Explore every episode of Crushing It In Construction
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Pub. Date
Title
Duration
07 Feb 2022
CCF Helping Contractors In South Australia
00:23:26
Hello everybody and welcome to the “Crushing It in Construction” podcast.
In today’s episode, we have the pleasure of talking to Rebecca Pickering. Rebecca is the CEO of the Civil Contractors Federation In South Australia.
She has worked in the commercial building and construction industry for over 20 years. For the last decade, she has held executive roles. Her skills and experience as a business, risk and IT professional in both private and non-profit sectors deliver continuous and solid results. Today, Rebecca is the current CEO of the Civil Contractors Federation in South Australia.
In this interview, Rebecca shares her professional journey and how she managed to hold a number of recognized qualifications in the areas of business, risk management, compliance, auditing, quality management, systems, and information technology. She also explains her transition into the position she is today with CCF and what are some of the main things that CCF helps its members do.
Why the construction industry should look for leaders outside The industry
00:28:25
Hello everybody and welcome to the “Crushing It In Construction” podcast.
In today’s episode, we have the pleasure of talking to Damian Ennis. He is a highly motivated, capable, Manager with a demonstrated capability of working in Major Projects, such as Design (Architecture), Construction (in planning & on-site), and Advisory (Super Funds / Hedge Funds)- in Ireland, US, and Australia. Damian is also Experienced in Educational, Commercial, Residential, and Infrastructure (Social, Civil, Tunnels, Buildings, Oil & Gas, etc.)
In this interview, Damian is explaining why we should be focusing more on finding talent from outside the industry, by giving specific examples. He is also analyzing some of the consequences we are seeing from not getting the fresh perspectives and insights that come with other people from other industries and why people get stuck thinking that promoting within is their best and only option.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about the insights that Damian Ennis is sharing. Rate and review before the next episode.
Why people don't have to be great writers to create successful tenders.
00:16:55
Hello and welcome to “Crushing it in Construction” podcast
In today’s episode, we have the pleasure of talking to Kate Burrows. She is the founder and Managing Director of the Tender Training College and is passionate about helping people to improve their tendering skills and to secure their futures. Kate has more than 15 years of experience in tendering, and has helped clients win more than $25 billion in new business.
In this interview, Kate explains why people don't need to be good at writing, in order to create good tenders. She also analyses the consequences of overthinking writing tenders and why people get stuck in a wrong mindset, where they think they need to be professional writers to win tenders.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about the insights that Kate Burrows shares. Rate and review before the next episode.
Negotiating Contracts and Niching Down with Tony Guidera
00:17:14
Hello everybody and welcome to the “Crushing It In Construction” podcast.
In this weeks episode we are chatting with Tony Guidera, the director of Guidera O'Connor, a company that specializes in delivering water treatment, wastewater treatment and pump station projects for councils and the government sector.
In this episode he shares how he grew the business to nearly 200 people and shares some of the stuggles he faced along the way. He also shares his views on why companies in contracting should stick to what they know, do it really well and not get too distracted by other projects that arent within your core skill set.
Its a really great episode and i think you will get some useful information and learn a lot from this episode.
CONTACT INFO:
TONY GUIDERA: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-guidera-3b754413/
Company Website: https://goc.net.au/
JORDAN SKINNER Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Moonshot Media Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/
06 Mar 2022
Giving Employees The Tools To Be Successful with Jeremy Palmer
00:31:22
Hello everybody and welcome to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast!
This week I am speaking with Jeremy Palmer from Quattro Project Engineering and I talk to him about his journey and some of the challenges he went through growing the business.
He touches on some of the various stages the company went through while growing and tells us why the desire to truly help and empower your employees is so important if you want them to produce successful outcomes.
CONTACT DETAILS:
JEREMY PALMER: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremypalmer2/ Website: https://www.quattrope.com/
JORDAN SKINNER: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/ Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/
13 Mar 2022
The Challenges Of Taking Over The Family Business With Kari Armitage
00:26:32
Hello everybody, and welcome back to the crushing it in construction podcast.
In this weeks episode, I'm talking to Kari Armitage. Kari is the managing director of Quarry Mining. Based out of New South Wales. Kari has a very interesting story. She started off in civil engineering as a cadet, working for a civil engineering consulting firm. She then was asked by her father to come back and help run the family business. And I think she has some really unique insight into some of the challenges that taking over a family business presents.
Gaining Buy In From Employees By Giving Them A Why With Michael Hatton
00:28:12
Hello Everybody and welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
This week I'm speaking with Michael Hatton. Michael is the founder and managing director of Total Surveying Solutions based in Sydney. Michael is a really interesting guy and in this episode we talk about his career.
We also talk about some of the struggles that he faced in the beginning, trying to get the business off the ground and how he managed to get buy-in from his employees in those early stages and then eventually how he transitioned to getting those employees to buy into the bigger picture of the company so that he could eventually get more of a management structure in place and eventually become a director and sort of step back from the day-to-day running of the business.
CONTACT DETAILS:
MICHAEL HATTON: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-hatton-a5314013/ Website: https://www.totalsurveying.com.au/
JORDAN SKINNER: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/ Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/
10 Apr 2022
Investing in Leadership Coaching For Employees With Philip Byrum
00:32:27
Hello everybody and welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction podcast.
I'm your host Jordan Skinner, and this week I'm speaking to Philip Byrum from Orion Consulting. Phillip is the director of Orion consulting and, he only started the business in 2015 and they are already at over 80 people and they are buying businesses as well.
In this episode, Philip and I talk about some of the growing pains that the business had in the early stages of getting the business off the ground. He's also going to talk to us about why he chose to invest in leadership coaching for each one of his leadership staff and why he feels that it was such a good investment.
Buying A Company and Building It To 250 People With Susie Pascoe
00:25:56
Hello everybody and welcome back to episode number 10 of the Crushing It In Construction podcast. My name is Jordan Skinner, I am your host and this week I had the pleasure of speaking with Susie Pascoe. Susie is the group managing director of Sterling Infrastructure, and Sterling is a leading provider of asset management services to the transport infrastructure sector.
Susie and her husband purchased the company when it only had six employees and started officially running the company in 2010. Since then they've managed to grow the company to over 250 people and take it Australia wide.
In this episode she shares her journey, how she got into the industry and some of the challenges that they had to overcome along the way.
One of the great things about Susie is she has an undeniable passion for the rail sector. And after listening to her speak on this podcast, I think you'll actually start falling in love with rail as well. I know I did.
I think you're really going to love this episode and enjoy what she has to say so let's get into the show
How To Promote Within Your Business Successfully With Dawn Watt
00:24:47
Hello everybody and welcome to this week's episode of the Crushing It In Construction podcast. My name is Jordan Skinner, I am your host, and this week I'm speaking with Dawn Watt.
Dawn has a really interesting journey, she is originally from Canada and she moved to Newcastle just over 20 years ago and she is now the CEO of Coffey Testing. But she never actually intended on becoming a CEO until a friend told her that all of her attributes, all of the things that make her her would really be suited to completing an MBA.
It was during this time that she discovered her passion for people and for management. Coffey Testing has a really good track record for promoting its employees through the ranks and in this episode, Dawn shares with us how they've been able to make that so successful and what you can do within your company to help the people that you promote be as successful as possible in their new role.
I really think you're going to get some valuable information out of this episode, let's get into the show
Hello everybody and welcome back to this week's episode of Crushing It In Construction. My name's Jordan Skinner, I am your host and this week I'm speaking with the CEO of the Australian Constructors Association, John Davies.
John and I had a really cool conversation and I enjoyed our time together. We touched on a range of topics, including things like, why are we seeing so many insolvencies at the minute, we spoke about their FAIR Program which is an initiative to bring forward a national consistent approach to implementing broad industry reforms.
