People-First Builders Podcast

At People-First Builders, we shine a spotlight on the leaders who shape the construction industry by building more than projects—they build teams, culture, and legacy. This podcast is your gateway to the stories of exceptional CEOs and visionaries who prioritize their people, achieve remarkable success, and redefine what it means to lead in construction. Discover how family-owned businesses, niche projects, and innovative leadership styles are driving progress in steel erection, bridge rebar, and infrastructure installation. Each episode celebrates leaders who have spent decades honing their craft, advancing their operations, and achieving results that inspire their teams and peers alike. Whether you’re a construction professional, a leader looking for inspiration, or simply someone fascinated by people-centered success stories, People-First Builders offers valuable insights and actionable takeaways from industry’s best. While People-First Builders is a new podcast, it’s backed by years of experience. Host Fletcher Wimbush is a seasoned podcaster with over seven years behind the mic, having built a dedicated audience with The Hire Talent—a show focused on optimizing hiring and leadership in the industry. Now, he’s bringing that expertise to People-First Builders, highlighting the construction leaders who are shaping the future through culture, innovation, and operational excellence.

Building Scalable Roofing Teams Through Structured Training with Michael Feazel 12/29/2025

Developing Future Talent by Making Trades Attractive with Chad Raymond 12/22/2025

Why Paying Top Talent Pays Off Scaling in Tough Markets with Scott Menard 12/17/2025

Turning Burnout Into Culture Change in Construction with Chad Abernethy 12/01/2025

Build Together Thrive Forever Creating an Employee Owned Future with John Abrams 11/24/2025

Lead with Empathy Growing People, Then Performance with Jim Robinson 11/17/2025

Lead with Empathy Growing People, Then Performance with Jim Robinson 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 builds long-term loyalty Jim shares how early experiences serving others shaped his leadership philosophy and taught him to meet people where they are — whether they want slow growth or rapid acceleration. • Why CGP trains not just employees, but their spouses You’ll hear how CGP discovered that growing an employee too quickly without involving their partner created conflict at home — and how including significant others in conferences and education transformed entire families. • The power of structured education and the “law of anticipation” Jim explains CGP’s multi-year training journey, weekly assessments, and how always giving employees something to look forward to keeps them engaged, hungry, and committed. • Why hiring for character beats hiring for skill CGP hires tradespeople based on empathy, urgency, energy, and values — not technical ability — because skills can be taught, but character can’t. • How CGP fills leadership roles exclusively from within You’ll learn why Jim avoids hiring competitors’ employees, why the company never rehires people who leave, and how internal promotion protects culture. • CGP’s lightning-fast “application to offer in 8 hours” process Jim breaks down how they evaluate values alignment, involve supervisors immediately, and create a high-urgency experience that mirrors what’s expected on the job. • How CGP runs 24/7 operations with cross-trained teams Hear how they prepare people for multi-disciplinary work across nights, days, and three construction shifts — and why it creates pride, mastery, and team connection. /episode/index/show/thehiretalentpodcast/id/39065420

Lead with Love, Build with Purpose: Growing Through People with Scott Walters 11/10/2025

Engineer the Vision, Build the Team: Leading with Intention with Scott Harvey-Lewis 11/03/2025

From Court Discipline to Business Growth: Leading with Structure 10/13/2025

Culture and Leadership: The Path to Elevating the Trades 10/06/2025

Culture and Leadership: The Path to Elevating the Trades 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 reps on smaller projects, learn to make confident decisions through coaching, and receive consistent feedback that builds judgment. The result is a team that feels supported, customers who feel cared for, and a community that sees the trades as a respected, modern career. You will hear practical tactics you can apply right away — how to co-create events with local educators, structure the first leadership opportunity so it succeeds, and use social media to make your company’s values visible and magnetic to A-players. What You’ll Learn: Clear career paths in the trades, from apprentice to foreman Coaching questions that build ownership, not dependence How to partner with schools to run hands-on career days Realistic earnings ranges and timelines that rival college routes Ways to give first leadership reps without risking the whole project Why public values create internal accountability How a supported crew delivers a better client experience At Kundert Construction, building people is just as important as building homes. Chad and Cory prove that when leaders invest in growth, mentorship, and community, the ripple effects reach far beyond the job site. Their story is a blueprint for every contractor who believes the future of the trades depends on culture, education, and creating a place where people grow — not just work. /episode/index/show/thehiretalentpodcast/id/38481920

How Structure Builds Retention with Roggen Frick 09/29/2025

Measure Twice, Hire Right Building Accountability Into Growth with Matt Aston 09/15/2025

