On The Surface with Delta
On The Surface is the go-to podcast for leaders, innovators, and professionals in the world of construction and materials. Each episode dives deep into the strategies, stories, and insights that drive success in the industry—covering everything from business development and operational leadership to fostering team growth and cultivating a winning culture. Join us as we explore the people and processes that shape the built environment, featuring conversations with experts, thought leaders, and trailblazers who are transforming the way we design, build, and lead. Whether you’re a construction executive, materials specialist, or aspiring industry leader, On The Surface delivers the knowledge and inspiration you need to elevate your career and your business.
On The Surface with Delta
Why We Hit “Record” — The Story Behind On The Surface
Ever wondered why a heavy construction and materials company would start a podcast? In this debut episode, hosts Seth Stevens, Brad Marotti, and Jordan Janet pull back the curtain on the idea that sparked On the Surface. From a coffee shop conversation in Poplar Bluff (and a guy named “Scooter”) to tackling the big question—how do we connect better with our people and our industry?—this episode dives into the why behind the mic. Plus, a quick reminder: open enrollment is live, so don’t forget to make your benefits selections!
Tune in for laughs, real talk, and the start of something new.
Thanks for listening!
Check us out:
Seth Stevens (00:05)
Hello and welcome to our first episode of On the Surface, where we talk all things heavy construction, material supply, and general business. We will discuss past experiences, new developments, and fresh ideas with internal and external guests from week to week. I'm one of your hosts, Seth Stevens, regularly joined by Brad Marotti and Jordan Janet. We all work for Delta, a heavy highway construction and materials company in the Midwest.
Since this episode is coming out at the beginning of November, I'd like to give our employees a friendly reminder to log into our benefits website and make selections while open enrollment is happening. If you have any questions or issues, reach out to your manager or HR. In today's episode, Brad, Jordan, and I discussed the reasons we're starting a podcast. So let's get into it.
Seth & Brad (01:00)
Why we started podcasting in the first place. Do you remember how this went down? This idea?
Jordan Janet (01:07)
Yeah, I'm curious to hear this. ⁓
Seth & Brad (01:09)
I
remember where we were. Yeah, where were we? In Sikeston No, in Poplar Bluff. Yeah. After the coffee shop. Yeah. What was that place called? I don't know. It was wild though. And what'd that guy call you?
He called me. He called me Scooter. He called me Scooter. Yeah. And the waitresses. I was about to die. The waitresses were all yelling at each other. ⁓ This waitress is trying to refill this ice chest and she dumped an entire bucket of ice on the ground and they just started picking it up and putting it in the ice. Yeah, gloves or anything. ⁓
Jordan Janet (01:46)
beautiful. Right off the ground?
Yum!
Seth & Brad (01:53)
Mm-hmm. That sweet.
Jordan Janet (01:55)
What can I get you, Scooter?
Seth & Brad (01:58)
No, some other dude just eating there as another patron getting after him. Yeah. I was handicapped and he called me Scooter. And I fell out of my chair laughing.
Jordan Janet (02:09)
I
would have too.
Seth & Brad (02:11)
I don't think you should do that. Laugh or say that. Yeah, say that. ⁓ That's true. There could have been something severely wrong with you, but I guess he looked pretty healthy otherwise. I could have been on the scooter permanently. Yeah, that's true. I would have punched him for you if that would have been the case. You'd have got beat up probably. Yeah, but I would have thrown the first one.
Jordan Janet (02:23)
You're in Poplar Bluff
been from a disability.
Seth & Brad (02:41)
appreciate that. You bet. And then I'd be on the floor and you guys would be taking me to the hospital probably.
But anyway, yeah, how'd it go? We ate lunch. Yeah, we ate lunch. were talking about... We just got done listening, or I had been listening. I think you had been too. Per Diem Podcast. Oh, yeah. Right? Yeah. We were, yeah. Hot in it, I think. Yeah. What's his name? Keaton Turner. Keaton. Keaton Turner's podcast. He's the president of Turner Mining Group. Owner, president of Turner Mining Group. And he went through a...
Jordan Janet (03:15)
Okay. yeah.
Seth & Brad (03:18)
five part series talked about the steps of a business. ⁓ The first step was sales and marketing. That's the beginning, you've to get that right. The rest of the steps are really operational. Technical, operational, all the stuff that we do really well. I think we do sales well.
Jordan Janet (03:28)
Interesting.
Right.
Seth & Brad (03:46)
I don't know we're getting there, but I think that we have Missed the marketing piece for a long time. Yeah, like you can go to a lot of people even in Cape and they do not know Who Delta is or what they do? Paragould is even worse. We have a good presence here. Okay Yeah, that's true. Paragould's pretty pitiful and Jonesboro. No one knows. Yeah, well we do mm-hmm but yeah with the
Jordan Janet (03:48)
We're getting there.
Seth & Brad (04:15)
with the way that social media is and the way that people intake information today, there's no reason why we shouldn't be transitioning into these means of marketing. We've always just put ads in on the radio. I think last year we had radio ads. Yeah, I guess there's a time and a place for that. Yeah. ⁓ But then, you know...
