To celebrate Engineers Week, Michael Cherock of AE Works joins the Building PA Podcast to talk about the professional services component of the construction industry. AE Works is a 45-person firm with 3 offices and Cherock discusses how the company has embraced technology to review drawings and documents, the advantages of virtual work, how vital collaboration is for productivity, and the many expectations on professional services within the industry. He also spends time talking about the role o...
Feb 22, 2021•26 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Listen as co-hosts Chris Martin and Jon O’Brien discuss construction marketing. Martin shares his insight on why contractors and others in the construction industry need to begin adapting their marketing messages. He shares why safe, on time, and under budget is the WRONG message and how these ‘traditional marketing pillars’ continue to cause damage to the industry and businesses. Martin offers alternatives to these marketing pillars why shedding light on the need to develop your company’s story...
Feb 16, 2021•25 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Gene Barr, president of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry joins us to discuss leading in challenging times. Barr shares insight on addressing business challenges, balancing work and life, and ramifications that COVID will have on the business community and construction industry. This episode is part of the Business Leadership Series brought to you by McQueen Building Company.
Feb 08, 2021•29 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Tom Williams of Reager & Adler stops by to talk with us about contract resolution. During the discussion, Williams shares the various methods of resolution along with specific negotiation provisions that construction contracts should include.
Feb 01, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 11
LISTEN IN as PA Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R), PA 35th District provides welcoming comments. As Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, Senator Langerholc has great insight into the upcoming transportation construction season. Legislative Insiders Provide Insights to the 2021/22 PA General Assembly Session If you're wondering what may happen in Harrisburg during this upcoming legislative session, then download this exciting episode. Listen to respected capital insiders as they share...
Feb 01, 2021•57 min•Season 2Ep. 11
The Building PA Podcast is on the road today visiting the Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center job site. Steve Lee and Dan Flickinger join us to talk about Lean Construction approaches and the benefit of co-location. Dan provides background on the project and how the medical facility came out of the ground. Steve shares the impact that Lean Construction principles have helped bring this project to market quickly.
Jan 25, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Listen as Zac Wolpert of Providence Engineering shares his take on the business development aspects of the industry. Wolpert discusses not only the importance of the role, but the differences between contractors, engineers, and architects may face when pursuing business growth opportunities. Our conversation focuses on research and a diligent focus on the potential customers and he shares additional skills needed for success.
Jan 18, 2021•29 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Listen to the passion and deliberate efforts Geoff McQueen applies to his company. His passion focuses on culture and how he gives trust to his employees and customers for a problem-free experience. This episode is part of the Business Leadership Series brought to you by McQueen Building Company.
Jan 11, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Universities are facing various challenges and design is one resource that is being relied on to meet the competitive demands. Join Jon and Chris as they speak with Sean Sheffler of LGA Partners to learn more about the college and university's future design needs. In this episode, Sheffler shares how architecture and design can help improve living spaces, learning environments, and the overall campus design. One trend we discuss is adaptive reuse and how technology is impacting the student needs...
Jan 04, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 7
DRONES! In this episode, Seth Zora of aerdia, a veteran-owned drone service provider shares with Jon and Chris the challenges of starting a business and how aerdia has grown to meet the drone needs of the construction industry.
Dec 14, 2020•25 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Listen as Becker joins Jon and Chris to share information on Remote Assist, a technology that Haller Enterprises is using to improve their customers' lives. The technology - a direct video connection via a customers' device - creates opportunities to save time and improve safety while addressing issues created in both residential and commercial settings.
Nov 30, 2020•25 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Emily Lowe of Alexander Construction Group joins the Building PA Podcast. Our co-hosts set out on a road trip of sorts and visit the job site of the Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center in Enola, PA as guests of Alexander. During this episode, Emily discusses how vital communications is in the Lean Construction concept; the principles behind the approach; and the impact of the process on the job site.
Nov 16, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Learn more about Coatings Pro Magazine from Editor in chief Stephanie Chizik. Chizik joins Jon and Chris to discuss how the publication aids the coatings industry, shares trends, the impact of COVID on the supply chain, and the environmental impact on those working in the industry (Silica and Berelium). She also shares the broad impact of the coatings industry and the benefit of working in this segment of construction. Listen to past episodes and more at BuildingPAPodcast.com and follow the podc...
Nov 03, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 3
State Representative Greg Rothman stopped by the Quandel Studios to discuss the future of the City of Harrisburg school district and the potential impact receivership may have on the city and the state related to workforce development and education. Listen to past episodes and more at BuildingPAPodcast.com and follow the podcast on Facebook and LinkedIn . This episode is brought to you by PJ Dick , a full-service general contractor with design/build, construction management, and consulting servi...
Oct 19, 2020•24 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Listen as Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin share their favorite moments and topics from the first season of the Building PA Podcast. Topics reviewed include: Season One successes - we don't use scripts Crisis communications Successful tips for growing your business Continuing education in construction Co-location trend across the state And so much more ... Listen to past episodes and more at BuildingPAPodcast.com and follow the podcast on Facebook and LinkedIn . This episode is brought to you by PJ ...
Oct 05, 2020•30 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Kate Jackson of Serrano Search, discusses with Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin the changes in the labor relations market and the professionals who work as Labor Relations Managers and Directors. Listen as Jackson shares input on trends in the labor relations market, how the industry has rebounded from COVID-19 and what companies seek when looking for a labor relations manager. A takeaway from the discussion is the industry is facing a labor relations shortage in the coming years and Jackson encoura...
