Building Leaders Radio Hour

Building Sandy Springs (Rusty Paul) - Part 2

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0500

Listen now to part 2 of our Building Leaders Radio Hour's episode with “Rusty” Paul.

Rusty has served as the Mayor of Sandy Springs since 2013 and is currently in his third term, bringing more than four decades of experience in public service at the local, state, and federal levels. Before becoming mayor, he served as a Georgia State Senator, a founding member of the Sandy Springs City Council, and on the Stone Mountain City Council. At the federal level, he was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to a senior leadership role at HUD, where he also led disaster response efforts following Hurricane Hugo and the 1989 San Francisco earthquake.

Today, Mayor Paul remains deeply involved in regional and national leadership, serving on the Atlanta Regional Commission, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the Georgia Municipal Association, where he chairs the Transportation Committee. He’s also been active in party leadership, previously chairing the Georgia Republican Party. A longtime civic leader, he’s a past chair of the Sandy Springs/Perimeter Center Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Paul and his wife, Jan, have five adult children, nine grandsons, and call Sandy Springs home.

This episode was recorded on January 9, 2026

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0:00 Introduction (Thank you Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

1:16 Planning is pivotal

4:21 Looking ahead for Sandy Springs

7:18 Impact of AI on city planning

13:28 Sponsorship Blurb (Thank you Fly and Form Concrete Structures)

15:08 Other happenings in Sandy Springs

26:13 Legacy

29:57 Leading from a place of non-partisanship

33:18 Beekeeping

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This season of BLRH is sponsored by Fly & Form Concrete Structures! Fly and Form is headquartered in Atlanta and does work throughout the southeast specializing in concrete structures. Visit their website at flyandform.com or call their team at (770)971-7873 to discuss your project's needs.

Click here to subscribe to BLRH on your favorite platform and listen to other episodes. Share this link with your network so they don't miss out on BLRH!

Thanks for listening!

Building Sandy Springs (Rusty Paul) - Part 1

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0500

Joining us to kick off Season 5 of Building Leaders Radio Hour is Russell K. “Rusty” Paul.

This episode was recorded on January 9, 2026

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0:00 Welcome Mayor Rusty Paul

3:45 Introduction (Thank you Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

5:27 Re-Election and public service

11:57 Cutting through the noise

19:38 Sponsorship blurb (Fly and Form Concrete Structure)

21:25 Political Polish (or not)

24:42 Building the connective tissue of community

Thanks for listening!

BLRH On the Road w/ Daniel Collins (Strategies Group)

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 04:00:00 -0500

Building Leaders Radio Hour HITS THE ROAD for the second time in history! Listen along as Neil and Austin interview a variety of guests attending the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) Southeastern Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Our next episode of this series features Neil and Austin sitting down with Daniel Collins (Strategies Group).

Daniel attended Beloit College in Wisconsin, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree. With a strong educational foundation, he has become a dedicated professional known for providing valuable, scalable solutions and effective automation to address common issues that clients encounter. Daniel’s commitment to enhancing efficiency and productivity has made him a trusted partner for clients seeking innovative and practical solutions.

As a member of the Strategies Group Leadership Team, Daniel serves as the company's EOS Visionary and focuses heavily on problem-solving, promoting growth, painting the big picture, and understanding how industry trends impact customer needs. He’s a pivotal force in ensuring concepts become actionable and leading the SGI Team in idea generation and continuous process improvement.

When Daniel has free time, he finds joy playing board games and tinkering with tools. He is a loving husband and a devoted father to four wonderful children.

This episode was recorded on August 21, 2025

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0:00 Intro (Thank you Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

2:05 Daniel Collins Introduction

7:30 EOS as a way to prioritize strategy

10:15 Core values get the right people on the team, process helps them execute

13:10 Level 10 Meetings

16:50 Importance of Clarity Breaks

Thanks for listening!

BLRH On the Road w/ Chris DiCarlo - Which came first, the chicken or the leader?

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0400

This first episode features Neil and Austin sitting down with Chris DiCarlo (Lockton).

As an experienced insurance consultant with over 12 years of independent practice, Chris serves Lockton as a Producer member of the Southeast Series, overseeing new & existing client strategies as a licensed agent in employee benefits and property & casualty. Chris’ main focus and technical expertise lies in employee benefits, self-funding, and innovative solutions to help contain costs while building robust total reward programs to attract and retain talent. He specializes in the Manufacturing and Construction industry, working alongside local associations to understand industry challenges and support the overall growth of the economy.

Chris and his wife, Betsy, have two wonderful daughters, Beth and Etta, and are expecting their third daughter Fall 2025. They live in Roswell, GA and you can often find his family outdoors, enjoying the simple joys of tending to their homestead.

This episode was recorded on August 21, 2025

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0:00 Intro (Thank you Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

1:01 BLRH on the road @ CFMA

1:51 Chris DiCarlo introduction

5:55 Chicken leadership

8:38 Importance of curiosity

10:20 Leadership challenges today

Thanks for listening!

Forging Ahead: Family, Steel, and Tariffs (Cole Porter) - Part 2

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0400

Cole Porter, President & CEO of Porter Steel, joins us for part 2 of his episode with us to discuss the importance of family, his impact at Porter Steel, and the impact of tariffs on the construction industry.

Having grown up around the family business and worked in numerous aspects of the shop, field, and office as far back as high school, Cole knows steel. In 2012, he returned to Porter Steel as the organization’s future leader. Cole is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

This episode was recorded on June 16, 2025

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0:00 Introduction (Thank you Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

0:52 Impact of tariffs on Steel

10:20 Importance of speaking up

18:20 Importance of healthy communication

24:50 Looking ahead

26:05 "What comes around goes around"

Thanks for listening!

