Shows
Building BuildersHow To Become a Great Business Owner with Dave CaputoDave Caputo is an entrepreneur and the former CEO and co-founder of technology company Sandvine, which navigated a CDN $562-million exit in 2017. Now, Dave has shifted his focus to creating Trusscore after a lifelong dislike for painted drywall. Trusscore is committed to disrupting the building materials industry by bringing to market a better-performing, more sustainable solution.In this episode, Kevin and Dave talk discuss many topics and themes including:(2:00) What makes a good entrepreneur(9:00) How to engineer and make a good company culture(16:00) Tips for selling your services to residential customers(22:00) Knowing when the time is...2024-06-1134 min
Building BuildersThe Opioid Epidemic in Construction with Cal Beyer*Note: Cal was still with Holmes Murphy & Associates when we recorded this episode. He is now working at the SAFE Project.Cal Beyer is a well-respected advocate for mental health and suicide prevention in the construction industry. On top of that, he has also conducted a ton of research on drug addiction in construction, with a big focus on opioid addiction. He has won several awards and has been recognized countless times for his work. Cal is the Senior Director of SAFE Workplaces for the national nonprofit SAFE Project (SAFE stands for Stop the Addiction Fa...2024-05-1444 min
Building BuildersOperating The Biggest Machines in the World with Kathy TuccaroKathy Tuccaro is a full-time heavy equipment operator at a mine in Northern Alberta, Canada. In her career, Kathy operates some of the biggest equipment in the world, including the 797F Caterpillar truck, the CAT 24M Grader, and the D11 dozer. However, Kathy's life has not been without its struggles. In this episode, Kathy shares:Her story of transformation including how she went from being a nurse to being homeless to being an equipment operator (1:00)What life is like operating heavy equipment on a mine - from the hard days to the less hard days (8:00)The scariest part...2024-04-0939 min
Building BuildersThe State of The Construction Economy in 2024 with Ken SimonsonToday’s guest is Ken Simonson, the Chief Economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, the leading national construction trade association. As Chief Economist, Ken presents vital information about the economy and what it means for construction. Through media interviews, presentations, and his weekly newsletter the Data DIGest, Ken helps contractors make informed decisions in the face of challenging and changing economic times.In this episode, Ken and Kevin discuss the latest economic trends in construction. Topics include:How to manage and work around economic trends that are outside of your control (7:00)The long-term impact of...2024-03-1232 min
Building BuildersConstruction Contract Law 101 with Josh LevyConstruction contracts are complex whether you've been in the industry for one year or several. However, ignoring basic construction law principles can be catastrophic to your business for a variety of reasons. In this episode, we are joined by Josh Levy who currently serves as the CEO of Document Crunch, a contract intelligence platform for the construction industry. With a strong leadership background and expertise in construction law, Josh co-founded Document Crunch to bring his extensive experience to the field. Throughout his career, he has worked for top-ranking construction firms and led departments with annual revenues of $1...2024-02-1341 min
Building BuildersFrom Tool Belt to Boardroom: Barb's Journey in Construction ManagementThe size of the company you work for can have a direct impact on your career and learning opportunities. This was especially true for Barb who received her bachelor’s degree in Construction Management. She began her journey as a carpenter at a large general contractor, wearing her tool bags, physically building buildings and relationships, and had a successful career as a woman in construction. She climbed ladder rungs that included Foreman, Assistant Superintendent, Superintendent, Pre-Construction Manager, Project Executive, and Operations Director. Along the way, she transitioned from a large general contractor with nationwide projects to a sma...2024-01-0937 min
Downtime TalkBringing the share economy to heavy equipment | Downtime TalkBorn out of the frustration with snow plowing equipment sitting idle, Kevin built a marketplace for heavy equipment. Kevin Forestell, CEO and Co-founder of Dozr joins Soeren Brogaard on the Downtime Talk to speak about a new model for equipment rental and machine utilization.
You want to hear more about data, tech and strategy in construction? Make sure to sign up to the Inside Eliminate Downtime newsletter.2023-12-1917 min
Building BuildersBuilding Bridges: Overseeing The Gordie Howe International Bridge ProjectThe Gordie Howe International Bridge is a multi-billion dollar project that will connect Detroit, Michigan with Windsor, Ontario. This project is overseen by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, with Grant Hilbers being an executive leader on the team.Grant has more than 25 years of experience in the design and construction of large infrastructure projects and complex environmental compliance programs. He has held a variety of roles in consulting, private enterprise, and government entities in both Canada and the United States. He is a Professional Engineer who holds a Masters in Environmental Engineering from the University of Windsor and...2023-12-1222 min
Building BuildersFrom Intern to Managing $2 Billion in Revenue with Steve Dell'OrtoGrowing in your career is something everyone wants to do, but it’s not easy. That’s why we interviewed Steve Dell’Orto, a 26-year construction industry veteran who began his construction career as an intern at one of North America’s most respected general contractors. By the end of this time there, he was a senior executive leading all projects on the West Coast. These projects included the Chase Center, Salesforce Tower, and more that have shaped the horizons from Seattle to San Diego.Now, Steve is the CEO of ConCntric, the construction industry’s first holistic p...2023-11-1439 min
Building BuildersBest Practices for Oil and Lubrication in ConstructionAs any fleet manager and equipment operator knows, having a well-oiled and lubricated machine is crucial to decrease downtime and the need for repairs. Today, we are joined by Wendy Hakken, an oil and lube specialist working for Shell who specializes in lubricants for heavy equipment and trucks. With the motto of "lube it or lose it", Wendy helps fleet and maintenance managers ensure that all of the correct fluids are being used in all of the right places. This includes educating people on how to take the guesswork out of lubrication practices, keep costs down, and keep machines...2023-10-1053 min
Building BuildersAddressing Suicide Prevention in the Construction Industry with Vince HafeliAn unfortunate truth is that suicide is the leading cause of death in the construction industry. Construction workers are more likely to die by suicide than from being hit by a car in a work zone, falling to their death, and from electrocutions.Vince Hafeli is one of the leaders in the construction industry when it comes to suicide awareness and prevention. Sharing his personal journey with suicide, Vince shares a lot of great information in this episode including his own suicide attempt story, why the construction industry struggles with the issue, how to create mental health...2023-09-1240 min
Building BuildersBuilding Builders Season 2 TrailerBuilding Builders is back with a new season launching on Tuesday, September 12th. Featuring guests ranging from contract lawyers, project managers, lubricant specialists, pre-construction executives, engineers, and equipment operators, this season is packed with amazing content and guests. Made for contractors, construction workers, heavy equipment operators, foremen, superintendents, and leaders, you won't want to miss out.With brand new episodes on the second Tuesday of every month, subscribe and follow for updates.Building Builders LinksBuilding Builders WebsiteLeave a ReviewWatch on YouTubeInstagram: @dozr.rentals2023-09-0500 min
Building BuildersEntrepreneurial Lessons from HGTV's Bryan BaeumlerJoin us for our last episode of the season as we sit down with HGTV influencer and successful entrepreneur, Bryan Baeumler. In this conversation, Bryan shares valuable insights and lessons he has learned throughout his entrepreneurial journey. From building his first company to becoming a household name on HGTV, Bryan imparts practical wisdom and experiences that can benefit aspiring entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts alike. Tune in to gain valuable entrepreneurial lessons from one of the industry's most prominent figures.Key Moments:(0:30) Introduction to Bryan Baeumler: Discover Bryan's background and early ventures into entrepreneurship including his first...2023-06-2042 min
Building BuildersHow the IIJA affects construction Industry with Megan TanelMegan Tanel is the President of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the company behind North America’s largest construction trade show, CONEXPO. She joins the Building Builders podcast to talk about the new infrastructure bill (IIJA) and its impact on the industry, as well as some ideas about how to change trade school to make it more desireable for young adults.Key Moments:The importance of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in the construction industry (4:00)How the AEM plays a part in getting major bills advocated for and passed (7:00)The part that small towns play in...2023-06-0636 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow Manufacturers Can Get in Front of More Contractors & Earn Their TrustContractors are one of the most popularly targeted audiences by building material manufacturers. This week’s guest talks about how you can build better relationships with contractors in order to boost business.Kevin Forestell is the CEO and Co-Founder of DOZR. He talks with Beth and Zach about how to build better relationships with contractors.2023-06-0513 min
