People-First Builders Podcast
by Fletcher Wimbush
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 year
Episodes
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How Employee Ownership Strengthens Retention with Ashley Pistecchia
What does it take to attract and retain great talent in an industry where experienced professionals are increasingly difficult to find? In this episode of People-First Builders, Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Ashley Pistecchia, Manager of Recruiting and Talent Management at BL Companies, to...
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How Integrity Attracts Better Construction Teams with Victor Bretting
What does 50 years in construction teach you about leadership, hiring, and building teams people actually want to be part of? In this episode of People-First Builders, Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Victor Bretting, Director of Concrete Operations at McGough Construction, to explore the…
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Training Trades to Get It Right the First Time with Michael Giaramita
What if the biggest problems on a construction project aren't technical—but people problems? In this episode of the People-First Builders Podcast, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Michael Giaramita, CEO of Group PMX, to explore how alignment, accountability, training, and respect can…
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Hire for Character and Train for Capability with Jenny Nail
Hire for Character and Train for Capability with Jenny Nail, Chief Commercial Officer at CRH Americas Building Products What separates great organizations from the rest? According to Jenny Nail, it starts with hiring people for who they are—not just what they know. In this episode of the...
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Creating Growth Paths Across Every Department with Greg Stewart
Creating Growth Paths Across Every Department with Greg Stewart, President of Jewett Construction What keeps great people in construction? According to Greg Stewart, it's not just competitive pay or exciting projects—it's creating meaningful opportunities for people to grow. In this episode of…
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Retaining Top Talent Through Flexibility and Trust with Tania Van Herle
Tania Van Herle, Co-CEO of HED, shares how one of the nation's leading architecture and engineering firms has built a people-first culture that drives innovation, attracts exceptional talent, and retains employees through trust and flexibility. Drawing from her 30-year journey with HED, Tania...
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Building Trust First on Complex Construction Projects with Melissa Drew
What does it take to successfully launch a construction management company and immediately take on a $53 million project? In this episode of People-First Builders, Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Melissa Drew, Founder & CEO of InSite Build, to discuss how strong relationships, trust, and...
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How Great Operators Build Better Roofing Teams with Brad Strawbridge
What does it really take to build a high-performing roofing company in today's construction landscape? In this episode of the People-First Builders Podcast, Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Brad Strawbridge — Founder & CEO of Capital City Roofing, Chief Strategy Officer at Builderlync, and founder...
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How Decentralized Leadership Builds Better Communities with Richard Douglass
In this episode of the People-First Builders Podcast, Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Richard Douglass, President of TruMark Homes and Communities, to explore how decentralized leadership creates stronger teams, better projects, and thriving company cultures in the homebuilding industry. Richard...
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Creating Career Paths That Keep Engineers Growing with Carrie Stokes
In this episode of People-First Builders, Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Carrie Stokes, CEO and President of Barge Design Solutions, to explore what it truly means to build a people-first engineering firm. Carrie's journey—from student intern to becoming the first woman to lead a 70-year-old,...
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Developing Future Leaders Faster in Engineering with Russ Seamon
On this episode of the People-First Builders Podcast, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Russ Seamon, President of Seamon Whiteside, a fast-growing civil engineering and landscape architecture firm in the Southeast. Russ shares how his firm transformed from a small, family-founded business into…
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Building Culture Fast in a Growing Trade Business with Uri Pearl
In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Uri Pearl, owner of Nealon Insulation, a fast-growing home services company in Connecticut built on a powerful people-first philosophy. Uri's journey into construction is anything but traditional. With a background in...
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Outcome-Based Roles and Lean Standards of Work with Clark Lowe
In this episode of the People-First Builders Podcast, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Clark Lowe, President & CEO of O'Connor Company, to explore how leadership, culture, and innovation are reshaping the construction industry. Clark shares his journey from the United States Marine Corps to...
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Hiring Quality Over Quantity in Hypergrowth with Angelica Connor
What happens when a construction company grows from a small operation to a national firm in just a few years? In this episode of the People-First Builders Podcast, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Angelica Connor, CEO of Stansell Construction, to discuss the leadership lessons behind scaling…
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The Systems Behind High Performing Franchise Growth with Chris Bue
What does it really take to scale a franchise organization without losing your culture? In this episode of People-First Builders, Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Chris Bue to unpack the systems, leadership discipline, and people-first infrastructure required to drive high-performing franchise...
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Building Scalable Roofing Teams Through Structured Training with Michael Feazel
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...
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Developing Future Talent by Making Trades Attractive with Chad Raymond
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,...
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Why Paying Top Talent Pays Off Scaling in Tough Markets with Scott Menard
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...
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Turning Burnout Into Culture Change in Construction with Chad Abernethy
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...
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Build Together Thrive Forever Creating an Employee Owned Future with John Abrams
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+...
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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...
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Lead with Love, Build with Purpose: Growing Through People with Scott Walters
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…
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Engineer the Vision, Build the Team: Leading with Intention with Scott Harvey-Lewis
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....
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From Court Discipline to Business Growth: Leading with Structure
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…
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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...
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How Structure Builds Retention with Roggen Frick
What keeps great people from leaving? For Roggen Frick, it's all about replacing chaos with predictability. In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Roggen to explore how structure, consistency, and clear systems create trust, reduce turnover, and build…
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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…
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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...
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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…
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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,...
