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. Jul 8

    Scale Your Brand With Culture, Systems, and Local Awareness

    What does it take to grow a trades business inside a franchise system without losing your edge? In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin sits down with Andrew Olesnavich, VP of Emerging Brands at Premium Service Brands. Andrew supports emerging service brands across the trades, helping owners gain traction, build strong teams, and reach breakout growth. If you’re a trades business owner who wants stronger systems, better leadership, and sustainable business growth, this conversation is for you. Andrew shares what holds entrepreneurs back as they move from operator to true business owner. He explains why so many owners think they “know better,” how that mindset limits growth, and what to do instead. They also discuss why brand awareness doesn’t happen automatically, even with a franchise name behind you, how to get involved in your local community to drive organic leads, the biggest people mistake owners make in their first 90 days, why culture is your only true competitive advantage in the trades, and how monthly financial reviews can empower your team and improve performance. If you’re serious about growing your trades business, improving hiring, and building a culture that drives referrals, this episode delivers practical insights you can apply immediately. Key Takeaways 00:04 – Why emerging franchise brands face the same growth challenges as independent trades businesses.03:56 – The biggest mindset shift owners must make when operating inside a system.08:31 – Why “I know better” is one of the most common growth killers in the trades.09:26 – The marketing myth that hurts new service businesses the most.10:52 – Why one week of training isn’t enough to build a high-performing field team.14:17 – “Culture is by design or by default” and what that means for your business.16:13 – A simple act of kindness that turned into multiple booked jobs and long-term brand equity.19:44 – A grassroots marketing tactic owners can implement this week.26:18 – Why reviewing financials monthly is non-negotiable for trades business growth.26:47 – How sharing KPIs with your team can increase ownership and performance.Connect With Andrew: Website: https://www.premiumservicebrands.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-olesnavich-9527776/ 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.

    Scale Your Brand With Culture, Systems, and Local Awareness

  2. Jul 1

    How to Build a Dominant Company by Retaining Top Talent

    What does it take to build a dominant restoration company in today’s market? In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin sits down with Sebastian Williams, Partner at Sasser Restoration. Sebastian didn’t grow up in the industry. He started in high-level consulting in New York City before making a bold move into the trades. From two vans and a handful of employees to a multi-state operation, Sasser has tripled in size by focusing on one simple principle. Hire the best people. Train them well. Retain them. But this isn’t theory. It’s a blueprint. Sebastian shares how process, technology, and leadership discipline helped Sasser Restoration scale across North Carolina, Texas, and California. He also explains the mistakes they made early on, especially when moving too fast with technology, and how they built buy-in from field teams who weren’t comfortable with digital tools. If you’re a business owner, contractor, or trades executive who wants to: Improve your hiring process.Reduce turnover in your company.Build a culture that actually drives performance.Implement technology without alienating your team.Create confident field leaders who don’t need constant supervision.This episode will give you practical insight you can apply right away. Sebastian breaks down how to connect core values to performance reviews, how to create accountability without micromanagement, and why training and “scrimmaging” your team may be the missing piece in your business growth strategy. If you want to build a company that dominates its market, this conversation is a must-listen. Key Takeaways 00:01 – Why a former NYC consultant walked away from corporate life to build a business from scratch.03:37 – Starting with two vans, wearing every hat, and why getting “mud on your boots” matters.05:28 – The biggest mistake new leaders make when bringing technology into a company.08:14 – Why tech resistance in the trades isn’t about attitude, it’s about confidence.12:20 – How inventory tracking and process upgrades saved money and increased team buy-in.15:48 – “That’s their job” vs. building a team-first culture.18:41 – Why disaster response businesses must master process before the emergency call comes in.19:42 – The power of training and “scrimmaging” your field teams before real-world chaos hits.26:54 – Sasser’s bold goal to double its well-trained team members and why growth starts with people, not revenue. Connect With Sebastian: Website: https://sasser247.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastiancainwilliams/ 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.

    How to Build a Dominant Company by Retaining Top Talent

  3. Jun 24

    Lower Construction Workers’ Comp Costs and Protect Your Business

    If you own a construction company, you already know safety isn’t optional. It’s required. By OSHA. By your general contractors. By your insurance carrier. And by your own standards as a leader who wants every employee to go home safe. But here’s the real question. Is your construction safety program actually protecting your company? In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin sits down with Eric Wick, Founder of Safety Team Technologies, to break down what most contractors are missing when it comes to construction safety training, OSHA compliance, and workers’ comp risk. Eric started his career as an insurance broker. He saw firsthand what happens when construction companies treat safety like a binder on a shelf instead of a living system. Workers’ comp premiums skyrocket. Attorneys get involved. OSHA inspections turn into citations. And owners are left exposed. That’s why he built a digital construction safety training platform that helps contractors: Automate OSHA-required safety training.Track and document compliance.Reduce workers’ compensation premiums.Protect against serious and willful misconduct claims.Deliver training in both English and Spanish.Gamify safety to improve engagement in the field.If you’re tired of chasing down paper attendance sheets, relying on pencil-whipped toolbox talks, or wondering whether your IIPP would hold up in court, this episode is for you. Construction safety isn’t about checking a box. It’s about building a culture that protects your people and your bottom line. Key Takeaways 00:01 – Why construction safety training is more than a compliance checkbox and how it impacts your bottom line.01:14 – How Eric used his insurance background to identify major gaps in contractor safety programs.04:09 – The real reason most construction companies struggle to implement OSHA safety training consistently.05:32 – How digital construction safety training replaces lost paperwork and unreliable tailgate talks.06:48 – Why gamification and quizzes improve safety culture and employee accountability.08:25 – The “triple threat” contractors face: workers’ comp spikes, lawsuits, and serious legal exposure.10:32 – Why your IIPP binder collecting dust could cost you everything.12:01 – How documented safety training can help reduce workers’ comp premiums at renewal.18:23 – Simple ways to use leaderboards and incentives to strengthen your construction safety culture.Connect With Eric: Website: https://oursafetyteam.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-wick-90491132a/ 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.

    Lower Construction Workers’ Comp Costs and Protect Your Business

  4. Jun 17

    Culture, Mentorship, and Onboarding That Actually Works

    What does it take to build a construction company where people want to stay, grow, and lead? In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin sits down with Omar Rawji, President and CEO of Prism Construction, a second-generation construction firm delivering complex projects across Canada. Omar shares how Prism has built a strong culture rooted in humility, ownership, and care, and why those values guide every hiring, firing, and leadership decision. You’ll hear how Prism approaches structured onboarding that lasts months, not days, why mentorship has to be intentional to work, and how leaders can hold people accountable without operating from fear or scarcity. Omar also breaks down what real leadership looks like in construction today and why emotional intelligence matters more than technical skill when developing future leaders. If you’re struggling with retention, leadership development, or onboarding in construction, this episode will challenge how you think about people, culture, and long-term growth. Episode Takeaways  00:01 – Why culture and onboarding matter more than ever in construction.02:39 – Omar’s journey as a second-generation construction leader.05:36 – How to interview for humility, ownership, and care.07:30 – Why accountability builds trust instead of pushing people away.10:17 – The role of emotional intelligence in construction leadership.12:25 – Why mentorship is critical as the workforce continues to age.14:12 – What a structured onboarding plan really looks like in construction.18:54 – How Prism prepares onboarding before day one even starts.22:40 – What’s next for Prism Construction and why employee growth matters.Connect With Omar: Website: https://prismconstruction.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-a-rawji/ 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.

    Culture, Mentorship, and Onboarding That Actually Works

  5. Jun 10

    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.

    How to Attract Gen Z to the Skilled Trades

  6. 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.

    What HVAC Leaders Must Get Right to Win the Talent War

  7. 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.

    Incentive Plans That Make Technicians Think Like Owners

  8. 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.

    From Tech Startup to Owner in Construction
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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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