Building Stronger Structures and Character | Bradley Bateman

 

About Bradley Bateman

CEO Bradley Bateman has extensive history with Dome Technology. Many years ago prior to starting his engineering degree, he worked for the company as a member of the dome construction crew. As a laborer “I really fell in love with the process and the product and have been an advocate ever since,” he said.

Prior to becoming CEO of Dome Technology Bateman worked for Engineering System Solutions (ES2), the company that provides engineering for Dome Technology projects. In his role as engineering project manager, Bateman led a team integrating design from conception to completion. While working as an engineer, he assisted in nurturing customer relationships during the construction process and through the full spectrum of engineering—automation, structural, mechanical, and electrical.

Bateman’s experience in both construction and engineering is uncommon in the industry, lending him a unique perspective as CEO. Through his leadership, the company continues to expand its influence on domestic and international markets. Dome Technology has constructed nearly 600 domes in over 30 countries at elevations exceeding 2-miles in the Rocky Mountains, in the remote reaches and cold of northern Quebec, in the extreme heat of Iraq, and along ports and waterways reaching as far north as the Baltic Sea.

Bateman earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from University of Idaho and a master’s degree in structural engineering from Brigham Young University. Originally from Star Valley, Wyoming, he and his wife Michelle have four children and live in Idaho Falls.

 

Interview Transcript:

Alan
Welcome back. I’m here today with Brad Bateman. He’s the CEO of Dome technology. Brad, welcome to today’s show.

Brad
Thank you, Alan. It’s good to be with you.

Alan
So for the listeners before we get into the what exactly dome does like to start with your background, your education career, you know, the the story life story that brought you where you are today.

Brad
Yeah, you bet. You know, my history is probably similar to a lot of Americans. It’s a little bit of hard work and some luck. As a boy, I grew up on a dairy farm and Star Valley, Wyoming. And there I learned to work really hard. In preparation to serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I needed to get a job to pay the bills to pay for my mission. And prior to that my father had just passed away. And so I actually got a job working for dome technology as a laborer, when I was 18 years old, and they sent me around the world doing work, construction work, heavy, heavy rebar, and concrete construction work. After that, I served a mission for the church came back, I got an engineering degree, civil engineering degree, masters and structures. And then, and then I started working for a firm that did, again, work for dome technology, but this time as a design engineer, and I grew into that role. And I did, I lead the design team that worked on the projects all around the world. And I would help negotiate those contracts with the customers and meet with their local design engineers to get the projects in place that can be executed. And then over time, I grew into the role as CEO, and I’ve been there ever since it’s been a wonderful experience.

Alan
So now dome is in what some 30 countries around the world.

Brad
Yeah, we’ve projects, open 35 plus countries. So we’ve had exposure in a lot of different environments and cultures.

Alan
So what exactly does dome technologies do?

Brad
Yeah, we have, we have a couple areas of emphasis that we spend our that we spend our time in number one is our industrial box, bulk storage facilities. And they’re generally at Port port facilities or inland terminals. And an example of one of these would be for bulk sugar. Sometimes people think, Well, I just get my sugar from my coffee and port or my drink important my drink. But we actually built the facility to handle and store that sugar, very, very large facilities, or coal or cement, or fly ash clinker fertilizer, anything that’s a dry product, that’s a powder or granular product, we can handle and store that product. And we’ve built them for customers all over the world.

Alan
So that when you when you started with dome, right out of school, yeah. You know, it tell me the process that dome does when they put a structure up.

Brad
Yeah, it’s a unique construction process. And that’s probably where we are really different than a lot of other industrial builders. So there’s a ring foundation that we build, it’s similar to other types of silo structures, but then we attach a fabric air form. It’s a PVC membrane, and it’s bolted to the foundation. And then we turn on some very large inflator fans that inflate this structure, and it becomes the shape of the dome, and then they and then the construction work is completed from the inside, we spray urethane foam and concrete and the concrete becomes the structure, the finished structure, and the air form just makes the shape. And then after it’s finished, you can place conveyor trusses on top to convey the material in into the storage and tunnels replaced or remove the material from the inside. And so one of the advantages of that system is you can do work in the rain. And so if it’s raining outside your instead of an enclosed buildings, so it’s a nice environment to work.

Alan
It probably takes a lot less time to does structures?

Brad
It does yeah, there’s the construction time is shorter. And it’s safer because you’re in an enclosed environment outside of inclement weather, you know.

Alan
So now for our listeners that may be considering purchasing one of these domes, you know, you know, Can you can you help them understand, I guess what, what the right type of client or person that you seek in there? Is it just anybody that wants to come do this? Or Who’s your ideal?

Brad
Yeah, great. So generally, it’s people that are going to own or operate a terminal that’s going to handle really large products, really large quantities of product for bulk materials for cement. For example, if you want to have a cement terminal, you’re going to bring cement in by train or truck and you want to sell it to other distribution centers, then we’ll build a dome and the facility to handle it. In addition to that, some of our customers have been we’ve done work for the storm shelter initiatives in some of the different states to protect communities from tornado or hurricane events. And there’s been funding from the government that communities have applied for and we’ve gone in and built these structures. So that when a tornado comes in the communities can use it as a safe room shelter. And so we’ve done that that’s a smaller aspect of our business, but we’ve been involved in that as well. was kind of a two pronged approach to our business.

Alan
And visiting here today with Brad Bateman. He’s the CEO of Dome technologies Brad, I need to take a quick break, and we’ll be right back after these messages.

Alan
Welcome back and visiting here today with Brad Bateman. He’s the CEO of dome technologies. And Brad the first segment we’re talking about what exactly dome did and putting up structures, but I want to I want to roll into this segment your drivers in life there you came as a basically a line worker, and you moved all the way up to CEO. But when it comes to getting to know, Brad, you know, what drives you?

Brad
That’s a really wonderful question. I had the same question asked to me by a gentleman in South Korea that was a client. And I told him and this is my answer first, first and foremost is my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Second, my family. And in third, I want to I want to help people improve themselves. And and I try to keep those in that right order. And so as I’ve as I’ve worked in industry from different levels, those around me if I can help them improve themselves, I find that very fascinating. And I want to spend time doing that with people. And so it’s difficult to have the correct balance. Right. You know, sometimes we work too much, and our family suffers. And I always try to keep that balance, right. But I would say that those are really are my three, my three fundamental drivers in life that give me focus and direction.

Alan
You know, it’s hard in this busy world that we live in as technology increases, it seems to really shorten the the time turnaround time as such, but how do you how do you manage to balance life?

Brad
Yeah, it’s difficult. No doubt, technology has actually made it easier in some fashions. If you’re out of town, and you want to pray with your children, you can do it via FaceTime, right? You know, but I found for myself that you want to get more done, there has to be a system and a process in place to manage it, it can’t be just a free for all. And so I I’m the engineering background, and me helps me want to be more process oriented. So I’m quite systematic, I’ve, if there seems to be a problem, and things are falling apart, what’s the system can help refine the process, so that there’s less wasted time, there’s more efficient use of time, inside my own personal life and also in the company. And so balancing that is difficult, but I found ways to implement systems in my own life to keep track of for example, it’s pretty simple. Your email inbox can be a to do list, or it can be a big mess. So for me, it’s if there’s less email in there, the better because it’s been removed. So systems to keep track of things that need to be done are very important in this busy life that we have.

Alan
So Brad, when you’re when you’re when you’re coming back to this generation today, you know, how do you advise someone just coming out of school? What to look for? And you know, if you’re mentoring individual getting ready to start a business, what advice would you have for them?

Brad
Yeah, I think a couple points of advice. Number one, keep the balance and have them defined in your life, what are the most important things. Second, be willing to work hard, and hard work is going to drive success, it will drive success. And it can and hardware can throw you out of balance as we know right in this difficult world we live in. But as you’re as you’re focused on the important things, especially family, and for me, my faith, and then hard work in the professional world, then you can accomplish amazing things. Very amazing things if you’re driven and focused in the right direction, but don’t lose balance of the most important things.

Alan
Yeah, as we roll back to where we’re at today, with this economy defined businesses picking up slowing down. Where are you at with the company growth?

Brad
Yeah, domestically, we felt we felt the increased comeback in the US. Luckily, we’ve been in international markets. And so that’s helped us hedge and get I guess you will, again, some of the domestic challenges that we’ve faced. And so when there was trouble in the US, we had projects in Asia, or Europe or South America, but it feels like that things are turning around, especially domestically, it does feel like.

Alan
Visiting here today with Brad Bateman he’s the CEO of dome technologies, Brad they need to take a quick break. We’ll be right back after these messages. \

Alan
Welcome back and visiting here today, Brad Bateman. He’s the CEO of don’t technologies and, and Brad in the earlier segments were talking about, you know, domes model also we touch base on some of the some of the things that you brought you up to where you are today. And I want to this segment want to go back through attributes, you know, one of the things on American Dreams that we strive for, is really helping to give a perspective that nothing’s forever in life. Sure, we’re on a timeline. And as we move through it, we’re learning. So when you think about attributes that have brought you to where you are today, what would you say some of the greatest attributes are?

Brad
Yeah, I think I think maintaining your principles is really key. And, and some of those principles for me are honor, respect, kindness. And people respond to those, they respond to it. And I think that’s helped shaped me, she has helped shape me, for example, I have, we’ve done quite a bit of work in Asia, and, and over there, I’ve spent time with people. And a lot of times, they’ll say, Well, you shouldn’t talk to that individual on the job site, because they’re a lower class citizen than you. And I’ll always say that man is my brother. And I will always treat him with respect regardless of his economic situation. And I found that as I’ve stood on that principle, that people have responded, my counterparts in different countries have responded in kind Well, if this man, this businessman from America can treat this individual with respect, so can I. And so standing on our principles, and I’ve listed a few I think really help have helped me shape my my life and my business business profession.

