Geoff Dodge chased an Indy racing dream until a lost backer left him $100,000 in debt. Rebuilding with just $1,000, he bootstrapped Lamb Excavating to handle the tough utility work others avoid. Now back in a sprint car, Geoff uses racing as a platform to promote the trades through his "Racing to Build Brighter Futures" mission.

Taylor talks with Geoff about treating the trades as a calling. They discuss Geoff’s work launching Indiana’s SkillsUSA Heavy Equipment pathway and a new partnership with Indiana 811, Ohio 811 and the IURC to improve underground safety training. Geoff’s playbook for the youth is clear: find an interest, get a foot in the door, and let your work, not a degree, prove your worth. Success here is about hard work and creative problem-solving.

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🏎️ FROM THE SPEEDWAY TO THE SEWER LINE [00:43]:

How does a driver who reached the pinnacle of Indy racing pivot to utility work, and then use that business to rebuild his racing dream?

“Geoff is a racer who became an excavator who became a racer again... he's basically using a sprint car as a billboard for the next generation of operators and diesel techs.”

⚠️ ELEVATING STANDARDS THROUGH EDUCATION [26:13]:

Can a half-hour of the right training really transform how safely the next generation digs?

“So this year we conducted a 30 minute training the day before the event and we saw our high score jump to an 85% and the median score moved about 10%.”

🛠️ A CALL TO ACTION FOR INDUSTRY LEADERS [46:51]:

Geoff issues a direct challenge to everyone in the industry—from manufacturers to contractors—to move beyond complaining and start taking action to recruit the next generation.

“If you are in our industry and you are listening to this... you can probably see that the skilled trade gap is a problem. Get involved, get your hands dirty.”

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - From Race Car Driver to Excavation Business Owner

04:10 - How Geoff Built a Successful Excavation Company

07:35 - Why the Skilled Trades Need More Young Talent

12:27 - Using Racing to Inspire the Next Generation

19:11 - How SkillsUSA Is Preparing Future Heavy Equipment Operators

25:27 - Why Safety Training Is Transforming the Construction Industry

28:51 - Do You Really Need a College Degree to Succeed?

34:54 - Why Skilled Trades Offer Unlimited Career Growth

38:15 - The Future of Closing the Skilled Trades Gap

46:16 - How the Construction Industry Can Get Involved

CONEXPO-CON/AGG: CONEXPOconagg.com

CONEXPO-CON/AGG Newsletter: https://www.CONEXPOconagg.com/industry-news#sign-up

🔗 CONNECT WITH GEOFF DODGE:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-dodge-4515156a/
• Geoff Dodge Racing: https://www.geoffdodgeracing.com/
• Lamb Excavating: https://www.wedigindy.com/

#SkilledTrades #RacingtoBuildBrighterFutures #SkillsUSA

Brian Hayden runs heavy equipment in Wells, Maine, where he works for Hayden Excavating with his father. While most local operators never test their skills on a world stage, Brian entered the 2026 Caterpillar Global Operator Challenge to see if he was truly good. In the end, he beat all other finalists from the Americas, Europe, and Asia at CONEXPO in Las Vegas.

He explains the way he won the loader and dozer grading challenges, and shares how 3D grading and Leica systems save time on residential home digs. Listen in and learn how a small family business produced the best operator in the world.

KEY EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

🏆 THE SURPRISE CHAMPION MINDSET [03:17]:

"Every time I progress, I'm like, ‘This is when I'm gonna get knocked out. Like, there's no way I make it through here.’"

Brian felt like an underdog during the entire Caterpillar Global Operator Challenge. He shares how staying humble and focused on the dirt helped him win the world title.

⚠️ THE REPUTATION KILLER [09:39]:

"A good operator is somebody that also takes care of their equipment… I look at that as somebody that you know they care. So, their work is going to, you know, reflect that."

Messy job sites and dirty machines scare away high-paying clients. Brian explains why a clean cab and neat piles are the mark of a pro.

🏗️ THE ONE-MAN PROFIT MACHINE [25:53]:

"I built that whole pond, the whole road, all the ditching, all of it without getting out of the machine."

Watch Brian reveal how 3D grading tools allow one operator to finish work that used to require a full crew. He explains why tech like Leica is the way to scale a small excavating business.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - CAT Global Operator Champion

01:26 - Road to the World Finals

03:37 - Hayden Excavating History

09:08 - Pro vs Amateur Operators

10:59 - Excavator Skill Challenge

15:12 - Dozer Grading Techniques

20:52 - Global Operating Styles

24:19 - 3D Machine Control Setup

27:41 - GPS Site Layout Benefits

31:16 - Defending the World Title

CONEXPO-CON/AGG: CONEXPOconagg.com

CONEXPO-CON/AGG Newsletter: https://www.CONEXPOconagg.com/industry-news#sign-up

🔗 CONNECT WITH BRIAN HAYDEN:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-hayden-54733aa8/
• Hayden Excavating: https://www.haydenexcavating.net/

#Caterpillar #OperatorChallenge #CONEXPO

Owners want to finish every construction project under budget, and they buy expensive machines and new technology to beat the competition. But talent walks off the site when they feel disrespected. Profits vanish when you must replace your best workers every month.

Project managers need a team that works as hard as the machines. Professional Speaker, Coach, and Consultant, Wally Adamchik, explains how to lead with Marine Corps precision. He reveals that most owners give orders instead of building trust, and demonstrates why they must change their site culture to stop the labor shortage.

KEY EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

🛑 STOP YOUR BEST PEOPLE FROM QUITTING [06:53]:

"Nobody wants to work in chaotic places where they are treated like a moron and nobody teaches them…So to make the assumption that the person that comes on your job site is going to be useless and they are going to leave in six weeks probably is perpetuating some challenges you may have."

Workers flee sites. They feel like just another number on a spreadsheet. This part explains why your management style drives talent to your competitors.

📈 TURN YOUR CREW INTO A PROFIT MACHINE [18:17]:

"When a machine is aligned, it runs well. When it is out of alignment, there is friction. So culture then gives us that clarity of how we do things here…It aligns us going forward."

A strong culture makes your company a magnet for skilled trades. Learn how alignment creates a business that runs itself.

💬 THE ONE QUESTION THAT SAVES YOUR PROJECT [35:30]:

“‘Hey, What one thing could I do differently for you this week to help your job go better?’... Maybe they will give you an answer. And then, do it! Oh my God, do it!”

Use this simple question to find hidden problems before they explode. This move builds trust with your employees and keeps them on your side.

🎯CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Leadership Lessons From the Marine Corps

02:05 - Why Pride in the Trades Still Matters

04:02 - The Trust and Respect Formula for Great Leaders

08:01 - How Emotional Intelligence Improves Leadership

13:16 - Solving the Field vs Office Divide

16:24 - Why Strong Culture Increases Retention

20:30 - Building Trust on Construction Teams

24:31 - The Recognition Problem Hurting Job Sites

29:55 - Why Most Company Values Fail

32:30 - The Leadership Habit That Builds Better Crews

36:24 - Why Psychological Safety Matters in Construction

42:06 - How Leaders Create Better Futures

Thank you to our good friends over at John Deere Power Systems for sponsoring this podcast: https://www.deere.ca/en/engines-and-drivetrain/

CONEXPO-CON/AGG: CONEXPOconagg.com

CONEXPO-CON/AGG Newsletter: https://www.CONEXPOconagg.com/industry-news#sign-up

🔗 CONNECT WITH WALLY ADAMCHIK:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wallyadamchik/

• Website: https://wallyadamchik.com/

#ConstructionLeadership #ProjectManagement #MarineCorpsLeadership