Podcast
People-First Builders Podcast
Hosted by Fletcher Wimbush · EN
At People-First Builders, we shine a spotlight on the leaders who shape the construction industry by building more than projects—they build teams, culture, and legacy. This podcast is your gateway to the stories of exceptional CEOs and visionaries who prioritize their people, achieve remarkable success, and redefine what it means to lead in construction.
Discover how family-owned businesses, niche projects, and innovative leadership styles are driving progress in steel erection, bridge rebar, and infrastructure installation. Each episode celebrates leaders who have spent decades honing their craft, advancing their operations, and achieving results that inspire their teams and peers alike.
Whether you're a construction professional, a leader looking for inspiration, or simply someone fascinated by people-centered success stories, People-First Builders offers valuable insights and actionable takeaways from industry's best.
While People-First Builders is a new podcast, it's backed by years of experience. Host Fletcher Wimbush is a seasoned podcaster with over seven years behind the mic, having built a dedicated audience with The Hire Talent—a show focused on optimizing hiring and leadership in the industry. Now, he's bringing that expertise to People-First Builders, highlighting the construction leaders who are shaping the future through culture, innovation, and operational excellence.
28episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Engineer the Vision, Build the Team: Leading with Intention with Scott Harvey-Lewis
Nov 300:38:14Tap to summarizeIn 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.
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From Court Discipline to Business Growth: Leading with Structure
Oct 1300:27:43Tap to summarizeWhat 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.
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Culture and Leadership: The Path to Elevating the Trades
Oct 600:30:04Tap to summarizeWhat 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.
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How Structure Builds Retention with Roggen Frick
Sep 2900:24:33Tap to summarizeWhat 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.
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Measure Twice, Hire Right Building Accountability Into Growth with Matt Aston
Sep 1500:49:42Tap to summarizeIn this People First Builders episode, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Matt Aston, founder and CEO of GPRS, a national leader in private utility locating, concrete scanning, and subsurface mapping. Matt shares how a single magazine ad in 2001 sparked an idea that grew from a one person startup into a coast to coast company with more than 900 team members and a reputation for accuracy, safety, and innovation. Matt explains the difference between public 811 locating and GPRS private utility work, why depth data changes decisions on site, and how early failures shaped a culture that aims to be right the first time, every time. He breaks down GPRS hiring and training systems, including SIM, the company's subsurface investigation methodology, a purpose built training center, ride alongs before offers, and a multi month ramp with ongoing assessments. The conversation also covers leadership development, a referral engine that drives nearly half of annual hires, incentive based compensation that can make up 30 to 50 percent of pay, and broad based employee ownership that tracks the same class of stock as leadership. Key takeaways Accuracy that scales: about 120,000 jobs in the last year with a reported error rate near 0.1 percent. Private vs public locating: 811 marks public rights of way, while GPRS supports contractors on private property and provides depth data that changes plans and prevents damage. Hire for character, teach the skill: referrals supply close to half of new hires, followed by structured interviews, ride alongs, and three to four months of training. Process over heroics: SIM gives field teams a consistent approach, supported by a full training lab and university partnerships for real world practice. Retention flywheel: once team members pass roughly 12 to 18 months, annual retention jumps into the mid 90s. Ownership and incentives: field compensation includes meaningful performance bonuses, and an opt in equity program opened in 2020 where everyone holds the same class of stock, aligned with private equity growth goals.
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From Labor Crisis to Talent Pipeline: How Bo Jones is Revolutionizing Workforce Development
Aug 4, 202500:39:23Tap to summarizeIn 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.
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1 - Building a People-First Culture: Transforming the Construction Industry One Hire at a Time with Fletcher Wimbush
Feb 7, 202500:19:03Tap to summarizeIn the inaugural episode of the People-First Builders podcast, Josh Elledge of UpMyInfluence interviews the creator and host of the show, Fletcher Wimbush. Fletcher is the owner and CEO of Discovered.ai, Wimbush & Associates, Inc., and Integrity First. Fletcher addresses the significant talent shortages and shares strategies for effective hiring and retention. Drawing from his extensive experience, he introduced Discovered, a recruitment automation AI platform designed to streamline hiring processes. Fletcher emphasizes the financial impact of poor hiring decisions and the importance of retaining talent. The episode aims to inspire construction leaders with practical insights and invites listeners to share their success stories in people leadership.Check out Fletcher's work HERE. Connect with Fletcher on LinkedIn HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.
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Bianca Lager of 'Social Intelligence' Speaks to Fletcher at The Hire Talent
Feb 18, 2021Tap to summarizeFletcher Wimbush speaks with Bianca Lager of 'Social Intelligence' a consumer reporting agency focused on online risk for human resources. www.socialintel.com
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