If you have listened to Dirt Talk for a while you might know that Kimo, owner of Truth Excavation, is a bit of a regular at this point. Kimo has joined Aaron twice in-studio and in this episode joined him via satellite internet video call in an unfinished office as a result of the reconstruction of Lahaina and its infrastructure In this episode, Ki…

In this episode, Aaron is joined by Jonathan Campbell, Executive Vice President of Campbell Companies, a parent company for various businesses, including Wheeler Caterpillar, one of our favorite Cat dealers and service centers. During the conversation, Aaron and Jonathan delve into the workforce challenge. Jonathan shows no hesitation in addressing…

In this episode, Aaron is joined by Ryan Sistad, Executive Director at Better in Our Backyard. Ryan is a proud Minnesotan hailing from Duluth. Minnesota is also home to essential mining and infrastructure, more specifically copper and nickel. These resources are essential to keep the lights on for Hundreds of Thousands and will be vital in creating…

In this episode, Aaron answers some questions from Instagram as follows. -How do you find a mentor and do you/did you have one? -Will BuildWitt ever make content for vertical construction? -What Podcasts do you listen to? -Will AI replace operators? -What are your hobbies besides construction? If you want to hear Aaron’s off-the-cuff option about a…

In this episode, Aaron delves into the world of asphalt paving in the Northeast. Josh, the vice president of American Paving Specialists, LLC, and Matt, the foreman/marketing specialist at American Paving Specialists, LLC and founder of Raised on Blacktop, are brothers whose extensive shared experience in the industry since childhood has cultivated…

In this episode, Aaron discusses, you guessed it, draglines. These Mammoth machines work 24/7 and are the heart of one of America's largest coal strip mining operations at North American Coal. Aaron and the gang have had the honor to go see these machines work in person in the coal fields at the NACCO Freedom mine just outside of Beulah, North Dako…

In this episode, Aaron is joined by Tim Schurrer, CEO of David Novak Leadership, Author of "The Secret Society of Success” and Host of the "Build a Winning Team" podcast. Tim draws on his experience from being a creative manager to his time as COO of StoryBrand, to producing the How Leaders Leaders Lead podcast with David Novak, and through experie…

In this episode, Aaron sat down with Dan and Randy to talk shop about BuildWitt. The Executive leadership team is in constant communication with each other and you might be wondering what the heck they talk about for all this time. Today you’re in luck because you get to be a fly on the wall for a pseudo-ELT meeting. They discuss what we did last y…

In this episode, Aaron is joined by Philip Sutton, a Lecturer at Ohio State University. Philip teaches three classes, estimating construction, heavy construction, and the program's capstone course. These courses cover a wide range of topics to prepare students to join the workforce as leaders in their respective fields. Philip draws his knowledge f…

In this episode, Aaron cracks open one of the many books at our office to share something that many might not get the opportunity to read themselves. For its 50th anniversary, Ames Construction had a wonderful coffee table book made. The book titled Persistence Creates Opportunity: Building America for 50 years and details their entire history with…

A Growing Business and Media Presence with Taylor White – DT 222 In this episode, Aaron got a chance to sit down with Taylor White, Director at Ken White Construction to talk about what it takes to grow an earthmoving business. On top of all Taylor's responsibilities at the company, Taylor also runs a successful YouTube channel @KenWhiteConstructio…

In this one, Aaron is Joined once again by Jason to talk about what it means to build a work environment that celebrates all different people. Just before this was recorded Women in Construction Week was taking place. During this week Jason had the opportunity to be a part of the Werk-Brau WIC Summit. As a result of reflecting on this experience, J…

In this episode Aaron is Joined by Rob Seibert President of, Off The Road: North America at Bridgestone Americas. You may know bridgestone for their personal vehicle tires or maybe from racing, or if you’re from Nashville the Arena downtown. The average person might not think about the hundreds of thousands of tons of raw materials carried by haul …

In this episode, Aaron talks about a recent trip to a BIG gold mine. Round Mountain, a small mining town in Nevada is home to the Kinross gold mine. Surrounding the town is mostly military-owned land. The sprawling arid landscape is broken up by the steep mountain peaks that the town backs up to. Just outside of town, this is the most interesting f…

In this episode, Aaron is Joined by Bob Higgins President/CEO of Barge Designs Solutions. Barge is an employee-owned company that makes building plans for notable civil construction projects such as bridges, highway overpasses, and wastewater solutions, to name a few. Bob also touches on his time as an Air Force serviceman, during the time of opera…

In this episode, Aaron and take a look at an Article published on For Construction Pros, written by Calvin Beyer. It's not the most fun or easy article to read but it is important information nonetheless. This week we dive into the opioid crisis in construction. Based on a 2020 report people who worked in construction are at the highest risk for ov…

In this episode, Aaron is joined in the studio by Rory San Miguel Co-Founder and CEO at Propeller Aero. Using their own tech AeroPoints and simple DJI drones Propeller is revolutionizing the surveying game. Many people when they think of construction think of relatively low-tech solutions. Take for example bulldozer, it has one job, it uses lots of…

This week we got a special episode that’s not something you would normally see. BuildWitt as you may know has our internal podcast to provide more information for our team members. The other day Aaron and I were talking and we decided “Hey there is some great stuff that could be helpful for more than just our team, so why leave it on the cutting ro…

In this episode, Aaron Is joined once again by Nick Schiffer. Nick works tirelessly to solve some of the most particular problems regarding home building. He has the eye for it and the passion to follow through. If you have a dream Nick is the guy to make it happen. In this episode, they talk about an amazing spec build that Nick and his team are d…

In this week's Monday episode Aaron and I sat down to talk about machines. Specifically a very special wheel loader. Most Caterpillar 988 H models can be found in quarries but that's not exactly what Bulk Equipment Company has in store for their 988 wheel loaders. Instead Bulk heavily modifies these machines for a specific application. Hot work. Th…

In this episode, Aaron invited back Will Schuler, owner and CEO of Will Power Excavation. You may remember Will from last time as the guy who made his first million in the heavy civil business when he was still in high school! Now Will’s business is approaching 100 employees and he is more than willing to reflect upon the failures and successes tha…

In this episode Aaron is once again answering your questions from Instagram. Thank you everyone for submitting questions to Instagram and remember you can always email us directly at dirtalk@buildwitt.com. The questions are as follows. What advice do you have for someone starting a small business? Best way to get into the dirt world? How did you st…

On this Episode Aaron is Joined by Rob White Owner/CEO of OccuMED1 an occupational health services company primarily providing service to Construction companies. The conversation starts with some background about Rob's time in the military starting out in the Air Force and later in the Army National Guard. It was during this time in the military th…

In this episode of the Monday Dirt Talk Aaron breaks down a project and in an unprecedented turn of events he came prepared this time. He shares some interesting facts about how the mine got its start, the scale of the operation, and the products that are made at the Kennecott mine. He also shares his personal experience getting to go and photograp…

In this episode, Aaron is joined by Matt Aston, President at GPRS. GPRS is changing the construction game, using radar and electromagnetic signals to locate utilities. This technology is essential for spotting potential hazards (exp. underground power) in the ground and even through solid concrete! How effective is it you ask? Last year they comple…

In this episode, Aaron is joined by Jason Richmond, BuildWitt’s Chief Operating Officer. Jason, a natural leader and sales expert, serves as a frequent co-host for the internal podcast and this iteration of the Monday episode. To hear more into Jason's story, check out his Dirt Talk Episode (170). In today's discussion, Aaron and Jason shed light o…

In this episode, Aaron is joined by Luke Sheffield, Founder of Port-A-Go and Co-Founder of Empower Rental Group. They discuss the need for equipment rental in a dynamic job market, and what it takes to run a rental business. Later they dig into what it's like starting a rental service company as they discuss Luke’s latest endeavor Port-A-Go, a comp…

In this episode, we’re trying something different. Aaron came up with the idea to talk about some news from the industry that folks might not have seen. In this one, Aaron will be highlighting some key points of an article published in Equipment World by Jordanne Waldschmidt. The Article is titled, Opinion: The Misguided Push Toward Electric Constr…

Big iron, am I right? Little Iron, or in this case, wood? In this episode (DT204), Aaron is joined by Ryan Haasen, an estimator/PM at Blue-Con Excavation Ltd. You might recognize Ryan for his incredible to-scale models of construction machinery. Ryan's journey into woodworking started at a young age, and growing up around the construction industry …

In this episode, Aaron and I talk about week three of the Road Show. The first stop is a jetty project right outside of Portland to see JE McAmis move some huge Rocks with a Cat 6020. Later they stop in at the Knife River Training Facility, one of the most cutting-edge construction training facilities. After that, they checked out some early mornin…

In this episode, Aaron is joined by Jason Miller, President of Midwest Mole Inc., a company that specializes in Trenchless tunneling and Boring services. Their work extends across the United States, from Boston to Florida, Maryland, and the Midwest, just to name a few locations. Despite their focus on providing boring services, the projects underta…

In this episode, Aaron answers the following. -Where is the earthmoover? -toughest challenge with employees? -What's the hardest thing you've ever done? -Who's hiring? If you want a peak under the hood here at BuildWitt or are looking for a job, this is the episode for you. If you have any questions or feedback, email the Dirt Talk crew at dirttalk…

In this episode, Aaron sat down with Landon Morel, a Foreman at Southern Sun Paving, to delve into the world of luxury paving. Landon, drawing from his expertise and experience in a family-run asphalt business, sheds light on the meticulous craftsmanship and commitment involved in each layer of asphalt used in high-end residential paving projects. …

In this episode, Aaron and I delve into the adventures of week two on the roadshow. The team tested the RV as they journeyed through mountainous terrains en route to the west coast. Their stops included witnessing the monumental dam project at Chimney Hollow led by the Barnard crew, a project vital for supplying clean water to the Front Range. They…

Welcome to a special episode of Dirt Talk! This week's episode differs from our usual format, offering a compilation of shorter clips from past episodes. These excerpts, selected from our YouTube channel (find us by searching 'Dirt Talk Podcast' on YouTube), showcase the top moments from throughout 2023. At BuildWitt, we've taken time during this h…

Join Aaron and special guest Jim Mathis, the proprietor of Gittaway Ranch and President of WyoTech. If you were to inquire about Jim's profession, he'd humbly mention ranching, which is indeed accurate. However, Jim's role transcends ranching. Alongside managing a thriving cattle ranch, he also assumes the roles of a teacher, skilled diesel mechani…

In this episode, Aaron sat down with Andy Scheurer to delve into the world of paving. They discussed the precise tolerances necessary for airport work and also explored strategies for growing and sustaining a workforce in these demanding situations. From the significance of social media to the complexities of recruitment, this episode offers valuab…

In this week's episode, Aaron Sat down with Rory Hall Co-Owner and Operations Manager of Grade Tech Power Services. On Hall’s LinkedIn profile, he describes the work as “a niche market performing excavation and grading services for electrical utilities.” Join them as they dive into Utah's power grid, unique work culture, and the intricacies of buil…

In this episode, Aaron sat down with Carl Bloomfield and Jeff Spatz of Graham Co. to discuss the high-risk world of heavy civil construction. They navigate the treacherous waters of risk management, unearthing the importance of life experience and learning from mistakes. They unpack the multitude of risks present in construction—from physical dange…

In this week's episode join Aaron and Special Guest Travis Martzall of Wampum Hardware and Dyno Nobel and step into the explosive realm of drilling and blasting services. Discover the critical factors behind proper fragmentation and the art of efficient drilling techniques. From Tennessee's blasting practices to the use of draglines and dredging in…

Join Aaron as he sits down to talk with Kate and Tyler Holden of KT Holden as they tackle industry challenges headfirst. This episode provides plenty to think about, from the importance of word-of-mouth recruitment and values-based hiring to addressing workforce problems and owner requirements. Join the conversation about potential solutions, inclu…

In this week's episode join Aaron and our esteemed guest, JP Dinnell, who currently holds the position of Chief Training Officer at Echelon Front LLC. Together, they delve into the universal principles of leadership that have guided JP throughout his life. JP was immersed in these principles from a young age, learning valuable lessons while accompa…

Join Aaron and Guest Jim Rhodes Senior VP of Wayne Brothers Companies for a great conversation about effective communication, feedback, and a supportive company culture in the construction industry. They discuss how a focus on people and processes can drive value creation and success, all while ensuring the well-being and development of employees r…

In this podcast episode, join Aaron and myself discussing the first week of a five-week road trip spanning multiple states. In week one, Aaron accompanied by Jack and Angel explored a tunneling job with Strack Inc. They then went to downtown Atlanta to witness the expertise of Goodfellow, they even met the mayor (NBD) and saw some night paving! Aft…

In this episode, Aaron, joined by Camron Lente (CEO) and Brad Griffith (COO) of NG Companies, discuss the wonderful world of hydro-vac trucks. Our guests share their experience with the growing demand for hydro-vac services in the utilities market and the unique challenges and opportunities within the industry. NG companies' success has led to sign…

In this episode Aaron is joined by the President/ CEO of Dale Carnegie & Associates, Joe Hart, to discuss the importance of effective communication in the construction industry and beyond. They talk about the significance of self-reflection, mindset, and building meaningful relationships for success and happiness. Find out how Dale Carnegie's teach…

In this episode, Aaron is Joined by Hamilton Baiden the CEO of Youturn Health to discuss the critical issues surrounding behavioral health in the construction industry. Youturn Health is making a difference by providing innovative solutions that empower workers to seek help anonymously and break the stigma. Learn how prioritizing employee well-bein…

In this episode, Aaron sat down with guest Mark O’Donnell, CEO of EOS Worldwide to discuss how to strengthen your business and connect with your people. They explored the significance of a clear marketing strategy and the importance of resilience in dealing with unforeseen challenges. Later, they discussed leadership that trusts, cares, and leverag…

In this episode, Aaron Witt, joined by Brett Ruppel of IMPETUS dug into the complexities of construction design, particularly in large chemical plants. They discussed the challenges inexperienced engineers face, trends in civil engineers transitioning into construction roles, and the concept of design assist projects. Tune in to learn more about th…

In this episode of Dirt Talk, Aaron sits down for a discussion with Jason Stenger. As the lead figure of Alpha Inc., a reputable construction company in the heart of Maui, Jason has seen it all. They discuss the early days of Jason’s venture, highlighting the challenges unique to the Maui landscape. The duo also addresses the recent wildfires that …