Welcome to the Construction Management Mentorship Podcast - brought to you by the Industry Alumni Board from the Construction Management program at Michigan State University. We are proudly hosted by Coty Fournier - a distinguished MSU alum, leadership consultant, author, and industry influencer at the intersection of business development and professional development for construction management firms and professionals.
Join Coty as she interviews prominent board members, graduates and supporters of MSU's Construction Management program - who are generously sharing their unique experiences, career paths, lessons learned, and professional guidance with tomorrow's construction leaders from all around the world.
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ROBERT TRAIN: On becoming Vice President with Granger Construction
Season 1 · Episode 7
Monday, September 9, 2024 • Duration 01:17:26
MEET TODAY'S GUEST:
Today I will be speaking with Robert Train. Rob is Vice President of Granger Construction – a highly reputable general contracting company that has thrived in central Michigan for nearly 65 years.
He began his career in 1995, after earning his CM degree from Michigan State University, where he was a three-year letterman and two-year starter for the Spartan wrestling team. In 2001, Rob joined Granger Construction as an Estimator and Project Manager. Over the years, he has held successive key roles within the organization, including Senior Project Manager, West Michigan Regional Director, and Director of Preconstruction Services.
In 2015, Rob took on leadership of the Correctional Facilities market segment and played a pivotal role in establishing a regional office in Columbus, Ohio, in 2017. His strategic vision and leadership were further recognized when he was appointed Vice President of Operations in 2019, which is the position he currently holds.
Beyond his professional achievements, Rob is deeply committed to his community. He has served as a Village Councilman and Village President for the Village of Sheridan, Michigan and is presently a member of the Central Montcalm Public Schools Board of Education. Rob also holds certification as a LEED Green Associate and has been an active member of the American Society of Professional Estimators for many years. And lastly, he serves with me, and many other esteemed colleagues, on the Industry & Alumni Board for the CM program at Michigan State University.
CONNECT WITH TODAY'S GUEST:
Contact information for Robert Train and other helpful links regarding this episode are listed below:
Please visit the Construction Management Program at Michigan State University for more information on how you can build the career of your dreams in the construction management industry.
LISA HONAMAN: On careers in construction materials and manufacturing
Season 1 · Episode 6
Monday, September 9, 2024 • Duration 01:24:41
MEET TODAY'S GUEST:
Today I will be speaking with Lisa Honaman. Lisa is a sales representative in the greater Chicago area for Viracon—one of the nation’s leading fabricators of high-end architectural glazing systems.
This important episode highlights an alternative career path into the construction industry—through Lisa’s formal education and experiences as a chemical engineer—that eventually led into the world of construction materials and manufacturing. And as you are about to hear, she has played an important role on some very interesting projects, from multiple sports venues including the Arizona Cardinals Stadium, to Chicago’s sky-scraping AON Tower—where she performed caulking and sealant façade inspections from a swing stage 80 stories high. And coming up soon, you will find her working on projects at the Recreational & Wellness Center on MSU’s campus and the iconic Thompson Center in Chicago.
Lisa is also a long-serving member of the Strategic Planning Committee for the MSU CM Advisory Board – where she brings her unique industry perspective and encourages students to learn more about the construction materials and manufacturing sector.
I hope this episode plants a new seed of opportunity. If you have not yet considered this sector as a potential career path—Lisa’s story just might compel you to think outside the typical contracting box. She is certainly an example of someone who came into the construction industry, rather unexpectedly, and has made her mark in more ways than one.
Outside of her career, Lisa loves to travel and experience different cultures, and see amazing forms of architecture from around the world! And like many Michiganders, she’s a huge sports fan, proudly cheering on the “restored roar” in Detroit, hoping for the Lions to make their first Super Bowl appearance very soon!
DAN HAMILTON: On making a big impact in a short amount of time
Season 1 · Episode 5
Thursday, July 25, 2024 • Duration 01:34:37
MEET TODAY's GUEST:
DAN HAMILTON is an assistant project manager with The Christman Company—based in Lansing, Michigan—and he is also a member of the Industry & Alumni Board for the Construction Management program at Michigan State University. And as you are about to hear, he has already accomplished a great deal in his impressively short career.
