The Building PA Podcast: 15K Downloads and Counting

The Building Podcast has achieved another milestone in podcasting. In mid-March Buzzsprout officially announced we reached the 15K mark in downloads. Podcast co-host Chris Martin, president of Atlas Marketing, commented, “What is impressive to me about reaching 15,000 downloads on the Building PA Podcast is all the valuable and useful topics that we’ve talked about in such a short time. We take great pride in inviting knowledgeable guests who find the time to talk with Jon and me and share their insights. I’d like to think that we are using the podcast to help better the industry and bring valuable information in 20-to-30minute conversations.”

Jon O’Brien, co-host was reminiscent and shared, “Crazy to think where we have come from concerning the podcast. It just seems like a couple of weeks ago that I was at a construction industry happy hour event and said ‘I think it would be cool if the KCA had a podcast.’ Then the next day after this event, Chris called me and said if you’re serious about starting a podcast maybe we could partner on it. And here we are a couple of years later with over 150 episodes and over 15,000 downloads. I say a lot of things at industry happy hours; I’m just glad Chris heard this statement.” The Building PA podcast is in its fourth season with sights on broadening the scope of the podcast to include panel discussions, more on-site inperson recordings, and tackling tougher topics.

Quandel Enterprises Names Jerome Urban as Chief Risk Officer

Quandel Enterprises has named Jerome Urban chief risk officer for the entire Quandel Enterprises family of companies. As chief risk officer, he will work closely with Quandel Enterprise’s executive team and board of directors to innovate, implement, and strengthen our risk management initiatives in response to the ever-changing landscape of the construction industry.

Urban previously served as the president and chief executive officer for Performance Construction Company, a Quandel Enterprises company. He began with the team in 2006 when he started his career in construction as an estimator. Since that time, he has served as an assistant project manager, project manager, project executive, and vice president of operations.

“We are confident that Jerome will bring value and insight into this new role that enables our continued success,” says Greg Quandel, president and chief executive of Quandel Enterprises. Urban is known among his peers to be a team-builder with a keen understanding of the construction business. His focus on enhancing the firm’s clients’ experience through innovation, continuous improvement, and commitment to excellence and exceptional service has made him an integral member of Quandel’s leadership team.

GCAP Names President

On February 7, Maura Hesdon was elected president of the General Contractors Association of Pennsylvania (GCAP). Hesdon is the general manager of Shoemaker Construction, a Philadelphia-based general contractor. She represents the General Builders Contractors Association on the GCAP Board. Hesdon begins her two-year term following the two-year term of Steven Massaro, president of Massaro Corporation and a GCAP member representing the Master Builders’ Association (MBA) of Western PA. Joining Hesdon as a GCAP officer is Robert Leahey, who serves as GCAP’s vice president/ treasurer. Leahey is president of McCrossin and serves on the GCAP Board as a representative of the Keystone Contractors Association (KCA). In addition, Cliff Rowe, executive chairman of PJ DickTrumball-Lindy Paving, was named treasurer for GCAP.

National Work Zone Awareness Week

April 17 - 21 marks National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW). This is an annual spring campaign held at the start of the construction season to encourage safe driving through highway work zones. The key message is for drivers to use extra caution in work zones. Some tips to keep in mind when you take to the road: drive the speed limit, stay alert and pay attention to signs and flaggers, maintain a safe distance around vehicles, don’t tailgate, use flashers when driving below the speed limit when you are stopped, avoid distractions, buckle up, expect the unexpected, and be patient. Join the conversation by using the hashtags #Slow4Zone, #WorkZoneAwareness, and #NWZAW.

Join us for the Construction Celebration

On Tuesday, May 2 the Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) will host the inaugural Construction Celebration at the Hilton Harrisburg from 5 to 7 PM. Come network with our elected officials and construction professionals, as we recognize the winners of the KCA safety programs, emerging leaders, and community champions in construction.