iReach Podcast
iReach Podcast
Podcast Description
Hosted by Paul Robinson, founder of ConstructReach, the iReach Podcast explores bold conversations shaping the future of construction. Each episode features leaders and changemakers who are redefining what it means to build a career in the trades. With a focus on mentorship, leadership, and equity, the show highlights emerging pathways into the industry. Whether you're a student exploring career options, an educator bridging the gap between classroom and workforce, or a professional looking to make a difference, iReach offers insight, inspiration, and a fresh take on the construction industry.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into themes like mentorship, leadership, and equity in the construction industry. Episodes feature discussions on topics such as diversity in construction, the importance of mentorship for aspiring professionals, and promoting inclusive workplace cultures. Notable episodes include interviews featuring construction superintendents and young project managers discussing their unique challenges and insights in the industry.
Hosted by Paul Robinson, founder of ConstructReach, the iReach Podcast explores bold conversations shaping the future of construction. Each episode features leaders and changemakers who are redefining what it means to build a career in the trades. With a focus on mentorship, leadership, and equity, the show highlights emerging pathways into the industry. Whether you’re a student exploring career options, an educator bridging the gap between classroom and workforce, or a professional looking to make a difference, iReach offers insight, inspiration, and a fresh take on the construction industry.
John Rice is a pioneering mechanical engineer and one of the founding partners of Legacy Engineers, a Black-owned MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) consulting firm based in New York City. With a 30+ year career spanning sustainable building systems, high-performance design, and leadership in large-scale infrastructure projects, Rice’s mission is bigger than engineering—he’s building a legacy of access, excellence, and opportunity for Black and Brown professionals in the field.
In this episode, Rice shares his full-circle journey—from discovering engineering as a college student, to becoming the only Black partner at a 500-person firm, to launching Legacy Engineers to shift the industry’s leadership landscape. He breaks down how energy and purpose have guided his life, why community matters, and the firm’s role in shaping iconic projects like JFK Terminal 1 and the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. You'll hear how Legacy blends cutting-edge sustainability with a bold social mission: to change the face of engineering.
Subscribe for more inspiring founder stories. Learn more at Legacy Engineers.
In this episode:
00:00 Introducing John Rice of Legacy Engineers
02:52 Discovering Engineering
03:40 College Years and Early Career
04:43 Professional Journey in Engineering
08:18 The Importance of Community and Mentorship
11:38 Founding Legacy Engineers
22:50 Mission and Vision of Legacy Engineers
23:39 Discovering Ancestral Empowerment
25:01 Core Values of Legacy Engineers
26:09 Mentorship and Community Service
29:16 Generational Differences in Community Engagement
33:05 Launching Legacy Engineers
37:36 Major Projects and Innovations
43:00 Advice for Aspiring Engineers
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Follow John Rice
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-b-rice-p-e-leed-ap-0142a2b/
Website: https://legacy-engineers.com/team-johnrice/
Follow Paul Robinson
Connect with Paul Robinson on LinkedIn.
Follow ConstructReach on LinkedIn.
Follow ConstructReach on Instagram @contructreach
Check out the ConstructReach website at constructreach.com
This podcast is sponsored by Construct Reach.
As a workforce development initiative that builds reachable opportunities through construction, ConstructReach increases the visibility of the construction industry by educating students about career opportunities within construction, connecting general contractors to interns and innovative internship curricula, creating content and experiences to expose a diverse population to sustainable construction careers, and uniting stakeholders to ensure the construction industry continues to thrive.
#IReachPodcast #PaulRobinson #ConstructReach
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