Forging Ahead: Family, Steel, and Tariffs (Cole Porter) - Part 1

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0400

Cole Porter, President & CEO of Porter Steel, joins us for part 1 of his episode with us to discuss the importance of family, his impact at Porter Steel, and the impact of tariffs on the construction industry.

Having grown up around the family business and worked in numerous aspects of the shop, field, and office as far back as high school, Cole knows steel. In 2012, he returned to Porter Steel as the organization’s future leader. Cole is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

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0:00 Welcome (Thanks Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

2:21 Cole Porter Intro

4:30 Transitioning to CEO

7:45 5x the business

17:20 Sponsorship Blurb (Thanks Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

19:02 Dreaming

25:32 Cole's Letter to the President (Tariffs)

33:56 Join us next time for Part 2!

Thanks for listening!

Building Traction (Matt Bobo) - Part 2

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 04:00:00 -0500

Matt Bobo, Partner at Ardd+Winter, returns for part 2 of his episode with us on Building Leaders Radio Hour.

With an MBA from Auburn, Matt has been with Ardd and Winter since 2001. Matt is always challenging himself to improve. His goal is to help build a company that continues to provide for many generations, prioritizes long-term relationships, and leaves a legacy.

He's married to Crystal and has four boys. Matt enjoys golf, reading, fitness, and cheering for the Atlanta Braves and Auburn Tigers.

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0:00 Welcome (Thanks Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

1:21 Power of a Mentor

3:21 Learning to build working relationships

6:11 Moving to the next level of leadership

13:40 The visionary and the integrator roles

18:25 Sponsorship Blurb (Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

19:58 Managing time management

21:50 Finding time to think for yourself

30:31 One surprising thing about Matt

Thanks for listening!

Building Traction (Matt Bobo) - Part 1

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0500

Joining us for our next episode of Building Leaders Radio Hour is Matt Bobo, Partner at Ardd+Winter.

With an MBA from Auburn, Matt has been with Ardd and Winter since 2001. Matt is always challenging himself to improve. His goal is to help build a company that continues to provide for many generations, prioritizes long-term relationships, and leaves a legacy.

He's married to Crystal and has four boys. Matt enjoys golf, reading, fitness, and cheering for the Atlanta Braves and Auburn Tigers.

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0:00 Welcome (Thanks Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

3:02 Welcome Matt Bobo

7:14 Making the call

11:15 "The last job I'll ever have"

12:58 More about Ardd+Winter

17:11 Sponsorship Blurb (Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

18:50 Maintaining culture through change

21:30 Gaining Traction

23:30 Implementing EOS

28:30 Evolving as a leader

Thanks for listening!

BLRH On the Road w/ Kathryn Schneider (Forvis Mazars)

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 04:00:00 -0500

Building Leaders Radio Hour HITS THE ROAD for the first time in history! Listen along as Neil and Mark interview a variety of guests attending the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) Southeastern Conference in Chatanooga, Tennessee.

Our next episode of this mini-series features Neil and Mark sitting down with Kathryn Schneider (Forvis Mazars).

This episode was recorded on August 15, 2024

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0:00 Welcome (Thanks Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

1:55 Kathryn Schneider intro (Forvis Mazars)

3:42 Extensive involvement with CFMA

5:53 How Kathryn helps the construction industry

6:35 Be humble and fail fast

Thanks for listening!

BLRH On the Road w/ Maggie Bates (Crowe)

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 04:00:00 -0500

Building Leaders Radio Hour HITS THE ROAD for the first time in history! Listen along as Neil and Mark interview a variety of guests attending the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) Southeastern Conference in Chatanooga, Tennessee.

Our next episode of this mini-series features Neil and Mark sitting down with Maggie Bates (Crowe).

This episode was recorded on August 15, 2024

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0:00 Welcome (Thanks Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

1:55 Maggie Bates intro (Crowe)

3:33 AI in the accounting world

4:48 Key to finding a great speaker at a conference

5:48 Importance of a career coach

8:28 Impact of CFMA involvement

10:11 "The Road Back to You"

Thanks for listening!

25 Years of Paving the Way (Meredith Leapley) - Part 2

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 04:00:00 -0500

Meredith Leapley, CEO & Founder of Leapley Construction, returns for part 2 of her recording on Season 4 of the Building Leaders Radio Hour.

Recognized as a Most Admired CEO by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, an Outstanding Woman in Construction by Construction Business Owner Magazine, and one of Atlanta’s “Top 500” leaders by Atlanta Magazine, Meredith Leapley leads with integrity and compassion. Raised in Maryland, Meredith moved to Atlanta in 1999 and founded Leapley Construction to prioritize people throughout construction. Leapley Construction is proud to celebrate their 25th anniversary this year!

This episode was recorded on October 15th.
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0:00 Welcome! (Thank you Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

0:54 Tuesdays with Bob Mathews

5:26 Total Team Effort (bringing Alan Scoggins on the team)

8:51 Learning from our mistakes

13:45 Self-awareness as a leadership key

14:52 Sponsorship Blurb (Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

16:30 Importance of psychology at work

19:00 Balancing personal and professional

22:29 Maintaining culture starts with the interview

25:22 Trailblazing

26:52 Instilling leadership in the team

29:50 How to unwind

33:20 The final question

Thanks for listening!

25 Years of Paving the Way (Meredith Leapley) - Part 1

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 11:00:00 -0500

Joining us for our 1st episode of Season 4 of the Building Leaders Radio Hour is Meredith Leapley, CEO & Founder of Leapley Construction.