We've got to talking about a podcast because we all listen to podcasts. And I didn't think it was a very good idea, honestly. He poo-pooed it for a while. I could get on board with some of the topics, but I keep going back to the question, who's going to listen to a podcast from us?
Jordan Janet (04:58)
Okay.
Yep.
Seth & Brad (05:01)
a few guys that are still trying to figure it out. Yeah, don't have anything figured out for the most part. to expose yourself on a podcast?
Jordan Janet (05:12)
That's part of the draw to podcast, right? It's kind of that vulnerability, just like a real conversation and you're immersed in it, right? Even if you're just a listener, you're still a piece of it.
Seth & Brad (05:22)
Yeah, for sure you feel like you're part of a conversation, which is... We dissected this for a long time, of trying to come up with proof of who would listen to it and what we'd gain out of it and all that kind of stuff. And then I think just came to the realization last week, more so, that it is just a conversation and being a part of a conversation, even though you're not directly conversing with them, you feel like you're part of it.
And it's helping you think through and process ideas. Even if you're not taking ideas because they're frankly dumb if I bring them up.
But it's some sort of creative new idea that you didn't hear before. you're getting your creative juices flowing. I guess you keep going. I keep going back to, I listen to a lot of podcasts, like specific topics. I search out certain specific things. don't just listen to, I normally don't just listen to the same podcast every day where people are just talking. Right?
So in my mind, I feel like I want this podcast to be where you hit specific topics so that people can, if they're searching for a certain thing, they could come across you talking about that thing. That's true, like a keyword search. Yeah. And then they dive into all of it. Yeah. Because they love us. And then they may become a listener. That's right. Maybe. But then you've got that, but then you also have the group.
that we want to listen in. And I think that's a different purpose. It's not so much the technical, whatever the topic is that we're talking about. Leadership, paving, it's more of a, let's get to know the people that are managing the business. Yeah, it's feeling more connected and like you can have a conversation. You're not so out of touch on another island. the business that they work for a little better. That's true. ⁓
You nailed it.
You set me up.
What do you think?
Jordan Janet (07:37)
Now, I think those two pieces of it are the why for me, right, is getting the name out there. you said it best. mean, part of my shtick whenever I talk about my history with Delta and how I even became aware of who Delta was, I grew up in Cape my whole life and didn't know. And for somebody in their early 20s, probably a little more connected to or aware of the construction environment locally than most early 20 year olds.
And had never heard of it. And so, you know, and I asked my dad about the company and he was like, that's a great company. If you can get an internship there, you know, get on. ⁓ So that was kind of how I even applied for the internship here. ⁓ So yeah, that piece of it. Why are we? Yeah, okay. I'll tell them. But.
Seth & Brad (08:24)
We owe your dad. ⁓
Jordan Janet (08:29)
You know, it's why are we a dark horse industry? And there's no need to be right. And you said we had a little more presence up here. You know, we used to have the ready mix trucks running up and down the road that was really our our that was kind of our main connection to the end user and end consumer where the ready mix trucks, not to mention they're driving up and down the road every day with your name on the side of it. Yeah, that might be the only reason there's a little more of a market knowledge and presence here than there is elsewhere.
Seth & Brad (08:55)
fully think it is because anytime I bring out Delta Delta concrete I'm like well not anymore but yeah not no more but yeah I grew up seeing razorback mm-hmm yeah it's like same thing
Jordan Janet (09:08)
And you know who
those guys are. The trucks stick out, they draw attention, and again, they are a direct connection to the end user. know, DIYers or people putting on a small patio or even just building a house, you see that truck pouring in. And kids love that stuff. So that was a draw, and that would be the only reason we probably had any kind of market knowledge or presence up here.
Seth & Brad (09:22)
little concrete yeah
Jordan Janet (09:31)
But then I like also what you said too about the connection to our people, right? It's just one more way to connect to our people. And when I say connect to, I don't mean, you know, yes, passing on information, because this could be a great avenue for us to pass on information. We're always looking for ways to get information to our people. But when I say connection, I also mean, you know,
like you said, getting to know who's in the business and who they're working with, Having guests on here or even just listening to you speak or you, Seth, speak. mean, it's these, those are connections that people are making. Even just listening to conversation. They feel like, okay, I know who this dude is a little better than I might have just a name on a paper or seeing him visit the facility every now and then, right?
Seth & Brad (10:17)
It's true,
you may... is as dumb as I thought he was. No doubt. No doubt. Like, I don't really have to be on my A game when he comes around anymore, because he ain't going to pick up on it, you know? it could lead into, like, just an automatically more organic conversation when you get together, because you don't feel like you have the ice to break.
Jordan Janet (10:28)
But
You
do feel a little more, you made a joke, but you do feel a little more relaxed around somebody if you kind of have an idea of who they are, how they operate, where they came from, what their thought processes are. ⁓ So yeah, I mean, to me, those few things right there are enough reason to do a podcast.
Seth & Brad (10:58)
True. I should have put applause in right there. I'm glad you didn't. I don't know. I don't know how I feel. I don't like it either. How would we come up with topics to talk about?
Jordan Janet (11:14)
think we have a decent list of topics we want to talk about and then I think some of it's going to come organically through our conversation. But I'd like to hear from our employees. What are people wanting to
Seth & Brad (11:29)
hear
about? have some topics that come from what our employees want to hear.
Jordan Janet (11:36)
So somehow we need to get, you we need to connect with them and that can be their input, you know, give us some give us some topics to dive into Then we'll get them in here get them on the podcast
Seth & Brad (11:45)
Yeah, that's fair.
So we'll have to figure out how we get that info directly to us. Group me. Survey. Group me survey. There you go. Everybody get on group me. Good plug, dude. Gosh. I like it. I'll keep it coming. Please do. What do we...
⁓ Do you guys think that we would gain anything out of it? Like the people talking on the podcast, because we're talking about a lot of hopeful gains out of people that are listening. Do feel like you'd gain anything out of it by being on? Absolutely. think just like meeting today and having the conversations that we did, I picked up a lot
Jordan Janet (12:21)
We
Seth & Brad (12:40)
Just to have any time we have an intentional conversation with someone that we bring in, I'm going to pick something up. Learn stuff. For sure. Yeah. Yeah. So. Yeah.
Do you feel like it'll help you talk through ideas or creativity or maybe become a little more self-aware on issues or I don't know. Maybe not, maybe the answer is no. I'm just curious. I mean, anytime that we talk through something, I'm...
I'm learning. Feel better about it? At least? Yeah. mean, the way that I process information is most of the time I sound like an idiot when I'm talking about... I don't think so. You do to yourself, but not in general. You help me a lot. We do this a lot. We're just spitballing. Yeah. Throwing ideas around. Not finishing sentences or anything. Yeah. Thinking out loud. Yeah.
Jordan Janet (13:43)
Yeah, it gives you the... it affords you the opportunity to unpack some of the ideas that are in your head, right? And we can talk through them with whoever we've got as a guest on here. That's true. So, mean, yeah, there's that... there's that benefit of it. But then also, you know, leaning back on the connection that you're making with the folks listening to the podcast.
That's a benefit. If you can connect with people, you can connect with many more people this way. Even if they can't immediately converse with you ⁓ right now in live time, if they're listening to the podcast, they're part of that conversation. Now that conversation can be had next time you see them face to face. I think it affords you that connection. It's kind of like a primer to that connection or that conversation that you might not have had.
without something like this happening. hopefully we see some of that in the future. ⁓ Those are the things I'm excited about.
Seth & Brad (14:34)
think we should be intentional with in those conversations to have specific questions we want to cover. I mean, I get there. With guests? Yeah. Oh, yeah. For sure. I agree.
Jordan Janet (14:43)
Sure.
Seth & Brad (14:51)
We make a huge guest list, internal and external. So just put on GroupMe any external guests you want to see. Plug number two. We've got a long way to go with GroupMe. We've got what, 60 people on? We might hit 70. A few spouses. Do you have it on your iPad? Yeah. We had 60 the last time I looked.
Some were spouses. Well, are you counting? We have 200 and 200 employees Yeah, probably 250. Yeah
How many group moves do you have, Jordan?
Jordan Janet (15:33)
my gosh, you don't want to know.
Seth & Brad (15:36)
I have one. Let's compare group mates. Now how many active group mates do don't have. How many active group mates do you have?
Jordan Janet (15:38)
You really want to know how many I got?
And what do you call active?
Seth & Brad (15:48)
You don't archive any of them? We do that until right now.
Jordan Janet (15:51)
He didn't even know you pass it.
All right, so softball ended in July. ⁓ So that one died in July. Otherwise I've got one, two, three, four, five, six, I only got seven.
Seth & Brad (16:09)
That's not that bad. You said 30 the other day. Okay. ⁓ so active. Now we're talking active. Seven active. can't count your 10 year olds kindergarten baseball group me.
Jordan Janet (16:11)
Well, yeah, how many do I have total?
I mean, I got one from 27.
Seth & Brad (16:24)
I
guess most kindergartners are five when they're playing. Most kindergartners.
Jordan Janet (16:31)
One of them on here hasn't been active since, nobody has said anything since 2017.
Seth & Brad (16:36)
Okay, well that doesn't that definitely doesn't Archive it we have 70 to answer the question dude 70 shoot. It's like I pre-prepared on the dot, but I didn't I just got lucky
Jordan Janet (16:38)
Yeah, I gotta get that off of there.
Seth Stevens (16:51)
All right, that's a wrap on our first conversation. As you heard, we really want to bring awareness to our industry as well as our company and add a line of communication with our internal teams. If y'all enjoyed the episode, please rate our show and leave a review on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen and check out Delta on all social media platforms at Delta Companies, All One Word, or our website at deltacos.com.
Thanks for listening and we'll see you next week.
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