Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your Construction Business

In this conversation, Dan Cassara, CEO of Core Group, discusses their unique business model in the property damage restoration industry. He emphasizes the importance of supporting restoration contractors through training, empathy, and technology. The conversation highlights the critical role of frontline technicians, the need for empathy in service delivery, and the future of the industry with advancements in technology. Dan also shares insights about the Collective Conference, which offers networking and learning opportunities for professionals in the trades.TakeawaysCore Group operates as a hybrid franchisor for independent restoration companies.High retention rates in companies often relate more to culture than pay.Empathy training is essential for technicians to understand the impact of their work on clients' lives.Core University offers training for anyone in the construction or restoration space.The restoration industry is often unknown, despite its size and importance.Technicians are the backbone of restoration companies, delivering on promises made by sales teams.Investing in employee training and care translates to better customer service.Technology and innovation are key to the future of the restoration industry.The Collective Conference provides valuable networking and learning opportunities for industry professionals.Chapters02:50 Supporting Restoration Contractors: The Core Group Approach05:57 The Importance of Frontline Technicians08:57 Empathy and Training in Restoration Services12:03 The Role of Technology in the Future of Restoration14:56 The Collective Conference: Networking and Learning OpportunitiesConnect With Dan:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dancassara/Website: https://gowithcore.com/ Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

In this conversation, RJ Burr, the President & CEO of Panex, discusses the critical role of oil in modern society, the importance of independent oil companies, and the significance of hiring the right people to build a successful team. He emphasizes the need for a positive outlook in business and the importance of seizing opportunities, especially in challenging market conditions. RJ also shares insights on creating a strong company culture and how to connect with him for further information about the oil industry.TakeawaysOil is the most important resource humans have ever utilized.83% of oil is produced by independent companies with 12 employees or less.The edge in business comes from hiring the best people.Successful people do what unsuccessful people are unwilling to do.You have a choice on your outlook every day.Building a team takes time and effort, one person at a time.Control what you can control and focus on the positive.A strong company culture leads to employee retention.Seizing market opportunities leads to significant growth.Connecting with the right people is crucial for success.Chapters02:52 The Importance of Oil in Modern Society05:53 The Role of Independent Oil Companies09:03 Hiring the Best People in the Industry12:01 Building a Strong Team and Company Culture14:49 Seizing Opportunities in the Oil Market17:56 Maintaining a Positive Outlook in BusinessConnect With RJWebsite: https://panex.us/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rj-burr-06a609162/ Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

In this conversation, Ryan speaks with Jonathan Klemm, Founder of Quality Builders, about the evolving landscape of the construction industry, the importance of technology, and the value of treating subcontractors as partners. Jonathan shares his journey into the trades, the founding of Quality Builders during the pandemic, and the company's vision for growth. He emphasizes the need for mentorship, the significance of a strong team, and the future of the trades amidst challenges such as workforce shortages and the need for technological advancement.KeywordsQuality Builders, construction, technology, subcontractors, mentorship, trades, growth strategy, future of construction, residential renovation, industry changeTakeawaysThe younger generation is interested in the trades contrary to popular belief.Mentorship plays a crucial role in shaping values and skills in the trades.Quality Builders was founded during the pandemic, leveraging past experiences.Technology can streamline processes in the construction industry.Subcontractors should be treated as partners to ensure quality work.A clear vision helps in vetting subcontractors and aligning them with company goals.Survival mode is a critical phase for new businesses before scaling.Mentorship programs can significantly benefit subcontractors and the business.The construction industry is ripe for change and technological disruption.Creating a desirable work environment is key to attracting talent in the trades.Sound Bites"I love talking about what you're doing in the trades.""There's always something to do.""We want to implement the systems and processes."Chapters03:09 The Role of Technology in Construction05:49 The Importance of Subcontractors as Partners09:09 Vision and Growth Strategy for Quality Builders11:59 Mentorship and Support in the Trades14:59 Future of the Trades and Quality BuildersConnect With Jonathan:Website: www.qualitybuilders.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/quality-buildersinc Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

