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PODCAST

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

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

23:07

From Apprentice to Visionary: Powering the Future of...

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/08/06

Michael Carey Jr., President of Carey Electric, shares his journey from high school apprentice to owner of a thriving design-build electrical firm. In this episode, Michael and Ryan explore how technology, standardization, and a commitment to education are reshaping construction jobs for the next generation. Learn why Carey Electric’s approach to training and design-build projects sets them apart in a competitive industry. Whether you’re a construction business owner, manager, or techni...

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29:09

Fewer Service Calls = Higher Profits

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/07/30

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 businesses. From ride-alongs to real-world coaching and a pe...

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31:14

Why Construction Leaders Must Build a Bench

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/07/23

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 contractors and tradespeople, and delivers hard-hitting insights...

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30:36

How to Launch a Trades Training Academy

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/07/16

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. Danielle shares her story of going from an executive assistant t...

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30:19

Women in Construction: Leadership, Bias, and Breaking...

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/07/09

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 from being disowned for studying engineering to leading multimi...

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28:12

How One Dream Manager Is Shaping Construction Company...

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/07/02

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 retention in the construction and property management space. They dive int...

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26:09

How AI Is Replacing CRMs and Saving Tribal Knowledge...

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/06/25

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 touch. Adam shares the story behind Spiro’s creation, inspire...

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35:25

Why Your Call Center Is Killing Your Business

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/06/18

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!) and now leading the ultra-efficient, ultra-human cus...

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25:50

Merging Tech and Trades to Future-Proof Construction

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/06/11

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, and how Newforma is building a Google-style search engine for constr...

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36:27

The $471K Wake-Up Call: Turning Sales Struggles into...

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/06/04

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 struggling to close deals, this is the conversation you've been wa...

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29:24

How AI is Shaping the Future of HVAC Sales

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/05/28

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 than just software. Josh dives deep into modern buying behavi...

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23:58

The Hidden Cost of Bad Books

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/05/21

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 explains: The #1 financial tool contractors overlook.Why...

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21:54

From Farm to Family Business: 65 Years of Growth

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/05/14

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 change.His secrets to hiring and retaining great employees ...

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30:18

AI and the Future of Home Services

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/05/07

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, including how to build long-term relationships with local trade...

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32:41

The Power of Branding & Culture in the Trades

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/04/30

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 to modernize a family business.How investing in branding and cu...

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29:46

The Art of Funnel Building in Home Services With Greg...

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/04/23

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 advertising strategies to grow a business, while also h...

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44:47

Combatting Burnout: Strategies for Blue Collar...

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/04/16

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 burnout in blue collar jobs and the necessity for managers to ...

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45:08

Becoming the Employer Everyone Wants to Work For With...

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/04/09

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 PurposeHigh-Trust LeadershipOpportunities for GrowthIndustry-Leading ReputationCompetitive Pay and StabilityEngaged WorkforcePacked with real-life exampl...

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25:23

The Art of Execution in Business With Didi Azaria

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/04/02

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 need for businesses to adapt to the changing landscape, par...

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29:12

The Future of Learning in the Trades With Doug Donovan

Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your... ·

2025/03/26

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 the trades, particularly the role of AI and digital ...

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93 results

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