Hear the stories of stakeholders in the STL Region's built environment, who are working to create inclusive, robust employment and economic growth. Forum Focus is diverse, unbiased, and CIVIL. Theme music, "We All Need Somebody," is written and composed by Russ Mohr, and performed by The Kingdom Sessions, and is used with permission.
Publisher
Tom Finan, Executive Director/Founder, Construction Forum
FORUM FOCUS PODCAST: NECA's Doug Martin on 45 Years of Management-Labor Collaboration
I first met Doug Martin almost 45 years ago. Doug recently stepped down as executive director of the St. Louis Chapter National Electrical Contractors Association (known as NECA). He now serves as co-chair of the St. Louis Construction Co-operative. It didn’t take long after that for me to become fast friends with this descendant of a Butte, MT copper mining family. We bonded over a shared passion for the people of another family – the St. Louis construction industry. After college Doug thoug...
1 Nov 2021
PODCAST: IBEW/NECA's Sylvester Taylor on Designing a Welcoming Construction Workforce
Construction Forum’s mission is, “To facilitate the collaboration of all the stakeholders in the St. Louis Region’s built environment in creating inclusive, robust employment and economic growth.” The “Forum Focus" podcasts present stories of people who are working to make that vision and mission happen. Some days Sylvester Taylor has a hard time wrapping his head around the path that took him to his current position. His personal path has shown Taylor the need for change in diversity, ...
26 Oct 2021
Forum Focus Podcast: Well-Read Carpenter Cordell Sawyer Builds Successful Firm
Construction Forum’s mission is, “To facilitate the collaboration of all the stakeholders in the St. Louis Region’s built environment in creating inclusive, robust employment and economic growth.” The “Forum Focus” podcasts present stories of people who are working to make that vision and mission happen. Growing up in University City, Cordell Sawyer always liked to read. While he was working a job as a janitor to support his family he read a book on creating generational wealth. The aut...
19 Oct 2021
Joe Lewandowski, McCarthy PM on BJC Campus Renewal Phase 3
Construction Forum’s mission is, “To facilitate the collaboration of all the stakeholders in the St. Louis Region’s built environment in creating inclusive, robust employment and economic growth.” The “Forum Focus” podcasts present stories of people who are working to make that vision and mission happen. Today we’re talking with Joe Lewandowski, a project director for McCarthy Building Companies’ Central Region. Lewandowski is leading the construction team Phase 3 of the BJC Heal...
16 Oct 2021
Aurora Bihler, Next Director of Building Union Diversity Program
Construction Forum’s mission is, “To facilitate the collaboration of all the stakeholders in the St. Louis Region’s built environment in creating inclusive, robust employment and economic growth.” The “Forum Focus” podcasts present stories of people who are working to make that vision and mission happen. When Aurora Bihler graduated from high school her Dad bought her an acetylene welding rig. The young budding artist was concerned lest she burn down the family garage so she enrolled in a w...
5 Oct 2021
PEOPLE of Construction's Ron Unterreiner's 'Retirement
In September, Ron Unterreiner celebrated a birthday he didn't expect to see when he founded People of Construction back in 2013. Around the time he founded his nonprofit, which introduces minority- and women-owned businesses to the broader construction industry, he was diagnosed with ALS.That's normally a death sentence, but Unterreiner is not someone who is easily stopped. He successfully explored alternative medical treatments and today is mostly symptom free. The nonprofit organizations he...
22 Sept 2021
Sal Valadez, "Premio Esperanza" Winner, Redefines Hope for Diversity
On October 8th the Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St. Louis (HLG) will present the 2021 Anthony B. Ramirez Premio Esperanza (Hope) Award to Sal Valadez. Sal Valadez is a Mexican immigrant, a U.S. Army Veteran, and a graduate of The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa where he was awarded an M.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in Political Science. He is also a 2019 Fellow of the Washington University in St Louis Community Research Fellows Training Program. Valadez is a dynamic leader, particip...
