Construction Champions Podcast

In this episode of the Construction Champions podcast, host Ron Nussbaum sits down with Brad Huebner, a construction business owner and host of the Hammer and Grind podcast. Brad shares his journey from starting a handyman business in 2009 to building a successful remodeling company and eventually becoming a business coach for other contractors. About Brad is a resident of Southern Indiana. After high school, he joined the Marines and served as an Infantryman for 4 years. He will tell you "The Marines taught me almost everything I know about leadership, grit, and determination". After leaving the Marines and several jobs later, He found himself working in construction. After 3 short years, He decided to start his own business. His business specialized in high end Handyman and Residential Remodeling. During the 11 years he operated his business, he completed over 2,500 jobs for more than 900 customers. After 11 years he transitioned into full-time coaching. Brad is dedicated to helping other Contractors get off of the crazy cycle that he was on for so many years. What keeps him up at night is good people who are trying to change their family legacy by building a business with integrity but give up on their dreams when they are so close because they lack a few key bits of information. Brad's links https://www.hammerandgrind.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradhuebner/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecontractorprofitgroup Get more leads, Set more estimates, and Close more jobs 👇 https://www.build12.com/constructionchampions?am_id=ron625 Simplify Your Construction Projects, Boost Your Productivity 👇 https://www.buildercoms.com/ Building Home Profiles 👇 https://gethometrack.com/ Join our community 👇 https://www.facebook.com/groups/957628795429538 Our Website https://www.buildercoms.com/constructionchampionspodcast Association of Professional Builders Annual Report https://hubs.ly/Q02rT-1n0 [00:02:54] What makes a "construction champion" - the importance of self-mastery and overcoming ego [00:04:10] The construction industry's struggle with ego and pride, and how it holds contractors back [00:07:08] How childhood experiences and mindset can impact a contractor's business success [00:11:09] The danger of tying your identity to your trade rather than your business [00:15:22] Dealing with customer complaints and feedback without taking it personally [00:20:13] The importance of extreme ownership and not blaming external factors for problems Keywords: overcoming ego, self-mastery, Brad Huebner, Ron Nussbaum, Construction Champions Podcast, leadership, self-awareness, growth mindset, personal development, business success, humility in leadership

In this episode of the Construction Champions podcast, host Ron Nussbaum interviews Dan Murch, one of the founders of Blue Collar Back Office. Blue Collar Back Office specializes in providing bookkeeping, financial management, and business organization services to small contracting businesses. About Dan The co-owner of Blue Collar Back Office. We help other companies stay organized in the office without having to hire a full-time staff. We have a ton of experience running small businesses and we help with everything from proposals to getting paid on time. Running a business is hard. And trying to do it alone can make it even more difficult. We are wildly passionate about helping business owners act more smartly and more decisively to create greater sales and greater profit Dan's links https://bluecollarbackoffice.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-murch-61372163/ Get more leads, Set more estimates, and Close more jobs 👇 https://www.build12.com/constructionchampions?am_id=ron625 Simplify Your Construction Projects, Boost Your Productivity 👇 https://www.buildercoms.com/ Building Home Profiles 👇 https://gethometrack.com/ Join our community 👇 https://www.facebook.com/groups/957628795429538 Our Website https://www.buildercoms.com/constructionchampionspodcast Association of Professional Builders Annual Report https://hubs.ly/Q02rT-1n0 Dan's background and how he started Blue Collar Back Office after running a successful construction company for 18 years (00:01:50) What makes a "construction champion" - the importance of always doing the right thing, even when it's uncomfortable (00:04:16) The tendency in construction to avoid difficult conversations and decisions, and how that can hurt a business (00:07:25) The danger of focusing too much on top-line revenue vs. bottom-line profitability (00:11:10) The value of granular job costing and understanding which parts of the business are most profitable (00:12:29) The importance of having a clear vision and goals for the business, and aligning the team around that (00:18:38) Keywords: profitability, ethical business practices, Dan Murch, Ron Nussbaum, Construction Champions Podcast, financial success, client relationships, business growth, construction ethics, doing the right thing

