Optimizing the Hiring Process Podcast

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 rural road building to managing over $200 million in infrastructure projects, including a $6 billion LNG plant, Mike's career spans the full arc of American blue-collar ingenuity. What began as a practical solution to a job-site challenge, designing a rock screen for a skid steer, eventually became Bear Ironworks, a Colorado-based fabrication company that now ships across the country and employs a team of dedicated craftspeople. Mike recounts how his son, then a college student, took the reins, built a website, and helped scale the business before returning to finish his degree. Together, they rebuilt the company during COVID, running it remotely across multiple states while staying grounded in family values and a shared belief in hard work. Along the way, Mike discusses how he has consistently inspired and trained young people, including his son and stepson, to pursue careers in the trades, often helping them launch their own businesses. Key takeaways from this episode include: The power of hands-on experience in launching successful entrepreneurial ventures Why blue-collar careers offer financial freedom, personal pride, and long-term opportunity The importance of teaching and mentoring the next generation, even if they eventually leave your company How to build a values-driven culture that balances safety, autonomy, and professional development Why leaders in the construction and manufacturing sectors must champion the trades as viable and noble career paths Mike's story is a timely reminder that building things with your hands can also build a legacy. Leadership, at its best, is about investing in people for the long haul.

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 construction management firms. We dive into his unique career trajectory, including a fascinating stint as a professional poker player, and how those lessons in risk, adaptation, and incomplete information translate directly to the world of construction leadership. Jeffrey also opens up about the generational transition at WPC, the evolving people-first philosophy that guides their work, and how they're navigating the ongoing labor challenges in the trades. We explore: The power of starting early and learning from the ground up How poker taught Jeffrey about decision-making and resilience WPC's shift to empowering the next generation while honoring the past Why construction remains a deeply rewarding, purpose-driven career Practical insights on hiring, talent development, and fostering a growth mindset Join us as we share stories, insights, and lessons that bridge generations, champion the trades, and build a better future one project at a time.

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 Southeast, Jeff shares a candid look at the art of leadership transitions, generational shifts, and the evolving face of construction. Jeff opens up about his journey from apprentice to president, the challenges of following in the footsteps of his visionary brother, and the rewards of guiding his own son, Jeffrey Jr., into the family business. With warmth and humor, he recounts how his son's pivot from professional poker to construction infused the business with fresh perspectives, balancing analytics with hard-earned wisdom. We delve into the trials and triumphs of succession planning, navigating leadership tensions, and fostering an environment that champions both tradition and innovation. Jeff underscores the power of peer groups and lifelong learning, while highlighting the crucial role of culture and mentorship in cultivating the next generation of builders. From reflections on the talent shortage crisis to the future of work in the trades, Jeff's insights offer a masterclass in sustainable leadership and the power of people-first practices. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to build not just great projects, but great teams. Key Takeaways: Navigating generational transitions in family businesses The essential role of mentorship and open communication The growing appeal and opportunities in the construction industry Lessons from leadership transitions and the importance of peer networks Tune in for an inspiring conversation that celebrates the human side of building—one that leaves you rethinking what it takes to succeed and sustain in a dynamic, people-driven industry.

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 Baker Hotel and Spa in Mineral Wells, Texas — a project nearly two decades in the making. From her early site visits in 2008 to the official project kickoff in 2024, Paige offers a rare inside look at what it takes to sustain momentum and passion over the long haul. She unpacks how her firm built a “dream team” of design professionals, weathered industry-wide challenges like the 2008 recession and COVID-19, and maintained transparency and unity through economic uncertainty. You'll hear insights on: Retaining top talent through flexible work models and transparent leadership. Scaling and evolving a firm without compromising on culture or quality. Attracting high-impact hires in a competitive market through values-driven strategies. Revitalizing historic properties with design innovation and community alignment. Plus, Paige discusses how Thiel & Team embraced remote and hybrid work long before it was common in the architecture world, enabling a more diverse, connected, and resilient workforce. Whether you're leading a creative team, building a legacy property, or navigating economic headwinds, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable insights. Connect with Paige:

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 career in residential construction—to founding a company rooted in empathy, integrity, and craftsmanship, Justin shares the lessons that shaped his leadership style and his people-first philosophy. We dive deep into: ✅ How emotional intelligence transforms customer relationships ✅ Why investing in your team leads to better client outcomes ✅ The challenges of hiring in the trades—and why referrals matter most ✅ What commercial-grade project management looks like in a residential setting ✅ How Justin's company culture empowers every employee to lead with care Whether you're a builder, a business owner, or someone passionate about leadership through service—this conversation will resonate with you.

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 construction and the AEC space, shares how leaders can shift from chronic complaints to intentional culture-building. Her no-nonsense mantra — "Stop bitching, start pitching" — sets the tone for a conversation packed with practical tools and mindset shifts. You'll learn:

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 power plant construction to leading a growing industrial fabrication company—where he's driven incredible results: a 12% turnover rate (versus an industry average of 37%) and an employee retention average nearly double the national standard. We dive into: ✅ The power of humor, transparency, and flexibility in leadership ✅ Building culture by eliminating outdated rules and investing in people ✅ Creating sustainable career paths from the shop floor to leadership ✅ How employee development drives business success and customer loyalty ✅ Why workplace authenticity matters more now than ever If you're passionate about leadership, culture, and creating work environments where people actually want to stay and grow, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.

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 beginnings mowing lawns with his father to scaling a full-service construction company with multiple licenses, Sal shares how he went from technician to strategic leader — ultimately exiting the business to focus on coaching and supporting fellow veterans. You'll hear how Sal built a thriving business from the ground up, developed systems that enabled him to delegate and grow, and how he navigated the tricky process of finding, hiring, and retaining quality field talent — spoiler alert: Craigslist still works. We dig into:

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.

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 intentional leaders I've met. In this episode of People First Builders, Lance shares how a summer job with a general contractor sparked a lifelong passion, how mentorship shaped his entrepreneurial mindset, and why putting people first is the key to his firm's success. We talk: ✅ Building teams through mentorship and teaching ✅ Cultivating leadership in young architects ✅ Creating true work-life harmony (not just lip service) ✅ Inspiring future builders through purpose and culture This isn't just a story about architecture—it's about legacy, leadership, and building something bigger than yourself.

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 and the inefficiencies of traditional staffing agencies. Ryan discusses the importance of creating a sustainable hiring process, improving company culture, and aligning employee goals with organizational objectives. Check out Ryan's work HERE. Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

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 shortages and shares strategies for effective hiring and retention. Drawing from his extensive experience, he introduced Discovered, a recruitment automation AI platform designed to streamline hiring processes. Fletcher emphasizes the financial impact of poor hiring decisions and the importance of retaining talent. The episode aims to inspire construction leaders with practical insights and invites listeners to share their success stories in people leadership. Check out Fletcher's work HERE. Connect with Fletcher on LinkedIn HERE. Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 CEO WHISPERER

Fletcher Wimbush speaks with Bianca Lager of 'Social Intelligence' a consumer reporting agency focused on online risk for human resources. www.socialintel.com

A lot of leaders fear having a remote dispersed workforce will hurt productivity. Learn about this and more on today's podcast with Shane Metcalf.

On today's podcast Fletcher interviews Natalya Berdikyan, the Founder and CEO of Life By Design-Academy. Discussing How Negative Energy Levels may affect your hiring and business results. Answering questions like, "Can you you detect Energy levels quickly in an interview?" Hear the latest podcasts online at TheHireTalent.com Podcasts. Learn about pre-employment assessments to help you hire smarter today at PreEmploymentAssessments.com  

Justin Weeder is the owner and head coach at The Covert Closer where they help organizations and individuals implement the LISTEN method to scale sales results. Additionally, he is currently developing a high performing team of Rockstars as the Director of Sales at PaySimple. To work with Justin you can reach him at https://www.thecovertcloser.com/ Our sales assessments help companies hire salespeople they can depend on to consistently generate revenue. Get a free trial https://www.preemploymentassessments.com/testing/assessments/sales-assessment/

In this episode of The Hire Talent's podcast, Optimizing the Hiring Process, we are joined by Deb Venable. A leader in sales strategy, sales coaching and sales training, Deb's passion for people and progress help her work with business owners to generate significant, predictable & sustainable growth year after year. As a 27-year entrepreneur and business owner, Deb understands first-hand the struggles and obstacles of growing a business. She owned a trade show business for 25 years and now for the past 2 years she has been helping sales teams grow. To work with Deb you can reach her at: Phone: 312-296-2818 Email: debv@myb2bcoach.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debvenable/ Our Sales Assessment Testing measures the traits critical to succeeding in sales roles. Get a free trial https://www.preemploymentassessments.com/testing/assessments/sales-assessment/

