Inspiring People & Places: Architecture, Engineering, And Construction BJ Kraemer, MCFA

As graduation and intern season approach, we want to dive into a topic we all have faced—just-in-time talent.  
 
Join BJ as he discusses the talent equation, including why we should always be recruiting, regardless of whether we are hiring or not.  
 
BJ addresses the debate between sourcing external talent and developing internal talent, his perspective on on-the-job training, and where the secret sauce of growth lies.  
 
Don’t miss out; start listening now! 
 
Key Points From This Episode: 
Why we should always be recruiting, even if we aren’t hiring at the time. A look at the debate between sourcing external talent and developing internal talent. What you need when you’re developing internal talent. How do you get it to be just-in-time talent?  
Quotes: 
“As I’ve said before, our talent is our brand. Our people are our brand. Our people are the most important asset.” — BJ Kraemer
 
“The best referrals are the people who are experiencing what is going on at MCFA.” — BJ Kraemer 
 
“Your best recruiters and your best sellers are your people.” — BJ Kraemer 
 
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 
 
Christopher Schaefer on LinkedIn 
DoD to AEC on LinkedIn 
Jesse Gemberling-Johnson on LinkedIn 
Are Veterans A Solution To The Talent War, With Jesse Gemberling-Johnson, MCFA's Director of Talent Recruitment and Development 
Inspiring People & Places Podcast 
MCFA 
MCFA Careers 
BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn 

It’s time to wake up to your life. 
 
It’s time to count your Mondays. 
 
Here to tell us more about it is Jodi Wellman. Jodi is a motivational speaker, author, and Founder of Four Thousand Mondays. Her upcoming book called, You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets is a “live like you mean it” book.  
 
Join the conversation as we dive into Jodi’s story, which includes her time at Penn in the Positive Psychology Program and her thoughts on the infamous bucket list. She also unpacks the concept behind Four Thousand Mondays and delves into living wider and deeper, understanding the “give and take” ebb and flow of life. 
 
Be sure to tune in to hear more about attacking your Mondays with insightful advice, including practical action steps and much more! 
 
Key Points From This Episode:
•   .Jodi’s thoughts on the infamous bucket list.
•   The concept behind Four Thousand Mondays.
•   Paradigm shift: death bed regrets as a motivation to do the hard things.
 
Quotes:
“My mission is for us to wake the F up to life.” — Jodi Wellman 
 
“Challenge is built into the good life — The good life does not exist, in my mind, without having the problems and foibles that life gives us. It’s the salt that has to be there with the sweet.” — Jodi Wellman 
 
“The number one [action] step always, always, always is to count your Mondays.” — Jodi Wellman 
 
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Jodi Wellman on Instagram
Jodi Wellman on LinkedIn
Jodi Wellman
Monday Morning Calculator
Jodi Wellman TEDx Talk
Jodi Wellman Linktree
Positive Psychology Center
Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness
Christopher Peterson
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets
14,000 Things to Be Happy About
Hunter S. Thompson
Inspiring People & Places Podcast MCFA MCFA Careers BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

As vital as it is for peace and transformation, the importance of leadership (and leadership itself) is still widely misunderstood. When leaders fail to fulfill their roles (after not understanding what they entail in the first place), it creates a space for trauma to thrive. 
 
Today we are joined by Larry Yatch, a Navy SEAL-turned-education and business consultant, and who explains what leadership looks like from the perspective of a Navy veteran. 
 
We learn about Larry’s life before the SEALs, what he did during his Navy career, and why he chose to pivot the way he did after being medically discharged from the Navy. Larry also defines and explains the relationship between leadership, management, and coordinating action, and why many of us do not properly understand either term. 
Key Points From This Episode:
•   Exploring the hypocrisy of “freedom” in entrepreneurship. 
•   Redefining success, and the relationship between accomplishment and fulfillment. 
•   Larry’s definitions of leadership, management, and coordinating action, and how they relate to each other. 
•   A short lesson on trauma.   
 
Quotes:
“In the effort of fighting for freedom – as you know from being in the military – you’re not free. There’s hardly any freedom at all. That’s really what made me say, ‘Well, maybe it’s my turn to experience some freedom.’ And that’s what led me to entrepreneurship.” — Larry Yatch 
 
“Anywhere you have leadership, you don’t have bullying. Everywhere you have bullying, you don’t have leadership. Leadership is using your power to help people, bullying is using your power to hurt people.” — Larry Yatch
 
“Fulfilment can only come from acting towards an internally derived, deeply-held purpose.” — Larry Yatch
 
“Respect is understanding how something impacts your world and choosing to act in accordance with it.” — Larry Yatch  
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Larry Yatch on LinkedIn
Larry Yatch on YouTube
Larry Yatch on Facebook
SEAL Team Leaders 
How Leadership (Actually) Works 
Men in Green Faces 
Jimmy Vreeland on LinkedIn 
Getting Things Done 
Iron War
Sealed Mindset 
Final Survival Plan
Inspiring People & Places Podcast
MCFA
MCFA Careers
BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn 

We occasionally feature guests on our show who specialize in the transition from the Department of Defense to Architectural Engineering and Construction (DoD to AEC). In the industry, there are notable talent and leadership gaps that persist, and the DoD to AEC program aims to address these by tapping into the skills of military personnel who transition to civilian roles. 
 
Joining BJ on the show today is ‘Colonel-soon-to-be-retired’ Adam Sawyer. Adam has over 23 years of experience successfully leading and transforming diverse teams in organizational development, education, program management, and strategic planning. He has achieved objectives in complex environments; both domestically and globally. 
 
Adam is a member of our skill-bridge program. He discusses his previous active-duty assignment as the Director of the Department of Military Instruction at West Point. He also shares his thoughts on the synchronization between the leadership talent pool and the built environment and the highlights and lessons learned from the skill-bridge program. 
 
To hear more of his viewpoint on leadership development and much more, don’t miss out on this episode of Inspiring People & Places. 
 
Key Points From This Episode:
•   Why Adam thinks Cadet Leadership Development Training (CDLT) is one of the best things they do at West Point.
•   Adam’s thoughts on the difference between leader development and leadership development.
•   His belief on how leaders are both born and made. 
 
Quotes:
“The special sauce of our leader development recipe, — is [that] every cadet has to serve in a leadership position in the summer.” — Adam Sawyer 
 
“If there’s two things that the Army has prepared me to do it’s leadership and problem-solving.” — Adam Sawyer
 
“What’s great about the United States Army is that we empower down to the lowest level.” — Adam Sawyer
 
 
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Adam Sawyer on LinkedIn
West Point
Department of Military Instruction (DMI) at West Point
Camp Buckner
CLDT at West Point
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: 15th Anniversary Infographics Edition
Center for Servant Leadership
Inspiring People & Places Podcast
MCFA
MCFA Careers
BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

In this episode, we sit down with Adam Stark, Special Forces Veteran and Co-Founder of Jet.Build. Jet.Build is a provider of cloud-based project management solutions created specifically for real estate developers and construction professionals.  
 
With a background in the Special Forces, Adam brings a unique perspective to the table. He combines his military expertise with his skills in project management and technology. He is also committed to holistic leadership, personal development, and making a positive impact in his industry and community.  
 
In our conversation, we unpack transitioning from a military to a professional career, the skills that cross over, and the ways the military and construction are similar. We also dive into his path to starting a tech startup, how Jet.Build is driving innovation, and the range of services the company offers.  
 
Join us as we explore how Adam and his company are paving the way forward in the built environment. Tune in now! 
 
Key Points From This Episode: 
Adam’s journey from construction to founding a tech startup. Learn how the Jet.Build is revolutionizing the sector with technology. Adam’s advice and valuable lessons for other leaders in construction.  
Quotes: 
“[Jet.Build] is going to provide you with modern technology that is easy to understand and easy to use.” — Adam Stark [0:14:55] 
 
“[Jet.Build] has the ability to implement at a pace that these legacy companies cannot even fathom.” — Adam Stark [0:15:38] 
 
“Not only does [Jet.Build’s technology] protect you as you build your project, [but] it allows productivity for all of your stakeholders and prepares you for the future.” — Adam Stark [0:18:56] 
 
 
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 
Adam Stark on LinkedIn 
Jet.Build 
The Veterans Who Build Show on Apple Podcasts 
The Veterans Who Build Show on YouTube 
Primavera 
Procore 
Autodesk 
Trimble 
Never Split the Difference 
The Power of Now 
Inspiring People & Places Podcast 
MCFA 
MCFA Careers 
BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn 

To be an effective leader, you must believe that other people matter and, as a result, that leadership is a relationship.  
 
This is the belief of today’s guest, Mike Erwin. A soldier, educator, author, non-profit founder, veteran advocate, and Executive Director at Team Red, White & Blue (RWB), America's leading health and wellness community for veterans. Mike is also CEO of the Character & Leadership Center and co-founder and president of The Positivity Project, a non-profit organization that aims to empower America’s youth to build positive relationships.  
 
As you’ll learn in this episode, Mike is an exemplary leader who has dedicated his life to serving his nation and empowering people to become more resilient. Mike shares his perspective on leadership development, how Positive Psychology has influenced his personal and professional outlook on life, and why it’s important to not just coexist but learn to collaborate with others.  (even when they have radically different personalities from you).  
 
Mike and BJ also discuss the books that have profoundly impacted Mike’s life, the people who inspire him most, his definition of legacy, and much more! To find out why the leaders who put people first tend to be more successful (and memorable), be sure to tune in today.
Key Points From This Episode:
•   Steps to cultivating a leadership mindset and a “relentless focus on other people.”
•   The origin story of Team RWB and how it connects veterans with their communities.
•   How The Positivity Project started and the five areas of leadership it promotes.
•   Practical advice for balancing a busy calendar by doing each task to your best ability.
 
Quotes:
“For the most part, we go through life with other people. How we understand other people is [hugely important].” — Mike Erwin
 
“Understand yourself – Start there, then prioritize and be able to understand other people. In other words, leading yourself first matters because it allows you to lead other people and build relationships well.” — Mike Erwin
 
“I’m inspired by people who’ve got a good character and who treat other people well, regardless of their circumstance.” — Mike Erwin
 
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Mike Erwin
Team Red, White & Blue
Lead Yourself First
Leadership is a Relationship
Mike Erwin on LinkedIn
Mike Erwin on Instagram
Mike Erwin on Facebook
Mike Erwin on X
Character & Leadership Center
Positivity Project
United States Military Academy West Point
Atomic Habits
The Psychology of Money
The Benedict Option
The Devil and Bella Dodd
The Alchemist
The Fourth Turning
Ascension with Father Mike Schmitz
Inspiring People & Places Podcast
MCFA
MCFA Careers
BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn