Tools of the Trade: Construction Industry Resources, Leadership & stories from professionals
Business & Economics Podcasts
The stories you want & the tools you need to set you career in construction on fire. Colin has been in the construction industry for 14 years and is a Master Electrician by trade. As he progressed professionally, he realized that the construction industry was falling behind. "We are behind technologically, we have a labor shortage, there is a major lack of resources and mentors and many people are put off by the blue-collar optics of construction." Tools of the Trade was created to help bring the construction industry up by sharing stories, tools, and resources from industry professionals. "This is a billion-dollar industry and we have some major international companies that make up that billion, how come no one knows who owns them or how they got started? I think we could all use some motivation and some good resources to help us grow"
Location:
Canada
Description:
The stories you want & the tools you need to set you career in construction on fire. Colin has been in the construction industry for 14 years and is a Master Electrician by trade. As he progressed professionally, he realized that the construction industry was falling behind. "We are behind technologically, we have a labor shortage, there is a major lack of resources and mentors and many people are put off by the blue-collar optics of construction." Tools of the Trade was created to help bring the construction industry up by sharing stories, tools, and resources from industry professionals. "This is a billion-dollar industry and we have some major international companies that make up that billion, how come no one knows who owns them or how they got started? I think we could all use some motivation and some good resources to help us grow"
Twitter:
@colintoop
Language:
English
Contact:
647-354-5987
Website:
https://www.toolspodcast.com/
Email:
colin@toolspodcast.com
Episodes
Jas Saraw VP of Procore Canada and the future of construction technology
9/16/2020
If you’re big into construction tech (aka contech), you’ve most likely heard of Procore. Procore is a smart and easy-to-use platform that’s designed to help users manage their projects, resources, and financials. In this episode, you’ll learn all the basics of construction tech (and Procore) from no less than Procore’s VP himself, Jas Saraw.
Jas is a successful sales executive with close to two decades of technology experience including cloud construction and cloud...
Duration:01:01:07
Finding that dream job or 'A' player and all things recruitment
8/30/2020
Looking for a job and would like to know the best way to get your resume in front of the right employer? You have come to the right place! In today’s show, we covered all the basics of recruitment and got the facts straight from the expert recruiter himself, Jeremy Lawson.
Jeremy is the VP of Design, Construction, and Property at PMC Specialist Recruitment Solutions, a company that specializes in the recruitment of construction and design professionals related to the buildings and...
Duration:01:04:22
"You don't look like construction..."
8/18/2020
When you step inside an Alabaster home, you can see and experience how every detail has been carefully considered and executed to perfection. Alabaster is a premier builder of homes. They draw inspiration from meaningful designs that span nations and centuries, from communities, and from the harmony and balance found in nature.
In this episode, we talked to Alabaster’s Director of Construction, the powerful Dani Ferenc. Dani is responsible for managing the self-performing side of...
Duration:01:10:06
From foreign correspondent to daily construction news publication | TBT #12 Mark Buckshon
8/9/2020
Welcome to the Tools of the Trade Monthly Toolbox Talk August Edition
Today’s guest is Mark Buckshon, President and Lead editor for President at Construction News and Report Group of Companies.In this episode, Mark gives us the story of how he went from foreign correspondent reporting on the Rhodesian Zimbabwe civil war to founder and lead editor of a daily news publication that spans Canada and the US.
Please enjoy and if you would like to participate, please send an email to...
Duration:00:49:01
Behind the scenes of Southern California's Fastest Growing Electrical Company
8/5/2020
Southwest Industrial Electric has been the leading solution to the electrical problems of Southern California for 4 decades now. With professional, prompt, and competent employees, they offer nothing but the best in terms of customer service. No wonder they’ve been recognized as Inc 5000 fastest growing company 2 years in a row.
However, more than their impressive accomplishments, it was Southwest’s diverse and upbeat culture, dedication to training their employees, and their focus on...
Duration:01:15:31
Quality control, inspections and mentorship | TBT#11 Daniel Casey
7/26/2020
Welcome to the Tools of the Trade Monthly Toolbox Talk July Edition.
Today’s guest is Daniel Casey, red seal welder, and corporate quality manager for Lar-Mex, a building mechanical systems contractor based out of Ottawa Ontario. Dan's story is one that seems to be playing out more and more in these episodes, which is ditching the university model for the trades. After experience with multiple trades, he landed on welding, a career he found a lot of satisfaction in but he ultimately wanted...
Duration:01:06:14
Jamie Banfield on what designers do and why you need them | #:31
7/18/2020
Today’s special guest is the first designer I’ve had the pleasure to interview on the podcast. In this episode, I talked to award-winning interior designer Jamie Banfield. Recognized for his signature West Coast style, Jamie specializes in design for all spaces with a focus on kitchen and bath.
Jamie has an innate ability to transform and create spaces that exude both beauty and function. His work has been recognized by reputable home magazines and associations throughout Western Canada....
Duration:01:11:43
All things apprenticeship with France Daviault Executive Director of CAF| TBT#10
7/12/2020
Welcome to the Tools of the Trade Monthly Toolbox Talk July Edition.
In this special episode of our Monthly Toolbox Talks, we interview an amazing woman whose love for helping others knows no bounds. France Daviault has an inspiring and big heart and an impressive resume to boot.
Currently, France is the executive director at the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF-FCA), a non-profit organization that connects Canada’s apprenticeship community. Prior to leading CAF-FCA with utmost ease,...
Duration:01:06:36
Building a place of rest in a world that's gone crazy | #30: Paul Lafrance
7/7/2020
Podcasters always come to interviews prepared and I am no exception. However, at times, you talk to someone so honest, authentic, engaging, and vulnerable that you get derailed (and I mean that in a good way). The result? You’ll hear one of the most amazing and genuine conversations between two people about life, construction, vulnerability, and everything else in between!
While often referred to as the deck guru, deck guy, and deck god, Paul Lafrance is so much more. Paul is also a...
Duration:01:26:05
The future of wearable tech in construction and manufacturing with the CEO of PROXXI | TBT #09 Campbell Macdonald
6/28/2020
Welcome to the Tools of the Trade Monthly Toolbox Talk June Edition.
This week's episode features Campbell Macdonald entrepreneur and the CEO of Proxxi, a smart sensor that senses and interprets electricity with software. Their first product, Proxxi Band, is targeted at electrical workers. It notifies the user by vibration when they get too close to an electric current. Currently, there are no connected, always-on devices to detect electricity for the 20 million US workers covered by an...
Duration:00:41:55
Entrepreneurship and good wine with the business coach that has read over 500 books | #29: John Nieuwenburg
6/23/2020
Not everyone may be aware of it but the importance of business coaching cannot be overstated. Author Andrea Schlapia provided a clear insight into the value business coaches provide when she wrote “business coaches support professionals who desire major and comprehensive improvements in all aspects of their firm. Collaboration with a coach encourages breakthroughs in change, helps manage evolution, and supports the implementation of desired outcomes.”
To further explore the key role...
Duration:01:05:56
TBT #08 Conor Kehoe | From Stonemason to Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator
6/18/2020
Welcome to the Tools of the Trade Monthly Toolbox Talk June Edition. These episodes focus on making construction a first choice career path by showcasing the beauty of the industry and asking the tough questions we need the answers to progress.
This week's episode features Conor Kehoe, Red Seal Stonemason turned Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator (OYAP). Conor found trades later in life and helped provide him with clarity on his career path while finding something he was truly...
Duration:00:50:13
TBT #07 Jerry & Ian | The OWN IT, LOVE IT, CRUSH IT! Culture of Caliber Projects
6/14/2020
Welcome to the Tools of the Trade Monthly Toolbox Talk June Edition. These episodes are short, current, day in the life conversations with all walks of construction life!
This week's episode features Jerry Pol (Business Development) and Ian Baird (Senior Project Manager) at Caliber Projects. Caliber is more than just a square foot builder, this episode had me complete fired up after Here are some key topics we discussed:
In this Toolbox Talk we get into the following:
And much, much...
Duration:00:50:41
#28: Adam Bartman | Plumber Turned Tech Founder & Self Proclaimed Pure Bred Entrepreneur
6/7/2020
While many buildings have been modernized and many homes are now made “smarter,” plumbing technology remained the same for many decades. Fortunately, people like Adam Bartman are here to change the face of plumbing for the better.
Adam Bartman is the co-founder of Reed, an award-winning water management platform specially made for commercial buildings. The cloud-enabled hardware devices they produce are designed to help users control, monitor, and optimize their plumbing systems.
In this...
Duration:00:53:26
TBT #06 Farid P. | The Importance of educating & mentoring apprentices
6/3/2020
Welcome to the Tools of the Trade Monthly Toolbox Talk June Edition. These episodes are short, current, day in the life conversations with all walks of construction life!
This week's episode features Farid Poursoltani, Director of Programs for the Electrical Joint Training Committee. Here are some key topics we discussed:
And much, much more...
Please enjoy and if you would like to participate, please send an email to colin@toolspodcast.com
For show notes, blog posts and past guests,...
Duration:00:39:57
#27: Dr. Ted Vokes Ph.D. | How to tame your brain and lead during a pandemic
5/24/2020
To say the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the world as we know it is an understatement. If anything, it has brought human, economic, and social crises of unprecedented proportions. It has also left people feeling anxious, bored, worried, and isolated. To help us make sense of it all, I’ve invited Dr. Ted Vokes, senior partner at E.M. Vokes, Ph.D. & Associates onto the podcast.
Dr. Vokes has over 25 years of experience as a trainer, applied researcher, and consultant for diverse...
Duration:01:11:33
TBT #05 Delaney Krieger | How to navigate your 1st year carpentry apprenticeship
5/20/2020
Welcome to the Tools of the Trade Monthly Toolbox Talk May Edition. These episodes are short, current, day in the life conversations with all walks of construction life!
This week's episode features Delaney Krieger, a First Year Apprentice Carpenter. Here are some key topics we discussed:
And much, much more...
Please enjoy and if you would like to participate, please send an email to colin@toolspodcast.com
For show notes, blog posts and past guests, please visit:...
Duration:00:50:11
TBT #04 Natasha Egan | Owning a Small Electrical Company
5/13/2020
Natasha is one of the few construction business owners I have met that is not only a woman in trades, but she came into her role with no prior experience in the industry. As you can hear at the front of this episode, TIB is experiencing a shortage of apprentices in the pipeline. Although there are many factors such as business size and location that make recruitment challenging, we most definitely are in the midst of a shortage. Natasha also talks about the challenges they face in educating...
Duration:00:20:30
#26 Bryan Kaplan | How to Make Your Trades Business Profitable With The Construction Consultant
5/10/2020
While unfortunate to note, many construction company owners leave money on the table when they lack the systems needed to operate efficiently. The good thing is today’s guest has running a systematic and successful construction business down to a science.
Bryan Kaplan is a residential construction expert who helps clients systemize and scale their businesses. With 2 decades of experience under his belt, he has accumulated an enormous amount of industry knowledge, insights, and wisdom....
Duration:01:19:22
TBT #03 TJ Snowdon | Finding your niche, hand training apprentices and a positive spin on COVID-19
5/6/2020
TJ is a carpenter by trade and the founder of Snowdon Construction where he has taken his passion for sports and built his company like a team. He won't micromanage but he owns his role as a leader and gives his input when necessary. If you follow Snowdon Construction on Instagram you may see TJ standing a wall on a multi-family residential project or renovating a basement. He has taken the systems his crew of 30 has built to be efficient in the multi-famil game and applied them to large...
Duration:00:20:43