BUILD St. Louis

Kerry Smith

BUILD St. Louis presents the most innovative minds in construction and development across the St. Louis region. From contractors and designers to engineers and real estate professionals, this podcast covers all aspects of the industry. Tune in to stay up-to-date on who’s moving dirt and building projects in the region.

  1. JAN 19

    #35 Training Your People To Spot Warning Signs With Vince Hafeli, DBA, Ajax Paving Co.

    In this episode, Kerry Smith welcomes Dr. Vince Hafeli, DBA, president of Ajax Paving Industries and a nationally recognized leader in construction mental health advocacy. Dr. Hafeli shares his deeply personal journey into mental health leadership, shaped by lived experience, industry loss, and decades in construction, and explains why meaningful mental health initiatives must begin in the C-suite to truly change culture. Drawing from his doctoral research and real-world implementation, he discusses leadership responsibility, vulnerability, suicide prevention, and how programs like peer “warrior” teams and construction-specific training can save lives. This conversation challenges outdated ideas of toughness in construction and reframes mental health as a core leadership and safety issue that directly impacts people, performance, and long-term industry sustainability.

    29 min

  2. JAN 12

    #34 Moving the Mental Fitness Conversation Upstream with Cal Beyer

    In this episode, Kerry Smith Buck welcomes Cal Beyer, Senior Director of Safe Workplaces at the SAFE Project, as part of the show’s mental health, wellbeing, and construction series. Cal unpacks the critical intersection of substance use, mental health, suicide, and overdose in the construction industry, explaining why these issues must be addressed together rather than in isolation. Drawing from decades of experience, he emphasizes recovery-focused workplace strategies, peer support, psychological safety, and a shift from “mental illness” to “mental fitness,” offering a hopeful, practical roadmap for how construction leaders and crews can better support one another and reduce risk across job sites.

    16 min

  3. JAN 5

    #33 Why Building a Safety Culture Is Important with Mike Cox

    In this episode, Kerry Smith Buck speaks with Mike Cox, CEO of Crete United, about why safety is not a stand-alone program but a direct reflection of company culture. Mike shares how Crete United built an industry-leading safety record by focusing on non-punitive learning, near-miss reporting, field-first decision making and mental health awareness, while investing in dedicated safety leadership as the company scaled to over $1B in revenue. The conversation highlights how strong safety culture improves retention, reduces costs, strengthens acquisitions, and ultimately proves that when companies genuinely care for their people, safety performance and business results follow.

    21 min

  4. 11/05/2025

    #32 Construction Does Not Reward Chaos - It Rewards Discipline with AJ Waters, Chief EngiNerd

    In this episode of BUILD America, host Kerry Smith Buck sits down with AJ Waters, Chief Evangelist at Kahua and the self-proclaimed “Chief Engine-Nerd” behind TheEngiNerdLife blog. Together, they explore the power of process, discipline, and authenticity in an industry that’s constantly racing to meet deadlines.   Borrowing a phrase from the U.S. Marines - “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast” - AJ unpacks how thoughtful, consistent processes can make projects more efficient, safer, and ultimately more successful.

    19 min

  5. 10/27/2025

    #31 Employee Ownership: Everyone Has a Stake in Hiring, Keeping the Best People” with Tyler Myers, Asst. Vice President, Emery Sapp & Sons

    In this episode of BUILD America, host Kerry Smith Buck talks with Tyler Myers, Assistant Vice President at Emory Sapp & Sons (ESS), a 100% employee-owned heavy civil contractor based in Missouri. Tyler shares how ESS attracts and retains top talent through employee ownership, hands-on training, and early engagement with students through trade schools and the ESS Foundation.   He also discusses how culture, leadership, and clear career paths keep their teams strong across hundreds of infrastructure projects each year.

    18 min

  6. 07/03/2024

    Episode 36: Protecting Workers in Extreme Heat with Donna Richter and John Holt, Southern IL Builders Association:

    Welcome to this episode of BUILD St. Louis, the podcast that captures the heartbeat of the construction industry. I'm your host, Kerry Smith Buck, owner of Construction News and Review. Today, we're delving into the crucial topic of safety on construction sites during extreme heat. Our guests are Donna Richter, CEO of Southern Illinois Builders Association (SIBA), and John Holt, SIBA's safety director. Donna and John will share their expertise on the specific safety measures needed during hot weather, the importance of proper hydration, and recognizing the signs of heat stress and exhaustion. We'll also discuss practical tips for workers to stay safe and the role of employers in ensuring a safe working environment. This episode is packed with valuable insights to help keep our construction workers safe and healthy during the sweltering summer months. Tune in and learn how to beat the heat while staying productive on the job site.   For more information, visit www.informationworks.org

    15 min

  7. 06/11/2024

    Episode 35: Arcturis: Hello, My Name Is: The Essence of Brand Experience with Judy Glik and James Butler

    In this episode of BUILD St. Louis, host Kerry Smith Buck, President and CEO of Construction News and Review (CNR), explores the fascinating process of naming buildings, especially historic signature structures, with Judy Glick and James Butler from the architecture and design firm Arcturis. Judy, the Director of Brand and Client Engagement, and James, the Design Practice Leader for Arcturis's Brand Experience Group, delve into the importance of brand experience in architecture and interior design. They discuss how naming a building is akin to naming a child, starting with understanding the essence of the brand from the client's perspective. The conversation covers the process of researching historical significance, developing guiding principles, and crafting a brand strategy. Judy and James share a compelling case study of renaming a renovated property, "The Six Cord," highlighting how history and contemporary design come together to create a unique identity. Listeners gain insights into the collaborative and creative process of brand naming, the importance of engaging with clients, and how names reflect both history and forward-thinking ideals. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of architecture, design, and branding.   For more information, visit www.informationworks.org

    19 min

  8. 05/07/2024

    Episode 34: Building Energy Performance Standard with Jeremy Welch - It’s Not Too Late

    In this podcast episode of BUILD St. Louis, Kerry Smith, owner of Construction News and Review magazine, introduces Jeremy Welch, a project engineer, and Chris Ruth, the Mid Missouri Controls Manager from Integrated Facility Services (IFS), as they discuss the significance of the Building Energy Performance Standard (BEPS) in 2024. BEPS mandates buildings over 50,000 square feet in St. Louis to benchmark their energy use intensity (EUI), with the top third of buildings setting the EUI target for the rest. 2024 marks the first analysis year, determining each building's score. EUI, or energy use intensity, measures a building's energy use per square foot annually, aiding in efficiency comparisons. St. Louis is considered proactive in adopting BEPS, and IFS assists building owners across Missouri and parts of Illinois in assessing energy usage and implementing improvements to meet BEPS requirements. Welch and Ruth emphasize the importance of optimizing existing systems or investing in energy-efficient upgrades, with benefits extending beyond BEPS compliance. They encourage building owners to reach out to IFS for assistance, emphasizing their coverage beyond St. Louis and available resources like the Missouri Gateway Green Building Council and the Building Energy Exchange for support in navigating BEPS compliance.   For more information, visit www.informationworks.org

    19 min
See All (41)

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

BUILD St. Louis presents the most innovative minds in construction and development across the St. Louis region. From contractors and designers to engineers and real estate professionals, this podcast covers all aspects of the industry. Tune in to stay up-to-date on who’s moving dirt and building projects in the region.

Information

  • Creator
    Kerry Smith
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    BUILD St. Louis