Kevin Gray took a leap of faith when he purchased a dying asphalt paving and sealcoating business in 2011. A small business loan, some rundown equipment, and entrepreneurial grit were all they had during the first few years.

Now, thanks to the organizational processes and culture initiatives Kevin has implemented, Louisville, Kentucky-based ADC Paving is thriving.  

Kevin and host Missy Scherber talk about getting your office and crew in order to jumpstart your economic engine.

They also cover:

• Making customer experience a priority
• Committing to training and investing in your staff
• Open and transparent communication

• Going the extra mile to do what your competitors won’t
• Being intentional about roles to be a better partner
• Building operational systems to scale your business
• Using your culture and flexibility as a recruitment and retention strategy

• Learning from your mistakes as a young business owner
• Handling critical conversations the right way
• Examining your profit margin and leaning into your niche 
• Being well-read and applying those lessons from great leaders
• Finding a mentor to be candid with
• Investing in your people

• Passing on a company legacy to a 5th generation
• Retaining your company culture and values as you grow
• Infusing Amazon-style customer engagement technology in your business
• Being less transactional and more personal
• Investing in yourself and finding mentors

Herb R. Sargent is the president and CEO of Sargent Corporation, an infrastructure construction firm based in Stillwater, Maine. 

Founded by his grandfather Herb E. Sargent in 1926 with a used dump truck and a strong work ethic as his assets, the company now has hundreds of employees owners working in New England and the mid-Atlantic regions.

Herb and host Missy Scherber dig into workforce development, the advantages of employee stock ownership plans and the importance of investing in the well-being and prosperity of your people.

They also discuss:

• Buying back the family business
• Being intentional about training your workforce and creating career paths
• Hiring managers that allow you to focus on the bigger picture
• Leading through difficult situations

The youngest Black woman to receive California’s CSLB (A) General Engineering license, Jennifer Todd, serves as LMS General Contractors Founder and President. Jennifer heads the company’s management team and is responsible for developing & executing LMS’s strategic growth.

Jennifer is a strong advocate for job creation and employee development. Her Greener Tomorrow apprenticeship program is geared toward the advancement of unemployed and underemployed people of color, and she is a recognized speaker and top professional in the industry.

Jennifer and host Missy Scherber take a deeper dive into her thoughts on workforce development and diversity in the construction industry.

They discuss:

• Tackling every roll from estimating to ownership
• Managing profit and organic growth
• Being intentional about your workforce development
• Taking as situational approach to supporting and training your team
• Having critical conversations about bias, barriers, and representation