This Is Concrete

Roman Polnar is the Founder and Managing Partner at Pillar6 Advisors LLC, a financial planning and wealth advisory firm focused on serving successful individuals and families with active lifestyles. Pillar6’s approach to goal setting, money coaching, and planning integrates the five pillars of personal finance, helping clients achieve success. Roman is also a Partner at Pillar6 College Planning, which helps students and families with financial aid preparation. 

Currently, Roman is a Board Member and Chair of the Business Circle for Hebrew Free Loan of San Francisco. He has over two decades of experience in finances and has held previous roles at Robertson Stephens, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, and Lenox Advisors.

College tuition has increased dramatically over the years, rising above the cost of healthcare and making education unaffordable for many families. However, there are resources that can help you cut the cost of tuition and decrease the amount of student loan debt — no matter your salary. 

Roman Polnar is dedicated to helping people get tuition aid and make smarter financial decisions. According to Roman, college tuition has gotten more expensive, but the financial aid forms haven’t gotten much easier. However, he’s got some advice on filling out the forms and preparing for college expenses. Since the FAFSA is on a first-come, first-served basis, you want to start the process early — but you never want to rush it. What other tips does Roman have to save money and get the most out of your financial aid? 

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill talks with Roman Polnar, Founder and Managing Partner at Pillar6 Advisors LLC, to answer all of your financial aid questions. Roman shares tips for business owners (and others) filling out the FAFSA form, applying for need-based and merit-based financial aid, and avoiding common — but costly — mistakes. Plus, Roman provides plenty of resources to guide you through the financial aid process. You don’t want to miss it!

Scott Metzger is the Owner of Metzger/McGuire, a company that provides industrial floor joint protection and repair products. Since its beginning, Metzger/McGuire has expanded to include customized training, floor repair guides, and professional consulting services. Metzger/McGuire has been leading the way in the development of concrete floor joint protection systems for more than 45 years, priding themselves on top-notch customer service and technical support.

Scott is a member of the American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC) board and is the Director of the Concrete Polishing Council. In addition to running Metzger/McGuire, he operates the Metzger/McGuire Academy. 

What does an effective joint reconstruction look like? What do contractors need to know before taking on the task of joint repair?

With 27 years of experience under his belt, Scott Metzger knows the dos and don’ts of joint protection and repair. His business has been helping individuals and companies find the best products and avoid the key mistakes of joint reconstruction. According to Scott, joint preparation is essential for a smooth process. Once you have that squared away, you can focus on the right products that will provide stability and support. However, Scott advises that you also take other important factors into account, like climate control, joint spacing, and design. Want to learn more?

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill talks with Scott Metzger, Owner of Metzger/McGuire, about the best practices for joint protection and repair. Scott shares the top joint filler products, how to communicate the joint repair process to clients, and the industry standards and specifications. Plus, Scott discusses resources you can use to avoid common mistakes. Stay tuned!

Mike Michalowicz is an author, speaker, and the Co-founder of Different is Better LLC, Run Like Clockwork, and Profit First Professionals. Every company that Mike has co-founded is aimed at coaching others to grow their businesses successfully. He’s an entrepreneur focused on eradicating entrepreneurial poverty and making entrepreneurship simple. 

Mike has authored seven books for helping owners and startups build their business — even in a weak economy. Mike is also a thought leader and faculty member at Growth Institute, where he hosts two online courses based on the principles of his books.

Many entrepreneurs know the struggle of scaling a startup. When trying to get your business off the ground, it can be difficult to make money and draw in a crowd. However, Mike Michalowicz is here to share the principles that transformed him into a successful entrepreneur. 

Before founding four multimillion-dollar companies, Mike lost his house once, lost his fortune twice, and launched 10 failed startups. Now, he’s written seven books to help other entrepreneurs avoid the same pitfalls. No matter if you’re a concrete polishing company, a pizza shop, or an accounting firm, Mike has the advice to help differentiate your marketing and get your business on a path toward profit. Want to learn more?

Tune in to this episode of This is Concrete, where Chad Gill is joined by author and entrepreneur, Mike Michalowicz, to talk about the best practices for growing your business. Mike discusses creating new habits, the D.A.D approach to marketing, and how companies in various industries are finding innovative ways to get in front of their ideal customers. You don’t want to miss it!

Ryan Cassin is the Co-founder and Partner of Superpowers, a company that helps successful entrepreneurs achieve more freedom and growth. Superpowers provides US-based, work-from-home executive assistants that help you manage your inbox, schedule appointments, prospect new customers, and more. Ryan and the team at Superpowers are proud to hire, train, and support assistants so that they can help entrepreneurs take their business above and beyond.

Outside of Superpowers, Ryan is the CEO of Beast Digital and Asset Agency, as well as an official member of the Forbes Agency Council. He has a passion for helping fellow entrepreneurs and served as the President of Entrepreneurs’ Organization from 2019 to 2020.

If you could get up every day and do one thing, what would it be?

The answer may help you discover your unique ability. According to Ryan Cassin, many entrepreneurs try to do everything themselves. However, if you want your business to grow, you need to figure out your top skills — and delegate everything else. This can take time, but Ryan is here to guide you through the steps for honing in on your special power.

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill talks with Ryan Cassin, Co-founder and Partner of Superpowers, about discovering your unique ability. Chad and Ryan discuss common entrepreneurial struggles, emphasize the importance of discarding outside expectations, and talk about the benefits of working in your unique ability. Ryan also shares tips for growing your business and cultivating a great team built on unique skills. Stay tuned!

Adi Klevit is the Founder and CEO of the Business Success Consulting Group, a company that creates, implements, and documents custom processes and management systems to help businesses thrive. Adi and her team help companies scale up, transfer knowledge, and prepare for succession. 

With 25 years of experience as an industrial engineer, management consultant, and business executive, Adi has worked with various corporations to improve, grow, and scale their businesses. In addition to her work at the Business Success Consulting Group, Adi is the host of the Systems Simplified podcast, where she talks with industry leaders about process and system implementation.

Trying to implement new systems and processes can be difficult, especially when you’re running a business. Many entrepreneurs find they don’t have the time to create processes, and this can be frustrating when growing a company. That’s why Adi Klevit is here to share her strategies for successfully implementing systems and processes into your business — even when you’re a busy entrepreneur. 

According to Adi, most business owners already have the knowledge needed to implement processes. So, she helps them formulate a plan by asking the right questions, extracting that knowledge, and putting it into a system. This procedure can help entrepreneurs do more than grow their businesses — it’s also a great way to learn more about their companies and find areas for improvement. So what is Adi’s advice for frustrated business owners? Create a clear vision for your company and identify why you want to implement systems and processes into your business.

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill is joined by Adi Klevit, Founder and CEO of the Business Success Consulting Group, to talk about effectively creating and implementing systems and processes in your business. Adi explains why every business should have documented processes, how to find the right plan for your company, and the importance of consistently improving your processes. Stay tuned!

Mark Critchfield is the Owner of Slurry Solutions, a company that provides effective solutions for disposing of concrete slurry wastewater produced during grinding, polishing, cutting, and core drilling. Slurry Solutions provides portable systems and products to treat wastewater at the job site affordably. 

Mark is an entrepreneur skilled in negotiation, business planning, operations management, sales, and water treatment. Before Slurry Solutions, he was the President of Golz, LLC and the Regional Sales Manager for Norton Co. Mark received his bachelor’s degree in industrial management and technology from Missouri State University.

Many contractors and concrete polishing companies have to deal with slurry: the wastewater produced during grinding, polishing, cutting, and core drilling. However, it’s not easy to dispose of slurry. This is where Mark Critchfield and his company, Slurry Solutions, can help you out.

According to Mark, there are chemical compounds found within slurry that can be damaging to the environment. This is why Slurry Solutions uses an effective method that adjusts the pH, solidifies the waste, and filters out heavy metals found within the water. Plus, when you filter your wastewater, you’ll avoid heavy EPA fines and risks. In short, Slurry Solutions can help turn hazardous waste into something that can be thrown out safely. And who doesn’t want to save money and generate safe, reusable water?

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill gets the inside scoop from Mark Critchfield, Owner of Slurry Solutions, on properly disposing of slurry wastewater. Mark discusses the importance of a safe disposal solution, how his company’s wastewater management process works, and the cost-effective benefits Slurry Solutions provides within an evolving concrete industry. Stay tuned!

John Miles is the Managing Director of CimentArt Florida, where CimentArt USA first started. He is also the President of Communication Specialists International, where he helps companies boost their metrics and improve their systems. 

Before joining CimentArt Florida, John was a Senior Consultant at ERP Advisors Group, the Corporate Energy Advisor and Director of Marketing for North American Energy Advisory (NAEA), and the President of Enterprise Resources International. John received his bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Colorado State University.

CimentArt has been in Spain for 20 years, but now the microcement technology is gaining traction overseas in the US. So, what is microcement, and why is it becoming so popular? 

According to John Miles, microcement is sought-after due to its durability and custom design. Unlike paint or regular cement, there’s no cracking, peeling, or fading when it comes to microcement. Plus, microcement allows for a custom color and custom texture, giving you artistic freedom in any room of your home or business. 

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill has a conversation with John Miles, Managing Director of CimentArt Florida, about the benefits of microcement. John discusses the origin of CimentArt, why microcement is gaining popularity — and how it’s used across the world, and why people are investing in the value of microcement. Stay tuned.

Tom Vranas is the Vice President of Innovation and Culture at Everywhere Wireless, where he develops high-performing teams, implements innovative solutions, and reimagines the company’s culture. Tom is also the Principal Consultant at GrevCo, a company that provides growth, marketing, and sales strategies to start-up, small, and mid-sized businesses. 

As an entrepreneurial executive, Tom has spent the past 15 years helping companies and individuals grow and succeed. His strengths are in technology, operations, analytics, sales, marketing, and system improvement. In addition to his work with Everywhere Wireless and GrevCo, Tom serves as the Studio Head at Studio Vranas and an Advisor and Consultant for both HartLed and Experience Institute.

Is your company’s hiring process bringing you desired results? Do you want to find a more efficient — yet precise — hiring system? If your recruitment and onboarding processes aren’t where you want them to be, you don’t want to miss this episode of This is Concrete. 

Tom Vranas is an expert in helping organizations develop talented leaders, build internal culture, and establish high-performing teams. According to Tom, you need to hire the right people if you want to expand as a company. The key to doing so lies in your hiring system.

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill is joined by Tom Vranas, Vice President of Innovation and Culture at Everywhere Wireless and Principal Consultant at GrevCo. Tom shares his tips on gaining more prospective candidates, creating a speedy onboarding process (and avoiding outdated methods), and finding a centralized hiring system that will accommodate your company’s future growth. Stay tuned!

Chad Blalock is the Building Systems Group Manager at W.M. Jordan Company, where he functions as a focused internal and external MEP resource and provides customer service in all areas of building performance and operations. Chad is a licensed mechanical engineer with 18 years of experience developing MEP systems and helping clients maximize their investment.

Chad holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech and has certifications in Contractor’s Quality Control and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). He is a member of the Associated General Contractors of Virginia (AGCVA) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

Is your construction company using the right planning method? If you’ve been operating on the traditional critical path method, you’re missing out on a much more efficient, cost-effective system: pull planning. 

What is pull planning and how can it help your company? According to Chad Blalock, pull planning is a collaborative tool that allows for productive communication and trust between all members of the construction project. With the pull planning method, you’ll be able to make reliable promises, deliver faster service, and easily work through all steps of the project.

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill talks with Chad Blalock, Building Systems Group Manager at W.M. Jordan Company, about the pull planning approach. Together, they discuss why pull planning works, how it can help you complete a project on time (and on budget), and how you can begin your transition into the pull planning method. Stay tuned.

Tom Bouwer is the Co-founder and Partner of ProfitWorks LLC, a company that helps organizations apply the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). Tom is a Certified EOS Implementer and esteemed international and Vistage speaker. He is the Co-author of the books What the Heck is EOS? and Profit Works, among many others. 

Tom has over 25 years of international and nationwide experience helping companies simplify, clarify, and achieve their vision. He has worked with leaders and teams to achieve optimal success at a range of companies, from start-ups to Fortune 50 companies. Tom has nearly three decades of global management and coaching experience in multiple industries that help him identify chronic issues in a company and work to build a healthy, cohesive team.

Your company’s incentive plan is a fundamental part of being efficient, centering your team, and reaching your desired goals. But is your incentive plan working towards development or is it holding your team back? How can you develop the best plan tailored to your business?

Tom Bouwer has over 25 years of experience helping companies advance as a team and achieve their vision. According to Tom, your operating system determines how you set priorities, solve issues, and grow as a team. Specifically for leaders, financial communication is a key element to building trust with your employees as well as motivating and educating them. 

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill sits down with Tom Bouwer, Certified EOS Implementer, and Co-Founder and Partner of ProfitWorks LLC, to talk about creating incentive plans. Tom discusses the different types of incentive plans, common mistakes leaders make when implementing these strategies, and how you can educate team members to create positive tension and a growth-centered environment. Stay tuned!