SummaryIn this conversation, Ryan speaks with Nik Dixon and Zach VanDyke from New Era Construction about their journey in the construction industry. They discuss the challenges and opportunities they face as a new generation in the trades, the importance of skilled labor, and their strategies for growth and relationship building. They also touch on the significance of work-life balance and how they aim to create a positive work environment for their employees.Keywordsconstruction, New Era Construction, challenges, opportunities, skilled labor, work-life balance, growth strategies, relationships, trades, industry insightsTakeawaysThe construction industry faces challenges in attracting qualified workers.Creating a positive work culture is essential for retaining employees.Diversifying subcontractors helps manage costs and maintain quality.Skilled labor is becoming scarce, making training and apprenticeship programs vital.Building long-term relationships with clients is key to sustained growth.Work-life balance is a challenge but necessary for personal well-being.The company aims to let their work speak for itself in the market.Sound Bites"We want people to enjoy coming to work.""You have the ability to do anything."Chapters02:53 Challenges and Opportunities in the Construction Industry05:56 Lessons Learned in the Trades08:51 The Importance of Skilled Labor12:00 Growth Strategies and Relationship Building15:01 Work-Life Balance in ConstructionConnect With Nik & Zach:Website: https://www.neweraconstructionco.com/Nik's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neweranik/Zach’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/newerazach/ Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

Summary Matt Ebert, the CEO of Crash Champions, shares his journey of growing the company from 8 to nearly 650 locations and becoming the employer of choice in the collision repair industry.  He emphasizes the importance of investing in leadership and creating a positive employee experience. Matt also discusses the need to attract more women and new talent to the industry through partnerships with trade schools and promoting the opportunities available.  He advises small business owners to train someone to replace them and trust their team to make decisions. Matt's success is a result of promoting from within and recruiting talented individuals who feel stuck in their current positions. Keywords employer of choice, leadership, employee experience, attracting talent, trade schools, training, trust, promoting from within, recruiting Takeaways Investing in leadership and creating a positive employee experience are key to becoming the employer of choice. Promote from within and train someone to replace you to focus on working on the business. Attracting more women and new talent to the industry requires making it more appealing and showcasing the opportunities available. Trust your team to make decisions and exceed your expectations. Recruit talented individuals who feel stuck in their current positions by offering a path forward. Sound Bites "People's happiness at work depends greatly upon who they report to." "Your team can come up with some great ideas, just let them run with it." Chapters 02:04 Company Growth and Future Plans 04:59 Creating a Positive Employee Experience 08:23 Empowering Employees to Generate Ideas 11:07 Addressing the Lack of People in the Industry 13:43 Finding and Recruiting Talent 16:11 Providing Opportunities for Career Path To Connect With Matt: Website: https://crashchampions.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-ebert-7169a5180/  Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

Summary The conversation discusses the labor crisis in the trades industry and the importance of employee retention. Chris Buttenham, co-owner of Reins, explains how their company helps small businesses in the trades sector retain key employees through equity and profit-sharing incentives.They focus on aligning incentives and creating long-term and short-term financial rewards for employees. The conversation highlights the effectiveness of these incentives for businesses in high-demand, low-supply industries like HVAC and contracting. Success stories include businesses that have retained key employees and improved their operations by implementing Reins' incentive structures. Keywords trades industry, labor crisis, employee retention, equity incentives, profit-sharing, Reins, small businesses, long-term incentives, short-term incentives, financial rewards, success stories Takeaways The trades industry is facing a labor crisis and employee retention is a significant challenge. Reins helps small businesses in the trades sector retain key employees with equity and profit-sharing incentives. Aligning incentives and offering long-term and short-term financial rewards can motivate employees to stay with the company. Reins' incentive structures have been effective for businesses in high-demand, low-supply industries like HVAC and contracting. Sound Bites "Retention is the key issue in the trades industry." "Financial incentives create a stronger commitment from employees." "Reins is designed for businesses in high-demand, low-supply industries." Chapters 03:03 The Importance of Financial Incentives for Retention 06:03 Effective Incentives for High-Demand Industries 09:20 Financial Rewards and Employee Commitment 12:26 Understanding Phantom Stock and Equity Incentives 14:48 Offer and Conclusion Connect With Chris: Special Listener Promo: https://www.myreins.com/ryanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbuttenham/ Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

SummaryDerek Cormier, owner of Climate Experts, shares his success in doubling his business every year since 2016 and his ability to find and retain good employees in the trades industry. He emphasizes the importance of creating a strong company culture and defining core values to attract the right employees. Cormier has developed an apprenticeship program and training system that compresses a two-year apprenticeship into three months, allowing new hires to quickly become productive technicians. He also highlights the significance of marketing and recruiting to find high-quality applicants and the importance of empowering employees to take control of their own career progression.Keywordstrades, business growth, employee retention, apprenticeship program, training, recruiting, company culture, career progressionTakeaways·Creating a strong company culture and defining core values is crucial for attracting and retaining good employees.·Developing an apprenticeship program and training system can help compress the time it takes to upskill new hires and make them productive technicians.·Marketing and recruiting efforts should focus on promoting the company culture, growth opportunities, and career progression to attract high-quality applicants.·Empowering employees to take control of their own career progression can lead to increased motivation and productivity.Chapters02:08 Challenges in Finding and Retaining Technicians04:27 Compressing Apprenticeship Training09:27 Effective Marketing and Recruiting13:30 Empowering Employees for Career ProgressionConnect With Derek:Website: climateexperts.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-cormier-climate/ Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

SummaryHeath Treasure shares his journey from rags to riches in the blue-collar space, emphasizing the importance of preparing a business for exit and the acquisition process. He highlights the significance of soft skills, financial clarity, and process flow in building a sellable asset. Heath also discusses the challenges faced by business owners and offers coaching and group coaching services to help them grow and exit their businesses.Keywordsbusiness exit, acquisition process, soft skills, financial clarity, process flow, blue-collar business, coaching, group coachingTakeawaysThe importance of developing soft skills in communication, negotiation, and routine for business success and exit preparation.The significance of financial clarity and process flow in creating a sellable asset and maximizing business valuation.The challenges faced by business owners in preparing for business exit and the availability of coaching and group coaching services to help them grow and exit their businesses.Chapters00:00 From Rags to Riches: A Blue-Collar Success Story02:05 Preparing Your Business for Exit: The Acquisition Process07:19 The Role of Soft Skills in Business Success and Exit PreparationConnect With Heath:Website: https://www.ultimatebluecollar.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathtreasure/  Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

Jim Bush, CEO of Weather Shield Roofing Systems, shares his 12 laws of a great workplace. The first law is that work should be a life-giving place where people flourish and grow. The second law is that work should have a higher purpose that makes the world a better place. The third law is that everyone deserves to work for a well-run business that provides order amidst chaos. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about how Jim’s laws of a great workplace will develop your team and grow your company.Keywordsworkplace, leadership, purpose, personal development, order, well-run business, life-givingTakeawaysWork should have a higher purpose that makes the world a better place.Everyone deserves great leadership.The workplace is the perfect place for personal development.The workplace should have a spill-up effect, where the blessings and growth from the workplace flow into people's personal lives.Sound Bites"Work should be a life-giving place where people flourish and grow.""Our work needs to have a higher purpose that is above just doing a roof.""A truly good business should be a place of order amidst a world of chaos."Chapters02:58 Law 1: Creating a Life-Giving Workplace06:08 Law 2: Finding Purpose in Your Work08:56 Law 3: The Importance of a Well-Run Business12:12 Law 4: The Power of Great Leadership14:59 Law 5: Doing What You Love22:59 Law 7: The Spill-Up Effect: Blessings in the WorkplaceConnect With Jim:Website: https://weathershieldusa.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-bush-6b154730/ Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

Eduard Mirzoian shares his journey of building a successful restoration contracting company, emphasizing the importance of culture, people, and consistent marketing. He discusses the challenges and strategies for attracting and retaining top talent, as well as the impact of culture on business success.Keywordsrestoration contractor, company growth, culture, people management, talent attraction, marketing, business successTakeawaysThe importance of maintaining a forward-looking perspective and focusing on continuous improvement in business growth.The significance of creating a strong company culture and investing in the personal growth and well-being of employees.The value of consistent marketing of company culture to attract and retain top talent.The impact of culture on business success and the need to prioritize cultural fit when hiring and retaining employees.Sound Bites"If you care about your people, they'll care about you."Chapters00:00 The Journey of Building a Successful Restoration Contracting Company02:57 The Power of Culture and People in Business Success05:56 Attracting and Retaining Top Talent: Strategies for Growth08:50 Consistent Marketing of Company Culture: A Key to Talent Attraction11:53 The Impact of Culture on Business SuccessConnect With Eduard:Website: https://restorerz.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eduard-mirzoian-70152388/ Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.