Recognized as a Most Admired CEO by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, an Outstanding Woman in Construction by Construction Business Owner Magazine and one of Atlanta’s “Top 500” leaders by Atlanta Magazine, Meredith Leapley leads with integrity and compassion. Raised in Maryland, Meredith moved to Atlanta in 1999 and founded Leapley Construction to prioritize people throughout construction. Leapley Construction is proud to celebrate their 25th anniversary this year!

Since then, through her involvement with CREW Atlanta, WBENC, CoreNet, Big Brothers Big Sisters, GSU WomenLead, Atlanta Women’s Foundation and Crafting Futures Together, she has maintained that focus and nurtured the business to deliver meaningful impacts to the community while earning annual revenues in excess of $120 Million

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0:00 Welcome to Season 4 of BLRH (Thank You Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

1:55 Welcome Meredith Leapley

5:30 The origin of Leapley Construction

12:30 Challenges and opportunities of being a woman-owned business

15:20 Fly & Form Concrete Structures Sponsorship Blurb

16:57 Importance of giving back

18:34 Overcoming the challenge of attracting talent

20:25 Evolution of Leapley

23:15 How to ensure culture isn't left behind during growth

24:50 "Letting go of the vine"

27:20 Family learnings

Thanks for listening!

BLRH On the Road w/ Lou Perez (Lumber)

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 10:00:00 -0400

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0:00 Welcome (Thanks Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

1:55 Lou Perez Intro (Lumber)

3:50 About Lumber

5:03 Resume isn't a defining factor (EOE of Hiring)

7:44 Setting goals

9:48 What sets Lumber apart

11:53 Lou's favorite books

Thanks for listening!

BLRH On the Road w/ Ellis Lord

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 04:00:00 -0400

Building Leaders Radio Hour HITS THE ROAD for the first time in history! Listen along as Neil and Mark interview a variety of guests attending the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) Southeastern Conference in Chatanooga, Tennessee.

In the first episode of this mini-series, Neil and Mark share important life updates and have the opportunity to interview Ellis Lord from Miller & Martin.

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0:00 BLRH on the road @ CFMA Southeastern Conference

1:30 Thank you Fly & Form Concrete Structures

1:55 Neil Family Update

2:15 Mark Career Update

5:20 First Guest - Ellis Lord

7:28 Leadership Advice that Stuck

Thanks for listening!

The Passionate Leader (Greg Sizemore) - Part 2

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 10:00:00 -0400

Joining us for part 2 of his episode with Building Leaders Radio Hour is Greg Sizemore, Vice President of Health, Safety, Environment and Workforce Development for Associated Builders and Contractors.

Greg Sizemore is the vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development for ABC. With more than 45 years of industry experience, Sizemore is a leader and subject matter expert in construction and the business community on health and safety and workforce development initiatives. Prior to joining ABC in 2015, Sizemore played an integral role in the formation of competency-based health and safety, project management and craft workforce development programs.

Greg is the immediate past chair of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention and is the past chair of the ABC National Craft Championships Committee and NCCER Workforce Development Committee.

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0:00 Introduction (Thank You Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

0:56 Power of reputation

7:00 Greg's move to ABC

21:55 Fly & Form Sponsorship Blurb

23:40 The most amazing call

25:30 Total Human Health

Thanks for listening!

The Passionate Leader (Greg Sizemore) - Part 1

Tue, 28 May 2024 04:00:00 -0400

Joining as the third guest of our third season is Greg Sizemore, Vice President of Health, Safety, Environment and Workforce Development for Associated Builders and Contractors.

Greg Sizemore is the vice president of health, safety, environment and workforce development for ABC. With more than 45 years of industry experience, Sizemore is a leader and subject matter expert in construction and the business community on health and safety and workforce development initiatives. Prior to joining ABC in 2015, Sizemore played an integral role in the formation of competency-based health and safety, project management and craft workforce development programs.

Greg is the immediate past chair of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention and is the past chair of the ABC National Craft Championships Committee and NCCER Workforce Development Committee.

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0:00 Introduction (Thank You Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

2:46 Greg Sizemore introduction

4:49 Landing his first construction "gig"

9:50 Getting out of the ditch

15:08 Learning from construction leaders

19:26 Sponsorship Blurb (Thank You Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

21:07 Doing what you love

30:00 Leading through tragedy

Thanks for listening!

Leading by Example (Ryce Elliott) - Part 2

Tue, 14 May 2024 08:00:00 -0400

Joining us for Part 2 his episode with the Building Leaders Radio Hour is Ryce Elliott, President of Benning Construction. This is part 1 of the episode.

Ryce has been with Benning Construction Company for twenty-eight (28) years and in this time has worked in almost every position within the Company from general laborer to his current position as President. He works with owners and architects on budgeting for projects, works with subcontractors to prepare pricing and evaluates same. He has built and managed all types of construction: movie theaters, tilt up concrete construction, masonry and steel construction, sitework from 1 to 50 acres, underground detention facilities, heavy foundation work, retaining walls, renovations to active facilities, demolition, coastal construction, libraries, multi-story work, retail construction, dealing with contaminated materials, around the clock work, and DOT construction. In his current position as President, he is responsible for corporate planning, risk analysis, contract review, and pre-construction management. Ryce’s education is courtesy of the U.S. Army and a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University.

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0:00 Introduction (Thank you Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

1:18 Santa Claus (Indiana)

4:28 Leadership lessons from the Army

9:26 Real motivation is always personal

14:23 Ryce's motivation

21:14 Advice for the next generation

27:44 Book recommendations

Thanks for listening!

Leading by Example (Ryce Elliott) - Part 1

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0400

Joining the Building Leaders Radio Hour for Episode 2 of this season is Ryce Elliott, President of Benning Construction. This is part 1 of the episode.

Ryce has been with Benning Construction Company for twenty-eight (28) years and in this time has worked in almost every position within the Company from general laborer to his current position as President. He works with owners and architects on budgeting for projects, works with subcontractors to prepare pricing and evaluates same. He has built and managed all types of construction: movie theaters, tilt up concrete construction, masonry and steel construction, sitework from 1 to 50 acres, underground detention facilities, heavy foundation work, retaining walls, renovations to active facilities, demolition, coastal construction, libraries, multi-story work, retail construction, dealing with contaminated materials, around the clock work, and DOT construction. In his current position as President, he is responsible for corporate planning, risk analysis, contract review, and pre-construction management. Ryce’s education is courtesy of the U.S. Army and a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University.

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0:00 Introduction (Thank You Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

1:30 Ryce's start with Benning

8:38 Learning from those who have been there

15:51 Lead by example

21:18 Sponsorship Blurb (Thank You Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

24:14 Looking back

28:09 Learning from mistakes

Thanks for listening!

"Best Idea Wins" Part 2 (Gil May)

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0400

Gil May, Founding Principal of May Architecture, returns for part 2 of his Building Leaders Radio Hour recording with Mark and Neil.

Gil May, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP, is the founding principal of May Architecture in Atlanta, Georgia. He has over 30 years of professional experience across a broad variety of award-winning projects. His focus is on projects in healthcare and higher education – and the intersection of these two areas. He is driven by a desire to combine both design and technical excellence and thrives on building consensus among various project stakeholders. Gil works by the mantra of “best idea wins”, a core principle of his design firm.

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0:00 Introduction (Thank You Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

1:15 Walking the walk

8:23 Balancing ego

13:56 Sponsorship Blurb (Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

20:53 Ways to de-stress

27:52 Gil's inspirations

32:57 Beekeeping, flying, sailing and more

Thanks for listening!

"Best Idea Wins" Part 1 (Gil May)

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0400

Joining us for our first episode of season 3 is Gil May, Founding Principal of May Architecture.

Gil May, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP, is the founding principal of May Architecture in Atlanta, Georgia. He has over 30 years of professional experience across a broad variety of award-winning projects. His focus is on projects in healthcare and higher education – and the intersection of these two areas. He is driven by a desire to combine both design and technical excellence and thrives on building consensus among various project stakeholders. Gil works by the mantra of “best idea wins”, a core principle of his design firm.

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0:00 Introduction (Thank you Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

2:00 Welcome Gil May

4:00 From undecided to architect

7:14 A life moment

10:47 An unexpected asset

13:55 Fly & Form Sponsorship Blurb

15:34 Growing the team

18:38 Healthcare and higher education

21:34 Hiring the right fit ("Best Idea Wins")

27:30 Collaboration in practice

Thanks for listening!

Supporting Women In Construction Week (Celeste Anthony-Johnson & Sheryl Alberico)

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0500

Joining us for a special BLRH episode are Celeste Anthony-Johnson and Sheryl Alberico. Both Sheryl and Celeste volunteer with the Atlanta Chapter of the National Association for Women in Construction (NAWIC). With over 115 chapters across the US, NAWIC serves as a support network that provides professional development, education, networking, and so much more for women in the construction field.

With dual BA's in Architecture and Interior Design, Sheryl Alberico brings a unique perspective and 20 years of industry experience to her role as Vice President of Business Development and Marketing at iugis Construction Corp, a certified minority-owned construction and design company. Her sales strategies are rooted in building lasting relationships with both new and existing clients.

Celeste Anthony-Johnson has been in the electrical industry managing the accounting and financial management divisions of IEC Atlanta/GA. She loves the work and commitment of the IEC in training future electricians of tomorrow. Celeste is excited to have joined NAWIC in the spring of 2022 and enjoys the opportunity to serve and learn from and collaborate with women in the construction industry. Celeste currently serves as the treasurer for the Atlanta chapter of NAWIC.

Women In Construction Week is the first full week in March. Click here for a list of
events the Atlanta Chapter of NAWIC has planned.

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0:00 Intro (Thanks Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

1:00 Supporting WIC Week

2:55 Maintaining support after WIC Week

8:10 NAWIC brings EVERYONE together

10:17 How to support NAWIC

11:36 Atlanta WIC Week Events

Thanks for listening!

WIC Week Spotlight: Supporting Women in Construction (Celeste Anthony-Johnson & Sheryl Alberico)

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 12:00:00 -0500

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0:00 Intro (Thanks to Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

2:00 ALL About NAWIC

4:36 Celeste & Sheryl Introduction

17:30 26th Annual WIC Week

20:50 Block Kids Competition

25:25 How do I get involved with NAWIC?

Thanks for listening!

Leading with Integrity (Brad Raffensperger)

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Joining BLRH as the final guest of season two is Brad Raffensperger, Georgia's 29th Secretary of State. Secretary Raffensperger was first elected in 2018 and overwhelmingly re-elected in 2022.

Secretary Raffensperger is a lifelong conservative Republican. He moved to Georgia 40 years ago to raise a family and start a small business. As a licensed Professional Engineer and Structural Engineer licensed in 40 states, and licensed General Contractor in Georgia and other states, Raffensperger successfully founded Tendon Systems, a provider of high-strength steel for construction projects. Under Raffensperger’s ownership Tendon Systems grew to become the southeast’s largest post-tensioning specialist contractor with approximately 150 employees and projects in over 40 states. Brad also founded Trillium Structures, a structural design consulting firm with commercial mid-rise and high-rise projects throughout the southeast.

As Secretary of State, Raffensperger delivered the largest implementation of voting machines in the history of this country, on time and on budget. Under Raffensperger’s leadership, Georgia modernized its election system by adding its first auditable paper ballot system and giving the power to secure Georgia’s elections directly to the voter.

Brad and his wife Tricia started out as high school sweethearts and have now been married for over forty-five years. They raised three sons and immensely enjoy spoiling their three grandchildren. They are members of North Point Community Church.

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0:00 Intro (Thank You Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

2:45 A construction background

12:37 Stepping into public service

21:00 More on the role as Secretary of State

30:17 Fly & Form Concrete Structures Sponsorship Blurb

32:05 Engaging the next generation of public servants

38:28 Finding common ground in politics

47:38 The Southeast boom over the past two decades

56:47 Maintaining integrity through turbulence

Thanks for listening!

The Leadership IMPACT (Jason Hughes)

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Joining Building Leaders Radio Hour as our seventh guest of season two is Jason Hughes, Co-Founder and President of IMPACT Development Management.

A dynamic and well-rounded leader, Jason Hughes understands first-hand the viewpoint of the contractor, the investor, and the owner. With an undergrad in construction management, Jason spent the early part of his career working as a project manager for one of Atlanta’s top commercial contracting firms. In 2006, he transitioned to the developer side of the table, managing the construction program for $330 million-dollar deals across the southeast and later was engaged to do commercial project advisory work for an investment bank. Yet, it was in 2012, that Jason found his niche at IMPACT.

Initially serving as the developer’s representative on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Jason’s comprehensive perspective and pure grit helped guide this $1.6 billion-dollar program to successful completion. Now, as President of IMPACT, Jason provides strategic direction, oversees day-to-day operations, supports his business partners in project management efforts, and ensures projects have proper resources available to achieve success. Recognizing that relationships are built on trust, he fosters transparency across all of our company operations through the sharing of information and consistent communication. A champion of culture, he instinctively knows how to motivate teams around a common goal, while his welcoming and friendly nature make him a called-upon resource for employees, clients, and industry partners alike.

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0:00 Intro (Thank You Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

2:41 Jason Hughes Intro

4:16 Mercedes Benz Stadium Project

12:46 The Owner/Developer Perspective

16:29 What does IMPACT do?

26:49 Finding Success on Their Own

33:48 Fly & Form Concrete Structures Sponsorship Blurb

35:30 Leadership Self-Awareness

43:58 The Business Plan vs. Reality

50:00 Injecting Positivity into Negative Situations

Thanks for listening!

The Good to Great Leader (Brett Fortune)

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Our sixth guest of season 2 is Brett Fortune, Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Fortune-Johnson.

Brett has been actively involved in the construction industry for over 35 years and has supervised the construction of more than 30,000 multifamily units since the company’s inception in 1991. Brett's experience covers all phases of construction operations ranging from estimating, scheduling, site development, building construction, and business development.

Brett holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree with a concentration in Marketing from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. Prior to forming Fortune-Johnson, Brett was a senior project manager with the Calibre Company of Georgia for nine years.

Brett is a licensed general contractor in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. He is chairman emeritus for the Associated Builders & Contractors of Georgia and sits on the Construction Management Advisory Board for Clemson University, as well as Kennesaw State University’s Construction Management Advisory Board, of which he is a past chairman.

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0:00 Intro (Thank You Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

3:40 Brett Fortune Introduction

9:45 The mindset to start a business

17:01 Learning from the past

26:16 Fly & Form Concrete Structures Sponsorship Blurb

27:57 Evolving through challenges

37:35 ABC's power to help strengthen businesses

44:50 Motivating through headwinds

50:02 Life in the fast lane (Nascar fun fact)

Thanks for listening!

The Faithful Leader (Chris Clark)

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Joining us as our fifth guest of season two is Chris Clark, President & CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing coordinated leadership to protect free enterprise, engage members, capitalize on emerging trends, and mitigate risk to Georgia business.

Chris received his bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University and his master’s degree in public administration from Georgia College and State University. Prior to joining the Georgia Chamber, Chris served as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and as Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Economic Development. Before his state service, he was the President of the Fayette County Development Authority and CEO of the Hawkinsville-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce.

Chris serves on the Board of Directors for the Council of State Chambers as the Secretary Treasurer, and sits on the boards of the Georgia Allies, the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the Georgia College and State University Board of Trustees, and many others.

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0:00 Introduction (Thank You Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

2:35 Chris Clark introduction

8:51 Georgia Chamber info

18:02 Business in GA over the next 10 years

25:55 Learning from the past

28:16 Fly & Form Concrete Structures Sponsorship Blurb

29:32 The Chamber Way (building a great culture)

33:44 The CEO Imperative

38:40 Power of Mentorship

41:52 Leadership Awareness

44:40 Translating the Middle Ground

50:48 Biggest Fears

Thanks for listening!

Giving Back (Melanie Kagan)

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Joining us for our non-profit episode of season two is Melanie Kagan, CEO of The Center for Family Resources. The Center for Family Resources is a Cobb County-based organization that works exclusively to serve local families and individuals that are either homeless or in danger of becoming homeless.

Melanie has more than 10 years of experience working in the nonprofit field in leadership positions that include fundraising, policy and advocacy, nonprofit management and program oversight. She has spent the last two years as the Northwest Regional Director for the United Way of Greater Atlanta where she had oversight of Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas and Paulding Counties.

Prior to relocating to Cobb County, she held leadership positions with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico and the United Way of Central New Mexico. Melanie was honored as both a Women of Influence in 2016 and a 40 Under 40 young professional in 2017 by the Albuquerque Business Journal. She currently serves on the boards of the Cobb Collaborative and Georgia Metro Dance. Melanie and her husband Maxwell, along with their five children, reside in Cobb County.

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0:00 Introduction (Thank You Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

2:14 Melanie Kagan Introduction

9:08 Melanie's intro to the non-profit world

15:48 Keeping your team motivated during complex challenges

22:00 How to help The Center for Family Resources

30:41 Fly & Form Concrete Structures Sponsorship Blurb

31:59 Seeing the bigger picture

34:58 Cultivating creativity

40:28 Evolving with the times

46:03 Neighborhood karaoke and puzzles

51:32 Employee motivation

Thanks for listening!

Blazing New Paths (Michael Russell, Sr.)

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Joining BLRH as our third guest of season 2 is Michael Russell, Sr. Michael was promoted to Chief Executive Officer of H. J. Russell & Company in 2003 succeeding his father, Herman Russell, who founded the company in 1952 and led it for 50 years. Michael is also Vice Chairman of Concessions International.

A graduate of The University of Virginia and Georgia State University, Michael brings his 28 years of construction experience to lead the more than 2,000 employees across 10 major cities between H. J. Russell & Company and Concessions International.

Michael is very active in the community and is involved in business and civic organizations. He serves on the boards of various organizations including the Metro Atlanta Chamber (Executive Committee), Commerce Club, SunTrust Atlanta Bank Advisory Board, Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business Advisory Board, and University of Virginia Foundation Board. Michael is also a member of the Atlanta Rotary Club and 100 Black Men.

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0:00 Introduction (Thank You Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

2:52 Michael Russell, Sr. Introduction

4:50 Big shoes to fill

11:10 Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs

23:11 Fly & Form Concrete Structures Sponsorship Blurb

24:40 Start with making an impact

30:00 Family impact

36:04 Keys to keeping employees engaged

41:27 Culture starts with fundamentals

44:58 Working to mesh as a family-owned business

54:18 Who would play Michael in a movie

Thanks for listening!

Building a Sustainable Life (Gerry Hughes)

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 03:00:00 -0400

Joining us for our 2nd episode of the season is Gerry Hughes. Gerry Hughes has been leading commercial construction within the Tri-State area of New York City for over 25 years, with expansion to the Atlanta market within the past 9 years as the Founder and CEO of South Ferry NY Llc, Melvin Construction lnc and Belter Tech Inc.

Gerry took the leap of faith to embark on the American Dream as he left his homeland of Ireland at age 17 to continue his career in the construction industry. Gerry has a strong passion for identifying marketplace opportunities and strives to develop products that serve short and long-term goals specific to sustainability and ecological benefit for the construction sector.

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0:00 Introduction (Thank you Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

1:22 Gerry Hughes Introduction

5:32 Importance of Trades

7:04 Trip of a lifetime at 17 years old

12:30 Going out on his own (again)

21:08 Going green with Belter Tech

28:47 Fly & Form Concrete Structures Sponsorship Blurb

30:12 Putting together the right team

41:56 Leave it better than you found it

44:12 Gerry's motivating force

49:32 Advice to a younger self

Thanks for listening!

From Minor League to Merit Shop (Mike Bellaman)

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 03:00:00 -0400

Kicking off Season 2 of Building Leaders Radio Hour is Mike Bellaman, President and CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors. Mike's tenure in this role began in 2011 and he currently serves over 22,000 ABC members from 68 chapters across the US.

A graduate of Penn State, Mike earned his bachelor's degree in architectural engineering and spent more than two decades in the construction industry before joining ABC's staff. In addition to launching initiatives that have strengthened ABC members' value proposition, Mike has led the way in ensuring Safety is at the forefront for each member through championing ABC's STEP Safety Management system.

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0:00 Introduction (Thank you Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

2:25 Mike Bellaman Introduction

6:55 Digging into the past

10:52 22nd round pick

14:32 You're only as good as your next game

22:40 Fly & Form Concrete Structures

23:55 Prepare to perform

30:22 Learning through experience

33:21 Embracing and understanding volunteers

38:20 Approach, Deployment, Results

41:45 Stepping up for Safety

49:03 Mike can do what?!?

54:35 One final question

Thanks for listening!

The Inevitable Life (David Kidder)

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 03:00:00 -0400

Joining us for the final episode of our first season is David Kidder. David is a founder, investor, speaker, and New York Times bestselling author. David's purpose is to ignite growth in the lives of people and organizations, to help identify their proprietary gifts and solve the grand challenges of our time.

David, a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology, co-founded Bionic (Inc. 500) in 2013 to ignite growth revolutions in large enterprises. Following Bionic's acquisition by Accenture, David has continued his creative efforts as an angel investor with more than 40 investments.

David has spent the last decade educating audiences on the topic of growth mindsets and innovation and transformation. This work was captured in his latest book, New to Big.

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0:00 Introduction

2:38 David Kidder Introduction

5:18 Success is a bad educator

6:27 An intentional becoming

13:44 Setting, asking, ready

17:43 "The Alter Ego Effect"

22:12 80% of all success is being there when it happens

31:58 What's your proprietary gift?

35:40 The founding trifecta

39:48 The leadership playbook

50:17 "Don't focus on who you are, focus on what you're becoming."

1:01:00 Gnosis

1:07:24 A rational optimist

1:14:25 Refounding (big to bigger)

1:23:35 Where to find David

1:26:02 Debrief - walk the walk

---

Click here to subscribe to BLRH on your favorite platform and listen to other episodes. Share this link with your network so they don't miss out on BLRH!

