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Construction Hot Takes

Construction Hot Takes

Written by: Ascent Consulting
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Hosted by Adam Cooper, CEO of Ascent Consulting, alongside Senior Consultants Gregory Gorman and Jeff Robertson, Construction Hot Takes show dives into the gritty, unfiltered realities of building a profitable construction company. With nearly 100 years of combined experience, they’ve been there—from carrying gear on job sites to leading Ascent, a consulting powerhouse that exclusively serves construction companies across North America. Each episode is packed with insights, strategies, and insider knowledge from the industry’s top consulting firm for contractors. Discover what big national contractors know about growing a business, get actionable advice on boosting efficiency, and learn how to supercharge your project pipeline. Tune in, get inspired, and gain the knowledge to take your construction business to the next level.© 2026 Ascent Consulting Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • 3 Reasons Your CFO Hates You (And It’s Costing You Money)
    May 1 2026

    If your CFO feels like the enemy… it’s probably not them.

    Most business owners unknowingly create friction with finance—and it shows up in missed profits, bad decisions, and constant tension.

    In this episode, we break down the 3 biggest mistakes leaders make that drive their CFO crazy—and how fixing them can unlock serious growth.

    Chapters:
    0:00 – Introduction: The CFO-Ops Dynamic
    1:39 – Forecasts as a "Contract with the Future"
    6:58 – Understanding "Potential Costs" vs. Real Risks
    14:21 – The Friction of "Taking Profit" Early
    25:31 – Bridging the Communication Gap
    31:13 – The Most Expensive Sentence a PM Can Say
    35:14 – Final Thoughts: Same Team, Different Languages

    Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈
    Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation

    Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/
    X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/

    Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!
    https://www.youtube.com/@ascentconsults?sub_confirmation=1

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    32 mins
  • Construction Industry HOT TAKES REACTIONS: Part 2
    Apr 23 2026

    Everyone loved Part 1, so we are doing Part 2!

    In this episode, Adam, Jeff, and Greg react to five HOT TAKES about the construction industry and decide whether they agree or disagree. You’re not going to want to miss this one. Comment with any takes you feel like deserve a reaction and dissection!

    Chapters:

    0:00 – Introduction: The Reaction Segment Returns
    0:48 – Topic 1: The Lowest Bidder Mindset
    5:22 – Topic 2: Ego vs. Technology Problems
    7:57 – Topic 3: Superintendents and Company Culture
    11:21 – Topic 4: Project Manager Retention and Ownership
    16:56 – Topic 5: The Danger of the Growth Phase
    21:14 – Wrap-Up: The Importance of Shared Language



    Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈
    Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation

    Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/
    X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/

    Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!
    https://www.youtube.com/@ascentconsults?sub_confirmation=1

    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
  • 3 Systems to Scale Your Construction Company (in 2026)
    Apr 16 2026

    In this episode, Adam Cooper and Jeff Robertson bring their decades of experience to lay out 3 of the top processes necessary for a construction firm to grow. We hope you enjoy this one!

    Chapters:

    0:00 – Scaling Preconstruction & Estimating
    7:30 – Systems for Operational Performance
    15:18 – The Strategic Role of the Back Office
    20:33 – Comparing GC vs. Trade Contractor Scaling
    31:43 – Specialization & Future Growth

    Check out our whole catalog of Construction Hot Takes episodes on our website! https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/

    Interested in learning how Ascent's consulting services could potentially help improve your business's operations? 📈
    Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert construction consultants: https://info.ascentconsults.com/meetings/acooper/30-minute-performance-consultation

    Follow Ascent Consulting on social media! 🤳
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascent-consulting-inc-/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ascentconsult/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascentconsults/
    X: https://x.com/ascentconsults/


    Subscribe to our YouTube channel for alerts on our new episodes!
    https://www.youtube.com/@constructionhottakes

    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
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