The BLDG Tomorrow Show

In this episode, we sit down with John Bennardo, founder of Legacy Builders & Developers Corp., to discuss the journey of starting and growing a successful general contracting firm in New York City. John shares his hard-earned insights into what it takes to thrive in one of the world’s most competitive construction markets, covering everything from initial challenges and growth strategies to the principles and mindset that have driven his firm’s success.

Key Topics Covered:

The unique challenges of launching a GC firm in NYC
Strategies for scaling in a competitive market
Hiring the right talent and building a dedicated team
Balancing short-term projects with long-term vision
Essential tips for building relationships and networking
John's advice for new and aspiring NYC general contractors

Whether you’re an experienced GC owner or just starting out, John’s insights offer invaluable advice for anyone looking to leave a lasting impact in the construction industry.

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In this episode, Liz and I dive into our experience working for and with The Blue Book Network.  Liz provides actionable steps for Subcontractors to take in order to see measurable results with General Contractors.  We highlight the significance of trust and reliability in subcontractors, as they play a crucial role in the success of construction projects. Liz shares her insights on effective business development strategies, including utilizing social media and staying organized.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:07 Liz's Journey with Blue Book and Role as a Connector
07:11 Liz's Career at Blue Book and the ESOP Program
13:24 The Value of Blue Book for Subcontractors
21:56 LinkedIn Strategies for Subcontractors
24:36 Building Relationships and Providing Value
27:07 The Importance of Trust and Reliability in Subcontractors
30:01 Challenges in Communication and Follow-Up Between GCs and Subcontractors
35:00 Effective Business Development Strategies for Subcontractors
41:40 Utilizing Social Media for Business Development in Construction

In this conversation, I had the pleasure of speaking with John Patrick Winberry, founding partner and architect at The Up Studio, about our experience working together and the opportunity he had with Netflix to feature their "Open Corner" project on "Leave The World Behind".  We discuss the impact of technology on the design and construction process, the importance of collaboration between architects and contractors, and the challenges we face in the industry.  The main themes include the need for open dialogues and communication between architects and contractors, the importance of embracing technology and 3D modeling, the geographical differences in the construction industry, and the role of architects and general contractors in the design and execution process.

In this episode, Jonathan Cor discusses his approach to marketing in the construction industry and how he found his competitive edge playing a game that nobody else is playing.  Jonathan highlights the significance of brand building, lead generation, and talent acquisition in marketing strategies for contractors.  We discuss the challenge of sustaining marketing efforts and the difficulty of maintaining consistency.  The conversation concludes with a discussion on bridging the gap between marketing experts and contractors and the need for transparency and results-driven approaches.

In this episode, Chris Montana discusses various aspects of insurance for general contractors. He shares his background and the founding of Victory Risk Management. The baseline insurance requirements for general contractors are explored, with a focus on general liability insurance. The importance of umbrella policies and determining the need for them is discussed. Chris also explains how insurance rates are configured and addresses misconceptions about insurance costs in bids. The importance of understanding insurance policies and exclusions is emphasized, along with the coverage provided by workman's compensation insurance. The conversation covers topics related to workers' compensation insurance, experience modification rate (EMR), subcontractors and workers' compensation, protecting owners in construction projects, and transitioning from construction to consulting.

Matt and Garry Cohn discuss various aspects of architecture and design. They talk about a design project in Germantown, New York, and Garry's journey from New York to Dublin. Garry shares his plans to return to New York and bring his commercial and residential design expertise to the US. They explore the challenges of working with upstate builders and the importance of building a strong relationship with the builder. They also touch on the issue of change orders and mistakes in design, as well as the technical side of design and construction. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the rising construction costs in the industry. In this conversation, Garry discusses the challenges of working within budget constraints and shares his approach to managing client expectations. The conversation concludes with a discussion on building trust and open communication in the industry and adapting to rising construction costs.

In this conversation, Matt and TJ Schiaffo discuss TJ's journey in the electrical industry, from growing up with a father who was a respected union electrician to starting his own business, Triton Electrical. TJ shares how he got into the electrical union and his decision to branch out and start his own company. He also talks about the challenges and rewards of running a business and the importance of ambition and growth. TJ emphasizes the importance of building a strong team and creating opportunities for his employees to succeed. In this conversation, TJ Schiaffo, the owner of Triton Electrical, discusses the importance of apprenticeship and toughness in the electrical trade. He shares stories of the challenges he faced during his apprenticeship and how it shaped him as a professional. TJ also emphasizes the value of recognizing hard work and loyalty in his team members, and how he rewards and promotes those who show dedication. He discusses the growth and learning opportunities he provides for his employees, as well as the challenges of managing a team with different levels of experience. TJ shares his advice for developing young talent and the importance of taking on responsibility and leadership. He also discusses the challenges of growing a small electrical company and provides insights into the future plans for Triton Electrical.

In this conversation, Matt shares his journey into the construction industry, discusses the qualities needed to run a successful construction company, and explores the importance of work-life balance. He also talks about setting and achieving goals, managing meetings effectively, and the role of mentors in his career. Matt emphasizes the importance of accountability and collaboration in construction and shares his vision for his podcast, which is to extract and deliver the secret sauce of success to his audience.

Devin Kulka, CEO of The Kulka Group, shares his unique journey in the construction industry and the growth of his company. He started off working for a subcontractor before eventually taking over as CEO after his father had a stroke. Devin emphasizes the importance of gaining field experience and the value of relationships in business development. He also discusses the challenges of construction in New York and the future expansion plans for Kulka.

Warmboard was invented in 1992 by architect and entrepreneur Terry Alsberg. He first became familiar with radiant heat when several of his clients began asking for it to be incorporated into their residential projects. Motivated in part by having two children with asthma, and unsatisfied with existing radiant options, Terry, using his background in architecture and engineering physics, worked out of his garage in Capitola, California to invent Warmboard-S. He filed a patent on the technology in 1994 and licensed that patent to Jeld-Wen in 1996. Warmboard Inc. was spun out as an independent entity in 2002 with Terry as CEO.

Terry and I discuss the history of warmboard, competing products and future applications in detail.