The SiteVisit

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In this episode, James and Christian are joined by Russell Hixson, Editor at SiteNews, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the construction industry in 2023. The guys delve into permitting process and how municipalities are working to speed them up. Russell shares his insights on the latest initiatives being implemented to streamline the permitting process and what it means for construction companies. They also discuss inflation and material costs, labour shortages, and ways to attract and retain workers in the construction industry. Russell also shares his journey from investigative crime journalism in the US to Editor at SiteNews. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in construction industry topics, trends and insights for 2023. 

Russell Hixson is an award-winning investigative journalist who spent the early parts of his career doing crime and court reporting in the U.S. before stumbling into covering Canada’s construction sector. He spent eight years writing for the Journal of Commerce, where he became well-versed in the industry and its issues. He’s covered the federal budget from Ottawa and documented the early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic while locked down in his bedroom. Hixson has developed a passion for the construction industry and seeks to convert others by sharing its stories through SiteNews. When he’s not writing stories, the East Vancouver resident enjoys kayaking, skateboarding and avoiding the neighbourhood skunks.

SiteNews is the modern voice of Canadian Construction and the pulse of what’s really happening in the industry—reporting, informing & inspiring in real time.


EPISODE LINKS:

Russell Hixson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-hixson-a8082572/
SiteNews Website: https://readsitenews.com/
SiteNews LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/site-news/
SiteNews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readsitenews/
SiteNews Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReadSiteNews
Topic: https://readsitenews.com/construction-forecast-leaders-weigh-in-on-2023/
Topic: https://readsitenews.com/construction-and-the-trades-need-skilled-workers/
Topic: https://readsitenews.com/welders-project-managers-in-high-demand-for-construction/

PODCAST INFO:

the Site Visit Website: https://www.sitemaxsystems.com/podcast
the Site Visit on Buzzsprout: https://thesitevisit.buzzsprout.com/269424
the Site Visit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-site-visit/id1456494446
the Site Visit on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cp4qJE5ExZmO3EwldN1HH

FOLLOW ALONG:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesitevisit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesitevisit

PODCAST INFO:
the Site Visit Website: https://www.sitemaxsystems.com/podcast
the Site Visit on Buzzsprout: https://thesitevisit.buzzsprout.com/269424
the Site Visit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-site-visit/id1456494446
the Site Visit on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cp4qJE5ExZmO3EwldN1HH

FOLLOW ALONG:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesitevisit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesitevisit

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In this episode, Chris Gardner from the ICBA (Independent Contractors and Businesses Association) joins James and Christian to discuss several key industry initiatives. They waste no time diving into the ICBA’s recently announced  $100,000.00 reward for an attack at the Coastal GasLink LNG worksite near Houston, BC, in February 2022. They then slow things down to dig into the current opioid epidemic, mental health in construction, and the ICBA’s Wellness initiative with Cory Hirsch, former NHL Goaltender and Olympic Silver medalist. It turns out Chris is an avid Dallas Cowboys fan and fan of football in general, be on the lookout for Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana at this year's Annual ICBA Gala on April 26th, 2023.

Chris Gardner has led the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) since 2017. Previously, he was a senior executive at two of the largest modular construction and workforce accommodation companies in North America, Civeo and Britco. In addition, he served as Principal Secretary to the 35th Premier of British Columbia, Christy Clark. Chris also holds a Juris Doctor from the Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia and, in 2021, launched a free workplace mental wellness program for construction contractors and their employees through the ICBA. Fun fact, during a decade-long stint in South Korea, where he worked for both Samsung and ING, he stood on the DMZ dividing South and North Korea, three feet away from North Korean soldiers.

