Host Bradley Hartmann dives into the high-stakes drama unfolding between QXO, led by serial entrepreneur Brad Jacobs, and Beacon Roofing Supply. Jacobs is making an aggressive $11billion bid to acquire Beacon, setting the stage for a potential proxy fight. The discussion explores Jacobs' ambitious growth plans for QXO, the industry implications, the risks of such a hostile takeover attempt, and where his M&A tactics detailed in his book (How to Make a Few Billion Dollars) differ with his app...
Jan 30, 2025•22 min
In episode 442, Tannis Liviniuk provides valuable insights into the role of a digital advancement executive and the challenges of technology adoption in the construction industry. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how to effectively evaluate and integrate new technologies to improve productivity, safety, employee engagement, and retention. The conversation with Tannis offers practical advice on crafting compelling sales pitches, avoiding the pitfalls of a transactional approach to te...
Jan 28, 2025•35 min
In episode 441, Dustin DeWald joins the show to talk leadership—on the gridiron (leading Iowa Wesleyan in the early 90s, he threw for 12,045 yards and 115 touchdowns) and in homebuilding (leading Dustin DeWald Custom Homes since 1992). DeWald is a custom home builder in Copperas Cove, Texas, the birthplace of the innovative Air Raid offense developed by Hal Mumme that changed the game of football at every level. Dustin shares leadership lessons he learned from coaching legends Hal Mumme and Mike...
Jan 21, 2025•41 min
In episode 440, Jon Vaughan wrests control of the host role and turns the table on Bradley Hartmann as they discuss Hartmann's new book The Air Raid Sales Offense. They discuss how the principles of the air raid offense in football can be applied to sales strategies in the LBM industry. The conversation covers topics like simplifying sales processes, building stronger customer relationships, and creating a sales culture that is fearless, optimistic, simple, and fun. Hartmann shares insights from...
Jan 14, 2025•36 min
Dan Starr, CEO of Do it Best since 2016, joins the show to discuss the $200 million acquisition of True Value that included inventory, brand rights, and paint manufacturing facilities. The acquisition has created the world's largest network of independent home improvement stores. This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and prospects in under 30 minutes once every 30 days. *** If yo...
Jan 07, 2025•36 min
In episode 438, you'll dive into the wisdom and insights of industry veteran Jim Hershey. Jim shares lessons learned on his remarkable leadership journey as well as insights learned from mentors like Bill Lee and Kevin Hancock. This episode is full of practical advice you can apply imediately, including Jim's unique perspective on accountability, the power of handwritten notes, and the transformative concept of "shared leadership." Whether you're a seasoned leader or aspiring to climb the ranks,...
Dec 30, 2024•33 min
Bradley discusses leadership lessons that can be learned from the classic holiday film Elf with Data Scientist, Brock Lacy and returning guest, Sales Leader, Matt Potter. They examine Walter Hobbs' transformation from tough leader to family man as well as Buddy's likability. Also, find out why actor Faizon Love had the name Wanda on his Gimbels' name badge. This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's rost...
Dec 23, 2024•36 min
In this special bonus episode 436, Project Manager Taylor Parker of Lingenfelter Luxury Homes discusses Adam Lingenfelter’s leadership style along with providing insight on how he manages relationships with subcontractors and what the best suppliers do to make a positive impact. This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and prospects in under 30 minutes once every 30 days. *** If you...
Dec 19, 2024•9 min
Luxury home builder Adam Lingenfelter returns to the Construction Leadership Podcast, sharing insights on how his business has evolved since 2019. Adam discusses the challenges of the pandemic, including supply chain issues, pricing volatility, and the need for more proactive planning. He emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with customers, subcontractors, and suppliers, investing significant time upfront to understand their needs and goals. Adam also advises salespeople to...
Dec 17, 2024•35 min
In episode 434, you’ll discover the superhuman skill that saved Hartmann over $250,000 this year. Frustrated with the burden of email, Bradley shares the simple yet effective approach to taming your inbox. This episode—including a philosophy, framework, and tool—is a game-changer for anyone struggling to conquer their overflowing inbox. This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and p...
