Construction Genius

Think federal contracting is too complex or risky? Think again. In this episode, Doug and Sean Reitmeyer of GCExperts reveal how to break into the federal market with nothing more than a SAM registration—and why it’s one of the fairest, most cash-flow-friendly opportunities in construction. You’ll learn how to avoid rookie mistakes, get paid in 14–30 days under the Federal Prompt Payment Act, and build credibility fast. With over a billion dollars in federal work under their belts, Doug and Sean know the game inside and out. Learn more at GCExperts.com Visiting Austin? Check out The Oasis and Steiner Ranch Steakhouse  Grab my book Construction Genius . 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard You can't afford to let your people drift. To drive real performance, you must coach with clarity and purpose.   Use the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to: Get clear on what matters most. Drive focused action and accountability. Strengthen trust and deepen relationships.   Success doesn't happen by accident.

Mark Whitson started at DPR with tools in hand, fresh out of college. Today, he's president of one of America's most respected construction companies. His journey reveals why DPR keeps top talent for decades while other companies struggle with turnover. Key insights: Career paths aren't ladders—they're rock walls requiring lateral moves and creative problem-solving. Culture survives when everyone owns it, not just leadership. The best stretch opportunities come with clear success criteria and strong internal coaching. Whitson's leadership philosophy: helping others turn the perceived impossible into possible. His advice for retention? Empower people to walk away from projects that don't align with company values. Connect with Mark and DPR: Visit DPR Construction to learn more about their innovative approach to building. And if you're ever near Pinehurst, North Carolina, check out Mark's golf course recommendation: Tobacco Road Golf Club – challenging, beautiful, and worth the trip.   90-Day High-Performance D

Most GCs never get acquired. Cross Management Corporation did. Anne Caruso, CEO of CMC, explains how culture, client loyalty, and succession planning made her construction company attractive to Shimizu, a $14B Japanese contractor that acquired a majority stake. From her own journey into the CEO role to lessons on treating subs as partners and planning leadership continuity, Anne shares a roadmap for every GC that wants to be attractive to outside buyers.

Shifting from a transactional mindset to a relationship-based mindset is the heart of growth in the contracting world. Instead of purely relying on projects, businesses are eager to find new opportunities in building long-term relationships and creating steady revenue streams through service. This episode focuses on the mindset, process, and leadership needed to be at the top of this transformation. Sean Samson is the CEO and founder of Sean Samson Training and EMAPlus. Sean is an industry thought leader and a mentor within the electrical, mechanical, service, and construction areas. Having trained and consulted over 300 contracting organizations across 16 countries, he is a highly sought-after industry leader whose training focuses on strengthening contractor service and maintenance operations. He joined Eric today to talk about how contractors can transform their businesses by building service divisions.   HIGHLIGHTS [01:49] The Light Bulb Moment: Building a Service Division.  [05:58] The mindset shift. [09

Public speaking isn’t just about talking; it’s about influencing, connecting, and leaving a mark that lasts long after the last word is spoken. Most people find public speaking daunting, but does it have to be that way?  Public speaking is one of the biggest challenges for people no matter the industry. Some people are natural-born speakers. The others, not so much. In this episode of the Construction Genius podcast, Eric is joined by John Zalepka, a seasoned public speaking coach, to explore practical strategies to overcome fear, move beyond overconfidence, and connect with the audience. From crafting story-driven presentations to handling technical failures with grace, they explain how preparation, practice, and authenticity can turn speeches into powerful moments.  John Zalepka is an author and seasoned speaking coach who helps corporate leaders to effectively communicate brand messages with a confident voice. He serves as Director of Training & Industry Engagements at Specified Technologies Inc. (STI)

True success comes from playing the long-term game, prioritizing relationships, skills, and trust that build over time. However, professionals often struggle with short-term thinkers, unnecessary interruptions, and guilt over leadership roles. In this episode, Eric sits down with Luca Dellana, an independent consultant and bestselling author who helps companies develop their people and solve complex organizational challenges. Together, they analyze the importance of defining your own game, building business relationships, balancing saying ‘yes’ and ‘no’ early in your career, and more. HIGHLIGHTS [01:43] Playing the long-term game in business.  [03:04] Hunter vs. Farmer mentality. [06:23] Building trust by ensuring benefits for both parties. [07:50] Protecting and playing your own game. [10:40] Balancing ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ in your career. [15:47] Eliminating unnecessary interruptions. [20:21] Building strong business relationships. [23:28] Skill development and understanding organizational dynamics. [29:55] Overco

In this week’s episode, our guest is 21-year-old Gabe Sotello, who is a steel framer and drywall hanger. Gabe shares his journey from trade school to the job site while offering us an honest picture of the challenges, culture, and opportunities in construction. He also explains his decision to choose trade school over college, adapting with humility, and the need to be an open-minded novice who will learn, absorb, and adjust quickly. With practical advice on work ethic, communication, and finding the right trade early, Gabe is here to give a real-world roadmap to young people in finding success in the construction industry.  Throughout the conversation, you will hear about Gabe’s background and journey to construction, the challenges he had to face and how he adapted to the industry as a novice, the importance of choosing your path with clarity and the importance of accepting the fact that traditional education is not everyone’s forte, the importance of effective leadership and communication in construction,

In a field like construction, where sales are complex, high-stakes, and often misunderstood, success depends less on competition on pricing and more on strategic engagement, early involvement, and paying attention and understanding the needs of the client.  Meet Matthew Neuberger, a prominent figure in the business world who is an expert in business development, specializing in executive sales consultation and sales productivity training. As a dynamic presenter and trainer, he helps industry leaders to articulate successful management, sales, and prospecting strategies. Focusing on businesses that are ready to rise above the low-bid mentality, his approach integrates strategic guidance, stakeholder alignment, and practical tools, allowing contractors to win more sustainable, profitable projects. He joined us today to talk about how contractors can break free from low-bid traps.   HIGHLIGHTS [01:58] From low-bid work to high-value projects.  [05:43] Time shift in sales process.  [12:16] Abundance vs. scarcity

Struggling to find—and keep—the right people in your construction business? You’re not alone. In today’s episode of Construction Genius, Eric sits down with Mike, creator of the XP3 Talent System, to unpack a proven, end-to-end process for hiring, onboarding, and retaining top talent in one of the most competitive industries on the planet. You’ll discover: Why most “business problems” are really people problems—and how to solve them at the root. The fatal flaw in relying on gut instinct to hire construction talent. How to define success in a role so you can hire with precision instead of vague job descriptions. A structured hiring process that filters out bad fits—even if they try to fake it with AI. Onboarding strategies that transform B-players into rock stars and boost 90-day retention to 95%. The three non-negotiable objectives every onboarding program must hit. How to build a culture that inspires discretionary effort—the extra 40–60% of capability most employees never give. A real-world

Leadership development can take two distinct types: horizontal and vertical. Horizontal growth targets on adding new skills, knowledge, and competencies broadening what a leader can do. Vertical development, on the other hand, alters how a leader thinks, perceives, and responds. This enables leaders to handle complexity, stress, and uncertainty by increasing maturity, emotional regulation, and perspective. While horizontal development can make a leader more capable in the short term, vertical growth boosts their ability to inspire and create lasting value. However, to achieve sustainable leadership impact, understanding both is the key.  Ryan Gottfredson is a leadership expert, author, and researcher specializing in vertical development and organizational psychology. He is the founder and owner of Ryan Gottfredson LLC. He helps organizations vertically develop their leaders primarily through focusing on mindsets. He is also a leadership professor at the College of Business and Economics at California State Un

Welcome back to another powerhouse episode of Construction Genius! Today, we welcome back industry expert and owner of MADD Project, Antonia Botero. Antonia returns to provide crucial insights on two vital topics for every construction leader: Strategic Adaptation and Project Management Excellence. In this episode, you’ll discover: How to Build a Robust Construction Strategy: Evaluating your construction firm's strategic positioning—high value vs. high volume. Making critical decisions about project scale and niching to maintain competitive advantage. Effective ways to pivot your business in response to economic downturns and shifting markets. Real-world examples of strategic flexibility and adapting your expertise to emerging opportunities. Keys to Elite Project Management: The core qualities of an A-player Project Manager: urgency, coordination mastery, and rigorous accounting discipline. Why urgency and proactive communication can dramatically improve project outcomes. Essential traini

In the fiercely competitive world of construction, a handful of people stand out as genuine rainmakers—those uniquely gifted individuals who seem able to summon success and profitability from seemingly nowhere. Roger Leasure, President and CEO of The Leasure Group, is precisely that kind of leader. In this episode of Construction Genius, which ranks among my top five all-time favorites, Roger reveals how he transformed a simple $15 investment into a staggering $12.8 million project. He dives deep into the core principles of genuine business development, sharing practical strategies that go far beyond standard sales pitches. Roger teaches us to see business through the eyes of our clients, to build meaningful relationships through thoughtful gestures, and to strategically position ourselves as essential partners rather than just another vendor. Key Takeaways: Discover the extraordinary story behind turning a $15 gift into a multi-million dollar opportunity. Learn how to shift your mindset and genuinely put

Succession planning isn’t just about naming someone to be the successor; it’s about ensuring that your business can thrive after you. In this episode, Eric appears as the guest of “The Construction Hall of Fame” podcast and shares his wisdom on succession planning, the blind spots that trip up the construction leaders, keeping your top talent from walking out of the door, and the importance of starting an early succession plan. Whether you are already thinking about your succession plan or years away from stepping down, this conversation will guide you to get started with confidence and clarity.    HIGHLIGHTS [02:06] Introduction and background to Eric Anderton.  [05:11] Succession planning pitfalls.  [12:11] The tours of duty: Developing and retaining top talent.  [15:36] Consistent growth, clarity, and proactive career planning.  [20:38] Planning for the long-term with clarity.  [24:00] Aligning career paths with individual ambitions.  [28:46] Tough promotion calls.  [34:37] The importance of process mappin

Most construction companies claim they “do great work and have strong relationships.” But if your business vanished tomorrow, would anyone really notice—or care? In this episode of Construction Genius, I sit down with Justin Bieganek, founder of Mercury Creative Group, to unpack what branding really means for construction companies—and why it’s about a lot more than your logo or website. If you're frustrated with being treated like a commodity, constantly undercut on price, or struggling to attract the right people to join your team—your brand might be the problem. And the good news? Fixing it starts with asking better questions.

From the office to the job sites, AI is rapidly changing the construction industry just as any other. The newly developed AI tools currently available can help you to process data from variety of sources, providing you with insights to make smart decisions. One crucial piece of information everyone should remember is that AI is not magic; it needs to be provided with clean, accurate information and skilled prompting to deliver a decent output. Leaders can’t just adopt AI; they must experiment, learn, and lead by example. Whether you’re planning on using generative AI to think through problems and gather information or agentic AI to automate tasks, having a deep understanding of tools like these will be of immense help to the future of construction.  In this week’s solo episode, Eric discusses how leading multi-billion-dollar companies like Amazon are way ahead of the game by using AI. He reads us the message from Amazon CEO Andy Jassy to their employees about Amazon’s extensive use of AI. Eric dives into the

Growth isn’t just about bigger projects or tighter timelines; it’s about developing leadership. When the leaders try to do everything themselves, struggle to delegate, or are unable to build trust within their teams, it often leads to hitting the ceiling. Emotional intelligence, intentional listening, and clarity of intent are essential in shaping high-performing teams. Building self-awareness, fighting the impostor syndrome, and leading through uncertainty might seem challenging at times, but it’s up to the leaders to decide which direction is best for your organization.  Rachel Burr is an executive coach, author, speaker, leadership consultant, and people expert with over 20 years of experience and a unique blend of insight, action, and humor. Having an exceptional understanding of how people work inside out, Rachel collaborates with leaders who are experts in their fields but in need of help with the people part of the leadership. She helps to break down confusing issues related to people by listening with

What happens when leadership isn’t about control but about a shared goal? What if the future business world looks more like a team, not a hierarchy? As more companies reconsider the traditional structures, models like worker cooperatives and employee-owned cooperatives are gaining momentum. They offer a way to codify culture, share decision-making, and maintain purpose beyond the founder’s occupancy. These models present an agreeable alternative in a time when millions of small businesses face uncertain futures. It’s time to see ownership as not a privilege for the few but a path for the many.  John Abrams is a succession planning consultant, workplace democracy advocate, author, and the co-founder of both South Mountain Company and Abrams+Angell. He retired and handed over the company he started at age 24 in 2022, and started Abrams+Angell with his partner. They consult with the triple bottom line (TBL) businesses to help them with succession planning, worker co-op conversions, financial literacy, leadership

In today’s episode of Construction Genius, we dive deep into a powerful leadership framework that can transform how you run your construction projects — the Fighter Pilot Mindset based on John Boyd’s legendary OODA loop. In fast-paced, high-risk environments — whether it’s a fighter jet or a complex construction site — the speed and quality of your team’s decision-making can make or break project outcomes.   Yet many construction leaders today face persistent challenges: ✅ Bridging the gap between office leadership and field crews ✅ Balancing safety and productivity under constant schedule pressure ✅ Driving real-time decision-making on job sites that are always changing ✅ Building a job site culture where workers are empowered — not micromanaged ✅ Improving communication between leadership and the front line That’s where the OODA loop — Observe, Orient, Decide, Act — comes in. Originally designed for fighter pilots in life-or-death combat, this mental model helps leaders and crews think faster and act smarte

The construction industry is currently at a significant juncture where the industry’s traditional practices begin to converge with new cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence. AI helps teams to uncover insights, streamline operations, and improve decision-making, making it an emerging powerful partner rather than a tool. Trevor Schick is the CEO of Slate Technologies, a company revolutionizing the construction industry through AI-driven decision support tools. He brings a unique perspective to the industry’s technological space, having a career leading global supply chains at major high-tech companies like Apple, Hewlett-Packard, and Motorola. About a decade ago, he started applying lessons about materials and logistics from high-tech industries to the world of construction. He became the CEO of Slate Technologies after initially working with them as a customer. He joined us today to talk about how AI is redefining the possibilities in construction by enhancing safety, minimizing delays, and un

Dan Lester, Vice President of Field Culture and Inclusion at Clayco, brings a powerful voice to the conversation around mental health in the construction industry. Focusing on total health and well-being, Dan emphasizes that mental health is about managing everyday and extreme stress.  Dan shares findings from a 2024 Clayco study showing that 54% of tradespeople reported anxiety or depression in the past year, yet many still feel ashamed to talk about it. Dan attributes this to stigma, pride, and the male-dominated nature of the industry. He stresses the importance of psychological safety and creating spaces where vulnerability is welcomed.  Through practical initiatives like wellness zones, mandatory fatigue days, and leadership modeling, Dan advocates for a cultural shift in the industry. His message is clear: mental health matters and proactive support can save lives and improve job performance!   HIGHLIGHTS [03:22] Mental Health Awareness in Construction  [10:58] Impact of Mental Health on Job Performance