Built with Billd

In Episode 8 of Construction Chronicles, we interviewed Shane Beam, an Operations Manager at Grayhawk Construction, who has a talent for building new processes and improving his company's efficiency. In this episode, you'll hear how Shane helped his company transition off of paper timecards, and how he identifies the best opportunities for his company to become more efficient.    Most podcasts interview CEOs, athletes, or celebrities. We prefer interviewing the people that build the built world. Construction Chronicles is your podcast home for stories from the construction industry.

In Episode 7 of Construction Chronicles, we interviewed Manny Molina, a project manager at Doran Steel, who has been working in the rebar and concrete industry for over 30 years and is currently working on one of the largest construction projects in the world.   Most podcasts interview CEOs, athletes, or celebrities. We prefer interviewing the people that build the built world. Construction Chronicles is your podcast home for stories from the construction industry.

Want to learn more about how slow payments from GCs and developers affect subcontractors? Check out this episode of Built with Billd where we sat down with Stephanie Guttman from Rabbet to dive deeper into this industry-wide problem.

In part 2 of episode 6, we continue our discussion with Clyde King and talk through his best and worst projects, the similarities between construction and the military, and advice for companies to retain tradespeople.   Most podcasts interview CEOs, athletes, or celebrities. We prefer interviewing the people that build the built world. Construction Chronicles is your podcast home for stories from the construction industry.

In part 1 of episode 6, we sit down with Clyde King, a superintendent and 30-year construction veteran. Clyde has worked for GCs and subs during his career, and in this episode, he dives into some of his tips that both parties can use to continue stepping up to the plate and building great projects.    Most podcasts interview CEOs, athletes, or celebrities. We prefer interviewing the people that build the built world. Construction Chronicles is your podcast home for stories from the construction industry.

In part 2 of episode 5, we'll wrap up our discussion with Trey Thomas and learn how Hill Electric has been able to get in front of high school students and trade schools to recruit new talent to their company.   Most podcasts interview CEOs, athletes, or celebrities. We prefer interviewing the people that build the built world. Construction Chronicles is your podcast home for stories from the construction industry.

In part 1 of episode 5, we'll dive into Hill Electric's story with Trey Thomas. Ever wonder what goes into some of the mega manufacturing plants that provide goods to people across the country? Well in this episode we'll go into Hill Electric's niche of industrial electrical work, and into why their clients have continued to trust them for the past several decades.   Most podcasts interview CEOs, athletes, or celebrities. We prefer interviewing the people that build the built world. Construction Chronicles is your podcast home for stories from the construction industry.

In part 2 of episode 4, we wrap up our discussion with Matt DiBara — talking about everything from team building with dodgeball games to the brick escorts and additional oversight that went along with working on a historical preservation project.   Most podcasts interview CEOs, athletes, or celebrities. We prefer interviewing the people that build the built world. Construction Chronicles is your podcast home for stories from the construction industry.

This week we're taking a short break from Construction Chronicles to bring you a very important announcement.

In part 1 of episode 4, we sit down with Matt DiBara, the 4th generation owner of DiBara Masonry. Hear how he moved his family's company across the country and scaled their masonry business, all while following the same principles that his family has continued to pass down through four generations.   Most podcasts interview CEOs, athletes, or celebrities. We prefer interviewing the people that build the built world. Construction Chronicles is your podcast home for stories from the construction industry.

In part 2 of episode 3, we wrap up our discussion with Donny Metcalf — talking about everything from exploding water mains to Donny's perspective on the future of clean energy and its impact on electrical contractors.   Most podcasts interview CEOs, athletes, or celebrities. We prefer interviewing the people that build the built world. Construction Chronicles is your podcast home for stories from the construction industry.

In part 1 of episode 3, we'll dive into how Donny Metcalf went from being a tradesman to an estimator, and how the construction bug got him within four hours of being on his first job site...   Most podcasts interview CEOs, athletes, or celebrities. We prefer interviewing the people that build the built world. Construction Chronicles is your podcast home for stories from the construction industry.

In part 2 of episode 2, we wrap up our discussion with Christian Birker from CMB excavation — talking about everything from getting shit done in sub-zero temps to recruiting a crew on social media that's crazy enough to dive in with him.   Most podcasts interview CEOs, athletes, or celebrities. We prefer interviewing the people that build the built world. Construction Chronicles is your podcast home for stories from the construction industry.

In part one of episode 2, you'll get to hear why Christian Berker quit his job to run his own company so he could work 7 days a week, instead of just 5 (yup, he really said that) and how his business started and was on its first project in just one weekend.   Most podcasts interview CEOs, athletes, or celebrities. We prefer interviewing the people that build America. Construction Chronicles is your podcast home for stories from the construction industry.

Some podcasts interview CEOs, athletes, and celebrities. We prefer interviewing the people that build America. Construction Chronicles is your podcast home for contractor stories.   How does a 20 something with one financed skid steer end up owning multiple successful construction businesses? Ask Luke Payne (real name). He's a weekend warrior with a unique knack for finding new talent – on Instagram.   In part two of our interview with Luke Payne, we talked about his unique management style that allows him to motivate and retain a team of hardworking, skilled 20-somethings – from setting five-year goals, to mapping out each employee's personal development path, to how he manages conflict when things go wrong.   

Construction Chronicles is your podcast home for subcontractor stories.   How does a 20 something with one financed skid steer end up owning multiple successful construction businesses? Ask Luke Payne (real name). He's a weekend warrior with a unique knack for finding new talent – on Instagram.   In part one of two of our interview with Luke Payne, we talked about how he got his start in construction – from lying about his age to operate equipment at 10 years old, to deciding to start Black Iron Dirt, to bankrolling his weekend warrior excavation company by working sales at a power sports retailer, to hiring his first employee using social media. 

[Replay: Best of the Built with Billd series] In this week's episode of the Built with Billd podcast, Chris Doyle sat down with Sid Haksar, Head of Construction Strategy at Autodesk to talk about how technology is helping to level the playing field for subcontractors.  Subcontractors face a lot of challenges around material shortages, pricing volatility, and supply chain delays. Luckily, technology solutions are emerging that will help streamline and combat some of these challenges. Check out the full conversation to learn more! --------- Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up to date on the latest and greatest news in commercial construction. To learn more about Autodesk: https://autodesk.com

[Replay: Best of the Built with Billd series] In the construction industry, surety bonds are put in place to ensure a project is completed within the terms of the contract. Contractors who are eligible for surety bonds have greater opportunities to win state, federal, and municipal construction contracts. GC's typically look for subcontractors that are bonded because it adds an additional level of verification on their previous work history. What factors go into qualifying for a surety bond? Strong balance sheet, positive cash flow, availability of working capital, and job performance; to name a few.

[Replay: Best of the Built with Billd series] Supply chain issues, labor shortages, and outdated technology are negatively impacting the financial health of many construction companies.  Manually entering data slows down team progress and increases the likeliness of an error. We sat down with Ron Goldshmidt, CRO and Co-Founder of Briq, to discuss how the industry is changing and what it means for your business.

There are two constants in life: death and taxes.    Podcasts die too. Say goodbye to Walkthrough Wednesday.    But we're not leaving you hanging or charging taxes on your weekly listening. The Built with Billd podcast will be back and better than ever with something new. The Walk Heads will keep on walking.    On this week's episode, Russ says goodbye to Walkthrough Wednesday and invites Walk Heads to join us in a new era: Construction Chronicles.   Don't miss your sneak peak into our upcoming edition of construction podcast greatness.   

[Replay: Best of the Built with Billd series] How do you grow a construction business? According to Matt DiBara, owner of DiBara Masonry, there are two main things every contractor needs to do: create a strong brand that you deliver on every day, and prioritize relationships at all times. In this episode, Matt shares specific examples of how you can accomplish both of these (and more), and how these strategies directly contribute to growing your business.

[Replay: Best of the Built with Billd series] On this week's episode of Built with Billd, we sat down with Angela Taylor, Executive Director at Construction Career Collaborative to talk about how they're priming the talent pipeline of next generation construction workers. C3 is on a mission to positively impact the future of the industry by strengthening the safe, skilled and sustainable craft workforce pipeline. To learn more about C3 and how you can get involved, visit their website at www.c3.org.  Follow us at www.linktr.ee/billd to stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest news  in commercial construction.

[Replay: Best of the Built with Billd series] In commercial construction, marketing your business doesn't come down to typical branding initiatives, like logos, websites, or brochures. You build your construction brand by delivering quality work in the field. However, you can only demonstrate that value once you've won projects where you can showcase that quality work.  For new subcontractors, it's critical to understand how to submit accurate, reliable bids that set you apart from your competitors. 

[Replay: Best of the Built with Billd series] We're all concerned about safety on the jobsite, but have you ever thought about turning safety into a competitive advantage? By making safety a top priority in your business, you can cut insurance costs, hire better (and retain more) employees, and win more bids by demonstrating to GCs that you can reliably finish projects in a responsible way. Our friends at Raken joined us for this episode to discuss how you can accomplish all of this and more by implementing technology designed specifically for construction.

Commercial construction contracts can be overwhelming for many subcontractors, but it's incredibly important that you know what to look for before signing on the dotted line. In some cases, a contract may not be favorable to the subcontractor should something happen during the project. You need to know how to properly navigate them so you can ensure you're protected throughout the duration of a project. On this week's episode of the Built with Billd podcast, Russ Briscoe sat down with Drew Boyd, Founder and CEO of Jefferson Maxey Consulting to talk about the three biggest things that subcontractors need to be on the lookout for in every contract.  This is an episode you're not going to want to miss! --- Connect with Drew on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrdrewboyd/ Connect with Russ on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russelljohnbriscoe/ ---  Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up to date on the latest and greatest news in commercial construction ---  If you'd like to be featured on an upcoming show, please reach out to us at grow@billd.com.

On Tuesday, the S&P 500 fell into a bear market with stocks falling more 20% Monday and Tuesday.  At the same time, the 30-year fixed mortgage crossed 6% for the first time since 2008, sending mortgage applications to a 22-year low. The idea of a recession is getting stronger and stronger, but construction stocks are showing strong strength throughout this time. Could construction stocks be a safe bet for investors to shed some risk? Listen to this week's Walkthrough Wednesday to find out. --- Construction Dive: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/commercial-construction-bear-market-good-stocks/625516/ Construction Dive: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/abc-chief-economist-anirban-basu-recession-later-this-year-or-2023/625578/ AGC Data Digest: https://constructioncitizen.com/blog/agc-data-digest-june-6-14-2022/2206151 --- Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up to date on the latest and great news in commercial construction --- If you have a burning question that you would like answered on the show, send us an email at 'grow@billd.com'

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 36,000 new employees put on hard hats and reported to job sites in May. However, that didn't come close to filling the 494,000 construction jobs that were open at the end of April. Finding skilled labor is still a major problem for the construction industry despite hourly wages rising 6.4% year over year. So, how do we attract more workers to join the workforce?  Listen to this week's Walkthrough Wednesday to find out. --- Source: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/high-pay-attracts-workers-construction-jobs-employment-gap-widens/625218/ Source: https://constructioncitizen.com/blogs/ken-simonson --- Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up to date on the latest and greatest news in commercial construction. Have a burning question that you would like answered on the show? Contact us at grow@billd.com for a chance to be featured on next week's episode.

