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 entrepreneurial career.

He touches on the parallels between leadership lessons in the military and in trade professions like construction. And he shares his thoughts on nuclear power and even shares advice for transitioning veterans.

Thanks for listening in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Heath tells us about HCPA Construction and BeaverFit.

• What led him to the Naval Academy and a breakdown of his career.

• Heath shares some leadership lessons he’s learned and how he applies them to HCPA.

• What his vision is for where HCPA Construction is going in the future.

• Heath’s thoughts about nuclear power and advice for transitioning veterans.

Quotes:

“[In the military,] you have a mountain of things that need to get done and you have to be able to prioritize the most important tasks, and what I found interesting is that’s really the case in construction as well.” — Heath Sanders

“Do the right thing right and in that order.” — Heath Sanders

“I think the trades and specifically construction are well suited for military veterans.” — Heath Sanders

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Heath Sanders on LinkedIn

HCPA Construction

BeaverFit

The Fountainhead
A Game of Thrones

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

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 operations.

In this engaging discussion, Gail shares how her team balances immediate needs with long-term investments, including a billion-dollar neurosciences tower project adapted in the wake of the pandemic. She also reflects on the challenges of fostering innovation while maintaining access and quality in a system under financial pressure.

Gail’s career path offers valuable lessons for leaders across industries. Her focus on mentorship, collaboration, and lifelong learning underscores the importance of shared knowledge and diverse perspectives in tackling today’s challenges.

Tune in for a fresh perspective on leadership in complex, dynamic systems!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Balancing quality care delivery with financial sustainability in nonprofit healthcare.

• Unpacking the role of mergers and acquisitions in the healthcare industry.

• How leadership makes decisions that balance core services and new growth opportunities.

• Gail’s experiences as a woman in finance and healthcare and how it’s shaped her leadership.

• The future of healthcare real estate, including supplementing ownership of core facilities.

• Examining the challenges and opportunities of managing large-scale projects.

• The need for strategic planning and investment in technology and growth.

Quotes:

“[As a non-profit] we don't exist to make a profit, but we need to make a profit to be able to fund important projects, to fund growth, and to have that security net of care for our community.” — Gail W. Kosyla

“Everyone should be involved in finance. We’ve all got to be stewards of our resources – I just consider myself the shepherd of that. It’s up to all of our people – down to every employee in the organization of just being good stewards of our resources.” — Gail W. Kosyla

“Building those connections and having safe spaces to have conversations is so important. – I don’t think that any one person can know everything, we’re just better when we talk to people and share.” — Gail W. Kosyla

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Gail W. Kosyla on LinkedIn

Yale New Haven Health

Lean In Circles
Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Ever wonder what it takes to fix the people problem in the industries that quite literally build our world?

In this episode of Leadership Blueprints, we sit down with Dan Briscoe, President of BuildWitt, a company on a mission to transform the "dirt world,” from heavy civil construction to infrastructure and more.

Join us as we unpack the leadership, recruitment, and retention challenges facing the construction industry and explore how BuildWitt is innovating with creative solutions like microlearning platforms and leadership summits. Dan also shares invaluable insights from his journey through the Marine Corps, healthcare, and construction, offering actionable leadership lessons that resonate beyond the dirt world, and touches on the vital importance of caring for employees.

If you want to find out how tackling these challenges can elevate your leadership, inspire your team, and secure a thriving future for the construction industry, be sure to tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• BuildWitt’s focus on improving recruitment, training, and engagement in the dirt world.

• Unique challenges and hidden opportunities in the construction industry.

• The importance of caring for employees while building sustainable business models.

• Rethinking work-life balance to attract the next generation to the construction industry.

• Addressing systemic issues like mental health, safety, and professional development.

Quotes:

“There's so much of this industry that people don't know, don't see, take for granted.” — Dan Briscoe

“You’ve got to have a good business that's profitable so that you can lead and care for people. That's got to be first.” — Dan Briscoe

“To attract the next generation [to the construction industry] and make it somewhere where people want to come work, they want to have a life and they want to work hard – We've got to think differently as leaders.” — Dan Briscoe

“We've got to be better companies to our current employees so that they don't leave and that they're fulfilled – We've got to take care of them not only with a paycheck, but look at their health and mental health.” — Dan Briscoe

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

BuildWitt

Dan Briscoe on LinkedIn

Dan Briscoe on Instagram

Aaron Witt

Dirt Talk Podcast

BuildWitt Training

BuildWitt Connect

Ariat DirtWorldSummit

Echelon Front Field Training Exercise (FTX)

Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family

Landman

Banana Ball: The Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah Bananas

Reset: How to Change What's Not Working

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn