Blue Collar StartUp

Michael Nelson
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Our Mission is Simple: To facilitate the growth and development of Blue Collar businesses. We will showcase REAL Blue Collar businesses in interviews, and use these stories to help educate and empower the next generation of trades workers to become Blue Collar business owners.

  1. HACE 2 DÍAS

    The Pivot That Revolutionized Shepherd Communication & Security | Blue Collar StartUp #122

    In episode 122 of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Michael Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with  Richard Ruzzo, who shares how he built Shepherd Communication & Security from a small telecom contracting operation into a growing commercial security company by refocusing the business, embracing enterprise thinking, and betting on the right people. He talks about losing a major revenue stream, rebuilding from the ground up, and the lessons every trade business owner should learn. You can learn more about Richard Ruzzo and Shepherd Communication & Security at shepherdcny.com. Check out our Blue Collar StartUp Patreon for exclusive bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/c/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink 0:00 Intro 0:15 Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp 1:04 Business owner group therapy 2:15 Help us grow the show 4:28 Patreon and business growth insights 5:36 Introducing Richard Ruzzo 6:14 What Shepherd Communication & Security does 8:03 Why security and low-voltage work is still a trade 11:58 Growing the company to 34 employees 13:11 Why trades can outperform traditional college paths 16:13 The garage business that sparked the idea 17:28 Landing their first telecom contract 18:36 Building the Shepherd brand 19:30 Why relying on one client is dangerous 20:45 Lifestyle business vs enterprise business 23:03 Rethinking the entire company strategy 24:38 Losing a major revenue stream 27:06 The people who helped transform the company 32:00 Landing a project 10x bigger than anything before 35:06 How Shepherd decides which services to offer 41:57 Why security matters more than ever today 43:00 Final thoughts and where to find Shepherd

    45 min

  2. 25 MAR

    30 Years of Building Luxury: Jim Sasko's Journey with Teakwood | Blue Collar StartUp #121

    In episode 121 of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with Jim Sasko, founder and president of Teakwood Builders, to discuss his 30-year journey from a hands-on 26-year-old carpenter to leading a premier design-build firm specializing in luxury homes. Jim shares hard-earned lessons on saying no, building strong company culture, and focusing on exceptional client experiences and team development. Connect with Jim Sasko and Teakwood Builders at teakwoodbuilders.com, or find Jim on LinkedIn. Discover more in-depth trades business insights and exclusive Patreon-only segments by subscribing to our Patreon for just $5/month. https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink 0:00 Intro and welcome to Blue Collar StartUp 0:40 Shoutout to sponsors 1:25 Introducing guest Jim Sasko and Teakwood Builders overview 2:00 Explaining design-build remodeling and luxury custom building 3:45 Celebrating 30 years in business and Jim's origin story 5:00 Early hands-on days, learning the craft, and organic growth 7:30 Transitioning from fieldwork to project management and scaling 9:20 Evolving from general remodeling to luxury-level projects organically 11:50 Lessons learned from overcommitting 14:00 Knowing when to say no to projects 16:30 Building a true "company" vs. personal business 19:00 Implementing systems, processes, EOS, and leadership team development 22:30 Proving the systems work 24:50 Material/labor price escalation and long sales cycles 27:00 Overcoming staffing hurdles in recent years 30:00 Upside-down org chart and production-first mindset 33:30 Secrets to long-term employee retention 36:00 How to connect with Jim and Teakwood

    39 min

  3. 18 MAR

    Discipline, Leadership & Building a 100-Year Company | Blue Collar StartUp #120

    In this episode of Blue Collar StartUp, Mike sits down with Rick Engelhardt of Peckham Industries to talk about discipline, leadership, safety culture, and what it takes to help drive a 100-year-old construction company forward. Rick shares how consistency, intentional leadership development, and strategic focus directly impact growth and the bottom line. To connect with Rick and learn more about Peckham Industries, visit their website at peckham.com or follow the company on LinkedIn. Make sure to subscribe to our Patreon for exclusive Blue Collar bonus content and exclusive podcast segments. https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink 0:15 Mike welcomes listeners to Blue Collar StartUp 0:45 Mike explains he is hosting solo 1:07 An overview of the new episode formats  2:54 A reminder to check out the Patreon 3:41 Discussing how the show raises money to help kids in trade programs 4:05 Shoutouts to current sponsors 5:00 Guest Rick Engelhardt is welcomed 5:45 Rick discusses his early career 6:01 An overview of Peckham Industries' operations 7:03 Highlighting Peckham Industries' 100-year anniversary 8:21 Rick explains his role as a plant manager 10:36 Insight into how architects are pushing the status quo 11:53 Rick details his daily routine 20:24 How Rick's parents helped instill his discipline and consistency 26:13 Bringing in Catamount Consulting to help leaders 36:49 Heavy capital investments Peckham has made recently 42:47 Rick shares his favorite strategy for breaking down relationship barriers 46:11 How listeners can connect with Rick