In this episode of the Construction Champions podcast, host Ron Nussbaum interviews Pam Wismer, a fractional CFO with Ascent CFO Solutions based in Boulder, Colorado. Pam has over 30 years of experience working with companies across various industries, including 13 years in the home building sector. About Pam Pam is a fractional CFO with Ascent CFO Solutions, partnering with leadership teams to give them clear visibility into how to drive growth in their businesses. With more than 35 years of professional finance experience, including nearly 15 years in the construction industry, Pam truly enjoys helping business leaders overcome financial challenges. Pam's links https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamwismer/ https://ascentcfo.com/ Get more leads, Set more estimates, and Close more jobs 👇 https://www.build12.com/constructionchampions?am_id=ron625 Simplify Your Construction Projects, Boost Your Productivity 👇 https://www.buildercoms.com/ Building Home Profiles 👇 https://gethometrack.com/ Join our community 👇 https://www.facebook.com/groups/957628795429538 Our Website https://www.buildercoms.com/constructionchampionspodcast Association of Professional Builders Annual Report https://hubs.ly/Q02rT-1n0 What makes a "construction champion" and the importance of the construction industry to the broader economy (00:03:37) The critical role of cash flow management and forecasting in construction businesses (00:07:19) Strategies for improving data collection and visibility to make better financial decisions (00:14:34) Advice for construction companies facing cash flow crises, including the value of 13-week cash flow projections (00:16:37) The tendency in construction to overspend on equipment and assets rather than maintaining cash reserves (00:19:23) Keywords: cash flow management, Pam Wismer, Ron Nussbaum, Construction Champions Podcast, financial stability, construction finances, budgeting, forecasting, managing cash flow, business growth

In this episode of the Construction Champions podcast, host Ron Nussbaum interviews Vance Morris, a marketing and customer experience expert who has worked with Disney and now owns several home service businesses. Vance shares his insights on how construction companies can stand out from the competition and deliver an exceptional customer experience, rather than competing solely on price. About Vance spent 10 years working for the mouse at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida. He started his career at Disney on the Opening Team of the Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, and progressed through the management ranks as The All-Island Duty Manager at Pleasure Island, Service Trainer aboard the Empress Lily, and on the revitalization team of the Contemporary Resort in the mid-90’s. It was at the Contemporary that Vance got his crowning achievement, Designing, Opening and Operating Chef Mickey’s, Disney’s flagship Character Dining Experience. After leaving Disney, (yes people do leave) he utilized his skills to rescue or improve many of America’s companies and government agencies. His clients included Legal Seafoods, Tyson, NASA, Rain Forest Café, Compass Group, The Executive Office of the President of the United States, The Smithsonian and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Tiring of corporate life, Vance opened his own Bricks & Mortar Business in 2007. After meteoric growth of his service business, other entrepreneurs began to seek him out for advice and counsel. This spawned his next business, Deliver Service Now!, consulting and coaching other companies on how to create and implement Disney style service and then apply Direct Response Marketing to profit from it. Vance's links https://www.linkedin.com/in/vancemorris/ https://yes.deliverservicenow.com/deliver-service-now Get more leads, Set more estimates, and Close more jobs 👇 https://www.build12.com/constructionchampions?am_id=ron625 Simplify Your Construction Projects, Boost Your Productivity 👇 https://www.buildercoms.com/ Building Home Profiles 👇 https://gethometrack.com/ Join our community 👇 https://www.facebook.com/groups/957628795429538 Our Website https://www.buildercoms.com/constructionchampionspodcast Association of Professional Builders Annual Report https://hubs.ly/Q02rT-1n0 00:03:05) What makes a "construction champion" - attention to detail, going above and beyond to take care of the customer, and having strong systems/processes in place (00:07:32) The importance of standardizing operations and enforcing SOPs (standard operating procedures) to deliver a consistent customer experience (00:12:13) Common areas where construction companies drop the ball on customer experience, like poor proposal delivery, not answering the phone, and lack of communication (00:15:33) Why competing on price is a losing strategy, and how to differentiate through the customer experience and perceived value (00:19:46) The power of brand reputation and how it enables higher pricing (00:23:35) How higher prices can actually lead to less work and higher profitability for construction companies Keywords: exceptional customer experience, Vance Morris, Ron Nussbaum, Construction Champions Podcast, customer service, client relationships, referrals, construction industry, communication strategies, customer satisfaction, business growth

