Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Construction Genius

Ryan Englin, founder of Core Matters and creator of the FieldCon software platform, returns to talk about the two things most construction leaders dodge: accountability and performance reviews. Ryan and Eric get practical about why these conversations feel so hard and how to make them routine.

The short version. Accountability starts with a commitment the employee actually agreed to. The longer you wait to address a problem, the more painful it gets. And the annual review is the worst way to give feedback.

In this episode: - Why you can't hold someone accountable to something they never committed to - The foreman story that shows how delay turns a small issue into a confrontation - Why focusing on the agreed outcome beats focusing on the person - How to redesign reviews around the gap between self-rating and manager-rating - Running reviews monthly or quarterly so nothing is ever a surprise

Connect with Ryan Englin: 

Core Matters: corematters.com

 FieldCon:  fieldcon.io 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ryanenglin 

Core Matters on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/corematters

A superintendent's wife wakes up at 2 a.m. to find him pacing the bedroom for the third night straight. She tells him, "This isn't going to work. For anybody." That superintendent was Scott Borroughs, and the project was Deep Space, Epic Systems Systems850,000 square foot auditorium, built 80 feet down through limestone.

Scott Borroughs is the Vice President of Field Operations at JP Cullen, a fifth-generation Wisconsin contractor. As general superintendent on Deep Space, he became the decision-making funnel that choked the project, then rebuilt the way he led. In this episode, we walk through how he did it, and how you can do the same without losing control of the work.

• How to recognize when you've become the bottleneck on your own project

• The "banks of the river" framework: define the banks, let people flow between them

• How to step back from the weeds without feeling like you've stopped working

• What to do when your team solves a problem differently than you would

• How JP Cullen turned one project's lessons into ten company-wide SOPs

• Why you should never confuse activity with accomplishment

Connect with Scott Borroughs on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-borroughs-63999a19

JP Cullen: https://jpcullen.com

The Epic Systems Deep Space Auditorium project: https://jpcullen.com/portfolio/epic-deep-space-auditorium

You're a contractor, you're busy, and you're tired of LinkedIn consultants telling you that you'll be left behind if you don't embrace AI right now. Smart move to tune out the hype — but here's the catch: while you're waiting for the noise to die down, a few of your competitors are quietly using these tools to save hours every week. Not on flashy stuff. On the boring stuff. Meeting minutes, SOPs, pulling scope language out of a 200-page addendum.

Dimitri Sidiropoulos is the Vice President of Delphi Plumbing and Heating, a heavy mechanical self-performing public works contractor in New York City. He's not a tech bro — he's a working contractor who decided to actually try ChatGPT for a year inside his construction company. In this conversation, Eric and Dimitri get into what works, what doesn't, where it saves him hours, where the proposal bot he tried to build had to be abandoned, and where that last 20% will nail you if you're not paying attention.

If you've been waiting for someone to give you a no-hype, on-the-ground answer to "should I actually be using ChatGPT?" — grab a notepad. This is the conversation.

What you'll learn:

• Why the first move with AI isn't asking it to do work — it's letting it interview you

• How Dimitri spent three days in back-and-forth with ChatGPT to give it real context about his business

• The "Jarvis to Iron Man" framework: AI enhances the operator, it doesn't replace the brain

• Where ChatGPT shines: meeting minutes, SOPs, pulling scope from addenda, three/five/ten-year strategic planning

• Where it falls down: custom proposal bots, takeoffs of pipe and fittings, anything that depends on means and methods

• Why "80% of the way there in five minutes" beats "80% of the way there in a day and a half"

• How to ask AI for its sources so you can spot hallucinations early

• Why writing emails with AI can hurt the relationships you've built

• The first move on Monday morning if you're an AI-skeptic contractor

• Delphi Plumbing & Heating: www.delphiph.com

• Dimitri on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dimitri-sidiropoulos-b4485190

• Delphi on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/delphiph

Every construction company answers to three masters. The bank. The bonding company. The taxman. Same financial statements, three different things they want from you.

Kathe Barrington is a CPA who builds the construction accounting that bankers and bonding agents actually read. In Part 7 of our series, we work through how to stop being at the mercy of all three and get them working as one team.

What you'll learn:

• Why one set of books gets three different recommendations, and what to do about it

• How paying less tax can quietly shrink your bonding capacity

• Why bank and bonding both care about equity, retained earnings, and working capital

• How WIP accuracy and consistent margins build outside trust

• The one meeting almost no contractor runs, and why it changes everything

Kathe Barrington is a CPA with 30+ years of experience, 20 focused on construction. Through KB CPA she is a fractional accounting resource for commercial GCs and specialty contractors that need construction-literate financial support without a full-time CFO or controller.

Connect with Kathe Barrington

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathe-barrington-a6346337

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kathe-Barrington-CPA-100072271041746

KB CPA: https://kbcpa.biz

Prefabrication won't save your MEP company on its own. Run it wrong and it quietly bleeds you. In this episode, Jake Olsen, CEO of Stratus, explains how to make fab actually pay off. He's a structural engineer with more than twenty years in construction and construction tech, and he's blunt about where the money goes.

In this conversation you'll learn:

• Why prefab is really a labor strategy, and how "geographic arbitrage" keeps your crews busy

• Why MEP fab is neither manufacturing nor field construction, and why that matters

• How overproducing and carrying too much work-in-progress strands your cash

• Where prefab actually gets won, and it's in preconstruction, not the shop

• The two biggest money-losers in any fab shop: material handling and rework

If you run fabrication, or you're thinking about building a shop, this episode will change how you set your expectations.

Connect with Jake Olsen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjakeolsen/
Learn more about Stratus: https://www.stratus.build/

Most construction owners think they have four exit options. Pass it to a kid. Sell to an employee. Sell to a competitor. Sell to private equity. The reality is harder. Private equity passes on most contractors. Competitors often aren't buying. That's why ESOPs are now the fastest-growing succession trend in construction.

Kelly Finnell, CEO of EFS ESOP Consultants, has done 22 ESOPs for general and specialty contractors in recent years. In this episode, Kelly explains how the deal is actually structured, what the owner walks away with, and where most owners are wrong about "leaving money on the table."

What you'll learn:

• Why construction is the fastest-growing industry for ESOPs in the country

• The three sources of capital that fund an ESOP: bank loan, seller note, excess cash

• How two contractors with $3M EBITDA sold for $25M to an ESOP after $12M offers from a strategic buyer

• Why an owner is not personally on the hook for the ESOP bank loan

• How to manage the repurchase obligation so it doesn't crush you in a down year

• The first two moves to make if you're 58 and seriously considering this path

Connect with Kelly Finnell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esopcoach/

Kelly's Website: www.execfin.com

Kelly's Book, The ESOP Coach: https://www.amazon.com/ESOP-Coach-Ownership-Succession-Paperback/dp/B010CKUN9U

National Center for Employee Ownership: https://www.nceo.org/

Free Succession Planning Guide: https://www.constructiongenius.com/free-succession-planning-guide

Sam Fertik went from running a 20-course tasting restaurant in Manhattan to building homes out of concrete and steel that he says last a thousand years. He's the CEO and Founder of Carbon Custom Builders. In this episode, Sam and Eric trace the chef-to-contractor journey and the one question that reshaped his whole business. Why are we still building houses the way we did in 1850?

