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Mentoring the Next Generation
Welcome to Laying the Groundwork - the newly rebranded Tomlinson podcast.
In this inaugural episode, host Francis Brazeau sits down with two of Tomlinson’s longest-serving team members: Dennis Colautti and Andre (Andy) Michaud. With nearly 100years of combined experience, they share candid stories and hard-earned wisdom on mentoring the next generation in construction.
From family legacies and old-school foremen to modern challenges like training younger team members who may lack field experience, Dennis and Andy pull back the curtain on what it really takes to develop strong, capable leaders at Tomlinson. The conversation is filled with practical advice, funny stories, and valuable lessons on patience, integrity, planning, and building relationships that last.
Episode Highlights
- Dennis’s remarkable family story - from his grandfather’s immigration to restarting the family construction business
- Andy’s journey starting at 18 on an iron crew under the “meanest foreman” in the business
- The famous “Padding” story - how a $30k–$40k mistake became one of Dennis’s most important teaching tools
- The 24-Hour Rule: Why patience and calculated responses matter in high-pressure situations
- Old-school wisdom vs. new realities - the importance of field experience, picking up the phone, and building real relationships
- Letting young team members “fail safely” and challenging them to think critically
- Tomlinson’s culture of integrity, customer service, and pride in the work
Key Takeaways & Quotes
On Patience: “I have a twenty-four hour rule… don’t give the answer right away. Sleep on it overnight. Think about it.”
On Learning from Mistakes: “It was a real big learning curve… I learned my lesson and developed so we weren’t going to have it again.”
On Mentoring: “Sometimes I’ll let them win one… and let them fail - as long as it doesn’t cost very much money. That way they learn.”
On Communication: “You don’t just send an email and wait two weeks. Get on the phone. It takes five minutes.”
On Leadership: “Do the hardest thing first in the morning… Don’t run away from anything.”
On Tomlinson Culture: “They were never shy about doing the right thing and always supplying the right equipment and the right people.”
Whether you’re a seasoned leader, a new team member, or someone considering a career in construction, this episode delivers timeless, practical wisdom rooted in decades of real execution.
View all episodes
By Tomlinson GroupWelcome to Laying the Groundwork - the newly rebranded Tomlinson podcast.
In this inaugural episode, host Francis Brazeau sits down with two of Tomlinson’s longest-serving team members: Dennis Colautti and Andre (Andy) Michaud. With nearly 100years of combined experience, they share candid stories and hard-earned wisdom on mentoring the next generation in construction.
From family legacies and old-school foremen to modern challenges like training younger team members who may lack field experience, Dennis and Andy pull back the curtain on what it really takes to develop strong, capable leaders at Tomlinson. The conversation is filled with practical advice, funny stories, and valuable lessons on patience, integrity, planning, and building relationships that last.
Episode Highlights
- Dennis’s remarkable family story - from his grandfather’s immigration to restarting the family construction business
- Andy’s journey starting at 18 on an iron crew under the “meanest foreman” in the business
- The famous “Padding” story - how a $30k–$40k mistake became one of Dennis’s most important teaching tools
- The 24-Hour Rule: Why patience and calculated responses matter in high-pressure situations
- Old-school wisdom vs. new realities - the importance of field experience, picking up the phone, and building real relationships
- Letting young team members “fail safely” and challenging them to think critically
- Tomlinson’s culture of integrity, customer service, and pride in the work
Key Takeaways & Quotes
On Patience: “I have a twenty-four hour rule… don’t give the answer right away. Sleep on it overnight. Think about it.”
On Learning from Mistakes: “It was a real big learning curve… I learned my lesson and developed so we weren’t going to have it again.”
On Mentoring: “Sometimes I’ll let them win one… and let them fail - as long as it doesn’t cost very much money. That way they learn.”
On Communication: “You don’t just send an email and wait two weeks. Get on the phone. It takes five minutes.”
On Leadership: “Do the hardest thing first in the morning… Don’t run away from anything.”
On Tomlinson Culture: “They were never shy about doing the right thing and always supplying the right equipment and the right people.”
Whether you’re a seasoned leader, a new team member, or someone considering a career in construction, this episode delivers timeless, practical wisdom rooted in decades of real execution.