Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your Construction Business
If you run a construction business and want to scale without burning out or selling out, this is your show. Host Ryan Englin brings you straight-talk episodes packed with real-world tactics, whether it’s a solo deep dive, a conversation with an industry expert, or lessons from the field. No fluff. No theory. Just one solid takeaway every time. Ryan is the CEO of Core Matters, best-selling author of Hire Better People Faster, and creator of the Core Fit Hiring System - a proven framework used by construction companies across the country to build reliable, high-performing teams.
Episodes
In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin sits down with Danielle Putnam, President of The New Flat Rate, to break down how construction and home service contractors can boost revenue and retention by doing less. That’s right. Less.
Danielle shares how giving technicians the power of choice through menu pricing not only increases average tickets but also reduces burnout, improves customer satisfaction, and builds stronger...
What if recruiting for your construction business was as strategic as landing your next big client? In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin sits down with seasoned business coach John Nieuwenburg of W5 Coaching. Together, they dive into one of the most overlooked but critical strategies in blue collar leadership: treating recruiting like marketing.
John brings two decades of coaching experience, much of it with con...
What if the biggest fix for your workforce shortage wasn’t another hire, but a training academy you built in-house?
In this episode of Titans of the Trades: Stories of How to Win from Construction Powerhouses, Ryan Englin talks with Danielle Wernert, Owner of Upskilled Consulting and a leader in trades education, about how home service contractors can develop their own internal universities, even if they’ve never done it before.
Dani...
What if the labor shortage in construction could be solved by tapping into a powerful, often overlooked workforce? In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin talks with industry leadership expert Dr. Gretchen Gagel, CEO and Founder of Greatness Consulting, about why bringing more women into construction isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s essential for the future of the trades.
Dr. Gagel shares her incredible journey fr...
Can investing in your employees' personal dreams actually improve performance and company culture?
In this powerful episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin sits down with Collin Jewett, Dream Manager at The Annex Group, to talk about what it really means to care for your people. Collin shares how his role, focused solely on helping employees pursue their personal goals, is transforming team morale, engagement, and retentio...
Is your CRM slowing down your sales team? In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin reconnects with Adam Honig, CEO of Spiro.ai, to explore why traditional CRMs are broken, especially for industries like construction and manufacturing. They dive into how AI is transforming the sales process by capturing tribal knowledge, reducing manual data entry, and making your salespeople more productive without sacrificing the human...
What if the difference between your best month ever and losing a loyal customer came down to one phone call?
In this episode, Ryan sits down with David Powers, a Chief Experience Officer at Rooter Hero Plumbing and CX Riot Radio host, to dig into how most home service companies get call centers wrong - and how it’s costing them more than they think.
David shares what he’s learned from decades running call centers (starting at age 17...
In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin welcomes Carl Veillette, CPO at Newforma. Carl dives deep into his journey from architecture to leading innovation in construction software. Discover how he's helping blue collar teams modernize without losing their roots.
Carl shares the real challenges of merging startups with legacy companies, the importance of cross-platform collaboration between job sites and offices, an...
Joe Crisara, known as "Uncle Joe" in the trades, went from being $471,000 in debt to building one of the most respected coaching businesses for service contractors.
In this episode, Joe, America’s Service Sales Coach at Service MVP, shares the hard lessons he learned as a contractor, the moment a customer changed his life, and how tiered pricing transformed his business.
If you're tired of running on low margins or s...
What happens when homeowners start expecting HVAC quotes with Amazon-level speed? In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin sits down with Josh Koplin, Co-Founder of EDEN, to talk about the seismic shifts hitting the residential HVAC industry.
Josh shares how EDEN’s instant quoting tool is flipping the script, giving consumers the transparency they crave while delivering more qualified leads to contractors. But it’s more ...
Most construction business owners are great at building things, but not at building wealth. In this episode, Ryan Englin talks with Aaron Mills, Founder and CEO of DAAXIT, a firm helping contractors clean up their financials and scale smarter.
Aaron shares how he took an electrical contractor from $30M to $90M and sold it at a 12x multiple, then realized most construction companies don’t even know if they’re profitable.
Aaron also e...
What does it take to build a thriving business from the ground up and successfully pass it to the next generation? Elvin Hurst Sr., Founder of Kountry Kraft, shares his incredible journey - from milking cows on the family farm to running a custom cabinetry business with over 100 employees.
In this episode, Elvin Sr. reveals:
- The Christmas gift that launched his business.
- How he maintained quality craftsmanship through decades of ...
In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin sits down with Roland Ligtenberg, Co-Founder of Housecall Pro, to discuss AI's transformative role in the home services industry.
They explore how automation and AI team members are helping contractors streamline operations, improve customer communication, and overcome labor shortages. Roland also shares actionable strategies for hiring and retaining skilled tradespeople, in...
Growing up in a family-owned HVAC and plumbing business, Crystal Williams has seen firsthand how the trades evolve and how businesses must adapt to thrive. Now, as the Founder and Creative Strategist at Lemon Seed Marketing, she helps blue collar businesses develop powerful branding strategies, drive employee engagement, and create company cultures that attract top talent.
In this episode, Crystal shares:
- The mindset shift needed...
In this conversation, Greg Cayea, CEO & Founder at FunnelPros, shares his journey from being a Guinness World Record holder to becoming an expert in funnel building and automation for the home services industry.
He discusses the challenges faced by contractors in marketing, the importance of integrating AI into their systems, and the future trends in automation. Greg emphasizes the need for a robust backend system and effective...
In this conversation, Christie Hoffman, Founder of Engagement Academy, dives into the intricacies of workplace culture, employee engagement, and the critical role of leadership in fostering a positive work environment.
Christie shares her journey of discovering the systemic issues that plague organizations and emphasizes the importance of understanding employee feedback as a pathway to growth. She discusses the challenges of burnou...
What does it really mean to be an employer of choice in the trades?
In this 100th episode celebration, host Ryan Englin goes solo to unveil the CHOICE Framework, a step-by-step blueprint for building a company where top talent wants to work and stay.
Discover the six pillars that will transform your workplace:
- Clear Vision, Values, and Purpose
- High-Trust Leadership
- Opportunities for Growth
- Industry-Leading Reputation
- Competitive Pay ...
In this conversation, Didi Azaria, a serial entrepreneur and the CEO of Workiz, shares his insights on entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of execution over product, common mistakes in pricing, and the significance of employee relationships.
He discusses strategies for business growth, the role of AI in enhancing operational efficiency, and how to choose the right software solutions for contractors. Didi highlights the nee...
In this conversation, Doug Donovan, CEO of Interplay Learning, discusses the mission and impact of the company dedicated to enhancing training for skilled trades through innovative technology. He highlights the importance of engaging and effective learning methods, the challenges of adopting digital training, and shares success stories from companies that have implemented their solutions.
Doug also emphasizes the future of training...
In this conversation, Catherine Bares, Service Coach & Trainer at BDR Co, shares her extensive journey in the HVAC industry, transitioning from a dispatcher to a profit coach.
She emphasizes the importance of team dynamics, effective compensation structures, and the role of AI in enhancing business operations. Catherine provides insights into profitability strategies and the necessity of soft skills training for technicians, wh...
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