Thanks for listening!

Giving Back (Kara Portnell)

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 03:00:00 -0400

Joining us for the penultimate episode of BLRH season 1 is Kara Portnell. Kara has served as the executive director of Early Learning Property Management, Inc. for the past 20 years.

Prior to serving as Executive Director, Kara provided construction management and program services for ELPM, along with Jack Pinkerton, who, as a retired contractor, volunteered his construction expertise and services. Kara continues to lead and manage ELPM’s mission, development, construction projects, and center maintenance/capital projects, along with the overall management of ELPM.

ELPM’s mission is to transform early childhood learning and development in underserved communities by building and maintaining high-quality, safe facilities, as well as enhancing existing centers. Since its inception, ELPM has worked with the Head Start grantees and other non-profit early care providers to address the need for additional quality early learning facilities. To date, ELPM has purchased, renovated or constructed 15 high-quality early education centers located in Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Barrow, and Paulding counties. These ELPM centers have accumulatively served approximately 46,000+ young children and their families in licensed, Quality Rated and nationally accredited, or equivalent, centers.

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0:00 Introduction
1:03 Special BLRH shoutout
3:50 Kara and ELMP introduction
5:51 Building a career in construction
8:42 Jack Pinkerton
11:30 ELMP's impact
16:03 Quality Facility Initiative (QFI)
20:09 Budgeting in today's world
24:23 Building trust on the foundation of past success
29:23 Multi-Model approach
33:55 A small but mighty team
40:44 Mission first
43:26 Greatest success
48:55 Motivated to serve

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Click here to subscribe to BLRH on your favorite platform and listen to other episodes.

Share this link with your network so they don't miss out on BLRH!

Building Leaders Radio Hour is produced by Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia. ABC of Georgia is a network of companies and professionals within the develop-design-build industry that is committed to connecting the disciplines of construction to benefit the industry, the economy, and employment in Georgia.

Thanks for listening!

Winning the Bid (Charlie Battle)

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0400

Joining us for episode 6 of the Building Leaders Radio hour is Charlie Battle. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Charlie has served for many years as a Public Finance Lawyer in Atlanta, GA, and was instrumental in Atlanta hosting the 1996 Olympic games.

Charlie was a public finance lawyer before playing a key role in Atlanta's successful bid to host the 1996 Olympic Games. Charlie served as Managing Director for International Relations of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games and was awarded the Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee for outstanding contributions to the Olympic movement.

Following the Atlanta Olympic Games, he served as President of Central Atlanta Progress. Charlie has served as an international advisor consulting with several cities bidding to host the Olympic Games including Beijing, Vancouver, New York, Sochi, Chicago, PyeongChang and Istanbul. Charlie serves as the Honorary Consul for the Principality of Monaco.

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0:00 Introduction

2:12 All about Charlie

9:55 "It takes a wise fish to swim upstream, but any old log can float down"

13:03 What is a public finance lawyer?

16:44 Olympic daydreaming

24:00 Building an Olympic team

30:13 Winning the US Olympic bid

32:50 Going international: A meeting in Malta

42:20 Southern hospitality: building relationships and getting the votes

47:24 A stunned expectation: we won, now what?

54:13 The economic impact of the games

57:36 Power of building friendships

1:02:10 Episode debrief

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Click here to subscribe to BLRH on your favorite platform and listen to other episodes.

Share this link with your network so they don't miss out on BLRH!

Building Leaders Radio Hour is produced by Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia. ABC of Georgia is a network of companies and professionals within the develop-design-build industry that is committed to connecting the disciplines of construction to benefit the industry, the economy, and employment in Georgia.

Thanks for listening!

Designing Your Life (Melissa Cantrell)

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0400

Our fifth guest of the season on BLRH is Melissa Cantrell. Melissa currently serves as the president and CEO of CDH Partners. CDH Partners is an architectural firm that was founded in 1977 with a commitment to serve those who serve others.

With a family whose claim to fame is the geodesic dome and for female builders, Melissa grew up around architecture and being able to visualize designed spaces. A proud graduate of Georgia Tech, Melissa has followed a path she knew she would take since the age of 11. From humble beginnings, she now handles operations to establish short and long-term goals, plans and strategies, as well as resourcing, employee growth, and budgets for a nationally recognized architecture firm

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0:00 Intro

1:20 Melissa Introduction

4:20 Growing up

7:05 What I want to be when I grow up

15:41 Thinking critically and communicating effectively

17:11 Working twice as hard to be seen

18:18 Learning from others

21:32 Evolving leadership styles for an evolving workforce

27:22 Managing work from home

32:26 Starting each day

34:49 Power of Vulnerability

36:20 Overcoming the noise

43:26 Keys for emerging professionals

49:37 Gaining Traction

53:26 Episode recap

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Click here to subscribe to BLRH on your favorite platform and listen to other episodes.

Share this link with your network so they don't miss out on BLRH!

Building Leaders Radio Hour is produced by Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia. ABC of Georgia is a network of companies and professionals within the develop-design-build industry that is committed to connecting the disciplines of construction to benefit the industry, the economy, and employment in Georgia.

Thanks for listening!

Carpenter to CEO (Mike Bolen)

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 03:00:00 -0500

Joining us for the 4th episode of our first season is Mike Bolen. Mike served as the CEO of McCarthy Building Companies from 1999-2021. Established in 1864, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. has a long history of building facilities that drive greater value.

