True Blue Podcast

In this episode of the True Blue Podcast, Daren sits down with Nathan Wallace, A-C's Learning and Development Manager, whose experience in developing people started long before he joined the electrical industry. 
After spending 12 years with Starbucks, Nathan brought a different perspective on leadership, training, and the importance of building connections with the people around you. He shares some of the lessons that have stuck with him, including why learning should come with a little friction and why consistency matters when you're trying to help people grow. 
Now at A-C, Nathan is putting those ideas to work through initiatives like Starting Projects Right and Session A-C, helping create opportunities for our people to learn, take on new challenges, and continue improving. 
 
 

In Episode 24 of the True Blue Podcast, Daren sits down with Preconstruction Services Manager Justin Gipson to talk about the path that took him from working in the field to helping shape projects before they ever get there. 
Justin’s career has taken him through the field, several different contractors, and projects ranging from substations and solar to a 1.2 million-square-foot distribution center. Now in preconstruction, he shares why estimating requires you to “build the job in your mind before you put a cost on it” and how those years of hands-on experience still influence the way he works. 
Justin talks about his move to Tennessee, leading his team remotely, and why staying connected from a distance requires a little more intention. 
 

In this episode of the True Blue Podcast, Daren sits down with Senior Project Manager Trevor Hunter to talk about the work, experience, and perspective behind his role today.
Trevor is currently helping lead A-C’s LA portfolio, a $23 million group of 14 projects with plenty of moving pieces behind the scenes. He walks through the logistics involved, how early confidence in A-C’s designs helped set the projects up for success, and what the team is learning as they work through them.
Trevor’s path to Senior Project Manager started well before he stepped into the office. Growing up with an electrician for a dad, he was around the trade from an early age and eventually followed him into the industry. He joined A-C as a foreman in 2018 before making the transition from the field into project management.

In Episode 22 of the True Blue Podcast, Daren sits down with Joe Barner, our Regional Safety Director of Northern California. Joe started college with plans to double major in psychology and criminal justice, but plans change. He eventually traded the classroom for the Navy, where he spent eight years in the military. The structure, discipline, procedure, and constant training were a natural fit for him.
That experience still shows up in the way Joe thinks about safety. He believes you can do dangerous work safely when there is a plan, and that getting comfortable with risk is often where problems begin. He also talks about extending what the Safety team knows to others, so people can recognize those same risks and know what to look for. Doing something well doesn’t mean there isn’t a way to do it better.
Joe and Daren get into what happens when you test the limits you’ve set for yourself, why it pays to be a sponge around people with more experience, and how quickly plans can change.

Brandy Eatmon didn't take a straight path to becoming A-C's Senior Accounting Manager, but that's part of what makes her perspective unique. 
In this episode, Brandy shares what it was like coming to A-C through operations before eventually making her way back to accounting. Today, she describes herself as bilingual in “operations language” and “accounting language,” using both sides of her experience to help connect the two. 
The conversation goes beyond numbers, touching on family, nearly three decades with her husband Cliff, and the cats she wishes she could call when she's away from home. 

In this follow-up conversation, Daren continues his discussion with Senior Project Manager Justin Petersen, taking a closer look at the projects and experiences that have shaped his growth at A-C.
Justin shares how new challenges have pushed him to take initiative, keep learning, and make the most of the opportunities in front of him. Now, he’s putting those lessons to work by sharing what he knows and helping the next generation of project managers work through challenges themselves.

You asked, Daren answers. In this episode of the True Blue Podcast, Daren answers questions submitted by Team A-C.
The conversation covers where A-C is headed, what needs to remain at the center as the company grows, and the mindset behind some of Daren’s biggest decisions. He shares why “Who are you?” is a question worth asking, and what it means to be “humbitious.” From the future of A-C to the role he’d step into for a day, this episode offers a different look at the person usually asking the questions.
 

In this episode of the True Blue Podcast, Daren sits down with Senior Project Manager Justin Petersen to share the story behind his career and the people who helped shape it. From unexpected opportunities to life-changing decisions, Justin reflects on the moments that influenced both his career and his perspective. 
Throughout the conversation, Justin reflects on the people who invested in him, the challenges that helped him grow, and the mindset that's guided him through each stage of his career. It's a conversation about perseverance, humility, and recognizing that every step along the way prepares you for what's next. 

Business development is often thought of as winning work, but as Dave Howlett shares in this episode, it's really about building relationships, solving problems, and creating value for others. As Dave shares, it is something we all are doing, and everything we do is key to making Business Development successful.  
Join Daren as he sits down with A-C's Business Development Manager Dave Howlett to explore the people, lessons, and experiences that have influenced the way he approaches his work today, and why every interaction can become an opportunity to make a lasting impact. 

In honor of National Intern Day, Daren is joined by three of this year's summer interns, Jensen Henry, Andrew Mourtzanos, and Lauren Cruz, to reflect on their summer at A-C.
See A-C through their eyes as they share the people, projects, and experiences that shaped their internship. From stepping onto jobsites for the first time to learning how every department contributes to a project's success, they discuss the moments that challenged them, changed their perspective, and gave them a deeper understanding of the construction industry.
Whether you're considering an internship or simply curious about the program, this episode offers an authentic look at what it means to learn, grow, and build a career at A-C.