The MBI EDGE

For this podcast, we sat down with Shelly Charter and Natasha Winterbottom of the American Parkinson Disease Association Iowa Chapter to raise awareness about how the disease impacts our friends and family.

Trey Seiser of Henkel Construction shares how MBEye on the Future program shaped his leadership journey, expanded his industry perspective, and prepared him to step into a meaningful role on the MBI Board of Directors.

This episode of MBI Edge: What Were You Thinking explores how construction professionals can build a stronger, more resilient body through practical strategies in movement, nutrition, recovery, and mindset with fitness expert Jen Fischer.

Join Tara Rinehart as she sits down with Chelsea Husum, bestselling author, keynote speaker, podcast host, and founder of American GPR & Coring, breaks down how authentic communication, adaptability, and straight-up honesty can transform leadership, strengthen teams, and prevent costly breakdowns on the jobsite.

Listen in on this latest episode of The MBI EDGE, to hear about a new approach through the Nation’s Largest Direct Primary Care Network.

This podcast is sponsored by McGill Junge Wealth ManagementHear from Trent Burley of McGill Junge Wealth Management about the actual strategies needed to employ when looking at succession planning.

In this episode, we sit down with Zach Giglio, AI strategist and founder of GCM, to talk about what AI can really do for construction firms today. If you're attending the MBI Winter Conference, this conversation is your preview of why Zach's AI Accelerator for Construction course is a must-attend, hands-on experience designed to deliver immediate ROI.

Construction safety leaders are being called to do more than enforce rules—they’re being asked to influence culture, prevent serious incidents, and lead change from the front office to the frontline. In this episode, Jason Kunz shares why the Safety Professionals Masterclass at MBI Winter Conference is a must-attend experience for safety managers and directors ready to elevate their impact and drive the future of construction safety.

“Join current MBI Board Chair Gordon Parker and President and CEO Chad Kleppe as they re-cap 2025 and share their perspectives going into 2026. Besides ending the year with our highest membership number in the history of MBI, some of the other highlights that happened during Gordon’s tenure as chair include the a roll-out of the BuildHer initiative, expansion of MBI’s training and education programs, and the culmination of a strategic planning process. You are encouraged to take a few minutes to hear from Gordon and Chad on how MBI can elevate you and others within your company.”

Newly elected Majority Leader, Senator Mike Klimesh of Spillville, IA joins the MBI Edge for a preview of the 2026 Legislative Session and the perspective of Senate Republicans.

Join us for a conversation with Liz Forkin Bohannon — social entrepreneur, author, and 2026 MBI Winter Conference keynote speaker — as she unpacks The Community Quotient™. Liz’s inspiring message challenges us to rethink success, embrace curiosity, and lead with courage and community at the center.

Tune in to hear from one of Iowa’s legislative leaders talk about the 2026 Legislative Session!

Join Ben Hammes and Tara Rinehart to get a preview of the 2026 MBI BuildHer Program and how it’s designed to equip Iowa’s construction industry with the skills, confidence, and connections to advance their teams. Hear what makes this year’s experience unique—and why now is the time to invest in yourself and sign up.

In this episode of The MBI Edge: What Were You Thinking?, Tara Rinehart, Vice President of Industry Education sits down with Winter Conference keynote speaker Ben Nemtin to explore how buried dreams, purposeful action, and energy-driven living can unlock both personal and professional growth. Ben shares the powerful story behind his “Make the Impossible Possible” message and offers practical insights that challenge leaders in Iowa’s commercial construction industry to reconnect with purpose, take action, and expand what they believe is possible.

Join us for a brief explanation of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) with implementer, Mark Stanley. Learn how to grow your business using a series of tools that help clarify your vision and give you traction towards measurable results!

We sat down with James McNaughton of Neumann Brothers to garner an in-depth look at what is top of mind for young professionals in the commercial building industry. Added bonus: hear from him on what the MBI YBuilder program is all about and how you can participate!

In October, MBI Cares turns its focus to breast cancer awareness by supporting CanDo Cancer—an organization that stands beside women during one of life’s hardest journeys. Host Tara Rinehart welcomes CanDo Cancer’s Deonne Winkel and Leah Hill for an inspiring discussion about vulnerability, resilience, and the impact of community giving. Together, they remind us that the power to heal often begins with the power to help. Check out CanDo Cancer’s resources.

This podcast is sponsored by McGill Junge Wealth Management “This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended as legal or tax advice. McGill Junge does not render tax advice. Consult with a tax professional for tax advice that is specific to your situation.”

In this episode of The MBI Edge: What Were You Thinking, host Tara Rinehart sits down with keynote speaker and founder of Fear:LESS Inside™, Darryl Bellamy Jr. Together, they explore how fear shapes our lives and leadership—and how we can transform it into a tool for growth. Get a preview of what’s in store at MBI’s 2026 Winter Conference and discover your own path to fear less.

In this episode of What Were You Thinking?, host Tara Rinehart of Master Builders of Iowa sits down with Sonya Bohmann, Executive Director of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention. Together, they explore the urgent need to remove stigma around mental health in construction, share practical tools and resources for workers and leaders, and highlight how simple actions—like a conversation, a sticker, or a pledge—can save lives. September is Suicide Prevention Month, but this is a conversation we need all year long.

You’ve probably heard Ryan Leak on leadership podcasts or read one of his bestselling books. We get to dig into his brand-new book: A New York Times best-seller "How to Work with Complicated People." And boy are we complicated to work with. Ryan will also be joining us in person for an exclusive session at our 2026 Winter Conference on Tuesday, February 24th, from 2–4 PM. We are gifting every participant a copy of his book.

For the first time, The MBI EDGE is moving to YouTube! We are Iowa’s premier association for the commercial building industry focused on advocacy, education and resources and we are pleased to show you around our new studio. We hope you’ll subscribe to our channel and follow along as we educate, develop, grow, and enhance our member companies and the industry at large.

MBI is partnering again with Construction Angels for the 3rd year in hosting a golf tournament to benefit those who have lost a loved one due to a jobsite fatality. Hear from CEO Kristi Ronyak and MBI’s Ben Hammes on details about the charity, who they serve and how you can get involved in supporting this effort!

Planning your exit from your business might feel like a distant prospect, but exit planning is simply proper business planning and a process that should begin long before you’re ready to transition out. To simplify the complex process of exit planning into actionable concepts that every business owner should understand, listen in on how our sponsor coaches the use the Exit Planning Institute’s 5-4-3-2-1 framework.This podcast is sponsored by McGill Junge Wealth Management

Join us for a conversation with Jay Montgomery of Montgomery Companies who will be facilitating a session at MBI on May 1st, 202 titled "Building, Keeping and What Kills Culture." In this session of What Were You Thinking, Jay will tell us what he has been thinking about when it comes to the heartbeat of any organization, their culture.

If you are stuck in an uncomfortable position of asking yourself, “what am I going to do with my business?”, please know that there are resources available at no cost for businesses of all sizes. Through Advance Iowa at the University of Northern Iowa, you can find confidential resources that will guide you on your succession planning path. Join us for this episode with Stacy Mullinex of Advance Iowa, for an in-depth conversation about succession planning and how you can get in touch with their professionals.

Georgia Van Gundy, Deputy Director at the Iowa Workforce Development will be keynoting the April MBI's BuildHer session where she will be speaking about the journey from groundbreaking to glass ceilings. Join us for this podcast as we discuss why MBI's BuildHer is critical to Iowa's workforce.

Allan Kehler will be keynoting this year’s Wellness Breakfast speaking about Finding Your Voice. Finding Your Power. Prioritizing safety, mental health, and wellness in the construction industry. Join us for this podcast as we discuss how in an effort to avoid being perceived as weak or vulnerable, many individuals in the construction industry have a tendency to bury their emotions deep within and we must do better.

In this episode, we are joined by Mike Huguelet and Kris Byam, both experts and educators in the public charter school space. Hear about how they are transforming educational experiences for many students in Iowa and what role trades-based education can play.

Jess Ekstrom, entrepreneur and author, will be keynoting this year’s Build Iowa Breakfast speaking about how to create motivation that lasts. Join us for this podcast as we discuss how she has turned her passions into success.

MBI has a long-storied history of partnership with Construct Connect. In this episode, Chief Economist Michael Guckes takes a dive into some recent findings and information related to labor concerns the industry continues to face.

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with Jake Thompson, a renowned leader with a proven track record of success. In this episode, Jake Thompson shares his insights on the benefits of a competitive mindset, the qualities that define effective leaders, and the importance of balancing competition with collaboration. Discover how competition can foster innovation, motivate teams, and help individuals overcome challenges.