14 Sept 2021
Gerry Bolden: A Carpenter Builds a Business
With a background as an entrepreneur, commercial carpenter, project engineer, foreman and project superintendent, Gerry Bolden started Bolden Construction Services. His goal was to ensure that project owners, general contractors, home builders and residential customers would have access to superior quality, minority construction professionals whose expertise and dedication to excellence ensured craftsmanship and performance on every project. Bolden Construction Services’ capabilities i...
1 Jun 2021
Lisa Reed of Envision Lighting on Creating Paths for Women
Construction Forum’s mission is, “To facilitate the collaboration of all the stakeholders in the St. Louis Region’s built environment in creating inclusive, robust employment and economic growth.” The “Forum Focus” podcasts present stories of people who are working to make that vision and mission happen. This edition of Forum Focus features an interview with Lisa Reed, founding principal of Envision Lighting Design. Raised in the town of Marshall in Western Missouri, Lisa had a mind that coul...
13 Apr 2021
Cory Elliott of CMT LLC on Moving Beyond Labels
Construction Forum’s mission is, “To facilitate the collaboration of all the stakeholders in the St. Louis Region’s built environment in creating inclusive, robust employment and economic growth.” The “Forum Focus” podcasts present stories of people who are working to make that vision and mission happen. Everything about Cory Elliott, CEO of CMT LLC., resists labeling. She's Black. She’s a woman. She’s a roofing, demolition and abatement contractor. She’s also a ...
12 Mar 2021
Otis Williams on His Career of Supporting Social Equity, Economic Growth
In this edition of Forum Focus we're talking with Otis Williams. Mr. Williams will be retiring in April from his position as executive director of the St. Louis Development Corporation, after 20 years with that agency. Prior to that he had a distinguished military career in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, culminating in the rank of colonel and a position as Corps chief of staff at the Pentagon. Throughout his tenure in St. Louis, Mr. Williams has been a tireless adv...
4 Mar 2021
Scott Wilson on a Career Advocating for Inclusion and Fairness
Construction Forum’s mission is, “To facilitate the collaboration of all the stakeholders in the St. Louis Region’s built environment in creating inclusive, robust employment and economic growth.” In this edition of Forum Focus, we talk with Scott Wilson, CEO of construction management firm S.M. Wilson & Co. He will retire April 1 — 37 years to the day from his start date with the company. Throughout his career, Scott Wilson has been an active, vocal advocate for d...
28 Feb 2021
KWAME's Anthony Thompson: "None of Us Has Made It Until All of Us Have Made It."
Construction Forum’s mission is, “To facilitate the collaboration of all the stakeholders in the built environment in creating inclusive, robust employment and economic growth.” Forum Focus presents stories of people who are working to make that vision and mission happen. This edition of Forum Focus features an interview with Anthony Thompson, chairman and CEO of KWAME Building Group, the region's largest minority-owned pure construction management firm. On February 25, To...
15 Oct 2020
Sedrick Brandt's Down to Earth Path to Success
Construction Forum’s mission is, “To facilitate the collaboration of all the stakeholders in the built environment in creating inclusive, robust employment and economic growth.” Forum Focus will present stories of people who are working to make that vision and mission happen. In this podcast, Focus presents the story of Sedrick Brandt. Sedrick Brandt's path to success with his excavating firm, Brandt Contracting has been anything but straight-line or overnight. It was marked by a lot ...
11 Aug 2020
Ronny Griffin: The Truth on Workforce Inclusion
Construction Forum’s mission is, “To facilitate the collaboration of all the stakeholders in the built environment in creating inclusive, robust employment and economic growth.” Forum Focus will present stories of people who are working to make that vision and mission happen. In this edition of Forum Focus we’re going to hear the story of Ronny Griffin. Ronny is president and a business agent with Laborers Local 110 – the 10th largest union local in the St. Louis region. Ronny’s a...
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