We also touched on why we're not seeing enough women entering the construction industry and the labor shortages in general. All in all, basically what we tried to do was solve the world's problems in a 30 minute podcast.
I hope you enjoy listening to the conversation let's get into the show.
Hello everybody and welcome back to this week's episode of the Crushing It In Construction podcast. I'm your host Jordan Skinner, and this week I am chatting to Dion Killiby from Western Project Services.
Dion has a really interesting story, he comes from a family of writers and academics and he said that he was kind of the black sheep in the family and that doing things like starting a business and running a business was just not something that you did in his family.
He did it anyway, and he actually went on to build the business to a point where it was a saleable asset, and late last year he sold the company.
In this episode, Dion shares with us his journey, how he went about selling the company and he shares with us what things businesses should be doing to try and prepare for a successful sale as well.
Fighting The Construction Industry Mental Health Crisis With Gerry Doyle
00:31:27
Hello everybody and welcome back to this week's episode of the Crushing It In Construction podcast. I'm your host Jordan Skinner, and this week I'm chatting with Gerry Doyle from Tonkin Engineering.
Now, right out of the gate, I'd just like to thank Gerry for his patience when recording this episode, because we had to actually record the entire thing twice due to some technical issues.
I'm really glad we did manage to get this episode recorded because we speak about an extremely important topic, which is mental health within the construction industry. Gerry was open and honest enough to talk about his own battles with depression and he also shared with us his views on how dealing with depression himself has actually shaped the way that he runs Tonkin as a company today.
So I think there's something for everybody to learn within this episode. Let's get into the show.
Hello everybody and welcome to this week's episode of the Crushing It In Construction podcast. I'm your host, Jordan Skinner, and this week I am chatting to Grant Hailes of Beveridge Williams.
Grant is the managing director of Beveridge Williams and he has worked at the company for pretty much his entire career. In that time, he's obviously seen all of the company's up's and downs and no doubt, he has witnessed all of the wins that the companies had along the way.
But in todays episode Grant speaks with us about why Beveridge Williams became employee owned, the benefits of it and how other companies can do it as well.
Welcome to this week's episode of Crushing It In Construction. My name's Jordan Skinner, I am your host, and this week I am chatting to Jarrad Clift from Lucid Consulting. Jarrad is the CEO of Lucid and in this episode, we talk about his journey and how he actually became the CEO.
Lucid started off as a relatively small operation based out of Adelaide, but today they have over 250 people and they are scattered all over the country. I really enjoyed this conversation, Jarrad is a really insightful and interesting bloke.
Solve Your People Shortage By Telling Your Story With Michelle Blicavs
00:30:11
Hello everybody and welcome back to this week's episode of Crushing It In Construction. My name is Jordan Skinner, I am your host, and this week I am chatting with Michelle Blicavs from the Association Of Consulting Surveyors.
Michelle is the CEO of the association and in this episode we talk about how effectively telling your company's story can really help to attract and retain more high quality talent.
This is a topic I'm very passionate about, which isn't surprising considering what my company does. But I truly love this industry and at the minute we have people leaving in droves. I believe we need to do a lot more to attract people to our companies, we need to do a lot more to retain people at our companies and the natural byproduct of being able to do this will just be an overall boost in interest in our industry.
I really enjoyed chatting with Michelle, she's a really interesting woman she shared a lot of value and wisdom in this episode, I think you're going to get a lot out of it so let's get into the show.
How To Develop A Strong Business Strategy With Shivendra Kumar
00:35:53
Hello everybody and welcome to this week's episode of the Crushing It In Construction podcast. My name is Jordan Skinner, I'm your host, and this week I'm chatting with Shivendra Kumar. Shiv is a business advisor and he specializes in helping small - medium sized construction companies maximize their growth potential.
He is also the host of the Competitive Contractor podcast.
Now because we are rapidly approaching the new financial year Shiv and I thought it'd be appropriate to dive into the topic of business strategy. We talk about why companies should develop a strong strategy, how to actually do it and what success should look like coming out the other side, if it's done well.
There's a lot of great stuff in this episode Shiv shares some really good information, so let's get into the episode.
Should You Hire A Dedicated People & Culture Person? With Phil Chapman
00:25:44
Hello everybody and welcome to this week's episode of the Crushing It In Construction podcast. My name is Jordan Skinner, I'm your host and this week I am chatting with Phil Chapman, Managing Director of CMW Geosciences.
Now, CMW is spread across Australia and New Zealand with over 200 people and I thought it would be good to chat with Phil because they've recently added a people and culture person to their staff and they're seeing some really great results.
On this episode, Phil and I talk about why they decided to hire a people and culture person, some of the things that they've been implementing and we also talk about whether hiring for this people and culture position actually makes sense for everybody or just some businesses
Showing Your Value And Increasing Fees With Scott Clements
00:27:15
Hello everybody and welcome to episode number 20 of the Crushing It In Construction podcast. My name is Jordan Skinner, I'm your host, and this week I am chatting to Scott Clements from Inertia Engineering.
In this episode, Scott and I talk about how companies can more effectively communicate their value. This is a really important topic because the companies that do a really great job of communicating their value and fully understand the value that they can bring to any given project give themselves a massive competitive advantage.
It allows them to build better relationships, build more trust and most importantly, it allows them to be positioned as a trusted advisor and in some cases affords them the luxury of commanding higher fees.
Hello everybody and welcome to this week's episode of the Crushing It In Construction podcast. My name is Jordan Skinner, I'm your host, and this week I'm chatting with Caytlyn Mead, the CEO of the Robinson Civil Group.
The Robinson Civil Group is a family business that's experienced a huge amount of growth over the last few years, and now they have roughly 80 full-time staff and 200 pieces of plant. Throughout all of that growth, the company has placed a massive priority on training and developing their staff and as a result in 2021, they were named Medium Employer of the year.
In this episode, Caitlin and I talk about the company's commitment to training and how that has helped them stand out in a extremely competitive labor market and get them seen as an employer of choice.
I'm really excited to have Caytlyn on the podcast. She's very open and honest with how they're going about their training and shares a lot of great information in this episode.
Eliminating Distractions And Getting Focused On Growth With Matt Glascott
00:31:39
Hello everybody and welcome to this week's episode of the Crushing It In Construction podcast. My name's Jordan Skinner, I'm your host and this week I'm chatting with Matthew Glascott from Glasscott Landscape and Civil.
Matt has an extremely interesting story because while he was building a hugely successful landscaping company he was also venturing out into other businesses like development, labor hire, and even e-commerce.
But even though he really enjoyed these other ventures and learnt a lot, ultimately, they were just distractions from the work that he was most passionate about, which was landscape construction.
Once he was aware that these other things were just distractions he focused his attention back on the landscaping industry and has since grown Glascott Civil to over 200 people across multiple locations.
In this episode, Matt and I talk about how he actually started the company, some of the hurdles that he faced along the way and why he actually got distracted by all of these other business ventures only to return to the landscaping industry and really just settle in and focus in on that.
Creating Mental Health Action Plans With Adrian Panozzo
00:33:34
Hello everybody and welcome to this week's episode of the Crushing It In Construction podcast. My name's Jordan Skinner, I'm your host, and this week I'm chatting with Adrian Panozzo from the Civil Contractors Federation in Victoria.
Now, all of us understand that mental health within the construction industry is a massive issue. You can't walk down the street in the world of construction without hearing somebody parrot broad phrases like we need to fight mental health within construction.
And while nobody would disagree with these statements, the annoying part is that nobody actually tells us HOW we can fight mental illness within construction. And this is why I wanted to get Adrian on the show because Adrian and his team at CCF Victoria are not only saying that we need to help fight mental health, but they are the only people that I've spoken to that are actually offering up a solution.
In this episode Adrian explains what a mental health action plan is and how it can be implemented within businesses.
Hello everybody and welcome to episode 24 of the Crushing It In Construction podcast. My name is Jordan Skinner, I'm your host, and this week I'm chatting with Simon Gorman from Reeves Envico.
And in this episode we're talking about taking on international work, something Simon and his team pretty much did straight out of the gate when they started the company. Now, in my head, I mean, taking on international projects sounds like a mammoth task. Running a business is hard enough, let alone throwing into the mix things like different languages, different times zones and different currencies.
So I wanted to get Simon on the show to firstly talk about his experiences with building the company, but he also shares his insights into where most companies go wrong when expanding internationally.
Simon's a really interesting guy, I really enjoyed having this chat with him.
Hello everybody and welcome to this week's episode of the Crushing It In Construction podcast, my name's Jordan Skinner, I'm your host. And this week I'm chatting with Lisa Kinross, CEO of the Civil Contractors Federation in Victoria.
In this episode, Lisa and I talk about all sorts of different stuff, including how companies can better transfer knowledge between generations within their companies. I think this is a really important issue because a large portion of our workforce is made up of people that are rapidly approaching retirement age.
And when they do eventually retire, they're taking huge amounts of knowledge and experience with them. So, companies figuring out a way to transfer this knowledge from their older generation, the people that are leaving the industry to younger people in their companies is a really important issue to find a solution for financially.
I really enjoyed having this conversation with Lisa let's get into the show
Turning A Good Business Into A Sustainable Business With Peter Wilkinson
00:40:48
Hello everybody and welcome to this week's episode of the Crushing It In Construction podcast, I'm Jordan Skinner, I'm your host, and this week I'm chatting with Peter Wilkinson from SamWilko Advisory. Peter's been in and around the construction game for over 30 years and today he helps business leaders and senior managers by building business capability In bid management and project development.
Now I wanted to have Peter on the show today because, he has a new book coming out and it's launching in September. It's called The Steel Ceiling, Achieving Sustainable Growth in Engineering and Construction.
And in this book, he tackles all sorts of different issues like culture, organizational structures, leadership and something that he calls the four pillars that are key to a thriving and sustainable business. In this episode we talk about these things in more depth.
There's a lot of valuable information in this podcast so let's get into the show!
Hello everybody, and welcome to this week's episode of the Crushing It In Construction podcast. My name is Jordan Skinner, I am your host, and this week I'm chatting with John Fusco from Fusco Constructions in South Australia.
Fusco Constructions has been around for a very long time and they are a well-respected family-run company here in South Australia.
And in this episode, I talk with John about how they are very selective with the tendering that they do and why turning clients away can be a really good thing for businesses.
Aiming For Greater Sustainability In Construction With Jason Zafiriadis
00:33:30
Hello everybody and welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction podcast. My name is Jordan Skinner, I am your host, and this week I'm chatting with Jason Zafiriadis, the Chief Commercial Officer of Earth Friendly Concrete.
And in this episode, Jason and I dive into sustainability within construction and how companies can help reduce the carbon footprint of our industry. We also talk about Earth Friendly Concrete, which is a product that has been developed by the Wagner Group in Queensland and how that is also helping contribute to reducing the carbon footprint and sustainability as a whole.
Jason's really knowledgeable on the sustainability subject and I wanted to try and learn as much as I can personally about it because it's an area that I really don't know a lot about.
From Sole Trader to Over 50 People With Mark Yates
00:28:33
Hello everybody and welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction podcast. My name is Jordan Skinner, I am your host, and this week I'm chatting with Mark Yates, who is the Managing Director of Y.E.S Group, here in South Australia, they are a company based in Renmark.
In this episode, we basically just cover off on how Mark built the company from first being a sole trader to eventually becoming a company and hiring his first people and the first projects that he did. So it's a really interesting podcast episode I always enjoy hearing about how people have built things!
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction podcast, my name is Jordan Skinner, I am your host Jordan Skinner and this week I am chatting with Ed Ross from TradeMutt.
Hello everybody, Jordan Skinner here with another episode of the Crushing It In Construction podcast, a podcast dedicated to the construction industry, where I interview amazing guests from within the industry who all share their experience, their wisdom and their insights to help you, the listener grow in either your career or to help you grow a business.
No matter where you are in the industry or what you're doing, there is always something valuable to learn from our guests and their stories.
Today I'm chatting with Robin Hastings of Pitch This, a firm that specializes in helping companies win more tenders.
Robin and I talk about why companies should have a very clear profile on the jobs that they will, and won't tender. We talk about how to actually go about building relationships so that when tenders do come out, you're sitting in the box seat and we also talk about lots of other great tips and advice as well so lets get into the show!
From $10 Million to $250 Million Using JV Partnerships With Michael Hyde
00:39:45
Hello everybody, Jordan Skinner here with another episode of Crushing It In Construction. This week I'm having a chat with Michael Hyde from Ballestrin Constructions. Michael's story is a little bit different than most people that I have on the show who are business owners that have started a business for themselves and have grown it to a certain point.
Michael doesn't own his own business, but he's the General Manager of Ballestrin and he has been in senior management positions, helping run large construction companies, for the best part of 20 years. So he has a lot of experience.
Building A Construction Tech Startup From Scratch With Ben Mullaney
00:36:39
Hello everybody and welcome back to this week's episode of the Crushing It In Construction podcast. My name's Jordan Skinner, I am your host and this week I'm chatting with Ben Mullaney of InQuick Bridging Systems.
Ben is the CEO of the company, and he has a really interesting story. He doesn't come from a construction background, although his father did work in the construction industry, but he grew up wanting to be an academic. He wanted to work in universities and spend his life on campus.
But it didn't work out that way and he found himself coming into the construction industry, helping his father and brothers build a company from the ground up. And they are crushing it at the minute, the company's gone from strength to strength. They're expanding internationally and doing really, really well, and during this podcast, he's shares some of the ups and downs that they've had while building the company to where it is today.
Retaining Employees Through Having A Strong Work-Life Balance With Nick Somes
00:30:20
Hello everybody and welcome to this week's episode of the Crushing It In Construction podcast. My name is Jordan Skinner, I'm your host, and this week I am chatting with Nick Somes from Eco Dynamics.
Nick has a really interesting story, he didn't start out in the landscaping and horticulture space, he actually started in civil construction and then made his way into the landscaping space and he has been with Eco Dynamics for over 18 years.
In that time he's played a pivotal role in building the company into what it is today.
Hello everybody and welcome to this week's episode of the Crushing It In Construction podcast. My name is Jordan Skinner, I am your host and you are listening to Australia's number one construction podcast, where I interview amazing guests from within the industry that share their experience, their wisdom and their insights that will help you, the listener, grow within your career or grow within your business.
So no matter where you are in the industry, there is always something valuable to learn from our guests and their stories.
This week I'm chatting to Alex Crosby from Multiworks Civil. Now, Alex didn't always intend on coming into the construction industry, he actually went to Uni and he intended on going into finance, but the allure of the construction industry sucked him back in and after completing Uni he came into the business and is now one of the managing directors and him and his partners have grown the company into really reputable brand, doing some really great work for some really great clients.
How To Scale The Business Whilst Retaining Core Values With Patrick O'Sullivan
00:27:26
Welcome back to another episode of the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Today I chat to Patrick O'Sullivan, who shares his experiences as founder and managing director of Prestige Civil Group.
Based in Victoria, Patrick has a really cool background story. His journey in construction started the day after being kicked out of school, working for a few different companies before deciding at the age of 21 to make a crack of it himself and now overseeing a roster of over 120 people.
He reflects on the steady rise of the company - from early beginnings with a handful of employees from the football club, getting the hires right, setting the sights on ambition and embodying the core values, every step of the way.
