CONEXPO – CON/AGG Podcast: Construction Business Insights For Contractors

Kyle Eberts is the guy who gets the call for flooded basements, house fires, and unattended deaths. He tells Taylor today how slowly insurance money arrives, why he and his father nearly came to blows over the company name, and what he built in Claude in 30 minutes.Kyle runs Crew Restoration & Construction in Sioux Falls, SD, with 40 teammates across a 100-mile corridor. His crews handle water, fire, hail, mold, asbestos, lead, and trauma cleanup, plus the rebuilds. He started as a stockbroker to avoid working for his dad before joining the family construction firm, pivoting to insurance restoration, and rebranding the company. In this episode, Taylor asks how techs move up, how Crew staffs a 24/7 emergency line without burning people out, why insurance jobs cost more, and how bi-weekly personal goal meetings changed his team. They finish by discussing the call-grading bot Kyle built for his new retail roofing center and why he thinks people will stop using Google within a year.🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS:🏗️ TAKING DAD'S NAME OFF THE COMPANY [6:27]:Would you change the name your father built his business under?"What he didn't want was for me to change the name. It was Eberts Construction, our last name."Kyle needed a descriptive name, but his dad resisted. Taylor faced similar family clashes. Must-watch! 👀🗓️ PERSONAL GOALS, EVERY TWO WEEKS [22:58]:Do you know what your crew wants out of the next five years?"They do it with their employees and they call them PPF goals. So personal, professional and financial goals."Borrowing from Cardone Ventures, Kyle holds bi-weekly 15-minute goal meetings. Despite a clunky start, managers now know their teams deeply.🤖 A CALL-GRADING BOT BUILT IN 30 MINUTES [35:37]:Is your office using AI for anything more than search yet?"I literally had that entire thing built in 30 minutes."Kyle linked Claude and RingCentral to record and score all calls, exposing surprisingly low ratings. Taylor shares his daily AI briefing. A must for AI skepticsCHAPTERS:00:00 - How AI Is Changing the Construction Industry02:53 - From Stockbroker to Construction Business Owner06:11 - Rebranding the Family Construction Business08:58 - Applying Sales and Finance Skills to Construction11:22 - Building a Strong Construction Company Culture13:41 - Managing a 24/7 Emergency Restoration Business18:34 - Working With Insurance Companies and Managing Cash Flow22:51 - Setting Employee Goals and Building Stronger Teams29:17 - Why Mindset Matters in Construction Leadership31:01 - Turning Employees Into Intrapreneurs32:32 - Expanding Into Retail Roofing35:07 - Using AI to Automate Construction Operations41:21 - How AI Is Transforming SEO and Construction MarketingCONEXPO-CON/AGG: CONEXPOCONAGG.comCONEXPO-CON/AGG Newsletter: https://www.CONEXPOCONAGG.com/industry-news#sign-up🔗 CONNECT WITH KYLE EBERTS AND CREW RESTORATION AND CONSTRUCTION:Website: https://www.crew3r.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrewSiouxFalls/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Crew3rInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crew3r/#Restoration #ConstructionBusiness #AIinConstruction

Remote operation is coming to the job site! Bryan Furnace has tested the Cat Command chair and brought back a timeline that might make contractors nervous. Taylor pushes back hard, and their debate is one of the many highlights of this episode.Having spent twenty years in the dirt doing finished grade, septics, and sewer taps, Bryan’s operating videos have led to a career hosting Equipment World's The Dirt and beyond. Today, he explains what surprised him about remote operation and where he feels the technology still fails. He and Taylor also tackle the questions most people ignore: who buys the gear, what happens to crew sizes, and whether a 22-year-old would ever trade his pickup for a remote seat.🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS:🕹️ THE ‘FEEL’ OBJECTION EVERY OPERATOR RAISES [7:36]:Convinced you cannot run a machine without ‘seat of the pants’ feel?As a traditional operator, I had the exact same knee-jerk reaction as pretty much every operator out there: “There's no way you're going to be able to do that without ‘feel’.” And what surprised me is just how intuitive it was and how quickly your brain just adapts."If you have been dismissing this technology on instinct, start here. Must-watch segment!🏗️ YOU ALREADY TRUST STRANGERS WITH $700,000 MACHINES [11:16]:Worried about putting an unknown operator on your site remotely?"You're going to throw some guy that says he's got experience into a $700,000 piece of equipment on an active job site, and you don't really know what his credentials are."The trust problem people raise about remote operation is the trust problem the industry already has with every new hire. Bryan flips the objection completely, and it reframes the whole risk conversation.🛻 TRADE THE TRUCK FOR THE CHAIR [34:21]:Still paying for a truck to drive to a site you would not need to visit?"I would argue trade in the truck and put it into one of these Cat Command chairs. Because now you can work when you want, you can work where you want, you can work the hours you want."This is where Taylor draws the line and tells him his crew would never do it. Two people who both love this industry landing in completely different places. Game changing insight 🎯CHAPTERS:00:00 - Bryan Furnace’s Journey From Operator to Creator04:55 - How Remote Heavy Equipment Operation Works09:37 - Making Remote Construction Equipment Safer11:11 - Building an On-Demand Remote Operator Workforce13:33 - How Remote Operation Could Transform Construction Jobs20:48 - How AI Could Automate Heavy Equipment Operation22:27 - Building the Remote Equipment Operator Business Model29:05 - Cutting Labor Costs With Remote Operators34:04 - Attracting the Next Generation of Equipment Operators38:39 - Balancing Blue-Collar Culture With Remote Work44:06 - When Remote Equipment Operation Could Go MainstreamCONEXPO-CON/AGG: CONEXPOCONAGG.comCONEXPO-CON/AGG Newsletter: https://www.CONEXPOCONAGG.com/industry-news#sign-up🔗 CONNECT WITH BRYAN FURNACE:Bryan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-furnace/The Dirt: https://www.equipmentworld.com/the-dirtDiesel and Iron YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/dieselandironDiesel and Iron Academy: https://diesel-iron-academy.teachable.com#ConstructionTechnology #RemoteOperation #FutureOfWork

Heavy civil contractors across North America are desperate for talent, but many wait until high school graduation to start recruiting. Amy Henningfield, Director of Workforce Development at Superior Construction, argues the industry doesn't have a labor shortage - it has a visibility shortage. By the time students reach their senior year, they have often been told construction is a "dirty" fallback plan for those who can't make it in college.Superior Construction breaks this cycle by reaching kids in middle school and exposing young women to heavy equipment early. Amy explains why treating people like high-value infrastructure - using preventative maintenance and mentorship - is the only way to secure the industry's future. By showing students technology like drones and VR, contractors can replace outdated stereotypes with a high-tech career path.🎯 BIGGEST TAKEAWAY [4:10]:"It’s not just a workforce shortage, but again, it’s a visibility shortage. Getting people in the workforce doesn’t happen when you fill out an application. We have to bring awareness to it."🎯 OTHER KEY EPISODE TAKEAWAYS:⚠️ PIPELINE RISK [9:40]:Amy explains why human assets matter more than iron for long-term survival."You can buy another piece of equipment, but you can’t buy that generation of skilled workers. We have to invest in those people."✨ GROWTH OPPORTUNITY [25:52]:Paychecks don't stop turnover. Amy highlights how genuine support and inclusion build loyalty."Recruiting will get them here, but I think what our leadership does is what will keep them here. You have to give them a reason to stay. You’ve got to believe in them."⚡ PERSONAL BREAKTHROUGH [33:55]:Shrinking to fit in sabotages potential. Amy discusses the power of authenticity in a male-dominated field."Just be you. Don't change for anyone. There are so many opportunities out there for women in construction… just believe in yourself."CHAPTERS:00:00 - How Amy Found Her Purpose in Construction02:24 - Solving the Construction Labor Shortage Through Visibility05:08 - Workforce Development Ideas Every Contractor Can Use08:44 - Why Investing in People Drives Long-Term Success12:54 - How Girls’ Construction Camps Inspire Future Tradeswomen18:06 - Recruiting the Next Generation of Construction Talent25:08 - How to Build a Culture That Retains Great Employees28:36 - Why Mentorship Creates Future Construction Leaders34:24 - Why Construction Is a Career Full of Opportunity39:58 - How EmpowerHER Is Changing the Future of ConstructionCONEXPO-CON/AGG: CONEXPOCONAGG.comCONEXPO-CON/AGG Newsletter: https://www.CONEXPOCONAGG.com/industry-news#sign-up🔗 CONNECT WITH AMY HENNINGFIELD & SUPERIOR CONSTRUCTION:• Amy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyhenningfieldmba/• Superior’s Website: https://superiorconstruction.com/• Superior Women in Construction (SWIC): https://www.superiorconstruction.com/our-company/superior-women-in-construction-swic/#ConstructionWorkforce #WomenInConstruction #WorkforceDevelopment

Geoff Dodge chased an Indy racing dream until a lost backer left him $100,000 in debt. Rebuilding with just $1,000, he bootstrapped Lamb Excavating to handle the tough utility work others avoid. Now back in a sprint car, Geoff uses racing as a platform to promote the trades through his "Racing to Build Brighter Futures" mission.Taylor talks with Geoff about treating the trades as a calling. They discuss Geoff’s work launching Indiana’s SkillsUSA Heavy Equipment pathway and a new partnership with Indiana 811, Ohio 811 and the IURC to improve underground safety training. Geoff’s playbook for the youth is clear: find an interest, get a foot in the door, and let your work, not a degree, prove your worth. Success here is about hard work and creative problem-solving.🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS:🏎️ FROM THE SPEEDWAY TO THE SEWER LINE [00:43]:How does a driver who reached the pinnacle of Indy racing pivot to utility work, and then use that business to rebuild his racing dream?“Geoff is a racer who became an excavator who became a racer again... he's basically using a sprint car as a billboard for the next generation of operators and diesel techs.”⚠️ ELEVATING STANDARDS THROUGH EDUCATION [26:13]:Can a half-hour of the right training really transform how safely the next generation digs?“So this year we conducted a 30 minute training the day before the event and we saw our high score jump to an 85% and the median score moved about 10%.”🛠️ A CALL TO ACTION FOR INDUSTRY LEADERS [46:51]:Geoff issues a direct challenge to everyone in the industry—from manufacturers to contractors—to move beyond complaining and start taking action to recruit the next generation.“If you are in our industry and you are listening to this... you can probably see that the skilled trade gap is a problem. Get involved, get your hands dirty.”CHAPTERS:00:00 - From Race Car Driver to Excavation Business Owner04:10 - How Geoff Built a Successful Excavation Company07:35 - Why the Skilled Trades Need More Young Talent12:27 - Using Racing to Inspire the Next Generation19:11 - How SkillsUSA Is Preparing Future Heavy Equipment Operators25:27 - Why Safety Training Is Transforming the Construction Industry28:51 - Do You Really Need a College Degree to Succeed?34:54 - Why Skilled Trades Offer Unlimited Career Growth38:15 - The Future of Closing the Skilled Trades Gap46:16 - How the Construction Industry Can Get InvolvedCONEXPO-CON/AGG: CONEXPOconagg.comCONEXPO-CON/AGG Newsletter: https://www.CONEXPOconagg.com/industry-news#sign-up🔗 CONNECT WITH GEOFF DODGE:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-dodge-4515156a/Geoff Dodge Racing: https://www.geoffdodgeracing.com/Lamb Excavating: https://www.wedigindy.com/ #SkilledTrades #RacingtoBuildBrighterFutures #SkillsUSA

Brian Hayden runs heavy equipment in Wells, Maine, where he works for Hayden Excavating with his father. While most local operators never test their skills on a world stage, Brian entered the 2026 Caterpillar Global Operator Challenge to see if he was truly good. In the end, he beat all other finalists from the Americas, Europe, and Asia at CONEXPO in Las Vegas. He explains the way he won the loader and dozer grading challenges, and shares how 3D grading and Leica systems save time on residential home digs. Listen in and learn how a small family business produced the best operator in the world.KEY EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS🏆 THE SURPRISE CHAMPION MINDSET [03:17]:"Every time I progress, I'm like, ‘This is when I'm gonna get knocked out. Like, there's no way I make it through here.’"Brian felt like an underdog during the entire Caterpillar Global Operator Challenge. He shares how staying humble and focused on the dirt helped him win the world title.⚠️ THE REPUTATION KILLER [09:39]:"A good operator is somebody that also takes care of their equipment… I look at that as somebody that you know they care. So, their work is going to, you know, reflect that."Messy job sites and dirty machines scare away high-paying clients. Brian explains why a clean cab and neat piles are the mark of a pro.🏗️ THE ONE-MAN PROFIT MACHINE [25:53]:"I built that whole pond, the whole road, all the ditching, all of it without getting out of the machine."Watch Brian reveal how 3D grading tools allow one operator to finish work that used to require a full crew. He explains why tech like Leica is the way to scale a small excavating business.CHAPTERS:00:00 - CAT Global Operator Champion01:26 - Road to the World Finals03:37 - Hayden Excavating History09:08 - Pro vs Amateur Operators10:59 - Excavator Skill Challenge15:12 - Dozer Grading Techniques20:52 - Global Operating Styles24:19 - 3D Machine Control Setup27:41 - GPS Site Layout Benefits31:16 - Defending the World TitleCONEXPO-CON/AGG: CONEXPOconagg.comCONEXPO-CON/AGG Newsletter: https://www.CONEXPOconagg.com/industry-news#sign-up🔗 CONNECT WITH BRIAN HAYDEN:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-hayden-54733aa8/Hayden Excavating: https://www.haydenexcavating.net/#Caterpillar #OperatorChallenge #CONEXPO