Builder Stories

Meet Jeff and Chantal Ballantyne owners of Ballantyne Builds, located in Toronto, Canada. They share their inspiring journey of turning their passion for building into a thriving family business. From Jeff's hands-on beginnings in construction and Chantal's leap from corporate life to managing finances, to overcoming early challenges and learning from their first tough client, their story is one o...

Meet Greg DiBernardo, owner of Peachtree Decks and Porches based in Alpharetta, Georgia. Greg recounts how he transitioned from a corporate career in video production to becoming a highly successful deck builder specializing in high-end outdoor living spaces. From his early days as a clean-cut handyman to purchasing the established Peachtree Decks and Porches, Greg reveals how strategic marketing,...

Meet Kyle Bridgan owner of NNS Home located in Tacoma, Washington. Kyle shares his journey from selling countertops on OfferUp to running a thriving design-build firm with branches in Tacoma and Bellevue. He opens up about the challenges of scaling a construction business, lessons learned from costly projects, and how he's leveraging partnerships with designers and architects to drive success. Dis...

Meet Mark Conrad, owner of Schnarr Legacy Craftsmen located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Mark shares his journey from a career in agriculture to taking the reins of a renowned 40-year-old renovation business. Discover how he merged expertise from a painting company, embraced innovative management techniques, and navigated the challenges of running both a handyman and renovation division. From lea...

Meet John Utter, owner of StrongTower Build and Remodeling located in Cadiz, Kentucky. John shares his inspiring journey from an accidental start in carpentry to building a thriving construction business. He candidly discusses the challenges of transitioning from a one-man operation to managing multiple projects and subcontractors, all while staying true to his values of delivering high-quality cr...

Meet Al Aldrete, owner of Black Lab Remodeling based in Woodland, California. Al shares his incredible journey from being fired as a plant operations manager to building a thriving remodeling business. Learn how Al transitioned from running a solo handyman operation to managing kitchen and bath remodels with a trusted team of trade partners. Discover his sales strategies, lessons learned in cash f...

Meet LeAnn Luedeker from Luedeker Homes, located in Belleville, Texas. LeAnn shares her inspiring journey from supporting her husband's construction passion part-time to taking the reins alongside him in their successful custom home-building business. She talks about navigating the challenges of small-town construction, balancing quality craftsmanship with high client expectations, and building la...

Meet Rich Lee, owner of Home Pride Construction, located in Pacifica, California. Born into the construction industry, Rich shares his journey from working alongside his father as a young laborer to eventually taking over the family business. When the 2008 financial crisis hit, Rich pivoted the company's focus from speculative development to customer-driven projects, emphasizing quality work and m...

Meet Paul Kocharhook with Pathway Design and Construction, located in Seattle, Washington. Paul shares his journey from working construction jobs with his grandfather to establishing his own successful remodeling business focused on building healthy homes. Explore his unique path, the lessons he learned from setbacks, and how he discovered the value of sustainable building practices long before th...

Meet Kira Lee, Vice President of Operations at TriStar Repair and Construction, TriStar Quality Roofing, and Mako Pools, based in Denton, Texas. In this episode, Kira shares her incredible journey of managing three distinct businesses, all while leveraging JobTread to streamline operations and drive growth. From starting out with no construction background to becoming a key player in these compani...

Meet Nicholas Sammons, owner of TruVine Renovations based in Arlington, Tennessee. Nicholas shares his incredible journey, from starting out in construction at 14 years old to building his own thriving renovation business during the pandemic. Nicholas talks about the valuable lessons he learned along the way, including the importance of gaining sales experience, overcoming business challenges, and...

Meet Andrew Nuhfer, owner of AKN Interiors based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who shares his journey from working summer construction jobs in high school to building a successful design-build firm. Andrew opens up about how he turned his passion for construction into a thriving business, overcoming the challenges of starting out on his own, and learning the ropes of entrepreneurship. He discusses...

Meet Kelley and Jeff Turner, owners of Staycation Fiberglass Pools in San Antonio, Texas. In this episode, Kelley and Jeff share their inspiring journey of building a successful pool business that's all about creating dreams. From running a female-owned power sports business to establishing one of the only fiberglass pool companies in Texas that doesn't use subcontractors, Kelley and Jeff explain...

Meet Stephen Carlson, owner of Coastal Contracting in Long Beach, Mississippi. Stephen shares his journey from starting out in large-scale renovations to building custom homes, highlighting the challenges he faced in growing his business, navigating labor shortages, and overcoming self-doubt. He discusses the value of taking an educational approach with clients and how using construction managemen...

Meet Nate Burket of Riverview Decks, a leading deck-building company based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Nate shares his journey from working in logistics to running a successful deck-focused business, highlighting the challenges of transitioning from multi-trade remodeling to niching down in deck construction. With insights on building strong partnerships, developing a focused business model, and scal...

Meet Andrew and Ashley Favorite, the dynamic husband-and-wife team behind Lakefront Building and Design in Eagle River, Wisconsin. From Andrew's early days in construction inspired by his father's projects to Ashley's transition from teaching to managing the business finances, they share the unique journey of building a successful custom home business together. The Favorites dive deep into the cha...

Meet Tommy and Tara Holstein, owners of Solid Ground, an outdoor living company based in Wentzville, Missouri. They share their incredible journey from a one-person operation to a thriving business with a team of 20. With a passion for building, Tommy recounts how his love for construction, nurtured since childhood, evolved into a full-fledged business. Tara, with her strong background in finance...

Meet Amzie Lehman, owner of Lehman Construction based in Shipshewana, Indiana. Amzie shares his journey from working on the job site with his father to leading a successful construction company alongside his brother and brother-in-law. He discusses the importance of client relationships, the value of an abundance mindset, and how his company has embraced technology and refined processes to deliver...

Meet Doug Dwyer, President and CSO of DreamMaker Bath and Kitchen the largest kitchen and bath remodeling franchisor in the country. Doug shares his journey from growing up in the franchise industry to transforming DreamMaker into a national brand with 44 locations across 24 states. Doug dives deep into the challenges and triumphs of scaling a remodeling business, emphasizing the importance of str...

Meet Ervin Ballabani president of Moderno Restoration, Inc. based in Toronto, Canada. Ervin shares his inspiring journey from a condominium property manager to a successful entrepreneur running multiple thriving businesses in the restoration, HVAC, plumbing, and security industries. He opens up about the challenges he faced, including starting his business just before the pandemic hit, and how he...

Meet Raquel and Diego Rodriguez, the owners of D&R Custom Remodeling located in Austin, Texas. In this episode, they share their journey of transitioning from a family business in decorative glass to establishing a remodeling company in a new city. Despite the challenges of starting anew without a network, their complementary skills—Diego's hands-on construction expertise and Raquel's business acu...

Meet Herman Guerra, owner of HG&Co. Home Improvement based in Dallas, Texas. Herman's journey into the construction industry began at a young age, helping his father with weekend remodeling projects, which laid the foundation for his expertise. After earning a BA in government from UT Austin and working in Child Protective Services and as a juvenile probation officer, Herman ventured into entrepre...

Meet Jason Novotny, owner of Hiland Construction based in Anchorage, Alaska. Jason shares his journey from a childhood around real estate, thanks to his father, to becoming a Marine Corps veteran, and eventually founding Hiland Construction in 2019. Specializing in residential and commercial renovations, Jason dives into the unique challenges of construction in Alaska, such as extreme cold, high w...

Meet Roberto Rodriguez, owner of Ark Remodeling Services based in Tomball, Texas, who shares his remarkable journey from aspiring professional baseball player to successful construction business owner. Despite facing the setback of his baseball dreams not materializing, Roberto found inspiration in HGTV shows and transitioned into construction. Starting from scratch, he overcame numerous challenge...

Meet Debbie Adams, owner of Adams Company located in Austin, Texas. In this episode, we delve into Debbie's remarkable journey from a secretary in the construction industry to the owner of an award-winning remodeling company. Debbie shares her path to success, which began with a chance job opportunity in 1987 and evolved through years of hands-on experience, perseverance, and dedication to quality...