    48 min

  4. 11 MAR

    Building Hospitals and Building Careers with William Day | Blue Collar StartUp #119

    In episode 119 of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Michael Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with William Day, project manager at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. William returns to the show to break down his transition from field construction to owner’s project manager for a regional healthcare network, overseeing capital projects across multiple hospitals. From high-end builds to fast-track commercial projects, he shares how every stop in his career sharpened his leadership and commitment to quality. Connect with William Day on his LinkedIn or learn more about Bassett Medical Center at bassett.org/locations/bassett-medical-center. Check out our Blue Collar StartUp Patreon for exclusive bonus content! https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink 0:00 Show intro and Derek’s major life update 2:15 New episode formats, Patreon, and listener engagement 4:10 Sponsors and the tools & tuition mission 5:13 Introducing William Day and his new role 6:30 What an owner’s project manager does in healthcare 8:00 Capital planning, compliance, and prioritizing hospital projects 9:45 The scale of Bassett Healthcare’s multi-county network 11:15 Why hospitals are building in-house construction teams 12:30 Bidding process and selecting specialized contractors 14:00 Managing surgeons and stakeholders during construction 15:45 William’s path: English degree to Marine Corps to construction 18:00 Lessons from residential, millwork, and fast-track builds 20:00 The trade-off: 90-minute commute vs. family life 21:30 Career paths in the trades beyond swinging a hammer 23:30 What each job taught him: quality, speed, scale 27:30 Teaching construction management and mentoring the next generation 32:00 Opportunities inside healthcare facilities (200+ trades roles) 38:30 Saying “yes,” figuring it out, and the six-week imaging room turnaround

    46 min

  5. 4 MAR

    Processes Your Team Will Actually Follow with Bill Tansey | Blue Collar StartUp #118

    In episode 118 of Blue Collar StartUp, Derek and Mike are joined by Bill Tansey Jr. to break down why systems and documented processes are the difference between a business that grows smoothly and one that constantly feels stuck in chaos. From SOPs and accountability to building repeatable success, we cover how structure actually creates freedom for owners and teams. Learn more about Bill and the OpEx Shop and connect with him at theopexshop.com. Check out our Blue Collar StartUp Patreon for exclusive bonus content! https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink 0:00 Introduction and why process matters 2:28 The chaos stage most businesses hit when growing 5:04 What “operational excellence” actually means 7:22 Why SOPs don’t kill culture (they protect it) 9:45 The danger of tribal knowledge 12:10 What happens when the owner is the system 14:38 How to start documenting processes the right way 17:06 “Policies vs procedures vs work instructions” explained 19:34 The simplest way to identify what to systemize first 22:05 Training employees without constant hand-holding 24:46 How to get buy-in from the team 27:18 Why accountability is impossible without clarity 30:02 What scaling looks like when processes are in place 32:44 Common mistakes when building SOPs 35:20 Tools and formats that actually work 37:48 How a process creates freedom for leadership 40:15 Advice for business owners starting from scratch 42:10 Wrap-up and final takeaway

    43 min

  6. 23 FEB

    Scaling Your Business at the Speed of Cashflow | Blue Collar StartUp #117

    In episode 117 of Blue Collar StartUp, Mike Nelson and Derek Foster break down the pros and cons of scaling your business using cashflow versus debt, including trade lines, loans, and credit cards. They also discuss how to think through major purchases like equipment, overhead, and hiring so you don’t overextend yourself chasing growth. Subscribe to our Patreon for exclusive Blue Collar bonus content! https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink 0:00 Introduction 0:15 Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp 0:40 Mike talks about adversity-filled business owner mornings 1:36 Taking Accountability - “Every issue was created by me” 2:39 Mike talks about selling pork from his farm 3:42 New episode formats and upcoming show plans 5:04 What we do on Patreon 6:35 Scaling at the speed of cashflow 7:05 Derek explains building business credit early 8:29 Don’t buy equipment without a plan 9:44 Mike shares experience with trade line debt 11:53 Renting vs owning equipment discussion 14:10 A major company that rented everything for years 17:10 Using debt to float payroll while waiting for payment 18:58 Keeping overhead low: garage vs big lease mistakes 20:26 “Be cheap as possible for as long as possible” 25:16 Use debt only if the asset produces returns 27:34 “Don’t get excited by the shiny object” 28:35 Wrap-up and transition to Patreon