By way of his background, Dan grew up with a keen interest in building—brought on by his love of legos, and big cranes, and fond memories of walking around residential development projects with his Dad. After high school, he gained valuable field experience working in both skilled and unskilled labor positions, until he found his way to the Construction Management program at MSU, where he graduated in 2018. While in college, he participated in two internship programs—one for Whiting-Turner on a large federal project in Jacksonville, NC and the other for The Christman Company, back in Michigan, where he eventually accepted his first entry level position as a Project Engineer.
Since graduation, Dan has worked on a variety of projects throughout mid Michigan. And true to the history of The Christman Company—which has been steadily shaping the building landscape across Michigan State University’s campus since 1908—Dan is now leaving his own impact on the grand home of the Spartans. His portfolio of campus work already includes: a $40M renovation to the Music Building, a $10M renovation to the historic Cowles House, and an $11M addition to the Packaging Building. And he will not be leaving MSU’s campus anytime soon, as he is scheduled to manage a $28M renovation of the Federal Credit Union (which is aka the “old” headquarters building), followed by a renovation to the Old Museum, and another addition to the Packaging Building.
Outside of his day-to-day responsibilities, Dan also leads Christman’s Internship Program, where he is producing phenomenal results. Since volunteering to help a few years back, he has maintained a 100% track record for inspiring Christman’s interns to become full-time employees upon graduation. That’s not too shabby, particularly in today’s highly competitive race to attract new talent.
TIM PROCHKO: On building a career in construction law
Season 1 · Episode 4
Monday, July 15, 2024 • Duration 01:13:58
MEET TODAY'S GUEST:
TIM PROCHKO is a 1996 graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Construction Management - and one of the program’s most prominent alumni. He began his construction career as a project engineer for a specialty contractor, where he helped build cleanrooms for Intel and other large players in semiconductor manufacturing. After gaining valuable entry-level field experience, he reinvested in his education and pivoted toward a new niche in the construction industry by graduating from law school at The University of Detroit in 2001.
Since becoming a lawyer, Tim has compiled years of unique experiences in construction law—including several years with a large Michigan-based law firm, where he represented a wide variety of contractors, architects and engineers in various construction disputes. After which, he served as in-house counsel for Tarkett Sports – which is an international sports surfacing manufacturer and contractor. His tenure with Tarkett created exposure and participation in thousands of construction projects, involving the installation of artificial turf, synthetic running tracks, and tennis courts in some of the world’s most iconic and high profile professional and NCAA sports venues.
In 2020, Tim returned to private practice, and now serves as Managing Attorney for American General Counsel, PLC. In this role, he continues to serve the construction industry, while expanding his entrepreneurial law practice into other areas, whenever possible.
Outside of his work, he is a former Chairperson and long-standing member of Michigan State University’s Industry and Alumni Board for the Construction Management program, where he continues to lead by example with his guiding principles of respect, humility, and a quest for life-long learning and personal development.
And good luck keeping up with this guy. I am told he picked up running in college 30 years ago and has no plans to slow down. He recently finished his 40th marathon. Do the math and that is more than one a year. Fortunately for all of us, he took a pit stop to join me for this interview to share some insights and inspiration from his truly unique journey in the construction management industry.
JORDAN FLEMING: On choosing the superintendent path with Power Construction
Season 1 · Episode 3
Saturday, July 13, 2024 • Duration 54:38
MEET TODAY'S GUEST:
JORDAN FLEMING is a 2017 graduate of Michigan State University’s Construction Management program and he currently serves on the Industry Alumni Board. He is a Project Superintendent for Power Construction, a prestigious Chicago-based commercial contractor that is nearing its 100-year anniversary. He has worked in several Power Construction divisions, including their “Workplace Group” and their “Large-Scale High-Rise Group” which is aka their "Big Power" Group. In 7 short years with Power, Jordan has already held field leadership roles on projects ranging in size from $1M to $120M—representing a variety of market sectors, such as multi-family residential, office buildings, and laboratories.
He is currently enjoying some traveling project superintendent opportunities with Power Construction, on a 26-story apartment building in Boise, Idaho, for a long-term client that is helping to expand Power’s building footprint beyond the greater Midwest.
