Podcasts about construction projects

A construction project can feel like it's running perfectly fine, until suddenly, it isn't. A few missed conversations, an unanswered question, or a decision that quietly gets pushed can create delays that were completely avoidable. In this episode, I'm talking about one simple part of my construction management process that I recently removed from a project…and very quickly brought back. The client's reaction confirmed exactly why I believe it matters so much. If you're managing construction projects and wondering how to create more accountability, better communication, and calmer clients, this one is for you. You'll Learn: Why weekly site meetings prevent avoidable delays and communication breakdowns. The difference between active management and reactive consulting on construction projects. How weekly meetings and Friday updates create accountability, clarity, and client confidence.   Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge waitlist here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/weekly-site-meetings-construction-project-management   

America doesn't have an Iran deal and gas prices are skyrocketing, but don't worry, at least we have a fancy new driveway and helicopter pad at the White House. President Construction Project is back at it with another way to spend money. Trump called reporters to the South Lawn for an impromptu tour of his new driveway replacement and a look at the progress on his new helipad. Trump also says the driveway is getting an upgrade with California-mined white granite that he says is more fitting for the White House. Standing near the carved granite helipad with the presidential seal, Trump presented the construction as a central part of his legacy. Speaking of goings on at the White House, we are learning more about the odd relationship between Trump and his aide Natalie Harp. Reports indicate that she once rode in the trunk when there weren't enough seats in Trump's vehicle so they wouldn't be separated...and that for more than a year, she refused to get a security clearance.

President Donald Trump weighs in on the potential for US-Iran peace talks as regional tensions widen. We have the latest congressional lawmaker facing an ethics investigation. We'll tell you about a big change in the Texas track meet stabbing case ahead of the defendant's hearing for a new trial. A win for cancer research is being felt on Wall Street. Plus, the president shows off his latest White House makeover projects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Tim Floyd from Stack Capital shares his journey from real estate investing to managing 12 deals a year while running a transactional lending business. Discover how he leverages strategic partnerships, scalable systems, and relationship-building to grow his operations and seize market opportunities.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

In this episode of On the Road With ADOT, host Doug Nintzel sits down with Senior Resident Engineer Jimmy Naujokaitis to discuss the Loop 303 Project near Goodyear.

Mayor Palmer talks about two new businesses who cut their ribbon this month and progress on other businesses' construction. We also go over several road construction project updates. Have a question? Leave a comment or email us at communications@herriman.gov and we'll address it in a future edition. 0:00 Start 0:33 Intro 3:05 Chartway CU ribbon cutting 3:57 Summit Mohs Dermatology 5:09 New business construction progress 6:26 Road construction updates 13:02 Wrapup

In this episode, Jason continues the IPCS series by explaining how teams can prepare to start a construction project strong. He covers the critical work that must happen before and after the notice to proceed, including mobilization, permits, temporary utilities, trade partner preparation, staffing, safety, and spatial planning. Without this preparation, teams can lose weeks immediately and spend the rest of the project trying to recover time that may never be regained. What you'll learn in this episode: Why teams must prepare during the 90 days before and after the notice to proceed. How temporary utilities, permits, trailers, and mobilization affect the project start. Why trade partners need pre-mobilization meetings and clear installation work packages. How day-by-day spatial planning improves foundations, basements, and early concrete work. Why losing time at the beginning creates delays that are difficult to recover later. Are you preparing your project to start with stability, or allowing the first weeks to become a series of preventable surprises? If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode.  And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two

Thursday, July 23. The seven stories you need to know today. Read today's briefing.

