Women at WIRC

Kat Klingenberg, founder of passive building non-profit Phius, discusses the explosive growth in passive building interest. From building the first certified passive house in Champaign, Illinois, to working on 53-story towers in Brooklyn, she explains how the movement has evolved beyond energy efficiency. Secondary benefits like air quality and grid-resilience are now the primary selling points, "energy savings is just gravy," she says. Klingenberg addresses common misconceptions, shares practical advice for getting started, and delivers a clear message: "It's time to retool."

 

Show Notes/Links:

Women in Residential Construction Conference

Phius

PhiusCon

Mary Peters, owner of Sasquatch Contracting in Boise, Idaho, discusses a new division of her business: Yeti Services, launched this year to deliver small home improvement and home maintenance work. Her diligence in verifying the market need, building a dedicated team, and effectively cross-marketing the two businesses offers a roadmap for others looking to diversify, find new sources of revenue, and address underserved needs in their community. 

Cammie Beckert, managing director and co-owner of Cameron Custom in Scottsdale, Arizona, shares her experience of transitioning from a highly successful, family-owned luxury production builder to leading the start-up (and suffering the growing pains) of a new division with a very different business model.

In this episode of Women at WIRC, Candice Rania, president of LEFF Design Build, discusses the transition of the company to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) from a sole ownership model. With LEFF two years into this change, Candice shares insights into the cultural transformation, operational logistics, and goals for the company's future. She also delves into her personal journey from studying interior design to leading a company, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and determination. Additionally, Candice explains the workings of an ESOP, its benefits, and the impact it has had on LEFF's culture and financial transparency. Key challenges and strategies for maintaining growth within a changing market are highlighted, making this episode a valuable listen for those curious about alternative ownership structures in the construction industry. 00:00 Introduction 00:38 Meet Candice Rania 01:52 The Transition to an ESOP 06:12 Cultural and Operational Changes Post-ESOP 12:55 Understanding ESOP Structure and Benefits 18:12 Advice for New ESOP Leaders 20:18 Conclusion and Upcoming Events LEFF: https://leffdesignbuild.com/ WIR+CC: https://www.womensconstructionconference.com/2024/ Custom Builder: https://www.custombuilderonline.com/ Pro Builder: https://www.probuilder.com/ Pro Remodeler: https://www.proremodeler.com/

In this episode of Women at WIRC, Editor Caroline Broderick interviews Alaina Money-Garman, CEO and co-founder of Garman Homes (garmanhomes.com), who was honored as Woman of the Year at the WIR+CC Conference (womensconstructionconference.com). Alaina believes that accepting projects that don't monetarily move the company forward pays dividends by moving the industry forward. Garman Homes does this through its Operation Coming Home builds for Gold Star families, Habitat for Humanity builds, charitable donations, and a major project, The Farm at Penny Lane. Garman Homes built 15 tiny homes for individuals receiving support for mental health at The Farm at Penny Lane. Alaina shares insights on the impact of thoughtful design on mental health and the importance of community involvement in housing initiatives. 00:00 Introduction to Women at WIRC Podcast 00:18 Meet Alaina Money-Garman: Woman of the Year 00:56 The Farm at Penny Lane: A Special Project 01:23 Garman Homes: Building with Purpose 03:45 Designing for Healing and Connectivity 07:31 Challenges and Successes in Building Tiny Homes 12:12 The Team Behind the Project 16:34 Garman Homes' Commitment to Giving Back 21:37 The Broader Responsibility of Affordable Housing 23:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Women at WIRC, Custom Builder Online Editor Caroline Broderick interviews Ginger Curtis, founder and CEO of Urbanology Designs, about the emerging field of neuroaesthetics. Ginger shares her personal journey through significant life challenges, including her daughter's leukemia and her own battle with breast cancer. She discusses how these experiences influenced her instinct to create beauty and embrace the role of neuroaesthetics in design. Neuroaesthetics, a combination of design and neuroscience, explores the profound impact of beauty on the human experience. Ginger also provides practical tips for incorporating principles of neuroaesthetics in various spaces. WIR+CC Conference: https://www.womensconstructionconference.com/2024/ Urbanology Designs: https://www.urbanologydesigns.com/ Custom Builder: https://www.custombuilderonline.com/ Pro Builder: https://www.probuilder.com/ Pro Remodeler: https://www.proremodeler.com/ 00:00 Introduction to Women at WIRC Podcast 01:17 Meet Ginger Curtis: Designer and CEO 01:32 Understanding Neuroaesthetics 02:01 Ginger's Personal Journey and Inspiration 04:26 The Power of Fractals in Design 06:44 Ginger's Story of Resilience and Design 13:42 Launching a Design Firm from Adversity 16:26 Practical Tips for Neuroaesthetic Design 18:04 Conclusion and Upcoming Events

In this episode of Women at WIRC, Bree Jones, founder and CEO of Parity Homes, shares her transformative journey from Wall Street to affordable housing development. Driven by incidents of racial injustice and gentrification in her Bronx neighborhood, Bree purchased and renovated an abandoned building in the Bronx, providing a deeply affordable home for three families. She had found her calling, created Parity Homes, and moved her efforts to West Baltimore. Parity Homes focuses on revitalizing abandoned properties to create affordable housing, preserving historical and cultural significance, and strengthening the community. 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Meet Bree Jones of Parity Homes 01:00 Bree's Journey from Wall Street to Real Estate 01:37 The Impact of Trayvon Martin's Death 02:33 Gentrification and Its Effects 03:39 Starting Parity Homes in Baltimore 05:23 Challenges and Successes in Affordable Housing 10:12 The Importance of Preserving Historic Homes 16:13 Future Goals and Mentorship 17:16 Final Thoughts and Conference Announcement Women in Residential + Commercial Construction Conference: https://www.womensconstructionconference.com/2024/ Parity Homes: https://www.parityhomes.com/ Custom Builder Online: https://www.custombuilderonline.com/ Pro Builder: https://www.probuilder.com/ Pro Remodeler: https://www.proremodeler.com/

LEFF Design Build Director of Operations Morgan Thomas is tired of ineffective, boring meetings. At LEFF, Thomas has learned—and taught—how to maximize everyone's time through engaging, productive meetings. After all, design-build remodeling thrives on communication, so you better do it correctly. On this episode, Thomas shares her background in construction while providing the best practices for effective meetings. This includes how to train team members on facilitating, creating pre-meeting checklists, and how to wrangle in client meetings. Timestamps: 00:00 Meet Morgan Thomas: From Project Manager to Director of Operations 1:11 The Evolution of Leadership and Team Dynamics at LEFF Design Build 1:58 No More Boring Meetings: A Passion for Efficiency 3:23 Inside LEF's Meeting Culture: Training, Structure, and Execution 6:53 The Art of Facilitating Productive Meetings 12:15 Handling Meetings with External Parties: Strategies and Challenges 14:07 Continuous Improvement: Rating and Reflecting on Meeting Effectiveness 15:00 Open Invitation for Meeting Innovation and Feedback

Stephanie Dailey of Steven Dailey Construction has more than 110,000 followers @stephaniebuildsit on Instagram—and most of that happened within the past year. On this bonus track for Women at WIRC, Dailey shares her Instagram growth story and actionable tips for contractors looking to up their social media game. 00:00 Opening Question on Social Media Presence 00:28 The Journey of Instagram Growth 01:47 The Power of Authenticity and Consistency 03:39 Turning the Camera Around: A Game Changer 04:38 The Real Value of Social Media for Business 05:39 Personal Connections Through Social Media 06:19 The Commitment to Social Media Success 07:14 Closing Thoughts: The Impact Beyond Followers