Join us in this special bonus episode of Give Us the Dirt Podcast as regular host Brandon Lindsey, Vice President of Operations for Hoopaugh Grading Company (HGC), reunites with the Owner and President of HGC. Together, they dig into a comprehensive journey through the outcomes of 2023, delving into project completions, backlog challenges, lead times for training operators and laborers, and the overarching impact of market contractions and rising expenses due to inflation.

In a candid conversation, the hosts reflect on the unique challenges faced by HGC in 2023, comparing them to the hurdles encountered during the tumultuous year of 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. They provide insights into how these challenges have shaped and impacted HGC's operations.

Looking forward to 2024, Brandon and the HGC President share their vision for the company and how they plan to build on their past experiences. A key focus for the upcoming year is the development of soft skills among their team members. Acknowledging that operators can be trained for various tasks, the hosts emphasize the importance of cultivating essential soft skills and discuss their plans to prioritize this aspect through their Training and Development Group (TDG).

Discover how HGC aims to empower its team members by instilling a sense of leadership and stakeholder responsibility. As they strategize ways to enhance soft skills across the industry, this episode provides a sneak peek into the innovative approaches and solutions the company plans to implement in the pursuit of continuous improvement and success.