Welcome to another episode of the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
I'm delighted to be joined this week by none other than Jason Ramsay, founder and managing director of Ramsay Civil.
Jason's background saw him go straight into construction after leaving school and working in some of Victoria's most prominent civil projects over a span of 20 years.
In 2015, he took the plunge and set up his own business - spurred by a motivation to work for himself, create a more flexible schedule to spend time with his family and not spend his life wondering what might have been!
Our conversation unpacks anecdotes and valuable lessons from his experience, to help you at any stage of your journey.
#038 Building A Smarter And Sharper Company With Tom Brady
00:31:08
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
My guest today is Tom Brady - not the quarterback, but the founder and managing director of Brefni.
Since coming over to Australia from Ireland nearly 30 years ago, Tom has channelled his experience as a quantity surveyor into building a company from the ground up, now heading up major civil projects across New South Wales.
He reflects on his experience since picking up his first backhoe - sharing insights from challenging periods, lean construction methodology and hiring for new positions to help the business grow.
#039 From 2 people to 60 People in 4 years With David Vella
00:31:40
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
My guest today is David Vella from Baseline Projects.
Baseline was founded in 2018 and since then has undergone some serious growth. In the early days it was just David and Aaron, his business partner, running the company above a mower shop, but today they have grown to roughly 60 people with offices in Sydney and Brisbane.
In this episode David reflects on how he actually got involved in construction, some of the challenges they had getting the company established and the guiding principals he believes has been the key to their growth so far.
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
My guest today is Russell Bourke from Multipro Civil.
Multipro was founded in 2004 and In this episode Russell reflects on how he actually got involved in construction, some of the challenges they had getting the company established and the guiding principals he believes has been the key to their growth so far.
#41 Forging And Maintaining A Successful Partnership With Evan Graham
00:24:34
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Today, I'm joined by Evan Graham - CEO of plumbing and drainage contractors Limcora.
With their head office based in Northwestern Sydney and another base in Tasmania, Limcora operate with a team of nearly 60 staff.
Evan shares the family-rooted beginnings of the Limcora story, and the factors that led him to taking over the company when he was just 20 years old. Citing mentorship from other company heads and a marketing push to grow their name, Evan eventually proposed a partnership with plumbing expert Alex Nelson - and it's been continued success ever since.
#43 Growing An Employee-Centric Company With Ben Collingwood
00:25:47
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Today, I'm joined by Ben Collingwood - co-founder and managing director of FSG Geotechnics - to learn about his journey into the industry and how FSG has grown from a few key players into a team of 80 spread over offices in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
Sharing details from 'humble beginnings' working day and night to get the business running, he reveals his tips for building a business that attracts and retains talent through innovative projects, team-orientated culture and an employee-owned business model.
Join us for tips and advice on trusting your instinct and placing emphasis on developing and retaining your talented engineers.
#44 Rebranding The Business For The Future Michael Still
00:31:23
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
My guest today is Michael Still from REGROUP, a full-service civil equipment hire and labour resourcing company working on projects across Australia.
In our chat, Michael shares details from his first ventures into the construction world as a business coach aged just 23 - to his current position as Managing Director with a rapidly expanding company.
Having recently rebranded to REGROUP from AK Evans, he takes us through the motivations behind investing so heavily in the overhaul, some advice for companies thinking about doing the same and why he thinks the construction industry should keep building camaraderie and mutual respect.
#45 Revolutionising The Onboarding Process With Arthur Psaltis
00:26:00
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
This week I'm joined by Arthur Psaltis, CEO of civil and structural engineering consultancy Pritchard Francis.
Since reading architectural journals at just five years old, it seems Arthur has always been destined for a career in construction - building on formative years as a graduate with Pritchard Francis, leaving to gain experience as a consultant and then returning to a directorial position and working his way to CEO.
With the company expanding fifteenfold since he took charge, Arthur has mastered the art of management and instilled values in his team that have led to incredible success.
He shares his journey, the ins and outs of an employee-owned ethos and why he puts so much emphasis on welcoming new employees.
#46 Planning For Safety And Mitigating Risks With Mell Greenall
00:29:02
Welcome back to The Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
My guest today is Mell Greenall, CEO of Before You Dig Australia (BYDA).
Since rebranding from Dial Before You Dig, BYDA have upgraded their behind-the-scenes systems to ensure that providing free safety plans for construction teams across Australia has never been simpler.
Mell talks through just how easy it is to secure plans that prevent accidents and costly repair bills, sharing statistics that demonstrate just how close catastrophe can be.
"Safety doesn't live in a drawer, it lives onsite!"
#47 Enacting Positive Change In The Industry With Craig Laslett
00:26:34
Welcome back to The Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
I'm delighted to be joined today by Craig Laslett, Managing Director of Leed Engineering.
Craig has led a distinguished career, working for some of the largest construction companies in Australia and representing the industry at the highest levels.
He shares reflections on the attributes that helped him progress as a graduate engineer and grow as a leader - as he strives to assist in enacting changes in workplace culture and a healthier work-life balance.
#48 The Importance Of Building Relationships With Colin Ritson
00:21:50
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
I'm delighted to be joined today by the inimitable Colin Ritson from CPH Mining and Civil.
Colin potentially has the most unique story of how he wound up in construction, taking in a career that has spanned house-building, a fifteen year stint as a nurse and then landing back in the industry.
He shares his brilliant journey, which teaches the value of building good relationships, asking questions, seeking advice and growing a business from strength to strength.
#49 Moving The Business Beyond An Organic Growth Strategy With Ben Lloyd
00:23:24
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Joining me today is Ben Lloyd, Director of Trinity Quality Interiors.
Ben shares an interesting career journey that saw him studying HR and marketing at uni, taking a 'sabbatical in the snow' and then deciding to jump into his dad's business, build up his experience and eventually take the reins.
Now three years into this role, he shares insights on how he and the company handled the change, developed the business and instilled his core skills to develop client relationships and invest for growth.
#50 Pushing For Change In The Landscape Industry With Tim Buckle
00:27:18
Welcome back to The Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
We are delighted today to welcome Tim Buckle onto the show for a landmark 50th episode!
The managing director of industry leaders Landscape Solutions, Tim has grown the business from a" ute and a shovel" into an international company with over 700 staff on the books.
In our chat, Tim takes us through some of the stages the company went through, lessons learned, some thoughts on attracting more talent, and ensuring contractors in the landscape industry are duly rewarded for their skillset.
#51 How To Implement Tech The Right Way - Saving Time AND Money! With Robert Hudman
00:29:32
Welcome back to The Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
This week's expert: Robert Hudman from Knight Solutions.
He joins to share his knowledge on implementing technology into construction companies the smart way - benefitting both your team and your business' capabilities.
Our industry may be relatively behind when it comes to adopting technology, but change management is key.
Join us to learn Robert's best practice strategies and tips for optimising your tech stack, hiring a CTO and making sure you get the most value for your money.
#52 Why You Should Join The Building Surveying Industry With Heath McNab
00:29:40
Welcome back to The Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
This week I'm thrilled to welcome Heath McNab from MBC Group onto the show.
Founder and Managing Director of the esteemed building surveyors from New South Wales, Heath brings a ton of knowledge to the conversation to help and inspire young talent to join the industry.
He shares details from the scholarship he set up for Construction Management students at the University of Newcastle, reveals how early-career encounters with Richard Branson shaped his approach to business and takes us through the range of benefits available to those who pursue the surveying route.
#53 How, And Why, To Rethink Your Target Market With Nathan Phillips
00:30:01
Welcome back to The Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Joining me for a chat this week is Nathan Phillips, Founder and Managing Director at Landscape Elements.
Nathan really is a stand-up guy, bringing interesting insights, humour and passion to our chat - touching on his journey from a background in graphic design, starting up the business with a 'beaten up ute, a wheelbarrow and a dog' and navigating his way through the world of landscaping.
