Under the Hard Hat

What does it take to go from union glazier to CEO?

Paul Robinson, CEO of Pioneer Cladding & Glazing Systems and ACI board member, sits down with ACI Young Professionals Committee Past Chairman John Westerkamp, Pre-Construction Manager at Pioneer, in the first of two episodes from their candid conversation about building a career through the trades.

While college is often seen as the traditional route to leadership, Paul completed an apprenticeship program, became a union glazier in 1998, and worked his way to the CEO's office. In episode 5, he shares how Pioneer pairs a union field workforce with a nonunion (open shop) fabrication shop, why neither path is better than the other, and the lessons he's learned about mentorship, employee ownership, and servant leadership. He closes with advice every young professional can use: be curious, ask questions, and listen.

Episodes 5 and 6 were both recorded during the same live Under the Hard Hat event, and each can be enjoyed on its own or in either order.

Episode 6 will explore another side of this conversation: curtain wall construction, design-assist, fabrication, and the collaboration behind complex facade systems.

Episode 6 will explore another side of this conversation, going inside curtain wall construction, design-assist, fabrication, and the collaboration behind complex facade systems. Plus more on managing vs. leading, technology, and lessons learned from nearly three decades in the construction industry.Be sure to subscribe so you'll be notified when Episode 6 is released!

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Under the Hard Hat

02:03 Why Paul chose construction and the trades

03:00 Curtain wall 101 and "bringing visions to life"

05:22 Union field workforce + nonunion fabrication shop

07:47 Partnering with local unions and hiring for curiosity

09:25 Union or nonunion: choosing your career path

10:21 Mentorship and training on the shop floor

12:06 Employee ownership and the ESOP model

13:36 Why companies should invest in leadership development

14:20 From the field to managing engineers: learning servant leadership

15:40 Inside Pioneer's co-op program

18:09 Advice for young professionals: be curious

19:29 Sponsor thank-you + quickfire round

21:50 Audience Q&A: field lessons and what's next for Pioneer

24:32 Closing thoughts: many pathways into construction

25:22 Coming up in Episode 6

About Under the Hard Hat:

Under the Hard Hat: Lessons Learned with ACI Young Professionals is a live event and podcast series designed to capture the knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned from leaders across the commercial construction industry and pass them on to the next generation.

Thank you to our streaming sponsor, Pioneer Cladding & Glazing Systems, and supporting sponsors Beacon Electrical Contractors, Blue & Co., MSP Design, Turner Construction, and Skanska.

Have suggestions for future episodes, feedback, or an interest in sponsoring Under the Hard Hat? Email [email protected]

Learn more about Allied Construction Industries: ACI-web.com

In this episode of Under the Hard Hat, ACI Young Professionals Committee Vice-Chair Dylan Lyon sits down with Steve Bestard, Sr. Vice President & COO at Messer Construction Co., for a candid conversation about leadership, workforce development, technology, company culture, and the future of construction.Steve reflects on his 34-year career with Messer, discusses the company's investment in workforce development and craft professional training, and shares his perspective on leadership, company culture, and the future of the construction industry. The conversation also explores AI and emerging technology, work-life balance, career growth, and the lessons Steve believes every young professional should learn early in their career.Whether you're new to the industry or a seasoned professional, this episode offers valuable insights on leadership, resilience, and the importance of investing in people.

About Under the Hard Hat:
Under the Hard Hat: Lessons Learned with ACI Young Professionals is a live event and podcast series designed to capture the knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned from leaders across the commercial construction industry and pass them on to the next generation.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:15 Steve's construction journey and why he chose Messer
04:15 Building the workforce pipeline through craft development programs
07:00 Expanding company culture across new markets
08:45 AI, technology, and the future of construction
12:30 Leadership qualities and building strong teams
15:00 Handling challenges and learning from mistakes
17:45 Career growth and professional advice
20:15 Work-life balance and family decisions
24:00 Communication, technology, and industry changes
26:00 The evolving relationship between contractors and trade partners
28:00 Fast questions and closing thoughts

Learn more about Allied Construction Industries: www.aci-web.com
Subscribe for future episodes and industry insights.

In this special Women in Construction edition of Under the Hard Hat, we bring together three accomplished construction industry leaders for their insights on leadership, career growth, workforce development, and the future of construction.

Moderator Amber Stiens (Skanska USA Building Inc.) is joined by 

• Stephanie Hall, CEO of J & D Rack Co., Inc.
• Michele O’Rourke, CEO of O’Rourke Wrecking Company
• Kate Holden, President of KT Holden Construction

Together, they discuss their unique paths into the industry, the lessons they learned along the way, their definitions of work-life balance, how they mentor the next generation and create opportunities for women in construction.

Whether you're a young professional, industry veteran, project manager, executive, or student exploring construction careers, this episode offers practical advice and inspiring perspectives from women blazing their own paths the industry.

Topics include:

• Leadership and career development
• Women in construction
• Construction workforce development
• Mentorship and professional growth
• Company culture and team building
• Work-life balance in construction
• Building the next generation of industry leaders

Under the Hard Hat is a live conversation series and podcast created by the Allied Construction Industries Young Professionals, dedicated to sharing real-world insights and preserving lessons learned from the people shaping our industry's future. To learn more about ACI, visit ACI-web.com.

In Episode 2 of Under the Hard Hat: Lessons Learned with ACI Young Professionals, Jeff Smoker, Vice President of Preconstruction at Skanska, and Jeff Smoker II, Preconstruction Manager at Skanska, sat down to discuss building a career in construction across generations with our YP host Claire Duncan, Project Manager at Messer Construction.During the conversation, Jeff “Senior” and JD shared how a family legacy in construction shaped their paths into the industry, what it’s like working in the same field—and sometimes the same company—and how leadership and mentorship continue to evolve in today’s construction industry.If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, comment, and share the episode with someone who would benefit from these lessons.

What is Under the Hard Hat - Lessons Learned with ACI Young Professionals? What is Allied Construction Industries (ACI)?

Why did we create this podcast? What can you expect from each episode?

This short introduction will answer those questions and more before you dive into our first episode.

For our very first episode, we welcomed Erin Mignano,Vice President and General Manager at Turner Construction Company, for a conversation with Maya Middlebrook, Turner’s Community Engagement Strategist and ACI YP Committee Vice-Chairman.

Erin brought everything we hoped for in a kickoff guest: honesty, humor, and more than 20 years of insight spanning the field to the boardroom. She shares the biggest wins and toughest challenges that shaped her career, the importance of relationship-building, and the impact of advocating forherself.

If you are in the greater Cincinnati area and interested in attending an upcoming Under the Hard Hat episode recording and networking event, head to ACI-web.com/events