And speaking of traveling, on a personal note, Jordan enjoyed a trip to Hawaii earlier this year and plans to visit London later this Fall. And when he is not working or globe-trotting, you will likely find him on the ski slopes out West, looking for a few good long runs.
CONNECT WITH TODAY'S GUEST:
Contact information for Jordan Fleming and other helpful links regarding this episode are listed below:
KELSEY MAKAN: On becoming an accomplished PM with Hensel Phelps
Season 1 · Episode 2
Monday, July 8, 2024 • Duration 57:53
MEET TODAY'S GUEST:
KELSEY MAKAN (Blakken-Strauss) is a graduate of the Construction Management program at Michigan State University and now works in the Denver area for Hensel Phelps – one of the world’s leading general contracting and construction management firms. Having started as an entry level Field Engineer after graduation in 2011, she has progressed steadily through a variety of ascending positions, from Office Engineer, to Project Engineer, to Area Superintendent, to her current role as the Project Manager on a large parking structure to be shared by the University of Colorado and the Limelight Hotel in Boulder.
Throughout the past 14 years, Kelsey has positively impacted well over a $1B in construction projects across the country, representing multiple delivery methods, project types, and some pretty high-profile clientele, including: Terminal Renovations at the Denver International Airport, the Lockheed Martin Gateway Center in Littleton, CO, the Microsoft Data Center Campus in Cheyanne, WY and the beautiful Limelight Hotel and Conferencing Center.
In addition to her Bachelor’s degree in CM, Kelsey has also earned her LEED GA certification, and serves on Michigan State University’s Industry Alumni Board for the Construction Management program. She has also taken a leadership role in several of Hensel Phelps’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
When she is not working, you are likely to find Kelsey’s adventurous spirit out there enjoying the high altitudes, rock climbing and downhill mountain biking.
CONNECT WITH TODAY'S GUEST:
Contact information for Kelsey Makan (Blakkan-Strauss) and other helpful links regarding this episode are listed below:
MELANIE GOERKE: On becoming a sustainable design and construction consultant with HITT Contracting
Season 1 · Episode 1
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 • Duration 01:31:13
MEET TODAY'S GUEST:
MELANIE GOERKE is a Senior Associate in Sustainability at HITT Contracting – a top 20 general contractor based out of Washington D.C. – where she services all market sectors and supports their 13 regional offices across the U.S. Her portfolio of work includes projects ranging in size from 8,500 to 950,000 SF. Her current project load is valued at an impressive $3.6 billion. It is comprised of 20 projects, with 10 different third-party sustainability certification types, totalling 5.7 million SF of construction activities. Melanie’s management experience includes complex projects and initiatives in both the private and federal government market sectors, and her deepest expertise lies in embodied carbon (A1-A5) and net zero carbon projects, along with building energy performance standards, and environmental social governance (ESG).
Alongside her professional responsibilities, Melanie generously dedicates much of her time and energy to mentoring other women in construction and serves on several industry boards in a wide variety of capacities. She is the Secretary & Treasurer of the Michigan State Construction Management Industry Advisory Board, the National Housing Corporation Director for Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity, and Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee for the Junior League of Washington.
And lastly, Melanie has certainly earned the title of life-long learner. She holds a B.S. in Construction Management from Michigan State University, a M.P.S. in Urban & Regional Planning from Georgetown University and is currently pursuing an MBA from The University of Virginia’s prestigious Darden School of Business.
CONNECT WITH TODAY'S GUEST:
Contact information for Melanie Goerke and other helpful links regarding this episode are listed below:
Welcome & Meet Your Host!
Season 1
Sunday, May 5, 2024 • Duration 02:12
Hello, my name is Coty.
These 4 words sum up my extraordinary journey in the CM industry.
“When you learn . . . teach.” ~ Dr. Maya Angelou
I started with a degree in CM from MSU—which happened on a fluke—because I found a campus publication that ranked all majors by their average starting salaries after graduation.
Construction Management was #2.
I knew nothing about construction. But I was intrigued. It sounded kind of hard—in a good way—like most people wouldn’t be able to hack it. That challenge, along with good money, was enough for me. So I chose with my head and hoped my heart would follow.
