The Construction Leadership Podcast with Bradley Hartmann

Erik Bornstein, a former commercial and residential builder in Toronto, shares the earned insights that compelled him to quit his job, move to California, and launch TOOLBX, an online platform for building material suppliers that helps them simplify the lives of the builders they serve.

 This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and prospects in under 30 minutes once every 30 days.

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If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at [email protected].

In episode 430, Bradley Hartmann shares leadership insights from one of his favorite movies, Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt as the Oakland A’s general manager, Billy Beane. Joining Hartmann are Matt Potter (construction sales veteran) and Joel Stevens (HR expert), returning to the show after their excellent performances in episode 393 where we focused on the leadership aspects from the movie, Up in the Air (starring George Clooney and Anna Kendrick).

Hartmann, Potter, and Stevens explore Billy Beane's approach to challenging the status quo, getting his team to think differently about how to evaluate and build a winning roster. They discuss Beane's confrontational style with his scouts, his willingness to take risks by converting a career catcher named Scott Hatteberg to first base, and his ability to get buy-in from veteran players like David Justice.

Off the field, the trio examines the interpersonal dynamics and cultural shifts Beane had to navigate within the organization. They highlight his successes and missteps in communicating his vision and bringing the entire team along.

The conversation also touches on broader themes of competitive differentiation, developing confidence in employees, and the importance of diverse perspectives—lessons that translate well beyond the baseball diamond. Whether you're a Moneyball superfan or discovering it for the first time, this episode offers valuable insights for leaders in any industry.

 This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and prospects in under 30 minutes once every 30 days.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at [email protected].

In episode 429 of The Construction Leadership Podcast, host Bradley Hartmann sits down with Mireya Zapata, the Executive Director of the Lumbermen's Association of Texas (LAT). Zapata brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously worked in politics, public relations, and for the Texas House of Representatives.

Throughout the conversation, Hartmann and Zapata dive into Zapata's background and her unique perspective on engaging the political process as the head of a state trade association. Zapata explains how she has been able to maintain a sense of enthusiasm and optimism despite the often divisive nature of politics today. She encourages LAT members to get involved, emphasizing that their industry expertise and firsthand experiences are invaluable when working to influence policy decisions.

The discussion then shifts to some of the key issues currently facing Zapata and her members, including housing affordability and organized retail theft. Zapata highlights LAT's efforts to support the Texas Association of Builders on the affordability challenge, as well as the association's work to increase criminal penalties for those engaged in sophisticated theft operations targeting building material suppliers.

Finally, Zapata offers a glimpse into her personal life, sharing how she manages the demands of leading a statewide trade group while also raising two children. She credits her family and involvement with nonprofit organizations as crucial outlets that help her maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Throughout the conversation, Zapata's passion for her work and her industry shines through, making this an engaging listen for anyone interested in the intersection of construction, politics, and association leadership.

 This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and prospects in under 30 minutes once every 30 days.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at [email protected].

In this sidecar bonus episode to 427, host Bradley Hartmann and Tony Meza break down the lyrics from the summer jam, TK by Pedro Capó, as they identify which language skills can be used on the job to communicate better and lead more effectively. Listen to episode 427 to hear Tony Meza’s insights on bridging cultural and linguistic gaps on the job site. Tony Meza is the safety professional responsible for risk management at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Meza also lends his voice to Hartmann & Company’s new Construction Spanish App as the native Spanish speaker in the voice tracks within the app.

 This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and prospects in under 30 minutes once every 30 days.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at [email protected].

In episode 427, Tony Meza joins the podcast to share insights on cultural intelligence and leadership across linguistic and cultural gaps on the job site. Tony Meza is the construction safety professional responsible for risk management at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Meza also lends his voice to Hartmann & Company’s new Construction Spanish App as the native Spanish speaker in the voice tracks within the app.

 This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and prospects in under 30 minutes once every 30 days.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at [email protected].

In this conversation, Steven Paynter from Gensler discusses the innovation that landed Gensler on Fast Company’s list of most innovative companies in 2024. The innovation was an algorithm that assess the viability of converting office spaces into residential units, particularly in light of the pandemic and the growing affordability crisis.

