This Is Concrete

Craig Welsh is a microcement expert and the UK Manager of CimentArt Group. Craig has been plastering and tiling for over 40 years and holds the Advanced City & Guilds certificate in plastering and tiling, the highest level available. Outside of his career in microcement, Craig runs a gym for boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Choosing the right materials to structure your home or business is essential in creating a long-lasting foundation. Among many different materials, microcement is growing in popularity within both commercial and residential properties. So what exactly is microcement? What are the benefits of using microcement over other materials?

Industry expert Craig Welsh stands by microcement’s advantages of strength, elasticity, and impermeability. According to Craig, microcement is often used in coffee shops, restaurants, and accent walls in residential homes because of its durability and aesthetically-pleasing appearance. Today, he’s here to share what exactly goes into microcement applications.

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill is joined by Craig Welsh, UK Manager of CimentArt Group. Craig shares all of the details on microcement application, training and informational videos, and why you should consider microcement for your own home or business. Stay tuned.

Michael Trotta is the Executive Vice President of Concrete Polishing & Prep Solutions. At Concrete Polishing & Prep Solutions, Michael helps other companies grow by providing quality prep, maintenance, and polishing equipment.

He began his career at Sherwin Williams, then moved on to a manager role at PROSOCO, Inc., where he took them from $13,000 in sales to $1.125 million over the span of six years. Beginning in 2011, Michael was the National Sales and Development Manager at Niagara Machine, Inc., where he grew strong relationships with sales representatives and vendors

Working in the construction industry requires keeping up to date with new techniques, technologies, and educational opportunities. So where can you get quality training for contract work when you’re just starting out? How can you continue educating yourself within the construction industry?

Michael Trotta of Concrete Polishing & Prep Solutions is aiding in the launch of training programs and growth within his own company. One of these upcoming programs, Concrete Palooza, will help people within the concrete industry learn about technology, training strategies, and more from industry experts. Michael is experienced in finding good workers and furthering their education, and today, he’s here to share those tips with you.

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill sits down with Michael Trotta, Executive Vice President of Concrete Polishing & Prep Solutions, to talk about the different ways to continue education in the trade industry. Michael discusses Job Corps’ training programs, working with your competitors, and resources for seeking out educational trade shows. Stay tuned.

Rusty Balderson is an Estimator at W.M. Jordan Company, a construction business that helps communities grow and thrive. Rusty has been a part of the construction industry ever since he was a kid: growing up, his father built houses and gave him various construction jobs, which eventually led Rusty to his career at W.M. Jordan Company.

Rusty has been working at W.M. Jordan Company for 14 years and has played a crucial role in developing their general contracting, construction management, and pre-construction and design/build services. 

In the construction industry, the planning stages can determine the success of your project. However, when working with people across different industries, there is a greater chance of running into obstacles before you even set your project in motion. So, how do you secure the bid for a construction project while avoiding common issues? How can you ensure that your goals will be met within the project?

Estimator Rusty Balderson says that a successful construction project requires thorough communication and a team-centered approach. With a lifetime of experience in the construction industry, Rusty knows the specific strategies to get all team members on the same page. His biggest piece of advice: be upfront about all aspects of your project.

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill talks with Rusty Balderson, Estimator at W.M. Jordan Company, about the process of successfully beginning your construction project. Rusty shares his strategies for gathering information on your bid, saving money on your project, and effectively communicating with all members of the project to ease the planning process. Stay tuned.

Tom Barrett is the Co-Founder, CEO, and Certified EOS implementer at Navigate The Journey, a management consulting firm. Over the past five years, he has successfully grown his own consulting firm while providing strategic planning and EOS implementation services to over 60 companies.

Tom began his career as a CPA at Deloitte before transitioning to mergers & acquisitions consulting with Ernst & Young. He held leadership positions at two entrepreneurial organizations before co-founding Navigate The Journey. Tom combines his talent and passion to help other entrepreneurs and their leadership teams clarify their vision, gain traction, and become relationally healthier.

Do you find it difficult to manage your time and your calendar? Have you ever felt like you need multiple assistants to organize all of your work? Sound like you? Then you won’t want to miss this episode of This is Concrete.

Tom Barrett, a Certified EOS Implementer, helps entrepreneurs and leaders develop their companies and get what they want from their business. According to Tom, it’s about progress, not perfection. Why? Because progress builds on itself—and will lead your business to achieve its goals.

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill sits down with Tom Barrett, Co-Founder, CEO, and Certified EOS Implementer of Navigate The Journey, to talk about strategies for controlling your calendar and finding freedom within your schedule. Tom shares his expert tips on optimizing your time, preparing for busy workdays, and delegating tasks to run a better business—and a better lifestyle. Stay tuned.

Ali Mirza is a top entrepreneur, advisor, strategist, author, and the Founder and CEO of Rose Garden Consulting. Ali started his career by selling insurance door to door before pivoting to the financial services, SaaS, marketing, and tech industries. He’s since been voted one of the top 10 revenue experts by Business Insider. With Rose Garden Consulting, Ali helps companies scale their sales with a creative, innovative, and team-first approach. 

No one is born a salesperson. Sales skills aren’t necessarily innate; instead, they’re developed over time as you learn to effectively communicate values and benefits to consumers. Working with different businesses requires different sales strategies, but how do you develop these strategies? When you are working with various consumers, how do you market your proposal and close the deal? 

On this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill is joined by Ali Mirza, Founder and CEO of Rose Garden Consulting, to talk about building strategy and creating revenue from existing clients and prospects. Using the Elephant and the Rider analogy, Ali discusses leveraging the decision-making of the unconscious mind to close the deal. Stay tuned.

Chad Gill is the Founder and CEO of Concreate, a custom concrete flooring company that delivers polishing, staining, and more for both commercial and residential projects. The team at Concreate helps designers, architects, tradesmen, business owners, and homeowners transform plain concrete surfaces into clean, distinctive, and enduring masterpieces. 

Before starting Concreate over a decade ago, Chad worked as a robotics and tooling design engineer. Outside of the office, he serves as the President of the Concrete Polishing Association of America and enjoys spending time with his wife and four children. 

Chad Gill has always loved construction. Growing up on a farm, he mastered the art of fixing things at a young age. However, after a stint in the Virginia Military Institute and then the nuclear industry, Chad realized that he wasn’t putting this skill—or passion—to use. So, he decided to start his own construction company focusing on his favorite medium: concrete. 

Now, Chad and his company, Concreate, are famous for their unique concrete surfaces. Using an innovative and economical process, the team at Concreate designs and creates polished concrete masterpieces for both residential and commercial projects. So, what makes Chad’s concrete stand out from the rest? 

In this first episode of This Is Concrete, Rise25 Co-Founder John Corcoran sits down with host Chad Gill to talk about his experience starting his custom concrete flooring company, Concreate. Chad shares his journey from growing up on a farm and studying engineering to finally taking the entrepreneurial leap and starting his own business. Chad also shares the secret to Concreate’s success: polished concrete. Stay tuned!