Rebecca Morgan, CSP, CMC, is an international speaker, trainer, and consultant specializing in creating innovative solutions for workplace effectiveness challenges. She's appeared on 60 Minutes, Oprah, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes.com, National Public Radio, and USA Today as well as international media.  Rebecca is the bestselling author of 28 books, including "Leadership Lessons from Silicon Valley: How to Survive and Thrive in Disruptive Times”. Two have sold over 250,000 copies each and have been translated into 9 languages. Many recognizable organizations have engaged Rebecca to develop creative solutions for their situations. These include Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Adobe, Microsoft, Singapore Airlines, Wells Fargo Bank, New York Life Insurance, ING-Singapore, Shangri-La Hotels, and Stanford University, among many, many more. She is an exemplary trusted resource who partners with clients to accomplish high ROI on their key-talent development projects. Her customized presentations are thought-provoking, highly interactive, and full of immediately usable ideas. She knows what works. Since 1980 she's transformed executives, managers, salespeople, and customer support staff into much more effective workplace contributors Click here to Work with Rebecca Get her latest book: "Leadership Lessons from Silicon Valley: How to Survive and Thrive in Disruptive Times" Interested in trying out remote work with your organization? Here are 3 ways remote work helps attract and retain top talent. 

In this episode of The Hire Talent's Podcast, we are joined by Michael Melhberg. Michael is a Husband, Father, Entrepreneur, Business Professional, author, fitness nut, Organization Freak, and productivity Junkie. He is currently the VP of Marketing at Star Lab and when he's not doing that, he's writing articles and books to help high achievers consistently save time, get productive, become more organized so they can live their passion and achieve their dreams. - Pre-Order Michael's Book on Amazon - Home Early: Destroy Distraction, Become Powerfully Productive, and Finish Work Before Dinner Kindle Edition: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089Y341NC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_7fI4EbD143JBH - Get The First Chapter Free - https://michaelmehlberg.com/homeearly - Our Complete Guide to Hiring Million Dollar Talent - Our exact strategy for hiring the best talent on the market, created from 30+ years of experience helping hundreds of businesses hire top performers. https://www.preemploymentassessments.com/your-guide-to-hiring-million-dollar-talent/

Lou Adler is the CEO and founder of The Adler Group – a training and search firm helping companies implement Performance-based Hiring℠. Adler is the author of the Amazon top-10 best-seller, Hire With Your Head (John Wiley & Sons, 3rd Edition, 2007). His most recent book has just been published, The Essential Guide for Hiring & Getting Hired (Workbench, 2013). He is also the author of the award-winning Nightingale-Conant audio program, Talent Rules! Using Performance-based Hiring to Build Great Teams (2007). Adler holds an MBA from the University of California in Los Angeles and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson University in New York. Looking to write the perfect job description? Check out our guide on how to write a job description.

In this episode, we spoke with Tiffany Ablola. Tiffany (Tran) Ablola is a California attorney and EOS Implementer. Her mission is to help company leadership teams build healthy work environments and empower them with the tools to scale. After finding her own focus as a management consultant, she helps others achieve the same. With Tiffany’s guidance, clients have been able to capitalize on their personal strengths and take back their time. She also enjoys working with social change companies and donating her time to helping non-profit leadership teams. When not working, Tiffany’s favorite pastimes include reading at the beach, cooking, scuba diving and traveling. Tune in to learn some of Tiffany's knowledge on how to best manage employees, through the best times and the toughest.  Looking to identify top performers before you hire? Explore our hiring tools and get a free trial

In this episode, we sat down with Anne Lackey to discuss how you can hire and train the best virtual assistants. Anne Lackey loves starting and running businesses. Mark Lackey has always been fascinated with making things work better and run smoother. Together they have co-founded and run multiple businesses simultaneously for 2 decades. They have generated over 15.7 million dollars in revenue for their service-based businesses in the past 4 years alone. By coaching and consulting with hundreds of CEOs and Executives, they have found 3 common core business problems: Owner Overwhelm, Staff Turnover & Failures & Poor Customer Service/Follow Up. They solve these issues by taking the guesswork out of hiring virtual assistants and placing the best VA's for your company. 

In this episode we sit with the pioneer of Applicant Tracking Systems, Art Pereless, and discuss the future of recruiting using AI.

In part 2 of this episode we discuss the concept of the identity iceberg, and how our sense of empathy influences how we see and related to others.

