Forging Ahead: Family, Steel, and Tariffs (Cole Porter) - Part 2

Building Leaders Radio Hour

Cole Porter, President & CEO of Porter Steel, joins us for part 2 of his episode with us to discuss the importance of family, his impact at Porter Steel, and the impact of tariffs on the construction industry.
Having grown up around the family business and worked in numerous aspects of the shop, field, and office as far back as high school, Cole knows steel. In 2012, he returned to Porter Steel as the organization’s future leader. Cole is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

This episode was recorded on June 16, 2025

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0:00 Introduction (Thank you Fly & Form Concrete Structures)

0:52 Impact of tariffs on Steel

10:20 Importance of speaking up

18:20 Importance of healthy communication

24:50 Looking ahead

26:05 "What comes around goes around"

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This season of BLRH is sponsored by Fly & Form Concrete Structures! Fly and Form is headquartered in Atlanta and does work throughout the southeast specializing in concrete structures. Visit their website at flyandform.com or call their team at [phone] to discuss your project's needs.
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Chapters

1. Introduction (Thank you Fly & Form Concrete Structures) (00:00:00)

2. Impact of tariffs on Steel (00:00:52)

3. Importance of speaking up (00:10:20)

4. Importance of healthy communication (00:18:20)

5. Looking ahead (00:24:50)

6. "What comes around goes around" (00:26:05)