Above all, Nathan tells us that we've got to do a job we love, find people you love to work with and deliver projects that you can be proud of, even if you find yourself deciding to cut out a chunk of your target market.
#54 The Definitive Guide To Construction Contracts With Cian Brennan
00:30:53
Welcome back to The Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Tuning in for a chat this week is Cian Brennan, who comes armed with knowledge designed to help you get the best from your contracts.
The Managing Director of Quantum Contract Solutions, Cian knows his work inside out and is committed to sharing his tips and tricks with construction companies big and small.
In the discussion, he reveals the importance of negotiating your contracts and why to think about creating a set of commercial principles, so you can stay true to what matters to you and your team.
This is a really useful episode - so let's get started!
#55 What Went Down At CON/AGG 2023 With Bryan Furnace
00:27:43
Welcome back to The Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Joining me for a special episode this week to catch up on everything we missed at CON/AGG 2023 is dirt contractor and fellow construction industry content creator Bryan Furnace.
Bryan's podcast Sweat & Grime reveal everything you need to know about construction in the USA, so who better to take us through his highlights, observations and reflections on the biggest construction event of the year!
He covers notable industry trends including automation and green machinery, gives us the scoop on why CASE went all out this year and generally gives us a sense of just how enormous and extravagant this year's event truly was.
#56 Setting The Sights On Multi-Billion Dollar Projects With Treaven Martinus
00:30:54
Welcome back to The Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
In the hotseat this week is Treaven Martinus, CEO and founder of rail construction multinational Martinus Rail.
Now based in Australia, New Zealand, America and Chile, Treaven reveals just how far they've come since starting the company off with just him and his wife.
Citing the importance of the BHAG (tune in to find out...) as a key driver for setting their sights on success, revealing how the company was nearly called ARSE (phew) and sharing insights into the rail construction industry, Treaven brings the scoop on how they've grown from $300,000 projects to multi-billion dollar and beyond.
#57 Growing The Business? Think INSIDE The Box. With Daniel Debattista
00:29:57
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Today I'm delighted to welcome Daniel Debattista onto the show, Managing Director of WA-based outfit PARC Engineering.
This week's episode is all about perseverance: how to think creatively when growing as a small business, building the client base and establishing relationships.
With PARC growing from 2 to 300 people since their formation in 2018, Daniel really knows his stuff - whether it's building the website from his kitchen table, outgrowing the aircraft hangar office space or throwing life savings at a footybox with Freo Dockers... it's all in the name of business development.
#58 To The Brink Of Burnout And Back Again With Dan Briskey
00:28:30
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Today's episode is something different: an honest and candid look at experiencing and then counter-acting burnout from Dan Briskey.
CEO and owner of NRG Services in Toowoomba, Dan shares how a gruelling routine and huge growth in the business led him to feel like he was drowning - sleepless nights, distance from his family life and an uncertainty for what to do next.
That's until he decided to change, drawing on the advice of his mentor to implement a healthier work-life balance, relinquish more control of the decision-making and implement lifestyle changes... all of which contributed to the continuing expansion of NRG.
Tune in to see how you too can come back from the brink and implement some of the amazing philosophies and initiatives Dan has put in place.
#59 How To Operate Your Business From Anywhere In The World With Chris Finn
00:32:12
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Is a lifestyle business possible in the construction industry?
Definitely, according to Chris Finn from PSS Group, who comes on to share his tips for turning your construction business into a remote-working machine.
Chris learned it the hard way, with some tough experiences of outdated systems spurring him on to getting the right software, procedures and attitudes in place to allow him to work from anywhere in the world - with zero impact on the success of the business.
So if you're looking for more freedom, look no further than the methods and insights laid out in our discussion today.
#60 Why Your Company Should Go Paperless With Chris van Enk From Cloudcon Solutions
00:44:14
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
We're back after a brief rest to bring you a bumper episode, packed to the brim with insights that will help your company thrive in the digital age.
The expert: Chris van Enk from Cloudcon Solutions.
Chris outlines his career in the industry, reflecting on the obstacles and frustrations that led him to developing software that is custom-built to help companies go paperless, synchronise their systems and embrace modern efficiency.
Providing a full outline of the software and the different ways it can help your company fulfil its potential, he also shares practical insights for getting the team onboard with change and avoiding common traps of implementing new software.
Chris has also shared a FREE resource for our listeners: an online calculator that will help you discover how much you could save by making the shift from paper to digital.
#61 Could An Advisory Board Take Your Business To The Next Level? With Dan Eifermann
00:29:30
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
This week's episode gives a unique insight into the potential of advisory boards - courtesy of Dan Eifermann of Eifers Civil.
Based out of Victoria, Eifers have grown from Dan mowing lawns fresh out of uni to a family-owned team of concrete specialists - the experts in handling time-critical civil construction works.
Dan shares the story of the business' growth, revealing the way that Eifers have made use of advisory boards to fast-track their progression - hand-picking some of Australia's finest strategic talent to give the company fresh perspective.
Tune in to learn about how to get started, who to look for and what this could for your bottom line.
Want to learn more about taking your business digital and getting away from the inefficiencies of paper? Visit www.cloudcon.com.au to learn more.
31 Jul 2023
#62 In The Red? Focus On Culture To Get Back In The Black. With Kelvin Andrijich
00:31:19
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
It's time to strap in for a fresh run of new episodes - kicking off with none other than Kelvin Andrijich, Managing Director at Alltype Engineering.
Drawn to the industry fresh out of uni, Kelvin had an early stint with Alltype before building up his experience elsewhere and then making the return, tasked with getting the struggling company out of the red.
Where did he start? By putting a focus on improving the culture.
And this is something that he values as a key factor in the turnaround of the business: implementing core values, upholding them, fostering a happy and inspiring workplace, and retaining talent.
So let's dive in, and find out his tried and tested strategies for getting out of the red and into the black!
#63 Facing The Labour Shortage Head-On With Tim Mead
00:27:01
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Joining this week from Adelaide is Tim Mead, General Manager for LCS Landscapes.
Tim's career began in the oil and gas industry, building up his experience in logistics and management before making the switch into construction.
He shares how LCS has grown into a multi-armed operation, and reveals the steps you need to take if you're looking to make the move into management: self-development, mentorship and tactical job-hunting.
Touching on the challenges posed by the labour shortage and what could be done to combat it, today's conversation is a dive into what's going on at LCS!
#64 How To Turn A Niche Market Into A Sustainable Cashflow With Chris Hazell
00:29:48
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Tuning in from Tasmania this week is industry veteran Chris Hazell, General Manager of Business Development at Spectran Group.
With over 45 years experience in the construction and transport industry, Chris knows a thing or two about what it takes to succeed - with Spectran now employing over 200 staff to manage an ever-growing customer base.
Specialists in demolition, recycling and material reprocessing, he reveals the importance of their environmentally-friendly ethos - providing solutions for local businesses to help them stay green.
In his own words, it's a niche market - but Spectran are growing from strength to strength and it's doing only good things for their local community and their bottom line.
#65 Starting Out In Business Young And Growing A Huge Following With Jimmy Starbuck
00:31:19
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
This week I'm delighted to joined by the inimitable Jimmy Starbuck - Founder and Director of Starbuck Excavation in Melbourne, Victoria.
Jimmy has been around earthmoving for all his life - at the ripe age of 19 he went out and bought a 2.7ton excavator, throwing himself headfirst into the world of seeking customers, pricing jobs and growing the company name.
In our chat, he shares the tricks and tactics he used to stand out from the crowd, gaining the respect he needed to handle the big jobs and be respected as a young head in the game.
These days, Jimmy also runs a massive business Instagram account (clocking in at 47.1k followers) where he shares everything going on day-to-day in the life of one of Australia's busiest earthmovers.
