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AI won't fix a badly run company. But if you're already running a good one, it can save you hours every week on the work that eats your time: RFIs, change order drafts, meeting summaries, estimating.
Dylan Davis is an AI consultant and coach, and my collaborator on the Construction Genius GPT course, where we teach construction professionals to use AI on real work. This is part one of our new series on AI for construction companies: AI 101, in plain English, with zero hype.
What you'll learn:
What AI actually is (a prediction machine) and where it fits in everyday construction work
Why context, not prompting, is the last competitive lever left
The What-Why-How framework for getting useful output every time
Why the first answer is the start, not the finish, and how to iterate like a pro
Which model to use for which task: ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini
How to keep your company data safe, and the one thing Dylan won't let AI do
Three moves to make on day one of your AI journey
Get on the waitlist for the Construction Genius GPT Course: https://ericanderton.activehosted.com/f/255
Connect with Dylan Davis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylantdavis/
Dylan's website: https://offerings.gradientlabs.co/
Dylan's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dylandavisAI
Free Succession Planning Guide: https://www.constructiongenius.com/free-succession-planning-guide
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Daniel McCaulley, P.E., is the founder of Ultimus Engineering, a faith-based engineering firm in Texas delivering MEP, aquatics, and structural engineering across 22 states. On this episode, Daniel shares what he learned from his first failed hire, how he transitioned from corporate engineering to running his own firm, and why the human side of client service matters more than ever.
Key Takeaways:
Remote work is a privilege, not a right. Small firms need people who understand that every hour is visible.
Daniel moonlighted for two years and saved a year of living expenses before going full time. Preparation beats hope.
Spending more time on engineering upfront saves money and headaches during construction. But you need the communication skills to sell that to clients.
Picking up the phone, turning around quotes in 24 hours, and being accessible are the simplest ways to separate yourself from the competition.
AI is a tool, not a personality replacement. If your emails sound like a robot and you sound like a human, you'll lose trust faster than you think.
Connect with Daniel McCaulley:
Website: https://ultimus.engineering
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielmccaulley/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 214-384-7762 -
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Jon Dario is an author, speaker, and retail leadership expert who has held leadership roles with some of the top companies in the retail and financial services industries including Macy's, Gap, and Bank of America. He is currently CEO of a real estate company in the metro NY area. Jon is the creator of AIM, a system that turns managers into execution machines and enables them to deliver radically reliable results. His fifth book, AIM, is available for purchase.
In this episode, Jon walks through the Pyramid of Standards, a framework for defining what matters most in your business and making sure your team executes on it every day. He built it in the Gap outlet division after watching managers prioritize the wrong things while customers walked out the door.
Key takeaways:
The Pyramid of Standards creates a hierarchy of what matters most—foundation first, supplemental later.
Observation beats assumption. Walk your jobsites and see the business through the customer's eyes before setting standards.
Follow-up frequency is the difference between standards that stick and standards that slip. Be predictable and relentless.
Great leaders adopt a white belt mentality—they stay learners and unlock answers in their team instead of dictating them.
Consistency and habits drive long-term success, not heroics in the bottom of the ninth.
Connect with Jon Dario:
Website: https://jondario.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondario/
AIM Book: https://www.amazon.com/Aim-Managers-Radically-Reliable-Results/dp/1966786778/
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Melissa Drew is the Founder and President of InSite BUILD, a construction management firm based on Maryland's Eastern Shore that specializes in complex state-procured projects. After 20 years with national contractors including Holder Construction and Gilbane, she started her own firm to bring big-project experience to a smaller, more relationship-driven model. In this episode, she shares how she manages complex projects, builds trust with contractors and owners, and leads a growing startup in a tight-knit market.