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we're joined by Aaron Stanski, founder and CEO of Risepointe. For more than 15 years, Aaron and his team have partnered with growing churches and Christian schools across North America, helping them design facilities that remove barriers to growth and create environments where more people can encounter Jesus. In this conversation, Aaron shares some of the most common (and costly!) mistakes churches make during construction projects, along with practical strategies to avoid them. Don’t build today’s problem into tomorrow’s building. // One of the most common mistakes Aaron sees is phasing projects incorrectly. Churches may be tempted to build a larger auditorium while postponing essential components like increased parking, children’s space, or student ministry areas, assuming they’ll complete them in a future phase. Unfortunately, that second phase often gets delayed for years, leaving the church with a building that limits growth from day one. Instead of designing around what leaders hope they’ll afford later, Aaron encourages churches to build a complete project that fully supports their next season of ministry, even if that means reducing the overall size of the expansion. Create a long-term plan first. // Before drawing floor plans or establishing budgets, churches should develop a long-range vision for their campus. A master plan doesn’t mean building everything immediately. It simply provides clarity about where the church is heading. Once that long-term vision is established, leaders can determine the next right step that fits their current budget and ministry needs. Without that roadmap, churches can solve one immediate problem only to create another one a few years later. Short-term savings can become long-term expenses. // Budget pressure may lead churches to remove features or simplify systems in order to reduce construction costs. Aaron cautions that these decisions frequently create much larger operational expenses over the life of the building. Whether it’s HVAC controls, building systems, or maintenance-related decisions, saving a small amount during construction can result in years of higher operating costs. Churches need to evaluate every cost-saving measure through the lens of long-term stewardship rather than immediate affordability. Your facility should serve your mission—not become your mission. // Buildings are simply tools for ministry. The goal isn’t completing a construction project; it’s creating environments that help people take steps toward Jesus. Once the ribbon-cutting ceremony is over, the real work begins. Healthy churches continually evaluate guest experience, signage, gathering spaces, children’s environments, and overall functionality. Facilities should continue evolving alongside ministry rather than remaining frozen in time. Plan for growth before it arrives. // One surprising reality Aaron sees is that solving a facility constraint often produces immediate attendance growth. Sometimes this comes from new guests, but often it’s because existing attenders begin attending more consistently once parking, seating, or children’s capacity improves. Churches that don’t anticipate this surge can quickly find themselves facing another capacity challenge. Planning for success means considering what happens if the project works exactly as intended. Know when to start the conversation. // Aaron recommends churches begin facility planning long before they’re completely full. His general guideline is simple: when your largest service consistently reaches about 80 percent capacity, it’s time to begin exploring your options. That doesn’t mean starting construction immediately, but it does mean beginning strategic conversations, gathering data, and creating a long-term plan before your building becomes a lid on ministry growth. Courage is part of every construction project. // Building projects can feel intimidating because they involve significant financial commitments and countless unknowns. Aaron encourages leaders not to let fear drive their decisions. Throughout his career, he’s watched God repeatedly provide for churches that prayerfully stepped forward in faith while remaining focused on the mission rather than the building itself. The goal isn’t constructing impressive facilities—it’s creating spaces that help more people hear the gospel and experience life change. To learn more about Risepointe and download their free guide, Top 10 Mistakes Churches Make in Construction Projects, visit risepointe.com/unseminary. You can also schedule a free “Ask the Architect” conversation to discuss your church’s facility needs and long-term strategy. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. So glad that you have decided to tune in Listen, I know that today’s episode is going to be particularly helpful to a lot of churches. I am consistently interacting with churches, asking questions about the things that we’re talking about today. It’s a real pain point that I know many of you are leaning in on. You’re going to want to stay tuned right to the the end.Rich Birch — Excited to have my friend and really an incredible leader and expert in this whole area of developing our facilities and using them to ultimately see people take steps closer to you, really leveraging architecture, interior design, graphic design, branding, all of that stuff.Rich Birch — Aaron Stanski is the founder and CEO of Risepointe. With 15 plus years of church design, leadership, and project management experience. He works not not only with churches, but also schools and nonprofits in a wide variety of contexts. Excited to have you on the show, Aaron. Welcome back.Aaron Stanski — Thank you, Rich. Excited to be back, man. This is fun.Rich Birch — Yeah, so good to see you again. And I wanted to get you back on because I feel like, man, this is a conversation that we’ve got to keep in front of people and keep thinking about these things. But for folks that don’t know, give us a picture of Risepointe and maybe particularly the types of churches that you help when you’re like, hey, here’s the kind of churches. Aaron Stanski — Yeah. Rich Birch — How do you think about that?Aaron Stanski — Yeah, I mean, Risepointe, I mean, we’re we’re an architecture and design firm. So we have architects, interior designers, graphic designers that work directly for us. And we work with churches and Christian schools um all across the U.S. and Canada. And for us, I mean, the typical churches or schools that we work with, are ones that are about growth and are about um what we call like the you know personal ownership of evangelism.Aaron Stanski — They are churches that are like, hey, it’s not about us. It’s about it’s about people who aren’t at our church yet. It’s not even necessarily about our students and raising up those students, but it’s about families that are considering what would it look like to you know grow up their their child in Christian education. And so yeah, for us, it’s about churches and schools that are growing and wanting to have an impact on the kingdom. So.Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s so good. And I know, you know, our facilities are such a key part of what we do. You know, it’s a critical piece of the puzzle. And, you know, it’s it’s not, it can be an accelerant. It can be, or or it can hold us back. It can be the kind of thing that can help us reach more people, connect more guests, or the kind of thing that hinder us from that.Rich Birch — And you’ve been doing this for 15 plus years. When a church first comes to you, let’s say they’re wrestling with these issues. What do most leaders think, not realize that they’re walking into? Aaron Stanski — Oooh. Rich Birch — Like they’re they’re like, hey, I think we got to like do something here to fix this. What what do they what do they stumble on that’s like, hey, maybe they they’re not aware of?Aaron Stanski — Oh, interesting. That’s a great question, Rich. I mean, I think most churches, like when they call Risepointe, I mean, they understand they’re talking to an architect. They understand that construction is going to be difficult or pricing and budgeting.Aaron Stanski — And we’re going to get into a lot of that here in the podcast. I think one of the things that they might not realize when they’re first starting is, you know, just the mental load that it’s going to take to carry a project through to completion.Rich Birch — that’s good.Aaron Stanski — I mean, it’s easy to think about, oh, yeah, we’re going to have some extra meetings or, oh, yeah, Risepointe is going to be running some things. But there’s just going to be an extra load when it comes to decisions that have to be made, conversations that have to be made with your congregation, your leaders, your staff.Aaron Stanski — And that that mental load over time can take a toll and it can certainly add to the stress if you’re not careful. So.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. I don’t know what the stat is, but I remember hearing that there’s some just a giant number of percentage of lead pastors, particularly or senior leaders who transition after… Aaron Stanski — Yeah. Rich Birch — …you know, within 18 months of opening a new building because of that mental load.Aaron Stanski — Yeah. Rich Birch — You know, how does that kind of show up in maybe how you interact with them? Aaron Stanski — Yeah. Rich Birch — Or how do you lead them in a way to try to reduce that mental load?Aaron Stanski — Yeah, I don’t know. I mean, I’ve heard that I’ve heard that statistic referenced. I haven’t been able to find it actually myself.Rich Birch — Yes. Yes. Me too.Aaron Stanski — Fortunately, most the vast majority of executive pastors and senior pastors that work with us, like they don’t quit once it’s over.Rich Birch — Yes.Aaron Stanski — So…but I don’t know if that’s us doing something right or if like just as a culture and as a as churches, we’ve figured out like, hey, we’re going to support them. We’re going to make sure they have the right administrative support.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Stanski — We’re going to make sure we you know bring some other people around them. um So I have no, maybe we should add that to like the XP ah survey or something next year, figure that out.Rich Birch — Survey. Yeah, that’s true. Yeah, that’s true. Yeah. Yeah. It was funny in that survey you referenced, we, we did, we do survey every year and there was, I was thinking about this morning as we were prepping for that. There’s an interesting dichotomy found in this year’s study where executive pastors had higher confidence that they were going to start a project this year. And I think it was like 80, it’s a high percentage, 80 some odd percentage versus finished projects. Rich Birch — So there was this like tension of like… Aaron Stanski — Yeah. Rich Birch — …yeah, yeah, we got stuff rolling.Aaron Stanski — Yeah.Rich Birch — Are we going to be able to finish it though? Aaron Stanski — Yeah.Rich Birch — Is it going to be a problem? Who knows, you know, whether we’ll be able to do that.Aaron Stanski — Oh, yeah. That’s good. I mean, they’re the prag you know they’re the pragmatists.Rich Birch — Yes.Aaron Stanski — They’re like, we we’re the ones that are going to have to get this done. And, you know, like we got vision stuff flying around here, but we also have like Sunday coming.Rich Birch — Yes.Aaron Stanski — So, yeah, I love that. That’s great.Rich Birch — Yeah, so good. So you’ve put together a new resource that I want to make sure people pick up at. You can just get it at Risepointe.com/unseminary. We’ll link to that. That’s Risepointe with an E, but it’s called “Top 10 Mistakes Churches Make in Construction Projects”.Rich Birch — Now, I don’t want to give it all away but let’s talk about maybe a couple let’s talk about a couple of them. Aaron Stanski — Sure. Rich Birch — What a couple top mistakes that you see churches make when they’re thinking about construction projects?Aaron Stanski — Yeah. I mean, at some point I should probably write a book on this topic, Rich. Rich Birch — Sure. Aaron Stanski — Not because, not because I know the right things to do, but probably cause I’ve, I’ve done most of these things myself. Rich Birch — Love itAaron Stanski — So if you’ve done some of these things, don’t feel bad, just join the club. I think I should have like a punch card or something like people can like punch out if they’ve made some of these mistakes, but…Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Stanski — One of the things that we discovered is, you know, rarely, you know, when we make one of these mistakes, rarely is it like the first time that it’s ever happened in the history of church construction projects.Aaron Stanski — Right. Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Stanski — Like, and rarely is it like some like random, unique one off thing. Most of the time we can look back and say like, oh, yeah. I kind of saw that thing coming. And so hopefully like some of these things will just like help, you know, some churches hedge off like what some of those things are.Aaron Stanski — But yeah, I mean, I'll I’ll jump right into the first one. And the first one that we see a lot is churches that try to phase the project. And that’s a, you know, that ends up being, you know, can be a big construction mistake. And one of the biggest that they make. primarily because we think phase two is coming. So we’re just going to phase the project.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Stanski — We’re going to get this done and completed. And then three years later, we’re going to go into another campaign or we will have paid off the debt and we’re going to fix the, you know, finish the project. You know, we’ve worked with dozens of churches that spent decades in misaligned buildings because they had this approach, you know?Rich Birch — Yes. Let’s start with, I think this is great. In fact, I’ve heard you talk about this one and I have parroted this to other people when they’ve talked about their buildings. So first explain, what do you mean by phased? Aaron Stanski — Yeah.Rich Birch — Clearly pull that apart when you’re, you know, what what is the mistake that we could step into?Aaron Stanski — Yeah, so, ah because there’s two different ways that you can look at phased. Sometimes you can look at the project and go, hey, we’re going to do this first and then this second, and the construction team is going to do phase one, phase two, and then we’re done.Aaron Stanski — The construction error that I’m talking about is when we say, Hey, um, we’re going to go ahead and build the thousand seat auditorium in phase one, knowing that we don’t have enough room for the kids or parking or students and think, well, we’ll just come back in phase two and add in the parking that we need or the kids space. Um, that’s the, that’s the part that I’m talking about.Rich Birch — Yeah. And in fact, actually, I know a church that’s in this exact spot. They did not build any kind of youth space. They’ve got a great, you know, the rest of the building, but now they’re like, oh my goodness, we’ve got to go back now and redo this.Rich Birch — So why is this such a problem? Why not? Isn’t this a great way to playing the devil’s advocate? Isn’t this just a great way to save resources? We can’t do it all now. So isn’t this an a logical thing to do?Aaron Stanski — Yeah, I mean, you’re we either spend money building something that we can’t fully occupy, which is poor financial stewardship, or we end up like stuck and it hurts that first time guest experience, right?Aaron Stanski — Like I tell churches, I mean, look at the drawings that you have on paper and say, yes. Like we can do a decade or more of ministry in that space as it’s designed. Or like you got to fix it. Either fix it, or don’t spend the millions of dollars. I mean, that would be my, that would be my encouragement just to make sure we’re spending the resources the way we, the way we should, you know?Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. That’s good. And so how do I know, you know, like, because like I think this is one of those things that, you know, it’s like a, it’s a bit of a counterintuitive idea because I think lots of people actually think this is the way you do it.Rich Birch — How, what’s the better alternative then? How do we kind of pull that apart. Aaron Stanski — Yeah. Rich Birch — Double click on that, expand that a bit more to help us think more clearly on that?Aaron Stanski — Yeah, I think, you know, what we do want to have is a long term plan, right? Skipping the long term plan, that’s going to be another one of these construction fails if you don’t do it. Rich Birch — Yep.Aaron Stanski — So if we have a long term plan and say, okay, here’s what it’s going to look like on our campus if we continue to grow and we continue to trust God and here’s what, yeah, maybe here’s what phase two and phase three looks like and we’re planning for expansion. That’s great. But when it comes down to like the construction and the budget, if we just like lop something off so that we can move forward with the project, we could be we could be introducing a lid that that we don’t know about yet. Right?Rich Birch — Yeah.Aaron Stanski — And so I think what we want to do is establish that long term plan and really dial that in first and then scale it back to something and say, OK, this is a great project. It’s going to set us up for the next run. It’s the step of faith God’s calling us to do. And this thing is going to last us 10 years if we if we you know if we get it done correctly.Rich Birch — Is this, again, I’m not the expert friends at all. So I may not be so thinking about this correctly. So correct my thinking on this. Is a better way… So let’s say we’re thinking about exactly what you’re talking about. We’ve got like a 300 seat auditorium and you know we need we’re thinking we need to triple the whole thing.Rich Birch — And so we, like you say, go to a thousand seats. And so we know that then in rough terms, we would have to triple the kids ministry space, triple the you know, the parking, triple, the, you know, the crush space, the lobby space, that sort of thing.Aaron Stanski — Correct.Rich Birch — You start doing this work and then you’re on the design and you’re like, okay, but we can’t afford all all that. What I’ve seen is churches get all the way through and then they’re like, okay, they literally, they do all the design and then they’re like, okay, well, we can’t afford this.Rich Birch — They try to scope it and they just cut off the student wing or they cut off whatever.Aaron Stanski — Right.Rich Birch — Are we better to think about, okay, We eventually we want to get to triple, but let’s, let’s go from 300 to 600 and scale all those parts up that way and design a plan that then we could come back 10 years from now and maybe add the third. Is that more, is that a better idea?Aaron Stanski — Yeah, it’s a better idea because you’ll build less square footage in the first phase. Rich Birch — Right. Aaron Stanski — It’ll be more it’ll be more achievable. I think understanding what we can afford and can’t afford at the beginning… Rich Birch — Right. Aaron Stanski — …designing something to the budget, I mean, that’s really critical, right? Rich Birch — Right. Aaron Stanski — And so, yeah, I mean, I think if we just get into like, hey, what’s the vision and what would we love to have someday?Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Stanski — We’d love to have a thousand seats and stuff. Well, that’s great. um But what can we afford and what’s what’s that right next step? um Because, yeah, we have to scale the kids, the students, the parking, the guests, like all of that stuff with those number of seats.Rich Birch — Isn’t it interesting? Like we would never approach the building of our own personal house. This is the way that we sometimes do with the church. It’s me speaking with, this is not Aaron, but I, you you know, I do think we forget the, like what’s actually affordable step.Rich Birch — And we would never do that with our own home. It’s like, sure. I would love a five car garage and like, you know, this amazing, whatever insert, you know, whatever the play space and all this stuff. I, I just kind of, so like, I’m going to renovate the kitchen and I’m going to, you know, make these few changes with what I can actually afford.Rich Birch — It’s interesting that we do that. Well, you talked about the ah skipping the long-term plan is maybe one of these or something around that.Aaron Stanski — Yeah.Rich Birch — Let’s talk about that. How do we think that about the long-term plan?Aaron Stanski — Yeah. I mean, I think sometimes it’s tempting to just kind of try to solve some immediate space needs as quickly as possible. We’re running hard. Some of us are launching campuses or we’re trying to plant a church down the road and we’re out of seats. And it’s tempting to say like, hey, can we just blow this wall out and add 200 seats? Like it it feels like that’s just the next thing to do.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Stanski — you know I’ve talked, you know a lot of pastors, they just want the problem to go away.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Stanski — And I get it. And like the thought of, like let’s spend some time like planning out the future, like this feels like a waste of time to them a little bit. And I mean we’ve rushed few you know we’ve rushed through some projects at Risepointe’s only to be ready to start construction and realize, like oh shoot, like the problem shifted, or we’re just going to introduce this other problem. And so, I mean, I think, you know, sitting down, taking the time and it doesn’t have to take a long time.Aaron Stanski — I mean, ah you know, we’ll come in and do a needs analysis for church in like 30 days.Aaron Stanski — So like we’re not talking about like, let’s spend a year like blue sky dreaming about all the possibilities. But I am saying let’s spend let’s spend a good amount of time like thinking about it, planning it so that we know we’re not you know causing more problems than we’re fixing.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. That’s good. What’s the tension there on, and you know I picked this up from you in a previous conversation and it it has stuck with me, is that you know all of our buildings are built in kind of a particular kind of cultural moment and a philosophy of ministry moment. Rich Birch — They’re an expression of that. And but then ministries change, right? And our ministry looks different. How do we balance that reality of like, we’re kind of want to make it work for today, but then we also want to design, have some sort of conception long-term that’s like, Hey, we could imagine a future where things might change a little bit. How do we, how do we work? How do we make that happen?Aaron Stanski — Yeah, I mean, you know, some of some of it’s prescribed pretty clearly in the Bible and it hasn’t changed for thousands of years.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Stanski — And so like the gathering together of the saints and the singing and taking care of the widows and orphans and the opening up of the word and you know inviting the Holy Spirit to participate. And so some of those things um are just going to stand the test of time.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Stanski — I think a little bit what you’re talking about in the expression of it is you know some of the design choices and some of the things that feel relevant or good. I think we have to be careful not to chase trends you know too often in doing some of that. But I would say there’s like a wrong there’s a strong resurgence right now in you know getting back to churches that feel like churches, in walking into spaces that feel holy and not just black boxes and some of those.Aaron Stanski — And so we want to pay attention to some of those things. And we also, ah yeah, we just don’t want to be too trendy, you know. We don’t want to chase trends, especially with architecture and steel and concrete because those things are expensive to to change.Rich Birch — Yes, yes, absolutely. Yeah, that’s interesting. Okay, so what maybe what’s another one in these top 10 mistakes? Again, friends, we want you to drop by and pick it up. But what’s another one of these we could unpack for folks?Aaron Stanski — Yeah. As I was thinking through, you know, some of the mistakes that I’ve even I’ve made, I think sometimes when we’re in construction and budgets are tight and we’re tired, we get to a point where we want to ignore, you know, maybe the long term costs for some of the decisions that we make and we want to sell it out short. Aaron Stanski — I was talking to a church last week. Right. I mean, they you know, they made a decision that saved them 20 grand on the construction project, but it cost them like 10 times that every five years in ongoing maintenance.Rich Birch — Wow. Right.Aaron Stanski — And so you look back and you’re like, well, shoot, why did we do that?Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Stanski — You know, why did we try to save, you know, $1,500 per kids, you know, room in trying to like, we’ll just put one thermostat in and make all the rooms hot or all the rooms cold and we’ll just run the air conditioning or run the, run the heater. Like long-term, like you’re spending way more money in those scenarios. So that’s one of the things is like, man, what are, what’s the ongoing operational and maintenance costs of these decisions going to be?Aaron Stanski — And I mean, sometimes it’s like, oh, this thing looks really cool, or we really want to have that.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Stanski — And that’d be an awesome feature. And you just have no idea like, oh, man, every week someone’s going to have to go out there like with a machine and like a chemical or something to keep that thing ah functioning or looking the way ah we want it to look.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Stanski — So.Rich Birch — Yeah. Well, and that that I can see, mean I feel like I’ve been in that conversation around even the, you know, the system controls and stuff where we’re like, man, every one of these thermostats we put in is going to cost X amount of dollars. But the long-term, you know, ah flexibility and just, you know, ability to actually reduce the cost, you know, can be amazing if we get more sensors and more stuff in there. But it seems like we’re just pinched. Rich Birch — Why why does that happen? Is it rush at the, you know, we’re just not slowing down enough when we make all those decisions. We’re not asking the questions. We don’t have the right partner at the table. Help me understand why, why do we end up making these short-term, long-term, you know, trade-offs or maybe we’re saving a dollar today, costing us 10 tomorrow. Where does that actually come from?Aaron Stanski — Yeah, I mean, I think it comes a little bit from, you know, some decision fatigue definitely happens. And then, you know, maybe not counting all the costs and, you know, potentially like we’ve missed some things or, oh, yeah, we got to get the furniture in here. And the like, and so we’re right up against like what we feel like is the top lid for what we want to spend. Aaron Stanski — And then you get into some of these things, you’re like, man, we just need to value engineer, you know, some stuff out of this project. And at that point, you know, you’re saving, you know, you’re trying to save pennies. But you’re you’re sacrificing a lot of functionality. Aaron Stanski — I mean, I think in those situations, we would say we would typically take a longer term approach and say hey before we make that decision, let’s talk about those consequences, and let’s figure out if there’s another area that we might that we that we might want to save some money on. Or another decision that we could make that would still get you to where you want to be financially but isn’t going to cost you you know the the pain every year kind of moving forward.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Yeah, that’s, man, I feel like that one, I feel like I can feel that one a little too close to home. I feel like i’ve been in that conversation in the past. Maybe one more. What’s one more top 10 mistake? Aaron Stanski — Yeah.Rich Birch — And then again, we want people to pick up the whole thing.Aaron Stanski — Yeah. Oh, man. There’s a few different ones on here that I could certainly do. You know, one of the one of the mistakes I see and I’ll kind of end with this one. It’s it’s number 10 on the list. But, you know, I called it treating the building as as the mission. Aaron Stanski — I’ll state the obvious, like yeah and most of the you know all the churches that listen to your podcast would not say like the building is the mission, right? The goal is never simply to complete the building project. Aaron Stanski — The goal is to create spaces that support discipleship and outreach and worship and community impact, right, when it’s all done. But I think we also subconsciously potentially treat the building as the mission when we get to grand opening and say, man, I’m so glad I’m done. Like that’s it, like mission accomplished.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Stanski — Like you’re building your spaces, how you’re inviting guests in. I mean, it’s never done, right?Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Stanski — I think, you know, I mean, I think McDonald’s has renovated every restaurant in America at least five times since the last time Burger King has ever done a remodel.Rich Birch — Right. Right.Aaron Stanski — And so they one of those environments is nice and I want to take my seventh grade boys over there after we play laser tag after church or whatever.Rich Birch — Yes.Aaron Stanski — And one of those I don’t. Rich Birch — Right. Aaron Stanski — And so I mean I think you know trying to figure out how are we going to constantly improve, move signage, change where the guest services spot is, like experiment with kids, check in and move them around and update the carpet and use some accent paint and buy some awesome lobby furniture and um kind of see it as sort of a repetitive thing. Aaron Stanski — And then i would also say that a lot of churches, like they hit that finish line and, you know, because of the financial stress of it and stuff, they’re like, and we made it. Unfortunately, like if you continue to grow, you’re going to have to do another project at some point… Rich Birch — Yes. Aaron Stanski — …or you’re going to want to launch a multi-site. And if you’re still carrying the debt of that first project, you’re not going to have the finances to do it. And so I think it’s also like saying, hey, you know, this building wasn’t the end, and we’re going to aggressively pay down the debt. Rich Birch — That’s good. Aaron Stanski — We’re going to aggressively um open the doors to our community and let as many people use it as we can. And so, ah so yeah, that’d be one of the, one of the end ones.Rich Birch — That’s good. Yeah, I can see that. and And I think it’s great. This part of why I love you is like, I feel like there’s a lot of folks that are in your seat that do what you do for a living, who do see the building as the mission. Even the way they talk about it, they’re like, hey, this is the most important thing. But actually, it’s just a tool to serve, which is part of why I love Risepointe, love your team, love love what you’re doing.Rich Birch — Talk to us about, I think the idea there, I’ve also experienced this, I’ve seen churches with this where they build the building and then I literally, close to a church where they built a new campus and then that campus grew by 50% in the first 10 weeks after they launched and then they were scrambling. They were like, oh my goodness, now we’ve got to like do the next thing. Rich Birch — How do we how do we plan for this one? Assuming like it might actually work like people will show up. Aaron Stanski — Yeah. Rich Birch — You know how do we how do we plan on the front end thinking about, you know, beyond okay so that we get the thing open and then a bunch of new people show up.Aaron Stanski — Yeah, and and not just thinking that if you build it, they’ll somehow magically come, right?Rich Birch — Right, that’s the tension of those two. Yes, for sure.Aaron Stanski — Because that’s the tension of those two things. Rich Birch — Yeah. Aaron Stanski — So I mean, I think having the right, you know, strategic design partner or like a partner to walk alongside you in some of that, whether that’s like someone, you know, on the church growth ah side of the equation… Rich Birch — Yep. Aaron Stanski — …that can speak into some of that strategy or the multisite strategy side of the equation, I mean, those are going to be very important voices.Rich Birch — Yep.Aaron Stanski — you know Like you mentioned, we want your facility to serve your mission, not ah be a lid. ah Sometimes when we take the lid off, we open, we solve a problem, right? Uh, and that’s kind of stating the obvious.Aaron Stanski — But we’ve worked with churches where, you know, they’re running three or four services, you know, they’re maxed out. And so, yeah, we go and we double the number of seats. We open a bunch of things. And instead of coming once every six weeks, everyone starts coming once every three weeks because there’s more parking spots and more seats.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Stanski — And so that’s when you get that immediate 50%, you know, bump. And it’s not from, you know, reaching more people necessarily. It’s it’s literally just your attendance pattern changing.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Stanski — So when you’re sitting down and having these conversations, I think it’s really important that you look at some of those trends. You’re looking at your attendance data, and you’re, you know, you’re sort of measuring, you know, what do we think this thing’s going to do?Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s so good. That’s fantastic. I love I love this. So we’ve got, you know, there’s a multiple, there’s other ones that we want people to check out. Again, we’ll put a link in the show notes, but it’s just Risepointe.com/unseminary. You can pick that up. There are “Top 10 Mistakes Churches Make in Construction Projects” from the mouth of someone who sees a lot of these, we don’t want people to make these mistakes.Rich Birch — How early in the process should a church reach out to you? So my my sense is that we have churches reaching out too late in the process. But how early, like if we start thinking, hmm, you know, we’re filling, you know, things are filling up. We’re thinking about, we got to fix the kids ministry space. How when in that process should they say, hey, I got to talk to Aaron and the team at Risepointe?Aaron Stanski — Yeah. I mean, I think like if you talk to any salesperson in the, you know, on the planet, they’ll tell you like, well, you got to talk to me right away. Rich Birch — Yes. Aaron Stanski — The sooner, the better, like the sooner you’re planning to buy a car or the sooner you should call me. Rich Birch — Right. Yes.Aaron Stanski — I mean, I think ah having the conversation and the right strategic triggers to know when you need to start like the design process and the construction process, that’s the key.Aaron Stanski — So, you know, if you call Risepointe, you’re not, you know, we’re not starting architecture. We’re not selling you services or anything like that. So I think bringing bringing either us in or another trusted expert, you know we say when you reach 80% capacity at your largest service, you need to have the conversation started.Rich Birch — That’s good.Aaron Stanski — You know, you can be at 80% capacity at your largest service and be launching your first, second service, right? And that’s very different than adding your fourth or fifth on a Saturday or something like that. But in general, we we say that that’s usually that tipping point… Rich Birch — That’s good trigger. Aaron Stanski — …where we want to at least say, what is the strategy? What is the plan? What are the triggers so that the facility itself doesn’t become a lid to our growth?Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. That’s I like that’s a really good I like a good tripwire like that. I think there’s a lot of churches that are at that spot. And actually, you can go on the Risepointe website and actually schedule like an initial call, right? Rich Birch — Yeah.Rich Birch — You can drop by there. Why don’t you to tell us a little bit about that? What am I committing to? If I click the schedule to call button, what what does that mean?Aaron Stanski — Yeah, we’ve got a little “Ask the Architect” series and stuff that’s that’s rolling as well. But it basically just means you get to talk to someone who’s a church guy or gal first, but who’s an architect or a design professional. And they just want to meet you and hear a little bit about like your church and your story and where are you at and what are some of the questions that you have? What are some of the things that you’re wrestling with?Aaron Stanski — A lot of times we’re pulling up examples from other churches and kind of like walking you through some ideas or pointing you in a direction that might be helpful. But yeah, on that call, we really want to get into what’s what’s going on at your church specifically. What are some of the concerns? What are some of the things that you’re seeing or not seeing? And sometimes there’s some a homework assignment coming out of it.Aaron Stanski — Like, right. Hey, let’s go get your attendance data. Let’s take a look at some of these things. Let’s try to figure out what’s going on. Let’s have someone take a picture in the parking lot because you’re never in the parking lot on a Sunday morning.Rich Birch — Right.Aaron Stanski — You’re backstage or whatever. And ah but, yeah, it’s a great first step in you know trying to figure out you know what you need to do with your facility.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s fantastic. I’ve had, you know, multiple friends who have done that. I just be so thankful for your team’s interaction with them and just some helpful guidance in that, even that initial call to be like, hey, here’s a couple of things. Here’s a couple questions that they would ask that have you think about that, Yeah, it’s not like ah we’re committing to anything today. It’s necessarily a conversation to get the ball rolling. I think that could be super helpful. Rich Birch — Well, friends, again, we want to send you to Risepointe.com/unseminary to pick up a copy of this 10 Mistakes. I think it’s a super helpful resource that you could even just kick around with your leadership team. Hey, let’s talk about these ones. Could be great. Any kind of final words, just as we wrap up today’s episode, we want to make sure that people hear about when we’re thinking about construction projects.Aaron Stanski — You know, I would, you know, I’d say construction is ah scary and it can be expensive and it’s not what most of us went to school to do. So I would just say, like, take courage.Rich Birch — That’s good.Aaron Stanski — Like man, the number of times that we’ve seen the Lord like just show up in unbelievable ways ah when His churches stepped out in faith and said, hey, like we’re going to you know we’re going to go take something on. And so I would just say like have courage. Do not be afraid. And you know, like, yeah, make it, you know, it’s not about the building, right? It’s about it’s about lost people and and sharing the gospel. Aaron Stanski — And so, um yeah, if my mistakes can help you out in any way, I would love to love to share those with you.Rich Birch — I love it. So good. Well, Aaron, this is a great, great conversation today. Appreciate you coming back on and and helping us think through some of these issues. Again, we want to send people to Risepointewithane.com to schedule that call or, you know, pick up the mistakes. Anywhere else we want to send them online to track with you or with your firm?Aaron Stanski — Nah, man, that’s fine. I mean, they can find us on socials and stuff like that if they want to see like nerdy pictures of like church construction being built and like…Rich Birch — Mid build guys walking around…Aaron Stanski — …mid-build stuff, concrete getting poured or whatever. Rich Birch — Yes. Aaron Stanski — But but no, it’d be great.Rich Birch — Guys in hard hats, people in hard hats walking around… Aaron Stanski — Yes. Yes. Rich Birch — …you know, half built buildings. That’s good. Thanks so much, Aaron. Appreciate you, that sir. Thanks for coming on today. Aaron Stanski — Yeah, thanks, Rich. Bye.

