Titans of the Trades | Straight-Talk for Scaling Your Construction Business

Ryan Englin
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

If you run a construction business and want to scale without chaos, burnout, or sacrificing your culture, this is your show. Host Ryan Englin brings you straight-talk episodes packed with clear, practical guidance for leaders who are tired of guessing, whether it's a solo deep dive, a conversation with an industry expert, or lessons from the field. The focus is clarity. No fluff. No theory. Just simple, repeatable takeaways you can actually use. Ryan is the CEO of Core Matters, best-selling author of Hire Better People Faster, and creator of the Core Fit Blueprint - a proven framework used by ops-heavy businesses hire, onboard, and retain the right people by design, not luck, with clear expectations, repeatable systems, and less chaos.

  1. How to Attract Gen Z to the Skilled Trades

    5d ago

    How to Attract Gen Z to the Skilled Trades

    Construction recruiting is changing fast, and “post a job ad and hope” isn’t a strategy. In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan sits down with JJ Owen from the Skilled Careers Coalition to break down what’s actually working to attract Gen Z into skilled trades careers. JJ explains the “connection gap” that sits underneath the labor shortage, and why authentic storytelling matters more than another “earn while you learn” ad. You’ll hear how Skills Jam uses social platforms like TikTok and YouTube to put real student and jobsite stories in front of the next generation, and how contractors of any size can follow a simple playbook to start building trust, awareness, and a future pipeline. If you’re serious about construction recruiting, this conversation will challenge your assumptions, and it’ll give you practical steps you can implement without becoming a full-time content creator. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why construction recruiting is a marketing problem first, and a labor problem second.How to stop competing with college and instead make trades careers aspirational.The role parents play in shaping what kids believe is “a good career.”What kinds of videos actually work on TikTok and YouTube for skilled trades recruiting.A simple contractor playbook for telling better stories and building a long-term pipeline.Key Takeaways 00:00 — Why construction recruiting gets easier when you stop chasing “experienced only,” and start building interest early.01:15 — JJ’s mission: set the story straight that skilled trades are skilled careers, and the opportunity is real.03:07 — Why comparing the trades to college backfires, and what to highlight instead for construction recruiting.05:26 — The “third rail” pathway: trades need a megaphone like college and the military already have.07:05 — Parents shape curiosity early, and what you say at home can accidentally eliminate careers for your kids.09:39 — The “going pro” mindset: why kids chase sports dreams, but rarely get encouraged to go pro in the trades.15:09 — The Skills Jam story that hits hard: “bad news bears” students winning titles and landing life-changing jobs.16:49 — TikTok that actually drives action: how Skills Jam moved ~500K people to partner sites in Q4 2025.19:02 — A practical contractor playbook: build the profile foundation, find a Gen Z storyteller, and show the work.Connect With JJ: Website: https://skilledcareers.org/ Website: https://skillsjam.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjowen4/ Field Guide: https://skills-jam.kit.com/76e8362b15 Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

    31 min
  2. What HVAC Leaders Must Get Right to Win the Talent War

    Jun 3

    What HVAC Leaders Must Get Right to Win the Talent War

    Company culture isn’t a perk. It’s the operating system of your business. In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin sits down with Trey McWilliams, third-generation HVAC contractor and CEO of Blue Cardinal Home Services Group, to unpack what it takes to build a culture that actually scales. Trey grew up in the trades. He rebuilt his family HVAC business from the inside out, replaced almost the entire workforce, and turned it into a culture-driven organization that attracted talent, retained people, and created real opportunity. Today, he works with home services companies across the country as they prepare for growth, partnerships, and exit. This conversation goes deep into the reality most owners face but rarely talk about: Culture drift. Leadership blind spots. Hiring the wrong way. Losing accountability as you grow. Trey explains why culture always reflects the leader, why internal marketing matters more than external marketing, and how his “brand ambassador” role became the backbone of employee engagement, customer experience, and long-term loyalty. If you lead an HVAC, plumbing, or construction company and want to scale without losing your people, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership, hiring, and accountability. Key Takeaways 00:00 – Why third-generation businesses often lose their edge.01:11 – Culture always reflects the leader, not the mission statement.02:52 – The hard truth about replacing almost your entire workforce.04:30 – When growth creates opportunity, but also real risk for owners.06:36 – Why culture breaks once leaders stop being intentional.08:47 – The “brand ambassador” role that changed everything.11:03 – Why internal marketing beats external marketing every time.16:34 – The link between employee experience and customer experience.19:14 – Hiring for attitude over skill in HVAC and plumbing.22:50 – What leaders must prepare for over the next decade.Connect With Trey: Website: https://www.bluecardinalhomeservices.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bluecardinalhsg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trey-mcwilliams-161348158/ Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

