Contractor Growth Network

A year ago, in episode 466, we laid out the entire six-step marketing strategy for a remodeling company. A lot has changed since — the market has slowed, AI search has gone from a curiosity to a real force, and the tactics that used to move the needle have shifted. In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan Shinholser and Aaron Horner give you a "State of the Union" on what CG...

Everyone keeps telling contractors they'll be out of business in six months if they don't adopt AI. The reality is calmer than that—and a lot more useful. In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan Shinholser sits down with Peter Ranney and Elliott Wittstruck, the founders of DataX, an AI optimization company built specifically for contractors running JobTread. Peter and Ellio...

Everybody says they do "high end." Almost nobody looks the part. In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan sits down with Devin Vought of Vought Construction — JobTread's 2025 Builder of the Year and a luxury home builder in the Bay Area whose clients are routinely worth hundreds of millions, sometimes billions. Devin breaks down what branding actually means when your prospec...

Is your remodeling company being recommended by ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude — or would you even know if it was? In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan sits down with Patrick Sculley, CGN's in-house SEO lead, to walk through a 90-day plan for getting cited in AI search. They start with the basics — what "cited" actually means, why personalization is making AI results differ...

What's the one thing in your business you wish could be automated? In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan sits down with Eric Fortenberry — founder and CEO of JobTread — to dig into how AI is reshaping the way contractors run their businesses, and where the real risks are hiding underneath the hype. JobTread just rolled out a feature that lets contractors connect their own...

How well does your company share stories of your past work? Many remodeling companies know that client testimonials are important, but are wasting the opportunity because of a lack of understanding around what a testimonial is supposed to do. In this episode Logan and Aaron are breaking some of the most impactful lessons they've learned over the years making impactful testimonials that actually se...

Tommy, founder of a $200M+ home service business, breaks down the exact principles he used to scale—from performance pay and hiring A-players to dialing in branding, KPIs, and company culture. But more than tactics, this talk hits on something deeper: accountability, execution, and why most contractors stay stuck despite having access to great ideas. If you've ever felt like you're working hard bu...

In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan sits down with Jef Forward—founder of Forward Design Build Remodel—to unpack what it really looks like to build a remodeling business from the ground up… the hard way. Jef shares the unfiltered story of his first five years in business—projects going months over schedule, losing money, taking on debt, and nearly reinforcing every nega...

In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan sits down with Bryan Sebring—owner of Sebring Design Build—to unpack what it really looks like to start over from scratch. After building a nearly $3M design-build company over 20+ years in Illinois, Bryan made a bold decision: relocate his entire life and business to Franklin, Tennessee. No team. No clients. No local reputation. Just...

In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network Podcast , Logan sits down with Barry Gant and Änd Lynn from Seven Day Kitchens to unpack one of the most unusual remodeling business models in the industry: a full kitchen remodel completed in seven days or less. From the outside, it sounds impossible. Most kitchen remodels take 8–12 weeks and leave homeowners living in a construction zone the entir...

Logan sits down with  Nick Schiffer , founder of NS Builders , to unpack what it really takes to build a brand so strong that clients wait five years to hire you. With over 400,000 followers across platforms, NS Builders is widely recognized for high-end craftsmanship and polished content—but this conversation goes far beyond Instagram. Nick shares how intentionality drives everything: from floor...

Logan sits down with  Victor Lebegue , founder of VL Builders , to unpack one of the hardest leadership decisions a remodeler can face: when to shut something down to save what matters most . Victor shares the story of running two branches of his business in different states—and how market shifts, team dynamics, and leadership realities forced him to close the company he originally built from scra...

Logan sits down with  Sean Beliveau and Cassidy Jones of Slate Creek Builders to break down how they've built an award-winning remodeling team in a small college town —without relying on job boards, recruiters, or desperation hires. Based in Blacksburg, Virginia, Slate Creek Builders has grown to a 14-person team delivering multi-million-dollar remodels in a market of just 35,000 people. In this c...

In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network Podcast , Logan sits down with Andrew Nuhfer , founder of AKN Interiors , to unpack how clear communication, structured systems, and expectation-setting fuel high-end remodeling growth. Andrew shares how he's scaled AKN Interiors to over $3M annually while running 15–20 active projects—without sacrificing the client experience. From pre-construction...

In this episode, Logan sits down with AJ Ballantine to break down how Cornerstone Remodeling grew from $2M to $10M in five years— without hiring five times the people . The secret? A radically optimized design process, driven by empathy mapping, technology, and sales finesse. AJ walks through the systems, tools, and scripts he used to cut his sales cycle, boost his close rate, and wow clients —all...

Logan sits down with Chris Landis, co-founder of the award-winning Landis Architects/Builders in Washington, D.C. With over 35 years of experience, Chris shares how his architecture background shaped the firm's design-build approach—and what remodelers can learn from their detailed, phased design process. From feasibility studies and pre-construction agreements to hiring in-house designers and sca...

Logan and Aaron unpack one of the most powerful but underused sales strategies in remodeling: assignment selling . Originally coined by Marcus Sheridan, this method bridges the gap between marketing and sales—by arming prospects with the right information before they ever get on a call. You'll learn how to apply this approach in your own sales process—whether it's sending project walkthroughs befo...

In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan and Aaron break down what it takes to build a memorable, recognizable remodeling brand in your community— before prospects are even ready to hire. From truck wraps to social media ads, they walk through the most common "top of funnel" marketing strategies, explain when to use them, and how to measure impact over time. If your goal is...

In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast , Logan and Aaron break down how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way homeowners search for remodelers—and what you need to do to keep getting found. With tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google's AI Overviews shifting how search results are delivered, contractors who rely on organic leads can't afford to sit this out. From local...

Most remodelers see their website as a brochure—but it should act like a salesperson. In this episode, Logan and Aaron explain how your site can guide homeowners through the same trust-building process as an in-person consultation. From project storytelling and emotional connection to page flow and calls-to-action, they break down what turns casual browsers into high-quality leads—and how to futur...

Taking a short break from our ongoing "Full marketing strategy" series, this week's episode features Aaron's live presentation from Remodelers Summit 2025, "Why Should they Pick You? (How to Showcase Your Unique Value on Your Website)." In this presentation Aaron lays out some of the insights he's learned as a traveling videographer and speaking to remodeling clients all across the country.    You...

Most remodelers do details their competition doesn't—whether it's quality, communication, or process. But prospects don't see that. All they know is what they see online: your photos, your videos, your testimonials. In this episode, Aaron and Logan break down how to avoid wasting money on the wrong photographers or videographers, what separates good media from bad, and how the right visuals can se...

In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan Shinholser and Aaron Horner take you back to the foundation of all successful marketing: understanding your ideal client and crafting a unique selling proposition. Building on the six-step framework from episode #466, they explain why these first two steps matter most—and how getting them wrong can make every marketing dollar less eff...

Most remodelers are pouring money into SEO, ads, or other marketing tactics without a clear plan—and it's costing them leads, time, and profit. In this episode, Logan Shinholser and Aaron Horner break down CGN's 6-stage marketing strategy for contractors, helping you pinpoint  exactly where you are and what your next step should be. Whether you're stuck chasing low-quality leads or struggling to s...

So you've wrapped up an incredible project… now what? In this special on-the-road episode, Aaron and Sean dive deep into what happens after the content is created. Most contractors understand the value of video and photos, but they often don't know how to use that content to actually grow their business. Whether you're trying to get more leads, boost traffic, or just build awareness—this episode g...