Dec 10, 2024•16 min
In episode 433, Dr. Carla Fowler joins the show to share earned insights on leadership from her academic and athletic background. Carla is the founder of executive coaching firm THAXA , which converts her expertise in performance science into practical advice for leaders at all levels. You’ll discover immediately actionable insights on how to embrace the slog of hard work and how the newly coined "Air Alert Principle" can change your mindset when experimenting and innovating on the job. This epi...
Dec 03, 2024•42 min
In episode 432, Bradley shares his belief—along with a simple four-step formula—to take advantage of the most overlooked key to reaching your goals (and those of your team members) faster in 2025 and beyond. This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and prospects in under 30 minutes once every 30 days. *** If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts . Your fe...
Nov 26, 2024•15 min
Erik Bornstein, a former commercial and residential builder in Toronto, shares the earned insights that compelled him to quit his job, move to California, and launch TOOLBX , an online platform for building material suppliers that helps them simplify the lives of the builders they serve. This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and prospects in under 30 minutes once every 30 days. *...
Nov 19, 2024•24 min
In episode 430, Bradley Hartmann shares leadership insights from one of his favorite movies, Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt as the Oakland A’s general manager, Billy Beane. Joining Hartmann are Matt Potter (construction sales veteran) and Joel Stevens (HR expert), returning to the show after their excellent performances in episode 393 where we focused on the leadership aspects from the movie, Up in the Air (starring George Clooney and Anna Kendrick). Hartmann, Potter, and Stevens explore Billy Be...
Nov 12, 2024•49 min
In episode 429 of The Construction Leadership Podcast, host Bradley Hartmann sits down with Mireya Zapata, the Executive Director of the Lumbermen's Association of Texas (LAT) . Zapata brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously worked in politics, public relations, and for the Texas House of Representatives. Throughout the conversation, Hartmann and Zapata dive into Zapata's background and her unique perspective on engaging the political process as the head of a state trade ass...
Nov 05, 2024•24 min
In this sidecar bonus episode to 427, host Bradley Hartmann and Tony Meza break down the lyrics from the summer jam, TK by Pedro Capó, as they identify which language skills can be used on the job to communicate better and lead more effectively. Listen to episode 427 to hear Tony Meza’s insights on bridging cultural and linguistic gaps on the job site. Tony Meza is the safety professional responsible for risk management at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Meza also lends his voice to Har...
Oct 31, 2024•16 min
In episode 427, Tony Meza joins the podcast to share insights on cultural intelligence and leadership across linguistic and cultural gaps on the job site. Tony Meza is the construction safety professional responsible for risk management at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Meza also lends his voice to Hartmann & Company’s new Construction Spanish App as the native Spanish speaker in the voice tracks within the app. This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most...
Oct 29, 2024•27 min
In this conversation, Steven Paynter from Gensler discusses the innovation that landed Gensler on Fast Company’s list of most innovative companies in 2024. The innovation was an algorithm that assess the viability of converting office spaces into residential units, particularly in light of the pandemic and the growing affordability crisis. Fast Company wrote: “Gensler’s algorithm evaluates roughly 150 aspects of a building’s layout and design, such as core-to-window depth and the number of eleva...
Oct 22, 2024•40 min
In this conversation, Matt DiBara shares the leadership insights accumulated on his journey from nine-year-old laborer to fourth generation business owner. Matt shares what being fired multiple times in his family business taught him and the valuable lessons learned from his father—what to do and what not to do. Matt discusses the importance of customer acquisition costs and effective strategies for diversifying any construction business. Matt emphasizes the significance of effective communicati...
Oct 15, 2024•38 min
In episode 424, we hosted a Construction Leadership Game Show live in front of a raucous 250+ attendees at the annual TEXO Safety Day in Fort Worth on August 29th. The participants were three safety leaders: Gradlin Franks, Director of Safety at The Beck Group , Scott Sears, Vice President of Safety and Loss Control at Walker Engineering , and Raul Ruiz, Regional EHS Manager at Moss and Associates . The theme was Olympic-level Leadership and the insights and entertainment lived up to the hype. L...
Oct 08, 2024•32 min
In episode 423, host Bradley Hartmann sits down with Bret Martz (VP - North American Professional Sales) of Trex and Chris Gerhard (Executive VP) of Specialty Building Products . Bret and Chris share insights on the collaboration efforts between a manufacturer and a distributor that enable increased value to the dealer and their contractor customers. Their discussion touches on innovation, training and education, digital selling tools, and methods for assisting their independent dealer partners....
Oct 01, 2024•37 min
In episode 422, host Bradley Hartmann takes you on a journey from the Pacific Northwest to Kobe, Japan as he shares the incredible true story (with some fictional dialogue added for your listening pleasure!) of one of the most iconic companies of all time. The story reveals the two methods in which humans develop trust: task-based and relationship-based. While we talk about the construction industry being a “relationship business,” the truth is relationships actually come second in our Uncle Sam...
Sep 24, 2024•55 min
Paul Robinson, founder of ConstructReach , discusses his passion for helping young people find opportunities in the construction industry. He emphasizes the need for equitable and inclusive practices in attracting and retaining diverse talent. Paul also shares his experience of working with his wife in the business and the importance of communication and intentionality. He highlights the value of his iReach podcast in creating a platform for industry professionals to share their stories and insi...
Sep 17, 2024•44 min
In episode 420, host Bradley Hartmann weaves together three captivating stories with valuable leadership lessons. First, he introduces Teddy Riner, the legendary Judoka who openly struggles with self-doubt despite his unparalleled success. Riner's vulnerability inspires reflection on overcoming imposter syndrome. Free Account / Paywall: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5677073/2024/08/02/teddy riner-olympic-judo-gold-medal-france/? utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=twhq&source=twitterhq Nex...
Sep 10, 2024•27 min
In episode 419, Jon Vaughan returns to the show to examine leadership and culture building through the lens of sport—specifically, the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Tomlin. Before the 2022 season began, Tomlin joined the The Pivot Podcast, featuring former NFL stars/hosts, Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder. It was this interview that both Jon Vaughn and Hartmann agreed was a leadership masterclass that explains how Tomlin has never had a losing season in 17years leading ...
Sep 03, 2024•53 min
In this conversation, Chelsea Zuccato, a sales manager at Patrick Lumber Company , discusses various topics related to leadership and sales. She shares her favorite leadership movie, offers insights on finding niche markets, and offer actionable advice on increasing delegation as leader. Chelsea also emphasizes the value of taking risks, learning from failures, and how the core values at Patrick are reflected in her everyday behavior. Hartmann and Zuccato wrap up the episode discussing her invol...
Aug 27, 2024•48 min
In episode 417, host Bradley Hartmann discusses the fallacy of "cascading communication" as a leadership metaphor. He argues that while information may cascade down through an organization, behavioral change does not. Using Newton's laws of motion as a framework, Hartmann explains how leaders need to approach communication differently to drive real change. He suggests moving away from a one-time "cascade" of information and instead implementing a persistent "drip campaign" of communication using...
Aug 20, 2024•23 min
In episode 416, Ben Breen of the Project Management Institute (PMI) joins the show from Australia. Ben is the Global Director of Construction at PMI and he discusses his background in international construction and the leadership principles that have guided his career from construction student, builder, consultant, and leader within PMI. Ben describes how to best learn from mentors around you and why the industry should ditch the phrase “soft skills” for “power skills” to describe the suite of l...
Aug 13, 2024•30 min
In episode 415, Krysta Van Ranst of Building PPL joins The Construction Leadership Podcast to discuss how to leverage learning and development to build stronger people that will drive your future growth. Krysta offers insights on when NOT to invest in leadership training and shares her firm’s proprietary Building PEOPLE model, which includes providing professional development, employee growth planning, onboarding, leveraging processes and procedures, and the best methods to engage future hires. ...
Aug 06, 2024•40 min
In episode 414, HR Huntsman—CEO of Leader's Edge Consulting and Coaching —joins The Construction Leadership Podcast to help leaders and teams become the best version of themselves. HR shares insights on leadership, talent acquisition, and personal growth. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling and the power of human connection in leadership. HR also discusses the need for leaders to transition from a production mindset to a multiplication mindset, empowering their team members and intentio...
Jul 30, 2024•40 min
