The size of the company you work for can have a direct impact on your career and learning opportunities. This was especially true for Barb who received her bachelor’s degree in Construction Management. She began her journey as a carpenter at a large general contractor, wearing her tool bags, physically building buildings and relationships, and had a successful career as a woman in construction. She climbed ladder rungs that included Foreman, Assistant Superintendent, Superintendent, Pre-Construction Manager, Project Executive, and Operations Director. Along the way, she transitioned from a large general contractor with nationwide projects to a smaller GC which allowed her to take more of an operational and strategic role. She also has spent some time working on the developer side of the industry, providing her with a well-rounded perspective on how to work with GCs, subs, and clients.She now utilizes those experiences to educate and motivate audiences to better recognize, understand, and eliminate gender-specific challenges to increase recruiting and retention within the industry.Key moments in the podcast include:The differences between working at a large GC vs a smaller GC (3:00)How Barb applied her learnings from the general contractor side of the industry to the developer side (8:00)Management strategies for working with subcontractors (12:00)How to manage clients and customers with change orders and how COVID changed the process (16:00)What working across the country taught Barb about regional language and culture (29:00)About DOZRBuilding Builders is created and published by DOZR, a rental marketplace for construction equipment. With DOZR, you can find hundreds of heavy equipment rental companies near you in just one click. Join thousands of contractors looking for rental equipment across North America today.About BarbBarb's Website: https://constructionbarb.com/Barb's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarakallen/Barb's PodcastBuilding Builders LinksBuilding Builders Website: https://www.buildingbuilderspodcast.com/Leave a Review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-builders/id1649807378Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dozr.rentals/videosInstagram: @dozr.rentalsFacebook: @dozr.rentalsTwitter: @DOZRHUB

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a multi-billion dollar project that will connect Detroit, Michigan with Windsor, Ontario. This project is overseen by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, with Grant Hilbers being an executive leader on the team.Grant has more than 25 years of experience in the design and construction of large infrastructure projects and complex environmental compliance programs. He has held a variety of roles in consulting, private enterprise, and government entities in both Canada and the United States. He is a Professional Engineer who holds a Masters in Environmental Engineering from the University of Windsor and an MBA from the University of Michigan.In this episode with Grant, topics include:How Grant got involved in the projectThe intricacies of working with and building border crossingsThe environmental considerations that factor into the Gordie Howe International BridgeHow much labor and equipment is needed to work on a project of this sizeHow weather and the winter months affect project schedulingWe hope you enjoy the episode!About DOZRBuilding Builders is created and published by DOZR, a rental marketplace for construction equipment. With DOZR, you can find hundreds of heavy equipment rental companies near you in just one click. Join thousands of contractors looking for rental equipment across North America today.About GrantGordie Howe International Bridge WebsiteGrant's LinkedInBuilding Builders LinksBuilding Builders WebsiteLeave a ReviewWatch on YouTubeInstagram: @dozr.rentalsFacebook: @dozr.rentalsTwitter: @DOZRHUB

Growing in your career is something everyone wants to do, but it’s not easy. That’s why we interviewed Steve Dell’Orto, a 26-year construction industry veteran who began his construction career as an intern at one of North America’s most respected general contractors. By the end of this time there, he was a senior executive leading all projects on the West Coast. These projects included the Chase Center, Salesforce Tower, and more that have shaped the horizons from Seattle to San Diego.Now, Steve is the CEO of ConCntric, the construction industry’s first holistic preconstruction platform that unifies data, processes, and project stakeholders.In this conversation between Steve and Kevin, topics include:How he grew in his career from an intern to leading the West Coast teamTaking a new and innovative way to bidding and pitching on big projectsThe similarities and differences between running a tech company like ConCntric and running construction projectsWe hope you enjoy this episode with Steve about life at a large general contracting company and pre-construction strategies. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also follow us on social media or watch all of our episodes on YouTube. And make sure to subscribe! About DOZRBuilding Builders is created and published by DOZR, a rental marketplace for construction equipment. With DOZR, you can find hundreds of heavy equipment rental companies near you in just one click. Join thousands of contractors looking for rental equipment across North America today.About SteveConCntric's WebsiteSteve's LinkedInBuilding Builders LinksBuilding Builders WebsiteLeave a ReviewWatch on YouTubeInstagram: @dozr.rentalsFacebook: @dozr.rentalsTwitter: @DOZRHUB

