Dillon covers three topics in one: how to build real training systems for your crew, what a day in the life actually looks like running an engineering firm, and how the real world stacks up against what you learned in school. He breaks down why contractors need documented processes for even the most basic tasks — from checking in at a job site to making coffee — and how AI can help you build those systems fast. Then he pulls back the curtain on his own chaotic schedule of back-to-back calls, red-eye flights, and weekend project reviews, before laying out what he expects from interns and new hires: meet your deadlines, do good work, and enjoy the ride. A candid look at what it really takes to build a high-performing team in the construction and engineering world.

Dillon makes the case for why showing up in person is still one of the most powerful things you can do in business. In a world of Zoom calls and virtual meetings, he shares how consistent travel — from quick 24-hour turns to cross-country client dinners — has become Vertical Design Services' biggest competitive edge. He also talks about the unique advantage of running a remote-friendly firm from the mountains of California, and why getting on a plane when others won't is what separates good partners from great ones.

Dillon breaks down the design-build delivery method and why it beats traditional plan-and-spec contracting. From cutting months off the submittal process to building high-trust relationships between engineers and contractors, he walks through how integrated teams move faster, fight less, and deliver better outcomes — and why design-build is the foundation of everything Vertical Design Services does.