Design Development

Scott Bates is the Vice President of Strategy and Development at Erland Construction, a leading construction management firm based in Massachusetts. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Scott has played a key role in the growth and success of Erland Construction, overseeing marketing, business development, and strategy. He is also a principal owner of the company.Scott Bates, Vice President of Strategy and Development at Erland Construction, shares his insights on marketing, business development, and ownership transition in the construction industry. He discusses the unique challenges of differentiating in a mature and commoditized market, the importance of building relationships and trust with clients, and the role of marketing in showcasing the value and expertise of a construction company. Scott also highlights the significance of succession planning and the recent implementation of an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) at Erland Construction.Scott emphasizes the importance of providing off-script experiences for both employees and clients, going above and beyond to create memorable moments. He shares examples of how Erland Construction has done this, such as taking new employees out to dinner or surprising clients with unique gestures of appreciation. Scott also emphasizes the value of acknowledging and educating clients about the behind-the-scenes efforts that contribute to their project's success.In terms of advice for emerging leaders, Scott emphasizes the importance of building a network early on, as well as finding mentors and continuously challenging oneself. He also highlights the significance of being known in the industry and creating lasting impressions through personal and company branding.Key Takeaways:Differentiating in a mature market requires showcasing the value and expertise of a construction company.Building relationships and trust with clients is crucial for long-term success.Marketing plays a vital role in highlighting a company's unique value proposition and differentiating from competitors.Succession planning is essential for the long-term sustainability and growth of a construction company.Implementing an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) can provide employees with a stake in the company's success and foster a culture of ownership.Providing off-script experiences for employees and clients creates lasting impressions and fosters loyalty.Acknowledging and educating clients about the behind-the-scenes efforts can enhance their perception of a company's value.Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!Leave your thoughts in the comment and reach out if you want to be valuable guest on the show!Design Development Podcast!Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & YouTubeFind out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/

Andrew Katz is a real estate developer and co-founder of Katz Development, a family-owned development company based in Denver, Colorado. With a background in retail brokerage, Andrew brings a unique perspective to the development process. He is known for his innovative approach to design and his focus on creating high-quality, sustainable buildings.Andrew Katz, co-founder of Katz Development, joins the podcast to discuss his journey in real estate development and the company's latest project, Denver's tallest mass timber building. Andrew shares his background in retail brokerage and how it helped him learn the city of Denver and the fundamentals of deal-making. He also talks about the importance of building places he would want to go and the focus on high design and decarbonization in their projects. Andrew explains how they acquired the site for their current development and the decision to use mass timber as the building system. He discusses the challenges and benefits of working with mass timber and the importance of surrounding yourself with experts in the field. Andrew also shares his advice for emerging developers and the value of gaining experience in the industry.Key Takeaways:Katz Development focuses on building places they would want to go, with a focus on high design and decarbonization.Andrew Katz's background in retail brokerage helped him learn the city of Denver and the fundamentals of deal-making.The decision to use mass timber as the building system for their current project was driven by the desire to differentiate themselves in a competitive market.Working with mass timber presents unique challenges and requires expertise in the field.Gaining experience in the industry and working for established developers can be valuable for emerging developers.Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!Leave your thoughts in the comment and reach out if you want to be valuable guest on the show!Design Development Podcast!Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & YouTubeFind out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/

Peter Atherton, founder of ActionsProve, discusses the causes and solutions for burnout in the workforce. He emphasizes the importance of strategic planning and growth in the AEC industry and the need for owner-led organizations to create opportunities for their employees. Peter highlights the challenges of mergers and acquisitions and their impact on company culture. He also explores the shift from individual superheroes to high-performing teams as a solution to burnout. Peter concludes by sharing resources available through his website and offering advice for emerging leaders.Key Takeaways:Strategic planning is a process that requires ongoing communication and collaboration within the organization.Ownership structure and leadership team development are crucial for creating opportunities and attracting top talent.Building strong relationships and trust within the organization is key to overcoming challenges and achieving success.Burnout is a leadership problem to solve, and engaging and supporting high achievers is crucial for organizational success.Shifting from individual superheroes to high-performing teams is essential for sustainable success in the AEC industry.Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!Leave your thoughts in the comment and reach out if you want to be valuable guest on the show!Design Development Podcast!Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & YouTubeFind out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/

Matt Sluter is the CEO of New England Construction, a general contractor based in Rhode Island. With 37 years of experience, Matt has been running the company for nine years and has grown it into a mid-sized business with 53 employees and over $70 million in revenue. In this interview, Matt shares his insights on organizational leadership, growing a family business, and his experience in the construction industry.Matt talks about his background and how he started selling in 2009 when there was nothing to sell. He shares how New England Construction has evolved from a design-build firm to a generalist, servicing a range of sectors including retail, office, corporate, multifamily, and industrial. He also discusses the challenges of controlled growth and the importance of balancing top-line and bottom-line growth. In addition, he talks about the car dealership market and how New England Construction found a niche in building car dealerships.New England Construction is a mid-sized general contractor that operates within a two-hour radius around Rhode Island. The company has diversified its offerings, including retail and car dealerships, which have become a niche market for them. The car dealership model offers a vast array of buyer personas, and the building's structure is like a back house, with storage, maintenance, and parts, as well as a showpiece that creates a buyer experience.Matthew Sluter, who has been running the family business for nine years, shares his personal background and experience working for two construction companies on the West Coast. He believes that having insight into the operation that can execute at a larger scale is crucial for small to mid-sized businesses. However, in bigger companies, the political side of things can be challenging, and merit-based promotions are not always the norm.Sluter emphasizes the importance of recruiting and hiring well, creating a culture of transparent dialogue, and empathizing with employees. He believes that the quality of people that a company gets into its organization is crucial, and the first 20, 50, 80, 100 people become those that take on the responsibility of passing on the culture. Sluter is proactive in taking care of his employees, and he is aware of the challenge of compensation. He tries not to take anyone for granted and ensures that they are paid within a range that is close enough to Boston's scale, where the cost of living is high.As Gen Xers and Millennials become more influential in the decision-making process, Matt has observed that they want to work with people they trust and that are transparent, and that they enjoy the experience with. They are much more collaborative and want to enjoy the experience. Matt believes that understanding the client's business is critical to delivering successThank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!Leave your thoughts in the comment and reach out if you want to be valuable guest on the show!Design Development Podcast!Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & YouTubeFind out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/

Judy Sparks, CEO of Smartegies, a marketing company that helps Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) firms achieve scalability and growth, emphasizes the importance of understanding the highest-value customers and targets and how to bring value to them. She believes that having a different infrastructure for marketing and sales can allow companies to scale faster, and conferences and pounding the pavement are no longer as effective as most professions and targets are reachable via digital.Sparks is an expert in account-based marketing (ABM), which involves identifying high-value accounts and creating personalized campaigns that resonate with them. Marketing departments are moving from the sales enablement role of doing RFQs and RFPs to seeing themselves responsible for generating demand. The Scalable 6, a framework invented by Smartegies, helps AEC and commercial real estate brands prioritize critical foundational marketing elements that they can afford.The Scalable 6 framework consists of six key components: branding, communications, account-based marketing and sales, digital strategy, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and sales enablement. Sparks explains that these components are critical to marketing and sales efforts for AEC firms. The framework helps to evaluate the current state of a company's marketing and sales efforts, identify gaps, and create balance for the current state of the organization.Sparks stresses the need to move marketing's role upstream to demand generation. A leading-edge marketing and sales strategy is crucial for growth, and the Scalable 6 framework can help AEC firms prioritize critical foundational marketing elements that they can afford and create balance for the current state of the organization. Companies need to adapt to the changing buying audiences, and the seller-doers in AEC firms do not have time to take on sales and marketing roles. Lastly, Sparks believes that branding and brand strategy are key to attracting the right employees and customers, and communications, both internal and external, are also critical to differentiate a brand.When it comes to marketing strategy, Sparks advises companies to start with data and consider outsourcing versus in-house hires based on cost and quality. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the highest value customers and targets, where they live online and offline, and the message they need to hear from a company in order to be interested. The Scalable 6 framework can be applied to companies of any size, and Sparks stresses the need for companies to adapt to changing buying audiences and prioritize a leading-edge marketing and sales strategy for growth.Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!Leave your thoughts in the comment and reach out if you want to be valuable guest on the show!Design Development Podcast!Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & YouTubeFind out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/

Parsons Commercial Group is a full-service commercial real estate firm founded by John Parsons in 1993. The company has grown over the years and now has 40 employees, 14 brokers, and a portfolio of over five and a half million square feet. Parsons believes in buying value-added properties that require work, rather than fully-baked deals, such as single-tenant properties with long-term leases. He sees risk in single-tenant deals, as the tenant may not renew the lease, leaving the owner with a property that requires significant investment to attract a new tenant. Parsons' reputation for closing deals and his strong tenant relationships have helped the company's success.Parsons has experienced several market downturns, including the dot-com bust and the 2008 financial crisis. He believes that the current office market is going to be problematic for the next several years until we can figure out how to repurpose these buildings. The office market is struggling, and Parsons predicts that many office buildings, especially urban buildings, will go back to the lenders. He believes that these buildings will eventually be repurposed as mixed-use properties, such as apartments or a combination of retail and multifamily.The demand for industrial space is still strong, and Parsons is confident they will get a full building user for their new 65,000 square foot building in Bellingham and 85,000 square feet of warehouse space in Bloomfield, Connecticut. The rent growth in the industrial market is due to a lack of speculative development in the last 25 years, leading to a shortage of space. The online economy has also increased the demand for warehouse space. Parsons predicts that the growth will continue, but he advises underwriting a deal assuming rents will plateau. He believes that buildings that accommodate users below 50,000 square feet will always win the day.Parsons is bullish on the multifamily asset class. He thinks that the rental market will continue to be strong due to a whole generation of young people who are going to be renters. He believes that the multifamily asset class is a great place to put money because it is a highly sellable asset. Even if the interest rates move, there will always be a buyer. He believes that there might be a small haircut because interest rates move, but it's still a product that will have tenants. There's a huge tenant demand, and you're going to find a buyer no matter what.Parsons also discusses the life science asset class, which is stimulating growth in the greater Boston area. He believes that it creates great jobs and opportunity and has investment capital behind it. However, with the recent capital markets, you're not seeing any specular lab go forward anymore. It's only if there's a tenant involved.Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!Leave your thoughts in the comment and reach out if you want to be valuable guest on the show!Design Development Podcast!Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & YouTubeFind out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/

Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!Leave your thoughts in the comment and reach out if you want to be valuable guest on the show!Design Development Podcast!Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & YouTubeFind out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/

This week on the Design Development show, Rens Hayes sits down with Robert Yuen, the CEO and Co-founder of Monograph, for an exciting and insightful conversation. Join them as they delve into the world of digital product design and how Monograph is revolutionizing the architecture and engineering industry. Discover how Monograph's innovative platform helps teams create, collaborate, and manage digital product designs, making the process more efficient and streamlined. Robert shares his inspiration behind starting Monograph and how it aims to solve common issues faced by architectural and engineering firms. Tune in to learn more about the importance of tracking time, avoiding surprises, and making data-driven decisions. Don't miss this episode filled with valuable insights and practical tips to enhance your firm's performance and workflow.Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!Leave your thoughts in the comment and reach out if you want to be valuable guest on the show!Design Development Podcast!Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & YouTubeFind out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/

Prepare to be captivated by the extraordinary story of Joshua Brandt, the mastermind behind the renowned architecture, construction, and real estate development firm, Stack + Co. In this riveting episode, Joshua unveils the secrets behind their incredible success and shares how a series of fortunate accidents led him to embark on a remarkable journey in the construction industry. From his humble beginnings as a civil engineering student at Brown University to becoming a founding partner of Stack + Co., Joshua's story is nothing short of awe-inspiring.Join us as Joshua reveals the unique approach of Stack + Co., operating as an architecture and construction ecosystem. Discover their expertise in designing and building a wide range of projects, from multifamily housing to high-end single-family residences, and even commercial spaces. Dive deep into the challenges and rewards of the selective high-end single-family market, as Joshua shares his experiences with emotional client dynamics and the quest for perfection.Uncover the pivotal moments that led Joshua to establish Stack + Co., including his early years with a renowned real estate developer's construction arm and the mentorship of esteemed structural engineer David O'Day. Gain exclusive insights into Joshua's passion for tangible results and the immense satisfaction of witnessing projects come to life.Don't miss this captivating episode, filled with invaluable lessons, groundbreaking strategies, and a glimpse into the mind of a visionary leader. Brace yourself for an inspiring journey of accidental discoveries, relentless pursuit of excellence, and unparalleled success. Tune in now and be prepared to be blown away by Joshua Brandt's incredible story of turning happy accidents into phenomenal triumphs.Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!Leave your thoughts in the comment and reach out if you want to be valuable guest on the show!Design Development Podcast!Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & YouTubeFind out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/

Prepare for an extraordinary episode of Design Development as Rens Hayes brings you an in-depth conversation with the renowned Kevin Deabler, Principal at RODE Architects. Get ready to be captivated by their engaging discussion that will not only educate but also inspire you to take your own architectural journey to new heights.To provide context, Rens prompts Kevin to delve into his remarkable background and shed light on the remarkable journey of RODE Architects. As a seasoned professional in the architecture industry, Kevin proudly unveils the vision and accomplishments of RODE Architects, a dynamic firm that designs and builds awe-inspiring homes.The conversation takes an exciting turn as Kevin reveals that RODE Architects recently witnessed a significant milestone. Ben Wan and Jess Hayley, two exceptional individuals who have been instrumental in the firm's growth, were recently promoted to principal positions. This momentous development is a testament to the remarkable success and unwavering dedication of RODE Architects.But it's not just about promotions and titles. Kevin delves into the heart and soul of RODE Architects, emphasizing the transformative impact the firm's work has on the community. Under the leadership of Ben and Jess, RODE Architects has fostered a vibrant culture that attracts driven and talented individuals. Kevin describes this culture as an ethereal essence, one that permeates the air and creates an exciting workplace environment. Gone are the days of dull and uninspiring spaces – at RODE Architects, creativity and motivation flourish.In a thought-provoking segment, Kevin and Rens discuss the often-overlooked importance of working with people you genuinely like. They share their intentional approach to building a business where Sunday evenings are not dreaded but instead eagerly anticipated. This unique perspective challenges conventional business norms, highlighting the significance of friendships in fostering a thriving and successful work environment. With candor and wisdom, Kevin and Rens emphasize the need to lead with the right intent and never take advantage of friends in the professional realm.Join Rens Hayes and Kevin Deabler for this genuinely exceptional episode that promises to leave you inspired and enlightened. Gain invaluable insights into the world of architecture, witness the power of dynamic company culture, and discover the remarkable impact that genuine friendships can have on professional success. Don't miss out on this fascinating conversation – tune in now and let the transformative ideas of Kevin Deabler resonate within you!Thank you so much for listening and thank you for joining the Design Development community. Don't forget to subscribe to hear about the latest episodes dropping every Wednesday. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend.Our goal is to help people in the industry identify opportunities for growth by sharing the journey of top performers. There is no one path. Success isn't a straight line. There is something to learn from everyone's story. Let's go!Leave your thoughts in the comment and reach out if you want to be valuable guest on the show!Design Development Podcast!Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & YouTubeFind out more at https://h-o.engineering/podcasts/