Coastlines to Cranes

ABC San Diego
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  • Entertainment News
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Coastlines to Cranes is your 15-minute midweek chaos cure, hosted by ABC San Diego CEO Shandon Harbour. She’s dishing out unfiltered takes on construction, politics, and apprentice glory—sprinkled with sass, laughs, and zero corporate snooze. Drops Wednesdays at 6 a.m. Buckle up (or don’t).

  1. 6d ago

    Ep. 45: The Truth About Multi-Skilling and the Merit Shop

    Multi-skilling, or cross-training, is finally getting a serious research treatment, and the early findings should interest any contractor who has ever watched a project schedule slip while one trade waited on another. Shandon Harbour breaks down what cross-training a construction workforce actually does to productivity, employee engagement, and safety, drawing on a new multi-university study commissioned at the national level. She also makes the case for the merit shop itself, a model built on rewarding attitude, effort, and performance rather than time served, and the career path it can open from apprentice to journeyman to business owner. Key Takeaways What happens to a project schedule when one trade has to stop and wait on anotherThe reason strong performers quietly leave companies that reward everyone the same wayA finding in the new multi-skilling research that has nothing to do with productivity Resources: Learn more about ABC San Diego: abcsd.org ABCSD Apprenticeship & Craft Training Program: Learn More ABC National & SIMPLAR Report - Multiskilling in the Construction Industry: View Report Want to ask Shandon a question or suggest a future topic? Connect with Shandon on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow ABC San Diego on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠

  2. Sep 2

    Ep. 44: Succession Planning for Contractors ft. Kevin Hartnett

    Construction business succession planning is one of the hardest things a contractor will ever take on, and most owners start far too late. Kevin Hartnett came up through the electrical trade, founded Laser Electric in 1987, and years later sold the company to his son through a plan that took half a decade to build. He joins Shandon Harbour to talk about what it really takes to exit a contracting business well, why the right advisors matter more than most owners realize, and how helping launch ABC San Diego's electrical apprenticeship program became the work he is proudest of. Key Takeaways Why one advisor warned him that getting into business is the easy partThe conversation a founder needs to have years before a handoff, not monthsWhat a business owner learns about legacy from the apprentices he never stopped showing up for Resources: Watch this episode on YouTube Work with Laser Electric: laserelectric.com Learn more about ABC San Diego's apprenticeship program at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ABCSD.org⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to ask Shandon a question or suggest a future topic? Connect with Shandon on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow ABC San Diego on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠

  3. Aug 19

    Ep. 43: The Truth About Leading Construction Through COVID

    Construction leadership during COVID meant making calls with no playbook and no guarantee they would hold up later. In this episode, Shandon Harbour looks back at the years when construction was declared essential work, apprenticeship labs moved into tents in the back parking lot, and ABC San Diego staff kept coming into the office while much of the region shut down. The recent Fauci hearings brought it all back, including an essential worker letter from April 2020 that is still sitting in her glove box today. She revisits how those calls got made, who was carrying the risk, and what held the team together when the guidance changed by the afternoon. Key Takeaways Why one letter in a glove box still marks the moment everything changedThe decision that had her heart pounding in her chest, and the reasoning behind itWhat kept one team steady while others struggled through the isolation Resources: Explore ABC San Diego contractor resources at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ABCSD.org⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to ask Shandon a question or suggest a future topic? Connect with Shandon on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow ABC San Diego on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠

  4. Aug 5

    Ep. 42: Why Contractors Need a Strong Second in Command ft. Earl the Pearl

    Most small to mid-sized construction businesses can only grow so far before the owner becomes the bottleneck. Leadership at that point is less about slogans and more about who can carry the load when the owner is away. Earl the Pearl returns for a third appearance to talk about building a second in command that you can actually rely on. A retired Marine Corps colonel and former commanding officer of MAG-11, he and Shandon dig into why polished leadership advice rarely holds up on a jobsite, and why the lead and wingman roles have to shift depending on the situation. Key Takeaways The question a business owner should ask themselves when handing off the reins feels impossibleWhy a 57-slide leadership presentation can be technically correct and still useless on your jobsiteWhat a Top Gun flight in 1981 revealed only after the airplane was back on the ground Resources: SDMAC Achievement Awards, August 29: Register Here San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC): sdmac.org Marine Corps Aviation Association (MCAA): flymcaa.org Explore ABC San Diego contractor resources at ⁠⁠⁠ABCSD.org⁠⁠⁠. Want to ask Shandon a question or suggest a future topic? Connect with Shandon on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow ABC San Diego on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠

  5. Jun 10

    Building an Audience in a Crowded Market: Marketing Lessons from the Creator Economy

    How do you stand out as a business when everyone is creating content? In this episode, Shandon sits down with Andre Elias and Luis Arteaga from Signature Sound Studio for a conversation that starts in the music world but quickly becomes a bigger discussion about marketing, brand building, and audience connection. Andre and Luis share what they have seen from artists trying to grow in a crowded market, including why simply creating something is no longer enough. Today, the real work is building a community around your brand, knowing your audience, creating content that feels authentic, and finding ways to connect directly with the people you serve. For ABC San Diego members, the takeaway is highly relevant: whether you are a contractor, supplier, service provider, or industry leader, your business needs to be visible, relatable, and adaptable. The tools may change, but the marketing fundamentals remain the same. Key takeaways: The audience-building shift every business should understand before posting more content.Why “being good at what you do” is no longer enough to stand out in a crowded market.The marketing lesson from creators that contractors, suppliers, and service providers can use right now.Resources: Learn more about Signature Sound Studio: https://signaturesound.com/ Want to ask Shandon a question or suggest a future Coastlines to Cranes topic? Connect with Shandon on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore ABC San Diego contractor resources at ⁠ABCSD.org⁠. Follow ABC San Diego on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠

  6. Jun 3

    What Contractors Should Know About Taxes & Public Spending with Mark Kersey

    Taxes, property tax discussions, public spending, and local government budgets can all have a direct impact on contractors, businesses, infrastructure, and the future of San Diego’s construction economy. In this episode, host Shandon Harbour talks with Mark Kersey, President & CEO of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association and former San Diego City Councilmember, about taxpayer accountability, government spending, local budgets, and why contractors should pay attention to public policy. Mark shares how the Taxpayers Association reviews tax measures, bond measures, and city and county budgets through a nonpartisan, pro-taxpayer lens. He also explains why transparency, efficiency, and a careful look at how taxpayer dollars are spent matter for businesses, communities, and public infrastructure. Key Takeaways The question Mark Kersey believes every taxpayer should ask before supporting new taxes or public funding measures.Taxes and public spending decisions can affect contractors, businesses, infrastructure, and project delivery more than most people realize.How decisions made in city halls, county offices, and on local ballots can quietly shape the future of business and construction in San Diego.Resources: Learn more about the San Diego County Taxpayers Association: https://www.sdcta.org/ Want to ask Shandon a question or suggest a future Coastlines to Cranes topic? Connect with Shandon on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Explore ABC San Diego contractor resources at ABCSD.org. Follow ABC San Diego on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠

  7. May 27

    Affordable Housing in San Diego: Home Building Costs, Policy & the Housing Market

    What does “affordable housing” really mean in San Diego, and why is it so difficult to build? Shandon Harbour sits down with Aimee Faucett, President & CEO of the Building Industry Association of San Diego, to talk about housing affordability, home building costs, the San Diego housing market, and how fees, taxes, permitting, and policy decisions affect what actually gets built. Amy also breaks down a major misconception about builders and developers: the housing industry is much bigger than one group. It includes architects, engineers, trades, suppliers, manufacturers, business owners, and the workforce behind every project. Key Takeaways Affordable housing is tied to the full cost of living, from rent and mortgages to utilities, food, and transportation.Home building costs are shaped by fees, taxes, permitting, labor, materials, and policy decisions.The housing market depends on the businesses, builders, contractors, and tradespeople who take on the risk of getting projects built.Resources: Learn more about the Building Industry Association of San Diego through the BIA San Diego website. Want to ask Shandon anything? Connect on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow ABC San Diego on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Be a guest: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  8. May 20

    The Truth About Mental Health in Construction

    Construction loses 6 times more workers to suicide than to jobsite accidents. Suicide prevention in construction isn't a wellness topic — it's a safety emergency. In this episode of Coastlines to Cranes, host Shandon Harbour speaks from inside the industry about how ABC San Diego got involved in suicide prevention training, what employee check-ins actually reveal, and why total worker health has to be part of how construction companies lead. Key Takeaways Mental health and suicide prevention are critical parts of construction safety.People-centered leadership means checking in, listening, and creating space for real conversations.Total human health includes mental, emotional, financial, and personal well-being, not just physical safety.Resources: ABC San Diego offers free suicide prevention training to members. To schedule a training, contact Lauren Varney, Construction Education Manager, at laurenv@abcsd.org. Want to ask Shandon anything? Connect on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow ABC San Diego on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ ⁠Be a guest: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Coastlines to Cranes is your 15-minute midweek chaos cure, hosted by ABC San Diego CEO Shandon Harbour. She’s dishing out unfiltered takes on construction, politics, and apprentice glory—sprinkled with sass, laughs, and zero corporate snooze. Drops Wednesdays at 6 a.m. Buckle up (or don’t).

Information

  • Creator
    ABC San Diego
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © ABC San Diego
  • Show Website
    Coastlines to Cranes