With over 30 years of experience in the construction industry, Mike joined McCarthy in 1978 as a carpenter, moving his way up through the company to assume the role of CEO in 1999. With this ascension, Mike became the first person without the last name of McCarthy to lead the company. Mike earned a bachelor of science in general engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., and completed his graduate degree in guidance and counseling at the University of Northern Colorado in Greely, while on active duty.

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0:00 Introduction

2:08 Where in the world is Mike Bolen?

3:15 Early years

7:25 Mom and Dad

11:42 The Pentagon and drones???

15:43 Military learnings: The difference between leading and being in charge

20:10 "Getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to"

24:30 McCarthy's history

31:46 Building relationships

35:10 We/us/our culture

40:18 Active listening as the foundation of leadership

45:50 Learning to be alone without being lonely

53:07 Go fast without being in a hurry

56:25 Learning from history (Eisenhower)

1:02:38 Episode debrief

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Click here to subscribe to BLRH on your favorite platform and listen to other episodes.

Share this link with your network so they don't miss out on BLRH!

Building Leaders Radio Hour is produced by Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia. ABC of Georgia is a network of companies and professionals within the develop-design-build industry that is committed to connecting the disciplines of construction to benefit the industry, the economy, and employment in Georgia.

Thanks for listening!

Bucket List Interview (Nancy Juneau)

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Nancy Juneau joins BLRH for the 3rd episode of our first season. Nancy currently serves as the CEO of Juneau Construction and formerly served as the ABC of Georgia board chairman in 2017.

Nancy is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Education. After graduating, she entered the A/E/C industry working in the marketing department for a structural engineer out of St. Louis, MO. From there she moved on to work for a large Construction Management firm where she gained experience in preconstruction. In the mid-80’s, Nancy moved to Tampa, FL to pursue a career in Business Development for a large General Contractor, becoming the company’s first female Manager. It was here that she met her husband Les Juneau, with whom she started Juneau Construction Company with, in 1997 in Atlanta. Since then, Juneau has earned a seat on Atlanta’s and South Florida’s top construction companies lists along with being ranked the #2 woman-owned firm in Atlanta.

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01:47 Nancy Juneau introduction

08:00 Learning to sink or swim

12:35 Overcoming obstacles as a woman-owned business

17:08 Embracing a changing workforce

22:57 Balancing work-life balance in the construction industry

27:40 The only woman in the room

33:37 Creating a culture of support from the start

37:41 Working with family and friends

41:11 Learning to listen (more or Les)

49:42 Labor shortage in the construction industry

53:50 Advice in hindsight

1:00:39 “Only Murders in the Building” Podcast (Listen here)

1:02:00 Brad Pitt and Spongebob

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Click here to subscribe to BLRH on your favorite platform and listen to other episodes.

Share this link with your network so they don't miss out on BLRH!

Building Leaders Radio Hour is produced by Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia. ABC of Georgia is a network of companies and professionals within the develop-design-build industry that is committed to connecting the disciplines of construction to benefit the industry, the economy, and employment in Georgia.

Thanks for listening!

Wow! He let us do this? (Bill Anderson)

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 03:00:00 -0500

Join us as we sit down with Bill Anderson, President & CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia, as he shares his experiences leading ABC over the past 25 years.

Bill earned his designation as a LEED® AP from the U.S. Green Building Institute. He is an active member of several construction and professional associations, including the Georgia Society of Association Executives (GSAE). Bill served as GSAE’s President in 2007-2008 and has received many GSAE awards over the years. He achieved his Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Bill earned his MBA degree at Georgia State University and his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism degree at the University of Georgia.

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00:00 Introduction

01:05 Bill Anderson Intro

04:30 Mental health inclusion in safety conversations

07:30 Bill's ABCs of motivation

15:15 Turning a negative into a positive

19:30 "Get into politics or get out of business."

24:10 Bill growing up

30:26 Balancing work and life

38:14 RUN your day by starting strong

41:07 Don't take anything for granted

52:28 Episode Recap

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Click here to subscribe to BLRH on your favorite platform and listen to other episodes.

Share this link with your network so they don't miss out on BLRH!

Building Leaders Radio Hour is produced by Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia. ABC of Georgia is a network of companies and professionals within the develop-design-build industry that is committed to connecting the disciplines of construction to benefit the industry, the economy, and employment in Georgia.

Thanks for listening!

In the Beginning (Neil Wilcove & Mark Cleverly)

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 03:00:00 -0500

In the beginning, there was an idea and that idea turned into the Building Leaders Radio Hour. Join co-hosts Neil Wilcove and Mark Cleverly as they discuss the idea behind Building Leaders Radio Hour, who they are, and what they hope to accomplish through these episodes.

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00:00 Introduction
00:45 What is Building Leaders Radio Hour?
02:36 A boy from West Tennessee (Mark Cleverly Intro)
06:26 Difference between being a leader and being a boss
08:45 A boy from Upstate New York (Neil Wilcove Intro)
11:00 Building Leaders Radio Hour origin story (Yellow)
17:43 Work ethic in the 21st century
25:00 Leaders send birthday cards
30:25 Life impressions lead to business decisions
33:09 Risky business

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Click here to subscribe to BLRH on your favorite platform and listen to other episodes.

Share this link with your network so they don't miss out on BLRH!

Building Leaders Radio Hour is produced by Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia. ABC of Georgia is a network of companies and professionals within the develop-design-build industry that is committed to connecting the disciplines of construction to benefit the industry, the economy, and employment in Georgia.

Thanks for listening!

Season Premiere Teaser

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0500

After many years of planning, the Building Leaders Radio Hour will be launching its first season on January 17, 2023. Preview the exciting things to come with snippets from our first episode. Be sure to subscribe/like/download and share with your friends and network.

Thanks for listening!