From military precision to civilian construction, today’s guest offers a powerful blueprint for transformative leadership. Pete Anzovino recently joined MCFA after retiring from the US Army, coming to us through the Department of Defense SkillBridge Program. This program helps former service members and veterans transition into fulfilling careers in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry.

In this episode, Pete shares how the SkillBridge Program eased his transition and highlighted the surprising parallels between military operations and project management. He discussed the benefits of certifications like Project Management Professional (PMP) to lessons on navigating multiple stakeholders and maintaining clear communication. Pete provides invaluable insights on leveraging military experience in new, impactful ways.

Whether you’re a veteran or simply curious about project leadership, this episode is full of practical guidance and actionable advice for making a meaningful transition! To discover how to lead with purpose, manage with precision, and create impact in any field, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Key similarities between military roles and project management in construction.

• Insight into SkillBridge and Hiring Our Heroes, assisting veterans in entering civilian careers.

• The importance of certifications like OSHA-30, ESP, and PMP in the transition process.

• Leadership lessons from the military that apply to managing projects, people, and teams.

Quotes:

“The skills that we use as military officers, whether you're an engineer, [infantry officer, or an armor officer], everything you're doing relates to project management. You're managing people, time, funds, resources in general to accomplish a mission.” — Pete Anzovino

“When we were going through the [SkillBridge] program, whether we ended up employed with MCFA or not, – [it] was a great opportunity to gain exposure to industry but also walk away with three certifications that – would look great on a resume.” — Pete Anzovino

“Do the best you can with what you have right now.” — Pete Anzovino

“If you're in a [SkillBridge program], definitely leverage your fellow SkillBridge fellows because everyone's having a different experience and you can learn something from everybody.” — Pete Anzovino

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Pete Anzovino on LinkedIn

DoD SkillBridge

Hiring Our Heroes

OSHA 30-Hour Training

Envision Sustainability Professional (ESP) Training

Project Management Professional (PMP) Training

The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living

Ryan Holiday

Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Being coached in leadership is one thing, but without actionable steps to turn those lessons into reality, that coaching becomes redundant. Welcome back to our rebranded podcast, Leadership Blueprints! Today we are very excited to introduce Wally Adamchik, former US marine, President of Firestarter Consulting, and leadership coach.

He joins us to discuss all things leadership! Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Wally’s career, what inspired him to become a leadership coach, what Firestarter Consulting does, who their target audience is, and so much more! We delve into some of the issues in the construction industry before Wally shares what he thinks makes for a great workplace.

He even talks us through some of the action steps he teaches his clients in his leadership courses; including the histories, heroes, heartaches, and hopes exercise. Finally, Wally shares his favorite quotes and books and tells us who his dream dinner guests would be. Thanks for listening in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• What led Wally to do what he does today and what Firestarter Consulting does.

• How Wally approaches the problems in the construction industry as a leader.

• The histories, heroes, heartaches, and hopes exercise Wally teaches.

Quotes:

“What is a great place to work? Well, it’s trust, pride, and camaraderie.” — Wally Adamchik

“You can tell me what your values are but you can’t tell me why your values are. And until you can tell me why your values are, you don’t have a solid foundation. And if you don’t have a solid foundation – you will not have stability.” — Wally Adamchik

“Self-awareness – may take you to some dark places, it may take you to some scary places within you but it’s worth it because you come out better on the other side.” — Wally Adamchik

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Wally Adamchik on LinkedIn

Wally Adamchik on X

Wally Adamchik on Instagram

Firestarter Speaking and Consulting

Construction Leadership

The Lost Art of Listening

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff… And It's All Small Stuff

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

Joining BJ on the debut episode of our newly rebranded podcast, Leadership Blueprints, formerly Inspiring People & Places, is Katie Kilker, Senior Project Director for Federal Facilities in the Engineering, Design, and Infrastructure Group at AtkinsRéalis. In honor of November's Veteran Salute, DOD to AEC, we’re spotlighting Katie’s recent transition from active duty in the Air Force to her current role in the built environment.

Tune in to hear Katie discuss her journey to the Air Force, her formative experiences, what an Air Force career can look like, and her role at AtkinsRéalis. She also shares insights from “taking off the Colonel Kilker uniform” and stepping into civilian life, key elements for a smooth and successful transition, and valuable resources for those planning to transition.

Don’t miss the first episode under our new name, enjoy!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Where her career started and how she ended up in the Air Force.

• What started the process of transitioning out of active duty.

• How she started her transition early and figured out her must-haves and no-compromises.

• Key elements to a successful transition and her experience so far.

Quotes:

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Start your [transition] plan early, be inquisitive, and learn about what you want to do and don’t just feel like you need to do what other people want you to do.” — Katie Kilker

“Being a leader, you kind of need to be extroverted for people to see who you are. You can’t just hide in the shadows, assess, and write notes and stuff.” — Katie Kilker

“Civilians — are the bedrock of the Air Force.” — Katie Kilker

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Katie Kilker on LinkedIn

AtkinsRéalis

SAME Career Transition Workshop

Georgia Tech

Beale Air Force Base

The COMMIT Foundation

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

Military Retirement on Google Play

Military Retirement on Apple iStore

American Corporate Partners

Theodore Roosevelt Quote

Daring Greatly

Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less

Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life

Leadership Blueprints Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn