‘Respect for People’ has become a cliché within the construction industry. Everyone is talking about it but few people are actually practicing true respect for people. In this episode, Hoots flirts with the idea of the term Respect for Resources with Respect for People being one of the many categories of Respect necessary for a productive project site. Hoots runs through each of these categories with real life job site examples. Those categories are as follows: Respect for People Engaging with a...
Jul 14, 2022•16 min•Season 1Ep. 26
This is a new segment that we are coming to you with via the inspiration from Harry Schmidt with O’shea Builders! R&D (Rip & Deploy). Join us on the first episode as Keyan breaks down the communication styles between generations and how this can affect how we delegate tasks or activities. He describes how each generation communicates the best. He also breaks down what the 5 levels of delegation are as described in the book CEO Tools. Keyan uses one of Hoots on the Ground’s favorite phras...
Jul 07, 2022•23 min•Season 1Ep. 25
In this episode, we get to meet a great Holt Construction project team working at the DFW Airport. Sarah tells us about how she started early on working with her grandfather out of Louisiana. We learn more about Armando’s story coming through construction from a laborer to a General Superintendent. Armando asks Hoots a great question on what the deal is with the bullshido of the word culture!? Hoots responds with exactly why that word bothers him and why the word is Bullshido! Surprise, Hoots lo...
Jun 28, 2022•52 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Hear Davie dive right in with no introduction needed as he talks about his growing up in Scotland and how he was a polished turd when it comes to skilled trade wood working and/or metal work! Experience with building a cassette tape rack and bottle opener key ring! A great story about his interview going into the trades and witnessing what others were doing at the same time! A humbling experience. The basics of lean are three simple things for Davie Thomson: Strategic Alignment – Know what you’r...
Jun 23, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 23
In this episode, we discover and celebrate who Buddy Brumley really is! Buddy is the ideal lean builder who has witnessed various ways of delivering work and has settled on a lean mindset and approach to the construction industry. Hear Buddy talk about the transition of the industry over the course of his career. As an employee for Skiles Group, Buddy is one of the Original Lean Builders and a true inspiration to the industry! Buddy delivers this podcast from his jobsite office, as the mud was d...
Jun 16, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 22
**Disclaimer** The viewer of this podcast has promised to watch the Hoots on the Ground podcasts #8 and #12 on trust. Without having listened to those episodes, you will not be able to hold people accountability Hoots goes on a tangent on the word accountability. Tune in to discover how you can develop a deeper sense of accountability on your project sites. There are two ways to hold people accountable: Leading up to and event and/or lagging after and event. Accountability is the result of poor ...
Jun 09, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Henry is a Union sheet metal worker as of 34 years! He currently serves as Preconstruction Executive for Southland Industries, a nation leading HVAC Contractor. Henry has served the construction industry at every level from apprentice to executive and has recently released a book titled Seven Principles: Creating Your Success in the Construction Industry. In this podcast, Henry gives a tease on some of the book and leaves us with a cliff hanger on his own story. Hoots hits Henry with some of his...
Jun 02, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Harry has a unique and diverse background that includes being in the military, both Air Force and the Navy. Also being exposed to the business side of healthcare, Harry has been able to utilize all this experience into better delivering construction projects! Harry explains some of the data on how The Last Planner System has helped O’Shea Builders increase their profits by 20%, finish projects 12% faster than their CPM schedules, and provided better morale on their project sites! Amazing work!! ...
May 25, 2022•55 min•Season 1Ep. 19
If you don’t know Kabri Lehrman-Schmid, this is a must-watch episode! Even if you do know Kabri, you will learn and have a deepened respect for everything that she is doing to create safe learning environments on her project sites. The extracurricular activities that she gets into, will inspire you to take another look at what you’re doing to create safe spaces! Now a lead superintendent amid a preconstruction effort for a university project in the state of Washington, Kabri has nearly $2B worth...
May 19, 2022•44 min•Season 1Ep. 18
In this middle of the healing gardens at Prisma Memorial Hospital, Sean tells us about his career coming up as a member of the 10,000 hour millwork club! As one of the best millworker on the west side of the Mississippi – Hoots was able to introduce Sean to one of the best millworkers on the east side of the Mississippi, Mark Riddle! Maybe Mark would be willing to come on and represent his side of this shape building contest!? Sean opens up (Hoots didn’t edit it all out!) about his new granddaug...
May 12, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 17
In this episode, Hoots opens up about his experience in the hospital over the last three weeks fighting kidney transplant rejection. You will learn way more about immunology and plasma apheresis than you ever wanted to. Also, have you ever wondered what a lean freak’s hospital room looks like – tune in to the video version to find out more!! A touch of vulnerability in this episode as Hoots opens up on where he has been the during the month of April! Be ready to hop on a journey that comes at yo...
May 06, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 16
In this episode, Host Adam Hoots interviews Dan Reynolds, Executive Vice President with Gilbane Building Company. Dan shares a bit about growing up in the Midwest in Iowa. Although he’s worked all over the world, the Midwest is still near and dear to him, and he brings those roots to his work daily. Dan starts the podcast by sharing a saying from his father about the value of “quiet competence.” You don't need to be the person jumping up on the table. Be the person that's going to offer ideas, b...
Apr 21, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 15
In this episode, Jordan Christensen tells us more about who he is and how he got to where he is now! Hold on as he discusses his amazing family life and how he found and developed his takt planning skills! Watch Jordan’s face light up as he talks about Ryker, Camden and Brielle as he tells the story of ‘growing up’ with Takt planning. Jordan explains how his takt journey has gone from crawling to running in this episode. He gives special shoutouts to the teams that helped him to perfect his takt...
