Building Scale

How do you acquire a construction company without weakening the reputation that made it valuable? Justin Escajeda, founder and president of Escajeda Holdings, shares his approach to preserving brands and legacies while adding the people, systems and resources needed to grow. Justin Escajeda, Justin Neagle and Will Foret discuss profitable buy boxes, realistic valuations, debt service, capable mana...

Can construction companies scale sales without relying on a few natural rainmakers? Ryan Groth, CEO of Sales Transformation Group, explains how repeatable processes, scorecards and accountability help teams improve. He and Justin Neagle discuss coaching average performers, balancing hunters and farmers, structuring incentives and using disciplined discovery to qualify opportunities, serve customer...

Why chase a revenue target if quality and experience are not the goal? Mahsa Poorak, CEO and second-generation owner of Southern Electric Company, shares how she moved from public defense into the family business and helped double its revenue. She explains why scalable leadership means reducing dependence on one person, developing talent through apprenticeships and career paths, and pairing techno...

What keeps a development deal moving when one missed detail can stall the entire machine? Tennessee developer Stefan Claar shares why he relies on face-to-face relationship building and backward planning to uncover intent, establish trust and stay ahead of critical path items. Claar and Justin Neagle dig into project demand, builder fit, leverage and debt exposure, along with lessons from the 2008...

Gary McCoy shares how Blink Energy Services grew from a side hustle into a full-time business built around energy compliance and building code work. He talks about spotting a hard-to-find market need, hiring early, and shaping culture with a four-day workweek and personality tools like Enneagram and Working Genius. The conversation covers training, reducing rework on site, expanding into commissio...

Angela Drexel shares her path to BlackRock Construction and how LiveWire evolved into a broader company with ambitious growth goals. She discusses hiring for curiosity, transferable skills, and culture fit, along with building career paths and leadership development frameworks inspired. Angela also covers addressing negative behavior quickly, deciding when to coach or let someone go, and using per...

Rebecca Wood shares her journey of founding and scaling Superior Traffic Control. She discusses the competitive nature of the business, overcoming challenges, and experiencing the hardest seasons of growth. Rebecca highlights the role of advocacy, notably in passing the Distracted Driving Bill, and its benefits for leadership and relationship building. She delves into her expansion strategy during...

Matt Kosednar shares his journey into architecture and his role at Allen + Philp Partners, emphasizing the firm's specialization in casino design. He delves into the technical and operational nuances of casino projects, discussing scale, cost, and economic considerations. Matt highlights the integration of architecture and interiors and the importance of detail in high-end projects. He explores re...

Mike Wood, COO at Jarrett Companies, shares his journey in the construction industry, highlighting the growth and structuring of the company, including its expansion into full-service MEP and new divisions. He discusses building successful teams, leadership evolution, and fostering self-awareness to avoid burnout. Mike emphasizes the importance of honesty, respect, and trust in leadership, as well...

Rich Szecsy, CEO of Big Town Concrete, discusses his journey in the concrete industry and the impact of Texas's population growth on concrete consumption. He explores the competitive landscape and benefits of private companies, sharing insights from his experience with mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Using a pizza vs. tacos analogy, Rich explains modern M&A strategies, emphasizing technology and A...

Rob Frost discusses his journey from the military to the construction industry, emphasizing the importance of structured processes in a growing company. He explains the benefits of a self-perform strategy. Rob shares insights on integrating culture with labor partners and the role of vision in strategic planning. He highlights positive accountability and calculating ROI beyond finances, considerin...

Jeff Wagner shares his journey from molecular biology to the construction industry, detailing the growth and evolution of Arizona Construction and Renovation. He highlights the importance of prompt payments to employees and subcontractors, while discussing challenges like client bankruptcy and the impact of COVID-19. Jeff delves into his transition from international to domestic projects and the r...

Mike Pruitt joins the episode to share his journey in the AEC industry and discuss his strategic shift in business growth. He emphasizes the importance of identifying an ideal customer base and how raising the project floor has influenced lead flow. Communication is highlighted as a crucial element in project management, client trust, and satisfaction. Mike delves into the significance of core val...

Brent Garrett shares his journey in the trades, discussing early challenges and pivotal lessons from his father. He highlights the importance of sales, strategies for profitability, and the evolution of leadership. Brent emphasizes the risks of stagnation, personal struggles, financial oversight, and building a strong company culture. He explores the "messy middle" growth phase and his investment...

Join Heath Robertson as he shares his journey from rock band member to founder of VDC Specialists. Discover how VDC grew from a bedroom startup to a thriving enterprise. Heath discusses challenges in scaling, strategic hiring, and the importance of differentiating field hires from BIM professionals. Explore VDC's training processes, remote work adaptation, and defining good vs. bad BIM. Hear real-...

Grant Christopher, owner of Christopher Equipment, joins the episode to discuss his journey in business expansion and leadership. He shares insights on automating the sales process and the transition of ownership from father to son, highlighting the challenges and strategies involved. The episode delves into the implementation of EOS for business structure, managing key person risk, and the import...

Rick Heagarty shares his journey in the AEC industry, discussing early career growth and the importance of vertical integration and developing people. He emphasizes partnerships for scaling and offers insights on forming successful collaborations. The episode explores Rick's ventures in expanding a closet company, real estate projects, and diversifying interests. He talks about increasing ticket v...

Join Camilla Jeffs as she shares her journey from early real estate ventures to becoming a business leader. Discover her insights on buying versus building a business, buying a construction company, and building remotely. Camilla highlights the importance of partnerships, client experience, and acquiring financial skills. She also delves into balancing family life with entrepreneurship, involving...

Chris Sutton, CEO of Sutton Engineering, shares his journey in MEP engineering and founding his company. He discusses expanding to New York, the importance of mission-critical work, and transitioning from a hustle mindset to structured growth. Chris highlights leadership challenges, personal development through Vistage, Strategic Coach, and EOS, and emphasizes defining a company's 'why' and buildi...

Steven Whitehouse, COO of Southeastern Tank, shares his journey in the construction industry, detailing his path to joining the company and its growth. He discusses Southeastern Tank's niche services and the importance of aligning hires with core values for talent retention. Steven highlights the significance of a family culture, loyalty, and leadership development. The conversation covers strateg...

Claire Wilson shares her journey from general contractor to founding Siteline, tackling challenges like cash flow and "pay when paid" contracts. She discusses retention issues, delayed payments, and the struggles subcontractors face, stressing the need to educate them on lien rights and paperwork. Claire offers insights on trust-building, community feedback, and supporting specialty trades. The ep...

Chris Ball shares insights on the construction industry, contrasting practices in South Africa and the US. He emphasizes leadership principles, balancing people and processes for business success. The discussion explores enhancing project management through data visibility and using Smartsheet for data management. Chris discusses software customization, reliability, and the challenges of standard...

Michael Lucarelli joins to discuss his journey with Nitti Builders and the challenges of constructing the Formula One Miami track. He shares insights on race track construction, emphasizing quality, adaptability, and collaboration. The conversation covers training, consistency, and the shift to tilt-up construction, highlighting the importance of strong partnerships and risk mitigation. Michael co...

Jason Sain shares his journey in the construction industry, highlighting his experiences and the founding of 1 Degree. He discusses working with clients across various states and focuses on the challenges faced by general contractors and subcontractors, including prequalification, cash flow, and communication. Jason emphasizes the importance of enhancing project delivery methods and explores the b...

Brandon Woodside and Ryan Stephens from TXD Family of Brands join the episode to discuss their journey and leadership challenges. They highlight the importance of team collaboration and transitioning owners out of sales roles, emphasizing the care for team members and fostering a positive business culture. The conversation addresses misconceptions about business as family and defines success throu...