Key Takeaways:
Two extra weeks of planning at the start of a multi-year project can prevent months of rework
Superintendents need permission to slow down. That permission has to come from leadership
Trust is built in small moments, not just when the big problems hit
Hiring for a startup construction firm means finding people who love the work, not just the structure
When your team is full of introverts, pressure makes them go quiet. A leader's job is to keep the conversation going
Connect with Melissa Drew: LinkedIn | insite-build.com
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Every project team says they're going to communicate well. Then the project starts, and it falls apart. Why? Nobody stops to unpack what communication actually means for the people in the room.
Kyle Majchrowski, author of Powerful Conversations and founder of Next Intent, has spent 20+ years on the owner side of construction and has facilitated hundreds of these conversations. He walks through the structured process that takes just 45 minutes and changes the way teams operate.
Key takeaways:
Trust means different things to different people. Kyle defines it as "the belief that others have your back when you're not in the room."
The four cornerstones of trust (care, competence, sincerity, reliability) explain most of the tension you'll see on a project team.
One question at kickoff can shift everything: "Do you naturally trust people, or do you expect them to earn it?"
CliftonStrengths and Enneagram are worth your time. DISC oversimplifies.
Great leaders move between team member, guide, and authority, sometimes within the same meeting.
Connect with Kyle Majchrowski:
Next Intent: https://www.nexintent.com
Website: https://kylemajchrowski.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylemajchrowski
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A $1 mistake in pre-con becomes $10 on the jobsite and $100 after occupancy. That's the 1-10-100 rule — and it's why upstream coordination failures are the most expensive mistakes in construction.
Scott Reynolds, co-founder and CEO of UpCodes, joins Eric to break down where compliance mistakes actually start, why the design-to-field handoff is still broken, and how AI-powered code compliance is helping teams catch problems before they pour concrete.
Topics covered: the 1-10-100 rule of construction mistakes, AI guardrails for building code accuracy, QA/QC automation in pre-construction, the architect-to-GC handoff problem, code compliance on the jobsite, and what will be table stakes in five years.
Connect with Scott and UpCodes: https://up.codes
Connect with Eric: https://www.constructiongenius.com
Get the Construction Genius Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDJF3PTF
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Your body language on the jobsite isn't just showing how you feel. It's shaping how you feel, how your team performs, and whether your project partners want to work with you again.
In this solo episode, Eric breaks down the research behind body language and leadership — from the NFL to the Olympics to the construction jobsite. You'll learn the body-mind loop that deepens or reverses your emotional state under pressure, why the higher your status the more damage your negative body language inflicts, and the Big Three habits that protect your composure when it matters most.
Key Takeaways:
Your posture participates in creating your internal state — not just reflecting it
When leaders visibly deflate, it ripples through every person who sees it
Body language is a trainable skill, not a personality trait
Book a 10-minute coaching call with Eric: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me -
What does success look like to your best PM right now? Do you know?
Alton Tew spent 46 years in construction — 25 of them building Samet Corporation's multifamily division into a $500 million operation that turned over 3,500 units a year. In this conversation, he shares the leadership principles that drove it: the 90-day check-in that keeps high-potential talent from leaving, how to stay calm when a job site goes sideways, and what his final year looked like as he handed off a 170-person division to the next generation.
Simple ideas. Hard to execute. Essential to get right.
📖 Construction Genius: Get it on Amazon
🎓 The Shift: theshift.constructiongenius.com
📅 Work with Eric: 10minuteswitheric.youcanbook.me
🩸 Blood Cancer United: bloodcancerunited.org
🌐 Samet Corporation: sametcorp.com
💼 Alton on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alton-tew-aab3965a
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What if the thing holding your construction company back isn't lack of effort — it's lack of deep thinking?
In this episode, I sit down with Steven Puri, former EVP at DreamWorks, former VP at 20th Century Fox, and CEO of The Sukha Company — to talk about flow state: what it is, why the best leaders in the world use it, and how construction company owners can harness it to make better decisions and leapfrog the competition.