What you'll learn:

• What ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms) is and why it turns homebuilding into a repeatable science

• Why the average home lasts 30 years and how concrete-and-steel construction changes that

• How a chef's recipe mindset applies directly to running a construction company

• The "go to the biggest problem" lesson and why owners have to be both visionary and implementer

• Why Sam says sales is the one thing that kills a small business

Connect with Sam Fertik and Carbon Custom Builders:

• Website: https://www.carboncustombuilders.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-fertik/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carboncustombuilders/

Most contractors are stuck on the bid list and don't know it. They tell themselves they're a preferred contractor. The numbers say otherwise.

In this episode, Matthew Neuberger of Neuberger and Company joins Eric to break down why business development inside most construction companies fails, and the simple system that fixes it. Matthew runs a Sandler training franchise focused on contractors, so he sees this every day.

What you'll learn:

• Why 60 to 70 percent of a growing contractor's revenue comes from inbound calls, not bid invitations

• The three-part business development system: owner list, contact cadence, weekly review

• The four signals that tell you which owners belong on your list

• Why a CRM and a LinkedIn presence are not business development

• How to use Eric's EAR framework to make BD accountability stick

Matthew is offering a free business development assessment that pinpoints where your process is leaking revenue.

Free Assessment: https://neuberger-sandler-22152421.hs-sites.com/tcc-eval-form

Connect with Matthew Neuberger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neubergerco/

How's your backlog right now? In Part 6 of the Construction Accounting Series, Eric sits down again with CPA Kathe Barrington to unpack what backlog really is, and what it isn't. They dig into why committed-but-unstarted jobs belong on your WIP the day you're awarded, how to use backlog to forecast labor, equipment, and cash, and why a backlog that looks great in aggregate can still leave you with a nine-month hole in the schedule.

Kathe lays out the ideal backlog-to-revenue ratio, the red flag of growing backlog with compressing gross profit, how client and project-type concentration creates fragility, and who needs to be in the room for the monthly backlog review. If you want backlog to function as a real planning tool, not a vanity number. This conversation is the blueprint.

• What backlog actually is - remaining contract, remaining cost, and remaining gross profit to complete

• Why letters of intent and verbal awards should NOT count as backlog

• Why unstarted-but-committed jobs belong on your WIP the day you're awarded (and what bank & bonding are looking for)

• How to translate a WIP snapshot into a month-by-month forecast of labor, equipment, and cash

• How far out you should be forecasting labor (hint: 6–12 months minimum)

• The ideal backlog-to-revenue ratio - and why 3–6 months makes Kathe nervous

• How backlog profiles differ between GCs and subs, and what that means for planning

• The aggregate-number trap: why jobs bunched up at the same finish line signal trouble

• When you can tighten margins as you scale - and when compressing gross profit becomes dangerous

• Client and project-type concentration risk - diversification as insurance

• How often to review backlog (monthly, with the financials) and who belongs in the room

• The questions that should drive the conversation beyond the numbers

• How to use backlog data when the market shifts - lessons from 2008 and COVID

• The three questions Kathe asks first when she takes on a new client's books

LinkedIn: Kathe Barrington, KB CPA

Facebook: Kathe Barrington / KB CPA

This is Part 6 of an ongoing series. Catch up on the full run:

• Part 1 — Ep. 357: WIP Reports Made Simple: The Key to Stopping Hidden Job Losses

• Part 2 — Ep. 359: How to Use Your WIP to Protect Cash and Grow Profitability

• Part 3 — Ep. 364: Why the Field and Accounting Are Both Right (Physical Progress vs. Financial Reporting)

• Part 4 — Ep. 368: Underbillings Bad. Overbillings Better: The Cash Flow Truth Construction Owners Can't Ignore

• Part 5 — Ep. 377: Why Your Jobs Look More Profitable Than They Are: Indirect Allocations and Overhead in Construction

Your meeting transcripts are the most valuable data set your company throws away. This is ChatGPT 201, part two of our AI for construction companies series with Dylan Davis, AI consultant and coach and my collaborator on the Construction Genius GPT course. We take one task every contractor has, the meeting follow-up email, and turn it into a repeatable AI workflow you can run every week.

• What makes an AI workflow instead of a one-off prompt

• How to find your best automation targets inside the bid, the build, and the bill

• How to teach ChatGPT your writing style with three to five sample emails

• How to make the AI grade its own work before you see it

• Why you should let the AI write the prompt, and how projects make it repeatable

• What to do when the output is bad (hint: it's your fault)

Get on the waitlist for the Construction Genius GPT Course: https://ericanderton.activehosted.com/f/255

Connect with Dylan Davis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylantdavis/

Dylan's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dylandavisAI

Elon Musk builds rockets. You build buildings. Different industry. Same problems. Bad requirements, bloated processes, too many parts, slow cycle time.

Eric Jorgenson is the CEO of Scribe Media and the author of The Book of Elon, a curated collection of Elon Musk's most useful ideas drawn from his tweets, interviews, and public conversations. In this episode, we walk through Elon's five-step algorithm and apply it directly to how construction companies get work, plan work, and build work.

What you'll learn:

• Why questioning requirements and deleting parts is 80 percent of the algorithm

• How the idiot index reveals where your supply chain is taking you for a ride

• First principles thinking vs. reasoning by analogy, with concrete construction examples

• Why fast is actually cheap and how it breaks the construction trilemma

• How to attack the bottleneck instead of running the calendar

• How to give people hardcore feedback without making it personal

Get The Book of Elon (free digital version): https://www.elonmuskbook.org/

Connect with Eric Jorgenson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erjorgenson/

Eric's newsletter: https://www.ejorgenson.com/newsletter

Eric's podcast, Smart Friends: https://www.ejorgenson.com/podcast

Free Succession Planning Guide: https://www.constructiongenius.com/free-succession-planning-guide

AI won't fix a badly run company. But if you're already running a good one, it can save you hours every week on the work that eats your time: RFIs, change order drafts, meeting summaries, estimating.

Dylan Davis is an AI consultant and coach, and my collaborator on the Construction Genius GPT course, where we teach construction professionals to use AI on real work. This is part one of our new series on AI for construction companies: AI 101, in plain English, with zero hype.