Sep 15, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Listen as Noble ‘Bud’ Quandel shares insight into growing a construction business. Bud shares his thoughts related to diversification and experience from his time at the helm of Quandel Construction. Co-hosts Jon O’Brien and Chris Martin dive into what Bud looks for in employees, retention of team members and how to build a team in this industry. To stand out in the industry, Bud says: Take a longer view of training Know where you are going Combine intelligence with experience Educate yourself w...
Aug 31, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin speak with Kerry Zettlemoyer, business manager of the Ironworkers Local No. 404 in Harrisburg, PA. Kerry shares insights into the 17 building trades groups throughout the Commonwealth and the structure of the Ironworkers. In this episode, Zettlemoyer talks about the changes that have been implemented to improve the apprenticeship program, how the local has restructured and how safety has changed the industry. Zettlemoyer shared, "when I got in if you were ov...
Aug 18, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Don Tracy of Quandel provides a safety stand down talk for construction workers. KCA encourages all construction companies to participate in an opioid stand down talk at least once a year and the 2020 Construction Opioid Awareness Week is an excellent opportunity. Held the last full week of July, this hot temperature time of year is considered the middle of the construction season and it's an ideal time to remind our workers about pain medication use/abuse.
Jul 27, 2020•6 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Rachael Cooper of the National Safety Council provides a safety stand down talk that addresses stigmas associated with drug addictions. Due to labels, fears, punishment, etc. that some feel may come with an addiction, those suffering from addiction may be slow to seek help, or not seek help at all. This mindset needs to change and our workforce needs to know that they can speak up and where to get the help that they need.
Jul 27, 2020•14 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Carl Heinlein of American Contractors Insurance Group shares a story about a construction worker who did everything the right way, but then found himself addicted to pain medications and illegal drugs. It's a road that unfortunately one too many from our workforce have traveled down. It's a story that we need to share so that we can help the next Chris before it's too late.
Jul 27, 2020•7 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Many employers want to do the right thing and get help for their workers but the system is not always set up for employers to do the right thing. Listen as one construction contractor expresses his issues when he tries to help workers. The responses from Rachael Cooper of the National Safety Council and Carl Heinlein of the American Contractors Insurance Group are helpful, but also an indication that we have more work to do.
Jul 27, 2020•14 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Heading into 2020, the construction industry was making strides in the battle against the opioid epidemic, but then the COVID-19 pandemic arrived. Major concerns became apparent and we started trending in the wrong direction. As an industry, let's all do our part to raise awareness and provide the education needed to help our people. Listen to this introduction on the 2020 Construction Opioid Awareness Week that features resources for employers.
Jul 27, 2020•19 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Join Brian Fraley of Fraley Construction Marketing as he speaks with Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien about social media use among contractors. Topics include how to allocate marketing dollars, use of social media to grow businesses and brands and how the industry has evolved with digital platforms. As much as digital is being embraced across the industry, there are a variety of trends that reinforce digital as a useful resource. In the discussion, Fraley reinforced the need to establish your object...
Jul 21, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Holly Lubart, Director of Government Affairs for the Pennsylvania News Media Association shares information about Pennsylvania's Right to Know laws on the Building PA Podcast. The focus of the discussion centers on the value of right to know for contractors and how access to public information can be useful for proposals and other useful business development uses. Co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin ask questions relevant to the legislation to help listeners understand how to utilize these law...
Jul 14, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 28
John Sebastian, director of Construction Management Program at the University of Pittsburgh joins co-hosts Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien to discuss how students are learning. Sebastian shared how the program has evolved. He also shares what students at the University of Pittsburgh are learning and engaging with industry professionals. Sebastian adds, "the key is to get involved early and engage with our students and the program to learn more of the opportunities that these students bring from the...
Jul 07, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Join co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin as we discuss succession planning for the construction industry with representatives from CLA. "It's really about what your goals are and how to design a plan to make those goals a reality," said Emily Gunther of CLA. Her definition of what succession planning is helps those preparing for the next step in business management. Listen in as Emily and her colleague Nicole Shook share information that is helpful not only for the construction industry, but a...
Jun 30, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 26
The Building PA Podcast profiles one of the newest healthcare projects in the Central Pennsylvania region - The UPMC Pinnacle York Memorial Hospital. Co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin speak with Greg Quandel, President and CEO of Quandel Construction and Joe Chicora, Senior Project Manager at Quandel Construction. The two Quandel leaders share insight into the award winning healthcare project and detail the efforts the company placed on safety and coordination to build this regional healthca...
Jun 16, 2020•35 min•Season 1Ep. 25
The Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) conducted a virtual meeting to review and discuss the current state of the Separations Act. The legislation addresses the contractual delivery method for multi prime projects throughout the Commonwealth. During this episode join KCA members as they discuss the Act and current pieces of legislation that will modernize the legislation. Listen to past episodes and engage with our hosts at BuildingPAPodcast.com ....
Jun 03, 2020•46 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Join your Building PA Podcast co-hosts, Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien as they speak with attorney Matthew Jameson, co-chair of Burns White construction law practice as we discuss the impact the COVID-19 pandemic may present to construction contracts. In the conversation, Jameson shares insight for owners and contractors related to the topic. "The more problematic question for contracts and its impact on contractors focus on costs related to the pandemic," said Jameson. In addition, he suggests th...
Jun 03, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 23