Work With Me - ⁠Click Here⁠Get The Subcontractor's Edge Book - ⁠Click Here⁠(Book comes with the free audiobook and a full video masterclass)This episode is a re-run. It was originally published in May 2023.What happens if your head contractor stops paying you next month?If you read your termination clause, the answer might be "nothing." They can terminate you for convenience. You can't terminate them at all.So you keep working. Keep spending. Keep hoping. While the rumours about their cashflow get louder.That's the trap most subs don't see until they're in it.Listen to the full episode now.Timestamps:(5:28) - The worst contract in the whole chain goes to the guy that hasn't got the resources to deal with(5:44) - That is probably the systemic issue in the construction industry where so many subcontractors actually don't understand how to negotiate and they don't understand what to negotiate either(8:15) - Successful companies in construction have a long-term view(12:18) - You got to look at your local laws as far as payment terms and things like that because you can leverage those laws on your behalf(14:28) - Whatever you prefer to put up as security, you want to make sure it's tied to your own specific contract and not to the head contractDISCLAIMER: The content of this podcast does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice, and can not be relied upon as such. You should seek legal advice or other professional advice in relation to any matters you or your business may have.

In this episode, Jason begins a new series on what happens when critical components are missing from an Integrated Production Control System. He explains how paradigms, mindsets, goals, system structure, and rules shape the way a construction project operates. When owners, designers, stakeholders, contracts, and company leaders are not aligned, even strong project teams can be forced into rushing, pushing, bureaucracy, and anti-lean behaviors. What you'll learn in this episode: Why the owner's perspective can determine how the entire project is managed. How misaligned mindsets create delays, conflict, and unstable working conditions. Why the goal of the system must prioritize people, quality, and finishing on time. How contracts, agreements, team structures, and legal requirements affect performance. Why restrictive project rules can prevent teams from implementing lean construction practices. Are you evaluating the project team's performance without first examining the system they are being asked to work within? If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode.  And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two

Happy 4th of July! If you choose to celebrate or not, just remember, many people and cultures make this country what it is.   On this week's episode, we talk about the $2 Billion president, the real history of the Declaration of Independence, a American Revolution themed Ez vs Everybody and we bring back In the 90s!!   Produced by : Ez McMahon Music By: @purekwest YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@hp53productions hp53productions.com Email: supadupapod@gmail.com IG: @supadupapod, @hp53productions TikToK: @supadupapod

WBEN's Tom Puckett on construction projects and traffic delays because of them full 51 Mon, 29 Jun 2026 07:47:00 +0000 GqXNYjAA4eL9s7BBXEQdQC45g1RR5769 news & politics,news WBEN Extras news & politics,news WBEN's Tom Puckett on construction projects and traffic delays because of them Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News & Politics News https://player.a

Bryan Cohen spent his college years locking down opposing scorers as a three time Defensive Player of the Year at Bucknell, then played professional basketball overseas. When his playing career ended, he didn't follow the typical post athlete path. He teamed up with his brother Aron and started buying and renovating single family homes in Philadelphia, learning the real estate game from the ground up. That early hustle turned into Full Court Development, a company that now handles everything from new construction single family homes to ground up multifamily projects, including helping developers build 89-unit buildings. In this episode, Bryan breaks down how the discipline and competitiveness from his playing days translated directly into business, what it actually takes to go from house flipper to full scale developer and builder, and the lessons he's learned scaling a construction company in one of the most competitive real estate markets in the country. If you've ever wondered what life after athletics can look like when you bet on yourself, this conversation is packed with insight on construction, development, and building something real with the people you trust most.   Book your call with Neo Home Loanshttps://www.neoentrepreneurhomeloans.com/wjpodcast/ Book your mentorship discovery call with Cory RESOURCESGet business funding - revenued.com/juice

Insurers use risk engineers to help customers identify and mitigate risks by assessing their operations and making recommendations for improvements. The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI features Peter Ukstins, head of construction risk engineering at AXA XL, in a talk that was originally presented as a snap talk at the 2025 IRMI Construction Risk Conference. Listen in to Peter's insight on how face-to-face interactions with customers throughout the lifecycle of a project allow risk engineers to gain a deeper understanding of their operations and provide more customized solutions.

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 people-first leadership can transform complex construction projects. Melissa shares her journey from spending 20 years with a national contractor to building her own company focused on commercial and state government projects. She explains how InSite Build creates alignment between owners, subcontractors, and project teams through intentional communication, collaboration, and culture-building practices that improve both project outcomes and team morale. From building interconnected jobsite trailer communities to bringing hot chocolate and snow cones to crews in the field, Melissa reveals how small human-centered actions can create massive impacts on trust, productivity, and project success. The conversation also dives into entrepreneurship, hiring strategies, leveraging relationships, managing large-scale government work, and creating successful partnerships in the construction industry. If you're interested in leadership, construction management, company culture, and building stronger teams in the trades, this episode is packed with practical insights and real-world lessons.

Construction delays often start long before building begins. Learn the seven most common land surveying mistakes that can create costly setbacks, from boundary disputes and utility conflicts to outdated site data and missed planning opportunities. More info at https://www.lowrysurveysinc.com Lowry Surveys Inc City: Madera Address: 10878 California 41 Website: https://www.lowrysurveysinc.com Phone: +1 559 645 4849 Email: sales@lowrysurveyinc.com

Ted speaks with Grant Bowen, founder of Peak Projects. Grant shares his journey from small-town Michigan to leading a luxury construction company focused on high-end residential projects across top markets like Deer Valley and Whitefish. He discusses the importance of collaboration, company culture, and applying lessons from innovative companies like Google to improve communication, leadership, and project execution. The conversation also explores risk management, remote project oversight, and identifying emerging real estate opportunities in competitive luxury markets. Grant shares his perspective on AI, resilience, and the importance of mentoring the next generation, offering insight into the mindset and leadership required to succeed in luxury construction and development. TOPICS DISCUSSED 01:10 Introduction to Luxury Construction Insights 04:05 Grant Bowen's Journey in Construction 05:35 Cultural Differences: East Coast vs. West Coast 06:45 Identifying Hot Markets in Real Estate 10:00 Building a Collaborative Team Culture 12:15 Learning from Google: Best Practices in Business 15:00 Managing Risk in Construction Projects 16:45 Turning Around Troubled Projects 19:30 The Importance of Experience in Construction 25:00 Exploring Emerging Markets and Opportunities 27:00 Exploring Market Opportunities in Deer Valley 29:30 The Rise of Whitefish as a Destination 32:00 Client Relationships and Repeat Business 33:45 Navigating the Challenges of AI 37:15 The Importance of Resilience and Grit 40:45 Teaching Life Skills to the Next Generation 43:00 Empathy and Listening in Business and Parenting CONNECT WITH GUEST Grant Bowen Website LinkedIn Instagram KEY QUOTES FROM EPISODE "Evaluating and managing project risks" "Deer Valley is an amazing market" "Whitefish is the next big market"

In this episode of Construction Blueprints, host Keith Lazarchik speaks with Robert Azarian, Head of Loss Control, Willis Construction, about underwriting healthcare construction projects specifically from the safety and loss perspective.

Hour 3 - Ted and John get the business news headlines from Wichita Business Journal Editor Kirk Seminoff to wrap up the week ahead of Riverfest's kickoff.

Hays Post reporter Cristina Janney chats with USD 489 Superintendent Ron Wilson   Listen Here

Geospatial analysis tools improve construction planning by using spatial data to enhance site evaluation, design accuracy, project coordination, safety, and infrastructure management through detailed mapping and data-driven insights. Learn more at https://www.lowrysurveysinc.com Lowry Surveys Inc City: Madera Address: 10878 California 41 Website: https://www.lowrysurveysinc.com Phone: +1 559 645 4849 Email: sales@lowrysurveyinc.com

Most hard construction projects don't announce themselves as disasters. They arrive as a feeling. A low hum. A sense that something's slightly off and you can't quite name it yet. And most of us push through it, manage around it, or work harder to compensate for it. Because that's what we do. But in this episode, I want to talk about what that feeling is actually telling you, and what becomes possible when you act on it early instead of managing through it later. Because a lot of the projects that feel hard from the start didn't have to. They feel hard because of a handful of small moments, early in the project, that went unaddressed. And by the time the hardness is undeniable, those moments are long past. If you've ever finished a project and thought, that was so much more work than it should have been, this one is for you.   Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout  Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance   Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/early-warning-signs-construction-projects 

When you finish a construction project feeling like you worked for free, the instinct is to assume the number was wrong. Sometimes it is. But more often, the number was fine. What broke down was everything around it. In this episode, I'm talking about the two specific places pricing falls apart on construction projects, and neither one is your math. The first is how you present your fee. The second is how you protect it once the project starts. Both will cost you just as reliably as a loose scope of work will. They just do it more quietly. If you've ever hedged in a proposal meeting, absorbed hours you should have flagged, or finished a project and thought, that was so much more work than I accounted for, this one is for you.   Mentioned in this episode: Join The Designer's Edge and my May 5th workshop here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Grab Your Free Script Guide here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/push-back-script-handout  Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance   Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/construction-project-pricing-interior-designers 

This episode is a recent sermon by Dr. Ben Lovvorn on Matthew 16:13-20, preached at First Baptist Dallas on May 3, 2026. This passage is foundational for our understanding of who Christ is and how we are called to participate in the work of building His church. The church is not just a building; it is a body of believers who believe and confess the truth that Jesus is the Messiah. Dr. Ben Lovvorn serves as the Senior Executive Pastor at First Baptist Dallas.  For an incredible library of biblical resources from our Senior Pastor, Dr. Robert Jeffress, visit Pathway to Victory: ptv.org    To financially support the mission of First Baptist Dallas, you can give online here: firstdallas.org/fbdgive

Road work season is back, and yes… we know what you're thinking.In Episode 126 of Now You Novi, Aaron and Damon break down the 2026–2027 road construction projects happening across the city. They walk through what's coming, when it's happening now, and what it means for your daily drive.They also tackle the questions everyone is asking. Do these projects get coordinated? Why does it feel like everything happens at once? And what's actually being done behind the scenes to plan it all out?If you've hit a detour lately or just want to know what's ahead, this episode puts it all into perspective.

Send us Fan Mail

Send us Fan Mail

Construction projects often look like the most profitable work in an interior design business—but behind the scenes, they're where many designers are the most underpaid. In this episode, Michelle breaks down the hidden disconnect between what designers charge and what construction projects actually require. From the constant decision-making to the mental load that never turns off, she reveals why traditional pricing models fall short—and what needs to shift. If you've ever felt busy, overwhelmed, or undercompensated during a renovation or new build, this episode will help you understand why—and what to do about it. What You'll Learn Why construction projects feel profitable—but often aren't The hidden responsibilities designers take on during construction The difference between renovation (reactive) vs. new build (proactive) projects Where pricing structures typically break down The real cost of underpricing construction administration How "emotional pricing" quietly hurts your business Why raising your prices alone won't fix the problem What it actually means to align your pricing with your role Key Takeaways Construction projects don't just scale in size—they scale in responsibility. As the project grows, so does your mental load, decision-making, and ongoing involvement. Renovations and new builds are not the same. Renovations = reactive, unpredictable, fast decision-making New builds = proactive, structured, vision-driven You're not just designing—you're leading. During construction, you become the interpreter, problem-solver, and decision-maker for everyone involved. Flat fees often fail mid-project. What felt like a solid number at the beginning rarely reflects the true scope as the project evolves. Construction administration is not a "small add-on." It's a major, time-consuming, high-responsibility phase that deserves its own pricing structure. If your structure is broken, raising prices won't fix it. You'll just charge more for the same exhausting experience. Common Pricing Mistakes Pricing based on initial scope without accounting for project evolution Underestimating time, interruptions, and mental energy Including construction administration inside the design fee Making pricing decisions based on what feels "comfortable" Keeping fees fixed even as responsibilities expand Mindset Shift Stop asking: "What feels fair?" Start asking: "What does this role actually require of me?" Because strong pricing isn't about feelings—it's about alignment between your responsibility and your compensation. What to Do Instead Separate design and construction phases clearly Define and charge for construction administration Build structure and boundaries into your process Track your time and analyze where your effort is going Price based on responsibility—not just deliverables Final Thought Construction projects aren't just bigger—they're heavier. And when your pricing finally reflects that, everything changes: your profitability, your energy, and your life outside the business. What's Next Next week's episode dives into furnishings and decorating pricing—and where designers are leaving even more money on the table. Share the Episode Know a designer who's deep in construction projects and feeling stretched thin? Share this episode with them—it might be exactly what they need to hear. Resources Mentioned Design Revenue Audit A diagnostic deep dive into the financial structure of your design firm, including pricing, procurement, and operational profitability. 90-Day Advisory Private strategic advisory focused on restructuring the revenue side of your design business. VIP Intensive A focused strategy session designed to map out the most efficient path toward a more profitable firm. Learn more at: TheDesignBakehouse.com  

Your construction back office admin hasn't taken a vacation in ten years. And it's your software's fault.In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Patric, Martin, and Dustin break down what four AI CEOs said at NVIDIA GTC and what it means for construction. Then Anna Berger joins fresh off raising $10M in three weeks to expose the chaos inside every specialty contractor's back office.AI token costs collapsed 99% — here's what that unlocksThe data center boom is creating a trades crisis — electricians are now the hottest hire in AmericaWhy AI will never run construction payrollHow Anna closed $10M with 40+ investor meetings in her first week"I just took my first vacation in ten years — thank you." That's the kind of message Anna Berger is getting from her customers.Watch the full episode now!Our Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro01:00 Introduction to NVIDIA GTC and AI CEOs 03:38 The Impact of AI on Cost and Accessibility 05:34 Specialization vs. Commoditization in AI Models 07:44 The Role of AI in Engineering and Construction 10:33 Deterministic Outcomes and Governance in AI 13:32 The Future of AI in Enterprises and Job Market Dynamics 23:59 The Role of Accuracy in Construction Projects 28:06 AI vs Human Judgment in Project Estimation 30:52 Evaluating AI Accuracy in Professional Contexts 33:45 The Future of Skilled Trades and Workforce Training 40:24 Economic Predictions and Market Interests 44:59 Quarterly Recap: Trends and Insights in Construction Tech 47:01 Real-Life Lessons from the Industry 51:43 Celebrating Success: Anna's Fundraising Journey 53:53 Understanding Trade: A Deep Dive into Construction Back Office Solutions 56:46 Future Plans: Scaling and Product Development 1:00:46 The Importance of Compliance in Payroll Management 1:03:28 Y Combinator's Role in Construction Tech

Metro Detroit is a construction hotbed, with freeway closures, ramp closures, lane closures and orange barrels everywhere. WWJ's Chris Fillar has your Monday morning headlines. (WWJ photo)

In this episode of Construction Corner, host Dillon discusses the importance of being proactive when pursuing major construction projects. Using a massive data center project as an example, he shares how doing upfront work—from creating one-lines and lighting designs to anticipating logistical challenges—sets contractors apart from the competition. Dillon emphasizes that winning big projects isn't just about submitting a number; it's about thinking ahead, solving problems before they arise, and helping clients navigate complex decision-making processes. Learn why being proactive and "doing the right thing at the right time" is essential for landing and successfully executing behemoth projects.

Hundreds of Auckland construction projects are in limbo after changes to residential building standards. Under the old medium density residential standards houses could go up three stories or eleven metres high without having to get a resource consent. But those rules were canned in October last year after a deal was struck between the council and the government. Now some developers are left with projects that do not meet the new rules and will not get council sign off. Auckland Councillor Richard Hills spoke to Lisa Owen.

Attorney and surety expert Gary Eastman explains how bonds protect real estate investors from delays, contractor failures, and costly litigation.In this episode of RealDealChat, Gary Eastman—attorney and founder of Swift Bonds—breaks down what surety bonds really are, why they exist, and when real estate investors should actually use them.Gary shares how he accidentally built a nationwide surety business after noticing a gap in how probate, construction, and licensing bonds were being handled. We dive into the three main bond categories (court bonds, contract bonds, and license & permit bonds), how bonds differ from escrow, and why they're increasingly being used on private real estate projects—not just public jobs.You'll hear real-world stories from over $1B in bonded projects, including situations where a simple problem turned into a six-figure mess—and how bonds prevented years of litigation. We also cover contractor red flags, labor shortages, supply-chain risk, AI's limits in forecasting, and why time delays—not cost overruns—are usually the real portfolio killers.This is a practical, risk-aware conversation for investors who want to scale without gambling their timeline or capital.

Kathe Barrington is a CPA specializing in construction. Before finding her true passion in cost accounting and then the construction industry, Kathe worked in different industries, including software, hardware, real estate, retail, and non-profits. Working directly with owners, banks, bonding agents, and CPA firms, Kathe helps bringing the entire team together so that they can make the best management decisions for the organization's sustainability and future growth. Some of the services she provides include budgeting, forecasting, cost segregation, basic bookkeeping, and software implementations.  Key Takeaways - Understanding over-billings and under-billings. - Why under-billing is always a warning sign.  - The impact of billing patterns on bonding and banking relationships. - Owner responsibility and accountability. - Over-billing and customer relationships.  - Treating over-billed cash with discipline and clarity.   Connect with Kathe Barrington LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/kathe-barrington-a6346337/  Website - kbcpa.biz/  FaceBook - web.facebook.com/people/Kathe-Barrington-CPA/100072271041746/   Previous episodes with with Kathe Barrington WIP Reports Made Simple: The Key to Stopping Hidden Job Losses How to Use Your WIP to Protect Cash and Grow Profitability Physical Progress vs. Financial Reporting in Construction Projects

While we're waiting for construction season to start inthese freezing Canadian temperatures, a massive revolution is happening in the construction industry – and it could change everything about EV adoption in Canada.In this episode, we dive deep into the electrification ofheavy construction equipment, from compact excavators to 250-tonne cranes, and explore what this means for Canadian construction and EV consumers alike.You might be wondering, "What do bulldozers have to dowith my electric car?" Here's the exciting part: the construction industry is tackling the exact same challenges that hold back consumer EV adoption – high prices and limited range. And they're solving these problems faster thanmany expected.With Canada's construction equipment market approaching $4 billion and electric equipment growing at over 13% annually, this isn't just a future possibility – it's happening right now on job sites across the country.If you've ever wondered whether electric technology is toughenough for "real work," wait until you hear about electric excavators running all day on a single charge or battery-powered cranes lifting 250 tonnes. This episode will change how you think about electrification.Join me as we explore how electric construction equipment ispaving the way – literally – for broader EV adoption across Canada.BIBLIOGRAPHYPrimary Sources:Heavy Equipment Guide. (2025, December 10). "Battery-powered heavy equipment gains ground in construction." Retrieved from https://www.heavyequipmentguide.ca/article/40462/battery-powered-heavy-equipment-gains-ground-in-constructionASC Technical Institute. (2025, November 11). "Going Green: How Electric and Hybrid Heavy Equipment Are Transforming the Construction Industry." Retrieved from https://asctechnicalinstitute.com/2025/11/11/going-green-how-electric-and-hybrid-heavy-equipment-are-transforming-the-construction-industry/Black Ink Tech. "The Pros and Cons for Switching to Electric Construction Equipment." Retrieved from https://blackinktech.com/blog/post/the-pros-and-cons-for-switching-to-electric-construction-equipmentCONEXPO-CON/AGG. "5 Things to Consider If You're on the Fence About Electric Construction Equipment." Retrieved from https://www.conexpoconagg.com/news/5-things-to-consider-if-youre-on-the-fence-about-eSupplyPost. (2025). "Diesel vs. Electric Heavy Equipment in Canada." Retrieved from https://www.supplypost.com/news/2025/7/diesel-vs-electric-heavy-equipment-in-canadaVoltEquip. "The Pros and Cons of Using Electric Construction Equipment." Retrieved from https://voltequip.com/news/the-pros-and-cons-of-using-electric-construction-equipment/DOZR. "Electric vs. Non-Electric Excavators." Retrieved from https://dozr.com/blog/electric-vs-non-electric-excavatorsAilisheng Global. "What Electric Construction Equipment Are Used in Construction Projects?" Retrieved from https://www.ailishengglobal.com/blog/what-electric-construction-equipment-are-used-in-construction-project.htmlConserv Machinery. "Electric vs. Diesel Powered Machinery: Pros and Cons." Retrieved from https://www.conservmachinery.com/blog/electric-vs-diesel-powered-machinery-pros-and-consEarth Gear. "Pros and Cons of Electric Earthmoving Machinery: A Shift to Low-Emission Solutions." Retrieved from https://earthgear.com.au/pros-and-cons-of-electric-earthmoving-machinery-a-shift-to-low-emission-solutions/Volvo Construction Equipment. "Electric Machines." Retrieved from https://www.volvoce.com/united-states/en-us/products/electric-machines/DOZR. "Electric Construction Equipment." Retrieved from https://dozr.com/blog/electric-construction-equipmentAnsys. "What Are Electric Machines?" Retrieved from https://www.ansys.com/simulation-topics/what-are-electric-machines

Feliks Banel's guest on this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY is Devlin Donnelly, a Seattle man who modestly calls himself a "history enthusiast." Donnelly recently put two-and-two together and figured out that a demolition and construction project not far from the Seattle waterfront is underway near what may be the location of an old ship buried there in the 19th century. The ship is the bark "Windward," and it was once used as a breakwater at the foot of Madison and Marion Streets. When the waterfront tidal area was filled in during the 1880s, the ship was left in place and buried. Many have written about the ship, including long-ago historians Clarence Bagley and C.T. Conover; more recently, Jean Sherrard wrote about the "Windward" for the Seattle Times' Now & Then column. CASCADE OF HISTORY spoke with Devlin Donnelly on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Jean Sherrard's Now & Then column on the "Windward" https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/sept-29-nt/ Daily Journal of Commerce story from December 2025 about the construction project: https://www.djc.com/news/co/12173588.html CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via flagship station SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms' quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle. Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes. "LIKE" the Cascade of History Facebook page and get updates and other stories throughout the week, and advance notice of live remote broadcasts taking place in your part of the Old Oregon Country.

