MSU Construction Management Mentorship Podcast

KEVIN FOUCHER: On the amazing people and opportunities in construction

INTRODUCING TODAY'S GUEST: KEVIN FOUCHER is proudly serving as Vice President of Commercial Contracting Corporation – known in the market as CCC – which is a full-service general building and process equipment installation contractor based out of Auburn Hills, Michigan. With historical roots in Detroit’s automotive industry, CCC has evolved into one of the region’s most prominent self-performing construction companies, serving a variety of market sectors, including: manufacturing, aviation, education, food and beverage, healthcare, petrochemical, water and wastewater, and other heavy industrial facilities across the US and Mexico.      As you are about to hear, Kevin’s steady rise over the past 25 years is a testament to his work ethic and team dedication, along with his soft skills to nurture successful relationships from the jobsite to the boardroom, and a bit of serendipity. In many ways, he is a poster child for what it takes to climb the executive ranks of the construction industry, and he is clearly one of the MVPs that I was writing about 10 years ago—particularly when it comes to his ability to effectively manage the client’s building experience. Kevin graduated in the class of 2000 from the Construction Management program at Michigan State University, where we serve together on the Industry Alumni Board. We certainly share a love for the Spartans, as well as hockey, and a ton of pride for the construction industry at large – standing side by side in respect and appreciation for people who go out there every day and build things with their own two hands. CONNECT WITH TODAY'S GUEST: Contact information for Kevin Foucher and other helpful links regarding this episode are listed below: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-foucher-57153b4/ https://www.cccnetwork.com/ https://www.cccnetwork.com/careers/ CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST: coty@cotyfournier.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/cotyfournier/   Please visit the Construction Management Program [https://www.canr.msu.edu/spdc/programs/Construction_Management/index Management Program] at Michigan State University for more information on how you can build the career of your dreams in the construction management industry.

RICH BROWN: On the honor of serving as President of Ideal Contracting

INTRODUCING TODAY'S GUEST: RICH BROWN is proudly serving as President of Ideal Contracting – where he brings over 20 years of industry experience to the table, in his efforts to oversees all aspects of the company. He previously served as Ideal’s Executive Vice President, and has continually advanced as a leader within the firm and the construction industry at large.   Brown is also the Great Lakes District Council Contractor Co-Chair for IMPACT (which is the Ironworkers Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust). And of course, like many guests on this podcast, he is a proud graduate of Michigan State University where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Construction Management.     By way of background on Ideal Contracting – they are a leading general contractor based in Detroit, Michigan with operations across the U.S. The family-owned, certified MBE has a loyal team of over 400 union, self-performance professionals and more than 150 full-time staff, that honor Ideal’s commitment to building together. Utilizing a flexible array of delivery methods, Ideal Contracting successfully delivers industry-leading projects in a wide range of market sectors, including automotive, manufacturing, sports and entertainment, higher education, energy and petrochemical, and much more. The company’s people-first approach is supported by a best-in-class safety program, robust talent development process, and proactive engagement in the local Southwest Detroit community. Over the past 5 years, the company has experienced record growth, surpassing $500 million in annual revenue, exceeding one million man-hours per year, and maintaining a strong track record of safety excellence.  If you are interested in learning a thing or two from the President of a highly successful construction company . . . or perhaps becoming one yourself one day . . . this episode with an inspiring Spartan is for you. CONNECT WITH TODAY'S GUEST: Contact information for Rich Brown and other helpful links regarding this episode are listed below: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-brown-4281831/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/ideal-contracting/posts/?feedView=all https://idealcontracting.com/ CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST: coty@cotyfournier.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/cotyfournier/   Please visit the Construction Management Program [https://www.canr.msu.edu/spdc/programs/Construction_Management/index Management Program] at Michigan State University for more information on how you can build the career of your dreams in the construction management industry.

NICK KUELSKE: On building a dynamic and diversified career with Turner Construction Company

MEET TODAY'S GUEST: NICK KUELSKE is the Regional Procurement Manager for Turner Construction Company – based in their Detroit office.     By way of background, Nick grew up in mid Michigan near the campus of Michigan State University. His father worked for a local general contractor and also later bought into another subcontracting business, so Nick was definitely raised around the construction industry. Upon graduation from MSU, he took an entry level position with Turner in Chicago – and has since worn many unique hats for Turner – which is why I was determined to interview him for this podcast.    As you about to hear, his range of experiences is notable, and we talk about some of the important lessons learned and advantages he has gained from many of them. For example, Nick’s project portfolio ranges from mega projects, industrial projects, data centers, healthcare facilities, and stadiums. On the other end of the spectrum, he has also worked in Turner’s Special Projects Division – which is focused on smaller, fast-paced projects. And lastly, he also ran one of Turner’s self-perform divisions, which encompassed crews of skilled tradesmen (e.g. carpenters/laborers/operators) who performed demolition, drywall, drop ceilings, and other general labor on multiple Turner projects – all of which grew his direct building knowledge and expertise in labor productivity and scheduling.    Fast forwarding to today, Nick’s longest tenure with Turner has been in their centralized procurement (or purchasing) department, which he now heads up for the Midwest region. We talked at length about the unique nature of this organizational role in the general contracting industry and the advantages that can be derived from it for all parties.    Outside of work, Nick enjoys working on cars, hunting, and shooting sports. And by the way, he still plays hockey, with loving memories of the days when he played goalie for MSU’s club team and won a national championship.    I started my own career with Turner and I remember it with much fondness and gratitude. They remain one of the world’s most prestigious construction companies – so if you have any interest in learning more about how to build a highly successful career within the Turner ranks, then this episode is for you.  CONNECT WITH TODAY'S GUEST: Contact information for Nick Kuelske and other helpful links regarding this episode are listed below: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-kuelske/ https://www.turnerconstruction.com/life-at-turner CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST: coty@cotyfournier.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/cotyfournier/   Please visit the Construction Management Program [https://www.canr.msu.edu/spdc/programs/Construction_Management/index Management Program] at Michigan State University for more information on how you can build the career of your dreams in the construction management industry.

STEVE BLACK: On transferring building knowledge to the next generation

MEET TODAY'S GUEST: STEVE BLACK is the Quality Support Director for Power Construction – based out of Chicago. He is a graduate of the Construction Management program at Michigan State University, where has tirelessly supported the program as a student, a graduate student, and a former leading member of the Industry and Alumni Board. Steve has built an impressive career path through long and loyal runs with McCarthy and now Power Construction, while serving in a wide variety of roles, from intern, to superintendent to project management and leadership of numerous training and talent development initiatives. His portfolio of completed projects range in size from $3M to $100M and covers many sectors, including parking garages, data and telecom centers, manufacturing plants, and healthcare facilities. And because he is too humble to say it, I will say it for him—he is a master teacher in the industry, who is passionately dedicated to sharing what he has learned with others.      We discussed many important topics for emerging construction management professionals, such as:   ·     The advantages of working for an ESOP ·     The advantages of working for a GC who self-performs some of their work ·     Why you might want to consider going to work for a large scale trade contractor ·     What happens when preparedness meets luck ·     Why it is valuable to be a great teacher in the construction industry ·     Or a rainmaker ·     The critical importance of life-long learning ·     And many other topics.   And one more thing – Steve wears a beautiful Rose Bowl Championship ring from his glory days as a football player at MSU. So of course we had a little fun talking about that, and reminiscing about several other athletes at MSU who have successfully transferred their teamwork skills and competitive spirits into the construction management arena.   CONNECT WITH TODAY'S GUEST: Contact information for Steve Black and other helpful links regarding this episode are listed below: sblack@powerconstruction.net https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-black-94125413/ https://www.powerconstruction.net/ https://www.powerconstruction.net/careers/life-power CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST: coty@cotyfournier.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/cotyfournier/  Please visit the Construction Management Program [https://www.canr.msu.edu/spdc/programs/Construction_Management/index Management Program] at Michigan State University for more information on how you can build the career of your dreams in the construction management industry.

MICHAEL HOUSTON: On program management, business development and the art of getting involved

MEET TODAY'S GUEST: MICHAEL HOUSTON, CCM, LEED AP BD+C is a Vice President with Jacobs—one of the world’s largest providers of engineering and program management services—where he is responsible for developing business within their “People & Places Solutions” division. He is an accomplished senior executive and visionary leader with extensive experience in program management, strategic planning, and preconstruction services. For over 30 years in the built environment, Mike has forged solid partnerships with other executive leaders to drive organizational objectives and consistent best practices for clients in both the public and private sectors, across a wide variety of building types, including: healthcare, K-12 education, higher education, hospitality, sports, institutional, and government. Michael brings a commanding focus on team performance, continuous improvement, innovation, collaboration, career development, and DEI initiatives, all while managing capital programs and executing complex construction projects within strict scope, budget, schedule and quality requirements. Some of the clients featured in Michael’s project portfolio include: the City of Chicago, the University of Chicago, the University of Michigan, the University of Illinois and the Obama Presidential Center. And by way of credentials, he holds a B.Sc. degree in Construction Management from Michigan State University, and has also earned the designations of Certified Construction Manager from the CMAA and LEED Accredited Professional (AP) from the USGBC. Outside of his work with Jacobs, Michael enjoys spending time with his four daughters and serves his local community and the construction industry at large through an impressive list organizations, including: the Industry & Alumni Board for the Construction Management program at Michigan State University (MSU), the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), the Realty Club of Chicago, the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA), the American Counsel of Engineering Companies (ACEC), the Illinois Road & Transportation Builders Association (IRTBA) and the Will County Center for Economic Development. All of which leads me to believe that one of Michael’s superpowers is clearly a willingness to get involved. His career is a testament to what can be achieved when you show up, roll-up your sleeves, get to work, and contribute to the lives of others. CONNECT WITH TODAY'S GUEST: Contact information for Michael Houston and other helpful links regarding this episode are listed below: Email: michael.houston@jacobs.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-a-houston-ccm-leed-ap-bd-c-273a6718/ Website: www.jacobs.com CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST: coty@cotyfournier.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/cotyfournier/ Please visit the Construction Management Program [https://www.canr.msu.edu/spdc/programs/Construction_Management/index Management Program] at Michigan State University for more information on how you can build the career of your dreams in the construction management industry.