Leadership Lessons in the Highway Construction Industry

In this episode of Constructing Connections, Rich Barcaskey interviews Dan Beatty, a seasoned expert in construction management and leadership development. With over 36 years of experience, Dan shares his journey through the construction industry and the pivotal moments that shaped his career. 

 Key Highlights: 

• Early Influences and Career Paths 
• Soft Skills in Construction 
• Challenges and rewards starting your own business 
• Holistic Approach to effective leadership and teamwork 

Make sure to check out Part 2 of our episode with Dan, where we discuss mentorship, mindset, and building culture in construction! 

Enjoying the Constructing Connections Audio Series? Take our quick survey to help shape future episodes! 

Transcript

Rich Barcaskey: [00:15 – 00:55] Hello, everyone, and welcome to Constructing Connections. My name is Rich Barcaskey, and today I'm joined by Dan Beatty of Constructive Leadership Solutions. Dan brings with him 36 years of experience in construction management, estimating, and leadership development. Over the course of his career, he's built a reputation for providing practical solutions designed to help construction companies grow, adapt, and thrive. Through his firm, Constructive Leadership Solutions, Dan focuses on the heavy civil infrastructure, bridge, and highway sectors, where his expertise continues to shape the future of our industry. Welcome, Dan.   

Dan Beatty: [00:55 – 00:57] Hey, thanks, Rich. I appreciate you having me. 

Rich Barcaskey: [00:57 – 01:07] So to get us started, let's talk about what first drew you to the construction industry and why did you decide to make it a career? 

Dan Beatty: [01:08 – 02:43] Well, when I was a kid, my father, although he was an insurance salesman, decided to get his general contractor's license so that we could build a extension or a new church. that we wanted to attend. And in that process, you know, I watched him go through, you know, this is old school, this is online, not even online, what am I talking about? He went through a correspondence course in order to get his license and he put that in. And so I spent a lot of time as a kid on job sites. I got very good at demolition, I gotta tell you that, as, you know, a kid would be. But I got into demolition. I got into how he put the job together. We also had a couple of apartments that we had to maintain. So I had been steeped in just construction as everything a part of what I was growing up doing. And so when I got to middle school, I had a crossroads. This is going to sound a little crazy, but it was either I wanted to either pursue the theater or civil engineering. And because my parents were very practical, they helped me decide to go the practical way. And I have been in the business ever since. So even though technically I say 36 years, in honesty, since a young person, you could probably put it closer to 40. 

Rich Barcaskey: [02:43 – 02:58] Okay, so definitely a lot of background in the industry or hands-on. different things that you're doing. You have a parent that's in that kind of sector. That's what kind of spurred it along. It did. 

Dan Beatty: [02:58 – 03:34] It did. And also, you know, the generation I come from, we were a lot more used to doing things in a more practical way, I guess, if you will. It's like, oh, well, your career, like I said, you know, you're at a crossroads, you make a decision. it made more sense to go in this direction. I have no regrets. I think it gave me an incredible career, and I've enjoyed and loved the industry ever since I've been in it. And that's why even now, I'm trying to give back to it in any way I can to help the next generation of those come along. 

Rich Barcaskey: [03:35 – 04:26]  So walk us through your career path, because one of the things we like to talk about when we're doing our construction leadership council or talking to young people about careers in construction, I think the biggest thing that everybody wants to know is what is that path? And I think in the construction industry, sometimes when we talk about different trades and things like that, it seems like there there might be only one path. But really looking at the construction industry, Maybe it's like this and other industries but it seems like in construction there's a lot of different paths and there's a lot of different opportunities so you can be a laborer for so many years then you can be project manager and then maybe you own the company there's a lot of opportunities so try to focus on that walk us through your career path. What were some of the pivotal roles or experiences that shaped your journey in construction? 

