EC should consider when thinking about which software to implement in their business.

What I like about our conversation is how much Chandler thinks about the human side of construction.

There’s a lot of burnout and stress on all involved in the business of constructing and maintaining our buildings and infrastructure. This stress and burnout should be top of mind when beginning the journey of sourcing the right software for your business.

Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app.

To get a hold of us here at Keepin’ The Lights On, please email: [email protected]

To reach Chandler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandlerbrooks/

To find all the latest that ProCore is doing: https://www.procore.com/

Get Construction Talking Initiative for Construction Mental Health: https://www.getconstructiontalking.org/

Now on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rRI74JAtpuc

In this episode, Pete Mastrorocco, Sr. Vice President, Education, Events & Partnerships at the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) discusses the valuable insights and lessons learned through industry associations, which can be especially beneficial for small to medium electrical contractors. Pete and I explore the ways NECA supports its members.

Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app.

To get a hold of us here at Keepin’ The Lights On, please email: [email protected]

To reach Pete on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-mastrorocco-758197a/

Find all NECA has to offer: https://www.necanet.org/

Savino’s Hideaway: https://www.savinoshideaway.com/

This episode is a departure in format. Tauhira Ali, Executive Director of Industry Innovation at NECA, (National Electrical Contractors Association) and I sat down during the 2023 NECA Convention on the show floor to share ideas about conventions, innovation, podcasting, and food.

Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app.

To get a hold of us here at Keepin’ The Lights On, please email: [email protected]

Podcast on Graybar.com: https://www.graybar.com/podcast

To reach Tauhira on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tauhira/

The NECA Innovation Overload Podcast: https://www.necanet.org/programs/innovation/innovation-overload-podcast

Brasserie: https://brasseriebyniche.com/

YouTube Version: https://youtu.be/wQT0bN_MT54

Prefab is a topic so thoroughly discussed over the last 10 years that many start to tune it out when mentioned. After talking with Todd Grossweiler, Executive Vice President at Allison Smith Company about their approach to prefab, I wonder if we should start thinking of prefab not just as another process to complete projects, but as a vehicle to improve company culture.

1. To build a great prefab process you should involve the entire team which increases employee buy-in and engagement.
2. If done well, it can improve the working conditions of employees, which can improve job satisfaction.
3. It can help the company run more efficiently which can help the bottom line and help the company win more business which helps the overall health of the enterprise for all involved.

Todd Grossweiler has been with the Allison-Smith Company for the past 22 years. Todd graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology where he received a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering. He continues to seek out ways to innovate through processes, technology, and people. Maintaining good relationships with both his internal team and external customers is the foundation for his success.

Todd believes that if you surround yourself with good people, then good things will happen. I sat down with Todd on the NECA convention showroom floor and our conversation energized me.

Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app.

To get a hold of us here at Keepin’ The Lights On, please email: [email protected]

To reach Todd on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddgrossweiler/

Find the latest from Allison Smith: https://allisonsmith.com/
Waffle House: https://www.wafflehouse.com/
Muss and Turners: https://www.mussandturners.com/
YouTube Version: https://youtu.be/e0voQI8UDu8

Without materials, a contractor can’t do their job. Material management goes beyond simply ordering and receiving the material. A well-thought-out material strategy and plan can go a long way in helping a contractor get their projects done efficiently and can also help the bottom line.

At the 2023 NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association) Convention I had the privilege to speak with David Peterson, President and COO of ERMCO, to learn how they work with their vendors to create strong material management strategies and relationships.

Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app.

To get a hold of us here at Keepin’ The Lights On, please email: [email protected]

To reach David on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-peterson-1a189014/

Tony’s Steakhouse in Indianapolis: https://tonysofindianapolis.com/

When I heard the words, “biodegradable lighting fixtures,” my curiosity was piqued. To learn more about this, I turned to Benjamin Rapkin, General Manager at Lightly. In this episode of Keepin’ The Lights On, I learn about the current state of sustainable building materials. We discuss what lighting customers, designers, and manufacturers can do to move the needle to more sustainable products. Lastly, we learn lessons Lightly learned during the creation of their sustainable biodegradable lighting line.

Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app.

