Leadership Blueprints – Details, episodes & analysis

In this inspiring episode, we are joined by the one and only Allen Kopelson, visionary architect and founding principal behind NK Architects. With decades of experience and a legacy of leadership, Allen shares his remarkable journey through the world of business. 

We explore why he made the decision to step down as a partner while continuing to contribute to the firm he helped build, the crucial role his support system plays in his personal growth and professional success, how he chose his successors, and so much more! He even talks about his impressive hobbies and passions outside of work and how they have helped him stay grounded in the chaos of running a business. 

Allen answers our rapid-fire questions before leaving us with wonderful words of wisdom about what it means to live a full life. 

Thanks for tuning in!  

Key Points From This Episode: 

• What made Allen step away from the firm as a partner even though he’s still working there. 
• The support system that guided him and how that contributed to his success.    
• How he selected his successors and a few of his greatest success stories.  
• Allen tells us about how his hobbies helped him find peace in the chaos of business. 
• Allen leaves us with his closing thoughts about having a full life.  

Quotes: 

“I knew what my limits were and what I was capable of, and I knew the kind of people I had around me, and I knew what their capabilities were.” — Allen Kopelson

“Forget about the money! Do what makes you happy – it’s the most important part and everything else will follow.” — Allen Kopelson

“I feel bad for people who just go to work and can’t wait to leave. I’m the other way around – I love working and I love all the other things I do.” — Allen Kopelson
 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Allen Kopelson on LinkedIn 

NK Architects  

A Confederacy of Dunces 

How to Read a Book  

Leadership Blueprints Podcast 

MCFA 

MCFA Careers 

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn 

As a special thank you for tuning in, scroll down to enjoy 20% off your first order mizzenandmain.com.

What do football, combat deployments, and dress shirts have in common? For Ryan Kent, they’ve all played a role in shaping his evolution as a leader.

In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ Kramer sits down with Ryan, a West Point graduate, former Army Ranger, and current CEO of menswear brand Mizzen+Main, to unpack the lessons he learned on his way from the locker room to the boardroom. 

From his journey as a small-town athlete to leading in Iraq and then navigating the apparel industry with no prior experience, Ryan reflects on the power of curiosity, adaptability, and showing up with presence. 

Whether you’re a veteran stepping into civilian leadership or guiding teams in construction, engineering, or development, Ryan’s story is a masterclass in leading through uncertainty, failure, and reinvention!

Key Points From This Episode:

• From option quarterback to linebacker and adapting to team needs.
• Asking better questions to become a more competent and connected leader.
• Ways that winning and losing both shape leadership.
• Leading through presence, not just position.
• Parting wisdom on the connection between sport and leadership.

Quotes:

“Sports have been the foundation of my leadership. My journey through sports has made me a much better leader because I've had very good highs and lows.” — Ryan Kent

“There are frequent times where I’m leading through success, leading through challenge, and leading through failure. The origin of my ability to do that has been through sports.” — Ryan Kent

“Change is inevitable. A capitalistic society allows people to innovate, to evolve. If you don’t do that in a business, in our country, you will fail.” — Ryan Kent 

“It’s very hard to be a good leader consistently. It requires a lot of attention and effort. – Give it that credit. If you don’t spend time on it, you’ll likely not be a great leader.” — Ryan Kent 

Discount Details

Code: LEADERSHIP20

Offer: 20% off first purchase 

Expiration: 9/30/25

www.mizzenandmain.com

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ryan Kent on LinkedIn

Mizzen+Main

Good Profit

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Mastery

12 Rules for Life

Sapiens

Team of Teams

Shoe Dog

Air

Dune

Friendly Strife

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Joining us is Carey Kight, producer, advertiser, and owner of Veteran Made. He shares a series of pivotal choices that have shaped his career and his life’s journey, from the military to film school, advertising, production, and beyond. Pulling from his experiences, we discuss the frameworks that translate from the military to other fields. 

Carey shares how Veteran Made embodies this, highlighting key skills that veterans can bring to the working world. We touch on managing your own expectations, the ideas that underpin Carey’s leadership decisions, and reveal more about his rich background and love of the classics, as well as his life philosophy and the kind of legacy he hopes to leave behind. 

Thanks for listening! 

Key Points From This Episode:

•   The transferrable skills that veterans usually have. 

•   Developing the skill of managing your own expectations. 

•   The number one leadership lesson that Carey has taken into his new career. 

Quotes:

“Resilience is very much a lifeskill. That’s something you have to develop emotionally and intellectually for yourself.” — Carey Kight

“Don’t just stay connected to the military community and the veteran community, but integrate the other community that you are trying to get into.” — Carey Kight

“We’re not the products of our environments only. We are the product of the choices that we make in each environment that we are in.” — Carey Kight

“I’m very lucky that my vocation is an avocation for a lot of other people. That, to me, feels like a privilege and a blessing, and it’s something I get to do.” — Carey Kight

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Carey Kight

Carey Kight on X
Carey Kight on Instagram
Carey Kight on LinkedIn

Veteran Made

Veteran Made Podcast
Lord of the Rings

Chronicles of Narnia
Harry Potter
To Kill a Mockingbird

Farenheit 451
Stephen Pressfield

A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

On today’s episode, BJ sits down with Sharron Halpert, Owner of Halpert Life Safety Consulting. Sharron breaks down what Halpert Life Safety Consulting’s mission is, how they have mastered firestop installation and safety in the New Jersey area, and what to look for safety wise at different points in a project’s lifespan. 

Resources mentioned: 

More information about Halpert Life Safety at: https://halpertlifesafety.com/

“Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Eat-Alone-Expanded-Updated/dp/0385346654

“Meet Me on the Bridge” by Kimberly Sauceda: https://www.amazon.com/Meet-Me-Bridge-Bricks-Relationships/dp/B0B8GB3K7T

Calls-to-action: 

Inspiring People and Places is brought to you by MCFA. Visit our website www.MCFAglobal.com and sign up for our weekly newsletter where we curate some of the top industry articles of the week and give you a dose of inspiration as you head into the weekend!  

MCFA IS HIRING!!  If you or anyone you know are looking to work in the Planning, Project Development, Project Management, or Construction Management field, contact us through our website. Interns to Executives...we need great people to help us innovate and inspire, plan, develop and build our nation's infrastructure.  Check out our MUST FILL positions here https://mcfaglobal.com/careers/.  We reward the bold and the action oriented so if you don’t see a position but think you are a fit...send us an email!  

Learn more at www.MCFAGlobal.com

Author: BJ Kraemer, MCFA

Keywords: MCFA, Architecture, Construction, Engineering, Public Engineers, Military Engineers, United States Military Academy, Veteran Affairs, Development, Veteran, Military, SEC

On today’s episode, BJ talks with Todd Bofinger, VA Office of Construction & Facilities Mgmt West Region Office & CMAA Colorado Chapter Membership Committee Chair. Todd discusses his career journey into a leadership role, the similarities and differences between navigating the public and private sectors, and what leadership strategies he has learned along the way. 

Resources mentioned: 

“Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High” by Joseph Grenny: https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Conversations-Tools-Talking-Stakes/dp/1260474186/ref=pd_lpo_sccl_1/133-4283675-3283651?pd_rd_w=QA7ai&content-id=amzn1.sym.116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_p=116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_r=DTDNV6YE0H8TQHQTSWBV&pd_rd_wg=3I5im&pd_rd_r=46bf5141-5c23-4a49-963b-84d5da2c13d5&pd_rd_i=1260474186&psc=1

LinkedIn: Todd Bofinger | LinkedIn

VA CFM: Office of Construction & Facilities Management (va.gov)

Volunteer Organization Websites:

1.  Longhopes Donkey Shelter – https://www.longhopes.org
2.   Special Olympics – https://support.specialolympics.org

Calls-to-action: 

Inspiring People and Places is brought to you by MCFA. Visit our website www.MCFAglobal.com and sign up for our weekly newsletter where we curate some of the top industry articles of the week and give you a dose of inspiration as you head into the weekend!  

MCFA IS HIRING!!  If you or anyone you know are looking to work in the Planning, Project Development, Project Management, or Construction Management field, contact us through our website. Interns to Executives...we need great people to help us innovate and inspire, plan, develop and build our nation's infrastructure.  Check out our MUST FILL positions here https://mcfaglobal.com/careers/.  We reward the bold and the action oriented so if you don’t see a position but think you are a fit...send us an email!  

