Get to know the hosts of “The Building Code” podcast

You listen to them on your way to the office, commuting to a job site or doing chores at home. You learn from them, you love them, and their endless back-and-forth banter never fails to make you laugh.

Zach Wojtowicz and Charley Burtwistle have become synonymous with “The Building Code.” They’ve achieved somewhat of a celebrity status among our customers (but we won’t tell them that).

You know their voices well, but who are they outside of the studio? Without further ado – let us introduce you to the men behind the mics.

Get to know Zach

Hey, Zach! Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Sure! I live an ordinary life in Omaha, Nebraska. I am a true Nebraska local, born in Omaha. I’ve pretty much lived in the same zip code I was born in my entire life. I’m married to my wife who I met in high school. She’s now a public school teacher, and we have a German Shepherd named Mila. Before Buildertrend, I was a teacher myself. I taught government and history – something I still find ways to bring up in situations as much as I can – it’s my original passion! I moved into the construction technology world by accident, but it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. 

How long have you been with Buildertrend, and what’s your current role outside of being an awesome podcast host?

I joined Buildertrend five and a half years ago. My current title is director of customer success, and I work with the teams that serve our customers. I help develop and teach the processes around our customer touchpoints and oversee our customer education programs.

Is there something fun or unique about you that you want our listeners to know?

I have a bit of a habit of daydreaming about owning my own business. I love entrepreneurship and want to someday run a business. I want to give back to the community as much as I can, so finding a way to be a part of it is really enticing to me.

Could you share a memorable moment or episode that left a lasting impact on you?

There are so many – it’s hard to narrow it down! Holistically, it’s incredible to hear the stories of individuals who started out with nothing more than their vision and their experience, but they grew their businesses into flourishing successes. I admire the work that our customers do across all various roles in construction.

One episode of “The Building Code” I think about from the early hosting days is Snap ADU. It was one of my first interviews, and I remember being almost starstruck talking to someone as successful as Whitney. Getting the opportunity to converse with people like her – and many others around the construction industry – is an inspiration for me.

Can you share a behind-the-scenes fact about the podcast?

Charley and I do very little of the actual work for “The Building Code.” The Marketing Content team helps find the guests, picks the topics and handles all the promotion. Running a podcast is a difficult job, but Charley and I have it extremely easy. We’re also not nearly as rivalrous as we appear. We work on projects outside of the podcast together frequently.

Describe your perfect day off – what would it be and where would you go?

Although I am planted firmly in the Omaha community, I have a bit of a wandering spirit and try to go places as much as I can. I’ve visited over 15 countries and 44 U.S. states. There’s nothing better than going somewhere new and exploring what it has to offer. My perfect day off would be to go somewhere I’ve never been and check out some historic sights, visit local favorites and eat as much of the food as I could get my hands on. Where would I go? It’s a tough call because every place has a story. My favorite location I’ve ever visited was Edinburgh, Scotland. I would love to spend more time there taking in all the history, nature and culture it has to offer. Maybe I’ll need a few days off for that …

What is your go-to meal or snack on a busy workday?

On a busy workday, I try to find the balance of convenience, quality and something somewhat healthy. A rice bowl with veggies and chicken or beef is a staple when I need to fuel up. For snacks – I love popcorn. So much popcorn.

What do you like most about being a host on “The Building Code,” and what do you hope to achieve with your podcast in the future?

Getting the opportunity to host “The Building Code” is one of my proudest achievements. Sometimes people ask why I still do it when it isn’t something that’s part of my job responsibilities. It’s so worth it when people tell me they love it unprompted, or people on my team will tell me that their customers listened and really enjoyed it. There’s no better feeling – naturally, you want people to find value in your work.

Without a doubt the best part is getting to share conversations with other people in the industry. Construction can sometimes appear to be a bit of on an island or off the mainstream topics that people think of when it comes to business. What I’ve learned is everyone runs their businesses just a little differently. But the more we can connect those to others in their line of work and talk about their common problems, the more we can unify those in the construction industry.

This forum gives people a small window to hear what others are doing or thinking about. That perspective can make a huge difference when going through the day to day. Sometimes the “aha” moments come in the most unlikely of sources. I hope we give people that small relief that there are other people just like them.

Like any podcast host (I assume, I don’t know any others), I hope “The Building Code” continues to bring valuable information to builders in the industry. I hope Charley and I can help even one person improve something in their business or their life. In the future, I’d love to find ways to do more panel discussions or cross collaborations with other outlets, so we can reach as many people as possible!

Get to know Charley

Hey, Charley! Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I just recently bought a new house with my beautiful fiancé, Audrey, and our Golden Retriever, Tebow. This year I’ve gotten really into running and completed my first marathon. Outside of work, watching sports (go Huskers!) and cooking, I’ve been spending most of the free time planning a wedding – we’re getting married next year in Italy!

How long have you been with Buildertrend, and what’s your current role outside of being an awesome podcast host?

I started at Buildertrend as a data analyst intern during my final semester of college at Doane University. When I graduated, I moved to Omaha and started full time. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to start and grow the Data Science team before moving into my current role as director of business performance. I spend all my time analyzing how we’re performing, what’s working, what’s not. I help decide what we need to do to continue improving as a business, so we can provide a best-in-class experience for our customers.

If you were a construction tool, what construction tool would you be and why?

I think I would be a chalk line. I’m a big planner and love having an idea of where I’m at and where I want to go. If I could snap a chalk line on my life for me to follow, I would in a heartbeat!

What’s your favorite part about interviewing professionals in the construction community?

I don’t work in a customer-facing role (unlike a lot of my friends in Sales and Customer Success), so the podcast is my one opportunity to talk with our customers and other leaders in the industry. I love that it’s in a conversational setting where we aren’t asking for them to buy anything or provide anything other than their stories. I continue to be impressed with the people we have on the podcast. They motivate me and help me remember the “why” behind what we do here at Buildertrend. 

Can you share a behind-the-scenes fact about the podcast?

Zach and I really aren’t joking when we say we use the podcast to catch up! We’re both in meetings together quite a bit throughout the week, but we’re always hyper-focused on work and what we’re trying to accomplish. The podcast recordings are a great time for us to relax and chat.

Can you recommend some of your favorite podcasts or books you enjoy or find inspiring?

I am currently reading “Think Like a Freak” by Steven Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. The goal of the book is to “retrain your brain” on how to think about problems, which I love. It’s a great book for this day and age to remember to think independently and understand that issues are typically far more complex than they appear on face value. However, these issues are solvable – if you can think like a freak.

What is your go-to meal or snack on a busy workday? 

Gummy bears. If left unchecked, I could easily eat about 20 pounds without a second thought. Just absolutely zero willpower when it comes to these.

What do you like most about being a host on “The Building Code,” and what do you hope to achieve with your podcast in the future?

I like being a small part of the community. I genuinely think the construction industry is the most important industry in the world, so being able to connect with the people that make it happen is an honor for me. I also love the people that make the podcast happen – it’s our own small little family here at Buildertrend.

Let us help you reach your business goals with Buildertrend

Not yet tuning in to “The Building Code” podcast? Subscribe today with your favorite streaming app or listen online on YouTube or the podcast page on our website.

Are you a Buildertrend customer looking to learn more about our software from our product team and other industry experts? Check out “The Better Way,” Buildertrend’s podcast exploring how tech simplifies complex processes.