Most trades and construction businesses don’t lose money from one big mistake. They lose it from a hundred small “interpretation” mistakes that turn into RFIs, rework, delays, and budget blowouts.

In this episode, I sat down with Dennis Dixon to unpack why noncompliance is the thread tying together so many project failures, and how AI is already being used on-site in practical ways (often by the people you’d least expect).

Dennis also breaks down why many industries skipped the basics of automation and jumped straight to AI, and what leaders can do to get the upside without losing the human edge that makes great work… great.

You’ll take away:

• Why trades were early adopters of AI on-site (and what they used it for)
• Why AI works best as an assistant, not a replacement
• How noncompliance quietly drives cost and schedule blowouts
• Why hundreds of project handoffs create “interpretation risk” and RFIs
• How missing automation fundamentals is holding teams back with AI
• Why trust is dropping, and how leaders build it back through reputation and clarity
  
  

Guest: Dennis Dixon is the Co-founder & CEO of OQULi (Canada) and the creator of CODiii, a platform focused on helping AECO teams navigate compliance and reduce project friction.
Guest links:
https://codiii.com/
https://www.oquli.ca/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennisod/

Wes Towers - Uplift 360: I help trades and construction companies be found, trusted, and chosen online through high-performing websites and Search Everywhere Optimisation.

https://uplift360.com.au

Want to be a guest on Built. Trusted. Chosen.? Book here: https://uplift360.com.au/built-trusted-chosen-podcast-guest-booking/

Trust in construction is getting hammered, and when clients shop like it’s online retail, everyone loses. Lowest bid wins, corners get cut, change orders explode, and reputations get dragged.

In this episode, I’m joined by Eugene Gershman from GIS Companies. Eugene’s come up through a construction family, ran contractor operations, and now focuses fully on development management. We get into what actually protects projects when the market’s tight: real relationships, clear fees, and refusing to build off “cheap” design that isn’t truly buildable.

You’ll take away:

• Why “permit-only” drawings can be a financial grenade once you hit site
• How low-bid wins often turns into change-order pain (for both owner and contractor)
• A better way to compare contractors: fee, margin, and how they value themselves
• Why you can’t build trust, or buildings, from behind a computer screen
• How simple “old school” touches can help contractors stand out in an AI-noisy world

Eugene Gershman is a real estate developer and the lead at GIS Companies, helping property owners structure, finance, and execute development projects from feasibility through delivery.
Guest links: https://giscompanies.co/
Feasibility Study Checklist: https://giscompanies.co/development/feasibility-study/
Eugene’s podcast (Real Estate Development: Land to Legacy): https://giscompanies.co/podcast/

Wes Towers - Uplift 360
I help trades and construction companies be found, trusted, and chosen online through high-performing websites and Search Everywhere Optimisation.
Visit: https://uplift360.com.au

Want to be a guest on Built. Trusted. Chosen.? Book here: https://uplift360.com.au/built-trusted-chosen-podcast-guest-booking/

Most trades and construction businesses don’t stall because of a lack of work. They stall when the owner becomes the bottleneck due to a lack of leadership.

In this episode, Dr Andy Neillie breaks down the real-world leadership shifts that help construction business owners and leaders scale: clearer expectations, better conversations, stronger trust, and a culture that doesn’t rely on you being everywhere at once.

You’ll take away:
• The “tools to team” mindset shift that separates operators from leaders
• How to build trust with your crew (and stop losing it through small slip-ups)
• Why hard conversations are a leadership skill, not a personality trait
• Simple structure that supports scale: clarity, roles, and follow-through
• How to lead with standards and care (without becoming the bottleneck)

Dr Andy Neillie is a leadership speaker and leadership development specialist who helps businesses turn managers into effective leaders.

Neillie Leadership Group: https://neillieleadershipgroup.com/

Free ebook: https://leadershipmaterials.com

Host: Wes Towers - Uplift 360
I help trades and construction companies be found, trusted, and chosen online through high-performing websites and Search Everywhere Optimisation (SEO).

Want to be a guest on the podcast? Book here: https://uplift360.com.au/built-trusted-chosen-podcast-guest-booking/

If you’re in trades or construction and the business can’t run without you, you’re not “busy”… you’re boxed in.

In this conversation with Richard Walsh, we unpack what really keeps contractors stuck on the hamster wheel, and how to rebuild a business that creates time, profit, and options (including a real exit). Richard’s story includes massive wins, losing everything, and the hard reset that forced him to design a different kind of business and life.

You’ll take away:

• Making money is rarely the hard part, it’s the systems, compliance, and leadership that keep it alive
• When your business becomes your identity, you’ll defend it with bad decisions
• The non-negotiables that protect your family and stop the business taking over
• A simple exit strategy framework: “how long and how much”, then reverse engineer the plan
• The “5%” founders should focus on (and how to delegate the rest properly)
• Why delegation fails when it’s just “do this”, and how to build guardrails so your team can win daily
  
  

Guest: Richard Walsh
Richard Walsh is the CEO of Sharpen the Spear Coaching and the author of Escape the Owner Prison, focused on helping business owners (especially contractors) regain control and scale with less chaos.
Website: https://sharpenthespearcoaching.com
Email (free audiobook request): richard@sharpenthespearcoaching.com

Host: Wes Towers (Uplift 360)
I help trades and construction companies be found, trusted, and chosen online through high-performing websites and Search Everywhere Optimisation.
https://uplift360.com.au/

Want to be a guest on Built. Trusted. Chosen.? Book here: https://uplift360.com.au/built-trusted-chosen-podcast-guest-booking/

Hi, I am Wes Towers and this is Built Trusted Chosen.

If you are a founder, leader or marketer in trades or construction, this show is for you.

We are recording real, unscripted and unedited conversations with people who are actually in the game. Founders, GMs and marketing leaders who are dealing with growth, hiring, margins, and the constant question of how to be found, trusted and chosen.

There are no polished keynote talks here. Just practical stories, hard-won lessons, and what is actually working out on site, in the workshop and in the office.

Over the next few months I will be pre-recording a run of episodes so that when we launch, we can hit the ground with a bang. That means you will get a solid batch of conversations from day one, not just a lonely first episode.

If you work in trades or construction and you want a steadier pipeline, stronger teams, better margins and clearer positioning, hit follow or subscribe now so you do not miss the launch.

And if you are a founder or marketer in the industry with a story to share, I would love to hear from you. You might even end up on the show.

Built Trusted Chosen is coming soon. Make sure you are ready when we go live.