Leadership Blueprints

In this episode of Inspiring People & Places, BJ Kraemer welcomes back Michael Fuhrman, founder of MCFA, and Brian Pieplow, Chief Project Development Officer, to discuss their upcoming book, Make No Little Plans: A Project Development Approach to Building Infrastructure. 

Together, they share insights on the importance of big-picture thinking in public infrastructure projects and emphasize the necessity of having agency champions to drive critical initiatives forward. From lessons in planning as project development to the perseverance required in the infrastructure field, they highlight key stories and case studies that underscore the book's theme.

Key Points from This Episode:

• Planning as Project Development: Michael and Brian explain their Discover, Navigate, Accelerate (DNA) process, a method to guide projects through complex obstacles to successful execution.
• Agency Champions: They dive into the traits of agency champions, emphasizing servant leadership, mission-focused perseverance, and critical thinking as essential for navigating bureaucracy and getting big projects done.
• Real-World Case Studies: They recount inspiring stories, such as the master planning for Arlington National Cemetery and resilience planning for the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, demonstrating the impact of long-term vision and public service.
• The Importance of Public Infrastructure Investment: Discussion of current infrastructure challenges in the U.S. and why investment is critical to ensure functionality and connectivity for future generations.

Quotes from the Episode:
“Every project will die a thousand deaths along its journey. What defines an agency champion is the perseverance to see it through.” — Brian Pieplow
“Make no small plans. Go big or go home, because big projects inspire bigger outcomes.” — Michael Fuhrman
“Infrastructure is what made this country what it is today. It's not a one-and-done effort. We need resilient, redundant systems to keep moving forward.” — BJ Kraemer

Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Michael Fuhrman on LinkedIn
Brian Pieplow on LinkedIn
Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Small Business Conference
MCFA Careers
Inspiring People & Places Podcast
BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Entering a new career after your military service can be a tough transition, but there are plenty of transferrable skills that can help you on your journey. Joining us today is Paul Garvey, Executive Managing Director at Cushman & Wakefield, to talk about his time in the Navy and the transition into corporate real estate. 

Tuning in, you’ll learn about key skills and experiences from his military career, and how they have served him in his new business environment. We unpack what it’s like working your way up in real estate brokerage today, and how to make sure you have the right support in place so that you can give it your all and get the best possible outcome. 

He also shares his advice for other veterans who want to enter a new career and how to make sure they are adequately prepared for their exit. To learn more about the fascinating world of international real estate and the path to a career transition for veterans, be sure to tune in!
 
 Key Points From This Episode:

•   Development and consulting in international corporate real estate.

•   Military career skills that have served him well in the corporate real estate world.

•   What it’s like working your way up in real estate brokerage today.

•   Everything you need to know about The Tun Tavern Legacy Foundation in Philadelphia.

•   Advice on transitioning out of the military and going toward something new.

Quotes:

“[With real estate brokerage] when things get going, things get tough. You've just got to put your nose to the grindstone and work hard. That's one of the beauties of the things [is that] you can you can change that outcome.” — Paul Garvey

“We can't create peace in the Middle East. We have no ability to change that. – What we can do is make a change right around us to the people we touch every day.” — Paul Garvey

“If you're transitioning out [of the military], don’t just leave, go [toward] something.” — Paul Garvey

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Paul Garvey

Paul Garvey on LinkedIn

Cushman & Wakefield

Steven Covey Books

Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In
Thinking, Fast and Slow

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

The Tun Tavern Legacy Foundation

Inspiring People & Places Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Many veterans struggle to find their place in a world different from the one in active service. However, many skills learned on the military base are valuable and transferable to civilian life. For sales, your military background may even serve you better than someone with a more traditional career trajectory. 

Today we are joined by Navy Veteran, Alex Archawski, whose impressive business acumen led to him founding two companies—Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network and Veteran Shark Tank—including being the President of Sales Evolution. 

We begin with Alex’s work and home life before learning about the three titles he currently holds and what each role entails. Then, we uncover important sales facts that every business leader needs to know, why there’s a common disconnect between sales and revenue in the industry, skills that easily transfer from military to business, and the importance of teaching the youth about leadership from a young age. 

To end, Alex describes how he can maintain consistent levels of high performance, why his life is centered on helping others, and he lays down a (very doable) challenge for all veterans who want to improve their lives.  

