In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin delve into a critical and timely topic: mental health in the construction industry. Joined by two esteemed guests from Minnesota, Tim Worke from AGC Minnesota and Cheri Quinn from Mercury Creative Group, the discussion centers around the innovative Minnesota Construction Mental Health Alliance. We kick off the episode by acknowledging the growing importance of mental health awareness within the construction sect...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin dive into an inspiring conversation with Marcus Vega, the 2026 KCA Labor Champion and recipient of the Thomas George Memorial Community Service Award. Recorded live from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the episode highlights Marcus's remarkable journey in the construction industry, spanning nearly 35 years. We kick off the episode with a light-hearted banter between Jon and Chris, setting a friendly tone before introd...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien welcome Ben Connors, the president of the General Building Contractors Association (GBCA), to discuss the current trends and challenges in the construction industry, particularly in the Philadelphia market. We kick off the episode with a warm introduction, highlighting the exciting atmosphere in Philadelphia as the city prepares for the World Cup and celebrates its 250th anniversary of democracy. Ben shares his ...

We’re back with another one—and this time, we’re talking all things building the next generation of the construction workforce. In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, Jon and Chris sit down with Amanda McIsaac from Slippery Rock University to dig into SRU’s brand-new Construction Management program. But first… a little catch-up (yes, Chris finally took a vacation, and yes, we had to give him a hard time about it). Amanda brings over 20 years of industry experience (shoutout CDM Smith) in...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin dive into the world of metal construction with special guest Lee Ann Slattery, the first female board president of the Metal Construction Association (MCA) and a leader at ATAS International. Lee Ann shares her journey within the MCA, highlighting the importance of metal as a sustainable building material and its growing popularity in construction. The discussion covers various types of metal products, including...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome back Michael Metz-Topodas, a familiar voice from the early days of the podcast. As they celebrate six years and nearly 300 episodes, the trio dives into significant updates regarding OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and its evolving role in the construction industry. Michael begins by discussing the recent appointment of David Keeling as the head of OSHA, highlighting the positive cha...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin delve into the critical topic of crisis communications within the construction industry. As they navigate the often tumultuous landscape of construction-related incidents, they emphasize the importance of preparedness and effective communication strategies when faced with emergencies. The episode opens with a somber acknowledgment of recent accidents in Pennsylvania, including a garage collapse in Philadelphia a...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome Jessica Warren, the Environmental Health and Safety Training Manager at Pennoni. Jessica shares her insights on the critical connection between psychological safety and physical safety in the workplace. The conversation delves into the importance of fostering open communication and building relationships among team members to create a safe work environment. Jessica emphasizes that safety is not just abou...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien take a heartfelt dive into a topic that resonates deeply within the construction industry: mental health and suicide prevention. We focus on the upcoming second annual Pennsylvania Construction Hike for Hope, organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Chris opens the episode by introducing the unique twist for today’s discussion, emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness in our indu...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome Monique Lewis, the founder and CEO of Next2Native Inc. Monique specializes in language learning and risk mitigation in the construction industry. The discussion focuses on the importance of effective communication on job sites, especially in light of the growing number of Spanish-speaking workers. Monique highlights that about one in three construction workers are Spanish-speaking, which can create safet...