Baranko Companies is a large civil construction company based in Dickinson, North Dakota.
To better train and develop their workforce, Baranko implemented BuildWitt Improve for their entire team, both in the field and the office. While they assign various training lessons daily, they didn't want to make it something people HAD to do. To drive adoption without being heavy-handed, they began offering something unique…

"We choose one person randomly each month who's up to date on their training for lunch with Glenn Baranko. He'll pick them up, no matter where they are, and take them to lunch one-on-one. Not everyone gets facetime with the owner of a company. And if they do, they're often too intimidated to speak up. With this, they can visit with Glenn and talk about whatever they'd like to. It's been a big driver for us."

Now that they're a few years into regular training, they've seen plenty of benefits, starting with entry-level people…

"It's valuable for those on the ground wanting to end up in a scraper, excavator, or grader. If I had had this when I was starting as a laborer, I could've researched what I was interested in, like GPS, on my own time. It opens up a library of information that my foreman doesn't usually have the time to share with me otherwise."

What about their more experienced field leaders? They're benefiting just as much, but in a different sense…

"Back in old-school construction, crew leaders showed up, told everyone what to do, and didn't explain much of the why. Now, thanks to the leadership videos, especially Jocko, they're learning how to communicate, explain, and lead the field better."

Not only has it helped the Baranko team train new folks and hone their leadership, but it has also helped them better utilize other technology.

"We're a big user of HCSS and Heavy Job. Instead of having to chase down videos across various places, they have everything in one place that they already regularly use. It's helped us expand our utilization of HCSS and other technology products, even after using them for years."

Finally, and this one's big, it's helped their people live better, which is what a better Dirt World is all about!

"This one was shocking to me. We've had operators looking at the lessons on how to eat and sleep better. Some have even told me they're packing better food and eating healthier."