Skid Steer Nation

She went through a divorce, shut down a business, and started over—seven months pregnant, running a skid steer, and refusing to quit. Stephanie Brooke isn’t just building driveways—she’s rebuilding her life, one load of gravel at a time. In this real-as-it-gets episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, I sit down with Stephanie and her dad Richard—the team behind Precision Gravel and Earth Solutio...

What pivotal moment—and painful lesson—transformed Michael Botts into a truly legitimate business owner and leader? In this latest episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer explores Michael Botts' journey of building Botts Grading in North Carolina. From his early days in hotshot trucking to the pivotal challenge of firing his first employee and the profound self-reflection that fo...

Ever felt like rapid growth might be dragging your business under instead of lifting it up? In this insightful episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer dives deep with Brandon Dimmer of Dimmer’s Precision Grading, who went from wrenching on transmissions to managing a 20+ person excavation crew. Brandon unpacks the hard-won lessons from expanding too quickly and offers grounded wisdom...

Ever wondered what it’s like to run heavy equipment with your spouse every day — and still enjoy dinner together? In this latest episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, host Ryan Deemer dives into a compelling conversation with Jeremy and Kellie Haggerty, the husband-and-wife duo behind Haggerty Dozing & Excavating in rural Cuba, Illinois. From sharing equipment to swapping duties mid-job, t...

How do you onboard six employees at once—without losing control of your business? In Part 2 of this powerful Skid Steer Nation Podcast episode, Ryan Deemer reconnects with Cody Kubinak of Carolina EarthWerx to dive into the nuts and bolts of business growth. Cody reveals how he’s rapidly expanded his team while preserving quality, culture, and customer relationships. This episode is packed with ac...

Ever wish you could tell exactly what your customer is thinking — before they even say a word? In this special 2-part episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer explores how Cody Kubinak, owner of Carolina EarthWerx, used skills honed in law enforcement to accelerate his success in excavation. Filled with practical advice and real-world examples, this episode is designed to help you bui...

Should your skid steer come with a therapist? In this episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer gets into the real talk with Joshua Fecht of Fecht Custom Dirtwork—who opens up about why he's pulling away from residential demolition jobs. From clients breaking down mid-project to refund battles after emotional reversals, Joshua reveals the hidden mental load behind “simple” residential...

What if the key to launching your dream business was buried inside your day job benefits? In this insightful episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer sits down with Leighton Howe of SiteCo Excavation to uncover how he leveraged two full 12-week paternity leaves to secretly build the foundation of a now-thriving excavation business. No fancy launch, no full-time commitment at first—jus...

What happens when someone believes in your potential more than you do? In this latest episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer sits down with Drew Gardner of Tennessee Valley Land Works. While many contractors start small and grow, Drew’s story stands out because of one critical relationship—a general contractor who saw his worth, offered him a shot, and unknowingly changed the course...

How does clearing fence lines turn into a full-time firewood operation? In this insightful episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast , Ryan Deemer sits down with Phil Anderson, a former welder who unexpectedly built a thriving firewood business—all starting from cutting wood off farmers’ fence lines. What started as a side hustle quickly became a full-time operation, requiring large-scale processin...

What if you could buy equipment, expand your business, or even fund an investment—without spending your own money? In this insightful episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer sits down with Brett Watts, a former marketing agency owner who successfully exited his business and now helps small businesses secure financing through Swift Line Capital. Brett shares his journey from digital m...

Would you leave a secure federal job to go all in on your excavation business? In this episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ron Bylo shares how he built Bylo Acres Excavation and Grading from the ground up—while still working full-time for the FAA maintaining air traffic control systems. After four years of balancing both careers, working 70+ hours a week, and never taking a draw from the bus...

What’s the real difference between just moving dirt and building a thriving business? In this insightful episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast , host Ryan Deemer sits down with Trent Harris , owner of Blue Collar Contractors , to uncover what it takes to build a standout brand in excavation. Trent isn’t just running equipment—he’s mastering business growth by leveraging social media, managing m...

Would you start a business with just a borrowed lawnmower? In this latest episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer chats with Luis Barrett, who went from borrowing his dad’s mower to running multiple crews across two states in just four years. At only 21 years old, Luis has built Freedom Lawn & Landscape into a thriving operation, proving that grit beats experience every time. Thi...

What happens when you're pushed into business ownership before you're "ready"? In this insightful episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast , host Ryan Deemer sits down with Luke Mace, owner of Kansas Property Services , to discuss the unexpected leap into entrepreneurship. Luke shares how he transitioned from side jobs to full-time excavation work, what it was like to take that plunge with a famil...

Why would a guy specializing in excavation and land clearing decide to focus solely on equestrian arenas? In this episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer sits down with Scott Macdonald, owner of Elite Arena Solutions and 10 Point Land Management, to talk about the power of niching down in business. Scott shares how he went from general excavation and land clearing to becoming a go-to...

Ever wondered how washing hog confinements could spark a thriving excavation business? In this episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, host Ryan Deemer sits down with Jon VanZee, owner of 641 Excavating. From the unconventional start of power washing hog confinements to building a successful excavation company, Jon shares how failures, resilience, and a commitment to excellence paved his path. K...

Ready to start the New Year with bold moves and big opportunities? In this special New Year episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast , host Ryan Deemer sits down with Andrew Steinhauser, owner of Elkhorn Pines Tree Service and Whitetail Solutions. Andrew shares how he turned cold calls into a thriving business, found value in salvaging eastern red cedar, and balances family and work while building...

What happens when a leader’s mission is to create a team that’s stronger than themselves? In this special Christmas episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, host Ryan Deemer sits down with Evan Jones, a Maryland-based entrepreneur whose leadership philosophy is simple yet profound: he wants his team to "be better than me." By empowering his employees, fostering mentorship, and emphasizing collabo...

How do you turn a heated moment into a thriving business? In this episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer sits down with Harold Gentner , the owner of Iron Hill Excavation, who transformed an unexpected fallout with his boss into a thriving excavation business. From rebuilding driveways to becoming the "Driveway King" of Marlette, Michigan, Harold shares how he built his reputation o...

In this episode of the Skid Steer Nation podcast, Ryan Deemer is joined by marketing expert Clay Deal to discuss their new venture, Throttled Up Marketing , which aims to serve small business owners in the excavation and construction industry.  Together, they dive deep into their unique approach to marketing—offering tailored solutions for businesses at different revenue levels. Ryan and Clay talk...

Ever wondered why an experienced excavation pro would rent all his equipment instead of owning it? In this insightful episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer sits down with Luke Fielder, the owner of TriStar Land Solutions in Burns, Tennessee. Luke shares his journey from working for large corporations to starting his own company alongside his wife in 2022. With over 20 years of expe...

Ever thought about tackling projects no one else wants to touch? In this week’s Skid Steer Nation Podcast, host Ryan Deemer talks with Charlie Thomas of Dirtworx Unlimited. After leaving corporate America, Charlie discovered a unique way to stand out in the excavation business: digging egress windows. In a market with little competition, Charlie shares how this simple but essential service became...

Ever been so fed up with a service you thought, "I’d do this better myself"? In this down-to-earth episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast , host Ryan Deemer speaks with Jason Shipes, a Marine Corps veteran who took matters into his own hands when local rental companies let him down. Now the proud owner of his own equipment rental business, Jason shares how he transformed frustration into a boomi...

Ever considered what it takes to run an excavation business without credit lines? In this engaging episode of the Skid Steer Nation Podcast, Ryan Deemer talks with Danny Brewer, owner of Bijou Grading Inc in Colorado, who has taken an unconventional approach to growth by running his entire operation on cash. Danny shares the ups and downs of his journey, from tight payroll weeks to creating a fami...