Alan
Okay, so when, you know, when you look at all the years of the experiences that you’ve gone through, what’s the one thing that you learned over the years that you wish you’d known when you’re just starting out?

Brad
Yeah, I think I’ve wished I’d known that things don’t always they’re not as always bad as they seem. You get in there, and you have a problem that’s come up, and you’re like, This is really bad. How are we going to work through this? It’s best just to sit back and say, well, we’ll survive another day, or we can work through this difficult challenge. It’s not really as bad as it seems. And and then when you think that way, you make decisions more appropriately, you don’t make a hasty decision. And if somebody would have told me that when I first started, I’d have been a lot less stressed in life, it’s going to work out some form or fashion that a workout.

Alan
When you think about faith and moving forward with faith, into levels of uncertainty, how do you deal with that?

Brad
Yeah, my faith is fundamental to my work. And, and I think it’s good to have, it’s good to test, test the waters, especially professionally and say, Where do we move into this new, this new market or this new country. But I’m convinced and I do know that God is in control of all things. And as we exercise our faith, in something new, if it’s going to bless the lives of people that we work with, he’s going to help us and so I leverage that on a, on a day to day basis, I look for ways to exercise that faith, because I know he’s going to help us and he has.

Alan
And now even when you’re dealing with, you know, it’s interesting, the fact that, you know, we have so many cultures around the world, and the way they do things in different countries are not always the same, right? How do you how do you acclimate for that, or make adjustments when you’re in different cultures?

Brad
Yeah, I found that sometimes humor is often the best medicine and I’ll even tease I’ll even tease the people that I work with that the whiteboard is the universal translator. So I’ll use it to draw pictures and to communicate that way. But oftentimes, culturally, we’re where we’ll meet with groups of people that for a business meeting, and they want to drink some type of liquor, for example, or hard alcohol and I’ll say let’s, which what can I drink as a substitute and they’re very, they’re very accustomed to it. Now, and they so when they go to drink the hard liquor, they’ll bring me a Sprite or something of that nature. And so I found oftentimes, if you treat the culture with respect, and explain your own beliefs or understandings, there’s always middle ground, regardless of faith, religion or experience, there’s always a middle ground. And what I’ve honestly found most of it is, is when we recognize each other as brothers or sisters, and I’ll communicate that to people of no faith. And they’ll say, Well, you are my brother. We’re brothers. Right? And that’s a very common foundation that we have built on in countries all over the world that we built upon that foundation.

Alan
Yeah, it’s interesting when when you think about it like that. There’s some that because a different type of connection.

Brad
Yeah, it’s not just a business transaction. It’s more like, We are brothers. And we can work through difficult things. And this would be a good relationship if we let it.

Alan
So when when when you’re doing something in a foreign country, I’m just curious. There were don’t technologies, you bring the big bags to the countries and blow them up, or do you do everything on site?

Brad
Yeah, we that’s, that’s the only thing that will import the the air form, we bring it in, we ship it. And then we buy the concrete, local, and we use local labor. rebar, of course, local and the concrete is local. We try to use as much local support as we can.

Alan
You know, you mentioned before that that you, you do a lot of dry storage containers. Yeah. And but but you also touched a little bit on FEMA, too. Do you see that growing the disaster the Doomsday?

Brad
I do well, in the what we’ve provided her community shelters that have had tornado issues, you know, and so we’re really not servicing the doomsday market, if you will. But communities that are worried about where to go when a tornado comes or where their school kids go, when the tornado comes. We’ve built a lot of facilities in Texas and Florida, Alabama. And for us, that’s a neat thing, if we can protect families and families lives during a difficult time. That’s been a really neat thing for us.

Alan
So when I want to touch on defining success in life, how would you define a successful life?

Brad
Yeah, I think if I could say, my life would be successful if if my my children loved me as a father and I was true to my principles and my faith, outside of being driven professionally and wanting to drive the business. I think that that’s important, but the most important thing really is my faith and my family. So if those two are in balance, I’ve been a successful person.

Alan
And then pika we remember for just one thing in life, what would that be?

Brad
As a good Dad. I think that’d be it.

Alan
That’s simple. But yeah. Well, Brad, I appreciate you being here on today’s show and been visiting with Brad Bateman. He’s is CEO of don’t technologies and for the listeners, if somebody wants to contact dome, how would they go about doing that?

Brad
Yeah, the best way to do it is through our website. It’s www.dometechnology.com.

Alan
And then it and then typically, they’ll, you’ll go anywhere for the construction. Yeah, anywhere in the world. Alright, so that Brad, thanks for being on today’s show. Thank you

 

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This transcript was generated by software and may not accurately reflect exactly what was said.

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