Leadership Blueprints

In this 4th of July special edition of Leadership Blueprints, BJ Kraemer sits down with Marine Corps veteran, educator, and operations leader Fred Conner for a conversation about legacy, leadership, and renewal. This episode explores the transformation of the historic 75-acre Valley Forge campus- home to Founding Forward, a national civic education nonprofit founded by the Union League of Philadelphia and Freedom’s Foundation.

Fred shares his journey from military service to international project management to teaching at Temple University. Along the way, he reveals how landscapes, memory, and mission-based leadership shape how we build -and remember- our most important places. 

Whether you're a veteran transitioning into the A/E/C world, a project leader tackling deferred maintenance, or a parent wondering what civic education looks like today, this episode offers a reminder: leadership starts with service, and the built environment can inspire generations.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why project management is a natural fit for transitioning veterans.
• Lessons from building military camps in Kosovo and Afghanistan.
• The power of servant leadership- sometimes that means doing dishes and landscaping.
• Why trust and execution are foundational to any successful project.

Quotes:

 “Vision is a really good thing, but it’s only aspiration if you can’t execute.” - Fred Conner 
 “Operations occur at the speed of trust.” — Gen. Jim Mattis (quoted by Fred Conner) 
 “The things we remember most about a place are often how the built environment coexists with the landscape around it.” — Fred Conner

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

• Founding Forward
• Union League of Philadelphia
• Leadership Blueprints Podcast
• MCFA
• MCFA Careers
• BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What if your next big leadership breakthrough started with booking a vacation?  

In this solo episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ Kraemer dives into a powerful and often overlooked leadership lesson: the transformative value of R&R. With summer in full swing and the midpoint of the year approaching, BJ challenges leaders to rethink their relationship with rest, reframing time off as a strategic imperative for sustained impact, clarity, and growth.  

From redefining “busy” to modeling a culture that celebrates vacation time and drawing inspiration from military leadership models and Bill Gates’s Think Week, this episode offers practical insights for leaders ready to recharge and lead with renewed purpose.  

Tune in to find out why stepping away might be the most powerful move you make this year! 

Key Points From This Episode:  

• The importance of prioritizing time off and planning ahead. 
• Lessons from military models of reflection and leader development. 
• Investing in your career when you're young and then modeling rest as a leader. 
• Practical tips to help you “disconnect, re-energize, and redeploy.” 
• A leadership challenge: book time off and encourage your team to do the same! 

Quotes: 

“Don't confuse action with results. Don't confuse a full calendar with impact.” — BJ Kraemer

“The greatest leaders I know are always creating space for themselves.” — BJ Kraemer

“The way that we can – use R&R to grow is [to] disconnect, re-energize, and then redeploy that new energy towards something new.” — BJ Kraemer
 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude 

Leadership Blueprints Podcast 

MCFA 

MCFA Careers 

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn 

What if the future of leadership in construction isn’t about command and control, but about trust and curiosity? 

In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, we’re joined by Andrea Janzen, founder of Ambition Theory, a professional development company that specializes in the research, education, and advancement of women in construction. 

Andrea shares her unexpected journey from corporate marketing to coaching executives in the construction industry. She unpacks the power of transformational leadership versus transactional leadership, a model based on collaboration, curiosity, and vision, and why it resonates more with women than traditional, top-down structures. Through real-world examples, including a $2 million sales turnaround, she shows how shifting leadership styles can unlock potential, fuel innovation, and drive measurable results.  

Tune in to learn how rethinking leadership can unlock hidden potential, build stronger teams, and drive results, whether you're in construction or any other fast-evolving industry! 

Key Points From This Episode: 

• Why traditional leadership doesn’t appeal to most women. 
• The value of transformational leadership in highly structured fields. 
• Why tech won’t change construction; leaders will. 
• Giving credit versus claiming ownership: a leadership nuance. 
• Opportunities unlocked by transformational leadership in construction. 

Quotes: 

“[Leadership coaching] is so much more than getting someone a job. It's about opening up their potential, helping them see opportunities, [leveraging] relationships, and [making] things happen.” — Andrea Janzen 

“We've done research in construction that shows us men are just naturally more transactional. Women are naturally more transformational. It's a thing. It's not one is better than the other. It just is.” — Andrea Janzen  

“A lot of times, people get stuck on the surface-level issue, but we don’t actually get to the root cause. – If you spend more time on the problem and define it properly, the path forward is a lot clearer.” — Andrea Janzen 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Andrea Janzen on LinkedIn 

Ambition Theory 

Ambition Theory Podcast 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People 

Trust and Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others  

Rising Together: How We Can Bridge Divides and Create a More Inclusive Workplace 

What Got You Here Won't Get You There  

How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back 

Adam Grant 

Marshall Goldsmith 

Leadership Blueprints Podcast 

MCFA 

MCFA Careers 

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn 

Leadership is a never-ending journey with infinite checkpoints for growth and self-discovery. Today, we are joined by Greg Kelly, the CEO of STV, a national, infrastructure-focused professional services firm that exists to make communities better through innovative solutions that connect people, places, and the present to the future. 

Greg begins by meticulously detailing his professional journey and how he found his feet in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) before explaining why learning never stops for anyone, specifically as a leader. We learn about his role as STV CEO, the work the company is currently engaged in, the best practices for leading with trust, and the leadership characteristics that are non-negotiable for effective leadership. This episode also unpacks plans for STV’s future, how it solves common and pressing industry pain points, how crisis begets great leaders, and the books that have influenced Greg Kelly’s leadership style.

To end, our guest shares the quotes that have carried him through difficult times, and he offers noteworthy advice for anyone with similar career aspirations.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why learning never ends as a leader. 
• How to spend time with your team while also giving them enough space to operate.
• The importance of self-discovery and humility in leadership. 
• How to identify leadership characteristics in others. 
• Why disasters (like COVID) are also great opportunities for breeding leaders.  

Quotes:

“What I learned at that point in my career, BJ, was the cultural appreciation that goes with working globally and knowing that there’s different cultural norms, and you have to be very respectful of that.” — Greg Kelly 

“Let’s meet the moment and solve the problem, not hold it to some standard. So, the leadership piece, there’s no playbook. It’s about self-discovery and humility.” — Greg Kelly

“I’m a big fan of betting on people. We grew up betting on ourselves, so let’s bet on others.” — Greg Kelly 

“Create your own comfort crisis – your greatest learning comes in the greatest periods of discomfort.” — Greg Kelly 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Greg Kelly on LinkedIn

STV 

ASCE Opal Awards Gala

Daily Stoic
Trust Matters More Than Ever

The Comfort Crisis 

The End of the World Is Just the Beginning 

Strength in Stillness 

Life After Power
ACECNY

National Academy of Construction

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

The lessons learned on the sports field teach us so much about leadership on the battlefield and in life. 

This episode marks the launch of a special segment highlighting the power of youth sports in shaping the leaders of tomorrow. Joining us on this episode is Head Men’s Swimming and Diving Coach at Princeton University, Matt Crispino, a key player in shaping leadership and character development through sports at the Military Academy. 

Matt shares success tactics, core team values, and why he believes that there truly is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership. We also explore how college sports may change, what this means for coaches and the Ivy League, and what it looks like to develop a culture of growth within your team. Finally, we discuss what it truly means to be a coach, why it is so challenging, and why it is so rewarding.

Don’t miss this episode with an inspiring coach and leader! 

Key Points from This Episode:

•   The power of youth sports in shaping leaders in the military.

•   Developing the character of your team while training to win.

•   Tactics for team and individual success. 

•   Principles that have led his leadership over the past year. 

•   The mental health epidemic is prevalent in athletes.

Quotes:

“If I am surrounded by the right people, I am displaying and modelling and promoting the right values, there’s going to be a lot of fast swimming in that pool.” - Matt Crispino
 

“I think the team has to always trump the individual.” - Matt Crispino

“I just think everyone’s got more in them than they ever truly believe.” - Matt Crispino
 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Matt Crispino on LinkedIn

Matt Crispino on Instagram

Matt Crispino on X

Men’s Swimming and Diving

The Friendly Strife Foundation
Concussion
Trust and Inspire

Daniel Coyle

Malcolm Gladwell

The Boys in the Boat

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What happens when engineering leaders prioritize people over profit and community over convenience? 

In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, we’re joined by Phil Wursta, a seasoned strategist with over 40 years of experience in municipal agency and private sector engineering. He’s also the founding partner of WK2 Consulting, a woman-owned civil engineering and public management firm serving Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 

From his early days as an archaeology-obsessed teen to his leadership role building resilient infrastructure and compassionate teams, Phil shares how clear communication, community engagement, and employee-first values have guided his career and company culture. You’ll learn how to balance technical expertise with emotional intelligence, simplify infrastructure funding for stakeholders, and lead with authenticity by caring for your people.

Don’t miss this inspiring conversation packed with practical insights for building a business and a team that truly makes a difference!

Key Points from This Episode:

•   What goes into launching a people-first engineering firm and scaling fast.

•   Strategies for overcoming early-stage startup challenges.

•   People-first leadership through community-focused problem solving.

•   How engineers can build trust in politically sensitive environments.

•   How to align diverse political stakeholders around shared goals.

•   Building a team culture rooted in care, values, and purpose.

Quotes:

“[WK2 is] employee-oriented. We want to take care of our people. We're not in it to make a ton of money. We're just in it to do the right thing, serve clients, and feel good about ourselves with the projects that we do.” — Phil Wursta 

“We try to say, ‘How can we get it done?’ Rather than why we can't get it done.” — Phil Wursta

“Involving your people and [caring for them] sets the stage for success because, at the end of the day, you're doing this for the people, whether they're the people of the country [or the] people of your company.” — Phil Wursta

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Phil Wursta on LinkedIn

WK2 Consulting

‘Inside the C-Suite: The CFO’s Role in Capital Program Investment and Decision-Making with Gail Kosyla’

The Rifle

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Memorial Day isn't just the start of summer—it's a time to honor those who gave their lives for our freedom. Every Memorial Day, BJ has decided to play an episode he recorded two years ago to honor his late friend and everyone who has given their lives to service. 

In this tribute episode, we speak with Marion Zilinski, known as Mama Z, about the true meaning of Memorial Day through the eyes of someone who lost a loved one in service. She shares the story of her son Dennis, his journey to West Point, the impact of 9/11 on his life, and his incredible generosity. 

Marion reflects on the pain of losing him and the signs she still receives from him today. We also highlight Run with Dennis and the Dennis Zilinski Memorial Fund, and how you can get involved. Mama Z leaves us with a powerful reminder of what this day is really about. 

To hear all this and be inspired to honor the brave men and women who give you your freedom this Memorial Day, tune in now! 

Key Points From This Episode:

•   Dennis Zilinski, and his life of service.

•   Marion reflects on the events of 9/11 and how they impacted Dennis

•   The touching revelations about Dennis’ selflessness and generosity found in his will.

•   The motivation behind creating Run with Dennis and the Dennis Zilinski Memorial Fund.

•   Insights into the service dog initiative and its role in supporting veterans with PTSD.

•   Where to find out more about these incredible volunteer-run organizations.

•   A powerful reminder of the true meaning of Memorial Day and the cost of our freedom. 

Quotes:

“[Dennis] was the protector. Always the protector.” — Marion Zilinski

“[Dennis] said, ‘I would never leave West Point, especially now when my country needs me the most.’” — Marion Zilinski 

“I was so angry [when my son died]. I have never been so angry in my life.” — Marion Zilinski 

“We want people to understand the dedication of our military.” — Marion Zilinski 

“Freedom is not free. It’s bought and paid for only by our military – not by anybody else.” — Marion Zilinski

“22 warriors a day commit suicide because of post-traumatic stress and/or TBI injuries.” — Marion Zilinski 

“Our freedom is bought and paid for by men and women that pledge to each of [us] their lives. And not all of them will come home. Many will be killed – or – wounded and their lives will be so impacted.”  — Marion Zilinski

Longer Quotes:

“The worst thing that anybody could ever say to me is, ‘Happy Memorial Day’. It’s not a happy day. It’s not the first day of summer. It’s not all about the beach and the sales, it’s about your freedom. It’s about the men and women that step up, raise their right hand, and take that oath to give us our freedom.” — Marion Zilinski 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Marion Zilinski on LinkedIn

Run with Dennis

Zilinski Memorial Fund on Facebook

Fisher House Foundation

Brooke Army Medical Center

The Strong Gray Line

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

If education is executed correctly, it can be one of the best ways to inspire people to change the world! 

Today’s guest on Leadership Blueprints, John Abraham, is a professor of thermal sciences at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about John’s career, what led him to academia, how he connects with this generation of students, and so much more! 