To get a hold of us here at Keepin’ The Lights On, please email: [email protected]

To reach Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminrapkin/

Learn more about Lightly: https://lightly.com/

Bakeri: https://www.bakeribrooklyn.com/williamsburg-lunch
Café Mogador: https://www.cafemogador.com/
Lilia: https://www.lilianewyork.com/

Architectural SSL article on the world’s first organic commercial light fixture: https://www.architecturalssl.com/products/design-and-manufacturing/article/33004070/butterfly-by-lightly-the-first-allnatural-and-sustainable-commercial-led-light-fixture?utm_campaign=LI&utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_content=1683653103

Engineering News and Record (ENR) article ENR 2023 Top 100 Green Design Firms and Contractors: A Green Market Growth Spurt: https://www.enr.com/articles/57098-enr-2023-top-100-green-design-firms-and-contractors-a-green-market-growth-spurt?utm_source=social&utm_medium=&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=award

Most associations have an internal group that focuses on political advocacy. To learn a bit more about this side of the National Electrical Contractor Association, I asked Marco Giamberardino, NECA Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, if he would spend a few minutes educating us on how he spends his days as an association lobbyist.

I met Marco at the NECA convention, so you will hear some of the background sounds of a convention setting. We recorded this in September of 2023 so a few of the topics discussed have resolved in one way or other, but I still wanted to share his thought process and how he views government operations in relation to the construction industry.

In addition to lobbying, Marco supervises numerous program areas, including advocacy, political fundraising, communications, marketing, and ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR magazine. Marco has been an active trade association professional and advocacy expert for over 30 years.

Marco was recognized as a Top Lobbyist for 2022 by the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics.

Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app.

To get a hold of us here at Keepin’ The Lights On, please email: [email protected]

To reach Marco on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcogo/

To see the work NECA conducts in Government Affairs: https://www.necanet.org/programs/government-affairs/overview

Many US cities and towns are beginning to show their age, with depopulation, aging infrastructure, and lost industry. In addition, many are looking for ways to make our communities more people-centric where walking and biking are more viable options. Overcoming these challenges and creating more people-centric communities is a big challenge and I’ve invited someone who’s been working on this problem for 20+ years.

I invited Kevin Klinkenberg, Executive Director of Midtown KC Now to look at the latest thinking in renewal of our communities, from small towns to large cities. Kevin’s background includes Architecture, Urban Design, consulting, blogging, and podcasting. From the beginning, Kevin’s focused his energies on those who aim for successful walkable and sociable places.

Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app.

To get a hold of us here at Keepin’ The Lights On, please email: [email protected]

To reach Kevin on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-klinkenberg/

Kevin’s Website: https://www.kevinklinkenberg.com/

Kevin’s blog post on his thoughts after visiting Europe: https://kevinklinkenberg.substack.com/p/your-truly-autonomous-future-bicycles

Find The Messy City on all your favorite podcast platforms and here: https://kevinklinkenberg.substack.com/podcast

Live from Akron podcast episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5MHk2ivWXpEBJjYTgU6NDV?si=cce8c530c00b4d60

A developers view on community redevelopment episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7M1NsKd9SItNvBjvX2dGPl?si=db4af300b34c4384

Strong Towns: https://www.strongtowns.org/

LCs BBQ: https://www.lcsbarbq.com/

Joe’s KC: https://www.joeskc.com/pages/our-story

The information, technology, and communications world hasn’t been spared the labor shortage that many trades are facing today. There is a growing talent gap and in this episode, Jennifer Roback, Director Global Systems Engineer at Commscope, shares her insight into this growing challenge.

We’ll learn what industry veterans can do to help recruit and mentor the new generation of talent. In addition, Jennifer and I go into the opportunities available to those seeking a career working on low-voltage network systems, pulling cable, designing a network, to leading project teams.

Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app.

To get a hold of us here at Keepin’ The Lights On, please email: [email protected]

To reach Jennifer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-roback/

A few of the organizations and certifications mentioned in the episode.

BICSI: https://www.bicsi.org/education-certification/education-@-bicsi-learning-academy

Fiber Optic Association: https://www.thefoa.org/Certs.htm

(These are provided for informational purposes and not an endorsement of the certifications or organizations associated with them.)