

PowerTips Unscripted
Remodelers Advantage
The Official Remodelers Advantage PowerTips Podcast
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 24, 2025 • 22min
A Month-End Close You Can Actually Make Business Decisions From with Doug Howard – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted]
Successful organizations rely on accurate financial information to make informed decisions. But what sets great organizations apart is having a formal month-end close process in place. This ensures that financials are completed, reviewed, corrected, and ready for leaders and managers to use confidently in decision-making. In this episode of PowerTips Unscripted, Doug Howard joins us to break down what a strong month-end close process looks like and how to implement it effectively.Doug Howard, a senior consultant with Remodelers Advantage since 2017, brings a wealth of experience to the table. Having facilitated over 8 Roundtables meetings each year, Doug has worked with hundreds of remodeling clients to help them master their financials, refine processes, and boost profitability.Doug, Victoria, and Mark talk more about:What is included in a good month-end process?How should financials be reviewed to know they are correct?Who should be involved in the financial process?And more…
Want to Be the Remodeler Everyone Knows in the Neighborhood?
If this episode with Doug Howard sparked new ideas, it’s just the beginning. In his powerful masterclass, Own the Block: Marketing Tactics and AI Tools, Doug walks you step-by-step through the exact strategies successful remodelers are using to dominate their local markets.In this on-demand training, you’ll discover:Hyper-targeted marketing tactics that actually generate leadsHow to leverage AI tools to save time and boost resultsProven messaging and branding frameworks to build trust fastReal-life examples and templates you can apply immediately Learn from one of the industry’s top strategic minds and walk away with a marketing game plan you can implement tomorrow.
Click Here To Enroll Now
The post A Month-End Close You Can Actually Make Business Decisions From with Doug Howard – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Jul 17, 2025 • 30min
Can “Voice Training” Skyrocket Your Success? with John Baron – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted]
Do you feel comfortable when presenting proposals/estimates to clients? Why should clients like the sound of your voice if you don’t? You might know what to say, but do you feel ok saying it? These are all questions that body language and voice coaching expert John Baron is here to answer. John brings actor skills training to the business world, he was also a professional actor, owned and sold his own marketing business, a teacher of the Alexander Technique, a Corporate Trainer, and the founder of VocalCommunicationInBusiness.Victoria, Mark and John talk more about:Why Construction Industry Professionals need voice trainingVoice habits that are viewed negatively by clientsAnd more…
Ready to Speak with Confidence and Win More Jobs?
If you struggle to sound confident when presenting estimates—or if your voice and body language are unintentionally holding you back—you’re not alone.On our latest podcast, expert John Baron breaks down how voice training can transform your client conversations. But what if you could go a step further?In Remodelers Advantage Roundtables, you don’t just learn what to say—you gain the support and accountability to practice how to say it. From presentation skills to pricing strategies, your peer group helps you sharpen the communication skills that close deals.Join Roundtables and become the confident, credible leader your clients want to hire.
Learn more and apply today
The post Can “Voice Training” Skyrocket Your Success? with John Baron – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Jul 10, 2025 • 27min
Cultivating Growth: Integrating Employee Development into Your Business Strategy with Peg Buehrle – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted]
Today’s episode of PowerTips Unscripted features Peg Buehrle as a guest. During the show, she discusses the significance of team development for business growth. The growth of a business depends on the growth of its key leaders and their respective teams. Therefore, it is crucial to have a development plan for each team member. Peg will shed light on how to ensure that this remains a top priority.Peg is a co-managing partner of ActionCOACH Columbus, the co-author of The Honest Truth about Leadership, and an internationally recognized speaker. She has 17 years of coaching experience and has helped hundreds of businesses grow. Peg is also a Remodelers Advantage consultant and specializes in team development. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment, click here: https://remodelersadvantage.com/coaching/Peg, Victoria, and Mark talk more about:Common omissions that business owners have about their teamsWhat gets in the way of business owners of actually doing a development planHow do you create the discipline to make sure you execute your people plan?And more…
The post Cultivating Growth: Integrating Employee Development into Your Business Strategy with Peg Buehrle – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Jul 3, 2025 • 32min
Creating Value: A Guide to Maximizing Your Company’s Worth with Arlin Sorensen – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted]
Today on Power Tips Unscripted, Arlin Sorensen, the CEO of Oak Road Consulting joins the show. Understanding the art of creating value within your business is pivotal, especially in the context of planning your exit strategy. It’s all about setting clear goals for your personal wealth and translating that into a business value target that can drive your success. Arlin is here to share invaluable insights on how you can craft a robust value-creation strategy and harmonize it with your long-term financial goals.Arlin Sorenson is a simple Iowa farm boy who fell in love with technology and has spent the past 40 years in the IT industry. His passion is helping business owners and leaders achieve their definitions of success.Arlin, Victoria, and Mark talk more about:How to create a value-creation strategyLegacy/succession planningWhat things can derail value?And more…
Ready to Turn Strategy into Action?
