Building PA Podcast
Business & Finance
About
The Building PA Podcast serves the construction industry throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in brief, downloadable segments. Hosted by Chris Martin, President of Atlas Marketing, and Jon O’Brien, Executive Director for the Keystone Contractors Association, the Building PA Podcast covers topics such as safety, workforce development, insurance, legal, legislation, business development and much more.
Episodes
- From No Comment to Clear Communication: Handling Crises Effectively with Chris Martin
Co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin discuss crisis communication in the construction industry, highlighting the importance of preparedness and transparency. They cover common pitfalls, the need for a designated spokesperson, and how a so…
- Talk It Out: How Communication Enhances Safety in Construction with Jessica Warren
Jessica Warren joins the Building PA Podcast to discuss how communication and psychological safety improve physical safety in construction. The episode covers fostering open dialogue, building team relationships, and practical strategies f…
- Building Awareness: The Second Annual Hike for Hope in Pennsylvania
The Building PA Podcast episode discusses the second annual Pennsylvania Construction Hike for Hope, an event supporting mental health and suicide prevention within the construction industry. Co-hosts Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien share det…
- Building Trust: The Role of Language in Construction Safety and Mental Health with Monique Lewis
Monique Lewis, CEO of Next2Native Inc., joins the Building PA Podcast to discuss the critical role of language in construction safety and mental health. She highlights that with about one in three construction workers being Spanish-speakin…
- Future-Proofing Your Business: Leveraging AI in the Construction Industry with Michael Kline
Michael Kline joins the Building PA Podcast to explain AI, likening it to a sophisticated calculator. He addresses job displacement fears, highlighting AI's role in enhancing efficiency rather than replacing trades. Kline shares practical…
- Mastering Contract Methods in Construction with Tina Wolff
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, we sit down with Tina Wolff, the Director of Strategic Development for Kokosing Industrial. Tina shares her extensive experience in the construction industry, focusing on the critical differences…
- Engineering the Future: A Student's Hands-On Experience at Beaver Stadium with Lauren Maggi
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome Lauren Maggi, a third-year architectural engineering student at Penn State University, who is currently interning on the exciting Beaver Stadium reno…
- Navigating Risk Management in Pennsylvania's Construction Industry with Joe Poliafico and Skip Parry
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 insig…
- From Classroom to Career: The Path of Safety Professionals at IUP with Tracey Cekada
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 E…
- Building a Supportive Culture: How the Construction Industry is Tackling Mental Health with Kara McCaffrey
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 const…
- Unlocking Efficiency: The Power of Connected Construction Workflows with Joe Hassan
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 Hassan from Empower Business Solutions. As the construction industry con…
- Surgery Beyond Opioids: Effective Pain Management Strategies with Brand Newland
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 Bra…
- What the Clearfield County Case Means for Contractors with Mike Pascoe
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 l…
- Prioritizing Physical Health in Construction: Insights from Linde Collingwood
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 ,…
- Human Connection: A Key to Project Success with Brent Darnell
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 appe…
- The Impact of the Separations Act on Public Construction Projects
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 Separati…
- From Sports to Politics: Leadership Lessons with Matt Bradford
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 shar…
- Streamlining Pennsylvania's Permitting Process with Michelle Tarquino
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-fri…
- Top-Down Safety: The Key to Construction Success with Tom Scott
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 m…
- Empowering Future Builders: The KCA Student Chapter with Chris and Jon
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…
- Mastering Business Development at the AGC BD Bootcamp
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 AG…
- Crisis Communication: Your Blueprint for Success with Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien
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…
- A Conversation on Construction Policy with Senators Kane and Robinson
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…
- Hike for Hope: Raising Awareness for Mental Health in the Construction Industry
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…
- Injury Management & Protocols in Construction with Kathy Freeman
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 managemen…
- Celebrating the Winners of the 2024 Building PA Podcast Awards
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 outstan…
- Understanding Subsurface Safety and Design Obligations with Ryan Parrish
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome Ryan Parrish, a liaison with Pennsylvania 811, to discuss the critical topic of excavation safety. As we dive into the conversation, Ryan shares his…
- Year-End Special: Celebrating 2024's Best Podcast Moments
Welcome to a special year-end episode of the Building PA Podcast! As we wrap up another incredible year in the construction industry, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin take a moment to reflect on the highlights from 2024. With over 200…
- Character Over Credentials: Rethinking Team Building in Construction with Robert Hargrove
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome Robert Hargrove, an acclaimed author known as the "CEO Whisperer," to discuss the essential steps for building a high-performance team in the constru…
- Corporate Gifting and Enhancing Connections in the AEC Industry
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts John O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome Gabriel Luber, co-owner of Lancaster Gift Box Company, to discuss the unique intersection of corporate gifting and relationship building within the…
- How Technology is Transforming the Role of Operators in Construction
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome back Andy Gaslevich and Ben Miller from Cleveland Brothers for part two of their engaging discussion on the rapidly evolving technology in the constr…
- Cleveland Brothers Series: How Technology is Addressing Labor Shortages in Construction
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, we welcome Andy Gaslevich and Ben Miller from Cleveland Brothers, a leading Caterpillar construction equipment dealership. The discussion centers around the integration of technology in the const…
- Retreats and Real Talk: Elevating Leadership in the Construction Industry with Odie Parkins
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome back Odie Parkins, the owner of Four Tree Solutions, for an engaging discussion about his journey and the evolution of his work in the construction i…
- How the Construction Industry Can Support Addiction Recovery
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome back Cal Beyer, a passionate advocate for addiction awareness and recovery in the construction industry. Cal, who recently joined SAFE Project as the…
- Building Community Through the Bethel Village Project
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin visit the Bethel Village project in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where they engage with the team from the JEM Group, the general contractor for this si…
- Sustainability Meets Innovation: Exploring Electric Vehicles with S&B USA
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin dive into the exciting world of electric vehicles and their impact on the construction industry. We are thrilled to welcome back Eido Almog, the Director of…
- Proposal Development Best Practices
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien welcome Jessica McKinney from P.J. Dick Trumbull Lindy to discuss the intricacies of proposal management in the construction industry. With over 25 years of…
- Cleveland Brothers' Innovative Approach to Training and Recruitment in the Construction Industry
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome Matt Curry and Chad Stokes from Cleveland Brothers Equipment Company. The discussion centers around workforce development and the innovative approach…
- Building a Recovery Ready Workplace with Envoy's Salomon Moreno-Rosa
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin welcome Salomon Moreno-Rosa, the Managing Director of Strategy and Philanthropy at Envoy. The discussion centers around the concept of "Recovery Ready Workpl…
- Addressing Suicide Prevention in the Construction Industry
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O'Brien and Chris Martin tackle a critical and often overlooked issue in the construction industry: suicide prevention. They are joined by Sonya Bohmann, the Executive Director of th…
- Maximizing Retirement Benefits: Navigating the Secure Act 2.0 with Alexander Papson
In the latest episode of Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien interview Alexander Papson from Schneider Downs about the Secure Act 2.0. Papson, an investment advisor specializing in retirement plans, discusses how the…
- Navigating Challenges & Triumphs in Construction Safety
Today’s podcast discusses the experiences and insights of Dona File, a seasoned construction safety expert, who reflects on her career journey and the evolution of safety practices in the construction industry. She highlights the critical…
- Addressing Construction Labor Shortage in South Central Pennsylvania
In this podcast episode, Lorelee Isbell, Associate Vice President for Career and Workforce Development at Shippensburg University, and Laura Potthoff, Director of Business Development from F&M Trust Bank, discuss a collaborative workforce…
- Talking with KCA Scholarship Recipient James Fretz
This week’s podcast discusses the KCA's scholarship program, highlighting its success in fostering the next generation of construction leaders in Pennsylvania. James Fretz, a scholarship recipient and construction management student at Pen…
- Meet the author of “Hire Better People Faster!”
In this week’s podcast episode, Jon and Chris chat with Ryan Englin, author of “ Hire Better People Faster! ” – an Amazon best-seller that reimagines hiring philosophies. Englin has been dedicated to helping service contractors and constru…
- Enhancing Safety with Toolbox Talks
In this week’s podcast episode, Jon and Chris chat about the evolution and impact of their long-running podcast, particularly their popular safety episodes. To keep the educational safety content from June’s National Safety Month going, th…
- The Future of Safety from a College Student's Perspective
In the latest episode of Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien interview Makenzie Daniel, a sophomore safety science major at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Makenzie shares her journey into the construction indust…
- Cybersecurity and Protecting the AEC Industry
In the latest episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien interview Will Foret, co-host of the Building Scale podcast, renowned in the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Will emphasiz…
- Navigating Legislative Updates in Construction
The latest Building PA Podcast episode featured guest Jimmy Christianson, VP of Government Relations for AGC, who shared crucial legislative updates. They emphasized the urgent need for workforce development and immigration reform to addre…
- Importance Of Culture To A Successful Organization
In the latest episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Chris Martin and Jon O'Brien sit down with Justin Neagle from the Building Scale podcast, exploring the keys to scaling businesses and fostering a strong organizational culture. Ne…