    31 min
  3. Incentive Plans That Make Technicians Think Like Owners

    May 27

    Incentive Plans That Make Technicians Think Like Owners

    Most construction and home service companies want the same thing: Crews that move faster.Quality that stays high.Fewer callbacks.Techs who act like owners.But if your technicians are paid hourly, your incentives are not aligned. Hourly pay rewards time, not outcomes. In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin sits down with Ryan Shank, CEO of ShareWillow, to break down how incentive plans can drive the behavior construction leaders want without giving away equity. Ryan explains what ShareWillow calls the “compensation layer of record.” It sits between your operational data (like ServiceTitan) and your payroll. It turns metrics like labor efficiency, callbacks, reviews, and average ticket into a simple scoreboard your team can actually understand. You will also hear why most incentive plans fail. They get too complex. No one trusts the numbers. No one knows what they are earning. Motivation dies. This conversation walks through a practical approach to incentive design that pays for itself. When technicians win, the business wins, and customers win. If you lead a construction, HVAC, plumbing, restoration, or service business and you want higher output from the same headcount, this episode is for you.   Key Takeaways  00:00 – How to motivate technicians to think like owners without equity.00:57 – Why hourly pay misaligns tech behavior with company goals.01:40 – The win-win incentive model: faster jobs, better quality, better customer experience.03:25 – Why leaderboards and scoreboards change behavior fast.04:54 – “Effective hourly rate” and how it stops technicians from leaving for small raises.06:23 – The origin story: why labor performance is the real growth constraint.11:15 – Incentives should pay for themselves through improvements, not extra budget.14:17 – What “acting like an owner” looks like inside a customer’s home.20:11 – The massive gap between top performers and the bottom group, and why it matters.25:43 – How ShareWillow builds plans from your data, benchmarks, and a metrics hub.Connect With Ryan: Website: https://www.sharewillow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-shank-94508328/ Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

    33 min
  4. From Tech Startup to Owner in Construction

    May 20

    From Tech Startup to Owner in Construction

    In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin sits down with Jonah Canter, a former tech start‑up strategist turned construction industry leader at Canter Construction, to explore what it takes to build a profitable trades business and one that you don’t have to live in 24/7.  If you’re a construction executive in the blue‑collar space wrestling with recruiting, training, culture, growth, or breaking free from the truck yourself, you’ll want to tune in. Jonah shares: How his startup background gave him a fresh lens on the trades.The marketing shift that enabled hiring better talent.Why hiring attitude beats skills and how he trains top people in eight weeks.The strategy of working on the business v. in the business.How to position your construction firm to market and recruit like a luxury brand.Whether you’re a contractor who grew up in the field or someone new to the trades, this conversation delivers actionable insights to help you evolve your leadership and company. Takeaways [00:46 ] Jonah’s background: startup world to construction and why he chose the trades.[04:13] How he built a lead‑generation pipeline via real estate agents rather than paid ads.[06:34] Why marketing your construction business like a luxury brand matters for recruiting and growth.[10:55 ] How a strong marketing presence helps attract high‑quality employees.[14:39] The principle: you can teach trade skills. You can’t force mindset or attitude.[16:11] Training a young estimator over eight weeks by shadowing, ride‑alongs, and conversation.[22:37] Building a culture: treating employees as adults, encouraging questions, avoiding yelling.[25:12] Creating a business that runs without you: stepping back, hiring smart, having systems.Connect With Jonah: Website: https://www.canterconstructionsc.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonah-canter-b581b89/ Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

    29 min
  5. How to Protect Your People and Your Profits in Construction

    May 13

    How to Protect Your People and Your Profits in Construction

    Insurance costs. Risk management. Communication gaps. Mental health challenges. In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin sits down with Michael Culnen, Founder and CEO of Construction Concepts, to tackle the biggest operational blind spots in construction today. Michael brings decades of experience helping contractors build smarter insurance programs, strengthen internal communication, and protect both their balance sheets and their people. You’ll discover why most contractors get taken advantage of at renewal, how communication breakdowns between the field and office slowly erode performance, and why mental health isn’t a “soft topic,” it’s a business issue. Michael breaks down real, actionable strategies you can begin applying this week, whether you lead a crew of 10 or 500. If you’re tired of rising workers comp premiums, confusing insurance jargon, and teams working in silos, this episode is a must‑listen. Compelling Takeaways: 00:00 – Why insurance really matters more than most contractors think.02:35 – The worst time to discover you don’t have the right coverage (and how to avoid that trap).04:37 – How Construction Concepts was built to solve real industry pain points.07:00 – The misunderstanding most contractors have about comparing insurance quotes.10:19 – When trust becomes complacency and how that costs you on renewals.15:12 – A practical change to close the field‑to‑office communication gap contractors ignore.18:54 – How mental health impacts your workforce and performance in construction.Connect With Michael: Website: https://constructionconcepts.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsculnen/ Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

    28 min
  6. Career Path Strategies for Growing Businesses

    May 6

    Career Path Strategies for Growing Businesses

    Can you spot the future leaders on your team? In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin sits down with John Snyder, CEO of Net Friends, to talk about the power of internal growth in the trades. John didn’t start Net Friends, he climbed his way up from an entry-level tech to CEO, and now he’s helping others do the same with a five-phase career path system that’s changing how companies retain and grow talent. If you’re a construction business owner or blue collar leader who wants to stop losing your best people, this episode is packed with tools, values, and frameworks you can use today. From EOS implementation to developing leadership partnerships that work, John shares how he’s built a scalable and values-driven culture. What You’ll Learn: How to identify and grow leadership from within your company.Why core values are your best people filter and how to keep them alive.How Net Friends built a thriving career path model that creates clarity and retention.Key Takeaways with Timestamps: [03:00] John Snyder’s climb from entry-level tech to CEO of Net Friends.[06:00] The secret to a successful business partnership that lasts a decade.[10:00] The overlooked importance of celebrating employee milestones.[14:00] The 5 Behaviors of a cohesive executive team and how John unknowingly mastered them.[15:30] How EOS brought clarity and structure to their growing business.[17:00] Why the People Analyzer tool transformed their hiring and management strategy.[19:00] Net Friends’ core values explained and how they guide every decision.[27:00] A Slack channel that reinforces company values daily, without management oversight.[28:00] The five-phase career plan that keeps employees engaged and growing.[36:00] How to support “rock stars” who don’t want promotions but still want to contribute.Connect With John: Website: https://www.netfriends.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsnyder-netfriends/ Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

    50 min
  7. Staying Grounded While Leading Construction Forward

    Apr 29

    Staying Grounded While Leading Construction Forward

    In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin welcomes Ben Kossow, the CEO of Riley Construction, for a powerful conversation about servant leadership, building culture from the job site up, and how process can create a safer, more productive, and more people-centered construction company. Ben’s journey from entry-level project engineer to CEO is inspiring on its own, but what really stands out is his dedication to mentoring others, empowering frontline workers, and staying grounded in core values. You’ll hear how Riley Construction’s “in-step” system creates clarity on every project, how culture lives in job trailers as much as the boardroom, and why employee engagement is the next big opportunity in construction. If you’re a construction leader ready to scale, invest in your team, and build a workplace people love, this is an episode you can’t miss. Key Takeaways & Time Stamps: 00:58 – Meet Ben Kossow: From project engineer to CEO in 26 years.03:21 – “Riley-tizing” systems: How Riley Construction customizes best practices into their own.04:56 – Visual project management: Big Mac diagrams and the power of visual planning.06:16 – Walking the trailer: What clients and tradespeople see that proves culture isn’t just talk.07:55 – Safety through planning: How Riley’s lean approach proactively reduces risk.10:03 – Defining culture: How Hi-Fi (Humility, Integrity, Flexibility, Initiative) drives everything.12:36 – Mentoring the next generation: From youth camps to apprenticeships and site visits.19:40 – Measuring engagement: How feedback loops are improving culture and retention.24:40 – Listening in leadership: Why small changes (like better safety harnesses) create loyalty.30:16 – Looking ahead: Why investing in people is the key to sustainable growth.Connect With Ben: Website: https://rileycon.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-kossow-leed-ap-aa187511/ Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

    35 min
  8. From Intern to CEO: Leading Innovation in Construction

    Apr 22

    From Intern to CEO: Leading Innovation in Construction

    Carrie Stokes went from Intern to President and CEO at Barge Design Solutions and she’s not done innovating. In this episode, Ryan Englin dives into Carrie’s 30-year journey in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) world and the leadership principles that helped her rise. Carrie shares actionable insights on how to retain and grow your talent, why mentorship isn’t optional anymore, and how to integrate innovation like AI without losing operational excellence. From workforce development to building strategic industry pivots, this episode is packed with lessons every construction leader needs to hear. Tune in to learn how to lead with purpose, build culture that scales, and make change stick. Key Takeaways with Timestamps: 00:50 – Carrie Stokes’ journey from Intern to CEO at Barge Design Solutions.03:45 – Why career paths in construction aren’t always linear and shouldn’t be.05:48 – The power of cross-functional exposure in growing leadership skills.07:00 – How one mentor’s red pen transformed Carrie’s leadership approach.08:24 – The importance of communicating the “why” to motivate construction teams.10:40 – Why employee ownership has changed how Barge makes decisions.14:30 – Strategic pivots: How Barge is navigating uncertainty in the data center boom.18:00 – What it takes to adopt AI effectively in construction and design.23:41 – The secret to nurturing young engineers in a high-growth firm.28:06 – Carrie’s three must-have traits for the next generation of AEC leaders.Connect With Carrie: Website: https://www.bargedesign.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriestokes1/ Support Titans of the Trades: If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

    33 min
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About

If you run a construction business and want to scale without chaos, burnout, or sacrificing your culture, this is your show. Host Ryan Englin brings you straight-talk episodes packed with clear, practical guidance for leaders who are tired of guessing, whether it's a solo deep dive, a conversation with an industry expert, or lessons from the field. The focus is clarity. No fluff. No theory. Just simple, repeatable takeaways you can actually use. Ryan is the CEO of Core Matters, best-selling author of Hire Better People Faster, and creator of the Core Fit Blueprint - a proven framework used by ops-heavy businesses hire, onboard, and retain the right people by design, not luck, with clear expectations, repeatable systems, and less chaos.

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