What you'll learn:

• What AI actually is (a prediction machine) and where it fits in everyday construction work

• Why context, not prompting, is the last competitive lever left

• The What-Why-How framework for getting useful output every time

• Why the first answer is the start, not the finish, and how to iterate like a pro

• Which model to use for which task: ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini

• How to keep your company data safe, and the one thing Dylan won't let AI do

• Three moves to make on day one of your AI journey

Get on the waitlist for the Construction Genius GPT Course: https://ericanderton.activehosted.com/f/255

Connect with Dylan Davis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylantdavis/

Dylan's website: https://offerings.gradientlabs.co/

Dylan's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dylandavisAI

Free Succession Planning Guide: https://www.constructiongenius.com/free-succession-planning-guide

Daniel McCaulley, P.E., is the founder of Ultimus Engineering, a faith-based engineering firm in Texas delivering MEP, aquatics, and structural engineering across 22 states. On this episode, Daniel shares what he learned from his first failed hire, how he transitioned from corporate engineering to running his own firm, and why the human side of client service matters more than ever.

Key Takeaways:

• Remote work is a privilege, not a right. Small firms need people who understand that every hour is visible.

• Daniel moonlighted for two years and saved a year of living expenses before going full time. Preparation beats hope.

• Spending more time on engineering upfront saves money and headaches during construction. But you need the communication skills to sell that to clients.

• Picking up the phone, turning around quotes in 24 hours, and being accessible are the simplest ways to separate yourself from the competition.

• AI is a tool, not a personality replacement. If your emails sound like a robot and you sound like a human, you'll lose trust faster than you think.

Connect with Daniel McCaulley:

Website: https://ultimus.engineering
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielmccaulley/
Email: dmccaulley@ultimusengineering.com
Phone: 214-384-7762

Jon Dario is an author, speaker, and retail leadership expert who has held leadership roles with some of the top companies in the retail and financial services industries including Macy's, Gap, and Bank of America. He is currently CEO of a real estate company in the metro NY area. Jon is the creator of AIM, a system that turns managers into execution machines and enables them to deliver radically reliable results. His fifth book, AIM, is available for purchase.

In this episode, Jon walks through the Pyramid of Standards, a framework for defining what matters most in your business and making sure your team executes on it every day. He built it in the Gap outlet division after watching managers prioritize the wrong things while customers walked out the door.

Key takeaways:

• The Pyramid of Standards creates a hierarchy of what matters most—foundation first, supplemental later.

• Observation beats assumption. Walk your jobsites and see the business through the customer's eyes before setting standards.

• Follow-up frequency is the difference between standards that stick and standards that slip. Be predictable and relentless.

• Great leaders adopt a white belt mentality—they stay learners and unlock answers in their team instead of dictating them.

• Consistency and habits drive long-term success, not heroics in the bottom of the ninth.

Connect with Jon Dario:

Website: https://jondario.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondario/

AIM Book: https://www.amazon.com/Aim-Managers-Radically-Reliable-Results/dp/1966786778/

Melissa Drew is the Founder and President of InSite BUILD, a construction management firm based on Maryland's Eastern Shore that specializes in complex state-procured projects. After 20 years with national contractors including Holder Construction and Gilbane, she started her own firm to bring big-project experience to a smaller, more relationship-driven model. In this episode, she shares how she manages complex projects, builds trust with contractors and owners, and leads a growing startup in a tight-knit market.

Key Takeaways:

• Two extra weeks of planning at the start of a multi-year project can prevent months of rework

• Superintendents need permission to slow down. That permission has to come from leadership

• Trust is built in small moments, not just when the big problems hit

• Hiring for a startup construction firm means finding people who love the work, not just the structure

• When your team is full of introverts, pressure makes them go quiet. A leader's job is to keep the conversation going

Connect with Melissa Drew: LinkedIn | insite-build.com

Every project team says they're going to communicate well. Then the project starts, and it falls apart. Why? Nobody stops to unpack what communication actually means for the people in the room.

Kyle Majchrowski, author of Powerful Conversations and founder of Next Intent, has spent 20+ years on the owner side of construction and has facilitated hundreds of these conversations. He walks through the structured process that takes just 45 minutes and changes the way teams operate.

Key takeaways:

• Trust means different things to different people. Kyle defines it as "the belief that others have your back when you're not in the room."

• The four cornerstones of trust (care, competence, sincerity, reliability) explain most of the tension you'll see on a project team.

• One question at kickoff can shift everything: "Do you naturally trust people, or do you expect them to earn it?"

• CliftonStrengths and Enneagram are worth your time. DISC oversimplifies.

• Great leaders move between team member, guide, and authority, sometimes within the same meeting.

Connect with Kyle Majchrowski:

Next Intent: https://www.nexintent.com

Website: https://kylemajchrowski.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylemajchrowski

A $1 mistake in pre-con becomes $10 on the jobsite and $100 after occupancy. That's the 1-10-100 rule — and it's why upstream coordination failures are the most expensive mistakes in construction.

Scott Reynolds, co-founder and CEO of UpCodes, joins Eric to break down where compliance mistakes actually start, why the design-to-field handoff is still broken, and how AI-powered code compliance is helping teams catch problems before they pour concrete.

Topics covered: the 1-10-100 rule of construction mistakes, AI guardrails for building code accuracy, QA/QC automation in pre-construction, the architect-to-GC handoff problem, code compliance on the jobsite, and what will be table stakes in five years.

Connect with Scott and UpCodes: https://up.codes

Connect with Eric: https://www.constructiongenius.com

Get the Construction Genius Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDJF3PTF

Your body language on the jobsite isn't just showing how you feel. It's shaping how you feel, how your team performs, and whether your project partners want to work with you again.

In this solo episode, Eric breaks down the research behind body language and leadership — from the NFL to the Olympics to the construction jobsite. You'll learn the body-mind loop that deepens or reverses your emotional state under pressure, why the higher your status the more damage your negative body language inflicts, and the Big Three habits that protect your composure when it matters most.

Key Takeaways:

• Your posture participates in creating your internal state — not just reflecting it

• When leaders visibly deflate, it ripples through every person who sees it

• Body language is a trainable skill, not a personality trait

Book a 10-minute coaching call with Eric: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me

What does success look like to your best PM right now? Do you know?

Alton Tew spent 46 years in construction — 25 of them building Samet Corporation's multifamily division into a $500 million operation that turned over 3,500 units a year. In this conversation, he shares the leadership principles that drove it: the 90-day check-in that keeps high-potential talent from leaving, how to stay calm when a job site goes sideways, and what his final year looked like as he handed off a 170-person division to the next generation.

Simple ideas. Hard to execute. Essential to get right.

📖 Construction Genius: Get it on Amazon

🎓 The Shift: theshift.constructiongenius.com

📅 Work with Eric: 10minuteswitheric.youcanbook.me

🩸 Blood Cancer United: bloodcancerunited.org

🌐 Samet Corporation: sametcorp.com

💼 Alton on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alton-tew-aab3965a

What if the thing holding your construction company back isn't lack of effort — it's lack of deep thinking?

