This high school program has a waitlist every year. Here's why.

In this episode of the Built In Boots Podcast, we welcome Dan and Josh Coleman from the Broome-Tioga BOCES Heavy Equipment Program. Dan, a veteran instructor with 16 years of experience, shares the inner workings of a program that’s building the future of the construction industry—literally. With a fully immersive two-year hands-on curriculum, high student demand, and real job placement success, this is more than just a school program. It’s a pipeline into the trades.

Mark Payne and Griffin Haley sit down with Dan and Josh to explore how BOCES creates real-world readiness for students—many of whom find their careers before even graduating high school. From fifth-grade excavator camps to co-op partnerships with local contractors and even Peterbilt dealerships, this episode is packed with powerful takeaways for educators, employers, and future tradespeople alike.

What we cover in this episode:

• How BOCES built a program that now has a consistent waitlist
• Their annual Skills Rodeo and its impact on student engagement
• Why early exposure—starting in 5th grade—is a game changer
• The two-year curriculum: hands-on equipment operation and repair
• Why some students discover they’re mechanics, not operators
• CDL training, GPS tech, and what’s next for the program
• Real-world job placement: students working at Peterbilt, paving crews, and family farms
• Culture fit and co-op success stories (and failures) that helped shape careers
• The impact of instructors who double as mentors and role models
• The power of visual learning—why drones are now part of the classroom

If you’re in education, construction, or just care about building the next generation, this episode offers a powerful look at what works—and why.

Keywords: Heavy equipment training, construction careers, BOCES, trades education, underground utilities, civil construction, CDL, vocational education, job placement, co-op programs, GPS training, youth in trades, equipment operator, diesel tech, safety, drone training

At The DDS Companies, we don’t just build projects—we build careers. From field workers to office staff, every role contributes to our mission of excellence in the civil construction industry. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your journey, DDS offers the opportunities, support, and culture you need to thrive.

Ready to join a team where your skills and dedication are valued? Visit our Careers Page at www.ddscompanies.com/careers to explore current opportunities and take the first step toward building your future with DDS. Your journey starts here!

You Can’t Automate Culture: Leadership Lessons from Construction Software Xeratec’s Founders

What happens when a former Army Ranger with a passion for people and a seasoned software developer with deep industry chops team up to serve the construction industry?

In this episode of Built In Boots, co-hosts Griffin Haley and DDS’s Mike Fallat sit down with Jordan and Brett Hillstrom, the founding brothers behind Xeratec, a software development firm laser-focused on solving real problems in the trades.

Jordan Hillstrom, a combat veteran and Chief Revenue Officer at Xeratec, brings boots-on-the-ground leadership and a disruptor’s mindset to the table.
Brett Hillstrom, Xeratec’s President and senior developer, leads product strategy with over two decades of experience in building agile, custom solutions that evolve with the companies they serve.

Together, they’re redefining how construction companies think about technology—not as a one-size-fits-all solution, but as a tool to unlock efficiency, improve culture, and elevate the trades.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why Brett and Jordan believe culture readiness is more important than tech readiness
• How DDS and Xeratec first connected through a 5 AM workout at the Dirt World Summit
• The surprising story of how their father founded Xeratec after teaching himself to code
• What “start at the end” means—and why you shouldn’t adopt new tools until you define the real problem
• How simple field tasks create ripple effects across the entire organization
• What companies get wrong about custom software (and what to do instead)
• The critical link between ownership, storytelling, and high-performing field teams
• Why the Hillstroms prioritize servant leadership and mentorship through programs like Fire Pit Ranch
• Why every team—from five people to 500—needs to invest in systems that reflect their unique workflows

Whether you’re a project manager tired of clunky field reports or a company owner looking for your next strategic move, this conversation is full of honest insights, real-world lessons, and the kind of leadership that makes the trades better for everyone.

Listen now to discover why the future of construction is built on questions—not just code.

At The DDS Companies, we don’t just build projects—we build careers. From field workers to office staff, every role contributes to our mission of excellence in the civil construction industry. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your journey, DDS offers the opportunities, support, and culture you need to thrive.

Ready to join a team where your skills and dedication are valued? Visit our Careers Page at www.ddscompanies.com/careers to explore current opportunities and take the first step toward building your future with DDS. Your journey starts here!

In Part Two of our powerful two-part conversation, host Mark Payne returns to sit down with the Field Precision crew—Cruz Gonzalez, Mark Todd Wiggins, and Matt Peterson—to go deeper on what it really takes to lead underground in today’s utility and construction trades.

Field Precision OQ & Training is renowned for their mobile Operator Qualification evaluations, hands-on safety training, and field-first mentorship model that empowers natural gas crews nationwide. In this episode, we explore the responsibilities and rewards of mentorship, the challenges of scaling leadership, and how to leave a lasting legacy in the trenches.

Whether you’re a foreman, safety director, or trades apprentice, this episode delivers candid insights on how to grow your team, sustain high standards, and own the weight of leadership in high-stakes environments.

Key Takeaways:

• Why mentorship is the cornerstone of sustainable field leadership
• Strategies for scaling crew performance without sacrificing quality
• How to balance accountability with empathy as a field leader
• Real-world examples of passing on culture and standards to the next generation
• Lessons on owning your legacy every time you step into the trench

Perfect For:

• Construction managers aiming to develop next-level mentors
• Utility supervisors responsible for crew development and safety compliance
• Safety directors and OQ coordinators seeking fresh field perspectives
• Aspiring field leaders and tradespeople hungry for practical leadership advice

Stay tuned through the end—because the lessons from Field Precision continue to set the standard for leadership underground.

At The DDS Companies, we don’t just build projects—we build careers. From field workers to office staff, every role contributes to our mission of excellence in the civil construction industry. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your journey, DDS offers the opportunities, support, and culture you need to thrive.

Ready to join a team where your skills and dedication are valued? Visit our Careers Page at www.ddscompanies.com/careers to explore current opportunities and take the first step toward building your future with DDS. Your journey starts here!