That theory worked. Picture this.
I was a 22-year-old woman who had never set foot on a jobsite when Turner hired me to be a Field Engineer on a $25M high profile project off the coast of Miami on Fisher Island. I WAS A DEAD-OBVIOUS ROOKIE wearing mint-in-box boots, armed with nothing but my degree and a willingness to drink from a fire hose.
I was saved by 7 things:
Humility
Grit
A thick skin
Intuition and empathy
First principle reasoning
The ability to ask 1000’s of smart questions
Initiative
Fast forward 30 years.
I have gone FASTER & FURTHER than anyone would have thought possible for me. My career trajectory charts like a hockey stick. I progressed through greater levels of responsibilities on up to senior executive roles in both operations and business development, impacting well over $500M in project volume. I also founded a contech company that was successfully acquired, and is now owned and operated by the Dodge Construction Network.
STEVE BLACK: On transferring building knowledge to the next generation
Season 1 · Episode 10
Monday, October 28, 2024 • Duration 01:15:03
MEET TODAY'S GUEST:
STEVE BLACK is the Quality Support Director for Power Construction – based out of Chicago. He is a graduate of the Construction Management program at Michigan State University, where has tirelessly supported the program as a student, a graduate student, and a former leading member of the Industry and Alumni Board. Steve has built an impressive career path through long and loyal runs with McCarthy and now Power Construction, while serving in a wide variety of roles, from intern, to superintendent to project management and leadership of numerous training and talent development initiatives. His portfolio of completed projects range in size from $3M to $100M and covers many sectors, including parking garages, data and telecom centers, manufacturing plants, and healthcare facilities. And because he is too humble to say it, I will say it for him—he is a master teacher in the industry, who is passionately dedicated to sharing what he has learned with others.
We discussed many important topics for emerging construction management professionals, such as:
· The advantages of working for an ESOP
· The advantages of working for a GC who self-performs some of their work
· Why you might want to consider going to work for a large scale trade contractor
· What happens when preparedness meets luck
· Why it is valuable to be a great teacher in the construction industry
· Or a rainmaker
· The critical importance of life-long learning
· And many other topics.
And one more thing – Steve wears a beautiful Rose Bowl Championship ring from his glory days as a football player at MSU. So of course we had a little fun talking about that, and reminiscing about several other athletes at MSU who have successfully transferred their teamwork skills and competitive spirits into the construction management arena.
MICHAEL HOUSTON: On program management, business development and the art of getting involved
Season 1 · Episode 9
Monday, October 14, 2024 • Duration 01:37:21
MEET TODAY'S GUEST:
MICHAEL HOUSTON, CCM, LEED AP BD+C is a Vice President with Jacobs—one of the world’s largest providers of engineering and program management services—where he is responsible for developing business within their “People & Places Solutions” division.
He is an accomplished senior executive and visionary leader with extensive experience in program management, strategic planning, and preconstruction services. For over 30 years in the built environment, Mike has forged solid partnerships with other executive leaders to drive organizational objectives and consistent best practices for clients in both the public and private sectors, across a wide variety of building types, including: healthcare, K-12 education, higher education, hospitality, sports, institutional, and government.
Michael brings a commanding focus on team performance, continuous improvement, innovation, collaboration, career development, and DEI initiatives, all while managing capital programs and executing complex construction projects within strict scope, budget, schedule and quality requirements. Some of the clients featured in Michael’s project portfolio include: the City of Chicago, the University of Chicago, the University of Michigan, the University of Illinois and the Obama Presidential Center. And by way of credentials, he holds a B.Sc. degree in Construction Management from Michigan State University, and has also earned the designations of Certified Construction Manager from the CMAA and LEED Accredited Professional (AP) from the USGBC.
Outside of his work with Jacobs, Michael enjoys spending time with his four daughters and serves his local community and the construction industry at large through an impressive list organizations, including: the Industry & Alumni Board for the Construction Management program at Michigan State University (MSU), the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), the Realty Club of Chicago, the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA), the American Counsel of Engineering Companies (ACEC), the Illinois Road & Transportation Builders Association (IRTBA) and the Will County Center for Economic Development.