Learn more at www.MCFAGlobal.com

Author: BJ Kraemer, MCFA

Keywords: MCFA, Architecture, Construction, Engineering, Public Engineers, Military Engineers, United States Military Academy, Veteran Affairs, Development, Veteran, Military, SEC

On this week’s episode, BJ sits down with Justin Wright, thought leader in the AEC industry, and Ex-CIO turned Entrepreneur. Justin dives deep into his anything but linear journey throughout his career in the AEC industry, his transition into entrepreneurship, and what shapes his current philosophy on the construction world today. 

Resources mentioned: 

10x Is Easier Than 2x giveaway, Enter here:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZ0v9NkpNMEKMU0PwIZpeBFiEKkYr0ijtUyNug5N1Z8MTt1A/viewform?usp=sf_link

“10x Is Easier Than 2x” by Dan Sullivan: https://www.amazon.com/10x-Easier-Than-World-Class-Entrepreneurs/dp/140196995X

“Multipliers”by Liz Wiseman: https://www.amazon.com/Multipliers-Best-Leaders-Everyone-Smarter/dp/0061964395

Calls-to-action: 

Inspiring People and Places is brought to you by MCFA. Visit our website www.MCFAglobal.com and sign up for our weekly newsletter where we curate some of the top industry articles of the week and give you a dose of inspiration as you head into the weekend!  

MCFA IS HIRING!!  If you or anyone you know are looking to work in the Planning, Project Development, Project Management, or Construction Management field, contact us through our website. Interns to Executives...we need great people to help us innovate and inspire, plan, develop and build our nation's infrastructure.  Check out our MUST FILL positions here https://mcfaglobal.com/careers/.  We reward the bold and the action oriented so if you don’t see a position but think you are a fit...send us an email!  

Learn more at www.MCFAGlobal.com

Author: BJ Kraemer, MCFA

Keywords: MCFA, Architecture, Construction, Engineering, Public Engineers, Military Engineers, United States Military Academy, Veteran Affairs, Development, Veteran, Military, SEC

On this week’s episode, BJ talks with Steven Mezzacappa, an author and the founder of The Passion With Purpose Organization. Steven discusses his journey throughout the construction world, how he found his true passion, what his experience has taught him about leadership, and what makes the best leaders.

Resources mentioned: 

Passion With Purpose: https://www.passionwithpurpose.org/

Get Steven’s book, “Passion With Purpose - The Fire Within: Building a Life of Fulfillment, Destiny, & Impact”: https://www.amazon.com/Passion-Purpose-Building-Fulfillment-Destiny/dp/163676813X

“The Spiritual Man” by Watchman Nee: https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Man-Watchman-Nee/dp/093500839X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1693331467&sr=8-1

“The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni: https://www.amazon.com/Five-Dysfunctions-Team-Leadership-Fable/dp/0787960756

Giveaways: To enter use this link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZ0v9NkpNMEKMU0PwIZpeBFiEKkYr0ijtUyNug5N1Z8MTt1A/viewform?usp=sf_link

1.   Free signed hardcover of my book Passion With Purpose - The Fire Within: Building a Life of Fulfillment, Destiny, & Impact

2.   Free audiobook of my book

3.   Free 30-60 minute speaking engagement regarding any one of the following topics (virtual or in-person, but if in-person assistance with travel/lodging is desired):

• Protecting Passion: Avoiding Burnout in the Construction Industry
• Emotional Intelligence, Social Innovation, and the Role they Play in Shaping the Future of the Construction Industry.
•  Managing Passion and Fear Within Ourselves and Others in the Construction Industry
• Three Guiding Principles to Ignite Passion within Ourselves and Those around us.
•  Starving for Purpose: Empowering Mindsets and Methods to Live Each day with Passion, Intentionality, and Authenticity. 
• Other topics if desired pertaining to self-leadership, mental health, emotional intelligence, employee development and engagement.

4.       Free coaching session engagement (3 virtual 60-minute sessions)

Calls-to-action: 

Inspiring People and Places is brought to you by MCFA. Visit our website www.MCFAglobal.com and sign up for our weekly newsletter where we curate some of the top industry articles of the week and give you a dose of inspiration as you head into the weekend!  

MCFA IS HIRING!!  If you or anyone you know are looking to work in the Planning, Project Development, Project Management, or Construction Management field, contact us through our website. Interns to Executives...we need great people to help us innovate and inspire, plan, develop and build our nation's infrastructure.  Check out our MUST FILL positions here https://mcfaglobal.com/careers/.  We reward the bold and the action oriented so if you don’t see a position but think you are a fit...send us an email!  

Learn more at www.MCFAGlobal.com

Author: BJ Kraemer, MCFA

Keywords: MCFA, Architecture, Construction, Engineering, Public Engineers, Military Engineers, United States Military Academy, Veteran Affairs, Development, Veteran, Military, SEC

On this week’s episode, BJ sits down with Matt Handal, Chief Marketing Officer at MCFA. Matt and BJ discuss their perspectives on how to reach the construction industry from a messaging standpoint, their viewpoints on the work MCFA does, and the relationship between this podcast, and you, the listener. 

Resources mentioned: 

Calls-to-action: 

Inspiring People and Places is brought to you by MCFA. Visit our website www.MCFAglobal.com and sign up for our weekly newsletter where we curate some of the top industry articles of the week and give you a dose of inspiration as you head into the weekend!  

MCFA IS HIRING!!  If you or anyone you know are looking to work in the Planning, Project Development, Project Management, or Construction Management field, contact us through our website. Interns to Executives...we need great people to help us innovate and inspire, plan, develop and build our nation's infrastructure.  Check out our MUST FILL positions here https://mcfaglobal.com/careers/.  We reward the bold and the action oriented so if you don’t see a position but think you are a fit...send us an email!  

Learn more at www.MCFAGlobal.com

Author: BJ Kraemer, MCFA

Keywords: MCFA, Architecture, Construction, Engineering, Public Engineers, Military Engineers, United States Military Academy, Veteran Affairs, Development, Veteran, Military, SEC

On this week’s episode, BJ sits down with Mel Gravely, CEO of Triversity and author of “Dear White Friend”. Mel and BJ discuss the beginnings of Triversity and Mel’s introduction into the construction industry, Mel’s book, “Dear White Friend”, and how the conversation at the intersection of business, wealth and race can strengthen relationships and improve our understanding of our teams. 

Resources mentioned: 

Mel’s book, “Dear White Friend”: https://www.dearwhitefriend.com/

Chapter from Mel’s book on reparations: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:30198c6b-328f-4ed6-9775-03e8514131d2

Calls-to-action: 

Inspiring People and Places is brought to you by MCFA. Visit our website www.MCFAglobal.com and sign up for our weekly newsletter where we curate some of the top industry articles of the week and give you a dose of inspiration as you head into the weekend!  

MCFA IS HIRING!!  If you or anyone you know are looking to work in the Planning, Project Development, Project Management, or Construction Management field, contact us through our website. Interns to Executives...we need great people to help us innovate and inspire, plan, develop and build our nation's infrastructure.  Check out our MUST FILL positions here https://mcfaglobal.com/careers/.  We reward the bold and the action oriented so if you don’t see a position but think you are a fit...send us an email!  

Learn more at www.MCFAGlobal.com

Author: BJ Kraemer, MCFA

Keywords: MCFA, Architecture, Construction, Engineering, Public Engineers, Military Engineers, United States Military Academy, Veteran Affairs, Development, Veteran, Military, SEC

On this week’s episode, BJ talks with MCFA’s own Jesse Gemberling-Johnson, Director of Talent Recruitment & Development. Jesse discusses the new implementation of the SkillBridge program at MCFA, a talent development program with the goal of aiding veteran transition out of the military and into a DOD/AEC career. Jesse and BJ speak from their own experience transitioning, and how they plan to utilize the SkillBridge program to leverage the vast skills veterans can bring to the industry. 

Resources mentioned: 

Find out more about the DOD SkillBridge Program at MCFA at: https://mcfaglobal.com/skillbridge-program-opportunities/.

Calls-to-action: 

Inspiring People and Places is brought to you by MCFA. Visit our website www.MCFAglobal.com and sign up for our weekly newsletter where we curate some of the top industry articles of the week and give you a dose of inspiration as you head into the weekend!  

MCFA IS HIRING!!  If you or anyone you know are looking to work in the Planning, Project Development, Project Management, or Construction Management field, contact us through our website. Interns to Executives...we need great people to help us innovate and inspire, plan, develop and build our nation's infrastructure.  Check out our MUST FILL positions here https://mcfaglobal.com/careers/.  We reward the bold and the action oriented so if you don’t see a position but think you are a fit...send us an email!  

Learn more at www.MCFAGlobal.com

Author: BJ Kraemer, MCFA

Keywords: MCFA, Architecture, Construction, Engineering, Public Engineers, Military Engineers, United States Military Academy, Veteran Affairs, Development, Veteran, Military, SEC