Arlin Sorensen dives into building value in your business and planning for what’s next—but conversations like these are just the beginning.In Remodelers Advantage Roundtables, you’ll join a community of smart, growth-minded remodelers who don’t just talk about value—they build it, every single quarter. With expert facilitation, peer accountability, and real-world strategy sharing, you’ll transform insights like Arlin’s into measurable results.Don’t just plan your legacy—build it with Roundtables.
Learn More About Roundtables
The post Creating Value: A Guide to Maximizing Your Company’s Worth with Arlin Sorensen – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Jun 26, 2025 • 30min
Preparing Your Business For Your Departure with Pete McDowell – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted]
In this episode of PowerTips Unscripted, Victoria and Mark are joined by Pete McDowell to discuss succession planning and how business owners can exit their company. According to Pete, there are four primary ways for a business owner to leave their company: selling the company, transferring the company to family or employees, or ESOP. He also highlights some of the basics of a succession plan, regardless of the option the business owner chooses.Pete McDowell is a Partner at ActionCOACH Columbus. Pete, alongside his partner, Peg Buehrle are a part of Remodelers Advantage as Consultants. They help people evaluate each of these options and select the best path. Along the way, they assist their clients to work less and build the value of their business. In this way, you can enjoy life NOW and look forward to a comfortable next chapter!Pete, Victoria, and Mark talk more about:Preparing the team for succession planningExamples of well executed succession plansAnd more…
Thinking About Life After Remodeling?
Whether you’re planning to sell, pass it on, or explore an ESOP, Pete McDowell and Peg Buehrle—part of the Remodelers Advantage Consulting Team—are here to guide you every step of the way. With a proven process to help you work less, grow your business value, and prepare for a smooth transition, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Schedule a Consultation with Pete
The post Preparing Your Business For Your Departure with Pete McDowell – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Jun 19, 2025 • 32min
The Remodeler Marketing Blueprint with Spencer Powell – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted]
For many remodelers, digital marketing is the “voodoo” magic. With so many options, where do you begin? Well, Spencer Powell has the answer.In this episode, Spencer dives into his book, The Remodeler Marketing Blueprint. He talks about everything that you need to know about being found online, successfully.Spencer is the CEO of Builder Funnel and founder of Builder Funnel Academy, author, and radio host. Spencer has been a longtime guest and sponsor of the show, and gives listeners even more knowledge about marketing in the remodeling world in this episode.Victoria, Mark and Spencer talk more about:How this journey began.How marketing has changed over the years.What the marketing blueprint looks like for remodelers.The biggest mistakes remodelers are making today.And more…
Join the #1 Peer Group for Remodeling Business Owners
Imagine having a trusted group of fellow remodelers—people who get it—to help you solve challenges, grow profits, and keep you accountable.That’s the power of Roundtables by Remodelers Advantage. Learn from industry leaders Get real-world advice—not theory Grow your business and your leadership skillsReady to stop going it alone?
Apply today
The post The Remodeler Marketing Blueprint with Spencer Powell – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Jun 12, 2025 • 33min
Open Book Management with Ken Kirsch – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted]
The thought of showing your financials to your employees may be unsettling. We’ve known remodelers who are so leery of sharing their numbers, their field crews don’t even know their project budgets.But it doesn’t have to be that way, says Ken Kirsch, a proponent and practitioner of Open Book Management. In this episode, Ken tells Victoria and Mark that showing your numbers will engage and motivate your team — while helping your bottom line.Ken is the president of MAK Design+Build Inc. in Davis, CA. Drawing on his experience as a carpenter and an artist, he and his wife Ellen started MAK Design+Build in 2003, out of an Airstream Trailer in their driveway. Ken’s a member of Roundtables group Krypton, and was introduced to the concept of Open Book Management at his very first RA meeting.Victoria and Mark talk with Ken about the positives, and one surprising negative, he’s experienced since embracing Open Book Management. They discuss:What to show and what to avoidFocusing on the Big Picture The importance of your team being financially literateWhen and how to discuss your numbersEngaging your employees for lower turnoverAnd a whole lot more… Loved Ken Kirsch’s insights on open-book management?Ready to take your remodeling business to the next level?Learn how Remodelers Advantage can help you implement strategies like this—and more.Start your journey here.