SEGMENT 9: COSTA RICA ELECTION AND PANAMA CANAL TENSIONS Guest: Professor Evan Ellis (US Army War College) Ellis examines Costa Rica's upcoming election amid concerns over giant prison construction projects. Discussion turns to unresolved Panama Canal disputes where Chinese interference continues challenging American interests. Regional dynamics shift as nations balance between Washington's demands and Beijing's economic inducements throughout Central America.1898 BRUSSELS

StoneOnAir with Bryan Stone! Top local stories of '25, Weston Wamp pulls the land swap deal but still can't help being himself, latest on interstate construction projects, & Chattanooga Gas wants me to do what?!?! et al. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Nutrition World: https://nutritionw.com/ Vascular Institute of Chattanooga: https://www.vascularinstituteofchattanooga.com/ The Barn Nursery: https://www.barnnursery.com/ Optimize U Chattanooga: https://optimizeunow.com/chattanooga/ Guardian Investment Advisors: https://giaplantoday.com/ Alchemy Medspa and Wellness Center: http://www.alchemychattanooga.com/ Our House Studio: https://ourhousestudiosinc.com/ Big Woody's Tree Service: https://bigwoodystreeservice.com/ ALL THINGS JEFF STYLES: www.thejeffstyles.com PART OF THE NOOGA PODCAST NETWORK: www.noogapodcasts.com Please consider leaving us a review on Apple and giving us a share to your friends! This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

The field says the job is further along. Accounting says it's not. In this episode, Eric Anderton and Kathe Barrington, CPA explain why that disconnect exists—and why both sides are right. The field measures physical progress. Accounting measures financial reporting. When those systems fall out of sync, WIP becomes unreliable, billing lags, and cash flow suffers. This episode is Part 3 of the Construction Accounting Series, following: WIP Reports Made Simple How to Use Your WIP to Protect Cash and Grow Profitability If you want fewer surprises and better control over your jobs, don't miss this conversation.  

Welcome back to The Cashflow Project! In this episode, we're joined by Marcy Sagel, founder and principal of MSA Interiors, a leading commercial interior design firm specializing in multifamily, student housing, senior living, and affordable housing projects nationwide. With over 25 years of experience, Marcy shares her journey from discovering design as a teenager to building a successful firm through multiple market cycles. We dive into the role of design in real estate, the importance of mentorship and adaptability, and how diversification and thoughtful planning lead to long-term success. Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, or passionate about real estate and design, this episode is full of insight and inspiration. [00:00] "Design Journey and Insights" [04:55] "Efficient Project Documentation Tips" [09:55] "Reflections on Construction Projects" [12:55] "Impactful Project Visualization Tactics" [16:06] "Outdoor Space Design Insights" [20:09] Space Planning for Long-Term Durability [20:56] Long-Term Project Functionality Planning [24:51] Development Delays and Partnerships [30:01] Geographic and Strategy Diversification [32:22] "Lesson Learned Through Diversification" [35:11] "Entrepreneurship and Importance of Community" [37:14] Adaptable Strategies for Entrepreneurs Connect with Marcy Sagel! Website LinkedIn Instagram Connect with The Cashflow Project! Website LinkedIn YouTube Facebook Instagram

Hosts Regan Brown and Bill Mann, President of GB Group Construction & Painting, sit down with Paul Reeves, President & CEO of Reeves Construction Advisors. They discuss the challenges holiday decorations can create in work environments, particularly how large inflatables and other décor can become safety hazards for crews on site.

Sources:https://www.returntotradition.orgorhttps://substack.com/@returntotradition1Contact Me:Email: return2catholictradition@gmail.comSupport My Work:Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/AnthonyStineSubscribeStarhttps://www.subscribestar.net/return-to-traditionBuy Me A Coffeehttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/AnthonyStinePhysical Mail:Anthony StinePO Box 3048Shawnee, OK74802Follow me on the following social media:https://www.facebook.com/ReturnToCatholicTradition/https://twitter.com/pontificatormax+JMJ+#popeleoXIV #catholicism #catholicchurch #catholicprophecy#infiltration

WBBM political editor Geoff Buchholz reports a Chicago alderman criticized the Chicago Department of Transportation over the timing of bridge construction projects in his ward.

Construction contractors seeking to break free from commodity pricing discover transformative strategies for building strategic owner partnerships in this revealing interview. PMWeb CEO Huw Roberts shares insider perspectives from managing billion-dollar projects, including the $5 billion JP Morgan Chase tower in New York. Learn how successful contractors differentiate themselves through strategic positioning, technology integration, and communication excellence. This episode covers design-build-operate advantages, AI implementation without excessive risk, and the three critical objectives every owner prioritizes. Roberts reveals common communication mistakes that damage relationships and provides actionable strategies for contractors working with sophisticated owners managing 30,000+ active projects simultaneously. Key Topics Covered: • Strategic contractor positioning versus commodity vendor relationships in large projects • Design-build-operate contracting methods for long-term partnership success • Construction project management technology integration and collaboration strategies • AI implementation approaches: advisory roles versus dangerous automation decisions • Communication best practices that prevent costly owner relationship breakdowns • Technology planning requirements for sophisticated owner partnerships • Real-world insights from billion-dollar construction project management   Guest Credentials: Huw Roberts - CEO, PMWeb Global Construction Software Background: Former architect specializing in hospital and institutional design Current Role: Leading construction project management technology for major owners Portfolio Scope: 30,000+ active projects across universities, airports, financial institutions Notable Projects: JP Morgan Chase $5 billion tower, UC Davis Health systems Links and Resources: PMWeb Website: https://pmweb.com Contact: 855-GO-PM-WEB Case Studies: pmweb.com/awards LinkedIn: Connect with Huw Roberts     90-Day High-Performance Dashboard You can't afford to let your people drift. To drive real performance, you must coach with clarity and purpose.   Use the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to: Get clear on what matters most. Drive focused action and accountability. Strengthen trust and deepen relationships.   Success doesn't happen by accident. It happens when leaders coach with precision and consistency. Download the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard here: https://www.constructiongenius.com/high-performance-in-a-new-role Coach your team toward real results — one conversation at a time.     Resources to Help You Win in Construction

1 Peter 2:4-10 - God's Construction Project  |  Series: Worship in the Wilderness, 1 Peter |  Sam Holm, Lead Pastor  |  Preached 9-28-25 10:45am   Tag: New Testament, 1 Peter, Pain, Exile, Hurt, Grace, Hope, Building, Grand Opening, Lego, Temple, Bricks, Wall, Church

Today I'm sharing two recent wins that build on what we discussed in Ep241: What Do Interior Designers Really Do on Construction Projects? These real-life stories show how valuable designers are on job sites—and I hope they inspire you to create similar experiences in your own projects.  Mentioned in this episode: * Upcoming Designer-Only Lunch & Learn on appliance specification - Wilmington, DE area: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/offers/H2FSxLJb/checkout    Listen to Ep241 here:  https://devignierdesign.com/what-interior-designers-really-do-on-construction-projects/ Sign up for my weekly newsletter here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/from-the-jobsite Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-designers-invaluable-on-job-sites 

Have you ever been asked, “So… what do you do here?” If you're an interior designer, chances are you've heard this question more than once—from contractors, trades, or even clients. The truth is, many people don't fully understand the value designers bring to a construction project. And if they don't know what you do, they can't value it—or hire you for it. In this episode, we dive into why it's critical to define your role with clarity and confidence. You'll hear how one greenhouse project revealed the gap in understanding, and how showing up as a decision-maker, problem-solver, and translator between client and contractor changes everything. You'll leave with the exact language to position yourself as essential, not optional, so you can gain respect, influence, and bigger opportunities. Join the waitlist for my course here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers  Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devignierdesign/  Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/what-interior-designers-really-do-on-construction-projects 

In this episode of the Real Estate Pro Show, host Erika interviews Steven DeMayo, a construction expert and founder of Dynasty Construction Imports. Steven shares his journey from starting in construction at a young age to establishing his own company during the upheaval caused by COVID-19. The conversation delves into the importance of building relationships with manufacturers, common misconceptions investors have about construction, current trends in materials, challenges faced in projects, and advice for networking in the industry. Steven also discusses the future plans for his company and the unique approach he takes in the construction field.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true ‘white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a “mini-mastermind” with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming “Retreat”, either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas “Big H Ranch”? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

What If We Required Buffers on Construction Projects? Sounds crazy, right? In this quick but powerful episode, Jason Schroeder flips a long-standing industry mindset on its head: What if we didn't just allow buffers, what if we mandated them? Discover why forced downtime might be the secret to innovation. How buffer usage could actually boost performance instead of stall it. And why constraining others' time may be killing your team's creativity and growth. Jason also shares exciting updates on the Elevating Construction book series and reflects on lessons learned from his own leadership evolution including what Toyota taught him about giving people room to think. This episode will challenge everything you thought you knew about productivity. Listen in and start planning for real-life, not fantasy schedules. If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode.  And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two