In this episode, I sit down with Steven Puri, former EVP at DreamWorks, former VP at 20th Century Fox, and CEO of The Sukha Company — to talk about flow state: what it is, why the best leaders in the world use it, and how construction company owners can harness it to make better decisions and leapfrog the competition.

Three things you'll walk away with:

• Why grinding harder creates linear growth — and deep thinking creates competitive leaps

• How to find your chronotype and build a flow state practice that actually fits your schedule

• The 'other movie' principle: why your best ideas come when you're working on something else

Steven Puri is CEO of The Sukha Company, former EVP at DreamWorks, and former VP at 20th Century Fox. He speaks and consults on the neuroscience of peak performance for leaders across industries.

📚 Get Eric's book Construction Genius on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

🏗️ The Shift — Eric's leadership course for construction leaders: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com

What happens when outworking everyone stops working?

In Episode 379, Justin Ricklefs — founder of Guild Collective and author of Give a Damn — gets honest about the moment things broke down: his business, his relationships, and himself. He shares the framework that rebuilt everything, why constraint became his competitive advantage, and what it actually costs to build something while keeping your family intact.

• The Five Fs framework for keeping your priorities in order as a business owner

• Why niching down felt like limitation — and turned out to be the growth engine

• The honest answer to whether he'd start his business again knowing what it would cost

Justin Ricklefs is the founder and CEO of Guild Collective, a brand consultancy, and author of Give a Damn: The Catalyst for Caring Companies.

Get Eric's book Construction Genius on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

Leadership course for construction leaders — The Shift: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com/

Only 2.5% of construction firms consistently complete projects on time and on budget. Not because their people lack skills. Because discipline breaks down under pressure.

In this solo episode, Eric Anderton breaks down FMI's 2026 project management study (Part 2) and shows how your Project Executive drives execution discipline in three areas that directly hit your bottom line.

Key takeaways:

• Firms with accurate cost-to-complete forecasting hit profit targets 92% of the time. Without it, 42%.

• Strong change order discipline means 87% profit reliability for specialty contractors. Weak discipline? 64%.

• Your reputation is as many reputations as you have project teams. Your worst PM sets the floor.

• 61% of contractors skip post-job reviews. The learning disappears with the crew.

• The perception gap between executives and PMs is where margin quietly bleeds.

This is Part 2 of a three-part series on FMI's project management research.

FMI 2026 Study (Part 2): fmicorp.com/insights/thought-leadership/2026-project-management-study-part-2

Part 1: www.constructiongenius.com/only-2.5-of-contractors-finish-on-time.-heres-what-they-do-before-the-job-starts-ep.-375

Explore executive coaching with Eric for your leaders. Book a call here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me

If your indirect costs aren't tracked—they're hiding. And what they're hiding is your true profit margin.

In this episode of Construction Genius, Eric sits down with Kathe Barrington, CPA and fractional Controller/CFO with 20 years of construction experience, to break down one of the most misunderstood areas of construction accounting: indirect cost allocations, equipment costing, and overhead structure.

Kathe explains the difference between indirect costs and G&A, how to think about owned equipment usage rates, what a clean chart of accounts should look like, and why your bank and bonding company will notice if you're burying job costs in overhead. She also shares her favorite phrase that every construction leader should internalize: every dollar needs a home and a purpose.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The difference between indirect costs, overhead, and G&A—and why it matters

• How to cost and track owned equipment using market usage rates

• Why inaccurate chart of accounts structure distorts job profitability

• How misallocated costs affect banking, bonding, and strategic decisions

• Why your estimators and accounting team need to speak the same language

• The two biggest areas of indirect cost leakage to look for first

• Why you should review indirect allocations monthly, not annually

This is Part 4 of the Construction Accounting Series with Kathe Barrington.

Ep. 357 - WIP Reports Made Simple: The Key to Stopping Hidden Job Losses

Ep. 359 - How to Use Your WIP to Protect Cash and Grow Profitability

Ep. 364 - Why the Field and Accounting Are Both Right

Most construction companies treat pre-construction as an estimating department. That mindset is costing them projects.

In this episode, Eric sits down with Sam Potts, Director of Pre-Construction at JP Cullen—a $900M family-owned, self-performing GC out of Wisconsin. Sam explains why pre-con managers should be treated like project managers, how to align budgets around what actually matters to the owner, the power of a "yes-if" mentality when clients make unexpected requests, and what separates a good estimator from a great pre-construction leader.

In this episode, you'll learn:

•       Why pre-con's real purpose is setting your project teams up to win

•       How discovery meetings and the right questions unlock owner priorities

•       The Risk Opportunity Log: a tool to eliminate budget surprises

•       Why cost transparency is the fastest way to build trust

•       How AI is starting to impact takeoffs—and the risk to junior estimator development

•       The leadership shift from directing to coaching that changed Sam's career

If you want pre-construction to become a true competitive advantage for your company, this episode is a must-listen.

Only 2.5% of contractors finish on time and on budget. Here's what they do before the job starts.

In this episode, Eric Anderton breaks down Part 1 of FMI's 2025 Project Management Study — 243 executives, 84 PMs, real contractors, real numbers. What they found isn't revolutionary. It's the same truth Vince Lombardi was teaching in 1959. Preparation before the work starts. Accountability to a consistent standard. Everyone owning their role before the first crew hits the job site.

The three things separating high performers from everyone else: PM involvement in estimating, structured pre-execution planning, and field buy-in before mobilization. The one role responsible for making all three happen — or failing to — is your project executive.

Three Numbers Every Owner Should Know

• PM involvement in estimating → margin attainment jumps from 55% to 78%

• Thorough pre-execution planning → profit margins hit 81% vs. 50% of the time

• Strong field alignment → on-time/early completion 76% vs. 58% of the time

Hosted by Eric Anderton — leadership coach, executive coach, and 20+ year veteran of the construction industry.

FMI 2025 Study: https://fmicorp.com/insights/thought-leadership/2025-project-management-study-part-1

Executive coaching for your PX — book a call: https://10minuteswitheric.youcanbook.me/

Construction Genius book: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

The Shift leadership course: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com/

Construction companies don't go out of business because they lack work. They go out of business because they take on too much work and lose discipline.

In this episode, Eric Anderton talks with DPR Construction leaders Camilo Garcia and Mike Humphrey about how DPR built the discipline that carried the company through multiple boom-bust cycles—from early hypergrowth to market volatility in the 2000s, the 2009 downturn, and today's AI-driven data center surge.

They explain how DPR protects its culture through disciplined hiring, empowers teams with freedom within a framework, stays selective with customers and markets, and scales using operating ranges based on people—not just revenue.

If you're leading a construction company in a high-demand market, this episode shows how DPR stays disciplined while growing.

