Being coached in leadership is one thing, but without actionable steps to turn those lessons into reality, that coaching becomes redundant. Welcome back to our rebranded podcast, Leadership Blueprints! Today we are very excited to introduce Wally Adamchik, former US marine, President of Firestarter Consulting, and leadership coach.

He joins us to discuss all things leadership! Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Wally’s career, what inspired him to become a leadership coach, what Firestarter Consulting does, who their target audience is, and so much more! We delve into some of the issues in the construction industry before Wally shares what he thinks makes for a great workplace.

He even talks us through some of the action steps he teaches his clients in his leadership courses; including the histories, heroes, heartaches, and hopes exercise. Finally, Wally shares his favorite quotes and books and tells us who his dream dinner guests would be. Thanks for listening in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• What led Wally to do what he does today and what Firestarter Consulting does.

• How Wally approaches the problems in the construction industry as a leader.

• The histories, heroes, heartaches, and hopes exercise Wally teaches.

Quotes:

“What is a great place to work? Well, it’s trust, pride, and camaraderie.” — Wally Adamchik

“You can tell me what your values are but you can’t tell me why your values are. And until you can tell me why your values are, you don’t have a solid foundation. And if you don’t have a solid foundation – you will not have stability.” — Wally Adamchik

“Self-awareness – may take you to some dark places, it may take you to some scary places within you but it’s worth it because you come out better on the other side.” — Wally Adamchik

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Wally Adamchik on LinkedIn

Wally Adamchik on X

Wally Adamchik on Instagram

Firestarter Speaking and Consulting

Construction Leadership

The Lost Art of Listening

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff… And It's All Small Stuff

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Joining BJ on the debut episode of our newly rebranded podcast, Leadership Blueprints, formerly Inspiring People & Places, is Katie Kilker, Senior Project Director for Federal Facilities in the Engineering, Design, and Infrastructure Group at AtkinsRéalis. In honor of November's Veteran Salute, DOD to AEC, we’re spotlighting Katie’s recent transition from active duty in the Air Force to her current role in the built environment.

Tune in to hear Katie discuss her journey to the Air Force, her formative experiences, what an Air Force career can look like, and her role at AtkinsRéalis. She also shares insights from “taking off the Colonel Kilker uniform” and stepping into civilian life, key elements for a smooth and successful transition, and valuable resources for those planning to transition.

Don’t miss the first episode under our new name, enjoy!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Where her career started and how she ended up in the Air Force.

• What started the process of transitioning out of active duty.

• How she started her transition early and figured out her must-haves and no-compromises.

• Key elements to a successful transition and her experience so far.

Quotes:

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Start your [transition] plan early, be inquisitive, and learn about what you want to do and don’t just feel like you need to do what other people want you to do.” — Katie Kilker

“Being a leader, you kind of need to be extroverted for people to see who you are. You can’t just hide in the shadows, assess, and write notes and stuff.” — Katie Kilker

“Civilians — are the bedrock of the Air Force.” — Katie Kilker

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Katie Kilker on LinkedIn

AtkinsRéalis

SAME Career Transition Workshop

Georgia Tech

Beale Air Force Base

The COMMIT Foundation

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

Military Retirement on Google Play

Military Retirement on Apple iStore

American Corporate Partners

Theodore Roosevelt Quote

Daring Greatly

Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less

Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

What does it take to turn big ideas into lasting infrastructure?

In this episode, we sit down with two MCFA team members, Michael Fuhrman and Brian Pieplow, to dig into their new book, Make No Little Plans: A Planning as a Project Development Approach to Building Infrastructure. Michael, Co-Founder of MCFA, and Brian, Chief Project Development Officer, bring a combined wealth of expertise to MCFA.

Michael’s extensive background in environmental permitting, land use planning, and regulatory compliance aligns projects with sustainable standards. Brian’s leadership is in professional growth and skill-building strategies. This combination keeps MCFA’s talent at the forefront of industry best practices.

In our conversation, we discuss what they hope readers will take away from it. Learn about their discover, navigate, accelerate (D-N-A) process described in the book and how it benefits professionals in the industry. Explore common misconceptions around urban planning, what it takes to be an agency champion, and why the time is now for public infrastructure and planning.

They also discuss the power of curiosity in urban planning, share recommendations for budding urban planners, unpack the policy shifts needed, and explore what it takes to be successful in the industry. Join us to discover how big projects and outcomes start with small plans and the steps to get there with Michael Fuhrman and Brian Pieplow.

Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The meaning behind the title 'Make No Little Plans' and what inspired it.

• Unpack the "planning as a project development approach" concept.

• Hear real-world examples of applying the D-N-A approach to planning.

• Their passion for urban planning and what got them interested in it.

• Challenging the status quo of urban planning and what needs to change.

• Brian and Michael share the impact they are hoping to achieve with the book.

Quotes:

“Big projects and big outcomes start with small plans.” — Brian Pieplow

“When you see things like a bridge, road, or building, it all started with a plan and an idea.” — Michael Fuhrman

“Every project is going to die a thousand deaths along its journey that is worthwhile and complex.” — Brian Pieplow

“I hope for young professionals to really grasp what we are saying, and there is a way to get things done. There is light at the end of the tunnel.” — Michael Fuhrman

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Michael Fuhrman

Michael Fuhrman on LinkedIn

Brian Pieplow

Brian Pieplow on LinkedIn

Arlington National Cemetery

Inspiring People & Places Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn