Construction Genius

Thomas Edison said, "Genius is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration." This show interviews hard-working construction company owners and executives who share their wisdom, perspectives, and lessons learned from decades of experience bidding, planning, and building profitable projects. Topics include leadership, strategic planning, conflict resolution, niche identification, succession planning, talent management, business development, and business growth. Industry expert, Eric Anderton also shares his insights about how construction company owners can increase project profit by improving communication, running productive meetings, and attracting, developing, and retaining talented leaders. Tune in each week and get practical inspiration for how to build people, projects, and profits. "I know of no genius but the genius of hard work." John Ruskin

Get Off the Bid List: Build a Construction Business Development System That Wins Negotiated Work 07/21/2026

How to Read Your Backlog Like a Banker: Timing, Diversification, and Gross Profit Discipline 07/14/2026

How to Read Your Backlog Like a Banker: Timing, Diversification, and Gross Profit Discipline How’s your backlog right now? In Part 6 of the Construction Accounting Series, Eric sits down again with CPA Kathe Barrington to unpack what backlog really is, and what it isn’t. They dig into why committed-but-unstarted jobs belong on your WIP the day you’re awarded, how to use backlog to forecast labor, equipment, and cash, and why a backlog that looks great in aggregate can still leave you with a nine-month hole in the schedule. Kathe lays out the ideal backlog-to-revenue ratio, the red flag of growing backlog with compressing gross profit, how client and project-type concentration creates fragility, and who needs to be in the room for the monthly backlog review. If you want backlog to function as a real planning tool, not a vanity number. This conversation is the blueprint. What You’ll Learn What backlog actually is - remaining contract, remaining cost, and remaining gross profit to complete Why letters of intent and verbal awards should NOT count as backlog Why unstarted-but-committed jobs belong on your WIP the day you’re awarded (and what bank & bonding are looking for) How to translate a WIP snapshot into a month-by-month forecast of labor, equipment, and cash How far out you should be forecasting labor (hint: 6–12 months minimum) The ideal backlog-to-revenue ratio - and why 3–6 months makes Kathe nervous How backlog profiles differ between GCs and subs, and what that means for planning The aggregate-number trap: why jobs bunched up at the same finish line signal trouble When you can tighten margins as you scale - and when compressing gross profit becomes dangerous Client and project-type concentration risk - diversification as insurance How often to review backlog (monthly, with the financials) and who belongs in the room The questions that should drive the conversation beyond the numbers How to use backlog data when the market shifts - lessons from 2008 and COVID The three questions Kathe asks first when she takes on a new client’s books Connect with Kathe LinkedIn: Facebook: The Construction Accounting Series with Kathe Barrington This is Part 6 of an ongoing series. Catch up on the full run: Part 1 — Ep. 357: Part 2 — Ep. 359: Part 3 — Ep. 364: Part 4 — Ep. 368: Part 5 — Ep. 377: /episode/index/show/constructionleaders/id/42055565

Get the Most Out of Every Project Meeting: ChatGPT 201 for Construction Leaders 07/07/2026

Unapologetically Hardcore: Applying Elon Musk’s Algorithm to Construction Leadership, with Eric Jorgenson 06/30/2026

AI Won't Fix a Badly Run Company: AI 101 for Construction Leaders 06/23/2026

Pick Up the Phone, Win the Client: How to Build a Client-First Company 06/16/2026

Why Your Team Isn't Executing (The Simple Fix Most Construction Leaders Miss) with Jon Dario 06/09/2026

How Slowing Down at the Start Saves Time and Money on Complex Projects 06/02/2026

The First 45 Minutes That Can Change Your Entire Project with Kyle Majchrowski 05/26/2026

How Pre-Con Mistakes Become Jobsite Rework — and What to Do About It with Scott Reynolds 05/19/2026

Body Language Is a Leadership Skill 05/12/2026

Legacy Is Built in People, And Projects: 46 Years of Construction Leadership with Alton Tew 05/05/2026

Flow State for Construction Leaders: Your Best Idea Is One Hour Away 04/28/2026

The Cost of Building: Brand Clarity, Constraint, and What Entrepreneurship Actually Requires 04/21/2026

How Project Executives Drive Disciplined Execution 04/14/2026

Why Your Jobs Look More Profitable Than They Are: Indirect Allocations and Overhead in Construction 04/07/2026

From Napkin Sketch to Shovel in the Ground: The Pre-Con Process That Sets Your Field Teams Up to Win 03/31/2026

Only 2.5% of Contractors Finish on Time. Here's What They Do Before the Job Starts 03/24/2026

How DPR Built the Discipline That Protects Construction Companies in Every Cycle 03/17/2026