Building BuildersBuying vs Renting Construction Equipment with Randy BlountRandy Blount entered the construction industry at age 17 working for his family contracting business. He was thrust into a leadership role at age 21 when a cancer diagnosis sidelined his father from the company. Taking lessons from a number of early mistakes, Randy maintained the business until his father’s passing, at which time he purchased the company and took over management of daily operations. Over the next ten years, Randy worked with his team to implement key operational systems which helped successfully grow Blount Contracting from $3.5 million to $40 million in annual revenue. In 2020, he sold th...2023-05-2354 min
Building BuildersEquipment Safety in Construction and Why It’s ImportantMonica is an experienced safety trainer and consultant in the construction industry. With the goal of making safety more fun for everyone, she talks about some of the trends of safety in construction, as well as some of the challenges. Topics include new safety technologies, the importance of behavior-based safety, and why there's no country-wide standard for training.Key moments include:New safety technologies that will affect equipment operators (2:45)Behavior-based safety and the Crosswalk safety example of why we shouldn't rely on technology too much (5:00)Why there's no set standard for OSHA training for heavy equipment...2023-05-0923 min
Building BuildersSupporting the Youth: Bringing Awareness to the Skilled Trades with Matt PanellaHaving a child while still in high school, Matt Panella (@mattbagswood) got into the trades earlier than he was expecting. His father and grandfather worked in concrete and framing, so it was a natural career path, and he's taken the opportunity and run with it. Now with a YouTube account with over 300,000 subscribers, Matt is educating the youth on what life is like in the trades. Both the highs and the lows. With his videos being shown in classrooms around the country, Matt is hoping to bring more of the talented youth into the trades, or at...2023-04-2536 min
Building BuildersThe Pros and Cons of Self-Employment in Construction and ExcavatingMike Simon (Dirt Perfect), is a well-known YouTuber in the contractor and excavation industries. Having started in November of 2017, he had pretty lofty goals for how he would build his channel. But what's the story of the man behind the channel? Where and how did he get his start? And what lessons did he learn along the way? That's what we set out to discover on this episode of Building Builders.Key Moments:The story behind Bubba Dump and naming equipment (1:30)The business challenges of working directly on a time zone line (4:30)Becoming self-employed as a...2023-04-1146 min
Building BuildersLife in Mining as a Geologist and Equipment Operator with Mack PlovieMack Plovie has spent his whole life around heavy equipment, machinery, and mining. With his father and grandfather both working for CAT dealerships in Western Canada, several key moments have shaped him and his career. Listen to learn more about the different experiences that have given him some great memories including gold panning, having a CAT key at the age of 12, working in remote mines, operating D10s, and working to change the negative perceptions around the mining industry.Key Times:Having his 5th birthday at a CAT dealership and having a CAT key at the...2023-03-2845 min
Building BuildersManaging a $187 Million Dollar Hospital Redevelopment ProjectManaging a construction project in an active hospital is no easy task. With so many complications around dust, vibrations, and safety, there are often more logistical concerns than on an average construction project. Fortunately, we had Josh Van Eyk, a Project Manager at EllisDon speak with us about these complexities.Josh is the Project Manager of the Cambridge Memorial Hospital redevelopment site which is a $187 million dollar project. Josh has worked in construction throughout his life along with having time spent working in the Military. Through high school, he worked summers framing, renovating homes, or working on...2023-03-1435 min
Building BuildersHumanizing The Everyday Construction Worker with Daniel YatesDespite having no affiliations to the blue-collar world previously, Daniel Yates (@bluecollarbrands) has found himself going around construction sites telling the stories of those building our world behind the scenes. In this episode, Daniel shares some of his favorite stories of the people he's met, their pride in the work they do, and how the construction industry can do better to highlight their workers.Key Times:Why Daniel cares so much about blue-collar workers feeling seen, valued, and heard (2:30)How the system has been designed to hide construction (8:00)Why there's so much to be proud of...2023-02-1444 min
Building BuildersThe Benefits Of Understanding Law as a Contractor with Jennifer ToddJennifer Todd is a 15-year veteran woman in the construction industry. She was also the youngest Black woman to acquire California’s CSLB General Engineering (A) license. Today, she is the President of LMS General Contractors.We had her on the show to talk about her experience founding a company and how her law degree helped her navigate the early challenges involved. We also discuss what some are some common pitfalls that contractors have around laws and regulations and how more contractors can reduce their risk by doing their due diligence.Key Moments:Jennifer's ba...2023-01-3134 min
Building BuildersGrowing A Demolition Company With Large-Scale, High-Impact Projects with Ryan PriestlyPriestly Demolition has had its fingerprints on demolition projects across North America for the past 50 years. Having grown to over 500 employees, Priestly has contributed to some historical projects including the Toronto Pearson International Airport and CN Tower. Now, they're working on projects like the Rogers Centre upgrades and remote mines. These projects have involved several unique challenges, making Priestly one of the most innovative companies in demolition. Started as a family business, Priestly continues to operate as a family business. Listen to our episode with Ryan Priestly for more of the Priestly Demolition story.Key Moments:...2023-01-1740 min
Building BuildersThe Ups and Downs of a Heavy Equipment Operator with Scott ClarkThe life of an equipment operator has many ups and downs. Whether it's the feeling of having the streets to yourself and new challenges to overcome or the long, dark hours of snow removal in the winter, it's never easy but always rewarding. In this episode, one of DOZR's team members, Scott Clark, talks about his equipment operator life before DOZR and his transition to construction tech.Key Moments:Scott's upbringing and career in construction (0:30)His best and worst equipment operator moments and projects (5:00)How and when to communicate about safety in construction (8:30)Best practices for...2023-01-0332 min
Building BuildersChanging Society's View On Construction with Aaron WittPeople who work in the construction industry don't always get the respect they deserve. That's a problem, especially when 40% of the current workforce is set to retire by 2030. So how does Aaron Witt think we overcome this major challenge? Create better leaders, highlight the traits that make construction unique, and bring a culture of care to the companies that continue to build our world.Key Moments:The beginning of Aaron Witt's story (0:10)Why construction workers are more important than ever as infrastructure needs continue to rise (7:00)The importance of leadership in the construction industry (13:30)How to...2022-12-2035 min
MacEmerg PodcastSpecial Episode: Tales from the FrontlinesThis month we are giving a bit of our space to a few med student colleagues of ours who have been working alongside our own Dr. Ben Forestell to create a really neat reflection about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tales from the Front Line: A Pandemic Podcast
The Novel Coronavirus 19 pandemic is an event to be remembered in the history books, the epidemiology texts, and healthcare seminars. The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been discussed endlessly since early 2020. Frontline workers have been reported on extensively but what about their own stories? Since the pandemic began, frontline workers including emergency...2022-11-2435 min
Building BuildersHelping Contractors Limit Their Mistakes For Improved SuccessWhether it's understanding cash flow, getting in touch with insurance companies or the right vendors, or even making time to figure out how to grow their company, there are a lot of areas where small contractors and business owners need help. That's why Luke Payne and Luke Eggebraaten have combined their skills and knowledge to create the Dirt Bags Podcast and University. In this episode, we touch on how they got started in the industry, what their goals are, and why they want to help contractors limit their mistakes for increased success.Key Moments:How Luke...2022-11-2249 min
Building BuildersHow to access more capital and cashflow as a contractorIf you cannot get a line of credit or access capital, growth as a contractor is next to impossible. With tons of upfront costs like labor, equipment, and fuel, most contractors aren't getting paid until almost 100 days after a job is complete. That's the worst payment timeline in any industry. And sometimes they won't even see the full payment. This leads to worse credit which, of course, leads to a lower chance of getting a line of credit or loans. And in this process, contractors absorb all the risk.So what's the solution? That's what Zaid and...2022-11-0843 min
Building BuildersUsing Social Media and Video To Grow Your Construction BusinessStarting to use social media and video content to grow your construction business can be challenging. In construction, there can be negative connotations about social media. These include things like "social media is for girls", "it's a waste of time", or "I don't want people to know what type of equipment we're using to get the job done". And while these may have been concerns in the past, today's guest, Taylor White of Ken White Construction, discusses why these are outdated takes. He's been leveraging video and social media at his third-generation, family-owned business and since then, he's grown...2022-10-2539 min
Building BuildersWhat Building Builders is All AboutWe want to introduce the who, why, and how of Kevin Forestell, the host of the Building Builders podcast.After growing up around heavy machinery it only made sense that Kevin would go on to start two different businesses in construction. The first company he started was Forestell Designed Landscapes where he expanded a solo operation to one of the largest landscaping companies in Ontario, Canada with over 400 employees. The second company is DOZR, an online rental marketplace for heavy machinery.In this episode, we take you back to the early days of Kevin's life...2022-10-2521 minBuilding BuildersBuilding Builders Podcast TrailerWe thought it was time to introduce a podcast built for our industry, by our industry. Time to learn about the innovative solutions that are built for our industry. And time to hear about the amazing projects, companies, and people who have made them.The construction industry is undergoing rapid change and we want to help contractors and entrepreneurs achieve their maximum potential. The Building Builders Podcast features interviews with leaders in the industry, showcasing the projects they work on every day and the innovative solutions they are bringing to the table.Hosted by industry...2022-10-1301 min
MacEmerg PodcastJuly 2022 MacEmerg Episode - Dong & Clinical Decision Making | Stride & Forestell - Rural EMWelcome to Episode 42 of our MacEmerg podcast.
In this episode:
1) We hear from Dr. Kevin Dong about his reflections about making the hard call when in clinical decision-making;
2) Dr. Ben Forestell & Dr. Devon Stride reflect upon their experiences with Rural EM.2022-07-0221 min
Counter TalksCounter Talks Episode #32: Pushing Business Online – Kevin Forestell, DozrKevin Forestell is CEO and founder of Dozr, a successful online rental service that could be described as the Expedia of rentals, matching contractors to the rental equipment they are looking for through a network of participating rental stores. Kevin explains what Dozr is and how online rentals and e-commerce works to improve the lives of customers and store owners alike. But he fields some tough questions, too: how can online rentals emulate the service and interaction you get at a store? And will they drive rates down?2022-03-0432 min
Kitchener TodayTuesday February 15th, 2022Show Opening... But first (0:33); What does the future look like for Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party? (19:37); Majority of small businesses supports lifting most COVID restrictions (42:09); Controversy swirls around Russian figure skater's doping scandal at Winter Olympics (1:01:34); Replacing Erin O'Toole exposes the Conservative Party's ever-deepening divides (1:24:23); Tech Tuesday Spotlight. GUEST: Kevin Forestell, CEO, Dozr (1:44:28)2022-02-1600 minMacEmerg PodcastKevin Dong Cool Case - Resident Wellness - with Vincent & ForestellSunday December 4, 2021
Welcome to Episode 35 of our MacEmerg podcast. Please take a moment to complete our survey, sharing with us your thoughts on our podcast! This will help us continue to make quality content best suited for our listeners!
In this episode:
1) Dr. Kevin Dong regales us with another cool case. You'll have to listen to find out what it is about!
2) Dr. Ben Forestell returns to continue his conversation with Dr. Maggie Vincent about wellness.
ALSO, make sure to check out our new DIY Mentorship Playbook - on sale now!
https://www.macpfd.ca/modalities/coaching-mentorship/1on1-diy-mentorship-playbook2021-12-0524 min
MacEmerg PodcastEpisode 34 - Clinical Informatics with Christian Rose | RC with Maggie VincentMonday, November 1, 2021
Welcome to Episode 34 of our MacEmerg podcast.
In this episode:
1) Dr. Christian Rose speaks with Dr. Kevin Dong & Dr. T. Chan his fellowship in clinical informatics. As we roll into an EPIC world, Dr. Rose gives us a glimpse into a possible future for what clinical informatics could do for us - and what informaticians can do for improving care.
2) Dr. Forestell speaks with Dr. Maggie Vincent (PGY2) about the topic of wellness.
ALSO, make sure to check out our new DIY Mentorship Playbook - on sale now!
www.macpfd.ca/modalities/coachin…entorship-playbook2021-11-0235 min
Landscape DisruptorsBuy vs. Lease. vs. Rent - The Great Equipment DebateShould you buy, lease, or rent your equipment? We ask Kevin Forestell who owns a rental company called DOZR and his answers might surprise you. 2020-08-0734 min
Podcast Archives - AEC BusinessThe Sharing Economy for Construction – Interview with Kevin Forestell of DozrIn this podcast interview with Kevin Forestell, Founder and CEO of Dozr, we discuss how contractors can lend and rent heavy equipment using the company’s new online service. In the construction industry, the cost of owning and operating equipment is a big factor in profitability. As the owner of a commercial landscaping company, Dozr co-founder and CEO […]
The post The Sharing Economy for Construction – Interview with Kevin Forestell of Dozr appeared first on AEC Business.2017-02-0900 min
AEC BusinessThe Sharing Economy for Construction – Interview with Kevin Forestell of DozrIn this podcast interview with Kevin Forestell, Founder and CEO of Dozr, we discuss how contractors can lend and rent heavy equipment using the company’s new online service. In the construction industry, the cost of owning and operating equipment is a big factor in profitability. As the owner of a commercial landscaping company, Dozr co-founder and CEO […]
The post The Sharing Economy for Construction – Interview with Kevin Forestell of Dozr appeared first on AEC Business.2017-02-0910 min