In this episode, Anthony and Cyndie sit down with Tim Wakefield, founder and CEO of Dead Calm Seas Marine Services. Tim shares how his Navy background and passion for the ocean led him to build a multimillion-dollar marine services company that now leads projects in offshore wind, salvage, subsea infrastructure, and underwater archeology. The conversation highlights the vital role of safety, training, and union values in high-risk environments, the future of skilled trades in marine construction, and why crossover skills and certifications are key to long-term success in this challenging yet rewarding industry.

00:00 – Introduction to Tim Wakefield and Dead Calm Seas Marine Services
02:40 – How Tim and Anthony met, and how their union partnership began
03:35 – The overlap between marine and land-based construction work
04:00 – Why trust and safety are foundational in offshore diving
05:03 – Building a training center specifically for underwater construction
05:38 – What Dead Calm Seas actually does (diving, salvage, offshore wind, archeology, more)
06:46 – Addressing substandard labor practices and “the race to the bottom” in diving
07:59 – Why ongoing training is essential in high-risk underwater work
08:57 – What “salvage work” really involves, from fires to wreck recovery
10:31 – Tim’s path into diving through the U.S. Navy
11:57 – Union vs. non-union labor practices in international waters
12:42 – Comparing global safety standards: U.S. vs. Europe vs. Asia
13:57 – Why certifications and training create better business outcomes
15:03 – How Dead Calm Seas integrates union workers and shifts jobsite culture
16:09 – The future role of skilled trades and unions in offshore wind development
17:47 – The truth about turnover in commercial diving and why it’s so high
18:25 – The hidden value of paid apprenticeships and crossover skill development
20:56 – How diving as a lifestyle can shape career decisions
21:26 – High-profile jobs: shipwreck salvage and underwater archeology in Peru
23:48 – Giving back: recovering lost soldiers through underwater missions
23:59 – Closing thoughts on the partnership and the future of the industry

In this episode, Anthony and Cyndie sit down with Jack Kocsis Jr., CEO of the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey (ACCNJ). With more than 35 years leading the organization, Jack brings a rare depth of experience from both the construction site and the negotiation table. He reflects on the evolution of labor management partnerships, the origins of the Carpenter Contractor Trust, and how listening yes really listening has been the most powerful leadership tool in his career. Jack also shares his perspective on workforce development, public policy, apprenticeship, and the industry's responsibility to adapt and grow. From enforcing laws on wage theft to building bridges between contractors and unions, this conversation lays out what real collaboration in construction looks like and what still needs to change.

01:26 – Introducing Jack Kocsis Jr., CEO of ACCNJ
02:39 – Jack’s blue collar roots and journey into construction leadership
06:55 – Why the union construction industry is different and more honest
07:29 – What ACCNJ does and the value of listening in leadership
10:43 – The role of trust, fairness, and communication in successful negotiations
11:45 – What healthy labor management partnership really looks like
12:04 – The origins of the Carpenter Contractor Trust
14:53 – How labor and management built a new model of cooperation
15:20 – The challenge of educating policymakers and telling labor’s story
17:33 – The real cost of wage theft and misclassification
18:00 – A pivotal moment: why labor and management stuck together
19:39 – Why lowering wages isn’t the solution for competitiveness
20:00 – Apprenticeship, inclusion, and evolving recruitment in the trades
22:08 – Disproving the myth that union labor is unproductive or costly
23:49 – How contractor success drives union job growth
24:24 – Jack’s policy wish: enforcement over new laws
25:30 – Connecting agencies to catch unscrupulous contractors
26:19 – Changing the culture of the construction industry
26:58 – How Jack defines success after 35 years in the industry
27:41 – Final thoughts and appreciation for partnership

In this episode, Anthony and Cyndie sit down with Jessica Ramirez, a Partner with the Law Offices of D’Arcy Johnson Day and a trial attorney specializing in serious personal injury, sexual abuse, medical device, and product liability litigation. She is an assemblywoman of the 32nd district serving Jersey City and Hoboken. She has served on the New Jersey Ethics Committee and served as an Eminent Domain Commissioner for the State of N.J., presiding over cases dealing with condemnation and eminent domain. Jessica’s main passion is advocating for clients who have suffered sexual assault. She has extensive settlement and litigation experience in this area and knows exactly what it takes to deliver results. Jessica’s newest venture is helping individuals fight back against abusive business practices, by holding sellers of goods accountable when they seek to profit by taking advantage of a consumer. She protects consumers’ rights when they are injured due to fraud, false or misleading advertising, and defective products. Jessica was selected as host of Images/Imagenes TV Show, a four-time Emmy Award-winning show highlighting the Hispanic population in New Jersey. Her passion to fight for justice is as strong today as the very first day she became a lawyer.

https://www.djdlawyers.com

https://eascarpenters.org/

https://cctmarketing.org/