Better Leaders. Better Crews. A Better Industry.
Hello, I'm Wally Adamchik. My mission is simple yet ambitious — help construction leaders recognize and fulfill their unmet potential. I'm here to help them build the leadership skills they need to make build more positive, engaged, and productive construction crews.
"A leader instills and sustains the belief in someone that they can do something until they can do it themselves."
Investing in Leadership Development is Essential
The biggest obstacle to your success isn’t a lack of customers—it’s a lack of strong supervisors who can lead and manage effectively. I’ve seen it time and time again. Businesses struggle not because there isn’t demand, but because they don’t have the right leadership in place to handle growth. You can hire all the entry-level employees you want, but without supervisors who know how to lead, train, and inspire, your business will hit a wall. I’ve worked with companies that learned this the hard way—losing money, missing opportunities, and watching good employees walk out the door simply because they didn’t feel valued or well-led.
If you want to grow, you have to invest in your supervisors. I’m not just talking about sending them to a one-off training—I mean really committing to their development, spending time with them, sharing your knowledge, and giving them the tools they need to succeed. I’ve sat in rooms where leaders complain about high turnover and disengaged employees, but when I ask the last time they read a book or took a course on leadership, they go silent. The truth is, leadership isn’t something you just know how to do—it’s something you have to work at. The best companies get this. They develop their people, and as a result, they thrive. So, I’ll ask you—are you doing what it takes to grow your business, or are you just hoping things will work out?
WALLY'S GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Beliefs guide our organizations and our decisions as leaders. These are the beliefs and principles that guide me.
We all have unmet potential
We are all unfinished and have unmet potential. I believe that excellent leaders are not born; they are developed over time and with intentional effort.
It's all about leadership.
Every problem is a leadership problem. I believe that the solution to all construction business problems lies in more effective leadership.
Tomorrow can* be better than today
Leadership requires optimism. I believe a brighter future starts with the leader's mindset and getting the most of every day.
Show up and do the work
Meaningful change requires action. I believe that a better future is only achieved with intentional effort and action.
Lessons in Leadership —Forged in the Marines
In my senior year at the University of Notre Dame, I took on a unique leadership role—I became the school’s mascot. That’s right, I was the Leprechaun. Rain or shine, win or lose, home or away, I gave everything I had to fire up the crowd and bring people together. That same energy and passion still define my work today. I’m not here to go through the motions—I’m here to help you get real results.
After college, I didn’t take the easy route. Instead, I earned a commission as an Officer of Marines and stepped into some of the most challenging leadership roles possible. First, I commanded troops in a tank battalion. Then, I piloted AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters, taking on missions that demanded precision, discipline, and split-second decision-making. In the Marines, leadership wasn’t a theory—it was the difference between success and failure. I learned how to build trust, make tough calls, and bring out the best in my people.
The legacy of my leadership is still felt today in the Marines who went on to lead in their own right—on the battlefield and in business.
Bringing Leadership to Business and Construction
Looking for the next challenge, I stepped into the private sector, applying my leadership philosophy to the fast-moving world of business. I earned national recognition for my leadership in two major restaurant companies while completing my MBA at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
But it wasn’t long before I found my way back to construction—this time, helping contractors build better leaders. As a Senior Consultant with FMI, a top consulting firm for the construction industry, I worked with companies across the country, delivering practical, no-BS solutions that got results.
Eventually, I took what I’d learned and started FireStarter Speaking and Consulting—a company dedicated to one mission: helping construction crews and leaders step up, take ownership, and create stronger companies from the field up.
Balancing Leadership and Life
I do my best to practice what I preach because leadership isn’t just about the job—it’s about life. I’ve learned that real change only happens when you make a real commitment, and that means showing up for the things that truly matter—your crew, your company, your family, and yourself.
When I’m not working with crews or speaking on leadership, you’ll find me spending time with my family, out on the golf course, or staying active. Finding that balance isn’t always easy, but it’s what allows me to bring my best to every client, every session, and every conversation.
Leadership doesn’t happen by accident. It takes commitment, action, and the right guidance along the way. If you’re ready to step up and lead, I’m ready to help.
Ready to get to work? Let’s talk.
EVP, Colas Inc
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