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Under Construction: Stories of the Journey to Success

Under Construction: Stories of the Journey to Success

By John Regan & April Lopinot

This KeeleyU podcast shares stories of what makes people a success! Including both topics and personal stories gathered from various team members and partners of the Keeley Companies, spanning roles and levels of experience, this podcast shows that there are numerous ways to be a success and will encourage you to keep pushing yourself towards growth.
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S2E14 Matt Taylor - Under Construction

Under Construction: Stories of the Journey to SuccessJul 26, 2021

00:00
25:01
#111 John & April discuss values based leadership and how to have hard conversations as a leader

#111 John & April discuss values based leadership and how to have hard conversations as a leader

This episode features John & April discussing how to leverage values based leadership to ensure that you drive alignment in your teams. We discuss curiosity, hard conversations, and how a strong mission statement can bring everyone together. Enjoy!

Mar 19, 202416:42
#110 John & April discuss navigating a growing company and finding your fit.

#110 John & April discuss navigating a growing company and finding your fit.

As we start season 5 of the podcast, we are adding a cohost in April Lopinot, and including topical discussion interspersed with our interview format. Today our topic is focused on navigating from individual contributor to operational leader and then strategic leader in a growing company and the changes that you can expect, and how to leverage curiosity to accelerate your career. Enjoy!

Mar 05, 202418:54
#109 On Effective Personal Planning - John Regan - Under Construction

#109 On Effective Personal Planning - John Regan - Under Construction

Many of us are looking at how we can change as the year changes into 2024. I share some tips and tricks for how to effectively plan and execute change. Enjoy!

Dec 19, 202317:22
#108 - Rich Roberts, Business Dev for KRS - Under Construction, part 2

#108 - Rich Roberts, Business Dev for KRS - Under Construction, part 2

This episode features Rich Roberts, business development lead for Keeley Restoration Services. Rich has just completed a 36 year career with Keeley Construction and we discuss both his tenure, what he sees as key leadership traits, and how to succeed as a leader in a massively growing business. Enjoy!

Dec 01, 202345:46
#107 - Alison Long, Paving Production Manager, KCG Central Region Paving - Under Construction

#107 - Alison Long, Paving Production Manager, KCG Central Region Paving - Under Construction

Today's episode features Alison Long, Paving Production Manager for the Central Region Paving team at Keeley Construction Group. Alison shares her story about the challenges she faced in college trying to decide what her career will be, and the explosive growth she has now that she found her passion. Enjoy!

Nov 17, 202323:60
#106 - Tom Rojas, Director, IT at Keeley Companies - Under Construction

#106 - Tom Rojas, Director, IT at Keeley Companies - Under Construction

Today's episode features Tom Rojas, Director of IT for the Keeley Companies. Tom shares his career growth journey from getting into IT, working for global companies, and why he has found his career at Keeley Companies. Enjoy!

Nov 03, 202323:44
#105 - Callaghan Adams, Product Owner, User Experience Team at Keeley Companies - Under Construction

#105 - Callaghan Adams, Product Owner, User Experience Team at Keeley Companies - Under Construction

Today's episode features Callaghan Adams, Product Owner for the Keeley Companies UX team. She shares her journey from marketing to IT and how they are connected. Enjoy!

Oct 20, 202319:02
#104 John Dottenwhy, Project Director, Civil Energy, Keeley Construction Group - Under Construction

#104 John Dottenwhy, Project Director, Civil Energy, Keeley Construction Group - Under Construction

This episode features John Dottenwhy, Project Director of the Civil Energy Group of Keeley Construction Group. John's career has been based on being a traveling expert in the field and he shares his thoughts on career growth, how a new person can successfully integrate in the construction world, and things he'd tell his kids and grandkids about how to be a success in the world. Enjoy!

Oct 06, 202321:10
#103 Canon Adams, Safety Intern, Keeley Construction Group - Under Construction

#103 Canon Adams, Safety Intern, Keeley Construction Group - Under Construction

Part 3 of 3 of our Back to School episodes features Canon Adams, an intern in our safety department for Keeley Construction. Canon shares his thoughts on how to choose a career that will make a difference. Enjoy!

Sep 18, 202321:17
#102 Mary Jane Tierney, KCG Building, Financial Facilities Design Intern - Under Construction

#102 Mary Jane Tierney, KCG Building, Financial Facilities Design Intern - Under Construction

Session 2 of our 3 part back to school episode series features Mary Jane Tierney, intern with the KCG Building Financial Facilities Design group. We discuss her process of discovery of how to pick a career and the ability to change your mind as you go along. Enjoy!

Sep 06, 202324:46
#101 Bryenna Walker, People Operations Intern, Keeley Companies - Under Construction

#101 Bryenna Walker, People Operations Intern, Keeley Companies - Under Construction

Excited to share the first of 3 “back to school” episodes featuring some of the interns at Keeley Companies during the summer of 2023. Today’s kickoff episode features Bryenna Walker, one of the Keeley Companies People Operations Interns. Bryenna shares her insights on what makes a successful internship, how to find a mentor, and what to look for in a company after graduation. Enjoy!

Aug 18, 202318:28
#100 Nikki MacDonald, Controller at KCG and #1 Best Selling Author - Under Construction
Jul 28, 202324:20
S4E14 Jeremy Heard, Director of Operations, Best Box division of Keeley Properties - Under Construction

S4E14 Jeremy Heard, Director of Operations, Best Box division of Keeley Properties - Under Construction

This episode features Jeremy Heard, Director of Operations for Best Box. Our conversations covers his incredible career journey across multiple disciplines, the importance of face to face meetings in build relationships, and an overall approach to opportunities. Enjoy!

Jul 24, 202336:30
S4E13 Drew Forney, Project Engineer KCG Civil Infrastructure - Under Construction

S4E13 Drew Forney, Project Engineer KCG Civil Infrastructure - Under Construction

This episode features Drew Forney, Project Engineer for Keeley Construction Group's Civil Infrastructure team. Drew has followed in the footsteps of his father at KCG, and shares his insights about the journey into construction as a career. Enjoy!

Jul 07, 202323:56
S4E12 Matt Bureau, Project Director KCG Heavy Industries - Under Construction

S4E12 Matt Bureau, Project Director KCG Heavy Industries - Under Construction

Today's episode features Matt Bureau, a project director for the Keeley Construction Group, Heavy Industries team. Matt shares his thoughts on what makes a successful estimator, how to deal with competing priorities and how we can balance our health to drive results. Enjoy.

Jun 26, 202328:22
S4E11 Grace Kmetz, Onboarding Specialist, Keeley Companies People Operations Group - Under Construction

S4E11 Grace Kmetz, Onboarding Specialist, Keeley Companies People Operations Group - Under Construction

This episode features Grace Kmetz, Onboarding Specialist for Keeley Companies People Operations Group. Grace shares her journey from both discovering her passion for business, the career growth journey she has had with KCo's, and thoughts on how to effectively mentor and find mentors. Enjoy!

Jun 09, 202319:60
S4E10 Cameron Grimmer, Project Manager, KCG Texas Civil Group - Under Construction

S4E10 Cameron Grimmer, Project Manager, KCG Texas Civil Group - Under Construction

Today's episode features Cameron Grimmer - Project Manager for Keeley Construction Group Texas Civil. Enjoy!

May 29, 202321:11
S4E09 Eric Gower, Chief Surveyor, KCG Civil Group - Under Construction

S4E09 Eric Gower, Chief Surveyor, KCG Civil Group - Under Construction

Today's episode features Eric Gower, Chief Surveyor for Keeley Construction Group. Eric shares his story of career growth from field to office to leadership. Enjoy!

May 15, 202322:22
S4E08 Jason Kuhl, Sr Project Manager, KCG Industrial Manufacturing - Under Construction

S4E08 Jason Kuhl, Sr Project Manager, KCG Industrial Manufacturing - Under Construction

Today's guest is Jason Kuhl, Sr. PM with KCG Industrial Manufacturing. Jason and I talk about his long tenure at the Keeley Companies, his interest in construction being formed as a young boy, and the growth potential he sees for those in the construction industry. ENJOY!

May 01, 202321:56
S4E07 Austin Maraman, Project Engineer, KCG Civil Infrastructure - Under Construction

S4E07 Austin Maraman, Project Engineer, KCG Civil Infrastructure - Under Construction

Today’s episode features Austin Maraman, Project Engineer for the Keeley Construction Group Civil Infrastructure group. We discuss his experiences in the early stages of his career, the difference between perfection and progression, and how he approaches time management. Enjoy!

Apr 14, 202324:60
S4E06 The Larry Keeley 85th Birthday Special Edition

S4E06 The Larry Keeley 85th Birthday Special Edition

Today's episode is a special edition conversation that I had with the founder and chairman of Keeley Construction Group, Larry Keeley. Larry and I share the same birthday and as he turns 85, we spent time talking about the origins of the company, what he's learned in his career, how he developed the culture of safety, family and results throughout the years, and the legacy he hopes to leave. Enjoy!!!

Mar 31, 202335:16
SE4E05 Roque Leal jr - Project Manager, KCG Texas Paving - Under Construction

SE4E05 Roque Leal jr - Project Manager, KCG Texas Paving - Under Construction

Today's episode features Roque Leal jr, project manager for our Texas Paving division of the Keeley Construction Group.  Roque shares his experience as a third generation construction member and the lessons he's learned from both his father and grandfather, that apply as much then, as they do now in growing a successful business. Enjoy!

Mar 17, 202320:17
S4E04 Angela Lemakis, Development Analyst, BestBox Storage - Under Construction

S4E04 Angela Lemakis, Development Analyst, BestBox Storage - Under Construction

Today I interview one of our development analysts with BestBox storage, a part of our Keeley Properties team.  Angela shares her journey of discovering when it was time to switch not only her career, but how she identified with her future self. Enjoy!

Mar 03, 202324:14
S4E03 Greg Goette, Director of Operations, KCG Building Group - Under Construction

S4E03 Greg Goette, Director of Operations, KCG Building Group - Under Construction

Today my guest is Greg Goette, Director of Operations for Keeley Construction Group's, Building Group. Greg shares his career from both the owner and contractor perspectives, as well as many years of project experience in dealing with challenging design and deliverable dates. Enjoy!

Feb 17, 202321:09
S4E2 - Matt Evrard, General Superintendent, KCG Civil Infrastructure - Under Construction

S4E2 - Matt Evrard, General Superintendent, KCG Civil Infrastructure - Under Construction

Today's episode features Matt Evrard, General Superintendent for KCG Civil Infrastructure Group. Matt discusses the importance of questions during the course of your daily work, and how to run towards problems to grow your career. Enjoy!

Feb 03, 202316:49
S4E01 - Brian Peter, Vice President, KCG Building Group, Under Construction

S4E01 - Brian Peter, Vice President, KCG Building Group, Under Construction

This episode features one of Keeley Construction Group's new Vice Presidents, Brian Peter.  Brian leads the Building Group and shares with us his career journey and lessons learned along the way. Enjoy!

Jan 19, 202322:09
S3E25 John Regan - On Personal Strategic Planning and Coaching for a successful 2023

S3E25 John Regan - On Personal Strategic Planning and Coaching for a successful 2023

Today's episode features John Regan, VP of Learning & Development for the Keeley Companies sharing his 20+ years of coaching and leadership development experience on how to craft a personal strategic plan to achieve results on purpose in 2023 for YOU!  Grab a pen and paper (or digital equivalent), and be ready to take notes on how this proven process can work for you.  Enjoy!

Dec 20, 202222:53
S3E24 Dr. Scott Chadwick, Leader of MaryvilleWorks program, Maryville University - Under Construction

S3E24 Dr. Scott Chadwick, Leader of MaryvilleWorks program, Maryville University - Under Construction

This episode features Dr. Scott Chadwick, Leader of MaryvilleWorks program at Maryville University.  Our conversation ranges widely on the topics of leadership, learning, creating environments for growth, and dealing with challenging environments while maintaining both the people and business goals in mind. Enjoy!

Nov 21, 202231:10
S3E23 Garry Berra, National Operations Director, KCG Paving - Under Construction

S3E23 Garry Berra, National Operations Director, KCG Paving - Under Construction

Joining me today is Garry Berra, the KCG National Operations Director for Paving. Garry's career journey spans widely diverse industries and ties into his passion for helping people to achieve their goals.  Enjoy!

Nov 10, 202220:30
S3E22 - Mike Flom, Director of Operations, KCG Texas Paving - Under Construction

S3E22 - Mike Flom, Director of Operations, KCG Texas Paving - Under Construction

Today's episode features Mike Flom, the director of operations for Keeley Construction Group's Texas Paving Division.  Mike has a long history in the asphalt industry from the production of asphalt, highway/roads, and now lot paving for customers throughout Texas.  Join us as Mike shares how to balance the production and people side of the business to drive success! Enjoy.

Oct 28, 202218:35
S3E21 - Kristen Clark, Executive Admin with KCG - Under Construction

S3E21 - Kristen Clark, Executive Admin with KCG - Under Construction

This episode features Kristen Clark, Executive Admin at Keeley Construction Group, serving the executive leadership team.  Kristen discusses her non-traditional journey and thoughts about failure.  Enjoy!

Oct 14, 202223:43
S3E20 - Beau Reinberg, Principal Partner with BestBox Storage - Under Construction

S3E20 - Beau Reinberg, Principal Partner with BestBox Storage - Under Construction

Today's episode features Beau Reinberg, one of two Principal Partners at Best Box storage, a partnership with Keeley Properties. Beau shares how his upbringing in both the country and city gave him deeper insight into people, how hard work, perseverance, and faith have sustained him in a journey with many ups and downs, and the importance of partnering others to have a successful life.  Enjoy!

Sep 30, 202225:40
S3E19 Steve Long - Under Construction

S3E19 Steve Long - Under Construction

Today's guest is Steve Long, Director of Innovation and Learning at Dome Construction.  Steve shares his career story of moving from operations into a support functional role experiencing the challenges and rewards along the way. Enjoy!

Sep 19, 202233:03
S3E18 Rich Roberts - Under Construction

S3E18 Rich Roberts - Under Construction

Today I'm talking to Rich Roberts with Keeley Construction Group.  Rich has been with the company for over 30 years in roles from business development, operations, management, and group leadership, and has come full circle back to business development.  Rich's tenure and perspective with KCG, and the paving industry in general, is insightful and full of lessons that we can all learn.  Enjoy!

Sep 02, 202229:11
S3E17 Krista Frenzel - Under Construction

S3E17 Krista Frenzel - Under Construction

My guest on this episode is Krista Frenzel, HR Generalist at Keeley Construction Group.  We discuss her career aspirations and journey and how the two have evolved over time. Krista has some great advice for folks about how to intentionally grow your career, and make self-reflection a part of your growth plan. Enjoy!

Aug 19, 202228:30
S3E16 Chris Edrington - Under Construction

S3E16 Chris Edrington - Under Construction

Today I'm talking with Chris Edrington, part of the Keeley Companies Cybersecurity Team. Chris shares his career journey including: ministry, electrical work, alarm install and IT. We also talk about how he prioritizes his work in a field that never rests. Enjoy!

Aug 05, 202226:14
S3E15 Josh Ridler - Under Construction

S3E15 Josh Ridler - Under Construction

This episode features Josh Ridler, Direct of PreConstruction for the Keeley Construction Group Heavy Industries and Industrial Manufacturing groups.  Josh shares his story in a very relatable and transparent manner.  Be ready to take notes, this episode is packed with details that can help us all as we continue on our journey. Enjoy!

Jul 22, 202224:19
S3E14 - Will Singleton - Under Construction

S3E14 - Will Singleton - Under Construction

My guest today is Will Singleton, intern for KeeleyU, coming to us from the SLIP (St. Louis Internship Program) of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (https://www.bgcstl.org/slip/).  We talk about how he is preparing for his future career, his experiences to date in high school, his first internship at another company, and his experience at the Keeley Companies. Will shares his thoughts on culture, the scorecard process that helps him to shape his internship, and his future roles.  Enjoy!

Jul 08, 202219:21
S3E13 Curt Mauldin - Under Construction

S3E13 Curt Mauldin - Under Construction

Today's episode features Curt Mauldin, Director of Operations at Keeley Construction Group. This episode is jam packed with actionable items that you can use in your career, be ready to take some notes!  Ranging across his journey as a team member, multiple business ownership, and his extracurricular activities, Curt is transparent and encouraging for us all.  Enjoy!

Jun 24, 202243:51
S3E12 Daniel Bradley - Under Construction

S3E12 Daniel Bradley - Under Construction

Today’s episode features Daniel Bradley, leader of the accounting and financial team at Keeley Construction Group.  Enjoy our wide ranging conversation and Daniel’s multi-layered approach to career growth.

Jun 12, 202232:30
S3E11 - Delaney Howard - Under Construction

S3E11 - Delaney Howard - Under Construction

My guest today is Delaney Howard, Receptionist at the Keeley Construction and Keeley Companies corporate headquarters. We talk about her college and career progression, the journey of building career equity that she is currently on, and the tools that she uses to keep the massive influx of day to day work organized. Enjoy!

May 27, 202226:18
S3E10 Al Dreste - Under Construction

S3E10 Al Dreste - Under Construction

Today's episode features Al Dreste, Sr. VP of Business Development for Keeley Construction Group.  Al shares his journey from bartender, to garage door industry to Sr. VP of Business Development for a close to $400 million dollar organization. Al has the ability to share both incredibly detailed stories, and at the same time, give incredibly concise and actionable suggestions. ENJOY!

May 13, 202226:57
S3E9 Jim Cundiff - Under Construction

S3E9 Jim Cundiff - Under Construction

Today's episode features Jim Cundiff, part of the Risk Management Team at Keeley Construction Group.  Jim has a great career story spanning sales, construction, insurance, and management...and not necessarily in that order!  Enjoy!

Apr 29, 202221:53
S3E8 Matt Muller - Under Construction

S3E8 Matt Muller - Under Construction

This episode features Matt Muller - VP of Quality at Keeley Construction Group. From an early career in drafting, through spec and drawing review in the architecture field and then into quality management.  As a continuous learner and coach, Matt shares his thoughts on how to leverage these tools instead of compliance to help achieve goals.

Apr 15, 202222:06
S3E7 - Rob Miller - Under Construction

S3E7 - Rob Miller - Under Construction

Today's episode features Rob Miller, VP of Safety at Keeley Construction Group. We discuss his career pivots, the amount of time it takes to understand a culture, the difference between proactive and reactive risk management, how that applies on the job site, and the difference between compliance and safety. Enjoy this episode!

Apr 01, 202237:02
S3E6 - Paul Licon - Under Construction

S3E6 - Paul Licon - Under Construction

This episode features Paul Licon - Project Manager for Milling Services. Paul and I have a great conversation about how he discovered his joy for milling, the importance of responsiveness to daily demands in customer satisfaction, and how to make safety a part of the culture in a dangerous industry. Enjoy!

Mar 18, 202221:56
S3E5 Mary Sly - Under Construction

S3E5 Mary Sly - Under Construction

Today's guest is Mary Sly, VP of Keeley Cares Foundation.  Mary and I discuss her career journey, the incredible program that is Keeley Cares, and how being involved in the communities we work in benefits us all. Enjoy.

Mar 07, 202229:40
S3E4 - Melissa Swank - Under Construction

S3E4 - Melissa Swank - Under Construction

Today's podcast features Melissa Swank, owner of The Well Being STL, and health coach for KeeleyLife at The Keeley Companies.  You can connect with Melissa at www.thewellbeingstl.com or on LinkedIn.  Enjoy this episode!

Feb 21, 202227:25
S3E3 - Jason Braidwood - Under Construction

S3E3 - Jason Braidwood - Under Construction

Today's episode features Jason Braidwood, President of Keeley Properties (www.keeleyproperties.com).  Jason and I have a wide ranging conversation, including a very honest discussion about how leaders can deal with the constant companion of imposter syndrome. Enjoy!

Feb 07, 202226:22
S3E2 - Keeley Green - Under Construction

S3E2 - Keeley Green - Under Construction

This episode features the launch of a brand new cultural pillar at the Keeley Companies - Keeley Green!  Keeley Green is a sustainability initiative, co-lead by Maggie St. Geme and Derek Maschek. During this episode we hear both the reason for launching this pillar, and the story of how Maggie and Derek have come to co-lead.  The pillar is looking for passionate individuals to join as champions as we move forward with impacting the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. Enjoy this episode!

Jan 24, 202228:16