As any fleet manager and equipment operator knows, having a well-oiled and lubricated machine is crucial to decrease downtime and the need for repairs. Today, we are joined by Wendy Hakken, an oil and lube specialist working for Shell who specializes in lubricants for heavy equipment and trucks. With the motto of "lube it or lose it", Wendy helps fleet and maintenance managers ensure that all of the correct fluids are being used in all of the right places. This includes educating people on how to take the guesswork out of lubrication practices, keep costs down, and keep machines running!She is also the president of Crew Collaborative, a nonprofit organization strengthening the blue-collar workforce, and serves on the Board of Governors for the Great Lakes Construction Association. In this conversation between Wendy and Kevin, topics include:0:30 - Who Wendy is and her growth in the industry9:00 - Lubricant advice for fleet managers18:00 - How contractors and equipment rental companies approach lubrication differently30:00 - Trends in the lubrication world40:00 - Crew Collaborative and how they're trying to educate the industryWe hope you enjoyed this episode with Wendy! All links to Wendy can be found below.About DOZRBuilding Builders is created and published by DOZR, a rental marketplace for construction equipment. With DOZR, you can find hundreds of heavy equipment rental companies near you in just one click. Join thousands of contractors looking for rental equipment across North America today.About WendyPersonal WebsiteCrew WebsiteLinkedIn: Wendy HakkenInstagram: @the.oil.ladyFacebook: the.oil.ladyBuilding Builders LinksBuilding Builders WebsiteLeave a ReviewWatch on YouTubeInstagram: @dozr.rentalsFacebook: @dozr.rentalsTwitter: @DOZRHUB

An unfortunate truth is that suicide is the leading cause of death in the construction industry. Construction workers are more likely to die by suicide than from being hit by a car in a work zone, falling to their death, and from electrocutions.Vince Hafeli is one of the leaders in the construction industry when it comes to suicide awareness and prevention. Sharing his personal journey with suicide, Vince shares a lot of great information in this episode including his own suicide attempt story, why the construction industry struggles with the issue, how to create mental health programs in your workplace, and more.About DOZRBuilding Builders is created and published by DOZR, a rental marketplace for construction equipment. With DOZR, you can find hundreds of heavy equipment rental companies near you in just one click. Join thousands of contractors looking for rental equipment across North America today.About VinceWebsite: Vince HafeliLinkedIn: Vince HafeliTed Talk: Discussing Mental Health and Suicide in ConstructionBuilding Builders LinksBuilding Builders WebsiteLeave a ReviewWatch on YouTubeInstagram: @dozr.rentalsFacebook: @dozr.rentalsTwitter: @DOZRHUBAdditional ResourcesConstruction Industry Alliance for Suicide PreventionOSHA: Preventing Suicides in ConstructionThe 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a trained listener, call 988. Visit 988lifeline.org for crisis chat services or for more information. 

Building Builders is back with a new season launching on Tuesday, September 12th. Featuring guests ranging from contract lawyers, project managers, lubricant specialists, pre-construction executives, engineers, and equipment operators, this season is packed with amazing content and guests. Made for contractors, construction workers, heavy equipment operators, foremen, superintendents, and leaders, you won't want to miss out.With brand new episodes on the second Tuesday of every month, subscribe and follow for updates.Building Builders LinksBuilding Builders WebsiteLeave a ReviewWatch on YouTubeInstagram: @dozr.rentalsFacebook: @dozr.rentalsTwitter: @DOZRHUB

Join us for our last episode of the season as we sit down with HGTV influencer and successful entrepreneur, Bryan Baeumler. In this conversation, Bryan shares valuable insights and lessons he has learned throughout his entrepreneurial journey. From building his first company to becoming a household name on HGTV, Bryan imparts practical wisdom and experiences that can benefit aspiring entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts alike. Tune in to gain valuable entrepreneurial lessons from one of the industry's most prominent figures.Key Moments:(0:30) Introduction to Bryan Baeumler: Discover Bryan's background and early ventures into entrepreneurship including his first company at the age of 14.(10:30) Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Bryan offers practical advice and tips for individuals who are just starting their entrepreneurial journey. From finding your passion to staying focused and setting realistic goals, Bryan's insights provide a roadmap for success.(22:00) From Entrepreneur to HGTV Star: Bryan shares the pivotal moments that led him to the world of television and how he made his mark on HGTV. Gain insights into the strategies he employed to transition from entrepreneur to television personality.(27:00) Navigating Challenges: Hear about the obstacles Bryan faced during his entrepreneurial journey and how he overcame them. From financial hurdles to balancing creativity and practicality, Bryan provides valuable advice on navigating common challenges faced by entrepreneurs.Join us for an engaging conversation with Bryan Baeumler as he imparts valuable entrepreneurial lessons gleaned from his experiences in the business and television world. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or simply seeking inspiration, this episode is packed with actionable advice and insights. Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn from one of HGTV's most respected figures.About DOZRBuilding Builders is created and published by DOZR, a rental marketplace for construction equipment. With DOZR, you can find hundreds of heavy equipment rental companies near you in just one click. Join thousands of contractors looking for rental equipment across North America today.About BryanWebsite: Bryan BaeumlerInstagram: @bryanbaeumlerApparel: 43NBuilding Builders LinksBuilding Builders WebsiteLeave a ReviewWatch on YouTubeInstagram: @dozr.rentalsFacebook: @dozr.rentalsTwitter: @DOZRHUB

Megan Tanel is the President of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the company behind North America’s largest construction trade show, CONEXPO. She joins the Building Builders podcast to talk about the new infrastructure bill (IIJA) and its impact on the industry, as well as some ideas about how to change trade school to make it more desireable for young adults.Key Moments:The importance of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in the construction industry (4:00)How the AEM plays a part in getting major bills advocated for and passed (7:00)The part that small towns play in equipment manufacturing (13:30)How trade schools can attract more young adults (24:00)About DOZRBuilding Builders is created and published by DOZR, a rental marketplace for construction equipment. With DOZR, you can find hundreds of heavy equipment rental companies near you in just one click. Join thousands of contractors looking for rental equipment across North America today.About MeganWebsite: Association of Equipment ManufacturersLinkedIn: Megan TanelBuilding Builders LinksBuilding Builders WebsiteLeave a ReviewWatch on YouTubeInstagram: @dozr.rentalsFacebook: @dozr.rentalsTwitter: @DOZRHUB

Randy Blount entered the construction industry at age 17 working for his family contracting business. He was thrust into a leadership role at age 21 when a cancer diagnosis sidelined his father from the company. Taking lessons from a number of early mistakes, Randy maintained the business until his father’s passing, at which time he purchased the company and took over management of daily operations. Over the next ten years, Randy worked with his team to implement key operational systems which helped successfully grow Blount Contracting from $3.5 million to $40 million in annual revenue. In 2020, he sold the business and remained closely involved as a shareholder, helping to grow annual revenue to $100 million while maintaining profitability well above industry averages over the next two years. Randy now serves as Chief Financial and Strategy Officer of BuildWitt, where he applies his finance education and career-long construction experience to help drive the organization towards its mission of making the dirt world a better place.In this episode, we talk about all of this and more including how to determine whether you should buy or rent equipment, common mistakes contractors make in buying equipment and how to avoid them, and why it’s important to understand utilization and rental rates.Key moments:Going from a $4 million construction company to a $100 million construction company (3:00)How to best utilize your construction equipment (15:00)Why contractors should never own 100% of their equipment (25:00)Why all projects and bids should be estimated with rental rates (35:00)How to think about equipment as assets and liabilities (38:00)Why Randy moved from being in the dirt to BuildWitt (43:00)Favorite Quote: "A lot of the lessons I learned on equipment was just from making mistakes"About DOZRBuilding Builders is created and published by DOZR, a rental marketplace for construction equipment. With DOZR, you can find hundreds of heavy equipment rental companies near you in just one click. Join thousands of contractors looking for rental equipment across North America today.About RandyWebsite: BuildWittLinkedIn: Randy BlountBuilding Builders LinksBuilding Builders WebsiteLeave a ReviewWatch on YouTubeInstagram: @dozr.rentalsFacebook: @dozr.rentalsTwitter: @DOZRHUB

Monica is an experienced safety trainer and consultant in the construction industry. With the goal of making safety more fun for everyone, she talks about some of the trends of safety in construction, as well as some of the challenges. Topics include new safety technologies, the importance of behavior-based safety, and why there's no country-wide standard for training.Key moments include:New safety technologies that will affect equipment operators (2:45)Behavior-based safety and the Crosswalk safety example of why we shouldn't rely on technology too much (5:00)Why there's no set standard for OSHA training for heavy equipment in construction (10:30)How small contractors can compete with getting their operators trained and certified (15:00)The differences in safety when renting or buying equipment (16:30)Top quote: "It is always going to be on the company to ensure their equipment is trained. OSHA doesn’t regulate people it regulates companies."About DOZRBuilding Builders is created and published by DOZR, a rental marketplace for construction equipment. With DOZR, you can find hundreds of heavy equipment rental companies near you in just one click. Join thousands of contractors looking for rental equipment across North America today.About MonicaWebsite: EnterTRAINING SolutionsLinkedIn: Monica RakoczyBuilding Builders LinksBuilding Builders WebsiteLeave a ReviewWatch on YouTubeInstagram: @dozr.rentalsFacebook: @dozr.rentalsTwitter: @DOZRHUB