A Smarter Way to Comply With Apprenticeship Requirements 03/10/2026

From Apprentice to General Superintendent: 30 Years of Construction Leadership 03/03/2026

How DPR Develops the Next Generation of Construction Leaders 02/24/2026

Estimating: The Art, the Science, and the Risk Margin Contractors Miss 02/17/2026

Integrated Design-Build: Speed, Quality, and Cost - Without the Tradeoffs 02/10/2026

Integrated Design-Build: Speed, Quality, and Cost - Without the Tradeoffs Can you really deliver speed, quality, and cost in construction—without tradeoffs? In this episode of Construction Genius, Eric Anderton sits down with Ryan Teicher, CEO of REDCOM Design & Construction, to unpack how a fully integrated design-build model eliminates silos, accelerates delivery, and aligns teams around client outcomes. Ryan explains how bringing architecture, engineering, estimating, and construction under one roof leads to faster decisions, fewer conflicts, and better cost control. The conversation dives into early design consulting as a risk filter, sales as true client advocacy, maintaining client intent from concept through construction, and why strong leaders must be willing to walk away from the wrong projects. This is a practical, no-BS conversation about design-build done right, along with CEO-level insights on leadership, culture, and scaling a construction company. 🔑 Topics Covered Why integrated design-build can deliver speed, quality, and cost Early design consulting as risk management Turning sales meetings into working design sessions Maintaining client intent throughout construction Red flags that signal when to walk away from a project Breaking silos through culture, space, and leadership The CEO shift from operations to growth Ryan Teicher is the CEO of REDCOM Design & Construction, a fully integrated commercial design-build firm. He brings over 25 years of leadership experience across residential, commercial, and industrial construction, including managing complex projects for Merck, Citi, Siemens, Santander, and Quest. Since joining REDCOM in 2023, Ryan has focused on driving speed to market, operational efficiency, and cross-discipline collaboration by bringing architecture, engineering, and construction under one roof. He lives in New Jersey and serves on his town’s planning board, environmental commission, and as president of his synagogue. 🔗 Links & Resources REDCOM – About Us REDCOM – Project Portfolio REDCOM on LinkedIn Ryan Teicher on LinkedIn Construction Genius /episode/index/show/constructionleaders/id/40049910

Underbillings Bad. Overbillings Better: The Cash Flow Truth Construction Owners Can’t Ignore 02/03/2026

From Builder to Leader: The Hardest Shift in Construction 01/27/2026

Bonding Capacity: Why Contractors Break Through or Get Stuck 01/20/2026

From Civil Engineering to Superintendent: The “Field-First” Pivot 01/13/2026

From Civil Engineering to Superintendent: The “Field-First” Pivot Construction doesn't solely rely on blueprints and hard hats; it also relies on curiosity, hands-on learning, and people who make the buildings come to life. For those who step into job sites, success is measured by attitude, adaptability, and willingness to ask questions. From building psychological safety to leveraging technology like robotics, the modern superintendent is constantly learning how to work smarter by balancing human expertise with innovation. Erin Saiki is a superintendent at DPR Construction who started her career pursuing civil engineering at UC Berkeley and discovered a passion for construction during a 2018 summer internship with DPR. After her graduation, Erin joined DPR as a project engineer but quickly realized her strengths and enthusiasm were better suited to the field rather than an office environment. Aligning herself with DPR’s field engineer program, she moved to site leadership and has since progressed to become a superintendent. Highlights [00:20] Erin path to construction leadership. [02:31] The importance of hands-on field experience. [08:00] Making clear, objective decisions based on what’s best for the job. [11:42] Psychological safety in construction. [16:50] Collaborative leadership vs. traditional leadership. [20:52] Management of tough conversations and self-awareness. [22:37] Bridging technology and craft work in construction. [28:44] The importance of getting involved early in the design phase. [33:14] The importance of addressing mental health issues in construction. [39:56] Showing up, volunteering, and finding ways to add real value. [41:18] The superintendent of the future. Key Takeaways Touch, observe, and follow. Spend time in the field to see how drawings translate into real installations. Go into the field expecting to learn and be comfortable admitting what you don’t know. Gather input from all trades before deciding and make the call once you have enough information. Build psychological safety. Encourage workers to speak up without fear of blame. Prepare mentally before a tough conversation and focus on what you can control, not how it will be received. Explain what the technology does and doesn’t do and frame technology as support, not replacement. Talk openly about mental health on site and build a supportive, respectful jobsite culture where workers feel safe. Connect with Erin SaikiLinkedIn - Website - /episode/index/show/constructionleaders/id/39702080

Physical Progress vs. Financial Reporting in Construction Projects 01/06/2026

Mental Health in Construction: The Safety Issue Nobody Wants to Talk About (But Everyone Lives With) 12/30/2025

Construction Genius

TOPICS