Welcome to the podcast where we talk to leaders who are making a difference in their field. Today, we're joined by Adrian Russell, a construction executive who is passionate about breaking down barriers and increasing diversity in the industry. Adrian talks about his background growing up in inner-city public schools and how many black kids, including himself, dream of becoming pro athletes or entertainers. He shares a story from a kid he mentored who pointed out that even though teachers encour...
Apr 03, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 56
In this podcast episode, Hoots and David Wolke discuss the importance of transparency in leadership. David who is an experienced leader in the electrical building industry, shares insights on how being transparent with employees can lead to a more productive and engaged team. The conversation starts with David discussing the differences between working in the construction industry and other professions. He highlights the risks involved in construction work and how this affects the compensation r...
Mar 17, 2023•43 min•Season 1Ep. 55
Do you believe that there is such a thing as a perfect construction schedule? In this episode, Hoots and Jason explore what it takes to develop a perfect schedule. Jason has discovered a scheduling system that works and could be considered ‘The perfect schedule’. Tune in to discover exactly what that system looks like. Through a demonstration, Jason helps the Lean Builder nation understand the power of visualization while folding a piece of paper into a cup. You’re going to want to see this epis...
Mar 01, 2023•53 min•Season 1Ep. 54
In this episode, Hoots gets to know Professor of Practice at Clemson University, Mr. Alastair Boulding. Al is an HVAC Master Tradesperson who has worked his way up from HVAC helper, through apprenticeship school, to being a journeyman, into a lead position and now teaching the next generation of builders at a prestigious University! Al has a love for learning to the point where it has become a hobby for him. Learning has opened several doors throughout the course of his career! Al opens up about...
Feb 24, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 53
In this episode, Hoots helps the Lean Builder nation better understand the Art of Questioning. Professor Hoots got a little upset with his students this week due to their inability to ask meaningful questions and decided to dedicate an episode to discuss why questions are important and how to ask questions! Through the art of questioning, we can better understand the people and world around us in a much more detailed manner. When we can focus on asking open ended and inquisitive questions, peopl...
Feb 17, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Hoots and Jennifer dive into a plethora of topics starting with who Jen is, and what this term Ripples of Impact is all about. Hoots helps Jen understand how famous she is and gets to withdraw some never-heard facts about Ms. Jen. As Hoots and Jen speak twice a week, early in the mornings, he can uncover some hidden gems. All of this on a day that Jennifer was going to be recognized with her high school volleyball team and as she puts it was having an emotional week. Jen has a tremendous impact ...
Feb 09, 2023•54 min•Season 1Ep. 51
In this episode, Hoots shows off his relationship with Rob VanCott, who happens to be one of the first clients that Hoots on the Ground coached back in 2021! Rob started as a maintenance worker while attending classes at the University of Hartford. He fell in love with the skills that all his peers were developing and decided to chase that dream. For the record, Rob wore his #NoBullshido shirt out of respect for the show. This shirt was given to him scaffold skilled trade professionals. Hoots is...
Feb 02, 2023•43 min•Season 1Ep. 50
In this episode, Hoots reviews another way to develop capabilities! Through radical candor feedback, teams can deliver feedback that is honest, kind, clear, and concise. Radical Candor feedback comes from a place of caring personally about a human being and challenging that human being directly. In this episode, Hoots reviews one of his favorite books called Radical Candor: How to be a kick ass boss by Kim Scott. Hoots raves about this book and her blog! Feedback can be both hard to give and har...
Jan 30, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 49
In this episode, Hoots interviews Mr. Ray Terry who is 71 years young, going on 40, and super passionate about putting tools in schools. Through Ray’s organization *Put Tools in Schools*, he has been to 10 high schools and spoke with over 5,000 students this year. That is 33% of the high schools in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Area. Ray is not afraid to step on toes and spread his beliefs and message. As a radio host for Fox Sports Charlotte, Ray is a natural on the microphone and knows how to push...
Jan 19, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 48
Tune into this first episode of the second season! Hoots highlights one of his lean heroes, Niklas Modig! The author of This is Lean who coached Hoots when he was with DPR Construction. Niklas helped Hoots understand the story of the Toyota dealership that won the award of Role Model of the Year. This company went from being one of the worst performing dealerships (#287) to the best performing company as judged by Toyota. Niklas had the opportunity to interview the young CEO of the company that ...
Jan 06, 2023•17 min•Season 1Ep. 47
In this episode, Hoots discovers and introduces the lean builder nation to Justin Uyar, of Shelco Contractors out of Charlotte, NC. Justin is a newlywed, and super proud of his new wife who is a vet technician! Somehow Justin ended up going to Clemson yet is a Carolina Gamecock fan. If you’re from the southeast, this is a big sin! Justin started on the route to becoming a civil engineer. After spending a few years on the office side of construction, he made the shift to a Superintendent and hasn...
Dec 22, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Matt Olshefski shares his 26th wedding anniversary with Adam Hoots on this episode of The Lean Builder’s Hoots on the Ground with No Bullshido! He dives into the story of meeting his wonderful bride in the parking lot! Matt mentions trust as being important to maintain a relationship for 26 years! Matt started his lean journey as a laborer on a construction site and has progressed to his current role as a Superintendent with O&G Industries and even discusses his future role as a lean champio...
Dec 15, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 45
In this episode, Hoots on the Ground discusses the comfort zone! Hoots runs through why the comfort zone is important and how we need to move through our fear zone and into the learning and growth zone. Hoots shows off some of the famous illustrator Jennifer Lacy’s work. Be comfortable being uncomfortable! Hoots explains some of the awkward moment in his personal life! For instance, have you ever been on an elevator and experienced the awkward silence?! Not with Hoots! You better be ready for a ...
Dec 08, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 44
In this episode, Hoots on the Ground interviews George Hunt who is on a project site in North Carolina. George dives into his curious self, insert Curious George joke here! He tells us about his family’s Christmas tree farm where he worked until high school. The conversation was brilliant as George enlightens us throughout this entire episode! Sir George breaks down what he learned from the 2022 LCI Congress and helps the lean builder nation understand how he is helping to improve the constructi...
Dec 01, 2022•52 min•Season 1Ep. 43
In this episode, Hoots on the Ground interviews Kevin Rice, Chief Operating Officer for Elevate Construction and discovers a laborer that went from ripping out flooring, to placing concrete, and eventually managing work for a General Contractor. Currently he is coaching construction teams on takt planning nationwide and in Canada! Hoots and Kevin took part in Elevate Construction’s field engineer boot camp, where we assisted teams in surveying, excavating, laying out, forming, and placing concre...
Nov 18, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 42
In this episode, Hoots on the Ground interviews Dr. Colin Milberg and hears his story on how he went from packing dumpsters and swinging hammers demolishing work. Working for his father, who was a residential contractor AND a psychologist. His mother, also a psychologist, Colin has an interesting and unique view on respect for people. Colin tells story after story on how he came to know about lean! Including, how he made it back to school at UC Berkley studying under Glenn Ballard. Colin tells u...
Nov 09, 2022•50 min•Season 1Ep. 41
In this episode, Hoots on the Ground downloads the Lean Builder Nation on LCI NOLA style! Live from New Orleans, LA Hoots does a quick pause & reflect moment near the river and you’re able to hear some of the street performers playing music in the background. Hoots highlights some of the best presentations that he witnesses at LCI and talks a little bit about the Unconference, which was his highlight this year! This podcast covers how important pause & reflect is and illustrates some tra...
Oct 28, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 40
This episode is video of Lean Construction Blog’s Lean in the Field Conference from a month ago and Adam Hoots introduces the world to his wife Brittany Hoots. Adam claims that Brittany has taught him more than anyone else when it comes to trust. Tune in to hear them flow together on how important trust is, how to make, maintain, and measure trust. Hoots breaks down the circle of trust process and shows photos of the Trusted Trade Title being awarded to the most trusted trades of a previous proj...
Oct 14, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 39
In this episode Tom and Jeremy share their secrets on how they’ve gotten the LCI Community of Practice performing to the next level! LCI has selected New Orleans, LA and Jeremy and Tom explain the theme of LCI Congress which starts the week of 10/17/2022. What is Gumbo? Who makes the best Gumbo!? Here Hoots get a little vulnerable while Tom and Huckleberry as they teach him exactly what gumbo is and what the roux of lean construction is! Tom breaks down how he is dealing with the pressure of the...
Oct 07, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 38
In this episode, Hoots meets Carey George and discuss his approach to running work and how he’s always had a lean mindset when building projects. As a superintendent with over 45 years of construction experience, Carey offers a lot of wise knowledge in this episode! Carey highlights Keith Patterson from Waco Construction who taught him how to be a great Superintendent. The conversation ranges from stop starting to start finishing all the way to meeting Carey’s current project team. Carey goes in...
Sep 29, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 37
In this episode, Hoots discovers who James Bouton is! James tells us about all of his girls and his mission to bring compassion into the world. He tells us all about his lean journey and experience working with a Japanese based General Contractor. The conversation lightly touches on mental health and death by suicide. Brace yourself as Hoots gets on his soap box when it comes to Percent Plan Complete! Fair warning, there are some personal statements made in this podcast! James also discussed his...
Sep 22, 2022•59 min•Season 1Ep. 36
In this episode, Keyan and Hoots discuss chapter 7 from The Lean Builder. This chapter describes the race between Alan and his father while trying to chop down a row full of trees as Alan was growing up. You either have to read the book or listen to the podcast to find out result of the story! Constantly ‘sharpening our saw’ allows us to be more productive in the long run. This is something that Hoots makes clear as he asks for specific instruction from Key in this episode. You will not want to ...
Sep 14, 2022•16 min•Season 1Ep. 35
This episode, Spencer Easton announces big changes in his life and appreciation and admiration for the lean community who has had his back through some tough times over the last few weeks. From his first vehicle, an ambulance to being a recovering CMP guru, to his father who helped Spencer develop a love hate relationship with construction – Spencer puts it all out there! He is by far one of the most genuine and sincere guest we have had on the show to date. Spencer was a co-author for the book ...
Sep 08, 2022•58 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Tune in to this episode to meet Kyle Potts, the Unicorn of Superintendents! Kyle is a true “pracademic” as he is running a major project, earned two master’s degrees, and is currently working on obtaining a doctorate degree! Wow!! Not to mention, he predicted his future as a toddler when he told his pre-k class that he wanted to be a doctor and wear a yellow hat! He is well on his way as he pursues his doctorate degree at Purdue University! How are you spending your time? 1 hour of social media ...
Sep 01, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 33
In this episode, Hoots discusses one of his favorite topics: Capability development! How many times on project sites have you heard, I don’t care how you get it done, just get it done! This completely misses out on the point of innovation and improving on what we are doing. With too much emphasis on productivity and not enough on capability development, the construction industry doesn’t take advantage of compound knowledge! In this episode you’ll learn more about what the word capability means a...
Aug 25, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 32
In this episode, Harry Schmidt, director of business strategy for O’Shea Builders, brings up a book titled The 5,000 Year Leap: A Miracle that Changed the World, which is about how framers built The Constitution of the United States . Hoots compares this to the CDC’s socio-ecological model on how to prevent disease spread. Both concepts are compared to how the construction industry develops individual, team, organizational, and industry capabilities. To change the outcomes, you must change yours...
Aug 19, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Tune into this episode as L.R. (Lee, Leandris) informs the Lean Builder Nation who he is and where he got his initials from! Working with Layton Construction, a national healthcare builder, LR helps us to understand how he is incorporating lean principles throughout project sites. New in the role, but not to Lean he has been practicing since 2014. Lee clearly understands people as he advocates for young professional to join the construction industry. His push to get the word out about constructi...
Aug 11, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 30
In this episode, Hoots discovers who Josh Kreitler is! Graduating college during a recession in 2009 led Josh to work for an aerospace manufacturing machine shop. Josh takes us through his lean journey starting with manufacturing and taking advantage of these concepts once he had the opportunity to run his own project! Josh tells us about his role with McCarthy Building Companies and all of the amazing lean tools that he is using on his mega lab project in St. Louis. Some of these tools consist ...
Aug 04, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 29
In this episode, Hoots and Key review one of the many principles in Jason Schroeder’s book Elevating Construction Superintendents. This principle is on personal organization and time management. Time management is an oxymoron. You cannot manage time; you can only manage yourself within the time that has been allotted. Time will go on with or without you! You have to plan your week in order to maximize production! You cannot come into the office on Monday morning and start reading through email f...
Jul 27, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 28
In this episode, Hoots on The Ground grills Felipe Engineer-Manriquez on Scrum. Felipe does an excellent job helping The Lean Builder Nation understand what Scrum is and how to apply. Felipe dives into his recently released book titled Construction Scrum , and we give that a quick review. We discuss a few of the stories at the beginning of the book and then discuss the Scrum Guide by JJ Southerland. Only about half the time is spent discussing Felipe’s favorite subject of Scrum. The other half w...
Jul 20, 2022•50 min•Season 1Ep. 27