Resources:
DPR Construction: https://www.dpr.com/
Connect with Camilo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camilo-garcia-pineros-79172ba/
Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-humphrey-b589695/

The Inflation Reduction Act is driving massive investment into construction—but the registered apprenticeship requirements tied to those tax credits are creating confusion and risk for many contractors.

In this episode, Eric Anderton talks with Andy Seth, founder of Apprentix, about a smarter approach to complying with Inflation Reduction Act apprenticeship requirements—one that reduces risk, protects margins, and supports business growth.

They break down how IRA apprenticeship compliance really works, why sponsorship matters, and how contractors can get compliant quickly without disrupting operations.

If Inflation Reduction Act projects are affecting your bids or backlog, this episode will give you clarity and confidence.

Connect with Andy

Apprentix: https://www.apprentix.io
Apprenticeship Launch System (Book): https://a.co/d/1Lxl0rX
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyseth/
X: https://x.com/mraseth
Email: andy@apprentix.io
Phone: +1 (303) 900-2215
Restaurant Mentioned: https://www.altenorestaurant.com/

Doug Ransom began his construction career at 18 as a union carpenter apprentice. Thirty years later, he serves as General Superintendent at JP Cullen & Sons, a fifth-generation commercial construction company.

Learn more: https://jpcullen.com/

In this episode, we discuss:

• Transitioning from foreman to superintendent

• Managing construction field teams

• Leadership development in commercial construction

• Field vs. office conflict

• Multi-generational construction company succession

Related episodes on construction succession planning:

Episode 170
https://www.constructiongenius.com/podcast/how-to-run-a-successful-family-business-with-george-cullen-ep-170/

Episode 186
https://www.constructiongenius.com/podcast/secrets-of-a-successful-multi-generational-company-with-the-cullen-clan-ep-186

Connect with Doug:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-ransom-a58018285/

Restaurant recommendation:
https://www.fairchildrestaurant.com/

What does it really take to become a high-performing construction leader?

In this episode of Construction Genius, Eric Anderton talks with Katharine Hamer, Project Manager at DPR Construction (San Diego), about leadership development, accountability, and culture in the field.

From her background as a Division I lacrosse athlete to managing complex projects across higher education, healthcare, data centers, parking structures, and life science / biotech, Katharine explains how DPR develops leaders through discipline, humility, and real field experience.

You'll hear how accountability works without blame, why psychological safety matters on tough projects, and how young professionals can grow fast without skipping critical steps.

Links:
DPR Construction: https://www.dpr.com/
Restaurant Recommendation (San Diego, CA): Dirty Birds Bar & Grill
Restaurant Link: https://www.dirtybirdsbarandgrill.com/

Estimating isn't just math—it's how contractors decide which risks they're willing to own.

In this episode of the Construction Genius Podcast, Eric Anderton talks with Chris Clausing, Director of Program and Curriculum Innovation for Construction at Colibri Group, about why estimating is still more art than science—and why contractors consistently miss the risk margin that protects profit.

Drawing on 25 years as a commercial general contractor, Chris explains how regional differences, niche discipline, poor handoffs, and earned value blind spots quietly erode margins. They also discuss how AI can help identify estimating risks—if it's adopted thoughtfully.

If you've ever won work that you later wished you hadn't, this episode will change how you think about estimating.

Can you really deliver speed, quality, and cost in construction—without tradeoffs?

In this episode of Construction Genius, Eric Anderton sits down with Ryan Teicher, CEO of REDCOM Design & Construction, to unpack how a fully integrated design-build model eliminates silos, accelerates delivery, and aligns teams around client outcomes.

Ryan explains how bringing architecture, engineering, estimating, and construction under one roof leads to faster decisions, fewer conflicts, and better cost control. The conversation dives into early design consulting as a risk filter, sales as true client advocacy, maintaining client intent from concept through construction, and why strong leaders must be willing to walk away from the wrong projects.

This is a practical, no-BS conversation about design-build done right, along with CEO-level insights on leadership, culture, and scaling a construction company.

• Why integrated design-build can deliver speed, quality, and cost

• Early design consulting as risk management

• Turning sales meetings into working design sessions

• Maintaining client intent throughout construction

• Red flags that signal when to walk away from a project

• Breaking silos through culture, space, and leadership

• The CEO shift from operations to growth

Ryan Teicher is the CEO of REDCOM Design & Construction, a fully integrated commercial design-build firm. He brings over 25 years of leadership experience across residential, commercial, and industrial construction, including managing complex projects for Merck, Citi, Siemens, Santander, and Quest.

Since joining REDCOM in 2023, Ryan has focused on driving speed to market, operational efficiency, and cross-discipline collaboration by bringing architecture, engineering, and construction under one roof. He lives in New Jersey and serves on his town's planning board, environmental commission, and as president of his synagogue.

REDCOM – About Us
https://www.redcomllc.com/about-us/

REDCOM – Project Portfolio
https://www.redcomllc.com/portfolio/

REDCOM on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/redcom-design-&-construction-llc/

Ryan Teicher on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-teicher/

Construction Genius
https://www.constructiongenius.com

Kathe Barrington is a CPA specializing in construction. Before finding her true passion in cost accounting and then the construction industry, Kathe worked in different industries, including software, hardware, real estate, retail, and non-profits. Working directly with owners, banks, bonding agents, and CPA firms, Kathe helps bringing the entire team together so that they can make the best management decisions for the organization's sustainability and future growth. Some of the services she provides include budgeting, forecasting, cost segregation, basic bookkeeping, and software implementations. 

Key Takeaways

- Understanding over-billings and under-billings.

- Why under-billing is always a warning sign. 

- The impact of billing patterns on bonding and banking relationships.

- Owner responsibility and accountability.

- Over-billing and customer relationships. 

- Treating over-billed cash with discipline and clarity.

Connect with Kathe Barrington

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/kathe-barrington-a6346337/ 

Website - kbcpa.biz/ 

FaceBook - web.facebook.com/people/Kathe-Barrington-CPA/100072271041746/

Previous episodes with with Kathe Barrington

WIP Reports Made Simple: The Key to Stopping Hidden Job Losses

How to Use Your WIP to Protect Cash and Grow Profitability

Physical Progress vs. Financial Reporting in Construction Projects

The hardest transition in construction isn't technical—it's moving from building projects to leading people.

In this episode, Eric Anderton talks with leadership expert Joel M. Hilchey about why so many construction leaders struggle once their hands come off the tools. They explore career development conversations, micro-feedback, why high performers leave first, and the subtle leadership habits that quietly drain initiative and ownership.

If you've ever felt guilty because your boots aren't muddy anymore—or caught yourself jumping back into the work "just to help"—this episode will hit home.

🎧 Practical. Honest. No fluff.