The ICBA is proud to represent more than 4,000 entrepreneurs, businesspeople, skilled construction professionals, independent contractors, sub-trades, and responsible resource development companies who together employ 150,000 Canadians. They are the open shop companies' independent contractors who treat their workers well, build incredible projects, seek fair bidding opportunities, and create our communities’ homes, schools, roads, services, and much more. They also offer services that have proven to help businesses grow, including human resources help, wellness programs, innovative professional development courses, wage and benefit surveys, job boards, and much more. The ICBA is dedicated to serving these open shop businesses, protecting their workers and their families, and building a strong economy they know is vital to creating opportunities for projects and jobs.

EPISODE LINKS:
Chris Gardner LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/chris-gardner-004b8a2b
ICBA Website: https://icba.ca
ICBA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theicba
ICBA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icbabc/
ICBA Twitter: https://twitter.com/icbabc

PODCAST INFO:
the Site Visit Website: https://www.sitemaxsystems.com/podcast
the Site Visit on Buzzsprout: https://thesitevisit.buzzsprout.com/269424
the Site Visit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-site-visit/id1456494446
the Site Visit on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cp4qJE5ExZmO3EwldN1HH

FOLLOW ALONG:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesitevisit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesitevisit

PODCAST INFO:
the Site Visit Website: https://www.sitemaxsystems.com/podcast
the Site Visit on Buzzsprout: https://thesitevisit.buzzsprout.com/269424
the Site Visit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-site-visit/id1456494446
the Site Visit on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cp4qJE5ExZmO3EwldN1HH

FOLLOW ALONG:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesitevisit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesitevisit

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PODCAST INFO:
the Site Visit Website: https://www.sitemaxsystems.com/podcast
the Site Visit on Buzzsprout: https://thesitevisit.buzzsprout.com/269424
the Site Visit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-site-visit/id1456494446
the Site Visit on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cp4qJE5ExZmO3EwldN1HH

FOLLOW ALONG:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesitevisit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesitevisit

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In this episode, Joseph “Geo Joe” Salazar from the GeoRadar Group joins James and Christian to discuss everything underground and within. Their conversation covers it all, from pre-construction land surveys and utility locates to concrete scanning and coring, growing up in Lancashire, terrible pronunciation of words, tangents on GPR (Ground-Penetrating Radar) and a ski season in Whistler that culminated with a move to Canada and 12 months at the helm of a new company. His story is one of passion, perseverance and resourcefulness, it is no surprise Joe is seen as the Construction leader he is. Oh, and a shoutout to Faculty Brewing Co., links below. 

Joseph Salazar (A.Sc.T, RULT) is the Director of Business Development for the GeoRadar Group – the parent company of GeoScan, Xradar and Vuit. Joining the company in 2014, Joe managed operations before moving into his current role. He’s a passionate and enthusiastic leader who has helped GeoScan and Xradar make considerable strides in their evolution from a small Vancouver-based Utility Locator to one of the nationwide leaders of the industry. Joe is also the Treasurer of the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) Young Construction Leaders (YCL) Group and Vice-Chair of Safe Buildings Canada (SBC).

EPISODE LINKS:

Joseph Salazar LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephsalazar87/ 

GeoRadar Group Website: https://www.georadargroup.com/

GeoRadar Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/georadar-group/

GeoScan Website: https://www.geoscan.ca/ 

GeoScan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/geoscan-subsurface-surveys-canada/ 

GeoScan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geoscan_subsurface_surveys/

GeoScan Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@geoscan1324 

Xradar Website: https://www.xradar.ca/ 

Xradar LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xradar-canada/ 

Xradar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xradarcanada/ 

FACULTY BREWING CO. Website: https://www.facultybrewing.com/

FACULTY BREWING CO. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/facultybrewing/?hl=en

PODCAST INFO:

the Site Visit Website: https://www.sitemaxsystems.com/podcast

the Site Visit on Buzzsprout: https://thesitevisit.buzzsprout.com/269424

the Site Visit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-site-visit/id1456494446

the Site Visit on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cp4qJE5ExZmO3EwldN1HH

FOLLOW ALONG:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesitevisit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesitevisit

PODCAST INFO:
the Site Visit Website: https://www.sitemaxsystems.com/podcast
the Site Visit on Buzzsprout: https://thesitevisit.buzzsprout.com/269424
the Site Visit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-site-visit/id1456494446
the Site Visit on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cp4qJE5ExZmO3EwldN1HH

FOLLOW ALONG:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesitevisit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesitevisit

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Andrew is the Founder and CEO of SitePartners, where he drives the vision and strategic direction of the firm, impacting all areas of the business from creative to strategy. He understands the industrial market and how to drive results. His unique perspective from working on-site in the natural resources and construction sectors and as an account executive at a leading marketing agency has helped grow SitePartners into a full-service agency that works with leading Construction brands. Before founding SitePartners, Andrew was a five-year employee at Ledcor.

SitePartners is a specialized marketing agency and consultancy built for the industrial sector. They are a team of strategists, creatives, designers, writers, and analysts, dedicated to solving problems for their clients and are unique in their relentless goal of being the partner of choice for the blue collar. Their specialization allows them to work, think and hire differently to provide unmatched marketing services for their partners. Further, SitePartners understands that the industrial sector is undergoing massive change. The way people sell, win projects, respond to RFPs, use technology, recruit talent, and engage with stakeholders is changing rapidly, and they aim to solve these problems. They have built a team of industry leaders who have spent their careers building and shaping industrial brands throughout North America. Behind cameras, computers, and boardrooms, their group has touched hundreds of constructed companies. Today they have one of the most experienced and talented teams in the entire industry, who understand how to market and position industrial brands for success. As the disruption in this sector continues to grow, they intend to remain at the front of change and disruption.

SiteNews is the modern voice of Canadian Construction. They are the pulse of what’s happening in the industry—reporting, informing & inspiring in real-time via a weekly newsletter and website packed with content.

**This episode was recorded in late October, delayed to coincide with the launch of SiteNews. Subscribe and enjoy!**



EPISODE LINKS:

Andrew Hansen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-hansen-/

SitePartners Website: https://sitepartners.ca/

SitePartners LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sitepartners-ca/

SitePartners Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sitepartners.ca/?hl=en

SiteNews Website: https://readsitenews.com/

SiteNews LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/site-news/

SiteNews Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReadSiteNews


PODCAST INFO:

the Site Visit Website: https://www.sitemaxsystems.com/podcast

the Site Visit on Buzzsprout: https://thesitevisit.buzzsprout.com/269424

the Site Visit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-site-visit/id1456494446

the Site Visit on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cp4qJE5ExZmO3EwldN1HH


FOLLOW ALONG:

the Site Visit LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesitevisit

the Site Visit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesitevisit

PODCAST INFO:
the Site Visit Website: https://www.sitemaxsystems.com/podcast
the Site Visit on Buzzsprout: https://thesitevisit.buzzsprout.com/269424
the Site Visit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-site-visit/id1456494446
the Site Visit on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cp4qJE5ExZmO3EwldN1HH

FOLLOW ALONG:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesitevisit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesitevisit

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Milan Mann is the President of Real Estate and Construction at the BM Group of Companies, a family-owned portfolio of 16 businesses, supported by a team of over 400 and headquartered in British Columbia with offices in Seattle, Portland, Toronto and New Delhi. Raised in the construction industry, Milan strives to embody BMG’s core values of Quality, Integrity and Legacy. While maintaining his humble roots, Milan builds on the BM Group of Companies’ decades of industry-leading expertise to provide communities with an innovative approach to real estate development. Milan is committed and focused on growing the BM Group’s legacy for generations to come.

The BM Group represents an alliance of companies within the construction sector that complement and support each other to deliver outstanding service, highly specialized skills, and exceptional quality control from start to finish. The companies work seamlessly together on every undertaking to offer cost-effective solutions and ensure that projects are completed on schedule and to everyone’s satisfaction. This united value-added approach has created a solid foundation for success and resulted in a long list of loyal clients.

