An Owner Graded His Last 6 GCs. (Most of Them Failed) with Steve Little

Steve Little · Director of Facilities and Engineering (inferred) · The Fresh Market

In this engaging interview, Steve Little shares his journey from retail to leading facilities at a major grocery chain, emphasizing the importance of culture, relationships, and continuous learning in construction and industry success. Discover insights on project management, supply chain challenges, and building strong industry partnerships. Our Website: https://constructionconversations.com/ Today's Guest: Steve Little, Director of Facilities and Engineering at The Fresh Market Check Him Out on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-little-aab828134/ Episode Sponsor: Check Out Trunk Tools: https://trunktools.com/

1. 00:00Intro and sound check banter
2. 01:51From bagging groceries to the trades
3. 05:22Ucrop's culture and the free groceries story
4. 12:36Selling Ucrop's and landing at Fresh Market
5. 18:09Why store construction costs exploded post-COVID
6. 25:26What a real trade partnership looks like
7. 30:14Basic construction management practices got lost
8. 44:32Treat people how you want to be treated
9. 55:03Work-life balance and advice to his younger self
10. 58:49Best projects and what separates great GCs

Timestamps are from the recording and may drift a minute or two from the published edit.

"I can lower my fees a little bit, still make some money, not as much as I normally would, but I'd like for you to do three or four jobs with me."

Steve Little · 26:12

"I don't ever walk into a new relationship with a GC thinking it's adversarial. I want to be a good partner with them. I want to be treated well, just like I would want to be treated."

Steve Little · 46:11

"When the subs are running the job instead of the GC, that's where you get into lots of problems. The GC's got to drive the job and focus people in the areas they need to be in."

Steve Little · 1:02:27