Key Points From This Episode:

•   The ins and outs of the Veteran Shark Tank and the Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network.

•   Why a disconnect between sales and revenue is a common industry occurrence. 

•   Transferable skills that one should lean on when transitioning from the Military to sales.

•   Sales tips and tricks to keep in your locker. 

Quotes:

“[The Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network] is really about empowering the community to work collectively together in different ways.” — Alex Archawski

“Everybody likes to make more money; I would 100% agree with you. But philosophically, I run into people that are not willing to make the effort.” — Alex Archawski 

“Your signature moment [in sales] is influencing somebody to change the way they do things for the better of their business. That’s powerful.” — Alex Archawski 

“That’s my motto, ‘So others may live.’ When people say, ‘What do you do for a living?’ I’m always like, ‘I’m a glorified facilitator.’” — Alex Archawski 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Alex Archawski on LinkedIn

Veteran Shark Tank

Sales Evolution

Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network 

West Point Society of Philadelphia 

11th Annual Veteran Shark Tank – December 9, 2024 

Atomic Habits

Inspiring People & Places Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Committing to candid quarterly conversations is one of the most powerful organizational levers you can tap into. These discussions are beneficial to everyone, driving growth for both individuals and the organization. 

As we head into the fourth quarter of the year, BJ Kraemer shares his thoughts on why annual feedback isn’t enough. Why formalizing a process for these quarterly conversations is essential for successful growth. What these conversations should entail, and the impact of avoiding difficult discussions. 

He also breaks down the key elements that make these conversations truly effective. To learn how to implement effective quarterly conversations, tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

•   Reasons that annual feedback is just not enough.

•   Why formalizing a process into quarterly conversations is a big lever to tap into.

•   What a quarterly conversation should cover.

•   Processes for having effective and candid quarterly conversations.

•   How finishing this year strong enables you to start next year with increased momentum.

Quotes:

“I want my employees [to understand] their role, their responsibilities, and [advocate] for how their growth is tied to our growth and our growth is tied to their growth. I want my managers to be engaged in helping them think through that.” — BJ Kraemer 

“Formalizing a process into quarterly conversations is one of the biggest organizational levers you can tap.” — BJ Kraemer 

“Having consistent, candid conversations with employees is to everybody’s benefit.” — BJ Kraemer 

“Feedback the breakfast of champions.” — BJ Kraemer

“You cannot be afraid of having hard conversations because the more you let that hard conversation linger, the harder that conversation is to have.” — BJ Kraemer 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jack Welch on LinkedIn

EOS: The Quarterly Conversation

Inspiring People & Places Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What makes or breaks a multi-million-dollar capital project? 

In today’s episode, we sat down with Jim Brill, Managing Director of the Construction and Real Estate Practice at EY to uncover what it takes to be successful in large-scale investment projects. With over 30 years of experience, Jim has advised a variety of stakeholders on capital projects across multiple industries. His leadership in consulting and expertise in project management have made him a key figure in the industry.

In our conversation, we find out how he got started in the industry, what his current role entails, and hear what makes EY unique in the construction and real-estate space. We also unpack how EY serves clients from the ground up to execution and its approach to integrating the entire business and owner objectives into a project. 

Explore the various ways a large-scale project can fail, how EY supports the mission of its clients, and the various sectors it operates in. And discover why good leaders are vital for effective risk management, the difference between perception and perspective, the steps to fostering a healthy work culture, the importance of communication, and more. 

Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

•   Learn how to navigate the needs of the business with nuances of design and construction.

•   Learn the fundamentals of setting a project up for success from its inception. 

•   How to gain an understanding of an entire project and the different teams involved.

Quotes:

“In my business, we have to sell internally to your account partners and then be able to get a good conversation [going] with the account themselves.” — Jim Brill 

“I think that it takes good leaders to be able to execute risk management appropriately.” — Jim Brill 

“Put in the hard work early and often, and it is going to pay dividends.” — Jim Brill 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jim Brill on LinkedIn

EY (Ernst & Young)

How to Win Friends & Influence People

Inspiring People & Places Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

"If not me, then who?” 

First Lt. Travis Manion, USMC, made this simple yet powerful statement before his final deployment, reflecting the profound sense of duty experienced by service members and their families. 

Today on the podcast, BJ is joined by Ryan Manion, CEO of the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF), one of the nation’s leading veteran service organizations. Known for her resilience after losing her brother Travis to war and her mother to cancer, Ryan is dedicated to empowering veterans and the families of fallen heroes to inspire future generations to drive change. 

Join the conversation to learn more about TMF, the story behind the quote, and the powerful impact their Character Does Matter training program has on inspiring the next generation of leaders. 

Thanks for tuning in!

Key Points From This Episode:

•   Ryan shares the background and mission of the Travis Manion Foundation and her role as CEO.

•   Who was Travis Manion: Ryan reflects on the life and legacy of her brother. 

•   The story behind the quote, “If not me, then who?”

•   Ryan shares details about their flagship leadership program Character Does Matter.

•   What it means to live a life of character for our youth. 

Quotes:

“The goal and the goal still continues to be, how can we inspire the rest of society to live by those five words, [If not me, then who?], as well” — Ryan Manion

“For us as a veteran service organization, we knew very quickly that the way to make sure that veterans thrive post their military career is to give them a continued sense of purpose and to make sure that they know that we still need them, even out of their uniform.” — Ryan Manion

“My mom started the [Travis Manion] organization — [with] three very simple goals. One was to continue providing support and resources to returning veterans. The second was to be able to do the same for families of the fallen. And the third — our mission was to help play a part in inspiring the next generation of leaders. ” — Ryan Manion

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ryan Manion

Ryan Manion on X

Ryan Manion on Instagram

The Knock at the Door: Three Gold Star Families Bonded by Grief and Purpose

Brothers Forever: The Enduring Bond between a Marine and a Navy SEAL that Transcended Their Ultimate Sacrifice

The Resilient Life Podcast

Travis Manion Foundation

Travis Manion Foundation: Join the Mission

Travis Manion Foundation on Instagram

Character Does Matter Program

Donate to the Travis Manion Foundation

Fire in the Hole Golf Outing 2024

Joey Fay on LinkedIn

Inspiring People & Places Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Have you ever tried leading or managing someone but struggled with communication? Effective communication is the backbone of every successful training program. 

In this solo episode of Inspiring People & Places, BJ dives into how the correct communication techniques can elevate your training methods. He unpacks the concept of training in the context of leadership and how to tailor training based on each employee’s specific needs. 

Discover how to establish foundational language, communicate company culture effectively, and the interplay between career progression and business growth. Learn why companies and employees must remain flexible with their expectations, the importance of catering to an employee’s learning style, and why training is crucial for startups. Explore actionable strategies for improving communication in your training sessions and tips for building cohesive and productive teams. 

Whether coaching a team, teaching a class, or delivering a workshop, mastering training can be the difference between success and missed opportunities. Tune in now to take your training and employees to the next level!

Key Points From This Episode:

•   Why communication is a vital ingredient for proficient training and team-building.

•   Tips and strategies for teaching the baseline experience of the company. 

•   Explore the differences between technical and business-focused career paths.

•   Approaches for filling employee skill gaps while meeting a client’s needs.

•   The basics of a training program and how to identify an employee’s baseline.

•   Resources to enhance your training program and foster top performers. 

Quotes:

“The more an individual understands how their personal growth benefits the company and how the company’s growth benefits their career, I think, the more symbiotic [the employee] relationship is.” — BJ Kraemer

“I think that we have to recognize that we are always going to have team members that are at different levels of understanding, and our job, as leaders, is to meet them where they are.” — BJ Kraemer 

“You may have gaps across the enterprise and that can give you the trends of where to put your corporate resources versus where to customize for an individual manager or employee.” — BJ Kraemer

“Training to me is critical and I think everybody should be doing it.” — BJ Kraemer 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The Hard Thing About Hard Things

Inspiring People & Places Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

At its core, leadership is about inspiring and influencing behavior to help people to achieve a common goal. But how are great leaders shaped? Join us for a compelling conversation with Brian Stann, a former mixed martial artist and U.S. Marine who competed in the UFC’s middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. 

In this discussion, we explore where Brian is today, his journey through the military, the lessons he learned at Hire Heroes USA, and his leap into real estate development. Brian also breaks down how specific military experiences, training programs, and the culture of mixed martial arts combine to forge exceptional leaders. 

We’ll touch on how to build, develop, and maintain toughness in your life. Brian even offers valuable advice for active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses. 

Thanks for tuning in.

Key Points From This Episode:

•   The merging of things he loved and how he wound up at Hunt Military Communities.

•   Hunt Military Communities, its portfolio, the number of employees, and where they’re located. 

•   He distills down what Military experience, IOBC Training, and the martial culture do to human beings to create leaders.

•   How to build, develop, and maintain your toughness.

Quotes:

“What I loved about the military, at that time, the brand was elite. If you wanted to be something elite, if you wanted to go on an adventure and climb to the top of the mountain, you joined the military.” — Brian Stann

“I fell in love with how martial arts and a martial mindset can help me be a better combat leader.” — Brian Stann

“The one thing that I struggle to find now as a CEO, the number one thing that I struggle to find is people who can truly lead other people.” — Brian Stann 

“I think, if you take just a very simple definition of leadership, it’s the ability to influence people’s behaviors so that they can go accomplish a goal and that’s essential.” — Brian Stann 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Brian Stann on Instagram

Hunt Military Communities 

UFC 

Hire Heroes USA

Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae

Denzel Washington Commencement Speech
Inspiring People & Places Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn 

Veterans have the potential to be exceptional business leaders if they can prioritize and balance their values, wellness, and financial goals. Joining us today is the founder of Richard Group LLC, Jed Richard to discuss his incredible career and the difference he is making within his company. 

Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Jed’s upbringing, how his grandfather became his inspiration, his time in the army, and how he transitioned into construction. We explore the exceptional entrepreneurial qualities veterans possess before Jed highlights the most common mistakes he sees them make in career planning. 

He also shares book recommendations for aspiring entrepreneurs, insights gained from Peter Thiel, and why he is so passionate about supporting his employees’ families. Finally, Jed offers his perspective on the advancement of the construction industry. 

Thanks for tuning in!

Key Points From This Episode:

•   The failures Jed has seen in veterans when career planning. 

•   Why veterans have dual ‘superpowers’ when it comes to entrepreneurship. 

•   How to make a difference in the private sector. 

•   Why transactional motives will not bring you fulfillment. 

•   How to become a great leader by following first. 

Quotes:

“The people that get promoted in this world are promoted by their teammates, their peers, and the people underneath them that they’ve made successful.” — Jed Richard

“You’re going to create value in the world if you focus on being a great leader and sometimes being a great leader starts with being a great follower.” — Jed Richard 

“I want to give the most noteworthy adventure to as many families as possible and to my own.” — Jed Richard 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jed Richard on LinkedIn

Richard Group LLC

The 4 Disciplines of Execution 

Tools of Titans

The Great Game of Business

The Obstacle is the Way

Inspiring People & Places Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Anyone can build an average business, but who wants to be average when you can be excellent? 

Today on Inspiring People & Places, we are joined by the founder and managing partner of Scare the Bear Capital, Matthew Dean. In this conversation, we hear all about Matt’s background, what led him to his current leadership role, and where he is in his career today. 

We delve into the leadership lessons he learned growing his firm, his ‘Markon 100’ principle, and how his leadership style changed as the firm grew. Matt goes on to tell us about the ‘north star’ of Scare the Bear Capital, his favorite book for entrepreneurs to read, the most inspiring quote he can think of, his ideal dinner party guests, and so much more! 

Finally, Matt tells us what he wants his legacy to be and encourages people with entrepreneurial spirits (especially veterans) to start small businesses today! Thanks for tuning in!

Key Points From This Episode:

•   The leadership lessons he learned growing a firm, one contract at a time. 

•   How his leadership style changed from 100 to 300 employees. 

•   The ‘north star’ of Scare the Bear Capital. 

•   Why people in the military would make wonderful entrepreneurs. 

Quotes:

“I’m unapologetic about wanting to be profitable.” — Matt Dean

“I truly believe that we can help small business owners achieve financial goals that they could not achieve on their own.” — Matt Dean

“To be good or average in the industry is not very hard. But who wants to be average?” — Matt Dean 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Matt Dean on LinkedIn

Markon Solutions

Shoe Dog

Inspiring People & Places Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn