In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Bo Jones, President of True Built Construction and CEO of CareerPathway.com, to explore a groundbreaking approach to workforce development in the skilled trades. With over 25 years of experience, Bo shares how his deep frustration with traditional hiring methods—and the dwindling talent pipeline in Nebraska—led him to launch an innovative platform that connects students to careers before graduation.

Bo explains how CareerPathway.com is helping students discover meaningful work in industries like construction, healthcare, and technology through real-time multimedia content created by employers themselves. He walks us through the platform’s features, the impact it's already making in 34 states, and how it's revolutionizing how employers reach and inspire the next generation of workers.

Whether you're a business leader, educator, or parent, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about how we prepare young people for life after high school—and how industry must step up to solve the skilled labor shortage.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why traditional outreach efforts to young workers often fall short

• How True Built Construction mentored students by building homes—and what challenges remained

• The origin story and mission of CareerPathway.com

• How the platform bridges the gap between students, educators, and employers

• The game-changing potential of reaching students before they graduate

Bo breaks down how the platform works, including:

• How students explore careers through bite-sized videos, photo posts, and real-world content from employers.

• How teachers and counselors use the platform to guide career conversations with personalized insights.

• How businesses can build employer brand visibility while connecting directly with interested, pre-qualified young talent.

• Why the education system alone cannot (and shouldn’t be expected to) deliver individualized career exploration at scale—and how CareerPathway.com fills the gap.

Whether you’re an employer frustrated with the broken hiring pipeline, an educator looking for real-world career exploration tools, or a parent trying to help your child find their path, this episode delivers inspiration, clarity, and a vision for what’s possible when industry steps up.

In this insightful episode of the People-First Builders Podcast, host Fletcher Wimbush speaks with Ryan Schmidt, CEO and Visionary at Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Contractors, Inc. His 300-person firm is redefining success in heavy civil construction by building a culture centered on growth, ownership, and values-driven leadership.

Ryan shares the full story of how his firm nearly failed after a series of disastrous projects and financial hardship. Instead of cutting losses, he doubled down on his people. He opened the company books, shared real-time financials with everyone from laborers to executives, and began a journey toward full employee ownership through an ESOP.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• How Ryan guided Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Contractors, through its lowest point and emerged with a stronger team and culture

• Why every new hire, including laborers and field workers, goes through a structured two-day onboarding program led by Ryan himself

• How radical transparency and profit sharing created deep loyalty when the company was losing money

• What inspired the creation of “The Forge,” an internal training facility staffed by top performers turned full-time coaches

• How Ryan stepped back from day-to-day operations by naming a company president, allowing him to focus entirely on vision, people, and culture

• How the company conducts weekly all-staff financial huddles to help every employee think and act like an owner

• Why company values such as accountability, character, and team are reinforced through regular events, team breakfasts, and internal rituals

• How the team reacted when they received their first ESOP stock statements and saw the long-term rewards of ownership

• Why Ryan believes he is more fulfilled as a partner to his employee-owners than he ever was as a solo founder

Ryan’s story is not just about surviving adversity. It is about creating a business that invests in people at every level. From new hire training to internal leadership development and long-term wealth building, Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Contractors' culture is built to last.

Whether you're a contractor, business owner, or simply passionate about values-based leadership, this episode offers a real-world blueprint for building a company that thrives through its people.

In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush welcomes Brian Keller, CEO of Quest Building Corporation, a Wisconsin-based commercial contracting firm that’s redefining what it means to grow a people-first construction business. Starting with four partners framing homes in 1998, Brian has spent the past 25 years scaling Quest into a 300-plus-person company that provides labor and materials for framing, trim, flooring, and countertops across Southern Wisconsin.

Brian shares the behind-the-scenes story of how he transitioned from being a hands-on carpenter to a visionary CEO focused on servant leadership, talent development, and culture-driven growth. He discusses how hitting a wall in the company's expansion led to a complete rethinking of his leadership style, eventually leading to the development of in-house coaching and leadership training programs that now shape the next generation of leaders at Quest.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Brian dives into:

• How Quest integrates recruiting, training, and coaching into every level of the business

• What it means to practice servant leadership in a trade-dominated industry

• The power of writing an employee persona to define company culture and hire the right people

• His "Build Program," an educational initiative designed to help trade business owners grow scalable, sustainable companies

• Tactical changes in recruiting strategy, including high school outreach, referral-driven hiring, and even in-house headhunting

• How the team developed a simple framework for defining roles through the "one-question" model

• Why he believes there’s someone out there who loves every task—your job is to find them

Whether you’re a contractor, tradesperson, or business owner struggling to scale or attract top talent, this episode offers a roadmap for transforming your organization by investing in your people. Brian’s story is a masterclass in letting go, leading with purpose, and building a business that lasts through values, not just volume.

Fletcher and Chad dive deep into one of the most critical and often overlooked challenges in scaling a commercial construction business: taking the estimating hat off the owner's head.

They explore:

• Why owners must eventually delegate estimating to scale effectively.

• The two main paths: grow an estimator internally vs. recruit one from a competitor.

• Growing your own estimators: Preferred degrees, expected timeline (3–5 years), and how to differentiate between technical estimating and executive pricing strategy.

• When to hold on to pricing and sales as an owner even after hiring an estimator.

• Outsourcing and offshoring estimating work: what works for trades, what doesn’t for GCs, and how relationships remain key.

• How to attract experienced talent from competitors: understanding the top 3 gripes they have—compensation, lack of influence, and burnout in “bid factories.”

• Recruiting strategies: From warm outreach and pain-point probing to long-game relationship building with high ROI.

Key Takeaways:

• Investing in the right estimator—whether a junior you train or a seasoned pro—can unlock millions in revenue growth.

• Don't confuse estimating with pricing or sales. Each has a distinct role and impact.

• Treat outsourced/offshored team members like internal staff: communicate, manage, and integrate them thoughtfully.

• Pay and empower your estimators—they’re often your #1 revenue generator.

In this compelling episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush welcomes Mike Frick, president of Bear Ironworks, to share the incredible story of how a simple welding project turned into a thriving, multi-generational manufacturing business. From his early days in the oil fields and rural road building to managing over $200 million in infrastructure projects, including a $6 billion LNG plant, Mike’s career spans the full arc of American blue-collar ingenuity. What began as a practical solution to a job-site challenge, designing a rock screen for a skid steer, eventually became Bear Ironworks, a Colorado-based fabrication company that now ships across the country and employs a team of dedicated craftspeople. Mike recounts how his son, then a college student, took the reins, built a website, and helped scale the business before returning to finish his degree. Together, they rebuilt the company during COVID, running it remotely across multiple states while staying grounded in family values and a shared belief in hard work. Along the way, Mike discusses how he has consistently inspired and trained young people, including his son and stepson, to pursue careers in the trades, often helping them launch their own businesses.

Key takeaways from this episode include:

• The power of hands-on experience in launching successful entrepreneurial ventures

• Why blue-collar careers offer financial freedom, personal pride, and long-term opportunity

• The importance of teaching and mentoring the next generation, even if they eventually leave your company

• How to build a values-driven culture that balances safety, autonomy, and professional development

• Why leaders in the construction and manufacturing sectors must champion the trades as viable and noble career paths

Mike’s story is a timely reminder that building things with your hands can also build a legacy. Leadership, at its best, is about investing in people for the long haul.

In this episode of the People-First Builders Podcast, I’m joined by Jeffery Forrest Jr., successor and co-owner of WPC, a family-run construction powerhouse based in Central Florida. Jeffrey shares his journey from pushing a broom on job sites at 15 to leading one of the Southeast’s premier construction management firms.

We dive into his unique career trajectory, including a fascinating stint as a professional poker player, and how those lessons in risk, adaptation, and incomplete information translate directly to the world of construction leadership. Jeffrey also opens up about the generational transition at WPC, the evolving people-first philosophy that guides their work, and how they’re navigating the ongoing labor challenges in the trades.

We explore:

• The power of starting early and learning from the ground up

• How poker taught Jeffrey about decision-making and resilience

• WPC’s shift to empowering the next generation while honoring the past

• Why construction remains a deeply rewarding, purpose-driven career

• Practical insights on hiring, talent development, and fostering a growth mindset

Join us as we share stories, insights, and lessons that bridge generations, champion the trades, and build a better future one project at a time.

In this episode of The People-First Builders Podcast, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Jeff Forrest Sr., President and CEO of WPC, a construction industry titan with over 45 years of hands-on leadership experience. From humble beginnings in 1979 to overseeing thousands of units across the Southeast, Jeff shares a candid look at the art of leadership transitions, generational shifts, and the evolving face of construction.

Jeff opens up about his journey from apprentice to president, the challenges of following in the footsteps of his visionary brother, and the rewards of guiding his own son, Jeffrey Jr., into the family business. With warmth and humor, he recounts how his son's pivot from professional poker to construction infused the business with fresh perspectives, balancing analytics with hard-earned wisdom.

We delve into the trials and triumphs of succession planning, navigating leadership tensions, and fostering an environment that champions both tradition and innovation. Jeff underscores the power of peer groups and lifelong learning, while highlighting the crucial role of culture and mentorship in cultivating the next generation of builders.

From reflections on the talent shortage crisis to the future of work in the trades, Jeff’s insights offer a masterclass in sustainable leadership and the power of people-first practices. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to build not just great projects, but great teams.

Key Takeaways:

• Navigating generational transitions in family businesses

• The essential role of mentorship and open communication

• The growing appeal and opportunities in the construction industry

• Lessons from leadership transitions and the importance of peer networks

Tune in for an inspiring conversation that celebrates the human side of building—one that leaves you rethinking what it takes to succeed and sustain in a dynamic, people-driven industry.

In this episode of People First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Paige Byrd, Co-President of Thiel & Team, a seasoned leader in amenities-focused interior design and architecture. With over 30 years of experience, Paige shares the remarkable story behind the revival of the historic Baker Hotel and Spa in Mineral Wells, Texas — a project nearly two decades in the making.

From her early site visits in 2008 to the official project kickoff in 2024, Paige offers a rare inside look at what it takes to sustain momentum and passion over the long haul. She unpacks how her firm built a “dream team” of design professionals, weathered industry-wide challenges like the 2008 recession and COVID-19, and maintained transparency and unity through economic uncertainty.

You’ll hear insights on:

• Retaining top talent through flexible work models and transparent leadership.

• Scaling and evolving a firm without compromising on culture or quality.

• Attracting high-impact hires in a competitive market through values-driven strategies.

• Revitalizing historic properties with design innovation and community alignment.

Plus, Paige discusses how Thiel & Team embraced remote and hybrid work long before it was common in the architecture world, enabling a more diverse, connected, and resilient workforce.

Whether you're leading a creative team, building a legacy property, or navigating economic headwinds, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable insights.

Connect with Paige:
🔗 THI and Team Website
🔗 Paige Byrd on LinkedIn
🔗 THI and Team on LinkedIn