Operations

Special Guest Kevin O’Connor of “This Old House” [Best of the Tim Faller Show]

July 11, 2022

Television is full of construction and remodeling shows, but we all know many of them leave false impressions of how fast and easy the process can be. But the pioneering program, This Old House, still shows viewers how complicated it can be.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the program, and they’re tackling a net-zero retrofit, a mid-century modern remodel, and spearheading outreach programs to get more workers into the trades.

In this episode, Kevin O’Connor, host of the Emmy Award-winning This Old House and Ask This Old House, talks with Tim and Steve about what you see on TV, and how it helps the construction industry as a whole.

Kevin has appeared on the two shows since 2003, and serves on the editorial board of This Old House magazine. He also hosts This New House airing on the DIY Network and Hidden History in Your House airing on the History Channel’s H2 network. Along with his four brothers and two sisters, Kevin grew up on various job sites led by his father, a civil engineer. When Kevin and his wife, Kathleen, were renovating their 1892 Queen Anne Victorian they sent an e-mail seeking advice from the Ask This Old House experts. The house call served as Kevin’s first screen test to serve as the new host (the third host in the history of the home-improvement series).

Kevin talks about the evolution of the show and about the Generation NEXT campaign, cosponsored by the mikeroweWORKS Foundation. It’s a high-profile effort to close the skills gap in the trades, encouraging young people to master those skills and look at construction careers. He also talks about the challenges of working on a job site that’s also a TV shoot, including:

Scheduling
Scrambling and adapting
More about the show’s two projects this season
How the show’s contractors juggle TV and their businesses
Using their big megaphone
And more…

Ep.198: Becoming a Memorable Leader with Howard Prager

June 27, 2022 00:36:35

Howard Prager joins the show to talk about how memorable leadership can help retain good employees, increase productivity and improve customer service. He outlines his VIP model of leadership, which is easy to apply, proven effective, and will help create a company with which customers will want to do business and employees will want to work.

Howard Prager is president of Advance Learning Group, the author of the book Make Someone’s Day Becoming a Memorable Leader in Work and Life, speaker, executive coach, and consultant who helps managers become memorable leaders. He has worked extensively with Fortune 500 companies as well as numerous small businesses and has won multiple professional awards for his work.

Tim, Steve, and Howard talk more about:

Characteristics of a leader
Leadership vs. Management
And more…..

Ep.197: From Project Manager to Production Manager with Morgan Thomas

June 20, 2022 00:32:21

Join Tim and Steve as they talk to Morgan Thomas about her role as a production manager at Leff Design Build. Morgan discusses how she had to shift her focus from individual projects to looking at the business on a global level, and from solving problems herself to coaching others on how to solve them.

Morgan was born and raised in Sonoma County, and after moving out of state to pursue a degree in Journalism from Gonzaga University, she returned to Sonoma County and landed in a career in commercial construction management. She then found her way LEFF, where she worked her way up to become the company’s production manager.

Tim, Steve, and Morgan talk more about:

The differences between Project and Production managers
Tools needed by a Production Manager
And more…….

Ep.196: Inventory Management on the Go With Selema Lawson-Jack

June 13, 2022 00:33:57

Selema Lawson-Jack joins the show and discusses how she found a technology fix to solve an inventory management issue, but was able to expand its capabilities to create efficiencies across the organization, and generate revenue at the same time. She talks about how Sortly, the affordable app she implemented, operates and how she was able to successfully integrate it into the organization.

Selema works for Schroeder Design Build of Fairfax, VA and is the Director of Production, where she oversees all projects in the construction phase. She is the first point of contact on job sites and leads a team of project managers, project developers and carpenters. She was recently named to Pro Remodeler’s top 40 under 40.

Tim, Steve, and Selema talk more about:

Organizing inventory using Sortly
How Sortly improves the processes for the team
And more……

Ep.195: Using AI in Home Remodeling with Ben Ranta

June 6, 2022 00:30:50

Guest Ben Ranta joins the show to discuss his experiences with Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the remodeling industry. Ben talks about how the AI software, Otter, is used for client meetings and how it helps his company, Forward Design Build be more effective in meeting client demands. He also discusses how he dealt with pushback when Otter was implemented.

Ben left his desk job in 2019 to pursue a career in the trades and joined Forward Design Build Remodel in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After about 18 months as a carpenter, Ben then changed gears and became a Project Manager.

Tim, Steve, and Ben talk more about:

How AI is used for client meetings
Any pushbacks from clients and co-workers
And more…..

Ep.190: Stop the Runs! (Lumberyard runs that is) with Paul Wurth

April 25, 2022 00:29:52

Making multiple trips to the lumber yard for construction material is both disruptive to jobsite progress and very costly. By stopping all material runs your business can save thousands of dollars on labor, gas, vehicles and much more. Guest Paul Wurth is here to share how to stop making these unnecessary trips and save your company money in the long run.

Paul Wurth is the Chief Revenue Officer at the technology startup, RenoRun! RenoRun provides a simple, cost effective way to help contractors stop multiple trips to get construction material, saving time and money.

Tim, Steve and Paul talk more about:

Technology in relation to remodeling
Identifying costly behaviors
And more…

Ep.180: Setting Up an In-house Training Center with David Myers

January 31, 2022 00:37:44

It is always both exciting and refreshing to see companies tackle skills training head on by providing necessary programs for new talent. Guest Dave Myers joins us to talk about the training process he and his team use to set employees up for success.

Dave is the Vice President and general manager of J. Francis Company, a design build and remodel firm in Pittsburgh, PA. He previously worked in college administration and facility management, and finds that elements from his previous positions have been beneficial to the success in his current role.

Tim, Steve and Dave talk more about:

The investment into a training program
Logistics and timelines of training
Significant outcomes of the program
And more…

Ep.176: Bonuses and Incentives with Andrew Kerr

December 20, 2021 00:31:59

This is PART 1 of a 4-part series focused on Bonuses and Incentives.

Financial incentives and bonuses are often how many companies attract and retain great talent. Guest Andrew Kerr of Landis Construction is here to share how bonus structures can potentially lead to increased motivation and involvement within a company.

Andrew has been with Landis since 2001, and as their COO he now oversees the company’s architecture, estimating, construction, and process management departments. Prior to joining the company, Andrew held a position as a PM at Centex Homes, managing construction for new homes, and also worked at the White House for the National Security Council.

Tim, Steve and Andrew talk more about:

Unfulfilled bonus promises
Bonus structures and customer satisfaction
Financial bonuses vs. incentives
And more…

4-Part Series on Bonuses and Incentives:

Get Your Production Team Focused on Profit!

Keep your production team sharp and focused on profit throughout the new year with our weekly Production Team Training Masterclass, starting up on January 10th.

Instructor Tim Faller covers 6 hot topics that have proven to be game-changers for companies all over the country and will definitely raise the bar in your world.

This course is geared to your production staff and at the end of each session, Tim will assign homework that the team can use to reinforce the topic and implement the new ideas.

Ep.175: From ICU Practitioner to Production Manager with Ryan Truesdale

December 13, 2021 00:41:17

As companies mature, the need for someone to take the production department off of the shoulders of the owner is inevitable. While having construction knowledge may be beneficial, we see that some of the best production managers come from a variety of backgrounds.

Guest Ryan Truesdale shares his story about making the transition from a hospital, to a job site, and how he did it. Ryan knows what it’s like to work in high pressure situations and understands the importance of working with a team to execute plans with precision.

After working as a nurse for 12 years, he is now with The Kingston Group, and has been a catalyst to bring process and order to their day-to-day operations. Leading the production team, Ryan and The Kingston Group are the preferred choice for custom remodeling in the Nashville area.

Tim, Steve and Ryan talk more about:

Looking for talent outside of the construction industry
Necessary skills for any field
What to look for in a potential production manager candidate
And more…

A Great Stocking-stuffer for Your Production Team!

Ep.174: Women in Construction with Jessica Bishop-Smyser

November 29, 2021 00:38:59

Since the start of the Tim Faller Show, about 170 episodes ago, one of the goals has been to highlight the role of women in this industry. Fast forward to today, we now have 5 dedicated, knowledgeable women in our production manager roundtable groups. In this episode, guest Jessica Bishop-Smyser talks about her role and her journey in an otherwise male-dominated field, in hopes to inspire others.

Jessica is the operations manager for Silent Rivers Design + Build located in Des Moines and Clive, Iowa. Silent Rivers is known for thinking outside the box, for setting or pushing standards not just in design, or attention to detail but to also be a catalyst for positive change in the industry of remodeling. They are led by a strong female leadership team and believe it is what a person brings to the table, not their gender.

Tim, Steve and Jessica talk more about:

Breaking down gender barriers
Challenges faced as a woman in a male oriented career
Overcoming stereotypes
And more…

Training For You & Your Entire Team

Whether you are on-site with us or attending one of our virtual courses, we are dedicated to bringing you fast-paced, in-depth education and training opportunities to further develop your industry knowledge.

We have several courses coming up in the next few months that are perfect for any successful remodeling business owner, or perhaps key staff and team members.

[ CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF UPCOMING MASTERCLASSES ]