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How to Find, Grow, or Attract Top Estimating Talent to Scale Your Construction Firm with Chad Prinkey
Fletcher and Chad dive deep into one of the most critical and often overlooked challenges in scaling a commercial construction business: taking the estimating hat off the owner's head. They explore: Why owners must eventually delegate estimating to scale effectively. The two main paths: grow an...
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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...
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From Jobsite to Boardroom: Jeffery Forrest Jr. on Legacy, Leadership & Learning from Poker
In this episode of the People-First Builders Podcast, I'm joined by Jeffery Forrest Jr., successor and co-owner of WPC, a family-run construction powerhouse based in Central Florida. Jeffrey shares his journey from pushing a broom on job sites at 15 to leading one of the Southeast's premier...
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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...
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Paige Byrd — 20 Years to Break Ground: Building a Team Built to Last
In this episode of People First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Paige Byrd, Co-President of Thiel & Team, a seasoned leader in amenities-focused interior design and architecture. With over 30 years of experience, Paige shares the remarkable story behind the revival of the historic...
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Building with Heart: How Justin Bride Brings Integrity and Intention to Residential Construction
In this episode of the People First Builders podcast, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Justin Bride, CEO and founder of Ascent Contracting, to explore what it really means to lead with purpose in the construction industry. From his unconventional path—pivoting from a physics degree to a…
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From Complaints to Culture: Leading with Purpose in the Trades with Traci Austin
In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Traci Austin, Chief Talent Officer at Elevated Talent Consulting, to unpack one of the biggest leadership challenges in the trades: the blame game. Tracy, a lifelong advocate for transformational leadership in...
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Building Culture That Lasts: How Brandon Stanchock Keeps Turnover at 12% in the Trades
In this episode of the People First Builders Podcast, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Brandon Stanchock, CEO of SWF Industrial, to explore how authentic leadership and a true commitment to people-first values can transform a business. Brandon shares his journey from project management in…
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From Boots to Blueprints: How Sal Hernandez Scaled, Systemized, and Served His Way to a Successful Exit
From Field to Founder: How Sal Hernandez Scaled, Exited, and Now Coaches the Next Generation of Builders In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Sal Hernandez — a veteran, serial entrepreneur, and former owner of a successful design-build firm. From humble...
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From Sales Rookie to $70M Revenue Leader: Sam Rockaway's People-First Playbook
In this episode of People First Builders, Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Sam Rockaway, Head of Sales at REDCOM Design & Construction, to unpack his remarkable journey from construction outsider to B2B sales powerhouse in the design-build space. 🔍 What You'll Learn: How Sam turned a...
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Designing Culture, Building Legacy: How Lance Cayko Scales Success Through People
From Farm Life to Design-Build Leadership: Lance Cayko's People-First Journey What happens when a poor farm kid from North Dakota trades irrigation lines for blueprints? You get Lance Cayko, co-founder of F9 Productions—a thriving design-build architecture firm in Colorado—and one of the most...
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The Best Strategies for Reducing Turnover in Blue-Collar Hiring with Core Matters' Ryan Englin
In this episode of the People-First Builders podcast, Fletcher Wimbush interviews the CEO of Core Matters, Ryan Englin. Ryan shares his journey from running a marketing company to specializing in recruiting for trades like HVAC, plumbing, and construction. He highlights the high turnover rates…
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Building a People-First Culture: Transforming the Construction Industry One Hire at a Time with Fletcher Wimbush
In the inaugural episode of the People-First Builders podcast, Josh Elledge of UpMyInfluence interviews the creator and host of the show, Fletcher Wimbush. Fletcher is the owner and CEO of Discovered.ai, Wimbush & Associates, Inc., and Integrity First. Fletcher addresses the significant talent...
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Treating Your Employees Like Artists In The Workplace
Fletcher and Gerald discuss how looking at your team as artists can help with better understanding their role and how everyone ties into your workplace orchestra.
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Navigating the Post-Pandemic Norms with Damien Filiatrault
In this episode, Damien joins Fletcher in discussing the new norms that have stemmed from the pandemic such as remote work, the rise of international workers in the software development field, and how to identify and include these new set of workers into the company and its culture.
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Diversity Equity & Inclusion with Julie Kratz
Fletcher Wimbush brings on Julie Kratz from Next Pivot Point to discuss diversity in the workplace and how important representation has become in both society and our workforce. Next Pivot Point Linkedin Facebook Twitter
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Optimizing Your Candidate List
Michael Yinger, CEO of Resume Sieve, joins Fletcher Wimbush to discuss the best ways to hire the right person for the right job through the resume sorting process.
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Attracting the Right Talent with the Right Job Ad
Fletcher Wimbush talks with Shaun Martin, author of "Hack Your Hiring: The Tactical Playbook to Find, Evaluate, and Hire A+ Talent" on how to attract and find the best talent using the right job ad.
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Cameron Herold, the CEO Whisperer on The Hire Talent's Podcast with Fletcher Wimbush
The Hire Talents podcast, Optimizing The Hiring Process, for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs is excited to host Cameron Herold, a true serial entrepreneurial genius known around the world . He is the mastermind behind hundreds of companies' exponential growth. Join us as we get in depth with THE…
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Bianca Lager of 'Social Intelligence' Speaks to Fletcher at The Hire Talent
Fletcher Wimbush speaks with Bianca Lager of 'Social Intelligence' a consumer reporting agency focused on online risk for human resources. www.socialintel.com
About this show
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 year
Hosted by
Fletcher Wimbush
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