📘 Book: https://www.amazon.com/half-Habits-Highly-Defective-Bosses/dp/1069639508/
🧠 Free Assessment: https://www.joelhilchey.com/bossessment.html

Bonding is one of the biggest bottlenecks in construction growth—and most contractors misunderstand it. In this episode, Eric Anderton talks with Gary Eastman, President of Swift Bonds and Access Surety, about what sureties really look for when deciding whether to bond a contractor.

They break down the Three C's—Character, Capacity, and Capital—why character matters more than most owners realize, what happens behind the scenes during bond claims, and how smart contractors increase bonding capacity without blowing up their business.

If you want to bid bigger jobs, improve margins, and reduce risk, this is a must-listen.

Construction doesn't solely rely on blueprints and hard hats; it also relies on curiosity, hands-on learning, and people who make the buildings come to life. For those who step into job sites, success is measured by attitude, adaptability, and willingness to ask questions. From building psychological safety to leveraging technology like robotics, the modern superintendent is constantly learning how to work smarter by balancing human expertise with innovation.

Erin Saiki is a superintendent at DPR Construction who started her career pursuing civil engineering at UC Berkeley and discovered a passion for construction during a 2018 summer internship with DPR. After her graduation, Erin joined DPR as a project engineer but quickly realized her strengths and enthusiasm were better suited to the field rather than an office environment. Aligning herself with DPR's field engineer program, she moved to site leadership and has since progressed to become a superintendent.

Highlights

[00:20] Erin path to construction leadership. 
[02:31] The importance of hands-on field experience.
[08:00] Making clear, objective decisions based on what's best for the job.
[11:42] Psychological safety in construction.
[16:50] Collaborative leadership vs. traditional leadership. 
[20:52] Management of tough conversations and self-awareness. 
[22:37] Bridging technology and craft work in construction.
[28:44] The importance of getting involved early in the design phase. 
[33:14] The importance of addressing mental health issues in construction. 
[39:56] Showing up, volunteering, and finding ways to add real value.
[41:18] The superintendent of the future.

Key Takeaways

• Touch, observe, and follow. Spend time in the field to see how drawings translate into real installations.
• Go into the field expecting to learn and be comfortable admitting what you don't know.
  Gather input from all trades before deciding and make the call once you have enough information.
• Build psychological safety. Encourage workers to speak up without fear of blame.
  Prepare mentally before a tough conversation and focus on what you can control, not how it will be received.
• Explain what the technology does and doesn't do and frame technology as support, not replacement.
• Talk openly about mental health on site and build a supportive, respectful jobsite culture where workers feel safe.
  

Connect with Erin Saiki
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/erin-saiki/ 
Website - dpr.com 

The field says the job is further along. Accounting says it's not.

In this episode, Eric Anderton and Kathe Barrington, CPA explain why that disconnect exists—and why both sides are right.

The field measures physical progress. Accounting measures financial reporting. When those systems fall out of sync, WIP becomes unreliable, billing lags, and cash flow suffers.

This episode is Part 3 of the Construction Accounting Series, following:

• WIP Reports Made Simple

• How to Use Your WIP to Protect Cash and Grow Profitability

If you want fewer surprises and better control over your jobs, don't miss this conversation.

Dan Lester returns to Construction Genius for Episode 2 — and the numbers are getting louder. Clayco's latest Combating Stigma findings show 64% of construction workers report anxiety or depression in the last 12 months, up from 54% the year prior. 

Eric and Dan go upstream: schedules, client expectations, leadership culture, and why "awareness" isn't the same as support. You'll hear practical ways leaders can spot struggle, have better conversations, and build a jobsite culture that drives performance without grinding people into the dirt.

We'll also link to Dan's first episode: "From Stigma to Support | Ep. 333." constructiongenius.com

Construction sales feel like a grind because the root problem isn't sales — it's the business infrastructure underneath. In this episode, we unpack the 10 structural roadblocks that make selling construction work under $100M so difficult. These issues include unclear vision, missing strategy, weak financial visibility, poor org structure, broken incentive systems, no management rhythm, and outdated hiring and development practices.

Fix these, and sales becomes dramatically easier. Ignore them, and every bid feels like a battle.

If you're tired of grinding, guessing, and hoping for better results, this episode gives you the roadmap.

Top 10 Reasons Contractors Struggle to Scale:

      1.    Lack of a clear vision for the future

      2.    Lack of a clear, well-documented strategy

      3.    No critical metrics defining business performance

      4.    Poorly defined organizational structure and role clarity

      5.    Limited financial visibility and business acumen

      6.    Misaligned or poorly designed incentive systems

      7.    Undefined cultural norms, values, and beliefs

      8.    No management system to drive communication and accountability

      9.    Ineffective hiring processes

      10.   Lack of employee development capability

Website: https://go.sandler.com/neuberger/
Contrarian Contractor: https://neuberger-sandler-22152421.hs-sites.com/the-contrarian-contractor
Book an Appointment: https://meetings.hubspot.com/matthew-neuberger?uuid=57dae5c6-56fd-4c1e-bf07-d8445f7fe77
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neubergerco/

Listen to another conversation with Matthew: https://www.constructiongenius.com/the-hit-rate-revolution-achieving-35-50-win-rates-and-doubling-revenue-ep-345

Most contractors wait too long to prepare their business for a sale—and lose millions because of it. In this episode, I talk with Cameron Bishop, Managing Director at Raincatcher, about what it really takes to make your construction company buyer-ready in the next 12 months.

Cam brings 40+ years of executive and M&A experience and has completed more than 70 transactions worth over $500M. He breaks down the biggest deal killers, the accounting mistakes that stall closings, how to remove owner dependency, and why customer concentration over 20% scares buyers away.

🎧 Listen now, and connect with Cam at raincatcher.com or on LinkedIn.
📧 cameron.bishop@raincatcher.com | 📞 816-591-6610

Most leadership discussions avoid the most uncomfortable question:

👉 What actually makes a leader good?

In this episode, I sit down with Father Daniel Brandenburg, author of Leader Like No Other: What Secular Leadership Models Reveal About Jesus, a book that flips the usual leadership conversation on its head.

After completing a doctorate in leadership, Daniel realized something startling: Jesus, arguably the most influential leader in history, is almost completely absent from modern leadership theory. So he took ten major secular leadership paradigms and compared them directly with Jesus' actions, decisions, and interactions.

This conversation isn't theological. It's intensely practical. We explore how moral judgment, purpose, discipline, and organizational structure shape your company's ability to perform, grow, and stay healthy. And we tie every concept back to real-world behavior, decisions, and consequences inside construction organizations.

Learn More About Daniel Brandenburg

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/fr-daniel-brandenburg-lc-89109921/ 

Website - frdanielbrandenburg.com/ 

Leader Like No Other: What Secular Leadership Models Reveal About Jesus Paperback

by Fr. Daniel Brandenburg

amazon.com/Leader-Like-No-Other-Leadership/dp/B0DYJJBKMD 

In Part 2 of our WIP Mastery Series, CPA Kathe Barrington returns to show contractors how to use the WIP as a strategic decision-making tool. We dig into the three numbers every owner must check first, how underbilling reveals deeper project or client issues, and how the WIP exposes PM discipline long before problems hit the P&L.

