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Elevating Safety, Anchoring Legacy with Premier Building Anchors
What happens when tradesmen turn frustration into innovation? Out of past conversations on this very podcast, a new partnership emerged—one that’s raising the bar for safety and growth across Philadelphia’s skyline.
In this episode of Constructing Greatness, Nick reconnects with Anthony and John Zurzolo and John McCarroll, whose earlier appearances remain among the show’s most downloaded. Since then, their journeys from window cleaning and construction management to entrepreneurship have led to the launch of Premier Building Anchors, a company already making a mark just 18 months in.
They share how hard work, family values, and relentless drive turned a simple idea into a thriving enterprise that now supports dozens of employees and their families. More than anchors and inspections, their story is about responsibility, legacy, and proving that the trades can create wealth, opportunity, and community impact.
Episode Takeaways:
Connect with John McCarroll:
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What happens when innovators decide that “normal” isn’t good enough anymore? A simple conversation can turn into a movement that changes minds and communities.
In this powerful return of Constructing Greatness, we dive into the launch of Woolwich Wellness Company and its flagship dispensary, Frosted Nug, located in Carneys Point, New Jersey. After a nine-month break from podcasting, Nich reconnects with three former guests to share how a casual conversation evolved into a groundbreaking wellness venture.
These four entrepreneurs—each driven by a shared passion for purpose and innovation—open up about their mission to shift mindsets and break free from conventional wellness models. Together, they’re building more than a cannabis business: they’re shaping a community-centered destination where content, connection, and well-being go hand in hand. With authenticity and vision, they reflect on how collaboration, media, and grit are transforming an idea into impact.
Episode Takeaways:
How podcasting can create unexpected business connections and growth opportunities.
Why delays in cannabis licensing can become a blessing in disguise for smarter decision-making.
How premium dispensaries can become community hubs that go beyond selling cannabis.
How cold plunges, red light therapy, and sauna culture are shaping modern wellness entrepreneurs.
How to design loyalty programs that go beyond discounts and create emotional investment.
Why VIP spaces in dispensaries can be multipurpose tools for brand experience and relationship-building.
How content creation becomes a long-term business asset when treated strategically.
Why modular, evergreen content is more powerful than chasing viral moments.
How combining cannabis with other wellness products like mushroom coffee or THC cold brew opens new markets.
How legal challenges can result in groundbreaking business models that set industry precedent.
How to position your brand so vendors compete to be part of your product lineup.
How in-house media production acts as a business turbocharger for marketing and storytelling.
Why the future of dispensaries lies in creating meaningful human connections (not just transactional sales).
Connect with Chuck:
Death of the Fox Brewing Company website
Connect with David:
Foxal website
Foxal YouTube
How To Win With Video podcast
Connect with Kris:
Growtopia Farms LLC Facebook
Let's Connect!
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Should you bet on your resiliency and adaptability to shape your success in the construction industry?
In today's episode, we delve into Frank Gallagher's story. From economic downturns to changes in the industry, Frank navigated every challenge that popped up by relying on his resilience and ability to adapt to setbacks, miscalculations, and obstacles.
Throughout this conversation, you'll hear about Frank's journey in the construction industry, his background as a civil engineer coming from Puerto Rico as a sophomore, and the conscious effort he put into his personal growth, leading to the founding of his own business, The FGX Group. Frank also talks about how he handles work-life balance, offers practical advice and inspiration for overcoming obstacles and achieving success in the trades, and much more.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Frank Gallagher:
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"It's just not for everyone. It's really hard. And I think it's important to be honest; that it's a really, really tough job. But the tough jobs that you find a way to excel and win in are extraordinarily rewarding." - Coty Fournier
In this episode, we have the privilege to learn all about business development and construction operations from Coty Fournier, who has over 25 years of sustained success in the space on both sides of the owner-contractor equation. Coty is a Professional Talent Development and Growth Strategist, Trainer, Workshopper, Speaker, and Author. She is also the co-founder and former CEO of Jobsite123.com, the industry's first search and qualify engine, acquired by The Blue Book Building & Construction Network.
