Great leaders are constantly making balanced decisions based on risks and rewards. Today on Inspiring People & Places, we discuss how leadership affects project outcomes. In this solo episode, you’ll hear all about how the late Irv Richter and Hill International inspired BJ to think about what leaders do to drive successful project outcomes. We dis…

Build a thriving Slack community with your podcast. Brett Trainor is using his podcast, The Corporate Escapee, to build a community of Gen X professionals who want to ditch their 9-5. In this episode of Podcasting in Professional Services, Brett sits down with John Tyreman to share his experience running his show. We cover: How Brett reaches Gen X-…

Your career path doesn’t need to be linear for you to fulfill your dreams. Today’s guest brings an amazing journey to our conversation. Former NASA Astronaut and retired US Air Force Colonel with more than 180 days in space, Cady Coleman is a popular Public Speaker and Media Consultant, Research Affiliate to MIT’s media lab, and much more. During t…

We are all limitless, even in our mortal human forms, and it’s time you realize that! Don’t miss out on this epic conversation with the one and only Christiana Cioffi, empowerment ambassador, leadership coach, and speaker. A West Point graduate and former marketing VP, Christiana brings a wealth of experience to the table. Join us as we explore her…

Can I have your attention, please? Will the real Scotty Scarano please stand up? There’s not too many people who blend hip hop with accounting, but that’s exactly what Scotty “OKR” Scarano is doing through his personal brand on LinkedIn, his YouTube page, and through his podcast, Accounting High. Scotty believes that learning how to run a practice …

Imagine it’s New Year’s Eve; you’re toasting champagne with your friends and family, but for the first time in a long time, you’re not discussing next year’s resolutions. Instead, you’re celebrating the incredible feeling of having accomplished this year’s goals. By the end of today’s episode, you’ll be inspired to revisit your past resolutions and…

In honor of Father’s Day, BJ’s dad, Brian Kraemer Sr, joins us for this episode of Inspiring People and Places to discuss all things life and leadership! Mr. Kraemer always knew he wanted to get married, coach, and serve his country. In this conversation, you’ll hear all about his family, his career in the military, and what inspired him to join th…

It rarely takes 5 or 6 years to launch a podcast, but that was the case for Alastair McDermott. Since then he's launched a handful of shows and written a book titled 33 Ways Not to Screw Up Your Business Podcast. Going through the process of planning his podcast exposed a lack of specialization in Alastair's business. From there, he narrowed down h…

In this episode, we welcome back Kyle Majchrowski to the show as we delve into implementing a human-centric approach to workplace environments. Kyle is a Senior Project Executive at Banner Health, where he provides support for teams managing new construction projects. He is also a founding member of Ripple Intent, a non-profit organization focused …

I took a sample of 150 podcasts across accounting, AEC, and legal industries. A whopping 70% had only one host! Personally, I've hosted four podcasts; two were solo shows, and two were co-hosted with a colleague. There are pros and cons to each format, but I found co-hosting a podcast to be much more enjoyable. Let's explore the untapped benefits o…

Are you looking for a way to foster focus, accountability, and discipline within your team? Curious about implementing a process that can ultimately lead to entrepreneurial freedom? Then don’t miss out on today’s Inspiring People & Places episode. Joining BJ today is Mark O’Donnell. Mark is a Professional EOS® Implementer, coach, facilitator, seaso…

Welcome to this Memorial Day tribute episode where we sit down with Marion Zilinski, otherwise known as Mama Z, to discuss what Memorial Day means to people who have lost their loved ones in service. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Marion’s late son, Dennis, why he decided to join West Point, and what 9/11 meant to him. Marion goes on to explain h…

Use a podcast to let your charisma and personality shine through. That's how BJ Kraemer approached it when he launched the Inspiring People & Places podcast in 2021. On the show, he interviews national leaders in the AEC industry to educate and inspire industry professionals to disrupt the status quo, improve their project teams and steward public …

Are you managing a large team to reach your vision but feel like team members are not aligning correctly with the overall goal? Do you need help getting all team members on the same page? In this solo episode, BJ unpacks the role of what we at MCFA regard as the meaning of KPI: keeping people interested. It is not your typical MBA academic term but…

As we continue to edge toward graduation and internship season, we felt there could not be a more fitting guest to join BJ on the podcast than our latest co-op, Isabella Damasceno. Isabella is currently a third-year student at Drexel University, pursuing a dual major in marketing and business analytics. Join us as we dive into details surrounding I…

Investing in a podcast can be a gradual, long-term investment. Brannon Poe started podcasting in 2013, where he would record conversations on his phone. Today, Accountant's Flight Plan publishes two episodes each month and has a backlog of guests waiting to have a conversation with Brannon. In this conversation, we explore: An overview of Poe Group…

As we continue to move closer to graduation and internship season, we delve further into the talent equation. Today on the podcast BJ is joined by a repeat guest, Colin Mottola. Colin is one of our Construction Managers and engineers at MCFA. He also happens to be one of our very first interns. Join the conversation as we explore Colin’s experience…

Improve the structure and variety of your episodes. This episode is meant to be a guide for podcasters who want to learn more about how to structure episodes, use different episode types, formats, and improve their outlines. I share my own experience as well as perspective from other business podcasters. In this episode, we cover: Solo host episode…

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 …

Very few professional services podcasts make it to 400 episodes. The Consulting Success® podcast will hit that milestone in 2024. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Michael Zipursky, host of the show, to hear his experience launching and running the podcast. In this conversation, Michael shares: - Originally released 60-70 episodes but found i…

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 in…

Are you committed to running a podcast? Do you have a co-host to share in the journey? On today’s show, Jeremy Clopton and Heath Alloway of the Upstream Leader podcast share stories and experience from running their show. In this conversation with host John Tyreman, you'll hear: The importance of committing to the podcast in the early days Benefits…

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 busi…

Improve your podcast editing workflows. My own podcast editing workflow has evolved over the past six months, influenced by many of my guests on this show. On this episode, I've curated clips from successful business podcasters who give you a glimpse behind the scenes of their shows: Rion Willard, co-host of The Business of Architecture Florian Hei…

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 trans…

This podcast features a mentor-mentee relationship — a premise that could be applied to other industries. For Josh Ho, the "Searching for SaaS" podcast was a way to build in public and showcase his mentorship of a young entrepreneur, Nate Bosscher. The show features perspectives on the stages of building a software as a service (SaaS) business. Jos…

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 …

This show is an example of a minimum-viable podcast. On this episode, Florian Heinrichs joins the show to share his experience co-hosting the unbillable hours podcast, a twice-monthly show that started as a venting session between Florian and Ash Mohd. At the time, both were colleagues at Accenture. In this conversation, we discuss: Florian has sin…

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 vete…

This podcast acts as a filter for Ross to see what topics to double-down on and invest more into. On this episode, Ross Simmonds, Founder & CEO of Foundation Marketing, and Host of ‘Create Like the Greats’ podcast joins the show. In this conversation, Ross and I discuss: The philosophy behind Ross' mantra "Create once. Distributing forever." Turnin…

During this episode, we’re turning the tables; the guest becomes the host, and the host becomes the guest! Jon Nehlsen is the Chief Financial Officer at MCFA, and he joins us to interview BJ Kraemer. You’ll hear all about BJ’s formative experiences, from his childhood experiences to his early career in construction before joining MCFA. Getting into…

Kyle Adams, account manager at ConvertKit, shares insights from publishing his weekly Creator Glue newsletter and Dad Made podcast. Kyle explains that newsletters and podcasts complement each other perfectly. Email newsletters provide a direct way to reach your audience and notify them about new podcast episodes. He emphasizes the importance of tre…

If you’ve ever taken on a tough project or struggled with a demanding client, then this episode is for you! In today’s episode, you’ll hear BJ Kraemer share the details of his most recent project, the challenges he encountered, and what he learned from the experience. You’ll learn about the reservations he had regarding his most recent project, why…

Angela Mazzi is dedicated to enhancing quality of life through the built environment with emphasis on socio-cultural impacts. Angela is a Principal and Senior Medical Planner at GBBN Architects, and also the host of Architecting, a weekly podcast about the architect as a person—in each episode, Angela helps her listeners bypass the status quo traps…

Buckle up folks because today is going to be an adventure with our guest, Jimmy Vreeland. Join in and get to know more about who Jimmy Vreeland is, what he does, and how he got there. We delve into how he got into starting a podcast with the mission to educate people, his thoughts and definitions of achievement and fulfillment, and his compelling e…

For architects, the passion for design and creating often attracts people to the profession. But many don’t realize just how much business acumen is needed to run a successful practice. All the creative talent in the world doesn’t guarantee profits, clients, and smooth firm operations. After all, the first job of an architect is to win the client. …

One of MCFA’s brand promises to our employees is a fulfilling career. While the responsibility for ultimately finding fulfillment is individual, today, you’ll find out how MCFA has built an environment and a culture that facilitates this brand promise and enables someone to navigate a rewarding career. To learn what fulfillment is, why it matters, …

After suffering from a stroke, Randy Crabtree made the difficult decision that he couldn't be managing partner of Tri-Merit anymore. He then stepped into a more external-facing role for the firm. At the suggestion of his marketing team, Randy started The Unique CPA podcast in 2019. Hesitant at first, Randy quickly realized he loved meeting new peop…

On today’s episode, BJ sits down with David Allen, author of “Getting Things Done”. David breaks down his career journey, what inspired him to write “Getting Things Done”, and how the GTD process has revolutionized project management. Resources mentioned: Find out more about “Getting Things Done” and David at: https://gettingthingsdone.com/ “Humank…

Katie has been involved with the Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM) for many years, originally joining as a new member in an accounting firm. She has since risen to be a past president and remains actively involved in providing content for the organization. The Amplify podcast first launched in 2017. In the early days, the podcast was produ…

In this episode, John Tyreman interviews Greg Mayer, founder of Wysper, a software company that helps you get more content out of your podcast. They discuss: How Greg's experience as a product marketer inspired him to start Wysper, and leverage AI transcription to repurpose podcast content. How podcasts can be a pillar or hub of content that can th…

While both are important to the success of a company, what is it that differentiates a leader from a manager? Today, you’ll hear from Quatrefoil Consulting founder, veteran Marine, and MCFA’s newest team leader, Joey Fay, about some of the key distinctions between managing and leading a group of people. In 2018, Joey launched Quatrefoil, a service-…

On today’s episode, BJ talks with Shawn Kidwell, Program Manager at U.S. Army Research Laboratory. Shawn discusses his unconventional track to working for the Federal Government, how his hunger for knowledge allowed him to grow in leadership. Resources mentioned: Colin Powell books: https://www.amazon.com/Colin-Powell-Books/s?k=Colin+Powell&rh=n%3A…

This episode originated because I was intrigued by how Steve Cummins has a podcast and newsletter by the same name: The Marketing Mix. I was curious about his experience and the synergies between a newsletter and a podcast. But the conversation is so much more than that. Steve Cummins, Founder of Solent Strategies, launched The Marketing Mix in Apr…

On today’s episode, BJ sits down with longtime friend, colleague and mentor, Jon Nehlsen. Jon talks about his journey and experience in the early days of MCFA, the tough decisions he made to keep the company afloat, and how him and BJ have grown both as leaders, and people. Resources mentioned: Jon’s substack, “Six of One”: https://sixofone.substac…

Let's say you receive a cease a desist letter. Upon realizing you infringed on a trademarked brand, you'd probably want to settle the matter amicably. It happens. But that wasn’t the case when Rhondalynn Korolak sent multiple cease and desist letters to an Instagram Influencer who was giving financial advice under the trademarked Financial Foreplay…

On today’s episode, BJ chats with returning guest to the show, Howie Ferguson, Executive Director at Construction Owners Association of America. Howie discusses what he is currently working on, his new podcast, “The COAA Way”, and stresses the importance of managing relationships in the industry. Resources mentioned: “The COAA Way” Podcast: https:/…

On today’s episode, BJ talks with Ricky McLain, Senior Technical Director Growth and Innovation Program Manager at WoodWorks. Ricky breaks down what exactly it is WoodWorks does, how mass timber can be utilized and explored in construction projects today, and how WoodWorks is looking at their market as a trailblazer for wood built projects. Resourc…

In the first episode of 2024, BJ talks with Dave Kaminski, Vice President & General Manager at Turner Construction Company. Dave dives into his journey through Turner, how your approach to learning can impact your journey, and his method for managing growing teams. Resources mentioned: “Be Unreasonable” by Paul Lemberg: https://www.amazon.com/Be-Un…

On today's solo episode, BJ shares the method he will be using to reflect on this past year, how to understand our bandwith, and how to proritize our time going into the New Year.By BJ Kraemer, MCFA