This episode is packed to the brim and Jimmy's a real standup guy. Let's dive in!
#66 Construction Is A Tough Industry. Let's Embrace It! With Andrew Headberry
00:31:20
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
We're delighted to jump back in this week with none other than Andrew Headberry, Managing Director of Harris HMC.
Celebrating over seventeen years at the business, Andrew has seen the Melbourne-based outfit grow exponentially - adding multiple complementary services over the years to become a $250m operation.
Andrew is passionate about upholding the company values and passionate about training the next generation, underlining the importance of resilience, encountering challenges and growing your experience day-in day-out.
As Andrew says, it's a tough industry - but let's embrace it!
#67 Buy Then Build? Why You Should Buy Into An Established Business With Damian Duke
00:33:47
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
We return back to the stories, tips and tricks from Australia's best in the game by turning the spotlight on Damian Duke, Managing Director at BRL Contracting in Victoria.
Damian was always destined for a career in construction, having helped his old man to build cabinets for a bit of pocket money on weekends from a super young age - instilling an enviable entrepreneurial spirit and business know-how.
Having started at BRL as an apprentice, Damian grew through management positions and is now a partner, so this is a serious success story that underlines why uni is NOT the only way to go (and shouldn't be sold as such!)
Tune in for an insightful dive into apprenticeships, mentors and having a stake in a business.
#68 Going From A Salary To Betting Big On A Start-Up With Jason Priest
00:31:25
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
In the hotseat today is Jason Priest, co-founder of WIRED Overhead Solutions.
WIRED are doing really well for themselves - and Jason is here to explain exactly how they've gone from fledgling start-up to landing contracts on some of Queensland's biggest ever rail projects.
The trick for their success? Writing a business case before they even got started, that laid out a roadmap for what to do when they hit the good, bad and the ugly.
Sharing lessons from his time as a young adult in the Navy and making the leap from comfy corporate lifestyle to building a business - Jason gives the rundown on getting funded, insured, landing Tier One contracts and reaping the rewards of hard work.
#69 Master The Art Of Managing Your Cashflow With Chris Bloxsom
00:29:57
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Tuning in this week from central Queensland is Principal/Director of Butler Partners, Chris Bloxsom.
An industry veteran, Chris has mastered his trade and acutely refined his approach to business - learning lessons from flawed corporate policy and underlining the unwavering importance of managing your cashflow.
In our chat, Chris takes us through his story, the foundations of Butler Partners, and numerous philosophies and approaches for keeping your company in the black.
As he says, 'Your overheads don't go to sleep, but your revenue can if you're not watching!'
#70 Feeling Stuck? EOS Could Help Take Your Business To The Next Level. With Mike Paton
00:48:35
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
It's a milestone moment, as we hit episode 70 in our series. And what better way to mark the occasion, than welcoming this week's guest Mike Paton from EOS Worldwide?
EOS has cropped up a couple times in conversations with previous guests, and it was time to get to the bottom of what it's all about - quite simply, it's a system to help businesses run moreefficiently and scale.
Pretty neat stuff then. But how does it work? Primarily through pinpointing your core focus, mastering guarantees and nailing your "uniques".
In our chat, Mike takes us through a masterclass in EOS to reveal exactly how the modern construction business can benefit from their strategy.
This is a bumper episode - the perfect opportunity to find out what it's all about.
#71 Knowledge Transfer, AI and Revitalising A Business. A Masterclass With Marc Kenney
00:31:06
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Joining today is Managing Director of Mettle, Marc Kenney.
With bases in Queensland and New South Wales, Mettle have become a construction powerhouse - ever since Marc took the reins and revitalised their approach.
In the episode, he recounts some lessons from his prior experience as General Manager of Built, and reflects on Mettle's journey from misfiring infrastructure to $170m annual turnover.
Most importantly, we touch on an important topic for Marc: knowledge transfer. How can we ensure that old heads in the game are passing on their experience to the younger generation?
It's a real "must" for our industry - and this episode delves deeper to find out what can be done.
#72 SaaS, Warehouse Parties & A Side Hustle That Got Serious... With Jack Martin
00:36:46
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
And a warm welcome to this week's guest Jack Martin, CEO and co-founder of Brisbane landscapers Martin Brothers.
Jack is brilliant in this episode. He shares a whole bunch of stories from his entrepreneurial career: selling cans out of his school locker, running warehouse parties and tinkering with SaaS businesses, before he joined forces with his brother to mow as many lawns as they could - and it's going pretty well for them!
Martin Brothers are diversifying and expanding shrewdly - ensuring they offer the most attractive services AND have control on how it's delivered.
One of the keys to success? Dusting himself off after a hard shift on site and turning up to meetings to project their humble operation as far bigger than it actually was.
This one's all about getting out there and making it happen.
#73 A 3-Step Method To Attract Your Ideal Employees & Slash Recruitment Costs With Jordan Skinner
00:40:43
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
We have a bit of a different episode for you this week. Everyone in the construction industry is struggling to attract and retain talent. And as an industry we;
Are attracting less than ⅓ of the job applications compared to 10 years ago
Have an aging workforce that is rapidly moving towards retirement
And our industry is failing to attract enough younger talent
So in today's episode, we wanted to give people an actionable method they can implement to attract better people to their business and ultimately thrive.
#74 Staying One Step Ahead In An Ever-Changing Industry... With Peter Rahilly
00:32:09
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Joining for one of the last episodes of 2023 is Peter Rahilly, Owner and Director of 2Construct in Melbourne.
With heaps of experience delivering high quality projects, Peter has picked up a thing or two about running a business, managing money and navigating an ever-changing industry.
Today's episode lays it all out on the table:
How did 2Construct get started?
Why are builders and contractors bankrolling jobs instead of developers?
How have contracts and payment terms changed over the years?
Join us for an insight-packed dive into Peter's outlook on our industry.
#75 How To Get The Law Of Social Proof On Your Side With Jason De Vos
00:35:05
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Kicking off 2024 in style, with episode 75, is a chat with none other than Jason De Vos from JDV Projects in Sydney.
Since founding the company 25 years ago, Jason has grown JDV from a one-man band into a fully-formed team of construction, fitout and refurb specialists.
And it's quite clear from this conversation just how big an emphasis he's placed on instilling and upholding good values in himself, his staff and the relationships he builds with clients.
Empathy, hard work, collaboration, respect, accountability... time to get the notepads out!
#76 THIS Is What It Takes To Build A Successful Company... With Colm Phibbs
00:35:46
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
This week, we've got a special chat with the inimitable Colm Phibbs, Managing Director of CONO Services in Sydney.
What makes it special? Well, Colm really tells it how it is - sparing no detail as he recounts the rise of CONO from a risk-taking one-man operation biting off more than he could chew, into a well-structured, successful and reputable company.
There's loads to learn from his approach, with tips for starting out with the right attitude, getting professionals in to scour your contracts, learning to say no, and refining your meaning of success.
This is a candid, laidback chat with one of the best in the game.
#77 Hit The Ground Running! Co-Founding A Business To Semi-Retirement In Nine Years With Guy Schweitzer
00:35:35
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
In the hot seat this week is Guy Schweitzer, one of the founding directors of MGN Civil in New South Wales.
Now a national company taking on projects from east to west, MGN have grown rapidly since forming in 2015 - as Guy reveals, it really has been an unstoppable journey.
He shares how some old-fashioned interpersonal skills landed them an early client who sorted them out with all the necessary accreditation, and how this pivotal job set them on their upward journey.
Plenty to gain from this chat, as Guy reflects on a whirlwind few years and enjoys the perks of semi-retirement now that the infrastructure is in place.
He even managed to run across the width of Australia... it took him 78 days!
