Transforming Construction

The construction industry is one of the biggest and most impactful in the world. However, confronted with cyclical demand, project complexity, skilled labor shortages, low barriers to entry, and declining financial returns, it faces a distinct set of challenges that have inhibited companies from maximizing their true potential.

This episode concludes season one of the Transforming Construction podcast. We have enjoyed having 17 wonderful guests on the show, ranging from senior advisors, faculty at the nation’s top universities, superintendents, national TED speakers, authors, and c-suite level executives. Tune in to hear Steve discuss where the construction industry has been and where it may be heading into the future based on the top trends evolving construction.

Stay tuned for season two!

Learn more about our training for High Performing Teams: https://www.coltivar.com/high-performing-teams

The construction industry may not be for everyone, but those who are willing to work hard and take risks are handsomely rewarded—not just from a financial but also a self-fulfillment perspective. There’s something magical about seeing a vision in one’s head and then putting in the work to make it become a reality. Homebuilding is no exception.

Over the last 25 years, the founder of Craftsman Home Company, Greg Smarslok, has compiled his home building experience into a modern, eco-friendly, and sustainable approach. Greg began as a hometown builder with an intentional commitment to the community - providing homeowners with a dedicated experience; from choosing their home design to walking in the front door and so much more. Greg’s vast homebuilding expertise, love for building homes, and his passion for helping others are the foundation Craftsman Home Company was built on. Greg’s promise is to be present throughout every step of the home-building journey.

Craftsman Home Company website: https://www.craftsmanhomecompany.com/

Learn more about our training for High Performing Teams: https://www.coltivar.com/high-performing-teams

Since we started the Transforming Construction podcast in January, we have had sixteen fantastic guests on our show. Through the show, they have shared their passions, knowledge about the industry, advice for future leaders, and even the mistakes of their past.

This week Coltivar wanted to honor all of our guests in an exclusive “best of” episode.

Learn more about our training for High Performing Teams: https://www.coltivar.com/high-performing-teams

This week on the Transforming Construction podcast Steve had a chance to speak with Carl Ericson, CEO of Augmented Construction Inc. Carl is well versed within the construction Industry having just under 2 decades of high-profile project experience working for industry leaders in the fields of construction management and development. He has successfully executed over 1B dollars in project volume across a range of sectors including vertical multi-family, mission-critical, commercial, and medical. He is a champion for the utilization and development of a wide array of digital twin technologies and his firm's R&D efforts focused on future applications of data science. Carl leads Augmented Construction with a clear vision for its clients to achieve unprecedented levels of scope certainty & risk mitigation to augment the development, construction, and asset management process.

Visit Augmented Construction’s website: http://augmentedconstructioninc.com/

Learn more about our training for High Performing Teams: https://www.coltivar.com/high-performing-teams

This week Steve spoke with Robert Jackson, the Vice President of the Business Equity Team for the Nova Group. Their conversation centers around the impact that climate risk has on asset prices and how organizations are adopting ESG, Environmental, Social, and Governance models to maximize their double bottom line. Rob has assumed several technical leadership roles within the real estate and construction industry and is an expert on commercial asset due diligence and environmental risk. Rob earned a Bachelor’s degree in economics and mechanical engineering from Portland State University.

Visit Nova Group’s website: https://www.novagroupgbc.com/

Learn more about our training for High Performing Teams: https://www.coltivar.com/high-performing-teams

It is estimated that 42 percent or 32 million Baby Boomers are planning to move and 38 percent of them are considering brand new homes when they do so [Zillow Group, Inc]. This demand for new homes among 55 years and older individuals, will likely lead to new opportunities in the home building space. Organizations that can capitalize on these shifting demographics and consumer buying behavior by matching their business model to serve them have tremendous upside. 

On this week’s episode, Steve had an opportunity to speak with Paul Hanson, President of Epcon Franchising — a company that is carving out a niche in this underserved market and helping builders to own franchises that are customer-centric, scalable, and profitable. Paul has been involved in the building industry since 2003, serving in various strategic roles involving construction and operations. Prior to joining Epcon, he served as Group Vice President for Arthur Rutenberg Homes where he led an expansion and development effort that covered a six-state Midwestern market. Prior to that, he was with NVR for over ten years in leadership roles in both Ohio and Florida. Paul is a graduate of Grove City College in Pennsylvania and earned his MBA from the University of Florida in 2009.  So without further delay, let’s jump into today’s episode with Paul.

Visit Epcon’s website: https://epconfranchising.com/

Learn more about our training for High Performing Teams: https://www.coltivar.com/high-performing-teams

Learn more about the Transforming Construction podcast: https://www.coltivar.com/transforming-construction-podcast

This week on the Transforming Construction podcast, Steve had the pleasure of speaking with Avery Bang. Avery is the President and CEO of Bridges to Prosperity. She believes that every person has a right to safe access –and the innovative, scalable approach Bridges to Prosperity’s embraces is built to act on that belief. Since joining Bridges to Prosperity as a volunteer in 2006, she’s worked alongside a growing team of leaders and game-changers who, in partnership with isolated communities around the world, provide safe year-round access to education, healthcare, and markets through pedestrian bridge-building. 

From an early age, Avery has been passionate about engineering and legos. She pursued her undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering and a BA in Studio Art at the University of Iowa and later completed a graduate degree in Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. Avery has taught Cable-Supported Pedestrian Bridge Design at the University of Colorado in the Mortenson Center for Engineering in Developing Communities, and in 2016, she took a sabbatical to complete an MBA at the University of Oxford, where she served as the Managing Director for the Oxford Seed Fund. Avery is full of energy and ideas and her drive allows her to make a significant impact on communities throughout the world.

Visit Avery’s website: https://www.averybang.com/

Learn more about our training for High Performing Teams: https://www.coltivar.com/high-performing-teams

Learn more about the Transforming Construction podcast: https://www.coltivar.com/transforming-construction-podcast

This week on the Transforming Construction podcast, Steve had an opportunity to speak with Cheryl Benedict. Cheryl is an author, leadership consultant, executive coach, and trusted advisor who partners with successful organizations to grow their leaders, guiding them in the midst of professional and organizational change and transition. Her niche for the past 15 years has been working with engineering, architecture, and construction firms. 

She thrives on collaboration and works with clients in a true partnership. She develops leaders and prepares them for what's next. Cheryl builds long-lasting relationships with her clients that are based on mutual trust and commitment. A signature of working with Cheryl is that the relationships formed are deep, empowering, and meaningful.

In 2020, she won the SABA (Sound Advice Book Award) for Best New Author of 2020 for her book The Wisdom of Transition: Navigating Change at Work. There were 14 new authors nominated from 11 countries. The book comes from the wisdom of working with real clients as they navigate change in the workplace.

Learn more about the Transforming Construction podcast: https://www.coltivar.com/transforming-construction-podcast

Running a construction business is a grind. Most leaders lack the time and energy to contribute to the industry outside of their organization in a significant way. That’s why the industry is fortunate to have advocates like Michael Gifford who work strategically and diligently behind the scenes to drive meaningful outcomes for the construction ecosystem.

Michael Gifford is the President & CEO for Colorado’s Ieading construction association, the AGC — Associated General Contractors. He helps commercial construction general contractors, specialty contractors and suppliers gain a competitive advantage and improve the way they do business through advocacy, coalition building, legislative strategy, regional economic development, workforce development, and AGC membership growth.

Learn more about the Transforming Construction podcast: https://www.coltivar.com/transforming-construction-podcast

From a study of 363 general contractors, ranging from a few million to several billion in revenue, 83% of profits are captured by the top 20% of companies.  This means that in a high risk, low margin business like construction, most companies are just playing to play—content with the scraps of profits they can capture or frustrated by their inability to earn more. 
Tim Mahoney is not only a principal at the reputable professional services firm, Clifton Larson Allen, but also a strategic thinker who understands the power of data analytics and technology in construction. Tim currently concentrates his practice working with privately held companies in the construction and real estate groups working with general contractors, subcontractors, specialty contractors, engineers, homebuilders, commercial, and multi-family real estate. Prior to joining the firm, Tim served as a subsidiary controller for a large publicly traded company. In addition to accounting and financial expertise, Tim is a thought leader and has written several articles including his recent publication “Build for Your Future: Data Analytics in Construction”.  

Learn more about the Transforming Construction podcast: https://www.coltivar.com/transforming-construction-podcast