Brian Hess, founder and president of The Pavement Group and Top Contractor School is shaking things up when it comes to sales, marketing and client relations in the asphalt and concrete paving industry. At The Pavement Group, Brian’s team takes a data-driven approach to solving customer problems and maintaining the highest level of service. He’s taken what he’s learned and helps other contractors build more successful businesses through Top Contractor School – a training, coaching and community platform for industry newcomers and veterans alike. 

In this episode of CONEXPO-CON/AGG Radio, Brian and host Missy Scherber discuss how training and development is fundamental to business success, as well as building an innovation mindset to see the opportunity everywhere.

They also cover: 

• Moving from Corporate America to construction
• Turning your business into a sales and marketing engine
• Attracting like-minded people as employees, customers and mentors
• Creating a structured training plan to produce predictable results
• Overcoming doubt and the naysayers

Mikel Bowman has been a life coach, pastor, mentor, and culture guru. He has devoted his life to helping others realize their true potential. In this episode Mikel and host Missy Scherber dig into leading with joy and humility, as well as building a culture based on honesty, ethics and respect. Mikel's straightforward approach to everyday problems will help organizations of all sizes usher a great work environment for those in blue collar professions.

They discuss:

• A career switch from counseling to construction
• Driving greatness out of your staff and creating clear lines of accountability
• Making culture in a priority in an industry with limited good examples of it
• Bringing professionalism to the jobsite and making marginalized groups feel safe and comfortable
• Building bridges between the office and the field through proactive communication
• Being honest and fair in your recruiting process
• Taking personal responsibility to grow in your role

Based in Irwin, Pennsylvania, Brex Enterprises is a WBE certified pipeline maintenance and services company founded in 2012 by Alicia Brentzel and her husband AJ.

Alicia joins host Missy Scherber to talk about business growing pains and how leaning into your core values and unique strengths can help accelerate growth and build stronger teams. 

They also discuss:

• Going from AJ working solo and living in a camper to managing 40 employees
• Putting processes in place to improve your efficiency and profitability
• The importance of modeling your culture every day
• Making critical conversations with employees a priority
• Navigating your roles as both business partners and spouses
• Helping your employees achieve their full-potential and providing growth opportunities
• Getting over imposter syndrome and being honest with where you are right now

• Advancing the science of safe demolition
• Showcasing careers in construction to the next generation
• Creating a culture of safety and incentivizing it 
• Learning from the generation that came before you
• Using technology for fleet management and operational efficiencies
• Leading with happiness and confidence

Mary Katherine Harbin caught the attention of the industry when she established the nation’s first all-female paving crew. The area manager and equal employment opportunity officer for Tennessee-based, Maymead Inc., has worked her way up the ranks and built a successful career in construction.

As a nationally-recognized speaker on workforce development, Harbin joins host Missy Scherber to share expertise on mentoring employees, mitigating bias and discrimination and taking a progressive approach to hiring.

They also discuss:

• Building your confidence as a leader
• Creating unity among the office and the field
• Breaking down barriers between your crew members
• Advice for women in construction

Growing up, Matt Stanley and his three brothers were "raised on blacktop", working alongside their parents from the time they could hold a shovel at their Danbury, Connecticut-based paving business, American Pavement Specialists. Since then, the small company has grown into a big name in the paving world, starting their own clothing brand and sponsoring NASCAR driver Spencer Boyd. 

Matt runs everything from field operations to marketing, and he shares how building strong relationships with your family, crew and OEMs helps maximize your quality of work and success. 

Matt joins host Missy Scherber to discuss:

- Making working with your family cool again
- Training employees from the ground up 
- Instilling pride and values in your crew
- Improving relationships with OEMs and dealers through top-notch marketing
- Tips for honing your brand identity on social media

You may know him on Instagram as “Technology Sandbox” --- and Britton Lawson’s day-to-day job is just that ---- working with current and emerging construction technologies from grade control to telematics to bring efficiency to the jobsite.

As director of construction technology at Veit & Company, Britton is the internal technology champion. He helps the organization get the best technology return on investment and evolve their processes for the future. Britton joins host Missy Scherber to discuss the current and future state of construction tech.

They also cover:

• Moving from 2D to 3D grade control
• Advice for implementing new technology
• Troubleshooting technology problems
• Communicating about technology with your field team
• Highlights from CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2020

While Chris Lane’s company employs more than 430 West Virginians and Pennsylvanians, he says their goal isn’t to be the biggest, just the most complete pipeline contractor in the region. The 27-year-old of vice president, Ronald Lane Inc. say creating a turnkey experience for clients has been the secret to their success. The company has 13 locations, over 500 pieces of equipment and handles every aspect of pipelaying including clearing land, processing trees, directional drilling, painting, welding, backfilling and hydrotesting.

Chris and Guest Host Dusty Weis also discuss:

• The pros and cons of a family business
• The importance of having dedicated safety staff
• Installing environmental controls
• Digitizing asset management
• Taking pride in your people
• Road tripping to CONEXPO-CON/AGG