From Teen Worker to Titan Builder: The Brad Kollar Story

What do you get when a teenager starts learning construction in his dad’s office? A future titan in commercial property development. In this episode, Brad Kollar, now with Upright Construction, shares how a quiet place to do homework sparked a journey from teenage estimator to leading massive builds for Amazon and Tesla.

Brad recounts the early days of working on blueprints at 14, running payroll for over 80 employees, and landing his first real job after high school with a mentor who taught him the industry ropes. That hands-on education paid off. Brad went on to build a company, lead major Amazon projects during the pandemic boom, and now oversees massive tilt-up and industrial projects with Upright Construction.

We dig into what it takes to supply 8,000 amps of power to robotics-filled warehouses, how estimating tech is evolving, and why AI might be on the brink of disrupting the construction world. Plus, Brad gives a peek at Tesla’s unique facility needs and shares what keeps Upright’s business thriving in a cautious market.

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