Darin Ross – Owner of FMGI, Inc.

Nathan Griffis

So we'll get the legal part out of the way. Okay. Name, title. Company you work with.

Darin Ross

All right. Darin Ross, CEO and founder of FMG. We're a general contractor, national firm for offices throughout the US. Dallas, Texas. Tampa, Florida. Huntsville, Alabama. And Atlanta.

Nathan Griffis

Okay. So the legal ease is, do I have permission to record, edit, and share this content? You sure do. Okay, good. Because you're a big guy. I don't think I could strap you to the chair and force you to do it. I really want to pick up our conversation.

Nathan Griffis

We cheated. We had breakfast this morning. Not really to prep, but just have breakfast. I want to talk about 3D printing first, but I want to go back to that conversation because I think that's really important stuff for the industry. We were talking man to man, parent to parent, sandwich generation stuff.

Nathan Griffis

I think that's really important in an industry that's struggling for content like that. But we're excited. I know you are absolutely bullish on 3D printed buildings. So how did you get there? Where are you going, and how does it transform our industry?

Darin Ross

How I got into it started with looking for new technology in an industry that doesn’t move the needle very often. I asked one of our consultants to start attending technical conferences and find the next big thing in construction.

Nathan Griffis

Where do you even go to look for the next big thing?

Darin Ross

This technology completely came out of left field. I had heard about homes being printed, mostly in Europe, but nothing really on the commercial side. The gantry system has limitations.

Darin Ross

We were preparing to start a masonry project in Athens, Tennessee, when three weeks before kickoff, the customer called and said they were going to 3D concrete print it. All my folks were like, “We’re doing what?”

Darin Ross

We worked with the municipality to change plans and brought in AllQuest with their robotic technology. It’s not just the robot—you need the right mix, the right conditions, and execution. We were printing in 180-degree heat on a slab.

Nathan Griffis

I’ve seen concrete be a problem coming out of the mixing truck, much less through a hose.

Darin Ross

The beautiful thing is, it didn’t go well at first. It took 41 days to print the walls. It was the largest structure ever printed in the U.S., with 20-foot walls. Our customer let us fail forward.

Darin Ross

I remember being on the slab at 10:00 at night when the technology finally worked. That’s when I knew this was going to work.

Darin Ross

We applied those lessons to another project in Huntsville, Alabama. We went from a 41-day print to a seven-day print for the walls.

Nathan Griffis

That’s huge.

Darin Ross

It’s about 15% cheaper than masonry. But more importantly, you save three to four weeks on the schedule. That allows customers to open sooner and start using the space.

Nathan Griffis

At the end of the day, you can show pictures, but it’s the numbers that matter.

Darin Ross

Exactly. And we’ve purchased two robots for FMG. They’ll be here in December, and we’re ready to roll this out. Retailers and developers are very interested, especially for 5,000 to 10,000 square foot outparcel retail.

Nathan Griffis

That’s significant.

Darin Ross

It’s coming.

Nathan Griffis

I love that you had a relationship that let you fail that big and fail forward. That speaks to the value of trust and commitment.

Darin Ross

Absolutely. And now we’re working through ASTM testing and specifications. We’re in the infancy stage, but we’re printing wall sections and doing deflection and load testing to help write the specs.

Nathan Griffis

The bleeding edge is where the greatest risks and the greatest rewards are.

Darin Ross

This technology also helps with workforce development. We don’t have many young folks going into the trades, but programming a robot is a lot more attractive than laying block.

Nathan Griffis

That’s the same argument every time technology evolves.

Nathan Griffis

Another big part of what we want to talk about is professional development and leadership. Work-life balance is a lie. So tell the audience what your wife said to you.

Darin Ross

She said, “I get exhausted.” By the time I get home on the weekends, I’ve said all the words I have. I even told my business development group not to book me for meetings on Fridays.

Darin Ross

You’ve got to get comfortable being uncomfortable, but you also need a counterweight—an outlet—or burnout will get you.

Darin Ross

Health is my outlet. I’m up early, walking by 4:30 a.m., listening to podcasts, lifting weights, using the sauna, and reading. That time is mine, and it’s paid dividends physically and mentally.

Nathan Griffis

Discipline is the common thread. For me, running gives clarity. I’m less angry when I’ve had that outlet.

Darin Ross

You never regret finishing the workout. You conquer the doubts first thing in the morning, and then the rest of the day is easier.

Nathan Griffis

You also have your son working with you. That brings pride and challenges.

Darin Ross

I always ask him, “Do you want to talk to your dad or your boss?” He earned his place and works for our leadership team. Nepotism doesn’t belong in business.

Nathan Griffis

That sends the right message to the organization.

Darin Ross

I also work with a mental coach. Having an outside perspective helps me process decisions without reacting emotionally.

Nathan Griffis

One of our rules is to assume positive intent. It almost always leads to a better outcome.

Nathan Griffis

I appreciate your transparency and your leadership. You’re doing important work for the industry.

Darin Ross

Any time. I appreciate it. Thanks for having me.