Blacktop Banter

About a month ago Daniel, who is owner of Proline Parking Lot Maintenance and a content creator here at BB,  FaceTime calls me... which never happens. Daniel was immediately speaking and being firm about something that he just experienced and something that has been under the surface of our industry fro years, but never been tackled head on by the ones it effects most, the best contractors in...

Winter is Coming. I know we all have a list as long as our arm of things we need to do over the next 4 months or so, but one thing I would like to bring up is Relationships. Relationships with vendors, manufacturers and peers. I have had great advantages given to me over the years by building, and keeping, these relations ship growing over the winter months. In this episode I explain the why, and...

Michael Blake is the Marketing Manager at KM International and has been for the last 8 years. It is UNDENAIBLE that during that time, KM has been on a great run as far as bringing products to the market that has in incredible reputation and are dependable for their customers... but how do we use "Know" that? We know that because KM has done a great job through marketing, to show what their brand i...

Carl is a 3rd generation Tarp maker in the Asphalt Industry. Out of their shop in Fort Worth, Carl and his team make tarps for any size truck or dump trailer and can specifically design a custom setup for any rig...and ship it if need be. In this episode Carl goes into the fabric design, framework and what makes them the best in the industry at what they do. Hope you enjoy this one as much as I di...

Todd Hendricks Jr is the President of Robotic Maintenance Vehicles. The company that unveiled the Robotic Crack Sealing Machine last year and made quite a splash at NPE with it, as well as their social media content showing just what it can do. In this episode Todd tells us how the machine came about, what it can do and what is in store for the future of not only this machine, but more ideas that...

Ryan Farmer is the 2017 Street Luge World Champion and 2x WRG Silver Medalists. As well as represents Team USA in the World Skate competition. Besides that, the guy takes some epic photos while on his journey through the world, that capture our future and moments that are very thought provoking. Saying Ryan has experience noticing an analyzing the different forms of pavements all over the world, w...

Was fortunate enough to be asked by Leeboy and the 800 Pavement Network to speak at LeeBoy Headquarters in North Carolina for the debut of their Key Account Program. In this talk I go over how we have successfully merged the new school marketing of Blacktop Banter, with the old school marketing of the 800 Network and the iconic phone numbers they provide. Hope you enjoy this segment and much as I...

After my visit to North Carolina this week, I was thinking about what it takes to make Businesses succeed in this industry. Not only Wis-Coat or BB, but big businesses like US Pavememnt, LeeBoy and Dynapac. I go over a few tips that I have learned personally and share them with you here. Enjoy. -Marvin 28 CIRCLES BANTER EXCLUSIVE LINK: https://28circles.net/blacktop-banter-asphalt-app/

10 years in the NFL. Think about that. What kind of drive, experience, dreaming and perseverance does it take to accomplish that?... Will James knows. My friend Will spent that much time playing for the New York Giants and other teams, at the highest level a Cornerback can. Will shares with us his story and the valuable lessons he learned along the way. Will accomplished great things on the gridir...

Longtime friend and fellow Asphalt Industry Business Owner, Todd Eichholz joins me for this podcast episode. Todd owns A&A Paving out of Illinois and shares with us their level of success and scaling, as well as talks to us about an important cause he is running for. Todd is fundraising for World Vision, and is running the Chicago Marathon, in order to raise money to bring clean water to child...

Been fortunate enough in the last few weeks to have the honor of mentoring a few gentlemen in person, that aim to start or improve their Asphalt Maintenance business. It got me thinking about my own life, and the "mentors" I have unintentionally made us of, and the ones I intentionally built relationships with to improve my business, relationships and Life. In this episode I reflect on all of that...

After years of preaching the importance of branding, and using social media with all the other forms of marketing to do so, it feels pretty good to have somebody like Jeani on the show to confirm I at least know what I'm talking about in one area of life...I mean, that's a start people. Anyway, all jokes aside, Jeani is a lifetime member of the asphalt industry and has coached many clients to succ...

My new friend and TOPCON sponsored Indy Lights Racing Pro, James Roe, sits down to talk about his career and how he got started. As well as his experiences racing on different pavement types and conditions. He also goes over what its like to race different car types altogether on different surfaces. One of the most insightful things we talk about is his racing of a famous track in Britain before i...

Times have changed. Some of the guys in this industry adapt well with the changes that come, they do their homework, they understand what it takes to succeed. My friend Craig Granroth is one of those guys. Craig spent 25+ years in the industry and building a juggernaut of a company in Minnesota, that he recently sold his share of. He drops a lot of knowledge on us about Asphalt Emulsion Sealers, E...

Wit this being the busiest season by far for messages, emails, calls and visits for advice on how sealcoating companies can generate more leads and build their brand, I came up with 3 tips that you may not hear that often from me. Making YouTube videos, Joining a Chamber of Commerce and Donating your work. I got over all 3 in depth but also offer some actual fundamental advice at the end as well a...

When I first seen OnStation in action, I had a "Woah" and "Aha! I get it!" response. So, when Patrick and Jess from OnStation asked me to have them on the podcast and do a demo, I was in. In the podcast they go through the app and the benefits of it to contractors doing large projects, highway projects, municipal projects and more. Joined by a panel of Kirsten Fowler from Women of Asphalt Board of...

This episode was recorded LIVE from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA. Guests were Jake Abernathy, Daniel Good, Drew Lamy and Cisco Barron. Link to save $199 off the 28 Circles Marketing Package: https://28circles.net/asphalt-app/?fpr=marvin21

I love Origin Stories, no matter what the person or company is that they are about. MBW has an awesome one, its similar to the Harley Davidson one, that is legendary here in Wisconsin. MBW is also a Wisconsin Company and their story, one of success, is awesome and rich with history. Rick Gramoll is the Director of Sales and Marketing at MBW and he dives into the story of MBW with me, but also goes...

James and I connected through LinkdIn. After seeing each other in the comment sections, then seeing more and more of each others posts, it only made sense to have a conversation to see why we are crossing each others paths more often. Well, after talking, I realized we have a lot in common and James has a great story to tell. Not only has he had major success through his pavement company, PMG, but...

Had a great conversation with Jason Wilk from ECHO. Jason is the Senior Product Manager at ECHO and is able to break down for us the insight and thought that goes into these Power Equipment pieces that ECHO designs and produces for us. We also go over how we use them in the asphalt and asphalt maintenance industry, as well as discuss what changes, attachments or pieces of equipment, we would love...

Marco Menna insulted me! At least that's how I like to tell the story of how we met. What Marco was really doing, was trying to give me some insight in 2018, in Cleveland. Marco and his partner Kevin, were coming off a Marquee project, and used drone technology, combined with some great shots, to make a promo video for their company. A great Marketing strategy and something Marco was REALLY stress...

Daniel has become a close friend of mine. We talk strategy, family, introspectiveness, purpose and a whole lot more. He also looks out for me, and calls me on my bulls***, as we are in the same industry together. We dive into a great conversation here about all we have learned and our perspectives. Especially from our businesses, Proline Parking Lot Maintenance (Daniel) and Wis-Coat (Me). Its long...

Imagine my surprise, when of all people ThorSport Racing said they could get on the podcast, was Ben Rhodes. Ben is the reigning 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion and currently leads the Points this season. Driving the #99 Toyota, sponsored by Bombardier, Ben gives us insight into what it takes to stay in front, the prep work leading up to the race and how his team studies the Asphal...

Ray Leonard Jr is the Son of Boxing Legend, "Sugar" Ray Leonard.  Now that is out of the way. Ray Jr has more accomplishments, businesses and downright good things to be said about him than I have letters allowed to type intros description...and through it all, he has kept his family close. With a connection to the Asphalt Industry and an entrepreneurial spirit, Ray speaks to our community ve...

MY friend, and repeat BB guest, Brian Hess and I talk about where we are at in our ventures, Blacktop Banter, Top Contractor School...and how they are coming together at an epic event coming up soon. We also talk about other topics within, and outside our industry. This combo of Brian and I is one that gets requested often by listeners and we are both very happy to bring it back to you. -Marvin