In this episode, host Ron Nussbaum interviews Avi Kumar, the owner of two marketing agencies - Kuware and Invisible PPC. Avi shares his insights on what it takes to be a "construction champion" and discusses key marketing strategies construction businesses can leverage. About Avi Kumar is the founder and CEO of KUWARE Inc., a marketing and advertising agency headquartered in Austin, TX, USA, and a subsidiary in NCR, India. Kuware focuses on growing Local Service Businesses through organic and paid media. In addition, Kuware offers white-label Google and Meta Ads services to other marketing agencies through its brand InvisiblePPC. links https://www.facebook.com/invisibleppc https://invisibleppc.com/ https://kuware.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/avikumar/ Get more leads, Set more estimates, and Close more jobs 👇 https://www.build12.com/constructionchampions?am_id=ron625 Simplify Your Construction Projects, Boost Your Productivity 👇 https://www.buildercoms.com/ Building Home Profiles 👇 https://gethometrack.com/ Join our community 👇 https://www.facebook.com/groups/957628795429538 Our Website https://www.buildercoms.com/constructionchampionspodcast Association of Professional Builders Annual Report https://hubs.ly/Q02rT-1n0 What makes a "construction champion" (00:01:58) Focusing on innovation and marketing as the two key business priorities Importance of having an external marketing partner to provide expertise and challenge the internal team Hot marketing trends for construction businesses (00:05:27) Leveraging video content, especially time-lapse and "how-it's-made" style videos Repurposing video content across social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram Creating a video "mini-series" to showcase the construction process Turning video content into an effective marketing funnel (00:17:12) Using video ads to get in front of the right local audience Offering gated content (e.g. PDFs, guides) to capture leads Nurturing leads with email marketing and staying top-of-mind Determining the right marketing budget for construction businesses (00:19:59) Basing marketing spend on net profit margins (e.g. 5% of 25% margin) Focusing on marketing as an investment, not just an expense Keywords: construction marketing, marketing champion, Avi Kumar, Ron Nussbaum, Construction Champions Podcast, digital marketing, SEO, lead generation, brand awareness, marketing strategy, construction business growth

In this episode, host Ron Nussbaum sits down with Joe Crisara, a 47-year veteran of the construction and service industry. Joe shares his insights on what it takes to be a "construction champion" - someone who excels not just at the technical aspects of the job, but also at connecting with and providing value to their customers. About Joe Joe Crisara from Service MVP Training was once a home service contractor with a failing business. Deeply in debt and lacking sales skills, he undercharged for everything, believing the only way to create higher value was to offer the same services as everyone else for a lower price. When things looked bleak, Joe had an aha! moment that changed his life and skyrocketed his business. Since then, Joe and his wife and business partner Julie have helped thousands of service professionals achieve three to five times greater revenue by implementing his transformative and ethical "Pure Motive Service" system. Joe's links https://www.servicemvp.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joecrisara/ Get more leads, Set more estimates, and Close more jobs 👇 https://www.build12.com/constructionchampions?am_id=ron625 Simplify Your Construction Projects, Boost Your Productivity 👇 https://www.buildercoms.com/ Building Home Profiles 👇 https://gethometrack.com/ Join our community 👇 https://www.facebook.com/groups/957628795429538 Our Website https://www.buildercoms.com/constructionchampionspodcast Association of Professional Builders Annual Report https://hubs.ly/Q02rT-1n0 What makes a "construction champion" (00:03:09) The importance of focusing on the "people part" of the business, not just the technical aspects (00:03:34) Communicating the impact of solutions, not just the features (00:04:46) Providing premium, customized solutions vs. just competing on price (00:05:30) Overcoming the tendency to overcomplicate simple concepts (00:17:23) The relationship-driven nature of commercial construction (00:19:28) Avoiding the temptation to take on work outside your core expertise (00:25:31) Achieving 30%+ net profit margins through effective communication and value delivery (00:28:15) Keywords: technical expertise, people skills, construction leadership, Joe Crisara, Ron Nussbaum, Construction Champions Podcast, client relationships, team collaboration, leadership skills, project success, soft skills

In this episode, host Ron Nussbaum sits down with Michael Fortinberry, co-founder of construction software company Protiv. Michael shares his insights on developing a winning company culture in the construction industry, including the importance of authentic leadership, putting people first, and using performance-based incentives to drive accountability and teamwork. About Michael Michael Fortinberry is the co-founder of Protiv, a construction software company that helps contractors implement performance-based pay programs for their field crews. Prior to Protiv, Michael ran a construction company in New York City, where he developed his expertise in using incentives and technology to drive accountability and culture change. Michael's links https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfortinberry/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/protiv https://www.instagram.com/protivpropay/ https://www.facebook.com/protivpropay/ Website https://www.buildercoms.com/constructionchampionspodcast For CRM Solutions: BUILD12 https://www.build12.com/constructionchampions?am_id=ron625 For Picture, Video, Document, and Communication Management: BuilderComs https://go.buildercoms.com/payment-7269?am_id=podcast Association of Professional Builders Annual Report https://hubs.ly/Q02rT-1n0 Join our community: Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/957628795429538 The importance of authentic, people-centric company culture (00:04:17) Bridging the gap between leadership and field crews through transparent communication (00:11:01) Leveraging performance-based pay and incentives to align employee and company goals (00:15:00) Preparing your business processes and data before implementing a performance pay system (00:23:18) Keywords: championship culture, construction leadership, Michael Fortinberry, Ron Nussbaum, Construction Champions Podcast, team empowerment, business culture, performance improvement, construction success, cultural values

In this episode, host Ron Nussbaum interviews Timothy Wingate, a construction industry expert who helps clients increase their revenue by 15% year-over-year. Tim comes from a family of contractors and has over 8 years of experience helping construction companies optimize their back-office operations and financial management. About Timothy Timothy Wingate Jr is the founder, and president of G+F Business & Financial Consulting, a licensed Enrolled Agent, and a construction accountant. Timothy provides specialized accounting and tax services helping business owners gain a better understanding of their finances and costs, allowing them to win better, more profitable bids. With first-hand knowledge of the construction industry, Timothy offers tools and financial guidance to improve his client's understanding of their finances and cash flow. He has a proven track record of success, including increasing a client's gross revenue by 75%, helping a new construction company finance Big CAT equipment in less than a year, and helping a client avoid criminal charges for over $500,000 in back payroll taxes. Timothy's links https://www.gplusf.com/ https://www.instagram.com/g_plus_f/ https://www.facebook.com/gplusf https://www.linkedin.com/company/gplusf/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Jfeno5_vm_wy8LcmivAmQ Website https://www.buildercoms.com/constructionchampionspodcast For CRM Solutions: BUILD12 https://www.build12.com/constructionchampions?am_id=ron625 For Picture, Video, Document, and Communication Management: BuilderComs https://go.buildercoms.com/payment-7269?am_id=podcast Association of Professional Builders Annual Report https://hubs.ly/Q02rT-1n0 Join our community: Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/957628795429538 What makes a "construction champion" (00:02:33) Executing projects on time to save money and gain more business Having a solid estimating system and process to monitor project performance The importance of financial data and metrics in construction (00:07:53) Understanding the numbers, even if they're not perfect, to make better decisions Setting up the right systems, processes, and cost codes to track performance Challenges with misaligned software systems and data entry (00:15:05) Importance of integrating project management and accounting software Establishing clear roles and responsibilities for using the software Keywords: construction accounting, financial management, Timothy Wingate, Ron Nussbaum, Construction Champions Podcast, cash flow, budgeting, project costing, construction finances, financial insights, business profitability

