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In this episode: In this first news brief for February 2026, Christi and Angela share construction-industry updates with a focus on North Carolina and South Carolina. They highlight state government priorities aimed at removing bottlenecks and maintaining the Carolinas’ status as a top construction market, including South Carolina’s South Carolina Justice Act push to reform joint and several liability toward a proportionate fault system to reduce “deep pocket” lawsuits and lower insurance premiums. They also discuss South Carolina energy expansion bills to streamline permitting for high-voltage transmission lines and natural gas pipelines supporting the battery-belt surge, with electricians in high demand. Workforce items include a need for 500,000 workers nationally, ABC’s education strategy supporting certified apprenticeships, NAWIC’s 2026 safety/retention priorities for women, and North Carolina’s “graduation with a trade” pilot placing seniors on job sites to earn diplomas and Level 1 apprenticeship credentials.

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In this episode: Christi Powell and Angela Gardner welcome returning guest Jesse Hernandez (Depth Builder founder, partner in No BS with Jen and Jess, and host of Learnings and Missteps) to discuss leadership and systems in construction. Jesse shares pivotal moments from moving from installer to foreman, where intimidation got results but cost relationships, and how leadership training helped him shift to a people-centered approach. He explains why most leadership training is too generic and not contextualized to construction, emphasizing conversation, listening, and challenging ideas over slide-heavy agendas. For quick job-site results, he says leaders must be present, visible, and model desired behaviors. A simple ROI habit is setting daily targets and end-of-day check-ins to identify “time bandits” and interruptions. He urges listeners to meet someone new on the jobsite to build connections and improve the industry, and shares ways to reach him via LinkedIn and depthbuilder.com.

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In this episode: Christi Powell and co-host Angela Gardner interview Michelle James, owner and operator of Grace Construction Group and coordinator for WIC Week at NAWIC Columbia, about pivoting into construction at 47 after work in nonprofit and the legal world, including serving as a municipal judge. Michelle shares why she chose construction after COVID, how her legal background helps with contracts, liability, and building business processes, and how she brings accountability to a family-run company through communication, meetings, documentation, goal-setting, and aligning projects to a mission. She emphasizes “the cost of silence,” arguing that asking questions prevents expensive project misunderstandings and creates a healthier team environment. Michelle also discusses faith-driven community giving, partnering with HomeWorks, and her former Prosperity Project nonprofit in Columbia.

Sponsored by: GirlUp Greenville and Groundbreak

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