In this episode of Construction Corner, host Dillon makes the case that blue collar businesses — contractors, engineers, electricians, and tradespeople — are the real backbone of community giving. From sponsoring youth soccer teams and buying 4H animals at the county fair, to volunteering on chamber boards and national association committees, Dillon shares how he thinks about charity and community service as a business owner. He opens up about his own commitments — serving on the local chamber board, sponsoring sports teams without having kids of his own, and staying plugged into the community despite a packed schedule — and explains why even small donations like $200 for jerseys can make a massive difference to organizations running on fumes. Whether it's writing a check, coaching a team, or giving two hours a month to a board, Dillon encourages every business owner to find their version of giving back — not for the ROI, but because it's the right thing to do.

In this episode of Construction Corner, host Dillon gets candid about the challenges that come with rapid business growth — and how he's been forced to ruthlessly audit his time. As Vertical Design Services takes on more projects and clients than ever, Dillon shares how he's reevaluating speaking engagements, conference appearances, career fairs, and community commitments to protect his focus on what matters most: engineering, proposals, and delivering for clients. He reflects on the unique advantage of staying connected across the industry — talking to contractors, apprentices, and students nationwide — and why most engineering firms miss out by staying siloed. Whether you're swamped with work or still building your pipeline, this episode is a reminder to pick the activities that are both productive and fulfilling, delegate everything else, and audit your calendar before it runs you.

In this episode of Construction Corner, host Dillon breaks down the massive workforce shifts happening across America — from the $600 billion data center construction boom driven by the big hyperscalers, to how AI is simultaneously eliminating jobs at large corporations while creating new ones at smaller companies. He covers the growing apprenticeship-to-foreman ratio gap threatening job site productivity, why modern tools are opening the trades to a broader workforce, and how implementing simple checklists and Elon Musk's 5-step process optimization framework can help construction firms train, retain, and scale their teams in today's high-demand environment.

In this episode, Dillon breaks down the major shift in electrical safety standards — NFPA 70B is now an enforceable standard, and it affects every facility owner, contractor, and insurance holder. He covers what arc flash studies are, why you need to keep them up to date, and how a proactive electrical maintenance program can save you significant time and money. Plus, he shares practical tips on infrared viewing windows, breaker testing, and how to maintain your arc flash study on an ongoing basis rather than starting from scratch every five years.

This episode is about using ultra-distance hiking and trail running as team-building experiences, sharing stories from 100-mile races, and planning intern training hikes in California mountain ranges. The conversation covers the mental challenges of extreme endurance, sleep-walking through races, and how these unique experiences create unforgettable learning moments that can't be replicated in a classroom or office.

In this episode, Dillon shares insights from a book that's transforming how he leads Vertical Design Services: "The Mission, The Men and Me" by retired Delta Force commander Pete Blaber. As the company scales—bringing Kowabunga Studios fully in-house, planning their October summit, and navigating massive contract negotiations—Dillon breaks down the leadership framework that's helping him through the growing pains.

The core principle is simple but powerful: evaluate every decision through three questions in order—Does it serve the mission? Does it serve the team? What's in it for me? When you put yourself last, you make better decisions.

Dillon also explores the critical importance of trusting "the man on the ground"—empowering team members closest to the work to make decisions without becoming a micromanaging bottleneck. Learn why giving your team spending authority, decision-making power, and genuine trust is the key to scaling fast without losing quality.

In this episode, Dillon dives into what it really takes to run an engineering firm working on mega projects like data centers. He explores the massive challenges around procurement, lead times, and electrical gear shortages in today's infrastructure boom—and reveals why the biggest bottleneck isn't design or labor, it's decision-making speed.

Using XAI's rapid data center build as a case study, Dillon breaks down how Elon Musk's team achieved what seemed impossible: a 100,000 GPU cluster built in record time. The secret? Eliminating procurement bureaucracy and empowering people to say "yes" quickly.

Learn why paying 5% more to accelerate timelines might be worth 50 million dollars, how single-task focus drives real productivity, and why the ability to make fast decisions is the ultimate competitive advantage in billion-dollar builds.

Host Dillon shares insights on growing Vertical Design Services' team, starting with the exciting news of hiring their first summer intern. He discusses the unique challenges of building a talent pipeline in the engineering and construction space, from providing housing for interns to creating exceptional experiences that set VDS apart from competitors. Dillon also covers the critical balance of staffing—avoiding both burnout from being understaffed and inefficiency from overstaffing—and explains how to time hiring with project acquisition. The episode wraps up with valuable lessons on taking feedback from clients, the importance of independent problem-solving for team members, and why being a lifelong student is essential in the ever-evolving construction industry.