Throughout this episode, you'll hear about Coty's journey into construction and her brilliant strategy to pave her path in the space without having a family background in the construction industry. You'll also hear Coty's thoughts on staying true to one's passion when choosing a career, the value of teaching and mentoring in construction, and how to succeed as a minority in the industry.
Additionally, we talk about her book, "Inside Commercial Construction's MVPs," a true gem still relevant after a decade, her eagerness to improve herself constantly, and much more.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Coty Fournier:
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Have you ever thought a massive setback might be an opportunity to change your life? Sometimes, it is about being ready to adapt and understanding that life happens for us, not to us.
In today's episode, I'm honored to receive the extraordinary Chris Harder to talk about unconventional paths to success, his unique perspective on life, entrepreneurship, resilience to bounce back from adversity, and relentless attitude to always look for the sunny side of life. Chris is an Investor, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Host of the Chris Harder Show, and Founder of Frello, an app that makes friendlier loans by pairing those with needs with those with means.
Throughout this episode, Chris talks about his unconventional path to success, from being booted out of college to becoming Vice President of HSBC, oscillating between wealth and scarcity, and losing everything and gaining it back several times. We talk about his podcast, which has over 850 episodes, the circumstances that forced him to rebrand the pod, and how his adaptability helped him get something positive out of that setback.
Additionally, Chris shares his thoughts on reaching happiness and fulfillment, nurturing a healthy and long-lasting marriage, friendships, networking, entrepreneurship, and much more.
Some Questions I Ask:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Chris:
Let's Connect!
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Did you know, right after high school, what you wanted to do with your life?
For most people, even those with a strong inclination when they are kids, it takes time, patience, proper support and guidance, and multiple experiences.
Today, I'm joined by Jim Gardler, Director of MEP Operations at Bala Consulting Engineers, to talk about his vocational discovery journey, the moment he realized he wanted to be a mechanical engineer, and the choices and experiences that led him to develop a successful career in the construction industry.
Throughout our conversation, you'll hear about Jim's passion for taking things apart to understand how they worked, how he progressed from mechanical engineer to project manager to working with commissioning, and finally, his position as a Director at Bala. Jim also talks about the several certifications he worked on to "put his money where his mouth is" and keep growing as a professional, his love for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, how it stimulates not only his physical but his mental health, and shares his thoughts on the choice every kid faces after finishing high school.
Some Questions I Ask:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Jim:
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"It's hard to learn who you are, but it's really easy to understand who you are not."
In this episode, I'm joined by Kieran Williams to talk about entrepreneurship, priorities, motivation, and the thought process of choosing a career path. Kieran is a former competitive soccer player, a New Jersey native, a Digital Identity Specialist, and the Owner of The Garage Gym, a 24/7 access fitness facility created for folks tired of overcrowded mainstream gyms.
You'll hear about Kieran's journey into entrepreneurship, his thoughts on what he learned about business from his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, compared to what he learned from it in real life, and his passion for endurance sports. We also talk about staying motivated to care for our health and fitness, the teaching experience of running a business, and the importance of keeping our minds busy and constantly growing.
Additionally, Kieran shares tips and advice for young people who are uncertain about their career path, talk about how he became a Digital Identity Specialist, and much more.
Some Questions I Ask:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Kieran:
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Is it possible to start a company with zero knowledge or experience in the industry and turn it into a successful business?
In today's episode, I'm joined by the wonderful Shira Charles, Interior Design Expert, Entrepreneur, ADHD Advocate, and Mom. Shira founded Charles Interior almost 8 years ago, and thanks to her passion and natural talent for interior design, she turned the company into a national design firm, broadly known in the industry and completing projects nationwide.
"Only six months before I opened my business, I knew that interior design was a career and that people were behind these decisions. I just thought they were people with good taste and scents and people without it." - Shira Charles.
Throughout our conversation, we explore the links between entrepreneurship and identity, Shira's experiences acknowledging her ADHD, and how she reframed her identity around it. We also talk about Shira's passion for impacting the community, her entrepreneurship lessons, hobbies, advice for the youth, and so much more.
Some Questions I Ask:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Shira:
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Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. The opinions voiced in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which strategies or investments may be suitable for you, consult the appropriate qualified professional prior to making a decision.
Is there anything you would like to do, yet you hold yourself back for some reason because you probably couldn't anyway?
In this episode, I'm joined by the inspiring Russell Doup, Public Speaker, LPL Financial Advisor, and former kicker and National Champion with The Ohio State University NCAA football team. Although Russell started playing football halfway through his senior year in high school, he accepted replacing an injured kicker last minute in a football match. At the end of that year, he walked on the Ohio State football team in 2010 as a kicker and majored in Marketing four years later.
He believes putting ourselves under stressful situations is the best way of creating resilience and the path to personal and professional growth.
We had a fantastic conversation about self-confidence, how to use challenges and stressful situations to elevate ourselves, and the importance of having a curious mind. Russell also talks about his decision to become a speaker, how seeking discomfort has helped throughout his career, his future plans as a podcaster and writer, and so much more.
Some Questions I Ask:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Russell:
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Intentional networking is essential not only in construction but in any industry; creating meaningful connections can sometimes open more doors than formal education.
In this episode, I'm joined by Jessica Slack, Senior Executive and Private Sector Growth Leader at Gilbane Building Company, one of America's largest building companies. Although her father was widely known in Philadelphia's construction space, she never thought she'd end up in construction. Her innate drive for relationship building led her into sales and business development first, and her ambition and need for new challenges took her to construction later.
We had a fantastic conversation about Jessica's journey before and after joining the construction industry, her thoughts on formal education, and why so many people struggle with their career choices. She also talks about the difference between being in marketing and sales, her passion for relationship building, how she ended up in Gilbane, and so much more.
Some Questions I Ask:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Resources:
Connect with Jessica:
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Despite going after a degree in Communications following solid advice from his father, our guest, Chris Condon, knew he belonged to the Construction Industry. Following his passion, he transitioned from Marketing Coordinator to Lead Superintendent, to Project Manager, to Sr. Construction Manager. Today, 20 years of experience later, he is a Senior Vice President of Development, Construction & Operations.
"Get a job that doesn't require working outside in the winter."
In this episode, Chris Condon, Senior Vice President of Development, Construction & Operations at
Coretrust Capital Partners shares his story of passion for the trades. We delve into his childhood, growing up and playing at construction sites, and waiting anxiously for the summer to come, so he would spend the entire day with his father framing houses and roofing.
We also talk about his decision to pursue a career in Construction and his transition from the communications realm. He shares valuable advice on making decisions based on our passions, the importance of being open to opportunities, and more.
Some Questions I Ask:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Resources:
Connect with Chris:
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If you love what you do, your job will never feel like work, and as if that wasn't enough, you'll never have a bad day.
Meet Jeff Francesconi, President at Capital Concrete, a man in love with the trades since day one, who, in every concrete pouring, feels the same excitement he felt in his first one almost 20 years ago.
In this episode, we dive into Jeff's journey in the trades, from his start in the 90s, when having a steady job was reason enough to feel lucky, to his decision to start his own thing in 2004. Jeff shares how he felt while beginning Capital Concrete, what he focused on to assemble his team, and how he evolved as a business owner.
Plus, we talk about his passions outside of work, what advice he would give to young people interested in joining the industry, and more.
Some Questions I Ask:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Resources:
Connect with Jeff
Let's Connect!
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Would you know when is the right time to start your own thing?
In today's episode, Ron Ormsby, Founder of BellCo Demolition, joins us to talk about his journey in the trades. After a lifelong experience in the construction industry, Ron saw an opportunity where everyone else saw a crisis and decided to rely on his expertise to start his own business.
Throughout our conversation, Ron talks about his early days in the trades in his teen years, the opportunity of running a company he got when he was 20 years old, and how he became an ironworker at 23. We also talk about how he got into demolition, why he's so passionate about it, what helped him start his own demolition company, and how those days were before his business saw daylight.
Some Questions I Ask:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Resources:
Let's Connect!
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Being medically discharged from the Marine Corps certainly felt like one of life's curve balls for our guest, Mike Ward. Still, his calling for public service wouldn't be silenced by that; it'll just remain dormant for a time. Following his father and grandfather's steps, he'd become a Union electrician, which years became a critical piece for developing his career as a first responder.
Meet Mike Ward, New Jersey State Police's brand new Sergeant First Class, former Hazardous Materials Specialist, Task Force Officer at the ATF, and Electrical Aspects of Fire Investigation Instructor at the National Fire Academy.
In this episode, Mike shares his journey from the Army to the trades and then back to public service. We talk about his experiences as a first responder, the pros and cons of such a taxing activity, and his drive to prioritize passion over profit.
We also delve into Mike's hobbies, his unique philosophy of dealing with life's curve balls, and much more.
Some Questions I Ask:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Connect with Mike:
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Although it's hard to associate tattoed, long-haired, rough construction workers with people who pay attention to their emotions, that is one of the crucial points our guest, Ed DeAngelis, focused on to secure his success. He understood that those workers' emotions (even if they weren't ready to admit it) could and would interfere with their ability to be their best version at work. That is why his company, EDA Contractors, invests lots of its resources in training his workers on leadership and emotional intelligence.
Ed DeAngelis is the CEO of EDA Contractors and one of the industry's most innovative and influential minds. When Ed started EDA Contractors, they were roofing contractors exclusively, but his creative personality turned the company into a complete exterior envelope contractor and an industry leader.
In this episode, we learn more about Ed and his upbringing, why he decided to go to college, his first steps in the construction industry, and why he decided to get into roofing. We delve into the nuts and bolts of Ed's approach to business and leadership, which led EDA Contractors to rank three years in a row in the top 5 of the Top Workplace in Philadelphia, a recognition given by the Philadelphia Inquirer.
In addition, we chat about Ed's passions outside of work, his best advice for the youth interested in joining the trades, and much more.
Some Questions I Ask:
As a kid, before college, were you a creative kid? And where did you see yourself taking your career? (5:03)
After you graduated, what got you into the roofing business? (9:10)
How do you manage the pieces of construction you're not responsible for in a job? You know, glazing systems, curtain walls, storefronts (17:09)
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Ed talks about what rocketed his entrepreneurial spirit during his childhood (6:09)
Ed explains his company's 10 years warranty policy (12:13)
Ed dives into the importance of emotional intelligence in his approach to leadership (22:09)
Ed and Nicholas discuss the importance of encouraging and preparing employees to become independent and start their own thing if they want to (26:46)
Ed describes what it means for him to be successful and what he is aiming to do as a company leader in the following years (36:15)
Ed shares valuable insights and advice for young people interested in developing a career in the trades (41:40)
EDA Contractors Inc. Resources:
Connect with Ed:
Let's Connect!
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Although most people think that things like luck or destiny are the ones behind new business opportunities or partnerships, these things are a byproduct of our openness to meeting new people and putting ourselves out there consistently.
Those are some lessons I've learned during the pandemic, like creating meaningful connections, being surrounded by like-minded people, keeping a curious mind, and always being willing to learn.
Today, in our 50th episode together, I take a moment to reflect on how far we've gone with this podcast, the wonderful people I've been fortunate enough to meet, and the growth opportunities those experiences represented for me from a personal and professional standpoint.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Resources:
Let's Connect!
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Adaptability is the first thing people think necessary to run a successful third-generation family business. Undoubtedly, the firm's capacity to absorb and adjust procedures and techniques to the fast-paced advance of technology is detrimental, but it's not all of it.
In this episode, David Oliver joins us to reveal how making culture a priority served the family business hundreds of times more than any tech improvement.
David is the President of Oliver Fire Protection & Security, the largest commercial fire protection provider in the metropolitan Philadelphia area. The business started in 1957 and experienced consistent growth thanks to a deeply rooted policy of delivering quality service and creating excellent customer experiences.
Throughout our conversation, we delve into David's journey in the industry, his experiences at Dartmouth College, where he got his engineering degree, and his decision to go to night school to get an MBA in business while working full-time at Oliver FP&S.
We also talk about the company's values and culture, their outstanding results by making culture a priority, and David's approach to change and to expand the family business.
Some Questions I Ask:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Resources:
Connect with David:
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This week, Dan Paulson joins us to talk about his path in the construction industry, his relationship with the school and formal education, and his first steps in the trades, literally, from the ground up.
After high school, Dan quickly realized the school wasn't a place for him, at least not at that time. Then he started working in the trades, but his drive to constantly challenge and improve himself led him to finish school and become a mechanical engineer while working full time.
He is the Owner of Commercial Doors, Frames & Hardware; he has over 25 years of experience in commercial building construction, working for projects in every industry and ranging up to $500M.
In this episode, we go through Dan's fantastic career in the industry and his passion for not only changing the landscape and the skyline but also for changing people's lives with his work. We delve into the more challenging parts of Dan's journey, having faced losing his money, savings, and job at once.
We also discuss why he decided to go back to school, his favorite parts of the industry, and what it can provide, and he shares his thoughts on the importance of guidance and counseling for young kids thinking of their future.
Some Questions I Ask:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Resources:
Connect with Dan:
Let's Connect!
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Kristen Pucci joins us today to talk about nurturing and following the entrepreneurship spirit, trusting the process, and the magical power of believing in ourselves.
Kristen is the founder and CEO of KRAE Consulting, a company created to assist successful AEC Industry business owners who don't have time to promote their companies and increase their presence on social media. Passionate for marketing, sales, and research, Kristen found her place on earth in her senior year, when she had to develop a marketing plan for Kinsley Construction.
In this episode, Kristen talks about her upbringing and early passion for entrepreneurship and the construction industry. We delve into her relationship with corporate America and how she discovered she wasn't built for that life.
Kristen explains the need for consulting in the AEC Industry, their services at KRAE Consulting, and the power of connections. We also talk about Kristen's relationship with Rae Ripple, the fantastic story of how they met, and how Kristen became Rae's agent.
Some Questions I Ask:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Resources:
Connect with Kristen:
Let's Connect!
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Soon in his life, our guest, Andre Golsorkhi, found out he wasn't made to follow a traditional career path would demand. He had an entrepreneurial spirit, always eager to learn, solve specific problems, and discover new ways of doing things.
Andre Golsorkhi is the Founder and President of Sidecar, a company leader in e-commerce marketing technology, recently acquired by Quartile. Before Sidecar, Andre founded MediLync, Omeda, and Snipi, three different startups with different destinies and multiple valuable lessons to develop Andre's career.
Andre takes us on a fantastic trip around his career in this episode, from the software he developed inspired by his father's job to the later backlashes to his success with Sidecar. We delve into how important it was for Andre to count on his family's support and how his tendency to do things his own way helped him become a successful "multipreneur."
We also talk about the effort and commitment it takes to create a successful company, which is never represented in news headlines, and the importance of niching down to achieve success. In the end, Andre shares invaluable advice for young people interested in becoming entrepreneurs.
Some Questions I Ask:
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Resources:
Connect with Andre:
Let's Connect!
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