Submarine Bases, Ice Hockey Rinks, Biohazard Research Sites: Halley Hartenbower Builds Normal Stuff

🎙️ Halley Hartenbower, Advanced Manufacturing Market Executive at Mortenson, joins Tool or Die to talk about the massive industrial and infrastructure projects shaping America—from solar megaprojects to semiconductor fabs to nuclear submarine bases. With nearly 20 years at Mortenson, Halley gives an insider’s look at the challenges of reshoring advanced manufacturing, the realities of building America’s energy future, and what it takes to staff, fund, and execute billion-dollar projects.Plus, why electricians are the hottest job in America right now.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction02:10 Mortenson’s biggest projects: semiconductors, energy, and defense10:40 What it takes to build a nuclear submarine base15:20 Site selection, workforce, and the battle for U.S. manufacturing capacity23:10 The CHIPS Act, IRA, and how reshoring is playing out30:00 Why energy access is the next great infrastructure challenge38:10 Automation, construction labor, and the limits of AI robots45:30 Lightning Round: Buffalo, chicken wings, and the perfect waveKey Topics* How Mortenson helps companies build and scale massive manufacturing projects* The reshoring boom and what industries are surging in the U.S.* Why energy availability is the biggest bottleneck for factories and data centers* Building a nuclear submarine base—what it’s like working on top-secret military projects* The labor shortage in U.S. construction and manufacturing (spoiler: become an electrician)* Why Silicon Valley’s automation hype doesn’t match construction realities👉 Follow: @MortensonWebsite: mortenson.comTOOL OR DIE is produced by Johnson & Roy (Johnson-Roy.com), a strategic advisory firm specializing in technology, mobility, manufacturing, and robotics. Your hosts are Joel Johnson, a former technology journalist and media executive who pioneered brands like Gizmodo, Jalopnik, and Wirecutter, and Alex Roy, a General Partner at New Industry Venture Capital (NIVC.us) known for breaking the Cannonball Run record and his work in autonomous vehicles.Follow them at:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexroy | linkedin.com/in/joeljohnsonX: @alexroy144 | @joeljohnsonWeb: johnson-roy.com#Manufacturing #Construction #Infrastructure #Reshoring #MadeInAmerica Get full access to TOOL or DIE at www.toolordie.com/subscribe