Measure Twice, Hire Right Building Accountability Into Growth with Matt Aston In this People First Builders episode, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Matt Aston, founder and CEO of GPRS, a national leader in private utility locating, concrete scanning, and subsurface mapping. Matt shares how a single magazine ad in 2001 sparked an idea that grew from a one person startup into a coast to coast company with more than 900 team members and a reputation for accuracy, safety, and innovation. Matt explains the difference between public 811 locating and GPRS private utility work, why depth data changes decisions on site, and how early failures shaped a culture that aims to be right the first time, every time. He breaks down GPRS hiring and training systems, including SIM, the company’s subsurface investigation methodology, a purpose built training center, ride alongs before offers, and a multi month ramp with ongoing assessments. The conversation also covers leadership development, a referral engine that drives nearly half of annual hires, incentive based compensation that can make up 30 to 50 percent of pay, and broad based employee ownership that tracks the same class of stock as leadership. Key takeaways Accuracy that scales: about 120,000 jobs in the last year with a reported error rate near 0.1 percent. Private vs public locating: 811 marks public rights of way, while GPRS supports contractors on private property and provides depth data that changes plans and prevents damage. Hire for character, teach the skill: referrals supply close to half of new hires, followed by structured interviews, ride alongs, and three to four months of training. Process over heroics: SIM gives field teams a consistent approach, supported by a full training lab and university partnerships for real world practice. Retention flywheel: once team members pass roughly 12 to 18 months, annual retention jumps into the mid 90s. Ownership and incentives: field compensation includes meaningful performance bonuses, and an opt in equity program opened in 2020 where everyone holds the same class of stock, aligned with private equity growth goals. /episode/index/show/thehiretalentpodcast/id/38227235

From Labor Crisis to Talent Pipeline: How Bo Jones is Revolutionizing Workforce Development 08/04/2025

From Labor Crisis to Talent Pipeline: How Bo Jones is Revolutionizing Workforce Development In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Bo Jones, President of True Built Construction and CEO of CareerPathway.com, to explore a groundbreaking approach to workforce development in the skilled trades. With over 25 years of experience, Bo shares how his deep frustration with traditional hiring methods—and the dwindling talent pipeline in Nebraska—led him to launch an innovative platform that connects students to careers before graduation. Bo explains how CareerPathway.com is helping students discover meaningful work in industries like construction, healthcare, and technology through real-time multimedia content created by employers themselves. He walks us through the platform’s features, the impact it's already making in 34 states, and how it's revolutionizing how employers reach and inspire the next generation of workers. Whether you're a business leader, educator, or parent, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about how we prepare young people for life after high school—and how industry must step up to solve the skilled labor shortage. What You’ll Learn: Why traditional outreach efforts to young workers often fall short How True Built Construction mentored students by building homes—and what challenges remained The origin story and mission of CareerPathway.com How the platform bridges the gap between students, educators, and employers The game-changing potential of reaching students before they graduate Bo breaks down how the platform works, including: How students explore careers through bite-sized videos, photo posts, and real-world content from employers. How teachers and counselors use the platform to guide career conversations with personalized insights. How businesses can build employer brand visibility while connecting directly with interested, pre-qualified young talent. Why the education system alone cannot (and shouldn’t be expected to) deliver individualized career exploration at scale—and how CareerPathway.com fills the gap. Whether you’re an employer frustrated with the broken hiring pipeline, an educator looking for real-world career exploration tools, or a parent trying to help your child find their path, this episode delivers inspiration, clarity, and a vision for what’s possible when industry steps up. /episode/index/show/thehiretalentpodcast/id/37669900

Digging Deep: How Ryan Schmitt Reshaped Construction with People at the Center 07/28/2025

Digging Deep: How Ryan Schmitt Reshaped Construction with People at the Center In this insightful episode of the People-First Builders Podcast, host Fletcher Wimbush speaks with Ryan Schmidt, CEO and Visionary at Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Contractors, Inc. His 300-person firm is redefining success in heavy civil construction by building a culture centered on growth, ownership, and values-driven leadership. Ryan shares the full story of how his firm nearly failed after a series of disastrous projects and financial hardship. Instead of cutting losses, he doubled down on his people. He opened the company books, shared real-time financials with everyone from laborers to executives, and began a journey toward full employee ownership through an ESOP. In this conversation, you’ll learn: How Ryan guided Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Contractors, through its lowest point and emerged with a stronger team and culture Why every new hire, including laborers and field workers, goes through a structured two-day onboarding program led by Ryan himself How radical transparency and profit sharing created deep loyalty when the company was losing money What inspired the creation of “The Forge,” an internal training facility staffed by top performers turned full-time coaches How Ryan stepped back from day-to-day operations by naming a company president, allowing him to focus entirely on vision, people, and culture How the company conducts weekly all-staff financial huddles to help every employee think and act like an owner Why company values such as accountability, character, and team are reinforced through regular events, team breakfasts, and internal rituals How the team reacted when they received their first ESOP stock statements and saw the long-term rewards of ownership Why Ryan believes he is more fulfilled as a partner to his employee-owners than he ever was as a solo founder Ryan’s story is not just about surviving adversity. It is about creating a business that invests in people at every level. From new hire training to internal leadership development and long-term wealth building, Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Contractors' culture is built to last. Whether you're a contractor, business owner, or simply passionate about values-based leadership, this episode offers a real-world blueprint for building a company that thrives through its people. /episode/index/show/thehiretalentpodcast/id/37580935

From Carpenter to CEO: Servant Leadership and Building the Next Generation of Tradespeople with Brian Keller 07/21/2025

From Carpenter to CEO: Servant Leadership and Building the Next Generation of Tradespeople with Brian Keller In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush welcomes Brian Keller, CEO of Quest Building Corporation, a Wisconsin-based commercial contracting firm that’s redefining what it means to grow a people-first construction business. Starting with four partners framing homes in 1998, Brian has spent the past 25 years scaling Quest into a 300-plus-person company that provides labor and materials for framing, trim, flooring, and countertops across Southern Wisconsin. Brian shares the behind-the-scenes story of how he transitioned from being a hands-on carpenter to a visionary CEO focused on servant leadership, talent development, and culture-driven growth. He discusses how hitting a wall in the company's expansion led to a complete rethinking of his leadership style, eventually leading to the development of in-house coaching and leadership training programs that now shape the next generation of leaders at Quest. In this wide-ranging conversation, Brian dives into: How Quest integrates recruiting, training, and coaching into every level of the business What it means to practice servant leadership in a trade-dominated industry The power of writing an employee persona to define company culture and hire the right people His "Build Program," an educational initiative designed to help trade business owners grow scalable, sustainable companies Tactical changes in recruiting strategy, including high school outreach, referral-driven hiring, and even in-house headhunting How the team developed a simple framework for defining roles through the "one-question" model Why he believes there’s someone out there who loves every task—your job is to find them Whether you’re a contractor, tradesperson, or business owner struggling to scale or attract top talent, this episode offers a roadmap for transforming your organization by investing in your people. Brian’s story is a masterclass in letting go, leading with purpose, and building a business that lasts through values, not just volume. /episode/index/show/thehiretalentpodcast/id/37487350

How to Find, Grow, or Attract Top Estimating Talent to Scale Your Construction Firm with Chad Prinkey 07/14/2025

From Grizzly Screens to Generational Impact: Mike Frick’s Blueprint for Trades-Led Entrepreneurship 06/16/2025

From Grizzly Screens to Generational Impact: Mike Frick’s Blueprint for Trades-Led Entrepreneurship In this compelling episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush welcomes Mike Frick, president of Bear Ironworks, to share the incredible story of how a simple welding project turned into a thriving, multi-generational manufacturing business. From his early days in the oil fields and rural road building to managing over $200 million in infrastructure projects, including a $6 billion LNG plant, Mike’s career spans the full arc of American blue-collar ingenuity. What began as a practical solution to a job-site challenge, designing a rock screen for a skid steer, eventually became Bear Ironworks, a Colorado-based fabrication company that now ships across the country and employs a team of dedicated craftspeople. Mike recounts how his son, then a college student, took the reins, built a website, and helped scale the business before returning to finish his degree. Together, they rebuilt the company during COVID, running it remotely across multiple states while staying grounded in family values and a shared belief in hard work. Along the way, Mike discusses how he has consistently inspired and trained young people, including his son and stepson, to pursue careers in the trades, often helping them launch their own businesses. Key takeaways from this episode include: The power of hands-on experience in launching successful entrepreneurial ventures Why blue-collar careers offer financial freedom, personal pride, and long-term opportunity The importance of teaching and mentoring the next generation, even if they eventually leave your company How to build a values-driven culture that balances safety, autonomy, and professional development Why leaders in the construction and manufacturing sectors must champion the trades as viable and noble career paths Mike’s story is a timely reminder that building things with your hands can also build a legacy. Leadership, at its best, is about investing in people for the long haul. /episode/index/show/thehiretalentpodcast/id/37029805

From Jobsite to Boardroom: Jeffery Forrest Jr. on Legacy, Leadership & Learning from Poker 06/09/2025

Serving People First: How WPC Built Culture and Resilience Over 50 Years 06/02/2025

Serving People First: How WPC Built Culture and Resilience Over 50 Years In 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: Navigating generational transitions in family businesses The essential role of mentorship and open communication The growing appeal and opportunities in the construction industry 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. /episode/index/show/thehiretalentpodcast/id/36824295