Recession...not inevitable?  According to economists, the U.S. economy is not headed towards a recession even though the Federal Reserve, aiming to squash the highest inflation in 40 years, has raised interest rates at the fastest pace since the 1990s. However, despite these increased interest rates, there is plenty of extra cash to help consumers through thick and thin.  "Businesses are in great financial shape and they have never been so profitable." - Mark Zandi, Chief Economist at Moody's Analytics. Tune in to this week's episode of Walkthrough Wednesday to hear Russ Briscoes take on this important subject! --- Sources: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/recession-not-inevitable-moodys-says/624919/ https://constructioncitizen.com/blog/agc-data-digest-may-27-june-3-2022/2206061 --- Follow us on social media at https://linktr.ee/billd If you have questions/comments/concerns about today's episode, please reach out to us at grow@billd.com  

On this week's episode of the Built with Billd podcast, Chris Doyle sat down with Susan Tanski, Co-founder and VP of Strategy at Sunstone Credit to talk about why - and how - small businesses should transition into solar-powered energy. Sunstone Credit provides flexible financing solutions for businesses of all sizes, offering solar loans with borrower-friendly terms. They help businesses save money and reduce their carbon footprint by going solar.  --- Check out Sunstone Credit on Linkedin  Follow us on social media at linktr.ee/billd --- If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to grow@billd.com      

Vietnamese contractor Hoa Binh Construction has its eyes set on the American construction industry and they have ambitious goals to follow. The company has a goal to increase its annual profits to $20 billion by the end of 2032. How are they planning to do that?  For starters, they are looking at acquiring a number of large firms across United States and Canada. Listen to this week's Walkthrough Wednesday to learn more about this story. --- Article: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/vietnam-based-contractor-enters-us-canadian-markets-with-lofty-goals/624176/ AGC Data Digest: https://constructioncitizen.com/blog/agc-data-digest-may-10-19-2022/2205231 Follow us on social: https://linktr.ee/billd --- If you have questions or comments about this week's episode, please reach out to us at grow@billd.com

According to Construction Executive, 2021 was the sixth warmest year on record with the average global surface temperature 1.5°F warmer over the 20th-century baselines. Rising temperatures can have a massive impact on the construction industry due to a phenomenon called the “urban heat island effect”. Cities and urbanized areas become much warmer during the summer because materials used for roads, buildings, sidewalks, etc.. absorb a lot of heat. These materials then constantly release heat back into the air — thus increasing the air temperature.  That creates an extremely hot working environment for construction workers in metropolitan cities. So, what solutions do we have to protect our workers and reduce the impact of heat on getting work completed? Tune into this week's episode of Walkthrough Wednesday to find out. --- Construction Executive: https://www.constructionexec.com/article/the-heat-is-on Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up to date on the latest and greatest news in commercial construction --- If you have questions or comments about this week's episode, please reach out to us at grow@billd.com

In this week's episode of the Built with Billd podcast, Ken Simonson joins Russ Briscoe to talk about the current and future state of the construction industry.  Ken Simonson is the Chief Economist with The Associated General Contractors of America. He also puts out a weekly newsletter breaking down the most important data around construction starts, employment, and spending so you can stay up to date on everything that's happening in the industry. Ken is an incredibly smart and well-informed mind in the construction space and is the perfect person to speak on the current and future state of the industry. We hope you enjoy! --- AGC Data Digest: https://constructioncitizen.com/blogs/ken-simonson AGC: https://www.agc.org/ Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/billd --- If you have questions or comments about this week's episode, please reach out to us at grow@billd.com

As demand for multi-family construction begins to BOOM, you need to stay ahead of pricing and supply chain challenges so you aren't caught off guard next time you start a project. In this episode of Walkthrough Wednesday, we talk about the five things you can do to ensure you're protected next time you need to order materials for a project. "If builders don't have processes in place to navigate recent price hikes and supply chain challenges, then a project can sink as black turns to red on the balance sheet." - Ripley Bickerstaff, Director of Business Development, Hoar Construction.  -----  Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up to date on the latest and greatest news in commercial construction. Construction Dive article: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/as-demand-soars-apartment-builders-battle-supply-chain-woes/622443/ AGC Data Digest May 2 - 9: https://constructioncitizen.com/blog/agc-data-digest-may-2-9-2022/2205091 -----  If you have questions or comments about this week's episode, please reach out to us at grow@billd.com.

In this week's episode of Walkthrough Wednesday, we take a look at the hot and cold data presented in the AGC Data Digest, reach our hands into the viper-infested mailbag, and learn how robots are revolutionizing the modular building industry. Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest news in commercial construction. ---  AGC Data Digest: https://constructioncitizen.com/blog/agc-data-digest-april-25-29-2022/2205021 Construction Dive article: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/robots-can-revolutionize-the-modular-building-industry/622796/ --- If you have questions or comments about this week's episode, please reach out to grow@billd.com.

In this week's episode of the Built with Billd podcast, Chris Doyle sat down with Sid Haksar, Head of Construction Strategy at Autodesk to talk about how technology is helping to level the playing field for subcontractors.  Subcontractors face a lot of challenges around material shortages, pricing volatility, and supply chain delays. Luckily, technology solutions are emerging that will help streamline and combat some of these challenges. Check out the full conversation to learn more! --------- Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up to date on the latest and greatest news in commercial construction. To learn more about Autodesk: https://autodesk.com If you have questions or comments, please reach out to grow@billd.com.   

In this week's episode of Walkthrough Wednesday, we dive right into the AGC Data Digest from Ken Simonson, pry open the infamous mail bag, and talk about a few items that may put a further strain on supply chain recovery. All of this and more that you don't want to miss. Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up-to-date on the latest news in commercial construction. Today's article: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/economic-headwinds-threaten-constructions-spring-recovery/622188/  

In this week's episode of Built with Billd, we sat down with Mike Wisnefski, CEO of MaterialsXchange to talk about how the process of buying and selling lumber has changed. MaterialsXchange is a digital marketplace for lumber and panels. They offer a real-time look into current market prices so you can spend less time "shopping around" for lumber. To learn more about MaterialsXchange: https://materialsxchange.com/  Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up-to-date on the latest news in commercial construction. If you have questions/comments/concerns, reach out to us at grow@billd.com

What goes up must come down, right? Not always. Especially when it comes to the price of materials. Recently, AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson issued yet another construction inflation alert. In this report, he spotlights the climb of diesel, aluminum mill shapes, copper and plastic construction products. Everything is on the rise with no end in sight. It's important that you're taking the necessary steps to protect yourself from these readily increasing prices. Listen to this week's Walkthrough Wednesday to learn about what steps you need to be taking. Construction Dive Article.  Construction Inflation Alert AGC Data Digest Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up-to-date on the latest news in commercial construction.

More construction cranes in the sky could be a positive sign for the future of the industry. According to a report by Rider Levett Bucknall, the crane count in North America's largest cities has increased by 4.74% since Q3 of 2021. This is great news!  Los Angeles alone makes up 10% of cranes in the US and hospitality construction accounts for 24%. Let's hope these numbers continue to rise throughout the rest of 2022. Follow us on social media: https://linktr.ee/billd Article Source: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/north-america-rlb-crane-count-construction-increases-2022/621806/ Article Source: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/contech-construction-tech-revenue-boom-pandemic-supply-chain/621632/ AGC Data Digest: https://constructioncitizen.com/blogs/ken-simonson  

Top construction economists suggest that commodity prices are likely to fall by the end of 2022. That's great news! However, the supply chain issues we're currently facing will persist well into 2023. That's bad news... According to Anirban Basu, Chief Economist at ABC, 2022 will be a year of growth, but 2023 could look much different. "Stagflation is on the horizon", Basu said.  Listen to this week's Walkthrough Wednesday for the full story and to learn about what you can expect inflation to look like by the end of the year. Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up-to-date on the latest news in commercial construction Subscribe to Construction Citizen Data Digest: https://constructioncitizen.com/blogs/ken-simonson      

Safety is one of the most important aspects on a construction project. A simple mistake can cost a TON of money and bring an entire project to a standstill. That's why creating safe jobsites is super important. The best way to ensure that your workers are staying safe is by reducing unneccessary risks. But, how do you go about doing that? On this week's episode of Built with Billd, we sat down with James Benham, CEO of JB Knowledge, to talk about how you should be using technology solutions to reduce risk across your job sites. Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up-to-date on industry news. ------------------- JB Knowledge: https://jbknowledge.com/ James Benham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbenham/

Once you have secured a line of credit through a bank, what does that relationship look like going forward? There are some key things that your bank will like to see from you. To begin with, everytime you pull on your credit line, the bank will require you to report your accounts receivable agings on a monthly basis. Why? Because they want to ensure that you're not pulling down more money than you are going to recieve in the next 60 days. What else do you need to know?  Listen to this week's Finance Friday to find out. Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up-to-date on the latest news in commercial construction  

The United States announced on Tuesday that they are partially lifting tariffs on steel and aluminum exports from the U.K. As a result of this, the U.K. will lift $500 million worth of tariffs on U.S. products such as whiskey and blue jeans. This is great news!  What does this mean for the price of these commodity items? Listen to this week's Walkthrough Wednesday to find out. Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billdto stay up-to-date on industry news.  

If your ultimate goal is to have a large line of credit through your bank, you need to know what banks look for in a customer. For starters, you need to already be a customer of the bank. If you already have an established relationship with your bank, it's alot easier for you to obtain a line of credit later down the road. What else should you be doing?  Listen to this week's episode of Finance Friday to find out! Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up-to-date on the latest news in commercial construction.  

According to experts, small to medium sized construction companies could be at an increased risk for a cyber security attack. In a report by NordLocker, construction was the top industry hit by cyber security attacks in 2021. Why? Because often times they lack the technological resources that larger companies have access to. What can you do to protect yourself? Listen to this week's episode of Walkthrough Wednesday to find out. Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up-to-date on the latest industry news.

Your business should be investing in marketing. You'd be surprised at the impact it can have when done right. On this episode of Built with Billd, we sat down with Luke Eggebraaten, owner of Phaser Marketing, to talk about why it's so important to build a brand around your construction business. For example, marketing helps you to get in front of potential clients and showcase your best work to them.  This can increase your bid win rate because new GCs are able to see the quality of work you do before you're even on the project. Listen to the full podcast for more tips! For more up-to-date industry news, follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd ------- Learn more about Phaser Marketing at https://www.phasermarketing.com/ Learn more about Luke Eggebraaten at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-eggebraaten/  

Current world events can have massive impacts on the price of commodity materials. Plus, these rising costs trickle down throughout the entire supply chain. As the price of oil and gas increase, shipping costs have to increase as well in order to maintain a profit margin. These costs eventually get passed down onto the price of materials and you're stuck paying the higher prices. How can you create a buffer and protect yourself from these rising prices?  Listen to this week's Finance Friday to find out. Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up-to-date on the latest news in commercial construction.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction staffing has reached 99% of pre pandemic numbers.  This is great news!  Last month, contractors added 60,000 new employees and boosted the total workforce to 7.6 million. The industry unemployement rate is still higher than the national rate, but things are starting to look positive.  Listen to this week's Walkthrough Wednesday for the full story.  Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up-to-date on industry news.

Whether you're just getting started or you're looking to grow your business, leveraging financing responsibly will help accelerate your growth. There are two main types of financing that you should understand; debt and equity. Based on the current status of your business, one might be more beneficial than the other.  One this week's episode of Finance Friday, we talk about what you need to understand about each and how they may be beneficial to you.

Inflation, material delays, and labor issues are the trifecta of problems that the construction industry is currently facing. In the midst of a 40-year inflation peak, labor shortages and supply chain delays could last for up to two years. On this week's episode of Walkthrough Wednesday, we dive into how this is going to affect the industry moving forward. Follow us at https://linktr.ee/billd to stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest news in commercial construction.

Construction material prices have hit a 35-year high.  This is causing materials to be hoarded and stored in warehouse, even if they aren't being used on an upcoming project. This is causing major problems for contractors.  Listen to this week's Walkthrough Wednesday to learn about what you need to do to combat this. Follow us for more up-to-date industry news. https://linktr.ee/billd