Dan Beatty: [04:27 – 08:53] Well, I kind of look at it as if just like a three-act play, if you will. Act one was getting into the knowledge piece and getting the civil engineering degree and acting on the, or during the summers and breaks, I was a part of a, excuse me, an engineering firm that did testing. It's like compaction tests and concrete cylinders and things of that nature. So I was doing that on the off seasons. Also did some surveying one summer. But then I got out of school and the first part of my career was in operations. You know, project engineer, project manager, superintendent, that sort of thing. And I did that for the first probably say 15 years of my career. And then once Children came along i needed to have a little bit more stability in my day so that i could be home a little bit more often so i asked if i could transition into estimating and that was a great opportunity for me to go into the second ask or the second act of my career. And that was, all right, I'm going to estimate, I'm going to learn how to do pre-construction, all of the things that get a job from concept to construction, right? And then the third act is the act I'm in right now. It's, all right, I've spent the first part doing operations. then estimating. And by the way, I am a firm believer that if you're going to be an effective estimator, you really need to have that time in the field to see how work is actually done physically. Anybody that comes out of school and thinks that they're an estimator, I'm a little dubious. But then now, act three is I'm reaching back over the years of my knowledge and saying, all right, well, where are the gaps? Where are the things that I would have liked to have known as I was coming up and things of that nature? And that's where I am now. It's like, all right, I can help out with technical things. I can teach you to become an estimator. I can teach you to be a project manager. But then The other part of it is, well, one of the things that construction companies particularly, and also engineers and architects and people of that nature that are in the adjacent fields, is there's difficulty in communication. There's difficulty in team dynamics and things of that nature and the culture of companies. So that's what I'm focused on here in the last third. And I'd say, you know, one of the pivotal moments in my career happened while I was still in operations. And that was the company I was working for at the time got involved with design build work. And this was at the turn of the century. You know, this was like in 2000, and it wasn't as prevalent as it is now. And when that happened, It opened up a whole new world to me in the sense of everything that I had learned up to that point was, well, here's a set of plans. Here's a set of specs. You break them down and you cost them out and you go build it. Now, it was oh no you're going to have a communication with an engineer and you're going to work on a design together and then you're in collaboration with the owner and that opened up a whole new set of information for me right and that's where we're at now which is in order to be successful in the construction business You've got to be able to have that communication piece. It's not good enough just to be a solid builder. You also have to be a business person. You have to be a communicator. So you were talking about how different pathways for people to come into the business. Well, sure, you can be a worker in the field. You can work your way up that way. You can go engineering wise. You can certainly do that. But then there's also a lot of benefit for business people, business development, people that do graphic design, because a lot of these things require proposals, proposals that require maybe English majors. You know, there are so many different opportunities in the industry that are definitely worth exploring. 

Rich Barcaskey: [08:54 – 09:42] Great. And one of the reasons why we wanted to talk to you today was the fact that, you know, you have this experience, you described Act One and then Act Two in the estimating, but, you know, we hear a lot in, just in career in general, we hear a lot of people talk about the fact that, you know, there's a lack of those soft skills, like you're talking about communication. And that was one of the reasons why we wanted to talk to you because, Recently, you've made that transition and not to steal your thunder, but we'll call it act three. After decades in the field, you decided to start your own firm. What inspired you to launch constructive leadership solutions? What needs in the industry were you hoping to address? Obviously, those soft skills. 

Dan Beatty: [09:43 – 12:22]  Well, yeah. Like I said, one of the things that I noticed, not only in myself, but in the industry itself is that, Everyone looks at the technical skill of what they're required to do, whether it's an estimator or a project manager or what have you. And that's where the focus is, the so-called IQ, your intelligence quotient. But I kind of think in terms of if you can visualize a Venn diagram where you got IQ in one circle, and then it's overlapped with EQ, which is emotional quotient right where they overlap and then the final one is personality hue you know where it's why do I do what I do what do I bring to the table and hopefully these are all the same size circles and they all converge at the same point that's where you have balance most people are out of balance and that's what gave me the idea to do this is that A lot of people are over here with the IQ bubble being super big. That's what I focus on. I'm going to be the best estimator that there ever was. Well, unfortunately, as I've noticed, a lot of estimators are very good technically, but when you ask them to explain what they're doing or ask them to present maybe their concept to an owner or even during a bid review, they become very tongue-tied or they become very focused on their silo, right? And I felt like there's a gap. There's a gap in where those circles converge, right? So I wanted to say, you know what? There are not enough estimators out there, so I will help make one for you. Or there are not enough people to become project managers, so I'll help you do that. Oh, and by the way, if you already have a company where you have these people in place, How do they get along? How do the teams work together? How are they able to communicate the vision of what you're trying to do in a company? And that's where I try to make that overlap gap. So I kind of call it, this might sound a little crunchy to you, but it's a holistic approach that I like to take where it's, hey, I'll come in and I'll help fix your, technical wrench turning problems, but at the same time, the so-called soft skills, if you don't spend time with that, and I have to convince you that the ROI on updating yourself in that arena is worth it, then I can give you the best of both worlds if I'm fortunate enough. 

Rich Barcaskey: [12:22 – 12:51] Let's put it that way. Right. And filling that gap is important. And even like you talked about prior, that, you know, a good estimator should also be in the field. And that's kind of that focus. If you don't have that background, then it's easy to get focused on the technical. So you might be really good at the technical, but life is a little bit technical and a little bit non-technical or a little bit, you know, it's a little hard skill and some soft skill. 

Dan Beatty: [12:52 – 13:23] Well, the thing that helps me out in this arena is, like it or not, because I've spent all this time in the industry, I have credibility. So when I go to a company, it's not like they're hiring some sort of you know, consultant guru that comes in is like, oh, I'm going to teach you how to speak nicer to each other. It's like, hey, look, I have been chewing the same dirt you have for the last 35 years. And let me tell you, some things work and some things don't. Here's what I've learned. That's a lot more effective. 

Rich Barcaskey: [13:24 – 13:56] Right. That's that's a very, very good point of it seems to me my experience in the construction industry, if we bring in we bring in Trainers or we bring in even if it's attorneys to talk about some subject It seems in the construction industry they can spot somebody who doesn't know their industry very quickly and once they do that the sound is turned down and Because they don't understand like you said they haven't chewed the dirt, so they're not going to listen to them unless they have.

Dan Beatty: [13:56 – 13:59] Do you take parenting advice from people who don't have kids? 

Rich Barcaskey: [14:15 – 14:42] That's a very good. That's a very good point. I maybe I nicely listen to them, but then after I say what the heck are they talking about? They don't know what we're talking about, right? So what's interesting about the whole thing is obviously making that transition from. you know, a regular full-time job that you know what you're getting into. You go to the office every day. It's kind of a routine. But we all get to a certain point in our careers where we think, you know, is there more that you can do? So what are some of the biggest challenges that you faced making that transition from working directly for a construction firm to then going to a consulting side of things? 

Dan Beatty: [14:42 – 17:13] Well, the first struggle for me is when you go from being a doer or an operator to an advisor, that's a big shift. right and so I kind of envision what I like to think in terms of is being more of a coach you know someone who says hey let me just listen to you more than I speak and find out where you're coming from because the thing that's challenging is every single company every single situation is unique so coming up with sort of a bespoke uh solution is challenging there's that piece and the other challenging part is just business 101 stuff like if you've spent your entire career working for somebody else and then all of a sudden at the at the 11th hour you decide you know what i'm going to work for myself that can be very intimidating. And especially when it's not something that you're used to doing. So I'm kind of learning as I go in that arena. That's kind of exciting on the one hand, but it's also frightening. But the thing about it is, as long as you base what you do on your own personal set of values, And I really believe that you're going to be successful. And that's kind of the lens that I always go with is that I believe that people connect based on their values, not based on superficial things like what you look like or where you went to school or junk like that. And so, as long as I stay focused on that piece, you know, then it will be successful. And what I like about it is you have the benefit of looking back over the years. And while I admittedly loved my time in the construction industry, as I said, there was a piece of me at one time that wanted to be in the theater, right? So being able to speak, being able to present, being able to teach now is sort of tapping into this innate feeling inside of me that I have wanted to do for many, many, many years. So while it's exciting and scary, it's also really liberating as well. I've really enjoyed it. 

Rich Barcaskey: [17:14 – 17:29]  OK, so before we wrap up, I have to provide our listeners with full disclosure that and I didn't want to I didn't want to start with this because I was afraid people would turn us off. But Dan is a lifelong Baltimore Ravens fan. 

Dan Beatty: [17:30 – 17:32]  Well, not lifelong. They've only been existent since 1996. 

Rich Barcaskey: [017:33 – 18:13] Yeah, that's that's a very good point to share. They haven't been around since like 1933, like the Steelers. But anyway, Um, and for our listeners, I've also had a terrible towel and I've been twirling it during the whole thing, uh, during this whole recording, uh, just to show some solidarity with our Steeler fans. But so I like to ask a question about where do you see the AFC North shaping up? Um, Steelers are one and oh, I think the Ravens are not a hundred. I think they're all in one, but it's early. So where do you, where do you see things shaking out in the AFC North? 

Dan Beatty: Well, first of all, I'd just like to point out, I hope everybody out there, I hope your yin's are good. Is that the right way to put it? You got it. All right. When I was born in Baltimore, Hon, and I just love me some Ravens. I was there with the Colts back when they were, before they got stole. Anyway. 

Rich Barcaskey: [18:33 – 018:44] Well, you're, I gotta say. Your yinzer accent was good for a while, but then it slipped into kind of like it had a little southern twang in there But I can't help we it's okay 

Dan Beatty: [18:44 – 19:11] You can't be perfect in that so no problem with that Well to be perfectly honest with you rich if I could prognosticate I could go to Vegas and make a lesson I wish I knew because as much as I love my Ravens they are one of the most frustrating franchises on the planet and And I really don't know what to expect. If they live up to their talent, I think they take the North, but we'll have to see. 

Rich Barcaskey: [19:12 – 19:12] OK. 

Dan Beatty: [19:13 – 19:29] Well, we'll double back maybe and do a follow up in in a January, mid-January time frame to see how well what I told you originally was when I said I was going to come up and do this estimating thing in February. Yes. We can also celebrate the Ravens Super Bowl victory. 

Rich Barcaskey: [19:30 – 19:47] Oh, remember I said that. I think, you know, what would be a good bet is to say whoever has the better record maybe has to wear the other team's jersey during the estimated competition. I'd like to.  

Dan Beatty: [19:47 – 19:48] All right, I'll do it.  

Rich Barcaskey: [19:48 – 19:50] I mean, it's a little bit of shame, but not a lot of shame. 

Dan Beatty: [19:51 – 19:54] Thank you. As long as there's no nudity involved, I'm good. 

Rich Barcaskey: [19:54 – 21:01] There you go. Well, Dan, thank you so much for sharing your story and with your insights with us today. I think our listeners will understand your experience from starting out in the industry, leading projects, now guiding companies through your endeavor, through constructive leadership solutions. really highlight the depth of knowledge and leadership that you bring to the industry. We will not just be one and done with you. Like I said, you're part of the estimating competition. We've talked about bringing you in for doing some development and training in the winter. So even though of your NFL allegiance, we will We will ignore that for the time being and still utilize your resources. So thank you very much to our listeners of Constructing Connections. And we hope you found today's conversation informative and inspiring. Be sure to tune in next time as we continue to explore the people and ideas that are shaping the future of our construction industry. Thanks, Dan. 

Dan Beatty: [21:02 – 21:02] Thank you, Rich. 

Rich Barcaskey: [21:02 – 21:18] And to our listeners, be sure to watch out for Part 2 of our interview with Dan Beatty where we go deeper into mentorship, mindset, and building culture in construction. This is Rich Barcaskey. Thank you for listening to Constructing Connections.