The post Open Book Management with Ken Kirsch – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Jun 5, 2025 • 26min
Are Your Employees Stealing From You? With Vicki Suiter – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted]
The latest statistics on fraud should be a wake-up call for every small business owner. According to a survey by HISCOX, a specialty insurance company, 80 percent of embezzlements occurred at small businesses and 30 percent involved a loss of more than $500,000.With more work is being done remotely, including paying vendors and processing payroll, you must have controls and processes in place to avoid this happening to you.In this episode, we welcome Vicki Suiter, who shares simple practices and processes to help you avoid accounting fraud and stealing in your business.Since starting Suiter Business Builders in 1990, Vicki has helped hundreds of contractors and designers build solid foundations for their businesses, run operations more efficiently, and achieve the kind of success they never dreamed possible.Vicki’s articles and opinions have been widely shared in print and across the web. She is also the author of book “The Profit Bleed” – How managing margin can save your contracting business.Victoria, Mark and Vicki talk more about:Why small businesses are targets in 80% of all embezzlement cases.The most common place where people “steal” money.Other ways employees and contacts embezzle funds from a company that are less obvious.Recommended controls and practices a contractor should have in place to avoid this happening to them.“10 Ways to Spot Accounting Fraud”Here is the link to the resource mentioned, “How to Spot Accounting Fraud”https://suiterbusinessbuilders.com/how-to-spot-accounting-fraud/
The post Are Your Employees Stealing From You? With Vicki Suiter – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

May 29, 2025 • 38min
The Most Powerful Competitive Advantage with Steve Anderson – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted]
In a low-unemployment economy, recruiting and retaining the best talent is a continuous effort. You need a powerful competitive advantage — one that’s nearly impossible for anyone else to copy. It’s your company culture.In this episode, Steve Anderson tells Victoria and Mark why that is, and how you can develop a successful culture — or turn around a faltering one. Steve’s an author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He’s worked with tens of thousands of professionals to grow and expand their businesses. Steve has spoken at our Remodeler’s Summit and worked with our Roundtables members in the past.Your company culture is a combination of priorities and processes, and how your team acts on them, that results in how people feel about your company, inside and out. It can happen by default or by definition, but almost all successful cultures happen by design. He tells you how to look at your culture critically, and the steps to take to improve it, including:Building on natural laws Defining your prioritiesDesigning your culture intentionallyThe law of emotionWhat the 10 Commandments can teach you about changing your cultureDefining your culture in a written documentSetting expectationsReinforcing acceptable behaviorWhy the customer shouldn’t come firstUsing your culture in recruiting and hiringThe culture mistakes you may be makingAnd more …There’s a copy of Steve’s first written culture guide in his book, The Culture of Success: 10 Natural Laws for Creating a Place Where Everyone Wants to Work. He invites everyone to use that culture guide to create your own — just click the link and make your purchase.
The post The Most Powerful Competitive Advantage with Steve Anderson – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

May 22, 2025 • 27min
Discovering New Revenue Streams With Chris Landis – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted]
We are all so busy running our businesses that we often don’t realize that there are other potential revenue-generating investments that align with our present and future business needs.Chris Landis thinks you should consider helping businesses that lease their office space as an added revenue stream.In this episode, Victoria, Mark and Chris talk more about this innovative revenue source.Chris is a Co-Founder & Chairman of the Board of Landis Architects/Builders in Washington, DC and is a member of the AIA, with 28 years of experience in residential architecture. Landis Architects/Builders is one of the top Washington, DC renovation and remodeling firms and is co-founded by Chris and his brother, Ethan Landis.In this episode, Victoria, Mark and Chris cover:The benefits, opportunities and challenges of owning your own building.Offering space in your building to other business.What is involved in becoming a landlord.How these deals are structured financially and timelines involved.How you can pass this knowledge onto other business owners.
The post Discovering New Revenue Streams With Chris Landis – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.