In this episode of the Construction Champions podcast, host Ron Nussbaum interviews Todd Miller, President of Isaiah Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of specialty residential metal roofing products. Todd shares his insights on what it takes to become a true "construction champion" based on his 40+ years of experience working with contractors across North America. About Todd I’m Todd Miller, and I do know my way around a roof. I grew up in my family’s metal roofing business and continue to work with some of the same products my dad helped develop years ago. Now, I am president of Isaiah Industries; an organization that is recognized as one of the world’s leading metal roofing manufacturers. Our brands include Classic Metal Roofing Systems, Kassel & Irons, and Green American Home. In the last 35+ years, I have worked in the leading industry trade groups to raise the bar on standards and practices that provide people with the best possible products for their roofing needs. My participation in the development, support, and leadership of organizations such as the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA), the Metal Construction Association (MCA) and others has allowed me to learn about all types and means of protecting homes, commercial buildings, and public structures. If you would like to learn more about my credentials, please review my Curriculum Vitae. Most importantly, I have helped homeowners with a large number and wide variety of questions and problems related to roofing their dwellings…and I would enjoy helping you, too. Todd's links https://asktoddmiller.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-miller-31b2661/ Website https://www.buildercoms.com/constructionchampionspodcast For CRM Solutions: BUILD12 https://www.build12.com/constructionchampions?am_id=ron625 For Picture, Video, Document, and Communication Management: BuilderComs https://www.buildercoms.com/ Association of Professional Builders Annual Report https://hubs.ly/Q02rT-1n0 Join our community: Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/957628795429538 [00:01:10] Todd's background and experience in the construction industry [00:02:15] What makes a "construction champion" - Todd breaks this down into 4 key areas: [00:02:36] The Basics: Having the right legal, accounting, and banking relationships [00:06:09] Financials: Knowing your numbers, using zero-based budgeting, and managing cash flow [00:13:49] People & Systems: Building effective business systems and embracing younger workers [00:16:56] Sales & Marketing: Knowing your competition, focusing on profitability, and leveraging past customers Keywords: four cornerstones, construction champion, Todd Miller, Ron Nussbaum, Construction Champions Podcast, construction leadership, foundational principles, business success, team success, personal growth, core values

In this episode, host Ron Nussbaum interviews Aleksandr "Alex" Gampel, co-founder of Cuby, a company that designs and deploys mobile micro factories to manufacture and assemble homes. Alex discusses Cuby's mission to increase construction efficiency and reduce the industry's reliance on skilled labor. About Alex I believe skills can be taught–personality is innate. That is my best attribute. I care little about awards or racing to the top. I just want to do work that is of interest to me and adds positive value to the world. I seek knowledge and accept challenges with a smile. My appetite and aptitude lie in business, but my background as an engineer empowers me to solve problems with a creative twist. I BUILT A REPUTATION FOR FIGURING IT OUT. Currently, I'm investing in unique opportunities across the real estate sector and technology. I'm also working on a new company. I hold a B.S. in both Business and Engineering with a concentration in Finance from Drexel University. However, my pursuit of knowledge through books will never cease. If you can’t find me, there is a good chance I am outside with family and friends, running, cycling, snowboarding, or planning my next excursion to a foreign country. Also, I am slightly obsessed with Ted Talks (my favorite being – How to Sound Smart In Your TEDx Talk by Will Stephen). Alex's links https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamaleksandrgampel/ https://www.cubytechnologies.com/ Website https://www.buildercoms.com/constructionchampionspodcast For CRM Solutions: BUILD12 https://www.build12.com/constructionchampions?am_id=ron625 For Picture, Video, Document, and Communication Management: BuilderComs https://go.buildercoms.com/payment-7269?am_id=podcast Association of Professional Builders Annual Report https://hubs.ly/Q02rT-1n0 Join our community: Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/957628795429538 Challenges with efficiency and innovation in the construction industry (00:04:25) Cuby's approach to "industrializing construction" through decentralized, cost-effective manufacturing (00:09:34) How local builders can partner with Cuby to leverage their mobile micro factories (00:13:56) Addressing the construction labor shortage by breaking down tasks for less-skilled workers (00:20:12) Keywords: industrialized construction, construction innovation, Aleksandr Alex Gampel, Ron Nussbaum, Construction Champions Podcast, increased productivity, cost savings, industrial methods, project delivery, construction efficiency