Apr 14, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 14
In this episode, Hoots is in restoration and recovery mode after an enormous week that took a lot of energy and effort out of him. Hoots talks about how important rest is to our soul and reads some feedback from a listener! Last week consisted of helping a mega project team pick up on the principles of takt planning and takt construction! The team came up with some really creative ways to implement takt construction together as one. Hoots on the Ground also was able to experience his first The L...
Apr 07, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 13
In this episode, Hoots reviews The Lean Builder Blog on Building Trust In the Workplace – 3 Dos and Don’ts. In addition, Hoots on the Ground gives additional ways on how to build, create, and maintain trust. This is the first step in curating a successful lean project. Hoots also reviews the first trust episode (S1E8) and elaborates on ways to make it happen. Here are some ways on how to build trust in the field: No one takes blame, no one takes credit! We don’t conceal information. We communica...
Mar 31, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In this episode, Hoots interviews General Superintendent James Gable and Hunter Fuqua with Adolfson & Peterson. They tell their lean journey through each of their perspectives. This conversation covers everything from prefabrication to generational differences and covers what a millwright trade is and or has developed into. As Hunter and James interact, you get a tremendous feel for their connection and respect for one another. Hunter describes what #NoBullshido is to him and how he turns th...
Mar 24, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 11
From the second the interview starts; you hear Gabe calling Hoots out for his handwriting ability. It’s a constant battle between these two and it starts here…In this episode, Hoots on The Ground talks with Gabriel Lightner who has military, self-performed and large-scale general contracting experience. Gabe drops words of wisdom from all around! Including the first time Gabe caught Hoots in a foot in the mouth moment! Gabe Lightner EnLightnens us in many a different ways throughout this podcast...
Mar 17, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 10
In this episode, Hoots introduces the Lean Builder nation to Brian Melcher with Field Verified. Brian gives us his story on how he went from becoming an accountant to chasing water for a living. Brian tells his story on weighing whether College was the only option! He opens with his story on how he got Field Verified started and where they’re headed. Tune in as he puts his perfect record fighting water intrusion on the line with a new stadium project! Brian talks Hoots on The Ground into showing...
Mar 09, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In this episode, Hoots on The Ground talks about trust and the book 5 Dysfunctions of a Team , where trust is the foundation of all things for a team. Once a solid basis of trust is established, then we can begin to have healthy conflict. With healthy conflict will come commitments that we will all be able to hold one another accountable for results! Patrick Lencioni also discusses the two types of trust: Predictive Trust : The ability to do what you say and the fact that you have known one anot...
Mar 02, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In this episode, Shannon and Hoots discuss what it is like getting into a male populated industry to the point of Shannon even changing her name on her resume. Shannon dives into exactly what her purpose on earth is and helps drive an understanding of the term man in Construction. At the end of the day, we are all human. Hoots drops another Japanese word, Ikigai – Japanese concept that refers to giving a person a sense of purpose, a reason for living! Hear the story of the Chinese Farmer and how...
Feb 24, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 7
In this episode, Hoots reviews the blog done by Keyan Zandy about the Firefighter Arsonist. Why does our industry reward early morning, late nights, and weekends?! This stops today! We must no longer celebrate this bad behavior! In the blog, Keyan suggests the following items as a way to improve the construction industry: • Reward good planning! • Stop celebrating long hours • Establish processes and training Time is the only resource that we cannot get more of! If you want to better understand ...
Feb 17, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 6
In this episode, Jesus (as his mom calls him!) Hernandez opens up and tells us all about who he is by shouting out so many others! Jesse informs The Lean Builder nation the ways he is changing the construction industry. Chuy tells us about how much he misses the jobsite razzing and joking. All you have to do is be smarter than the pipe! Jesus, Jesse, and Chuy discuss how HE is changing the image of the Skilled Trades through: Learnings and Missteps Podcast No BS with Jen and Jess Skilled Trades ...
Feb 10, 2022•55 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In this episode, host Adam Hoots chats with Jason Schroeder , owner, trainer, author, and podcast host for Elevate Construction . They discuss Lean’s value, vulnerability, productivity, mindset, and more. As Jason says: On we go…. Some quick show points: Watch Jason go #FULLGRANDMA mode on CPM Schedule! Hoots’ wedding song is discussed randomly by Jason! Jason breaks down his definition of what Lean is. How does Jason drive productivity? How does he get so much done? Derek Kirkland with DPR gets...
Feb 03, 2022•57 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this episode, host Adam Hoots visits the jobsite with John Burleson , a superintendent with Robins and Morton in South Carolina. John has been in the construction business for 14 years. His Lean journey started about seven years ago with a failed experience as he didn’t have the team involvement and support needed. After that first foray, every Lean journey since has met the goals. He shares that you need the culture and collaboration with the trade partners and architects to reach the potent...
Jan 28, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In this episode, host Adam Hoots takes listeners on a trail walk – yep, he’s walking in the woods and chatting with you – as he shares the idea, approach, and goals for The Lean Builder’s new podcast, “Hoots on the Ground.” This podcast is all about respecting the workers, respecting the people, and keeping it real. We’re here to learn and engage together. The focus is on delivering a practical message that let’s us all go to our job sites and improve for our team, trade partners, and clients. I...
Jan 21, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 2
This week we debut The Lean Builder ’s official podcast, “Hoots on the Ground,” with our host Adam Hoots . In this episode, The Lean Builder creators Keyan Zandy & Joe Donarumo introduce the podcast series, goals, format, and host Adam Hoots. While there are several great podcasts in our industry out there already, Hoots on the Ground is unique as it’s focused on the builders on the job site. It’s looking at how we can all own our impact, learn and think, and move the industry forward. It’s ...
Jan 13, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 1