Dr. Chris Larimer is a professor of political science at the University of Northern Iowa specializing in data and election issues. He joins the MBI Edge to preview the 2024 elections and what voters attitudes are heading into a pivotal election in November.

Representative Carter Norman of the Iowa House joins the podcast this week to talk about school security of our buildings. He represents Perry Iowa, the location of a school shooting tragedy in January 2024. The Iowa Legislature took action this year, and we discuss those actions on the podcast.

Listen in about our upcoming Construction Angels Golf Outing and how you can help us support the mission of Construction Angels.

Contractors are facing new questions about Federal OSHA's new "walkaround" rule and how it is going to impact state-run plans like Iowa's. AGC of America's Kevin Cannon (Senior Director of Health, Safety and Risk Management) joins us to talk about the impact, the lawsuit that AGC has filed and how contractors can prepare for the rule.

Join Tara Rinehart, Director of Industry Education for a discussion with Iowa State University’s Master Builders of Iowa Scholarship Winner, Molly Stanhope and Adam DoBraska, MBI’s Members Services Manager and Membership Engagement and Workforce Development. Tara, Adam, and Molly will discuss Molly’s journey to the construction industry and how the scholarship and internship will impact her continued experience.

Join Tara Rinehart, Director of Industry Education for a discussion with CSSI Director of Education and Training, Brandon Black. Tara and Brandon will dive into how ADHD impacts wellness and strategies that are impactful and relevant to their lives.

Join Tara Rinehart, Director of Industry Education for a discussion with Jordan Montgomery, owner of Montgomery Companies and speaker at MBI's EliteX. Tara and Jordan will give our listeners insight into what to expect from the upcoming MBI Exclusive event.

Join Tara Rinehart, Director of Industry Education for a discussion with MBI CEO Chad Kleppe on The Gap and the Gain: The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success by Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan. Tara and Chad dive into the book and takeaways that were impactful and relevant to their lives.

Construct Connect has been a valuable MBI partner for many years, doing what they do best – helping contractors find business. They provide access to different contractors, assisting with bids and using their technology platform to source information about projects. Hear from Jennifer Johnson about the capabilities of the platform and where they are focusing on the value in the future for their customers.

Scott Friauf has a lengthy and admirable resume with MBI. Hear about his journey and how important community is to Scott and his company.

Mike Espeset is entering 2024 as the new MBI Chairman of the Board. We had a chance to sit down with Mike and talk about his experience leading Story Construction, and how he envisions his role as Chair playing out.

Introducing Dr. Tara Rinehart to the MBI family.  Tara has recently joined MBI as our Director of Industry Education and is responsible for all things education programming.  She’s a passionate learner, teacher and coach and we wanted to take this opportunity to let you all hear from her. 

Dr. Ben Hardy, organizational psychologist and author, will be keynoting this year’s Masters Award luncheon speaking about his philosophy and book “10X is better than 2X”. Join us for this podcast and event in February as we discuss how world class entrepreneurs achieve more by doing less.

Every three years, MBI members have the option to attend the out of country excursion with their MBI peers. In 2024, the group will be traveling to a sunny destination that is revealed in this podcast episode. Tune in to check it out!

When MB Eye On The Future graduates hear the name Ken Bradford, they immediately harken back to a time they spent with this charismatic coach and master mentor. After 20 years of teaching these graduates, many have gone on to lead companies, sit on the MBI Board and lead philanthropic efforts in their own communities. Take the time to listen to what that’s all meant to Ken, and what he has planned for his future.

Bill Schmarzo returns for his 2nd podcast on The MBI Edge. Bill is known in the data world as the “Dean of Big Data” and wears many hats including professor, business coach and strategic thinker. Bill’s going to be headlining the Technology and Innovation Breakfast and also run a breakout session at the Annual Winter Conference. Catch a sneak peek here!

Jason Schroeder is a former Field Operations and Project Director who has worked for 23 years in about every position. He now champions and teaches Project Management through his immersive bootcamp and will be the lead instructor at the Annual Winter Conference in February.

Jeff Espenship, or “Odie”, as his call-sign declares is an international airline pilot, retired USAF fighter pilot, husband, father and professional speaker. Odie is joining us this year for the Winter Conference and has an inspiring message about cutting corners. As he says, “Pay attention to the size of the shadow you cast in the eyes of others. Fresh eyes and ears are always watching and listening to the way it’s done around here.”