Construction Hot Takes

Ascent Consulting
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Hosted by Adam Cooper, CEO of Ascent Consulting, alongside Senior Consultants Gregory Gorman and Jeff Robertson, Construction Hot Takes show dives into the gritty, unfiltered realities of building a profitable construction company. With nearly 100 years of combined experience, they’ve been there—from carrying gear on job sites to leading Ascent, a consulting powerhouse that exclusively serves construction companies across North America. Each episode is packed with insights, strategies, and insider knowledge from the industry’s top consulting firm for contractors. Discover what big national contractors know about growing a business, get actionable advice on boosting efficiency, and learn how to supercharge your project pipeline. Tune in, get inspired, and gain the knowledge to take your construction business to the next level.

  1. 12/18/2025

    Top 3 Things to Know About Picking Your Construction Firm’s ERP (Part 1)

    Jeff Robertson, Greg Gorman, and Adam Cooper discuss the selection process for a new ERP. It’s important to have a clear understanding of your business needs and what you expect from the new system. Implementing an ERP is a lengthy process, which makes choosing the right one the most critical step. You’ll also need to define the timeline and resources required to fully learn, implement, and go live on your new ERP. The guys go into great detail on everything you need to know. Check out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/ Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes! https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes

    39 min

  2. 11/27/2025

    The Best Construction Projects vs. The Worst Construction Projects

    Adam Cooper and Jeff Robertson are two of the co-hosts of the Construction Hot Takes Podcast, but besides being prolific podcasters, they have a combined 6+ decades of experience in the construction industry. In this episode, they reminisce on some of the best and worst construction projects they've been on in hopes to share with listeners in pains or inspire them regarding the growth that can be experienced. Check out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/ Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes! https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes

    14 min

  3. 11/13/2025

    The Culture Problem of The Construction Industry

    The construction industry in 2025 finds itself at a juncture of culture clashing and generational divide. The old guard is the Gen X workforce who have come up through the ranks and are now in leadership positions, but navigate the world much differently than the Gen Z workforce entering and navigating the construction industry. These leads to big hairy questions and uncomfortable feelings from both sides. Is Gen Z lazy?Is Gen X failing to stay relevant?Can we work together?How can we work together effectively? In this episode, we explore this dynamic which we've witnessed firsthand and with our clients on a day to day basis. Check out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/ Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes

    38 min

  4. 11/06/2025

    3 Marketing Mistakes Construction Companies Are Making in 2025

    After working with construction firm after construction firm on marketing... we see the same marketing mistakes over and over again. So in this episode of the podcast, Katherine Cooper gets unfiltered on the big mistakes even large construction companies are making very frequently. Check out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/ Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes

    17 min

  5. 11/03/2025

    Are Construction Companies Viewing A.I. All Wrong?

    The big promise of A.I. was automation, hyper-efficiency, and a solution to all of our problems. Especially in the construction industry, there were so many frontiers in which A.I. innovation was supposed to transform, automate, and improve the workflow. However many of us find ourselves in the predicament of spending seemingly more time managing the technology than reaping the benefits of the technology on a day to day basis. Is A.I. one big giant overpromise? Or are we just approaching the technology wrong. In this episode, Greg Gorman and Adam Cooper dive into the ways they've seen people in the construction industry interact with the incoming technology of artificial intelligence, along with some best practices for firms looking to get ahead of the curve. Check out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/ Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes

    25 min

  6. 10/09/2025

    Building Gaskin Electric: How Chris and Lean Lead With Faith, Grit, and Growth

    Electrical work is often the last thing noticed on a job site, but it is the first thing missed when it is not done right. Behind the wires, conduits, and deadlines is a story of resilience, faith, and a husband-and-wife team who built their company by refusing to settle. In this episode of Construction Hot Takes, we sit down with Chris and Lean Gaskin, the leaders of Gaskin Electric. Their journey began with a layoff two weeks before Christmas, while navigating a pregnancy and their young son’s cancer diagnosis. What could have ended their story became the start of a business built on courage, hard lessons, and relentless determination. Since then, Chris and Lean have grown Gaskin Electric to more than 20 employees, tackling complex projects across Georgia and beyond. From moving states to shutting down and restarting their company, to balancing leadership as spouses and parents, their story is about building not just a business but also a stronger marriage and family along the way. In this episode, you will hear: ● Chris’s journey from the trades to starting Gaskin Electric after a layoff● How their son’s health battle shaped their outlook and priorities● Why moving to Georgia became a turning point for growth● The lessons learned about management, estimating, and running projects● How they balance being both spouses and business partners● The three biggest takeaways from building their company: become a good businessman, find the right accountant and insurance partner, and never settle If you are looking for a raw and real story about building a construction business with grit, faith, and family at the center, this episode is for you. #Construction #ElectricalContractor #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #FamilyBusiness Check out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/ Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes

    44 min

  7. 09/25/2025

    From Side Hustle to $20M Empire: How Charlie Dallavalle Jr. Built Painting Plus, Siding Plus & Gutters Plus

    What if you could guarantee quality across every layer of a home’s exterior — paint, siding, gutters, roofs, decks, porches — without the chaos of endless subs and callbacks? In this episode of Construction Hot Takes, we sit down with Charlie Dallavalle Jr., founder of Painting Plus, Siding Plus, and Gutters Plus. Charlie started as a college side hustle, painting homes in his neighborhood, and grew it into one of the Southeast’s most trusted exterior renovation companies. Over 27 years, he’s completed more than 5,000 projects, built one of the largest HardiePlank installation teams in the country, and won the prestigious James Hardie President’s Club Award year after year. Charlie’s story isn’t just about building homes — it’s about building systems, trust, and a reputation that’s stood strong through decades of industry change. You’ll hear: ● The origin story of Painting Plus and how Charlie went from ladders to leadership● How his companies deliver consistency and craftsmanship across multiple trades● The business lessons learned from scaling a “mom-and-pop” into a multi-million dollar brand● Why repeat customers and referrals are his strongest marketing channel● How he’s preparing the next generation to carry the torch If you’re in construction, trades, or entrepreneurship, this episode is a blueprint for scaling with quality, resilience, and community impact. #Construction #Contractors #ExteriorRenovation #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Painting #Siding #Gutters Check out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/ Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes

    53 min

  8. 09/18/2025

    The Real Reason Projects Blow Their Budgets (and It’s Not the Client’s Fault)

    Budgets don’t just vanish — they’re lost step by step, phase by phase. And here’s the uncomfortable truth: most of the time, it’s not the client’s fault. In this episode of Construction Hot Takes, Adam and Jeff break down the real internal reasons projects spiral over budget — from business development overpromises to estimating misses, sloppy buyouts, and execution mistakes in the field. You’ll hear candid stories (including a $25M loss on a design-build project) and lessons learned the hard way about where budgets actually get blown. What we cover: ● How business development overpromises set projects up to fail● The estimator-to-project manager handoff that kills jobs● Real-world case studies of design/estimating disasters● Why labor tracking and production oversight can save (or sink) profit● The critical difference between catching mistakes early vs. finding out too late This isn’t about blaming the owner — it’s about owning the process. If you’re a GC, trade contractor, or construction leader, this episode is your roadmap to spotting the hidden risks and keeping projects on budget. #Construction #GeneralContractor #Budgeting #Forecasting #ProjectManagement #ConstructionBusiness Check out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/ Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes

    37 min
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5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Hosted by Adam Cooper, CEO of Ascent Consulting, alongside Senior Consultants Gregory Gorman and Jeff Robertson, Construction Hot Takes show dives into the gritty, unfiltered realities of building a profitable construction company. With nearly 100 years of combined experience, they’ve been there—from carrying gear on job sites to leading Ascent, a consulting powerhouse that exclusively serves construction companies across North America. Each episode is packed with insights, strategies, and insider knowledge from the industry’s top consulting firm for contractors. Discover what big national contractors know about growing a business, get actionable advice on boosting efficiency, and learn how to supercharge your project pipeline. Tune in, get inspired, and gain the knowledge to take your construction business to the next level.

Information

  • Creator
    Ascent Consulting
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Ascent Consulting