Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your Construction Business
Ryan Englin
130 episodes
4 days ago
Are you tired of being stuck in the field, juggling sales calls, project management, and even picking up some tools when no one else shows up? In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin sits down with Branden Sewell, Owner of Seal Pro Painting and host of the Off the Ladder Podcast. Branden never started as a painter, yet built a thriving painting business by learning how to run the company. He shares the mindset shifts, hiring strategies, and leadership lessons that helped him...
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Are you tired of being stuck in the field, juggling sales calls, project management, and even picking up some tools when no one else shows up? In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin sits down with Branden Sewell, Owner of Seal Pro Painting and host of the Off the Ladder Podcast. Branden never started as a painter, yet built a thriving painting business by learning how to run the company. He shares the mindset shifts, hiring strategies, and leadership lessons that helped him...
Are you tired of being stuck in the field, juggling sales calls, project management, and even picking up some tools when no one else shows up? In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin sits down with Branden Sewell, Owner of Seal Pro Painting and host of the Off the Ladder Podcast. Branden never started as a painter, yet built a thriving painting business by learning how to run the company. He shares the mindset shifts, hiring strategies, and leadership lessons that helped him...
In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin sits down with Denise Grothouse, Founder and CEO of Perfect Six Marketing and a seasoned entrepreneur who built a multimillion-dollar brand in the trades before launching her agency. Denise knows how contractors think, because she’s been one. She shares real-world marketing strategies tailored to construction businesses, including how to leverage social media, earned media, and even AI, without getting overwhelmed. Learn why vulnerabil...
In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin welcomes Mike Abramowitz, Co-Founder of Better Than Rich and creator of the Time-Rich Six framework. Mike grew up watching his dad, a lifelong plumber, grind it out six days a week, and knew there had to be a better way. Now, Mike helps contractors and owner-operators build scalable systems so they can stop working in the business and start working on it. Discover how Mike replaced himself in his own business, built a team of onshore and of...
How much knowledge is walking out your door every year? In this Titans of the Trades episode, Ryan Englin sits down with Manja Horner, Founder and CEO of Boost, to tackle one of the most urgent problems in construction: capturing tribal knowledge before it disappears. Manja explains how decades of tips, tricks, and hard‑earned craft insights often vanish when veteran workers retire. She shares a framework to capture, organize, and pass on that knowledge, so your company’s “secret sauce” lives...
What happens when a private equity buyer enters the picture, but you’re not ready to let go? In this powerful episode, Ryan Englin welcomes Jeremiah Webb, a blue collar business expert with a background that spans HVAC, financial services, and manufacturer-side leadership. Jeremiah shares hard truths and game-changing strategies for trades business owners caught in the chaos of growth, succession, and staying motivated. You’ll learn how to: Reclaim your motivation after selling your bus...
In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin sits down with James Hatfield, Chief Revenue Officer at LiveSwitch and former painting company owner turned tech innovator. James brings his real-world experience from the ladder to the leadership boardroom to tackle one of the biggest issues in the construction industry: communication breakdowns. He introduces a powerful, no-training-required video platform designed specifically for construction crews, contractors, and service providers. T...
Join us for this empowering episode as we talk with Brenna Moore, a dynamic Heavy Equipment Operator and Foreman who is breaking barriers in the construction industry. Brenna shares her journey from apprentice to industry influencer and highlights her work with programs like Camp Build Her and the National Equipment League. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity, mentorship, and the endless opportunities within construction, especially for women entering this traditionally male-d...
Struggling to find good people or keep them? You’re not alone. In this follow-up episode, Ryan Englin sits down again with Michael Katz and David Katz of Trio Heating and Air to reveal the people-first strategies that helped them grow to $10M in just a few years. This episode is a goldmine for blue collar leaders in construction and home services looking to attract, recruit, and retain top talent. Michael and David break down what it really takes to recruit A-players and why your office cultu...
Can you succeed in the HVAC industry without any experience? Brothers Michael Katz and David Katz did just that; scaling their company, Trio Heating and Air, from zero to over $10 million in revenue in just two years. In today’s episode, these innovative entrepreneurs share their remarkable journey, highlighting key strategies that can supercharge your growth, profitability, and market presence. Learn how embracing technology, strategic pricing, and relentless execution allowed them to attrac...
In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin talks with Josh Vitale, Founder of Project BUILT, about the unseen struggles facing the construction workforce. Josh shares staggering statistics on mental health challenges, the alarming suicide and opioid rates in the trades, and how leaders can step up to make a difference. You’ll hear actionable ideas on fostering connection, healing families, and building workplaces where people thrive, not just survive. If you’re a construction l...
Is your construction or service business drowning in software solutions that promised efficiency but delivered overwhelm? Jenny Benbrook, CEO and Founder of Powerhouse Consulting Group, joins the podcast to reveal how to finally make your technology work for you, not against you. In this powerful conversation, Jenny shares insider insights on overcoming common pitfalls contractors face when adopting field service management (FSM) software like ServiceTitan. Learn why your software implementat...
Are office inefficiencies holding back your construction or service business? Today’s guest, Lynn Wise from Contractor In Charge, reveals why most contractors lose valuable leads and struggle with productivity. From understanding the true cost of mismanaged phone calls to strategically using AI for your front-office tasks, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to streamline your operations. Lynn leverages over 50 years of experience in the trades, offering expert insights on optim...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your Construction Business
Are you tired of being stuck in the field, juggling sales calls, project management, and even picking up some tools when no one else shows up? In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin sits down with Branden Sewell, Owner of Seal Pro Painting and host of the Off the Ladder Podcast. Branden never started as a painter, yet built a thriving painting business by learning how to run the company. He shares the mindset shifts, hiring strategies, and leadership lessons that helped him...