We delve into his focus on ocean warming before discussing his work on sustainable energy through his company LEMA. John even removes the political side of global warming and climate change and talks about what is causing it and how to solve it. 

Finally, our guest answers our rapid-fire questions, talks about the unimaginable power of AI, shares his advice for younger generations entering his industry, and gives us his take on the future of humankind and simulation theory. 

Thanks for listening in! 

Key Points From This Episode:

•   What drew John to academia and what motivates him inside the classroom. 

•   Insight into his work on ocean warming and sustainable energy. 

•   His company, LEMA, and what his involvement in it is. 

•   What’s driving global warming and climate change and how to deal with it.

•   The wind energy debate and what John’s take on it is. 

Quotes:

“When you can save lives and save jobs at the same time, man, that’s a win-win situation.” — John Abraham 

“How do we deal with climate change? – Reduce our energy use; just use energy more wisely!” — John Abraham

“AI is going to absolutely change our world!” — John Abraham 

“We’re in an environment where future jobs are up in the air. If you are dealing in a job that has information transfer and processing as your primary job description, your job is at risk for AI.” — John Abraham

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

John Abraham

John Abraham Email

LEMA
ChatGPT

Claude AI

Gemini

Grok AI

Meta AI

Mistral

DeepSeek

Sapiens

Homo Deus

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Joining us is Carey Kight, producer, advertiser, and owner of Veteran Made. He shares a series of pivotal choices that have shaped his career and his life’s journey, from the military to film school, advertising, production, and beyond. Pulling from his experiences, we discuss the frameworks that translate from the military to other fields. 

Carey shares how Veteran Made embodies this, highlighting key skills that veterans can bring to the working world. We touch on managing your own expectations, the ideas that underpin Carey’s leadership decisions, and reveal more about his rich background and love of the classics, as well as his life philosophy and the kind of legacy he hopes to leave behind. 

Thanks for listening! 

Key Points From This Episode:

•   The transferrable skills that veterans usually have. 

•   Developing the skill of managing your own expectations. 

•   The number one leadership lesson that Carey has taken into his new career. 

Quotes:

“Resilience is very much a lifeskill. That’s something you have to develop emotionally and intellectually for yourself.” — Carey Kight

“Don’t just stay connected to the military community and the veteran community, but integrate the other community that you are trying to get into.” — Carey Kight

“We’re not the products of our environments only. We are the product of the choices that we make in each environment that we are in.” — Carey Kight

“I’m very lucky that my vocation is an avocation for a lot of other people. That, to me, feels like a privilege and a blessing, and it’s something I get to do.” — Carey Kight

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Carey Kight

Carey Kight on X
Carey Kight on Instagram
Carey Kight on LinkedIn

Veteran Made

Veteran Made Podcast
Lord of the Rings

Chronicles of Narnia
Harry Potter
To Kill a Mockingbird

Farenheit 451
Stephen Pressfield

A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What does it take to lead a software company at the forefront of the architecture and engineering (A&E) world? 

Joining us today is the CEO of BQE Software, Matt Cooper, to discuss his incredible career and his company’s work in the architecture and engineering space. Tuning in, you’ll hear about Matt’s time consulting, what led him to BQE Software, how he transitioned into a leadership position, and so much more! 

We delve into what it means to produce ‘client-worthy’ work before discussing how BQE expanded into A&E. You’ll even hear Matt’s thoughts on the A&E industry and what exciting projects his research and development team is working on. 

Finally, Matt answers our rapid-fire questions and shares some nuggets of wisdom about taking a leap of faith. Thanks for listening! 

Key Points From This Episode

•   Matt shares his approach to taking on a leadership role at BQE

•   Matt explains what it means to produce ‘client-worthy work’

•   How BQE expanded into the A&E space

•   What he’s seeing in the A&E industry as the company continues to grow

Quotes:

“When you’re working with investors, it’s important to show output with some expediency.” — Matt Cooper 

“My perspective doesn’t matter, what really matters for us is the perspective of our customers.” — Matt Cooper 

“I’m a firm believer that for companies of our size and scale, focus is really what matters.” — Matt Cooper

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Matt Cooper on LinkedIn

Matt Cooper Email Address

BQE Software

BQE Software on LinkedIn

East of Eden

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn