Meet Todd Bryan: Insights from Bolt's Senior Implementation Consultant

Have you ever wondered how trade contractor software can revolutionize your business? Meet Todd Bryan, Bolt’s senior implementation consultant, who shares his journey and insights into the evolving world of construction technology.

We sat down with Todd to learn more about his role within the team.

ECI: Describe your role in 50 words or less.

Todd Bryan (TB): I train new customers on the web and mobile app versions of Bolt. Bolt helps them manage their schedule and operate what's happening in the field.

ECI: What and where did you study?

TB: I attended Rowan University in New Jersey, where I minored in education and majored in history. I was planning to be a teacher and did some field experiences, but I decided that wasn't for me.

ECI: Tell us about your career path

TB: My uncle was one of the founding partners at MarkSystems, and I started working there about two years after college. I always had an interest in construction. My dad was in construction this whole career, so I grew up around the industry and worked there with them since middle school. Then while I was in college, I worked with a contractor on kitchen and bathroom remodels, windows, doors, roofs, etc. Quite a variety of remodeling work. When I decided I didn't want to be a teacher, my uncle suggested I could help customers using MarkSystems. He thought it was a good fit because I have a construction background, know the industry, and am comfortable talking with people. I started with technical support, then moved into consulting and training onsite and in quality assurance. And then I moved over to the bolt team about three and half years ago.

ECI: And what does your day-to-day work life look like?

TB: When I'm in the office, I mainly train and share industry best practices through video conferences. I also connect with customers by answering their questions via email and phone. These are quick questions where they are looking for a refresher, and I direct them to the resources that we have, whether it's in the knowledge base or from the webinars on the website.

ECI: What advice would you give someone just starting in our industry? Any words of wisdom?

TB: I would say that the biggest thing is, in my opinion, experience, which would be making some connections throughout the industry and soaking up as much information as possible. Don't try to put on a façade and pretend that you know something because, for the most part, these folks have been working in this industry for a couple of generations, and they can spot it when you don't know what you're talking about.

So, it's better to say, “I’m not sure or I haven't come across that. Let me find out some more information, and I'll get back to you,” rather than trying to muddle your way through it. You lose credibility, and I think that can take a long time to recover from.

ECI: What excites you most about working in the industry?

TB: In the software industry, it's interesting that things are constantly evolving and the same goes for home building. There’s always new technology and products that are better for the consumer, the vendors we work with, and the home builders. When you see what's happening out there, especially in home building and the new products that are out there for contractors to use. Having grown up around it, it’s amazing to see how much it's changed over the years. I was one of four kids growing up, and we had a big 50-gallon water heater. But the water was cold when the last one of us took a shower to go to school. Now you've got something the size of a suitcase on the wall that provides unlimited hot water on demand for a whole house. It’s great to see the advances.

ECI: What do you see as some of the challenges?

TB: The biggest challenge is that every implementation is different, and you're dealing with different personalities. You can get some conflicting views because you’re working with different roles—maybe the owner or operations manager. You need to be able to work with different personalities and get them the information they need. When training others on software, you must be confident in your approach. You understand the system, so you must be clear and direct to communicate the material effectively.

ECI: What’s your advice to others?

TB: If you can overdeliver on their expectations—make them happy and give them better results than their expectations—I think that sets a lasting impression with customers. If we promise the moon and fall short of that, they will automatically not be happy with us, and then it's difficult to overcome once you've set an unrealistic expectation. We'll probably fail to meet it, which can be a pretty uphill battle.

ECI: What has changed since you started working in the industry? What changes have you witnessed?

TB: In software, the importance of APIs can’t be overstated. Opening up applications to connect instead of having custom solutions makes it easier to ‘expand’ the functionality. It can be as simple as integrating Google Maps into having the address in our software, so when the user clicks on it, it pulls up Google Maps, Ways, or Apple Maps. And knowing that behind the scenes, there's quite a bit of work to make that a functional piece, but in the end, it gives the customer a great user experience.

We’ve seen tankless heaters, solar panels, and a variety of smart technologies available. And it goes hand-in-hand with different finishes on items like countertops or bath shower enclosures. It's all improving, so it's interesting to see how they're constantly changing.

ECI: What do you enjoy doing when you're not at work?

TB: I love to be outside. I got married two years ago, so I spend as much time with my wife and the family as I can. I'm also big into ultra-endurance races. I push and test my mental and physical limits. It changes my whole outlook on what I used to think might have been physically challenging and difficult versus what you're capable of doing.

ECI: What media are you binging?

TB: I recommend “Sea Stories” by Admiral William McRaven. He was a four-star admiral who discussed his career and as a Navy SEAL.

From enhancing project management to integrating cutting-edge technology, Todd Bryan's expertise with Bolt software is transforming the construction industry.