Serving People First: How WPC Built Culture and Resilience Over 50 Years
Release Date: 06/02/2025
Building Scalable Roofing Teams Through Structured Training with Michael Feazel
People-First Builders Podcast
In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Michael Feazel, Co-Founder and CEO of Roof Maxx, to explore how structured training, intentional leadership, and innovative business models are reshaping the roofing industry. With decades of experience as a roofing contractor and industry thought leader, Michael shares his journey from climbing roofs in the 1980s to building one of the fastest-growing roofing service networks in the country. He explains how Roof Maxx created an entirely new category—roof rejuvenation—and how simplifying the work has opened the...
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Developing Future Talent by Making Trades Attractive with Chad Raymond
People-First Builders Podcast
In this episode of the People-First Builders Podcast, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Chad Raymond, General Manager and Head of Sales at Henry Company, a subsidiary of Carlisle Weatherproofing Technologies. Chad brings a unique perspective from the supply-side of the construction industry, working daily with builders, contractors, architects, and developers across residential and light commercial markets. Chad shares what he’s seeing firsthand on the front lines of today’s labor shortage—how skilled trade shortages are impacting project timelines, business growth, and quality, and...
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Why Paying Top Talent Pays Off Scaling in Tough Markets with Scott Menard
People-First Builders Podcast
In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Scott Menard, President & Chief Operating Officer of Homes Built For America, to discuss how strong leadership, accountability, and purpose-driven culture shape successful construction organizations. Scott shares his perspective on leading teams in the residential construction space, the importance of operational excellence, and how aligning people, process, and mission creates long-term stability and growth. Drawing from his experience overseeing large-scale operations, he offers practical insights into...
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Turning Burnout Into Culture Change in Construction with Chad Abernethy
People-First Builders Podcast
In this powerful episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Chad Abernethy, CEO of Abernethy Contracting, for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about leadership, burnout, culture, and what it really takes to transform a construction company from the inside out. Chad opens up about: • Leaving his family’s business after burnout and how it reshaped everything he believed about leadership • Scaling a civil contracting company from 0 to $45M — and the personal cost behind the growth • How a merger forced a complete culture reset • Building a...
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Build Together Thrive Forever Creating an Employee Owned Future with John Abrams
People-First Builders Podcast
What happens when a small crew of “hippie carpenters” grows into a nationally admired, employee-owned company that changes lives, families, and communities? In this inspiring episode, Fletcher sits down with John Abrams, founder of Abrams+Angell, formerly of South Mountain Company, who spent 50+ years proving that business can be both profitable and profoundly people-centered. John shares how he transitioned his company into a worker cooperative long before employee ownership was common, how that decision transformed culture, turnover, customers, and leadership—and why he believes...
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Lead with Empathy Growing People, Then Performance with Jim Robinson
People-First Builders Podcast
In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Jim Robinson, President & CEO of CGP Maintenance & Construction Services, leadership coach, and soon-to-be author of Lead With Empathy (co-written with Chris Voss). With 40 years in business, Jim has grown CGP into a people-first organization known for unmatched employee loyalty, multi-decade tenure, and an education-driven culture. His approach is simple but rare in the trades: grow the person first — and performance will follow. What You’ll Learn from Jim in This Episode: • How leading with empathy...
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Lead with Love, Build with Purpose: Growing Through People with Scott Walters
People-First Builders Podcast
In this inspiring episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Scott Walters, President of Walters Services, a family-run waste management company built on one simple belief: “We love people.” From humble beginnings on a chicken farm to a thriving multi-location business, Scott shares how his parents’ people-centered values shaped a 50-year legacy that continues to grow today. He opens up about giving second chances to employees, leading with empathy, building mentorship into company culture, and using the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to scale with...
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Engineer the Vision, Build the Team: Leading with Intention with Scott Harvey-Lewis
People-First Builders Podcast
In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Scott Harvey-Lewis, founder of Billing Mavens and a seasoned engineering leader who left corporate consulting to build something of his own — a firm grounded in integrity, intentional hiring, and creative leadership. Scott shares how his background leading large engineering teams inspired his approach to people-first entrepreneurship: hiring for humility, building global teams with purpose, and blending technology, AI, and offshoring to create a lean and human-centered company. From “being your own headhunter”...
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From Court Discipline to Business Growth: Leading with Structure
People-First Builders Podcast
What happens when the discipline of the court meets the chaos of business? In this People-First Builders episode, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Uros Vasiljevic to unpack how athletic rigor and coaching fundamentals translate into predictable, scalable operations. From daily cadence and clear roles to simple “scoreboards” that make performance visible, Uroš shares the systems leaders can use to reduce noise, build trust, and grow without burning out their teams. You’ll learn: The mindset shift from heroics to repeatable processes How to design weekly rhythms that keep...
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Culture and Leadership: The Path to Elevating the Trades
People-First Builders Podcast
What if a construction company were known first for who its people become, not only for what it builds? In this People-First Builders episode, Fletcher Wimbush talks with Chad and Cory Kundert of Kundert Construction in Monroe, Wisconsin, about turning a job site into a launchpad for growth. They share how school partnerships and hands-on “Trades Day” experiences spark curiosity in students, how paid apprenticeships give teens a direct path into meaningful work, and how transparent pay ladders keep talent engaged from apprentice to foreman. Inside the company, carpenters earn leadership...
info_outlineIn this episode of The People-First Builders Podcast, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Jeff Forrest Sr., President and CEO of WPC, a construction industry titan with over 45 years of hands-on leadership experience. From humble beginnings in 1979 to overseeing thousands of units across the Southeast, Jeff shares a candid look at the art of leadership transitions, generational shifts, and the evolving face of construction.
Jeff opens up about his journey from apprentice to president, the challenges of following in the footsteps of his visionary brother, and the rewards of guiding his own son, Jeffrey Jr., into the family business. With warmth and humor, he recounts how his son's pivot from professional poker to construction infused the business with fresh perspectives, balancing analytics with hard-earned wisdom.
We delve into the trials and triumphs of succession planning, navigating leadership tensions, and fostering an environment that champions both tradition and innovation. Jeff underscores the power of peer groups and lifelong learning, while highlighting the crucial role of culture and mentorship in cultivating the next generation of builders.
From reflections on the talent shortage crisis to the future of work in the trades, Jeff’s insights offer a masterclass in sustainable leadership and the power of people-first practices. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to build not just great projects, but great teams.
Key Takeaways:
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Navigating generational transitions in family businesses
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The essential role of mentorship and open communication
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The growing appeal and opportunities in the construction industry
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Lessons from leadership transitions and the importance of peer networks
Tune in for an inspiring conversation that celebrates the human side of building—one that leaves you rethinking what it takes to succeed and sustain in a dynamic, people-driven industry.