Kathe also walks through backlog planning, bid strategy, indirect cost allocation, and how to spot margin fade before it becomes expensive.

If you want the financial clarity to run your company proactively—not reactively—this episode is essential.

Learn more about Kathe:
Website: https://www.kbcpa.biz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathe-barrington-a6346337/

Construction BD expert Ken Harms joins me to break down the rise of the Doer–Seller model — a relationship-driven approach where project managers and superintendents help win work by serving clients, asking better questions, and building long-term trust.

We unpack how owners' expectations have shifted, why the rainmaker era is over, how to train introverted technical pros to engage confidently, and why firms that ignore this model will be trapped in low-bid work.

If you want more negotiated work, more repeat clients, and teams who know how to build trust on and off the job, this episode delivers the roadmap.

Ken's links:
Website: www.kenharms.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kenneth-harms-12b56629/

Most contractors think they understand their WIP reports—but few actually use them to stop hidden job losses.
CPA Kathe Barrington joins Eric Anderton to explain how to simplify your WIP, prevent fake profits, and keep your cash and bonding capacity intact.

You'll discover:
• Why bad budgets destroy profits
• How percent-complete accounting really works
• How PMs and accountants can finally get on the same page

• 🌐 Website: https://www.kbcpa.biz

• 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathe-barrington-a6346337/

• 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Kathe-Barrington-CPA/100072271041746/
  
  

👉 More from Construction Genius

• 📘 Get the book Construction Genius: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/
  
  

🧠 Learn about The Shift: Construction Leadership Course

Hero culture caps growth. Eric and process-improvement pro George Pesansky show you how to trade capes for systems using a no-BS What–Why–How framework. Define the what (outcome), clarify the why (priority), then let your people own the how. We unpack faster bad-news communication, direct vs. root vs. latent causes, the Golden Hour for standardizing wins, and the Four M's (Man, Machine, Material, Method). If you want a business that runs when you step away—and gets the most out of your people—this episode is your blueprint.

Grab George's book Superperformance or visit myblendedlearning.com.

90-Day High-Performance Dashboard

You can't afford to let your people drift.

To drive real performance, you must coach with clarity and purpose.

Use the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to:

• Get clear on what matters most.

• Drive focused action and accountability.

• Strengthen trust and deepen relationships.

Success doesn't happen by accident.

It happens when leaders coach with precision and consistency.

Download the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard here: https://www.constructiongenius.com/high-performance-in-a-new-role

Coach your team toward real results — one conversation at a time.

📖 Construction Genius Book – No B.S., practical, hands-on leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice for construction companies. Click this link to buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

🎯 The Shift: Move from Project Builder to People Leader – Master the leadership skills you need to succeed in construction. Click this link to learn more and enroll: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com

☎️ Book a 10-Minute Call with Eric Anderton – If you want to discuss how I can help you coach your leaders, let's connect. Book a 10-minute conversation here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me

🎧 Subscribe & Share
If this episode hit home, share it with your sales team. And don't forget to leave a review—it helps more construction leaders find Construction Genius!

Most construction companies treat their website like a digital brochure. Big mistake.

Rob Murray from Intrigue Media joins Eric to explain why even $50M buyers do Google contractors—and how a smart, strategic website builds trust and drives real opportunities.

You'll learn how to position your company vertically or horizontally, speak to multiple buyer types, and use short, authentic testimonials that convert. Rob also shares a simple spreadsheet exercise that exposes your most profitable niche—and how to use client interviews to rewrite your homepage in their words.

Turn your website into a growth engine today.

Visit intriguemedia.com
Learn more at constructiongenius.com
Toronto tip from Rob: grab dinner at the CN Tower—the view's unbeatable.

90-Day High-Performance Dashboard

You can't afford to let your people drift.

To drive real performance, you must coach with clarity and purpose.

Use the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to:

• Get clear on what matters most.

• Drive focused action and accountability.

• Strengthen trust and deepen relationships.

Success doesn't happen by accident.

It happens when leaders coach with precision and consistency.

Download the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard here: https://www.constructiongenius.com/high-performance-in-a-new-role

Coach your team toward real results — one conversation at a time.

📖 Construction Genius Book – No B.S., practical, hands-on leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice for construction companies. Click this link to buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

🎯 The Shift: Move from Project Builder to People Leader – Master the leadership skills you need to succeed in construction. Click this link to learn more and enroll: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com

☎️ Book a 10-Minute Call with Eric Anderton – If you want to discuss how I can help you coach your leaders, let's connect. Book a 10-minute conversation here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me

🎧 Subscribe & Share
If this episode hit home, share it with your sales team. And don't forget to leave a review—it helps more construction leaders find Construction Genius!

In this episode, Eric Anderton breaks down findings from FMI's Q4 2025 Construction Outlook and the CIRT Q3 2025 Sentiment Index, revealing how 130 construction CEOs are preparing for a selective, profit-focused market.

Learn why the flight to quality is reshaping bidding strategy, how firms are earning more by doing less, and what it takes to ride the 2026 infrastructure and tax-credit wave.

• FMI Q4 2025 Construction Outlook

• CIRT Q3 2025 Sentiment Index
  

90-Day High-Performance Dashboard

You can't afford to let your people drift.

To drive real performance, you must coach with clarity and purpose.

Use the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to:

• Get clear on what matters most.

• Drive focused action and accountability.

• Strengthen trust and deepen relationships.

Success doesn't happen by accident.

It happens when leaders coach with precision and consistency.

Download the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard here: https://www.constructiongenius.com/high-performance-in-a-new-role

Coach your team toward real results — one conversation at a time.

📖 Construction Genius Book – No B.S., practical, hands-on leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice for construction companies. Click this link to buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

🎯 The Shift: Move from Project Builder to People Leader – Master the leadership skills you need to succeed in construction. Click this link to learn more and enroll: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com

☎️ Book a 10-Minute Call with Eric Anderton – If you want to discuss how I can help you coach your leaders, let's connect. Book a 10-minute conversation here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me

🎧 Subscribe & Share
If this episode hit home, share it with your sales team. And don't forget to leave a review—it helps more construction leaders find Construction Genius!

Construction contractors seeking to break free from commodity pricing discover transformative strategies for building strategic owner partnerships in this revealing interview. PMWeb CEO Huw Roberts shares insider perspectives from managing billion-dollar projects, including the $5 billion JP Morgan Chase tower in New York. Learn how successful contractors differentiate themselves through strategic positioning, technology integration, and communication excellence. This episode covers design-build-operate advantages, AI implementation without excessive risk, and the three critical objectives every owner prioritizes. Roberts reveals common communication mistakes that damage relationships and provides actionable strategies for contractors working with sophisticated owners managing 30,000+ active projects simultaneously.