In part 1 of this episode we discuss core values and beliefs about one's capabilities and skills and how that relates to the process of achieving goals.

In this episode, we sit down with John Waid who hones in on the importance of building a strong company culture, stating, "the best leaders are culture driven." We talk about how to create a purposeful culture and how to align our hiring of candidates who re already living the values and type of culture we want to grow within our businesses. 

In this episode we discuss how to add the human touch and soft skills, combining with a well-thought out business strategy to influence positive business outcomes.  David Meyerowitz is a strategy, business, and finance consultant who helps businesses realize greater capital and profit from implementing performance management practices. 

In this episode, we talk with Susan Bellows of Susan Bellows & Associates. Susan is a business consultant specializing in empowering middle management women to attain the recognition, respect, and rewards they deserve. Listen in as we dig into topics like how to help women in middle management grow their careers, cover best hiring practices, finding an "A" player by refining your interview skills, and speaking your candidate's language. 

Hiring a new employee is an exciting time for a business, but, failing to implement best hiring practices like clearly defining expectations and performance objectives, can leave both you and the candidate with something to be desired from the relationship. We outline everything you need to know before hiring new employees so you have the best chance at retaining employees moving forward.

We teamed up with Katrina Kibben from Three Ears Media for this episode of The Hire Talent Podcast.  Katrina is the Founder and CEO of Three Ears Media, a firm dedicated to teaching recruiters to be better communicators and writers. For most of Katrina's career, she has been a marketer living in a recruiter's world - listening to both sides of the talent equation to understand the real issues and find solutions. Today, she uses her technical marketing know-how and way with words to help both established and emerging brands develop and deliver creative, strategic recruitment marketing that makes the right people apply. Katrina has also spoken at events around the world and written for Fortune, The Chicago Tribune and many other digital publications. You can check out Three Ears Media here at www.threeearsmedia.com. Also be sure to find and follow Katrina on Twitter here @KatrinaKibben for tips on getting the right candidates to apply to your open positions. 

Hiring new employees costs businesses money, from the downtime of having a vacancy, to the people who are involved with spending their time trying to fill the position by screening and hiring a new candidate. Hiring employees who don't work out can cost up to 10% of that employee's annual salary, so it's crucial that when you hire someone, you go through all the necessary steps to ensure it's done right the first time. 

Checking references is your goldmine for verifying a potential employee's performance and fit for your job. In a reference check, you can learn more about what it was like working with your candidate, which helps you understand and determine if the candidate will be a good fit for the role, your business, and the culture of your company.

The Power Interview Guide is a 30-minute review of your candidate's past work history and accomplishments that allows you to learn about everything you've ever wanted to know about a candidate in a timely manner. The guide provides a repeatable and objective method to follow for interviewing any candidate for any position and industry so you can quickly decide if they're a fit for your business or not. 

We discuss all the tips and tricks for effectively screening a candidate's resume, so you can breeze through them, able to highlight the main points and effectively select only top performers. 

On today's episode we discuss the benefits of putting interns to work at your company and how this work experience helps push business objectives forward while providing an intern with an invaluable real-world work experience.

Health benefits...to offer or not to offer? That is the question on the minds of many business owners. In this episode, we discuss the benefits (pun intended) of offering your employees health insurance.

In this episode, we discuss how to create a talent pool that allows you to both actively and passively source candidates for your positions. 

We dig into the components necessary for creating a marketing-focused job advertisement (not job description- there's a difference) that will attract candidates to your open positions.   

We've all heard about or read single's ads, yes? The single bachelor seeks his perfect match for long walks on the beach and a shared interest in wine tasting.  When you're hiring a new candidate, you're essentially doing the same thing, except instead of long beach walks and wine tasting it's more like shared interest in impeccable customer service and a clean inbox.  We discuss the differences between job descriptions and job advertisements, how to write both, and how to identify your ideal candidate by strategically creating a list of a ideal candidate qualities that match your job opportunity.  

Current unemployment is at 3.8% (at the time of this recording), which is the lowest rate in nearly 18 years. While this is great for the economy and job seekers alike- what does this mean for employers? What are some of the unique challenges a business faces when we find ourselves in a candidate employment market?  We discuss the importance of hiring smarter by making recruiting a top priority, ensuring you have a strong opportunity to offer your candidates, and fully understanding your ideal candidate in order to win the war on talent.