C.W. Matthews Frontline Leadership Academy

Situation

CW Matthews, an Atlanta based full-service heavy highway contractor, with expertise in all areas of roadway construction, was facing a crisis. This ENR Top contractor was enjoying successful growth in Atlanta and surrounding areas. However, staffing projections based on retirements of key field supervisors coupled with organic growth in the booming Georgia market confirmed a looming shortage of front-line supervisors. Crew leaders and superintendents, the heart of any self-performing contractor, were in short supply.
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Solution

They decided it was time to create their own pipeline. After interviewing several potential providers, CWM selected FireStarter Speaking and Consulting to research, create and deliver their first ever FrontLine Leadership Academy. Research was important. With five major divisions specializing in very different aspects of road construction operating across the state of Georgia a generic, off- the- shelf solution would not work. Interviews with key field and executive leaders uncovered training needs to be addressed in this new program. It was clear that there needed to be focus on management and leadership skills.
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Create

FireStarter tailored content on relevant leadership models, coaching, communication, and conflict. Beyond these “soft skills” the steering committee agreed that students would benefit from a broader education about the business. Education in estimating (one of the most popular subjects), production, HR issues, safety (from a different perspective than usual), equipment (another popular
module), cost and culture create a well-rounded supervisor. We worked with internal subject matter experts (SME) to create learning modules that were engaging and educational. After content creation using adult learning, each SME presented a dress-rehearsal to the executive team for review and comment.

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Deliver

A five-day program over the course of 90 days was selected to allow time for students to apply lesson learned and complete interim homework during the program. Day 1, 2 are followed day 3 thirty days later and then thirty days after that the program finishes with day 4, 5.

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The first hour of day one features five corporate officers meeting with 5 students. This mentoring conversation puts the students at ease, exposes them to senior leaders, and sets the tone for the entire program. Weeks two and three start with a
similar mentoring session. Emerging leaders from the office attend also and students sit in cross-functional teams to learn from each other and to collaborate on in class projects. After day one there is a social event for the students to get to know each other and for the corporate officers to join and get to know the students also. After night four there is another social event prior to the final session.
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After the written final-exam, Board Chair Matt Burton spends time with the class and confers diplomas on each student. An important part of the program is executive level involvement as instructors and mentors.

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