Three things you'll walk away with:
Why grinding harder creates linear growth — and deep thinking creates competitive leaps
How to find your chronotype and build a flow state practice that actually fits your schedule
The 'other movie' principle: why your best ideas come when you're working on something else
Steven Puri is CEO of The Sukha Company, former EVP at DreamWorks, and former VP at 20th Century Fox. He speaks and consults on the neuroscience of peak performance for leaders across industries.
📚 Get Eric's book Construction Genius on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/
🏗️ The Shift — Eric's leadership course for construction leaders: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com
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What happens when outworking everyone stops working?
In Episode 379, Justin Ricklefs — founder of Guild Collective and author of Give a Damn — gets honest about the moment things broke down: his business, his relationships, and himself. He shares the framework that rebuilt everything, why constraint became his competitive advantage, and what it actually costs to build something while keeping your family intact.
The Five Fs framework for keeping your priorities in order as a business owner
Why niching down felt like limitation — and turned out to be the growth engine
The honest answer to whether he'd start his business again knowing what it would cost
Justin Ricklefs is the founder and CEO of Guild Collective, a brand consultancy, and author of Give a Damn: The Catalyst for Caring Companies.
Get Eric's book Construction Genius on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/
Leadership course for construction leaders — The Shift: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com/
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Only 2.5% of construction firms consistently complete projects on time and on budget. Not because their people lack skills. Because discipline breaks down under pressure.
In this solo episode, Eric Anderton breaks down FMI's 2026 project management study (Part 2) and shows how your Project Executive drives execution discipline in three areas that directly hit your bottom line.
Key takeaways:
• Firms with accurate cost-to-complete forecasting hit profit targets 92% of the time. Without it, 42%.
• Strong change order discipline means 87% profit reliability for specialty contractors. Weak discipline? 64%.
• Your reputation is as many reputations as you have project teams. Your worst PM sets the floor.
• 61% of contractors skip post-job reviews. The learning disappears with the crew.
• The perception gap between executives and PMs is where margin quietly bleeds.
This is Part 2 of a three-part series on FMI's project management research.
FMI 2026 Study (Part 2): fmicorp.com/insights/thought-leadership/2026-project-management-study-part-2
Part 1: www.constructiongenius.com/only-2.5-of-contractors-finish-on-time.-heres-what-they-do-before-the-job-starts-ep.-375
Explore executive coaching with Eric for your leaders. Book a call here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me
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If your indirect costs aren't tracked—they're hiding. And what they're hiding is your true profit margin.
In this episode of Construction Genius, Eric sits down with Kathe Barrington, CPA and fractional Controller/CFO with 20 years of construction experience, to break down one of the most misunderstood areas of construction accounting: indirect cost allocations, equipment costing, and overhead structure.
Kathe explains the difference between indirect costs and G&A, how to think about owned equipment usage rates, what a clean chart of accounts should look like, and why your bank and bonding company will notice if you're burying job costs in overhead. She also shares her favorite phrase that every construction leader should internalize: every dollar needs a home and a purpose.
In this episode, you'll learn:
The difference between indirect costs, overhead, and G&A—and why it matters
How to cost and track owned equipment using market usage rates
Why inaccurate chart of accounts structure distorts job profitability
How misallocated costs affect banking, bonding, and strategic decisions
Why your estimators and accounting team need to speak the same language
The two biggest areas of indirect cost leakage to look for first
Why you should review indirect allocations monthly, not annually
This is Part 4 of the Construction Accounting Series with Kathe Barrington.
Previous Episodes in This SeriesEp. 357 - WIP Reports Made Simple: The Key to Stopping Hidden Job Losses
Ep. 359 - How to Use Your WIP to Protect Cash and Grow Profitability
Ep. 364 - Why the Field and Accounting Are Both Right
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Most construction companies treat pre-construction as an estimating department. That mindset is costing them projects.
In this episode, Eric sits down with Sam Potts, Director of Pre-Construction at JP Cullen—a $900M family-owned, self-performing GC out of Wisconsin. Sam explains why pre-con managers should be treated like project managers, how to align budgets around what actually matters to the owner, the power of a "yes-if" mentality when clients make unexpected requests, and what separates a good estimator from a great pre-construction leader.
In this episode, you'll learn:
• Why pre-con's real purpose is setting your project teams up to win
• How discovery meetings and the right questions unlock owner priorities
• The Risk Opportunity Log: a tool to eliminate budget surprises
• Why cost transparency is the fastest way to build trust
• How AI is starting to impact takeoffs—and the risk to junior estimator development
• The leadership shift from directing to coaching that changed Sam's career
If you want pre-construction to become a true competitive advantage for your company, this episode is a must-listen.
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Only 2.5% of contractors finish on time and on budget. Here's what they do before the job starts.
In this episode, Eric Anderton breaks down Part 1 of FMI's 2025 Project Management Study — 243 executives, 84 PMs, real contractors, real numbers. What they found isn't revolutionary. It's the same truth Vince Lombardi was teaching in 1959. Preparation before the work starts. Accountability to a consistent standard. Everyone owning their role before the first crew hits the job site.
The three things separating high performers from everyone else: PM involvement in estimating, structured pre-execution planning, and field buy-in before mobilization. The one role responsible for making all three happen — or failing to — is your project executive.
Three Numbers Every Owner Should Know
PM involvement in estimating → margin attainment jumps from 55% to 78%
Thorough pre-execution planning → profit margins hit 81% vs. 50% of the time
Strong field alignment → on-time/early completion 76% vs. 58% of the time
Hosted by Eric Anderton — leadership coach, executive coach, and 20+ year veteran of the construction industry.
FMI 2025 Study: https://fmicorp.com/insights/thought-leadership/2025-project-management-study-part-1
Executive coaching for your PX — book a call: https://10minuteswitheric.youcanbook.me/
Construction Genius book: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/
The Shift leadership course: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com/
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Construction companies don't go out of business because they lack work. They go out of business because they take on too much work and lose discipline.
In this episode, Eric Anderton talks with DPR Construction leaders Camilo Garcia and Mike Humphrey about how DPR built the discipline that carried the company through multiple boom-bust cycles—from early hypergrowth to market volatility in the 2000s, the 2009 downturn, and today's AI-driven data center surge.
They explain how DPR protects its culture through disciplined hiring, empowers teams with freedom within a framework, stays selective with customers and markets, and scales using operating ranges based on people—not just revenue.
If you're leading a construction company in a high-demand market, this episode shows how DPR stays disciplined while growing.
Resources:
DPR Construction: https://www.dpr.com/
Connect with Camilo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camilo-garcia-pineros-79172ba/
Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-humphrey-b589695/ -
The Inflation Reduction Act is driving massive investment into construction—but the registered apprenticeship requirements tied to those tax credits are creating confusion and risk for many contractors.
In this episode, Eric Anderton talks with Andy Seth, founder of Apprentix, about a smarter approach to complying with Inflation Reduction Act apprenticeship requirements—one that reduces risk, protects margins, and supports business growth.
They break down how IRA apprenticeship compliance really works, why sponsorship matters, and how contractors can get compliant quickly without disrupting operations.
If Inflation Reduction Act projects are affecting your bids or backlog, this episode will give you clarity and confidence.
Connect with Andy
Apprentix: https://www.apprentix.io
Apprenticeship Launch System (Book): https://a.co/d/1Lxl0rX
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyseth/
X: https://x.com/mraseth
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (303) 900-2215
Restaurant Mentioned: https://www.altenorestaurant.com/ -
Doug Ransom began his construction career at 18 as a union carpenter apprentice. Thirty years later, he serves as General Superintendent at JP Cullen & Sons, a fifth-generation commercial construction company.
Learn more: https://jpcullen.com/
In this episode, we discuss:
Transitioning from foreman to superintendent
Managing construction field teams
Leadership development in commercial construction
Field vs. office conflict
Multi-generational construction company succession
Related episodes on construction succession planning:
Episode 170
https://www.constructiongenius.com/podcast/how-to-run-a-successful-family-business-with-george-cullen-ep-170/Episode 186
https://www.constructiongenius.com/podcast/secrets-of-a-successful-multi-generational-company-with-the-cullen-clan-ep-186Connect with Doug:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-ransom-a58018285/Restaurant recommendation:
https://www.fairchildrestaurant.com/ -
What does it really take to become a high-performing construction leader?
In this episode of Construction Genius, Eric Anderton talks with Katharine Hamer, Project Manager at DPR Construction (San Diego), about leadership development, accountability, and culture in the field.
From her background as a Division I lacrosse athlete to managing complex projects across higher education, healthcare, data centers, parking structures, and life science / biotech, Katharine explains how DPR develops leaders through discipline, humility, and real field experience.
You'll hear how accountability works without blame, why psychological safety matters on tough projects, and how young professionals can grow fast without skipping critical steps.
Links:
DPR Construction: https://www.dpr.com/
Restaurant Recommendation (San Diego, CA): Dirty Birds Bar & Grill
Restaurant Link: https://www.dirtybirdsbarandgrill.com/ -
Estimating isn't just math—it's how contractors decide which risks they're willing to own.
In this episode of the Construction Genius Podcast, Eric Anderton talks with Chris Clausing, Director of Program and Curriculum Innovation for Construction at Colibri Group, about why estimating is still more art than science—and why contractors consistently miss the risk margin that protects profit.
Drawing on 25 years as a commercial general contractor, Chris explains how regional differences, niche discipline, poor handoffs, and earned value blind spots quietly erode margins. They also discuss how AI can help identify estimating risks—if it's adopted thoughtfully.
If you've ever won work that you later wished you hadn't, this episode will change how you think about estimating.
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Can you really deliver speed, quality, and cost in construction—without tradeoffs?
In this episode of Construction Genius, Eric Anderton sits down with Ryan Teicher, CEO of REDCOM Design & Construction, to unpack how a fully integrated design-build model eliminates silos, accelerates delivery, and aligns teams around client outcomes.
Ryan explains how bringing architecture, engineering, estimating, and construction under one roof leads to faster decisions, fewer conflicts, and better cost control. The conversation dives into early design consulting as a risk filter, sales as true client advocacy, maintaining client intent from concept through construction, and why strong leaders must be willing to walk away from the wrong projects.
This is a practical, no-BS conversation about design-build done right, along with CEO-level insights on leadership, culture, and scaling a construction company.
🔑 Topics CoveredWhy integrated design-build can deliver speed, quality, and cost
Early design consulting as risk management
Turning sales meetings into working design sessions
Maintaining client intent throughout construction
Red flags that signal when to walk away from a project
Breaking silos through culture, space, and leadership
The CEO shift from operations to growth
Ryan Teicher is the CEO of REDCOM Design & Construction, a fully integrated commercial design-build firm. He brings over 25 years of leadership experience across residential, commercial, and industrial construction, including managing complex projects for Merck, Citi, Siemens, Santander, and Quest.
Since joining REDCOM in 2023, Ryan has focused on driving speed to market, operational efficiency, and cross-discipline collaboration by bringing architecture, engineering, and construction under one roof. He lives in New Jersey and serves on his town's planning board, environmental commission, and as president of his synagogue.
🔗 Links & ResourcesREDCOM – About Us
https://www.redcomllc.com/about-us/REDCOM – Project Portfolio
https://www.redcomllc.com/portfolio/REDCOM on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/redcom-design-&-construction-llc/Ryan Teicher on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-teicher/Construction Genius
https://www.constructiongenius.com - Mehr anzeigen
