
Hosted by Design, Construction Management and Safety @ BYU-Idaho · EN

Special Guest:Jeff Stuart brings more than 30 years ofexperience to the insulation and building performance industry. He’s worked as a sales representative and as an owner/partner of two insulation companies, giving him a well‑rounded understanding of both the technical and business sides of the field.Between owning his companies, Jeff spent threeyears in pharmaceutical sales with two Fortune 500 organizations, sharpening his communication and customer‑service skills. Jeff holds a B.A. in Business Administrationfrom Baldwin Wallace University and maintains several respected industry certifications, including:Level III Thermography CertificationENERGY STAR RaterBPI Building AnalystBPI Envelope ProfessionalOwens Corning CEE Board Member

Honored to have an Alumni from BYU join our podcast. Gavan Allen works for Suffolk Construction as a Project Engineer as apart of their Career Start program inOregon. Gavan shares his story about working on the highway at age 14 picking up trash among other stories about being a cheer champion. All of this relates back to becoming the best person you can become as a disciple of Jesus Christ in the construction world.

Amy Powell is the founder and CEO of Well Works, a training and education company focused on leadership, communication, and human performance in the construction industry. With a background in construction and a master’s degree in adult education, Amy works at the intersection of jobsite reality and tactical learning design.

Scott Givens is the President of Alturas Homes.Gordon Werrett is the production manager.Both guests share their stories of how they got into their career and how Alturas Homes is a valued home builder.

Our guest, Adam Evarts, CEO and Co-founder of allucent, a leading SaaS platform revolutionizing construction planning and scheduling space. Adam is a construction industry veteran with over two decades of experience and has a strong educational foundation, holding a Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management from BYU-Idaho and a Master’s Degree in Information Systems from the University of Utah. Founding allucent was the perfect blend of his two passions, construction management and innovative software.

Heath Dooley is a Project Engineer II with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from BYU–Idaho and an Associate’s degree from BYU–Hawaii, bringing over three years of experience with The Weitz Company and a lifelong background in construction. He has contributed to a range of commercial and mission critical projects—including three full data center buildouts—leveraging tools such as Bluebeam, Procore, Autodesk Construction Cloud, DroneDeploy, CM Builder, and GSuite to manage workflows from preconstruction through closeout while coordinating effectively among owners, architects, contractors, and subcontractors. Brian Owens is a VDC (Virtual Design and Construction) Engineer at The Weitz Company and a 2023 graduate of Brigham Young University–Idaho, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He leverages technologies such as drones, laser scanners, and robotics to support construction teams, combining innovative tools with practical problem-solving to bring projects to life.

Adam Ritter is our special guest. With extensive experience in the construction industry since 2005, Adam began his career focusing on framing, which instilled a strong work ethic and appreciation for craftsmanship. In 2007, he earned his real estate license and built a successful fifteen-year career as a realtor, gaining firsthand insight into the rewards of dedication and hard work. He holds a marketing degree from the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University and joined Visionary Homes in 2016 as an estimator, later advancing through roles including Sales Consultant and Sales Manager, where he led a market-leading team. In March 2021, he was promoted to Vice President of Operations, overseeing the Estimating, Drafting, Preconstruction, Production, and Purchasing teams while managing responsibilities such as contract negotiations, budgeting, system implementation, and trade partner relations. His comprehensive understanding of the new construction process—from preconstruction to closing—has helped position Visionary Homes as one of Utah’s largest home builders. Passionate about building strong relationships, he prioritizes open communication, collaboration, and delivering a world-class experience for partners and customers alike.

Samuel Hickman grew up in Mill creek, WA. He severed a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2013 to 2015 in Bakersfield, CA. He then enrolled into BYU-Idaho starting Fall 2016 and graduated in December of 2021 with a Bachelor's degree in Construction Management.Sam has been working with Hensel Phelps from January of 2022 to current day.Sam shares his story of framing houses and working in cabinet shop while going to BYUI. He also tells us about when he was involved in a major electrical accident.

South Fork Group founder, shares story of working in the development market and working with Local and State Agencies to provide Obtainable Housing in this current market of high priced homes. Learn more by visiting their website: https://www.sforkhomes.com/aboutDarrin Sweeney, President and Founder, of The South Fork Group in Richland, Washington. He is currently developing Badger Mountain South- a Master Planned Community with 5,000 residential entitlements, 82 acres of commercial development, 3 school sites, and over 200 acres of parks and open space. Additionally, in 2024, he started South Fork Homes to focus on building more attainable homes within the community. Last year, he built and sold 25 homes under $400,000 making them the most affordable new homes in Richland. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Tri-County Partners Habitat for Humanity. Darrin also spent several years working on public sector projects including City Halls, Fire Stations, Police Stations, Performing Arts Facilities, and Infrastructure projects utilizing the Progressive Design-Build delivery method. Richland Fire Station 74 was the first project ever approved by Washington state that utilized progressive design build. He has been a featured speaker at the Northwest Design-Build Institute of America, the Inland Empire DBIA, and at the DBIA National Convention.Early in his career, Darrin also had the privilege of being the co-founder of The Highpointe Companies in Rigby, Idaho with the great Brother Wells. Many of the lessons he teaches you come from mistakes he watched Darrin make!Darrin holds a degree in Construction Management Degree from BYU. He is married to Angela Sweeney and has 4 children. When he’s not working, you can find him in the mountains or rivers with a bow or fishing rod in his hands.

We sit down with Elena Pocs and Celeste Clark, two Project Engineers at Layton Construction, to talk about their journeys in the construction industry, personal growth, and the goals that drive them forward.Elena is a Colorado State University graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management. Passionate about building and innovation, she shares her experiences entering the industry and her long-term dream of starting her own home-building company. When she’s not on the job site, you’ll find her chasing adventure through skiing, rock climbing, and paragliding.Celeste is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s in Applied Business Management through BYU Pathway. A natural problem solver, she finds purpose in helping others turn complex challenges into practical solutions. She opens up about rebuilding her life, balancing career and motherhood, and her vision of owning a business that renovates and transforms old spaces into something meaningful. Outside of work, she loves being outdoors, especially hiking, backpacking, and camping, and spending time with her son.Together, Elena and Celeste share real-life insights about growth, resilience, and what it means to build, both professionally and personally.