Building Scale

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...

Andrew Eshelman delves into his career journey, transitioning from early roles to business ownership in the AEC industry. He shares insights on building key relationships and tackling major projects, while balancing hiring with company growth amidst market challenges. The conversation touches on leadership, running a company alongside family life, and the nuances of client relationships. Andrew di...

Zac Cohen discusses the ambitious Atari Hotel project, emphasizing human-centric development and the balance between nostalgia and futurism in design. He highlights the integration of modern technology and the importance of partnerships in creating a community-focused entertainment district. Zac delves into the challenges and strategies faced in large-scale development, emphasizing architectural u...

Staci and Chad Hannah share the foundational principles and origin story of PBC Construction Group. They recount the experience of buying a construction company and stepping into leadership roles, addressing initial challenges and process improvements. Emphasis is placed on building trust and fostering employee investment, alongside implementing EOS to define company roles. The discussion covers c...

Sergei Guk delves into the founding and growth of RestorationHQ, emphasizing the pivotal role of relationships and company culture. He discusses the impact of culture coaches and the dynamics between family and team in business. Sergei addresses management challenges, the influence of ego, and the transition from residential to commercial restoration. He shares insights on implementing EOS to opti...

Nate Lowrie joins the conversation to discuss his journey in construction and personal growth. He delves into the impact of economic cycles on the industry and his experience acquiring Bjerk Builders. Nate emphasizes the importance of building trust, integrity, and strong leadership in business. He shares strategies for combating decision fatigue and fostering continuous improvement, alongside mai...

Steve Kuhn shares his journey and the founding of ShareBuilt, highlighting the differences between nonprofit and for-profit sectors in the AEC industry. He discusses the unique compliance and regulatory challenges faced by nonprofits and the importance of involving AEC partners early in projects. The conversation delves into the impact of purpose-driven work and addresses misconceptions about nonp...

Join Matt Johnson as he explores the intricacies of construction invoicing and strategic procurement at Triangle Construction Services. Discover insights into their expanding construction tech group, business model evolution, and the impact on lienholders and contractors. Matt discusses managing rework, change orders, and the role of LiDAR drone technology. Hear about fostering a positive company...

Jeff Berglund discusses leveraging LinkedIn for business connections and shares insights from working with multigenerational dynamics alongside his father. He explores planning and strategy for business transitions, focusing on team dynamics, leadership, and implementation. Jeff covers sales strategies, the seven eleven four rule, and client engagement techniques. He highlights the importance of m...

Matt Cooper, CEO of BQE, discusses the company's leadership transition and the critical role of customer feedback in driving improvements. He addresses common challenges faced by small to mid-sized AEC firms and how BQE's solutions help manage chaos and streamline processes. The conversation highlights the importance of technology in enhancing efficiency, particularly in invoicing and project mana...

Justin Neagle and Austin Trautman delve into the concept of creating healthy homes, emphasizing the importance of materials and design in enhancing the living experience. Austin shares insights on how traditional building practices often overlook the well-being of inhabitants and the environmental impact of materials used. He advocates for a shift towards natural materials, like sheep's wool, whic...

Jeff Falls from Haley Construction joins the show and shares his personal journey as well as the company's evolution in the AEC industry. He shares insights into Haley's company culture, highlighting hiring challenges and the importance of building the right team. Jeff emphasizes continuous learning and the impact of technology in construction, discussing unique processes and the balance between c...

In this episode, Danielle Daniels and Justin Price explore their experiences as Co-CEOs at Evergreen Engineering. They discuss the company's origins and their collaborative leadership structure, highlighting the importance of communication and decision-making. Danielle and Justin share insights on strategic planning, leadership traits, and understanding personality types to improve communication....

Larry Lind discusses his journey in the AEC industry, starting from his early career and the founding of his firm. He explains the origin of the firm's name and the benefits of partnering with larger firms, emphasizing the value of strong relationships and successful collaborations. Larry shares insights on managing project paperwork and construction phases, along with future plans and working wit...