American Builders
Real conversations with trades business owners from across the country. Candid stories, hard-won strategies, and the truth about building a business in the trades — hosted by TradeGuard.
16 episodes and growing
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From Engineer to Entrepreneur: The All-In Bet That Paid Off
This episode of American Builders features Thomas Stark, Founder of Stark Industrial. Stark industrial is a commercial & industrial water treatment and maintenance provider, servicing some of the biggest buildings in the Kansas City Metro. On this episode, we discuss:- Going from corporate job to entrepreneurship- The importance of mentorship- The business model of water treatment companies - Sales & marketing: what has worked, and what hasn't - The future of Stark IndustrialLearn more about Stark Industrial: https://www.starkindustrial.net/Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/
16 Episodes
Every conversation, every story. Click any episode to play it right here.
How These Young Entrepreneurs Bought a Roofing Franchise
This week's episode of American Builders features Luke & Hunter Rahto of Roof Maxx KC. Roof Maxx roof restoration and rejuvenation is a safe, easy, proven and affordable alternative to a complicated, expensive and life-disrupting asphalt roof replacement.We discuss: 1. The process of starting a franchise 2. How the product is different from typical roof replacement 3. Lead generation 4. Door to door sales strategies 5. Overcoming sales objections Learn more about Roof Maxx: https://roofmaxx.com/find-a-dealer/kansas/overland-park/Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/
Third Generation Home Builder - Carrying on the Legacy
This episode of American Builders features Chris George III of Chris George Custom Homes. We discuss: - The founding story of Chris George Custom Homes- Working with family - Building for scale vs building custom - The nuance of custom rural building projects - Why its hard to be a community builder and a custom home builder at the same time - The future of Chris George Custom Homes Learn more about Chris George Custom Homes: https://www.chrisgeorgecustomhomes.com/Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/
He Went All In On His Painting Business... And it WORKED
This episode of American Builders features Frank Pileggi, Founder of Pileggi Painting. We discuss: - Starting a painting business in his late 30s- The important of picking the right partners - Levers for growth - How deliver a perfect productLearn more about Pileggi Painting: https://pileggipainting.com/Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/
How This 25 Year Old Built a MASSIVE Epoxy Company
This episode of American Builders features Luke Looney, Founder of Good Boy Coatings. We discuss:- How to get started in the epoxy coatings business- How Luke got his first start in the trades- Contractors: Commercial vs residential focus- Using social media to grow- The importance of networking for contractors- The future of Good Boy CoatingsLearn more about Good Boy Coatings here: https://www.goodboycoatings.com/Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/
How Randy Hurtado Built a $50 Million Home Services Enterprise
This episode features Randy Hurtado, Owner/COO at DT Companies and the Good Contractors List. We discuss:- How Randy went from IT sales to operating a $50M+ home services portfolio- Building complementary businesses under one roof- Residential vs. commercial roofing- Sales & marketing strategies for contractors- Trends shaping the industry- His newest role as COO of the Good Contractors ListLinks:Good Contractors List: https://thegoodcontractorslist.com/DT Companies: https://thedtcompanies.com/Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/
How to Build a Million Dollar Landscaping Business
This episode is with Blake Frischer, owner of Hassle Free Outdoors. We discuss:Delivering a perfect productLandscape vs maintenance workKnowing your numbers and healthy profit marginsThe hardest challenges that come with growthReinvesting in the businessMaking it through the winter slowdownLearn more about Hassle Free Outdoors: https://www.hassle-freelawns.com/Presented by TradeGuard: https://www.tradeguardins.com/
Growing Your Roofing Business: The 3 Things That Matter
Colby Haverkamp is the VP of Growth & Partnerships at Howser Roofing.In this episode, we discuss:- The partnerships that actually move the needle in the roofing industry- Key differences between residential and commercial roofing- How roofing companies consistently generate new customers- What it takes to stand out in a competitive market- Why the industry is moving away from door knockingLearn more about Howser Roofing: https://howserroofing.com/Presented by TradeGuard Insurance: https://www.tradeguardins.com/
How to 10x Your Leads with Digital Marketing
John Pileggi, Co Founder of LaborTech Solutions, joins the show to break down a simple, practical roadmap trades businesses can follow to grow consistently and scale operations without wasting money on random marketing tactics.We walk through the exact progression contractors should follow, starting with a strong digital foundation and ending with automated AI systems that drive growth in the background.In this episode, we cover:• Website design, SEO, and GEO fundamentals that actually generate jobs• Why content builds long term demand for trades companies• When paid ads start making sense and how to avoid burning cash• CRM optimization and how most contractors underuse their systems• Text and email campaigns that turn leads into booked work• How AI automation is changing operations for growing trades businessesIf you are a contractor or trades business owner trying to grow beyond referrals and build a predictable pipeline of work, this episode lays out a clear path forward.Learn more about LaborTech Solutions: https://labortechsolutions.com/Presented by TradeGuard, Insurance Built for the Trades: https://www.tradeguardins.com/
How to Buy a Plumbing Business, Ft. Matt Gandy
Matt Gandy is the co owner of Eco Air Conditioning and Wilson Plumbing.On this episode, we discuss:• How he acquired both businesses • What the SBA process actually looks like from the inside • What surprised him after closing • Cash flow realities vs projections • Navigating imposter syndrome as a new owner • Lessons learned from operating trades businessesIf you are considering acquiring a small service business, this episode walks through the real process from sourcing to ownership.Presented by TradeGuard, Insurance Built for the Trades: https://www.tradeguardins.com/#BuyThenBuild #SmallBusiness #SBA #AcquisitionEntrepreneurship #Trades #BusinessOwnership
How Annie Bogart Drives 15M Monthly Views for Trades Companies
In this episode, I sit down with Annie Bogart, Director of Creative Content at Molzer Development and founder of her own creative venture helping companies craft compelling social media content and brand narratives. Annie manages multi-brand social strategies, SEO, community outreach, and marketing efforts, each with a distinct voice and audience.We talk about how to get started in social media, what actually makes content perform, how to build real community (not vanity metrics), and practical ways to engage your audience without overthinking it.Presented by TradeGuard, Insurance Built for the Tradeshttps://www.tradeguardins.com/
From Marines to Maverick Exteriors - How this Vet Seller Financed His First Deal
This episode, I sit down with Michael Blake, former Marine and Co-Owner of Maverick Exteriors, a roofing and exterior remodeling company. Michael went from military service to entrepreneurship, applying the same discipline and leadership principles he learned in the Marines to building and running a trades business.In our conversation, we talk about what the Marines taught him about leadership, accountability, and mastering the basics—then how those lessons translated into managing crews, delivering quality work, and operating a real company. We also break down how Michael seller-financed his way into ownership, what he looked for in the deal, and the realities of buying a business without the traditional “big cash down” path.Presented by TradeGuard, Insurance Built for the Trades: https://www.tradeguardins.com/
This Builder Starts 2 Houses Every Week...
In this episode, I sit down with Matt Mabe, Partner at Arise Homes, to talk about his journey from early hustle to scaling a homebuilding business into the millions — and doing it with intention.Matt shares the real story behind building Arise Homes: the risks he took early on, the lessons learned while scaling fast, and the discipline required to grow without losing sight of why the business exists in the first place. We talk candidly about leadership, building strong teams, and the role faith and values play in decision-making as the company grows.This episode is for founders, builders, and operators who want to scale something meaningful, not just something big.Sponsored by TradeGuard, Insurance Built for the Trades: https://www.tradeguardins.com/
The Real Reason Contractors Can’t Scale (And How the Best Ones Fix It)
In this episode of American Builders, we sit down with Paul Sanneman, CEO of Contractor Staffing Source, who has spent 40+ years coaching and consulting 400+ construction companies on one thing: building teams that actually work.Paul breaks down why most contractors think they have a labor shortage, when in reality they have a broken hiring system. We talk about what’s changed in the workforce, what hasn’t, and why the contractors who win aren’t just better operators — they’re better at attracting, training, and retaining people.You’ll learn:- Why “nobody wants to work anymore” is the wrong diagnosis- The biggest hiring mistakes contractors make as they scale- What the best residential contractors do differently when building teams- How the right staffing systems lead to more profit, more time, and less chaosTo learn more about Contractor Staffing Source, Click Here: https://www.tradeguardins.com/staffingTradeGuard, Insurance Built for the Trades: https://www.tradeguardins.com/
How Zach Molzer Raised $30 Million in 3 Days
This episode of American Builders, presented by TradeGuard, highlights Kansas City Developer Zach Molzer. We discuss how we got his start in development, the importance of building for a specific "user", and his desire to leave behind a legacy. American Builders is presented by TradeGuard, Insurance Built for the Trades. Visit https://www.tradeguardins.com/ to get your quote today.
How Bob Hamilton Built KC’s #1 Plumbing Business
In this episode, I sit down with Bob Hamilton to unpack the real story behind building, scaling, and ultimately selling a wildly successful plumbing & HVAC business. We cover Bob’s career journey, the sales and marketing principles that actually drove growth, and the hard lessons learned along the way. It’s a candid conversation about what it really takes to win in the trades—and how to think about your business if an exit is ever the goal.TradeGuard Insurance is speciality insurance broker built for the trades: https://www.tradeguardins.com/LightDoc is a risk management solution for GC's, automating the management of sub contractor compliance: https://lightdoc.ai/
Want Your Story on American Builders?
We're always looking for trades business owners with a story to tell. If you've built something worth talking about, we'd love to have you on.