Fast Company wrote: “Gensler’s algorithm evaluates roughly 150 aspects of a building’s layout and design, such as core-to-window depth and the number of elevators and parking spots, from public data, broker websites, and subscription services. The tool can determine a conversion viability score in hours.”

Paynter shares insights on the challenges and successes of office building conversions, the importance of understanding the history of buildings, and the role of city incentives in facilitating adaptive reuse. The discussion also touches on the findings from Gensler's workplace survey, emphasizing the need for flexible and desirable office spaces that foster collaboration and productivity. Paynter concludes with reflections on cultural differences in leadership and construction practices between the UK and North America.

 This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and prospects in under 30 minutes once every 30 days.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at [email protected].

In this conversation, Matt DiBara shares the leadership insights accumulated on his journey from nine-year-old laborer to fourth generation business owner. Matt shares what being fired multiple times in his family business taught him and the valuable lessons learned from his father—what to do and what not to do. Matt discusses the importance of customer acquisition costs and effective strategies for diversifying any construction business. Matt emphasizes the significance of effective communication, celebrating team successes, and developing future leaders. He also reflects on the challenges and opportunities presented by technology in the construction sector.

Chapters

02:52 :: Leadership Lessons from Family Business

06:10 :: Transitioning to Independence

09:03 :: Understanding Customer Acquisition Costs

12:10 :: Diversification Strategies in Business

15:13 :: Introducing Technology in Construction

18:02 :: Effective Communication and Change Management

20:49 :: Celebrating Team Successes

23:53 :: Developing Future Leaders

26:53 :: Final Thoughts and Recommendations

 This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and prospects in under 30 minutes once every 30 days.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at [email protected].

In episode 424, we hosted a Construction Leadership Game Show live in front of a raucous 250+ attendees at the annual TEXO Safety Day in Fort Worth on August 29th. The participants were three safety leaders: Gradlin Franks, Director of Safety at The Beck Group, Scott Sears, Vice President of Safety and Loss Control at Walker Engineering, and Raul Ruiz, Regional EHS Manager at Moss and Associates.

The theme was Olympic-level Leadership and the insights and entertainment lived up to the hype. Listen on any podcast platform and view the highlight reel on YouTube. Thank you to Milwaukee Tools for sponsoring the event.

 This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and prospects in under 30 minutes once every 30 days.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at [email protected].

In episode 423, host Bradley Hartmann sits down with Bret Martz (VP - North American Professional Sales) of Trex and Chris Gerhard (Executive VP) of Specialty Building Products .

Bret and Chris share insights on the collaboration efforts between a manufacturer and a distributor that enable increased value to the dealer and their contractor customers. Their discussion touches on innovation, training and education, digital selling tools, and methods for assisting their independent dealer partners.

The conversation also delves into leadership lessons, with Martz and Gerhard sharing insights on empowering employees, learning from mistakes, and building a cohesive culture across the supply chain. They highlight the importance of clear communication, transparency, and a shared vision for serving contractors and homeowners.

 This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and prospects in under 30 minutes once every 30 days.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at [email protected].

In episode 422, host Bradley Hartmann takes you on a journey from the Pacific Northwest to Kobe, Japan as he shares the incredible true story (with some fictional dialogue added for your listening pleasure!) of one of the most iconic companies of all time. The story reveals the two methods in which humans develop trust: task-based and relationship-based. While we talk about the construction industry being a “relationship business,” the truth is relationships actually come second in our Uncle Sam-style American culture.

To bridge the story with real-world application, Blake Hancock, CEO of Binswanger Glass, joins the show in the second half of the episode. Blake discusses his experiences working with teams from different cultural backgrounds and the importance of building trust and creating a comfortable work environment. He shares stories of his time living in China and the lessons he learned about effective communication and expectation-setting. Hancock emphasizes the value of open communication, continuous improvement, and the importance of getting all ideas on the table.

This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and prospects in under 30 minutes once every 30 days.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at [email protected].