From Hay Bales to Boardrooms: Greg Hamann on Grit, Growth, and Scaling Without Losing Your Soul

Greg Hamann’s (see his bio below) story starts on a Maine farm, stacking hay until 11 p.m. as a 12-year-old, and working in his family’s masonry and concrete business before eventually becoming CEO of a precast company. Along the way, he learned the value of hard work, humility, and the importance of thinking before acting, advice passed down from his father that still guides him today.

In this conversation, Greg and I dive into:

• Lessons from leading a company through the 2008–2009 recession and turning it around.

• Why scaling a business shouldn’t mean “losing your soul” and how to do it differently.

• The role of Predictive Index assessments in leadership, hiring, and even M&A deals.

• How generational shifts are reshaping manufacturing and why younger workers value freedom of time as much as money.

• His new venture, Bison Biocomposites, and how hemp-based products could change the construction industry.

From leadership lessons to innovation in concrete (and beyond), Greg brings real-world grit and executive-level insight, reminding us that at every stage, whether you’re baling hay, running a plant, or advising private equity groups, it’s still all about people.

 

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  About Greg: Greg Hamann- entrepreneur, executive advisor, and founder of Truliance Consulting. Greg grew up working on a Maine farm and in his family’s concrete & masonry business, later leading and selling a precast company before launching his own advisory firm. Today, he works with manufacturers and private equity groups on everything from strategy and leadership to M&A and plant modernization. He’s also a board member and co-owner at Bison Biocomposities, a fast-growing green construction materials company pushing carbon-negative innovations into the market. Greg brings real-world grit and executive-level insight to every table he sits at.