• Strategic contractor positioning versus commodity vendor relationships in large projects

• Design-build-operate contracting methods for long-term partnership success

• Construction project management technology integration and collaboration strategies

• AI implementation approaches: advisory roles versus dangerous automation decisions

• Communication best practices that prevent costly owner relationship breakdowns

• Technology planning requirements for sophisticated owner partnerships

• Real-world insights from billion-dollar construction project management

Huw Roberts - CEO, PMWeb Global Construction Software

Background: Former architect specializing in hospital and institutional design

Current Role: Leading construction project management technology for major owners

Portfolio Scope: 30,000+ active projects across universities, airports, financial institutions

Notable Projects: JP Morgan Chase $5 billion tower, UC Davis Health systems

• PMWeb Website: https://pmweb.com

• Contact: 855-GO-PM-WEB

• Case Studies: pmweb.com/awards

• LinkedIn: Connect with Huw Roberts

90-Day High-Performance Dashboard

You can't afford to let your people drift.

To drive real performance, you must coach with clarity and purpose.

Use the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to:

• Get clear on what matters most.

• Drive focused action and accountability.

• Strengthen trust and deepen relationships.

Success doesn't happen by accident.

It happens when leaders coach with precision and consistency.

Download the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard here: https://www.constructiongenius.com/high-performance-in-a-new-role

Coach your team toward real results — one conversation at a time.

📖 Construction Genius Book – No B.S., practical, hands-on leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice for construction companies. Click this link to buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

🎯 The Shift: Move from Project Builder to People Leader – Master the leadership skills you need to succeed in construction. Click this link to learn more and enroll: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com

☎️ Book a 10-Minute Call with Eric Anderton – If you want to discuss how I can help you coach your leaders, let's connect. Book a 10-minute conversation here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me

🎧 Subscribe & Share
If this episode hit home, share it with your sales team. And don't forget to leave a review—it helps more construction leaders find Construction Genius!

Think federal contracting is too complex or risky? Think again. In this episode, Doug and Sean Reitmeyer of GCExperts reveal how to break into the federal market with nothing more than a SAM registration—and why it's one of the fairest, most cash-flow-friendly opportunities in construction.

You'll learn how to avoid rookie mistakes, get paid in 14–30 days under the Federal Prompt Payment Act, and build credibility fast. With over a billion dollars in federal work under their belts, Doug and Sean know the game inside and out.

• Learn more at GCExperts.com

• Visiting Austin? Check out The Oasis and Steiner Ranch Steakhouse 

• Grab my book Construction Genius .

90-Day High-Performance Dashboard

You can't afford to let your people drift.

To drive real performance, you must coach with clarity and purpose.

Use the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to:

• Get clear on what matters most.

• Drive focused action and accountability.

• Strengthen trust and deepen relationships.

Success doesn't happen by accident.

It happens when leaders coach with precision and consistency.

Download the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard here: https://www.constructiongenius.com/high-performance-in-a-new-role

Coach your team toward real results — one conversation at a time.

📖 Construction Genius Book – No B.S., practical, hands-on leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice for construction companies. Click this link to buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

🎯 The Shift: Move from Project Builder to People Leader – Master the leadership skills you need to succeed in construction. Click this link to learn more and enroll: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com

☎️ Book a 10-Minute Call with Eric Anderton – If you want to discuss how I can help you coach your leaders, let's connect. Book a 10-minute conversation here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me

🎧 Subscribe & Share
If this episode hit home, share it with your sales team. And don't forget to leave a review—it helps more construction leaders find Construction Genius!

Mark Whitson started at DPR with tools in hand, fresh out of college. Today, he's president of one of America's most respected construction companies. His journey reveals why DPR keeps top talent for decades while other companies struggle with turnover.

Key insights: Career paths aren't ladders—they're rock walls requiring lateral moves and creative problem-solving. Culture survives when everyone owns it, not just leadership. The best stretch opportunities come with clear success criteria and strong internal coaching.

Whitson's leadership philosophy: helping others turn the perceived impossible into possible. His advice for retention? Empower people to walk away from projects that don't align with company values.

Connect with Mark and DPR: Visit DPR Construction to learn more about their innovative approach to building. And if you're ever near Pinehurst, North Carolina, check out Mark's golf course recommendation: Tobacco Road Golf Club – challenging, beautiful, and worth the trip.

90-Day High-Performance Dashboard

You can't afford to let your people drift.

To drive real performance, you must coach with clarity and purpose.

Use the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to:

• Get clear on what matters most.

• Drive focused action and accountability.

• Strengthen trust and deepen relationships.

Success doesn't happen by accident.

It happens when leaders coach with precision and consistency.

Download the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard here: https://www.constructiongenius.com/high-performance-in-a-new-role

Coach your team toward real results — one conversation at a time.

📖 Construction Genius Book – No B.S., practical, hands-on leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice for construction companies. Click this link to buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

🎯 The Shift: Move from Project Builder to People Leader – Master the leadership skills you need to succeed in construction. Click this link to learn more and enroll: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com

☎️ Book a 10-Minute Call with Eric Anderton – If you want to discuss how I can help you coach your leaders, let's connect. Book a 10-minute conversation here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me

🎧 Subscribe & Share
If this episode hit home, share it with your sales team. And don't forget to leave a review—it helps more construction leaders find Construction Genius!

Most GCs never get acquired. Cross Management Corporation did.

Anne Caruso, CEO of CMC, explains how culture, client loyalty, and succession planning made her construction company attractive to Shimizu, a $14B Japanese contractor that acquired a majority stake.

From her own journey into the CEO role to lessons on treating subs as partners and planning leadership continuity, Anne shares a roadmap for every GC that wants to be attractive to outside buyers.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to make your company irresistible.

90-Day High-Performance Dashboard

You can't afford to let your people drift.

To drive real performance, you must coach with clarity and purpose.

Use the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to:

• Get clear on what matters most.

• Drive focused action and accountability.

• Strengthen trust and deepen relationships.

Success doesn't happen by accident.

It happens when leaders coach with precision and consistency.

Download the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard here: https://www.constructiongenius.com/high-performance-in-a-new-role

Coach your team toward real results — one conversation at a time.

📖 Construction Genius Book – No B.S., practical, hands-on leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice for construction companies. Click this link to buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/

🎯 The Shift: Move from Project Builder to People Leader – Master the leadership skills you need to succeed in construction. Click this link to learn more and enroll: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com

☎️ Book a 10-Minute Call with Eric Anderton – If you want to discuss how I can help you coach your leaders, let's connect. Book a 10-minute conversation here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me

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