For over 40 years, Mike Brunner has developed successful processes, practices, and programs in key areas for the self-performing segment of the construction industry. Mike has a 20-year record of developing, teaching, and implementing concise, experienced-based training programs in productivity improvement, waste reduction, and field supervision skills. Mike’s experience speaks for itself.

Here is a brief description of Mike’s most popular programs and workshops:  

“Productivity Improvement & Waste Reduction Workshop”©

This one-day program will help provide employees of self-performing construction companies with a realistic view of what must happen in the field in order to increase every job’s gross profit. Among other topics, Mike will show you how to approach helping field supervisors learn, understand, apply and practice the basic management skills they need to become more productive and profitable, so your company can do likewise.The objectives of this program are to (1) identify, (2) explain, and (3) provide examples of how self-performing contractors make or lose money in the field, and what role field supervisors have in this process. With this information, most program participants leave with new ideas about how their companies can improve the gross profit on all of their jobs.

“Applying Lean for Self-Performing Contractors”©

This one-day program explains the basics of Lean. Lean is the absence of waste. Whether you elect to use it or not, everyone who is involved with making decisions about the future of self-performing construction companies must know Lean exists and how Lean will change the construction industry in the next 5 to 10 years. Mike believes those companies who adopt Lean early have a huge competitive advantage over those who do not. At some point, those who do not adopt Lean soon may find they can’t catch up with those who have. Attendees will leave with a basic understanding of Lean and will have more than enough information to allow them to determine whether Lean is a method of operating they wish to explore in more detail.  

“Surviving and Making Money in ‘Tough Times’”©

As you know, these are “tough times” for all but a very few construction companies. Work is hard to find and even harder to get, and the margins some contractors are willing to accept just don’t make sense to anyone who understands construction economics. The usual question Mike gets is, “How can we survive in these ‘tough times’?” Mike believes the correct question is, “How can we make money and prosper in these ‘tough times’?” To Mike, it’s very clear – if you can’t increase your prices, you must decrease your costs. In this one-day program, Mike will show you how to approach helping field supervisors better manage direct job costs and become more productive and profitable. He will show you how you can begin managing and reducing your inventory, equipment and tool costs. Finally, he will show you how you can begin managing and reducing your office costs.

“2-Day Effective Field Supervisor Workshop”©

Anyone in the self-performing segment of the construction industry who is, who wants to be, or who may become a field supervisor should attend and participate in this two-day program, including general superintendents, craft superintendents, field supervisors, foremen, crew leaders, lead men, craftsmen and apprentices. This program focuses on identifying, explaining, and applying the most important concepts, techniques and methods of effective field supervision for self-performing contractors in the construction industry. It is experience-based and presented in very simple terms with real-world examples.

“Preparation Basics Workshop”©

Anyone in the self-performing segment of the construction industry who is, who wants to be, or who may become a field supervisor should attend and participate in this one-day program, including general superintendents, craft superintendents, field supervisors, foremen, crew leaders, lead men, craftsmen and apprentices. This program focuses on identifying, explaining, and applying the concepts, techniques and methods of effective planning and scheduling (preparation) for field supervisors with self-performing contractors in the construction industry. It is experience-based and presented in very simple terms with real-world examples.

“Communication & Leadership Basics Program”©

There are several good reasons to attend this one-day program, but the most important reason is to begin to address and correct two of the most fundamental problems we have in our industry today – poor communication skills and poor leadership skills. Learning and practicing these two skills have proved to be “critical difference-makers” for successful companies as well as successful employees. When people who work in the construction industry are asked, they cite a lack of effective communication and a lack of effective leadership as two of the five most common problems they encounter on a daily basis. In addition, they cite a lack of respect, a lack of connection, and a lack of empathy. Solutions to all of these problems are presented in this program.

Individual Mentoring and Coaching Services

Mike mentors and coaches a number of people in the construction industry. He provides help with improving personal productivity, learning and applying a professional work style, and developing effective communication and leadership skills.

For additional information on these or other programs, please contact Mike directly:

13003 Whitten Drive South , Fishers, IN 46037
Phone: 317-773-7019
Cell: 317-445-6393
Email: michaelrbrunner@aol.com