#78 Building Bridges, Dedicated Team Players AND The Business With Con O'Connor
00:30:26
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Joining from across the pond is Oregon-based bridge builder Con O'Connor, President of Hamilton Construction.
With Hamilton diversifying over the last few years to offer more services and reach a wider target market, Con takes a step back to reflect on the successes, important lessons and business wisdom gained from his time in charge.
And he's no stranger to the company, having started as a Project Manager back in 1998.
He recounts his path to construction, veering away from life as a sheep farmer, going to uni, and trying to land a job with Hamilton before he was even qualified!
Con knows his business inside out and puts so much trust in his team - join us for an insight-packed discussion.
#79 Save On Your Wagebill - Hire Overseas Talent! With Will Wang
00:30:54
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
It's time for a different kind of episode today, as we dive into something that every construction company could benefit from: hiringoverseastalent.
Our expert? Founder and CEO of reputable marketing and lead generation agency GrowthLabz, Will Wang.
As Will shares, he has hired over fifty employees from the Philippines over the years, and so he knows exactly what it takes to ensure success, support a happy workforce and save on the company wagebill.
He gives the lowdown on everything you need to know: where to hire, how to advertise, how much you could save, and how to maintain a team spirit when half the team are a couple thousand miles away.
Strap in and see what this could do for your business!
#80 Making The Leap From Employee To Shareholder With Darren Broderick
00:32:44
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
We're now up to Episode 80! Who better to join for a conversation about the impressive rise of Silverstrand Developments than Managing Director Darren Broderick.
Based in Queensland, but operating all over Australia and New Zealand, Darren joined Silverstrand in 2012 - taking the leap from Project Manager to Estimator, before coming onboard as a shareholder in 2015.
He reflects on this journey, sharing his insights from the business growth story, the value of intellectual property for construction companies, and how things change in business once you've got some skin in the game.
#81 Relocating To Australia And Becoming A CEO With Gary McLaughlin
00:33:11
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Back again with fresh momentum and more guest interviews in the pipeline, we kick things off again by chatting with Gary McLaughlin of Railtrain Holdings Group.
Originally from Scotland, Gary made the move to Perth fourteen years ago to work for a huge Tier 1 operator and run big budget, multi-year projects - before electing to join Railtrain as CEO.
He talks us through his reasons for making the switch, and reflects on the invaluable boardroom and strategy experience he's picked up in his time.
Join us, to learn about Railtrain's work as an RTO, the numerous ways to incentivise retention, and the challenges of uprooting and relocating to the other side of the world.
#82 Calling All Employers! It's Time For A Recruitment Masterclass With Martin Preece
00:36:34
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Joining this week is Martin Preece from Building Environs Recruitment in Melbourne.
Now, recruiters often get a bad rep. But Martin is one of the good ones, and he's here to share everything you need to know to maximise the business-recruiter relationship and scope out the best talent in the industry.
This is a masterclass for employers out there - it's time to elevate your online presence, work in lockstep with recruiters, be honest about the company's shortfalls, and emphasise the benefits, so you can convert passive candidates to people knocking your door down for a job!
#83 Winning A Telstra Business Award And Reaping The Rewards With Sally-ann Eather
00:34:49
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
We're joined this week by Sally-ann Eather, Executive Manager of Eather Group in New South Wales.
Eather Group have been popping up everywhere recently, not least because they recently won the prestigious Telstra Best of Business National Award, in the Indigenous Excellence category.
Sally-ann joins today to talk us through the company's formation, before going on to share with us just what the award has done for the business, and why other businesses should use awards as a marketing tool.
Eather are a hard-working, honest and genuine team, now employing 40 individuals with an authentic ethos at their core. Join us to learn from a 21st century business making the right moves!
#84 From Commercial Pilot To Construction CEO With Stephen Hill
00:38:01
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
After being recommended to get him on as a guest 12 months ago, the timings have aligned, and we welcome Stephen Hill into the CIIC hot-seat.
Now CEO of BildGroup, Stephen's early plans to become a commercial pilot led him into a side-hustle in construction, before re-aligning his sights, getting an engineering degree and working his way up the ranks.
With BildGroup boasting twelve distinct operating departments, Stephen has a lot on his plate, but brings a standout attitude rooted in teamwork, trust, and leaving ego at the door.
In our chat, he shares insights from their post-Covid business restructuring, the cost reimbursement model, and why you should NEVER win at all costs - make sure you do right for your clients, and you'll do right for your team.
#85 Running A Construction Business Like A Race Team With Marty Craggill
00:34:32
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
And welcome to a fascinating approach for running a top construction business, brought to us by Maz Group Managing Director Marty Craggill.
As a two-time Australian Superbike Champion, Marty learned a ton in his racing days that he believes has channelled directly into the way he runs his business.
Whether it's the standard of safety, the ability to communicate clearly, keeping calm under pressure, working in a close-knit team, making big decisions in real-time... Marty is using it all day-in, day-out, as Maz Group grow from strength to strength.
But what does Michael Jordan have to do with the story? Michael Schumacher? Turn 3 at The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit? Join us to find out.
#86 Want To Level Up Your Brand? Make Some Videos! With James Davies
00:30:52
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
This week's masterclass: video.
Too many construction companies are either ignoring it altogether, or churning out cookie-cutter landfill that doesn't show off their business, or do anything for their company culture.
So that's why we've recruited James Davies, Marketing Manager of Martin Brothers - the Brisbane landscapers who have already featured on the show back in episode #72.
Their content is second-to-none, and does an amazing job of showcasing their projects and showcasing their brand - balancing humour with professionalism to prove their individuality in the marketplace.
James takes us through the content creation cycle, sharing his tips for getting employees to feel comfortable in front of the camera, coming up with unique ideas, and keeping viewers engaged.
#87 Growth Mindset, FITFO Mentality and A Rock N Roll Lifestyle With Yohn Baldwin
00:35:54
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Tuning in this week from across the pond is Oregon native, and founder of the ever-growing Baldwin General Contracting, Yohn Baldwin.
Yohn shares his story, from childhood life lessons growing up on a farm, to becoming a high-flying touring musician, to packing it in and utilising his range of hands-on skills to grow from solo operation to 100 employees and counting.
Ever wonder about the parallels between music and construction? Want to learn from a veteran of the FITFO mentality? This is the episode for you.
#88 Want To Expand Your Business? Start By Finding Your Niche. With Doug Winston
00:33:41
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
We're back! And we're kicking things off again by chatting to New York State's finest electrician-entrepreneur, skilled trades advocate, professional race driver and LinkedIn commenter, Doug Winston.
Doug chose his path at 18 years old, rejecting uni to follow in the footsteps of his high-earning electrician cousin. Now with 39 years under his belt, he's grown from an apprentice to the President of his own company D&M Electrical.
He shares anecdotes from his early days, some missteps that brought valuable lessons, taking accountability, niching down, and his voluntary work with Bring Back The Trades, a non-profit showing young people the alternative to the university route.
Doug is full of wisdom in this one, and there's a lot to learn - so let's get started! CONTACT DETAILS
#89 Why Should Customers Choose You? How To Revamp Your Marketing With John Carolan
00:31:22
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
We're keeping the momentum by welcoming John Carolan into the hotseat, Founder and Director of SKOPE Constructions in New South Wales.
John is here to share the rise of SKOPE, his own journey from on-site labourer to managing executive, and most importantly, the impact that a new marketing strategy has had on their business.
With the help of Ken Robinson of Persuasive Marketing, they chose to focus on customer success, creating new content and strategies that get them into discussions for as many potential jobs as possible.
It's simple, you've got to put yourself out there and keep your ear to the ground.
#90 AI, Management Masterclasses, And Why It Always Comes Back To Human Connection With Richard Austin
00:34:38
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
And a warm welcome to this week's guest Richard Austin, CEO of Australia's leading fire safety engineering outfit Omnii.
Richard is a management expert who has spent his career rising through the ranks of numerous industries, his sights set on seniority.
His wealth of insights are now on hand to help you kick forward - covering their cutting-edge use of AI, his tips for connecting effectively with each member of your team, his love of coaching, and why he emphasises the power of human connection.
There's loads to gain here from a 21st century CEO with a heap of experience.
Want to book a FREE 30-minute consultation call? Book a time to speak here: https://calendly.com/book-a-chat-with-jordan/chat-with-jordan
03 Dec 2024
#91 Reaping The Benefits Of Niching Down With James Clark
00:29:44
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Tuning in from Sydney this week is Verity Construction head honcho James Clark.
Since relocating from Adelaide and setting up shop on his own, Verity have been growing from strength to strength - becoming specialists in the building of childcare, schools and medical centres from design to handover.
He chats about the benefits of finding their niche, the business differences between Adelaide and Sydney, and his own journey from school and into the industry, via a short stint as an amateur bodybuilder!
#92 How To Grow Your Business Rapidly AND Retain A Sense Of Belonging... With Jarrad Tait
00:32:23
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
It's a great pleasure to welcome Jarrad Tait onto the show this week from Adelaide Hills Lawns & Gardens.
Jarrad developed an early passion for the outdoors, and in the midst of enjoying stints as a cricketer in the UK he settled into seasonal landscaping work back in Australia.
One thing led to another, and soon he had the tools, the Facebook page, and a black trailer with the logo. As he says - "all the gear but no idea..."
Fast-forward: he's now got a business partner in ex-employee Luke Timmins, a landscaping yard, and AHLG now have a team of over 75 people and counting.
Today's episode is all about expansion - with Jarrad sharing how a crucial mentor transformed their business ambition, why it's not just about building culture it's about creating a sense of belonging, and why the smartest thing you can do is to hire for values.
#93 From School Dropout To International CEO With Logan Mullaney
00:32:48
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
And welcome to 2025, as we rapidly approach 100 episodes...
Kicking us off in the New Year is Logan Mullaney, Group CEO of the rapidly rising concrete innovators InQuik - the second Mullaney to sit in the hotseat after Logan's brother Ben back in episode #33!
Logan shares his fascinating journey - from high school drop-out, to getting his builder's license at just 20 years old, travelling the world, working with his dad and brothers, and finding himself now in Colorado representing InQuik as they grow into the international market.
He shares some lessons from the road, recounts the formation story of InQuik, and looks back at an unusual, but inspiring route into the business management big leagues.
#94 Guiding A Reputable Business Into The Modern Age With Leonardo Dimino
00:37:24
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Joining the discussion this week is hydraulic engineer and Managing Director of Sparks+Partners Consulting Engineers, Leon Dimino.
Leon takes us through his rise to the top, touching on his time as Woolies youngest ever grocery manager, a terrible week on the tools as a concreter with his dad (he hung up his shovel), and his decision to become an engineer.
But the story didn't end there, as Leon had his sights set on bigger things - eventually buying out founder Garey Sparks from his business Sparks+Partners in 2014.
He talks us through how he revitalised a reputable company struggling to modernise, the way the company uses 'themes' for the year, why he doesn't want to be the smartest person in the room, and some of his tactics for diffusing angry phone calls...
#95 You're A Great Builder... But It's Time To Think Like An Entrepreneur. With Mick Hawes
00:39:06
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
It's time for a masterclass from residential building business coach Mick Hawes, of Builders Business Blackbelt.
He takes us through how he found his niche, and reveals how he helps great builders get better at being entrepreneurs.
Revealing exercises and processes that he uses at his in-person training days, Mick brings some brilliant strategies for fixing mistakes, enhancing the ambition of your vision and being a builder that people want to come back to.
#96 How To Adopt The Steady Growth Mindset With Abdullah Haddara
00:34:52
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
It's time to face a brutal fact: nearly 3400 construction industry businesses have gone bust in the last 18 months.
Here to share his blueprint for keeping your business afloat in an increasingly difficult economic environment is Director and Head of Operations at Haddarco, Abdullah Haddara.
Founded as a one-man operation by Haddara Snr. back in 1965, the business gained a new lease of life when brothers Abdullah and Mohammed took it on twenty years ago.
Abdullah shares how they learned to delegate responsibility as they scaled, why you need to manage your cashflow, and how business survival ultimately comes down to adaptability and mindset.
#97 Cash Flow, Labour Shortages, And A Hungover Sales Pitch... A Guide To Growing A Company With Garreth Higgins
00:35:50
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
It's time to learn from a Managing Director with some stories to tell about growing a company from the ground up. This week's guest is Garreth Higgins, from Offaly Civil in Queensland.
Recounting his route into the industry, he shares how a few too many beers one night led to landing Offaly's first contract the next day, how he incorporated the business on a laptop and how the business has grown from strength to strength.
Garreth also talks candidly about a cashflow situation that could have spelled the end for the company. But they're still here - and all the stronger for it.
This is a great episode to uncover some tips for staying on top of cashflow, planning ahead, and keeping the business growing.
#98 Growth, Investors, Awards and The ASX: Aiming High With Daniel Mikus
00:33:03
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Want to know what an intrapreneur is? Or how to score $13 million revenue in your first year?
It’s time to meet Daniel Mikus, co-founder and co-CEO of asphalt experts MR Roads in Queensland.
Daniel doesn’t beat around the bush - he wants to see the company listed on the ASX in the next three to five years. Right now - it’s all about growth, investors, and awards.
Recently selected in the Forbes “40 Under 40”, Daniel brings a get-it-done attitude to everything he does, and it’s showing in the company’s success.
#99 Community, Connection & Construction After COVID With Mark Stewart
00:34:09
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
Joining to talk us through life as Founder and Managing Director of Perth-based Classic Contractors, is Mark Stewart.
Mark has issues with our industry, and he isn't afraid to spell it out: we need to get rid of retention, get our teams working in the office together, and promote the importance of connection.
Sharing how CC are handling things differently, this episode dives back into the post-COVID aftermath - proving just how much we are still feeling the effects of lockdown to this day.
For Mark it's all about community, connection and respect - that's how we move forward as an industry. Sounds pretty good, right?
#100 How To Adapt, Survive & Succeed In Business With Brett Marris
00:36:24
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
It's our 100th episode! Who better to join us to mark our first century than Director of DBG Projects, Brett Marris.
Brett has a few stories from his time in business, and he shares candidly on his upbringing, his route into the industry, and some of the hardships he's faced along the way.
With DBG Projects now putting a difficult COVID era behind them, they're setting the sights on the future - doubling down on their strengths and maintaining great relationships with subbies and fellow businesses.
#101 Your Next Set Of Golf Clubs Could Supercharge Your Business... With Jeremy Dyer
00:35:19
Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.
And a warm welcome to Jeremy Dyer, Managing Director of Total Fitouts.
Jeremy takes us through the unique way his business operates - sharing how the franchising model works perfectly for fitouts, and provides a heap of benefits to everyone involved.
As he says, business is all about relationships. Whether that's getting your face out there on buses and sponsoring sports teams, getting a recommendation from a happy client, or shaking hands on the golf course, Jeremy shares his tricks and tips for growing your business sustainably, on your terms!
Hello, everybody, and welcome to the very first episode of the Crushing it in Construction podcast. I'm your host, Jordan Skinner.
In this first episode, I'm just going to explain what this podcast is, who it's for, and what you can expect from this show. So I'm starting this podcast because I want it to be a resource for people within the industry, a resource that I wish I had when I was still working within the industry myself.
So each week, I'm going to be interviewing business owners, executives and people within middle management.We're going to dive into how they got started within the industry, what they love about it, what mistakes they've made, how they found their success, and what advice they have for others coming up in the industry.
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