    31 min

  7. 18 FEB

    The Biggest Mistakes Contractors Make with Greg Spaun | Blue Collar StartUp #116

    In episode 116 of Blue Collar StartUp, Mike and Derek sit down with construction attorney Greg Spaun to break down the legal risks contractors face and why contract details matter just as much as quality work. From “pay if paid” clauses to change orders and paperwork requirements, Greg explains how business owners can protect themselves before problems turn into expensive lawsuits.  You can find Greg Spaun at wbgllp.com or email him directly at gspaun@wbgllp.com. Check out our Blue Collar StartUp Patreon for exclusive bonus content! https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink 0:00 Intro and hosts jump in 0:15 Welcome to Blue Collar Start Up 1:05 Business ownership while sick and falling behind 1:49 “Ask the Expert” segment returns 2:06 New show formats: roundtables, Women in Trades, interviews 3:06 Patreon plug and exclusive content breakdown 4:11 Sponsors supporting trade school students 5:16 Guest intro: Greg Spaun joins the show 6:37 Greg explains his construction-law-only firm 8:38 Why delayed/non-payment is so common in construction 11:30 Who Greg represents (subs, GCs, owners, insurers) 16:22 Trust is declining, contracts are protection 17:45 Modified contracts and “turnkey provision” horror story 20:29 Litigation vs prevention: why contractors wait too long 24:15 Negotiating contracts without losing the job 26:23 “Pay if paid” vs “pay when paid” explained 30:17 Keeping up with new laws and joining trade associations 33:37 Biggest lesson: good work isn’t enough without paperwork 37:02 How to contact Greg and closing wrap-up

    39 min

  8. 11 FEB

    Why Every Leader Needs a Coach: Catamount Roundtable | Blue Collar StartUp #115

    In this episode of Blue Collar StartUp, host Derek Foster sits down with Scott McKenna, Stacy Spector, and Jason Spector of Catamount Consulting for a roundtable discussion on leadership development, mindset mastery, and the personal growth tools that help blue collar teams perform at a higher level. They break down the “Three Truths,” explain why psychological safety and vulnerability matter, and share actionable strategies like journaling, micro-habits, and building discipline over motivation. To learn more about the guests and their work, visit catamountconsultingllc.com and connect with their team. Check out our Blue Collar StartUp Patreon for exclusive bonus content! https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink 0:00 Derek opens the show solo and introduces the Catamount roundtable 1:00 Recording at Milton CAT + facility shoutout 3:15 Catamount Consulting origin story 4:30 Safety as a byproduct of strong leadership 5:10 Professional vs personal development 6:00 Stacey’s career shift from attorney to leadership training 6:50 Jason’s background in education, behavior psychology, mindset mastery 8:10 How do you get non-competitive people to buy into development? 8:55 Why coaching isn’t optional 10:20 The “Three Truths” explained 11:05 Truth #1: everyone is flawed 12:05 The 3 most common organizational struggles 13:10 Why brain science helps people stop being defensive 15:05 How long does it take to shift mindset? 18:05 Infinite game mindset and levels of buy-in 21:10 What if you want to grow but don’t have a leader/mentor? 23:15 Brené Brown, Carol Dweck, Ryan Holiday, Amy Edmondson 25:10 The 4 most deadly words: I’ll do it myself 27:10 Feed your mind like your body 30:00 The “two easies” habit strategy: easy to do / easy not to do 32:30 How much time per day should personal development take? 36:45 Pillow test and well/better/how framework through journaling 40:50 Manifestation explained 42:20 Can discipline be developed?

    56 min
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Our Mission is Simple: To facilitate the growth and development of Blue Collar businesses. We will showcase REAL Blue Collar businesses in interviews, and use these stories to help educate and empower the next generation of trades workers to become Blue Collar business owners.

Información

  • Creador
    Michael Nelson
  • Años de actividad
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodios
    119
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Copyright
    © Michael Nelson
  • Mostrar sitio web
    Blue Collar StartUp

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