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Contact information for Lisa Honaman and other helpful links regarding this episode are listed below:
lhonaman@viracon.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-honaman-3365b11/
www.viracon.com
CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST:
coty@cotyfournier.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cotyfournier/
Please visit the Construction Management Program at Michigan State University for more information on how you can build the career of your dreams in the construction management industry.
CONNECT WITH TODAY'S GUEST:
Contact information for Dan Hamilton and other helpful links regarding this episode are listed below:
Please visit the Construction Management Program at Michigan State University for more information on how you can build the career of your dreams in the construction management industry.
CONNECT WITH TODAY'S GUEST:
Contact information for Tim Prochko and other helpful links regarding this episode are listed below:
Please visit the Construction Management Program at Michigan State University for more information on how you can build the career of your dreams in the construction management industry.
Please visit the Construction Management Program at Michigan State University for more information on how you can build the career of your dreams in the construction management industry.
Please visit the Construction Management Program at Michigan State University for more information on how you can build the career of your dreams in the construction management industry.
Please visit the Construction Management Program at Michigan State University for more information on how you can build the career of your dreams in the construction management industry.
I am fortunate to have a well-rounded grasp on what it takes to excel in construction management from both sides of the Owner/GC equation—and for all of this, I am indebted to a long list of people.
So in the end my head was right.
And my heart followed when 2 things happened.
#1 – I fell into a deep state of admiration.
I am in awe of people who get sh*t done out there. What we do is intellectually, emotionally, and physically taxing. It is straight-up-hard and dangerous. If there is a private sector career where everyone deserves a trophy for even trying—it is construction.
#2 – I discovered what I do best.
I literally catch fire developing top talent in the CM industry, guiding them from project-focus to company-focus. It’s what I have always done, when no one was watching. It’s why I literally wrote the book on professional development for people like us. It’s why I have delivered keynotes, workshops, courses, lectures, and 1:1 coaching to 30,000+ construction pros nationwide. It’s the ONE thing I would do for free, though I am paid appropriately to do it.
And I love it.
If you are anything like me, I bet your sights are already set ambitiously high.
Want to get the best possible entry-level position?
Want to continue leveling up as quickly as possible?
Want to ultimately join the MVPs in the top 1% of our industry's talent pool?
Enroll today in THE MVP TRACK™ and save 20% off the entire collection of professional development courses with the following discount code:
MSU-CM-PODCAST
Every class includes a 30-minute private career coaching AMA session with me - so I hope to see you online soon!
Coty
_______________________________________
COTY FOURNIER - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BIO:
Coty Fournier brings 30+ years of complex design-build, construction management, talent development, and business development experience, as both a corporate executive and entrepreneur in the commercial construction industry and related tech spaces.
She leads by example with passion and optimistic vision to consistently challenge the status quo, foster requisite industry change, and inspire high-performance cultures. As a proven industry leader and motivational change agent, she is tapped by construction companies for her exceptional training and talent development skills, business development expertise, and executive leadership advisory.
Coty is an insightful, thought-provoking management consultant, keynote speaker and best-selling author — and she is leaving a well-marked trail of differentiating strategies along the fast-track to success at the top of the construction management industry.
Enroll in any professional development course on THE MVP Track™ for Construction Managers and enter discount code MSU-CM-PODCAST to save 20% on the entire collection.
Please visit the Construction Management Program at Michigan State University for more information on how you can build the career of your dreams in the construction management industry.
CONNECT WITH TODAY'S GUEST:
Contact information for Steve Black and other helpful links regarding this episode are listed below:
Please visit the Construction Management Program at Michigan State University for more information on how you can build the career of your dreams in the construction management industry.
All of which leads me to believe that one of Michael’s superpowers is clearly a willingness to get involved. His career is a testament to what can be achieved when you show up, roll-up your sleeves, get to work, and contribute to the lives of others.
CONNECT WITH TODAY'S GUEST:
Contact information for Michael Houston and other helpful links regarding this episode are listed below:
Please visit the Construction Management Program at Michigan State University for more information on how you can build the career of your dreams in the construction management industry.