Headquartered in British Columbia and primarily serving the Lower Mainland, The BM Group also has expanded operations and significant holdings in other parts of Canada, the USA and South East Asia.

The BM Group of Companies includes:

Contech Services
Dallas Watt Demolition
Greenstone Ready Mix Concrete
Manorlane Homes
Penmat Contracting & Project Management
Polycrete Restorations
RMX Logistix
TEK Roofing
Urban Sawing & Scanning
YAAT Concrete



Episode Links:

BM Group Website: https://bmgroupinternational.com/

BM Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmgroup-intl/

BM Group Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmgroupinternational/

BM Group Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmgroupintl/?hl=en

Milan Mann LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milan-mann/


Podcast Information:

the Site Visit Website: https://www.sitemaxsystems.com/podcast

the Site Visit on Buzzsprout: https://thesitevisit.buzzsprout.com/269424

the Site Visit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-site-visit/id1456494446

the Site Visit on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cp4qJE5ExZmO3EwldN1HH


Follow Along:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesitevisit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesitevisit

PODCAST INFO:
the Site Visit Website: https://www.sitemaxsystems.com/podcast
the Site Visit on Buzzsprout: https://thesitevisit.buzzsprout.com/269424
the Site Visit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-site-visit/id1456494446
the Site Visit on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cp4qJE5ExZmO3EwldN1HH

FOLLOW ALONG:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesitevisit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesitevisit

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Pod 2 of ‘22, back at it! James and Christian are joined by John Reid, Co-Founder of Faber Connect, another regular on the show and industry pro when it comes to all things of labor. We “dovetail” (word of the day) on Episode #56 and dive into two key construction markets in British Columbia, Canada and Texas. Over the past 5 years, John has been hyper-focused on building a solution that not only finds and places the most skilled workers in these markets but also aims to piece together trends and data that will help both workers and contractors succeed for years to come.  Given some level of economic uncertainty and the resulting impact on labor markets, supply chains and project delays, this conversation is certain to provide key insights to those who look to thrive in the months ahead. 

PODCAST INFO:
the Site Visit Website: https://www.sitemaxsystems.com/podcast
the Site Visit on Buzzsprout: https://thesitevisit.buzzsprout.com/269424
the Site Visit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-site-visit/id1456494446
the Site Visit on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cp4qJE5ExZmO3EwldN1HH

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The Site Visit is back…again! After a one-year hiatus, James and Christian recap the happenings of the past 18 months in the Construction industry and at SiteMax.

With ever-changing market conditions, a new-looking labor force and an approach to Construction work in general, there is no shortage of relevant talking points in this conversation.

For this episode, the guys are in their new offices in Yaletown and are joined by a Site Visit regular, Cam Roy, Director of Construction at Ram Construction, a leading General Contractor in Western Canada. Cam’s boots-on-the-ground experience and progression through various roles from field to office, provide all the perspective that any construction professional needs to build a successful career in Construction. With his real-time industry experience, we are able to dig further into recruiting techniques, employee engagement, and team development and break down all that is happening in the current labor market.

sitemax.cloud

PODCAST INFO:
the Site Visit Website: https://www.sitemaxsystems.com/podcast
the Site Visit on Buzzsprout: https://thesitevisit.buzzsprout.com/269424
the Site Visit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-site-visit/id1456494446
the Site Visit on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cp4qJE5ExZmO3EwldN1HH

FOLLOW ALONG:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesitevisit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesitevisit

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PODCAST INFO:
the Site Visit Website: https://www.sitemaxsystems.com/podcast
the Site Visit on Buzzsprout: https://thesitevisit.buzzsprout.com/269424
the Site Visit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-site-visit/id1456494446
the Site Visit on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cp4qJE5ExZmO3EwldN1HH

FOLLOW ALONG:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesitevisit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesitevisit