Building PA Podcast
Episodes
Don Tracy of Quandel provides a safety stand down talk for construction workers. KCA encourages all construction companies to participate in an opioid stand down talk at least once a year and the 2020 Construction Opioid Awareness Week is an excellent opportunity. Held the last full week of July, this hot temperature time of year is considered the middle of the construction season and it's an ideal time to remind our workers ab...
Heading into 2020, the construction industry was making strides in the battle against the opioid epidemic, but then the COVID-19 pandemic arrived. Major concerns became apparent and we started trending in the wrong direction. As an industry, let's all do our part to raise awareness and provide the education needed to help our people. Listen to this introduction on the 2020 Construction Opioid Awareness Week that features reso...
Rachael Cooper of the National Safety Council provides a safety stand down talk that addresses stigmas associated with drug addictions. Due to labels, fears, punishment, etc. that some feel may come with an addiction, those suffering from addiction may be slow to seek help, or not seek help at all. This mindset needs to change and our workforce needs to know that they can speak up and where to get the help that they need.
Many employers want to do the right thing and get help for their workers but the system is not always set up for employers to do the right thing. Listen as one construction contractor expresses his issues when he tries to help workers. The responses from Rachael Cooper of the National Safety Council and Carl Heinlein of the American Contractors Insurance Group are helpful, but also an indication that we have more work to do.
Carl Heinlein of American Contractors Insurance Group shares a story about a construction worker who did everything the right way, but then found himself addicted to pain medications and illegal drugs. It's a road that unfortunately one too many from our workforce have traveled down. It's a story that we need to share so that we can help the next Chris before it's too late.
Join Brian Fraley of Fraley Construction Marketing as he speaks with Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien about social media use among contractors. Topics include how to allocate marketing dollars, use of social media to grow businesses and brands and how the industry has evolved with digital platforms.
As much as digital is being embraced across the industry, there are a variety of trends that reinforce digital as a useful resource. ...
Holly Lubart, Director of Government Affairs for the Pennsylvania News Media Association shares information about Pennsylvania's Right to Know laws on the Building PA Podcast. The focus of the discussion centers on the value of right to know for contractors and how access to public information can be useful for proposals and other useful business development uses.
Co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin ask questions relevant...
John Sebastian, director of Construction Management Program at the University of Pittsburgh joins co-hosts Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien to discuss how students are learning. Sebastian shared how the program has evolved. He also shares what students at the University of Pittsburgh are learning and engaging with industry professionals.
Sebastian adds, "the key is to get involved early and engage with our students and the pro...
Join co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin as we discuss succession planning for the construction industry with representatives from CLA. "It's really about what your goals are and how to design a plan to make those goals a reality," said Emily Gunther of CLA. Her definition of what succession planning is helps those preparing for the next step in business management. Listen in as Emily and her colleague Nicole S...
The Building PA Podcast profiles one of the newest healthcare projects in the Central Pennsylvania region - The UPMC Pinnacle York Memorial Hospital. Co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin speak with Greg Quandel, President and CEO of Quandel Construction and Joe Chicora, Senior Project Manager at Quandel Construction. The two Quandel leaders share insight into the award winning healthcare project and detail the efforts the co...
The Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) conducted a virtual meeting to review and discuss the current state of the Separations Act. The legislation addresses the contractual delivery method for multi prime projects throughout the Commonwealth.
During this episode join KCA members as they discuss the Act and current pieces of legislation that will modernize the legislation.
Listen to past episodes and engage with our hosts at Bui...
Join your Building PA Podcast co-hosts, Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien as they speak with attorney Matthew Jameson, co-chair of Burns White construction law practice as we discuss the impact the COVID-19 pandemic may present to construction contracts. In the conversation, Jameson shares insight for owners and contractors related to the topic.
"The more problematic question for contracts and its impact on contractors focus on ...
Dale Glacken, from OSHA, joins Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin in the Building PA Podcast studios to discuss the increasing summer heat and the impact it has on construction jobsites throughout the Commonwealth. Listen in as Glacken shares tips for remaining cool, hydrated and protected when following OSHA's Water, Rest, Shade guidance.
The key, according to Glacken is to "understand how the body is affected by heat and ho...
According to Stephen Ford, MorganStanley Wealth Management, "forward thinking contractors who focus on the management of employees, have the ability to apply technology and make structural changes to their organization will succeed," as the pandemic evolves.
Listen to Ford and Chad Houser, both of MorganStanley Wealth Management as they share financial insight to those contractors who are expecting changes to modify their bu...
Tim Jones of Massaro Corporation joins Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin to discuss a unique shared space topic currently being reviewed and discussed across construction sites throughout Pennsylvania. Listen as Jones discusses the benefits of co-location on multiple prime projects. The idea, according to Jones, is to co-locate all prime contractors in the same shared space to maximize communications, meetings and productivity.
In support of the ongoing re-opening challenges facing our industry, the Keystone Contractors Association asked several leading construction law experts to meet virtually and share their insight into the very fluid COVID-19 situation.
Join Matt Jameson of Burns White, Tom Williams of Reager Adler, David White of Babst Calland and Michael Metz-Topodas of Cohen Seglias as they share insight and guidance to contract and site specific r...
Chuck Parker, of Stantec joins our co-hosts, Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin in the studio to talk of the impact the COVID-19 virus will have on the design industry. Parker shares his insight based on his 45-year career focusing on designs for the healthcare industry and commented that the COVID-19 pandemic will impact the design industry just as 9/11 impacted the airline industry.
Listen as Parker shares his thoughts on how many ...
As our industry re-opens amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Katie Spear and Jeff Graves, of i+iconUSA come by the studio to talk about their company’s implementation of technology to ensure the safety of their job sites and offices. Join us as the duo shares their organizational values and how a quickly developed app has helped ensure data is shared among their sites and offices to reduce redundant testing while improving productiv...
The industry re-opened on May 1 and as GCs and subcontractors adjust to various requirements, the Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) conducted a virtual meeting to review and discuss the current CDC guidelines and protocols. During this episode join the KCA Safety Panel to learn more. Our experts include Dale Glacken, OSHA, Tom Scott, McClure Company, Darren Rech, Alexander Building and Don Tracy, Quandel Construction.
Listen ...
Howard Bernstein of Penn Installation shares his thoughts and recommendations for safely returning to the job site. Bernstein shares several stories of best practices along with the impact of personal decisions for safely returning home from job sites across the Commonwealth.
"It takes my breath away thinking about the sacrifices the men and women (of the construction industry) have made since the outbreak began," said Bern...
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