Episodes

In this 4th of July special edition of Leadership Blueprints, BJ Kraemer sits down with Marine Corps veteran, educator, and operations leader Fred Conner for a conversation about legacy, leadership, and renewal. This episode explores the transformation of the historic 75-acre Valley Forge campus- home to Founding Forward, a national civic education nonprofit founded by the Union League of Philadelphia and Freedom’s Foundation. Fred shares his journey from military service to international proje...

What if your next big leadership breakthrough started with booking a vacation? In this solo episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ Kraemer dives into a powerful and often overlooked leadership lesson: the transformative value of R&R. With summer in full swing and the midpoint of the year approaching, BJ challenges leaders to rethink their relationship with rest, reframing time off as a strategic imperative for sustained impact, clarity, and growth. From redefining “busy” to modeling a culture th...

What if the future of leadership in construction isn’t about command and control, but about trust and curiosity? In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, we’re joined by Andrea Janzen, founder of Ambition Theory, a professional development company that specializes in the research, education, and advancement of women in construction. Andrea shares her unexpected journey from corporate marketing to coaching executives in the construction industry. She unpacks the power of transformational leade...

Leadership is a never-ending journey with infinite checkpoints for growth and self-discovery. Today, we are joined by Greg Kelly, the CEO of STV, a national, infrastructure-focused professional services firm that exists to make communities better through innovative solutions that connect people, places, and the present to the future. Greg begins by meticulously detailing his professional journey and how he found his feet in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) before explaining why...

The lessons learned on the sports field teach us so much about leadership on the battlefield and in life. This episode marks the launch of a special segment highlighting the power of youth sports in shaping the leaders of tomorrow. Joining us on this episode is Head Men’s Swimming and Diving Coach at Princeton University, Matt Crispino, a key player in shaping leadership and character development through sports at the Military Academy. Matt shares success tactics, core team values, and why he ...

What happens when engineering leaders prioritize people over profit and community over convenience? In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, we’re joined by Phil Wursta, a seasoned strategist with over 40 years of experience in municipal agency and private sector engineering. He’s also the founding partner of WK2 Consulting, a woman-owned civil engineering and public management firm serving Pennsylvania and New Jersey. From his early days as an archaeology-obsessed teen to his leadership role...

Memorial Day isn't just the start of summer—it's a time to honor those who gave their lives for our freedom. Every Memorial Day, BJ has decided to play an episode he recorded two years ago to honor his late friend and everyone who has given their lives to service. In this tribute episode, we speak with Marion Zilinski, known as Mama Z, about the true meaning of Memorial Day through the eyes of someone who lost a loved one in service. She shares the story of her son Dennis, his journey to West P...

If education is executed correctly, it can be one of the best ways to inspire people to change the world! Today’s guest on Leadership Blueprints, John Abraham, is a professor of thermal sciences at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about John’s career, what led him to academia, how he connects with this generation of students, and so much more! We delve into his focus on ocean warming before discussing his work on sustainable energy through his comp...

Joining us is Carey Kight, producer, advertiser, and owner of Veteran Made. He shares a series of pivotal choices that have shaped his career and his life’s journey, from the military to film school, advertising, production, and beyond. Pulling from his experiences, we discuss the frameworks that translate from the military to other fields. Carey shares how Veteran Made embodies this, highlighting key skills that veterans can bring to the working world. We touch on managing your own expect...

What does it take to lead a software company at the forefront of the architecture and engineering (A&E) world? Joining us today is the CEO of BQE Software, Matt Cooper, to discuss his incredible career and his company’s work in the architecture and engineering space. Tuning in, you’ll hear about Matt’s time consulting, what led him to BQE Software, how he transitioned into a leadership position, and so much more! We delve into what it means to produce ‘client-worthy’ work before disc...

In celebration of our 200th episode, this conversation highlights 20 key lessons we've learned over the past five years of hosting this podcast. Join us as we take a deep dive into leadership philosophy, drawing from insights we've gathered since the very beginning. You'll hear what it means to lead from the front, why going viral isn't necessary to make an impact, and how building character shapes everything you do. We also unpack the recent drop-off rate in the real estate world and explore h...

What does real leadership transformation look like, and how do you go from managing projects to leading people? In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, we sit down with Coty Fournier to discuss leadership transformation and creating a company-focused impact. Coty is an industry veteran, speaker, author, and senior consultant with Well Built Construction Consulting. She is known for fast-tracking construction managers into high-impact leaders through keynote speaking, leadership training,...

There is growing concern around the post-service health of veterans and first responders as it’s easy to fall into destructive patterns when liberated from the forced discipline of being in active duty. Today we are joined by John New, an Army veteran and serial entrepreneur who’s made it his life’s purpose to help curate healthier life habits for former service members. We begin with John’s background as he explains who he is, and what he does before learning about CYTO (previously The Hu...

In business, your aim should be to lead with your skills and let your certifications be the ‘icing on the cake’! Today, we welcome federal contracting expert and founder of Federal Subcontracting Solutions, Shauna Weatherly, to pass on her wealth of knowledge about the federal contracting space. Tuning in, you’ll hear about Shauna’s extensive career, the pendulum swing and balancing act Shauna has witnessed throughout her career, the policy side of contracting, creating efficiency in...

Innovation is an essential part of business and those who do not innovate, eventually fail. In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, BJ is outlining the importance of innovation. Tuning in, you’ll hear about the biggest win BJ has ever had in business, the importance of discipline, what he thinks ‘the language of business is’, and more! BJ goes on to explain that the more we can understand how to communicate expected investment against expected outcomes, the better everyone will get at deploy...

Making the jump from military service to the private sector can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, we sit down with project consultant and veteran David Ciurzynski, founder of Ciurzynski Consulting, to explore how veterans can leverage their hard-earned skills in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. David shares his journey from the Air Force to becoming a respected owner's representative, emphasizing the...

Culture and growth are very special topics here on the Leadership Blueprints Podcast, and today’s guest, award-winning social psychologist, author, speaker, and organizational consultant, Professor Mary Murphy, certainly speaks our love language! Mary is a trailblazer in equity and inclusion, illuminating the dynamics of mindset and culture and empowering organizations to foster environments of growth and innovation. In this episode, Mary describes how we can distinguish a fixed mindset fr...

What can be done to attract more women to construction? Today, on the Leadership Blueprints podcast, we welcome Barb Allen, a renowned construction industry keynote speaker and host of the Constructive Behaviors Podcast. In honor of Women in Construction Week, we talked with Barb about her construction career and how she is helping more women find success in the industry. From stumbling on a degree in construction management – and immediately realizing it was what she wanted to do – ...

If you want to be successful in your career, you need to find your unique ability and have a maniacal focus on it! Joining us today is the incredible CEO of ICONA Resorts and managing director of Achristavest, Eustace Mita to share his wisdom about business. In this conversation, you’ll hear all about Eustace’s incredible career, his businesses, his construction projects, and how his relationship with faith has changed him as a businessman. We delve into our guest’s philosophy in lif...

Ronald J. Bennett has an impressive track record of achievements, including serving as the Founding Dean and Professor Emeritus at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He began his career in the industry, spending over 20 years in executive roles at BMC Industries, CPI (now Boston Scientific), Teltech, and several entrepreneurial organizations. Beyond his industry experience, Ron is also a dedicated educator and author, specializing in materials engineering, innovation, strate...

Joining BJ on the show today is Bill Mandara, the CEO and Owner of Mancini Duffy. With over 25 years of experience in architectural design, Bill has applied his expertise to a wide range of projects, including industrial facilities, corporate offices, residential housing, retail spaces, and educational buildings. Deeply involved in every stage of project development, from initial design to construction, Bill brings a comprehensive perspective to his work. His hands-on experience in the constr...

True leadership isn’t just about personal achievement; it’s about empowering others and driving meaningful impact. In this solo episode of The Leadership Blueprints Podcast, host BJ Kraemer dives into the heart of leadership transformation. Tuning in, you’ll hear BJ unpack the concept of “leadership as leverage” and how leaders act as levers for those they are leading. He expands on this concept by sharing his insights on what the army taught him about leadership, like how to balance mission ex...

Some of the best examples of good leadership come from the military. Today on Leadership Blueprints we are joined by veteran and CEO of HCPA Construction, Heath Sanders. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about who Heath is today, his career journey from the Naval Academy to construction, his vision for his business in the future, and so much more! Heath discusses some of the most important leadership lessons he learned from the military and how he’s made use of them in his construction and entrep...

Capital is the cornerstone of healthcare infrastructure, and building large-scale projects without it is impossible. Joining us today is Gail W. Kosyla, Executive Vice President and CFO at Yale New Haven Health System, to explore the intersection of healthcare, finance, and infrastructure. With over 38 years of experience, Gail has navigated the complexities of mergers, capital allocation, and strategic planning in a not-for-profit healthcare model, overseeing $6 billion in annual operatio...