In this powerful episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Chad Abernethy, CEO of Abernethy Contracting, for one of the most honest conversations we've had about leadership, burnout, culture, and what it really takes to transform a construction company from the inside out.

Chad opens up about:
• Leaving his family's business after burnout and how it reshaped everything he believed about leadership
• Scaling a civil contracting company from 0 to $45M — and the personal cost behind the growth
• How a merger forced a complete culture reset
• Building a people-first organization in an industry not known for warm fuzzies
• Why accountability, vulnerability, and transparency must be non-negotiable for leaders
• The measurable impact of shifting from "bid-build-bill" to "develop people first"

Whether you're a construction leader, a builder of people, or someone navigating the challenges of company growth, Chad's story offers a blueprint for real, sustainable culture change.

What happens when a small crew of "hippie carpenters" grows into a nationally admired, employee-owned company that changes lives, families, and communities? In this inspiring episode, Fletcher sits down with John Abrams, founder of Abrams+Angell, formerly of South Mountain Company, who spent 50+ years proving that business can be both profitable and profoundly people-centered.

John shares how he transitioned his company into a worker cooperative long before employee ownership was common, how that decision transformed culture, turnover, customers, and leadership—and why he believes employee ownership is the path to a more equitable future.

From open-book business practices to "subsidized housing for the rich," near-collapse during the 2008 recession, and rebuilding with shared sacrifice, John's story is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership.

Guest Takeaways:

• How employee ownership unlocks deep commitment and long-term retention

• Why culture, transparency, and shared responsibility attract ideal clients

• What truly differentiates co-ops, ESOPs, and employee ownership trusts

• How founders can create lasting impact and a strong succession plan

• Why building with kindness, humanity, and collaboration changes communities

A must-listen for leaders who want to build something that outlives them.

In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Jim Robinson, President & CEO of CGP Maintenance & Construction Services, leadership coach, and soon-to-be author of Lead With Empathy (co-written with Chris Voss).

With 40 years in business, Jim has grown CGP into a people-first organization known for unmatched employee loyalty, multi-decade tenure, and an education-driven culture. His approach is simple but rare in the trades: grow the person first — and performance will follow.

• How leading with empathy builds long-term loyalty
Jim shares how early experiences serving others shaped his leadership philosophy and taught him to meet people where they are — whether they want slow growth or rapid acceleration.

• Why CGP trains not just employees, but their spouses
You'll hear how CGP discovered that growing an employee too quickly without involving their partner created conflict at home — and how including significant others in conferences and education transformed entire families.

• The power of structured education and the "law of anticipation"
Jim explains CGP's multi-year training journey, weekly assessments, and how always giving employees something to look forward to keeps them engaged, hungry, and committed.

• Why hiring for character beats hiring for skill
CGP hires tradespeople based on empathy, urgency, energy, and values — not technical ability — because skills can be taught, but character can't.

• How CGP fills leadership roles exclusively from within
You'll learn why Jim avoids hiring competitors' employees, why the company never rehires people who leave, and how internal promotion protects culture.

• CGP's lightning-fast "application to offer in 8 hours" process
Jim breaks down how they evaluate values alignment, involve supervisors immediately, and create a high-urgency experience that mirrors what's expected on the job.

• How CGP runs 24/7 operations with cross-trained teams
Hear how they prepare people for multi-disciplinary work across nights, days, and three construction shifts — and why it creates pride, mastery, and team connection.

In this inspiring episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Scott Walters, President of Walters Services, a family-run waste management company built on one simple belief: "We love people."

From humble beginnings on a chicken farm to a thriving multi-location business, Scott shares how his parents' people-centered values shaped a 50-year legacy that continues to grow today. He opens up about giving second chances to employees, leading with empathy, building mentorship into company culture, and using the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to scale with purpose.

If you believe business is ultimately about people — not products — this conversation will remind you what authentic leadership really looks like.

💬 Key themes:

• People-first leadership in "unsexy" industries

• Giving second chances and rebuilding lives through work

• Core values that attract (and retain) great people

• Mentorship, humility, and growth through EOS

👉 Subscribe to People-First Builders and join us in celebrating leaders who build success through their people.

In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Scott Harvey-Lewis, founder of Billing Mavens and a seasoned engineering leader who left corporate consulting to build something of his own — a firm grounded in integrity, intentional hiring, and creative leadership.

Scott shares how his background leading large engineering teams inspired his approach to people-first entrepreneurship: hiring for humility, building global teams with purpose, and blending technology, AI, and offshoring to create a lean and human-centered company.

From "being your own headhunter" on LinkedIn to leveraging authentic content to attract talent, Scott's insights are a masterclass in modern recruiting and leadership for engineering and consulting professionals alike.

💬 Key Takeaways:

• Why every hire should be a "Hell Yes"

• How to find and keep great talent in a tight labor market

• The power of authenticity and storytelling in employer branding

• Building efficient, global teams through intentional leadership

🎙️ Listen now to learn how Scott engineered his company's success — by leading with purpose, building with vision, and always putting people first.

What happens when the discipline of the court meets the chaos of business? In this People-First Builders episode, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Uros Vasiljevic to unpack how athletic rigor and coaching fundamentals translate into predictable, scalable operations. From daily cadence and clear roles to simple "scoreboards" that make performance visible, Uroš shares the systems leaders can use to reduce noise, build trust, and grow without burning out their teams.

You'll learn:

• The mindset shift from heroics to repeatable processes

• How to design weekly rhythms that keep everyone aligned

• Why scorecards and scoreboards beat long reports

• Practical ways to coach accountability without killing autonomy

• The small disciplines that compound into culture (and revenue)

Perfect for founders, construction leaders, ops managers, and any builder who wants structure without bureaucracy.

What if a construction company were known first for who its people become, not only for what it builds?

In this People-First Builders episode, Fletcher Wimbush talks with Chad and Cory Kundert of Kundert Construction in Monroe, Wisconsin, about turning a job site into a launchpad for growth. They share how school partnerships and hands-on "Trades Day" experiences spark curiosity in students, how paid apprenticeships give teens a direct path into meaningful work, and how transparent pay ladders keep talent engaged from apprentice to foreman.

Inside the company, carpenters earn leadership reps on smaller projects, learn to make confident decisions through coaching, and receive consistent feedback that builds judgment. The result is a team that feels supported, customers who feel cared for, and a community that sees the trades as a respected, modern career.

You will hear practical tactics you can apply right away — how to co-create events with local educators, structure the first leadership opportunity so it succeeds, and use social media to make your company's values visible and magnetic to A-players.

What You'll Learn:

• Clear career paths in the trades, from apprentice to foreman

• Coaching questions that build ownership, not dependence

• How to partner with schools to run hands-on career days

• Realistic earnings ranges and timelines that rival college routes

• Ways to give first leadership reps without risking the whole project

• Why public values create internal accountability

• How a supported crew delivers a better client experience

At Kundert Construction, building people is just as important as building homes. Chad and Cory prove that when leaders invest in growth, mentorship, and community, the ripple effects reach far beyond the job site. Their story is a blueprint for every contractor who believes the future of the trades depends on culture, education, and creating a place where people grow — not just work.

What keeps great people from leaving? For Roggen Frick, it's all about replacing chaos with predictability. In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Roggen to explore how structure, consistency, and clear systems create trust, reduce turnover, and build loyalty in the construction industry.

Roggen shares practical strategies leaders can use to strengthen retention by setting expectations, creating accountability, and giving teams the stability they need to thrive—even in high-pressure environments.

Roggen's journey highlights the shift many leaders must make—from reacting to daily fires to proactively building systems that empower their teams. By focusing on predictability, he demonstrates how leaders can reduce stress, create a healthier work environment, and inspire long-term commitment from employees who feel supported and valued.

If you're leading in construction or any people-focused business, this conversation will show you why predictable systems aren't boring—they're the foundation for growth, culture, and keeping your best people.