Building PA Podcast

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien dive into the important topic of risk management in the construction industry. They are joined by experts Joe Poliafico and Skip Parry, who share their insights on how effective risk management can significantly impact a company's bottom line.

The conversation kicks off with a light-hearted discussion about the changing landscape of Pennsylva...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin dive into an engaging discussion about safety education in the construction industry with special guest Tracey Cekada, the chair of the Safety Sciences and Environmental Engineering Department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).

We kick off the episode with a light-hearted introduction, where Chris and Jon share their excitement about the...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome Kara McCaffrey, a construction industry rock star and chief wellness officer at Houck Group. Kara shares her journey from healthcare IT back to construction, driven by her passion for mental health and suicide prevention, especially after losing her brother to suicide.

The conversation delves into the importance of mental health awareness ...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin dive into the critical topic of connected construction workflows with our guest, Joe Hasson from Empower Business Solutions. As the construction industry continues to evolve, the importance of integrating technology into everyday operations cannot be overstated.

We kick off the episode with a light-hearted introduction, where Chris sets the stage ...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin celebrate five years of podcasting while diving into a critical topic: opioid awareness and pain management in the context of surgery. They are joined by Brand Newland, the CEO and co-founder of Goldfinch Health, who brings a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective on how to navigate the challenges associated with opioid prescriptions followi...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin dive into a significant legal case that has captured the attention of the construction industry in Pennsylvania, the Clearfield County Jail case. Joined by legal expert Mike Pascoe from Ice Miller, the discussion centers around the implications of a legal doctrine known as "nullum tempus" and its potential application to the statute of ...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin dive into an often-overlooked aspect of the construction industry: physical health. Joined by nurse practitioner and founder of Construction Care Solutions, Linde Collingwood, the conversation explores the unique health challenges faced by blue-collar workers, particularly in the construction sector.

Linde shares her extensive experience working o...

In this exciting episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome Brent Darnell, a renowned keynote speaker in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. As we celebrate the unique appearance of a Lego R2-D2 in the background, we dive into a thought-provoking discussion about the importance of emotional intelligence and people skills in the construction sector.

Brent shares ...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien delve into a significant topic affecting the construction industry in Pennsylvania: the Separations Act. With a history spanning over a century, the Separations Act mandates that public construction projects at the state and local levels must hire at least four separate prime contractors—specifically for general trades, electrical, HVAC, and plum...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien welcome Pennsylvania State House Majority Leader Matt Bradford for an engaging discussion on leadership within the context of a divided government.

Matt shares his background, growing up in Chester County and his journey through law school at Villanova, where he also met his wife. He reflects on his political career, having been elected to the leg...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome Michelle Tarquino from the Office of Transformation and Opportunity (OTO) to discuss the initiatives aimed at making Pennsylvania a more business-friendly state. Michelle, who serves as the transportation coordinator, shares insights into the challenges businesses face, particularly regarding the permitting process.

The conversation highli...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome Tom Scott, the Director of Safety at McClure Company, to discuss the critical topic of safety culture within the construction industry. The episode marks the fifth season of the podcast, which has a strong focus on safety, and highlights the importance of fostering a safety-first environment on job sites.

Jon kicks off the conversation by ...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin delve into the Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) scholarship program, now in its fourth year. Jon, representing the KCA, discusses the unique structure of the scholarship, which offers recurring financial support for up to four years to Pennsylvania residents pursuing construction-related degrees at Pennsylvania colleges. This year, the KCA ...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin discuss the upcoming BD Boot Camp, an exciting initiative by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Scheduled for April 8, 2025, during the AGC convention in Columbus, Ohio, the boot camp aims to enhance business development skills within the construction industry.

Chris, who will be the chair of the AGC's business development c...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-host Jon O'Brien takes the reins as he interviews his fellow co-host, Chris Martin, who is the president and owner of Atlas Marketing. The episode dives deep into the critical topic of crisis management, a subject that has been requested by listeners and industry members alike.

Chris shares his experiences from recent discussions with industry professionals, revealing that many org...

In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien welcome two prominent figures in Pennsylvania's construction policy: Senator Devlin Robinson and Senator John Kane. Both senators bring unique backgrounds to the table—Robinson as a U.S. Marine veteran and Kane as a former business manager for Plumbers Local 690.

The discussion kicks off with a light-hearted banter about the weather in Pittsb...

In this episode of our podcast, we dive deep into the impactful initiative known as the "Hike for Hope," a movement aimed at raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention, particularly within the construction industry. I had the pleasure of speaking with Rob Labbe, a highly respected construction professional based in New York, who has been instrumental in launching this initiative.

We kick off the episode b...

In this exciting episode of the Building PA podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome Kathy Freeman, the Senior Director of Operations at Amphibious Medics. Kathy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in safety management, and we dive deep into the critical topic of managing injuries in the construction industry.

From the outset, Jon and Chris express their enthusiasm for the conversation, highlighting the im...

In this exciting episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien celebrate the culmination of their fourth season by announcing the winners of the inaugural 2024 Podcast Awards. With a focus on recognizing outstanding contributions within the construction industry, the hosts reflect on the journey of the podcast since its inception in the spring of 2020.

The hosts dive into the details of the awards, w...