American Builders - Presented by TradeGuard

Garrett Amundsen
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  • Entrepreneurship

American Builders is the podcast where the backbone of the country—the contractors, tradesmen, and builders who actually make things—tell their stories.  Presented by TradeGuard, the AI-powered insurance agency built for the trades, the show goes deep with founders who are building America one project at a time. Each episode breaks down how real operators think: the grind of winning bids, managing crews, navigating risk, scaling a business, and everything in between. No fluff. No corporate jargon. Just the truth about what it takes to build something that lasts.  Whether you run a $2M shop or a $200M operation, this is where you’ll learn from the people who’ve already walked the path—what worked, what didn’t, and what the next generation of builders needs to know.  American Builders is for the entrepreneurs keeping America running. And we’re here to tell their stories.

  1. 2d ago

    Ep 25 - Derek Isaac: The Owner Trap, Systems Before People & Scaling Past $10M

    Derek Isaac of Rapid Result Creators joins American Builders (presented by TradeGuard) to talk about systemizing GC businesses so owners can step back, escape the owner trap, and scale past $10M - without living on the tools. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PLwZ4QV950 Rapid Result Creators: https://rapidresultcreators.com/ TradeGuard: https://tradeguard.com/

    Ep 25 - Derek Isaac: The Owner Trap, Systems Before People & Scaling Past $10M

  2. Sep 7

    Ep 24 — Jordan Madewell: Developer-Focused GC, Franchise Buildouts & Take Five Ownership

    Jordan Madewell (President, Madewell Construction) on commercial GC focus, developer partnerships, franchise buildouts, and owning a Take Five territory. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii7B9pQ2IpU Guest: https://www.madewell-construction.com/ Presented by: https://tradeguard.com/

    Ep 24 — Jordan Madewell: Developer-Focused GC, Franchise Buildouts & Take Five Ownership

  3. Aug 30

    600% Growth Since 2013... How Doug French Built a $350M/Year Company

    Doug French helped grow Stylecraft Builders from roughly 200 homes a year into one of the largest privately held homebuilders in America—closing nearly 1,000 homes and generating $310 million in annual revenue. In this episode of American Builders, Doug shares how four generations of entrepreneurship shaped his approach to business, leadership, and risk. We discuss Stylecraft’s strategy of entering overlooked Texas markets, using financial discipline to survive downturns, and growing aggressively without betting the company. Doug also breaks down what it takes to successfully lead a family business, remove high performers who damage the culture, build a leadership team that can operate without you, shorten construction timelines, and become the kind of trade partner a major builder wants to keep busy for decades. This conversation covers: How Stylecraft finds opportunities in underserved markets The financial ratios that help builders survive downturns Why the company’s biggest growth has come during difficult markets How Doug transitioned from doing everything to owning the critical 20% What separates great subcontractors from replaceable ones How builders can cut cycle times without sacrificing quality The realities of succession in a multigenerational family business Why Doug still believes homeownership is one of America’s best wealth-building tools This is a conversation about disciplined growth, calculated risk, and building a company capable of lasting for generations. American Builders is presented by TradeGuard. Learn more about TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/ Learn more about Stylecraft Builders: https://www.stylecraft.com/ Follow Doug:  ⁨@DougFrenchOfficial⁩   Follow Garrett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrett-amundsen/

    600% Growth Since 2013... How Doug French Built a $350M/Year Company

  4. Aug 5

    TradeGuard & Hourly Announce New Partnership | Will Accomando, Director of Sales, Hourly.io

    Most contractors think payroll is just another back-office task. In reality, it's one of the easiest places to quietly lose thousands of dollars every year. In this episode of American Builders, we sit down with Will Accomando from Hourly.io to announce TradeGuard's new partnership with Hourly and break down the payroll, compliance, and workers' compensation mistakes that are costing contractors real money. We cover: • The hidden payroll fees most contractors don't realize they're paying • How certified payroll mistakes can delay payments on public projects • The prevailing wage errors that can lead to back wages, penalties, and lost bidding opportunities • Why worker misclassification creates exposure with the IRS, state agencies, and workers' comp carriers • How surprise workers' compensation audit bills happen and how to avoid them • Why missing subcontractor certificates of insurance can dramatically increase your workers' comp premium • How combining Hourly's payroll platform with TradeGuard's compliance monitoring helps contractors automate payroll, workers' comp, and subcontractor compliance from one place Learn more about Hourly: https://www.hourly.io/ Connect with Will: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-accomando/?skipRedirect=true Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/

    TradeGuard & Hourly Announce New Partnership | Will Accomando, Director of Sales, Hourly.io

  5. Jul 15

    Scaling a General Contracting Business Across Six States | Legacy Construction & Development

    This episode of American Builders features Paul Nilsen and Craig Wodehouse, co-owners of Legacy Construction & Development. We discuss: How they merged two successful construction companies into oneBuilding and scaling a multi-state general contracting businessWinning national franchise construction projectsGrowing through strong subcontractor relationshipsWhat contractors need to do to become a GC's first callThe future of commercial and residential constructionLearn more about Legacy Construction: https://legacyconstruction.com/ Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/

    Scaling a General Contracting Business Across Six States | Legacy Construction & Development

  6. Jul 8

    From Electrician to Solar Entrepreneur: Building Vegas Family Solar with Peter Ponce De Leon

    Episode 20 of American Builders features Peter Ponce De Leon, Founder of Vegas Family Solar. Peter shares how he went from working as an electrician, to a career in finance, and ultimately back into the trades to build one of Las Vegas' growing solar companies. We dive into what it really takes to build a successful solar installation business, the partnerships that drive growth, and where the residential solar market is headed over the next decade. We discuss: Peter's journey from electrician to entrepreneur How contractors can add solar as a service offering Licensing, insurance, and certifications required to install solar Common operational challenges when launching a solar business Building partnerships with roofers, general contractors, manufacturers, and distributors When solar makes sense for homeowners, and when it doesn't AI, energy demand, and the future of the electric grid The economics and margins behind residential solar projects Financing, leasing, and how solar companies get paid Marketing strategies, referrals, and generating consistent leads Which geographic markets are best suited for solar Lessons learned after eight years of building Vegas Family Solar Learn more about Vegas Family Solar: https://vegasfamilysolar.com/ Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/

    From Electrician to Solar Entrepreneur: Building Vegas Family Solar with Peter Ponce De Leon

  7. Jun 22

    This Woman-Owned General Contractor Is Dominating the Texas Market

    This episode of American Builders features Janie Maldonado, the founder and CEO of GCS, a Texas-based commercial construction firm specializing in general contracting, construction management, facilities maintenance, and Job Order Contracting (JOC). We discuss: • The leap from employee to entrepreneur and the realities of betting on yourself • Leading and building credibility as a woman in the construction industry • What is really happening in the Texas construction market today • The sales and marketing strategies that actually drive growth for contractors • Operational bottlenecks, technology adoption, and the future of construction • Scaling intentionally without sacrificing culture, quality, or execution • Lessons learned on risk, leadership, and entrepreneurship American Builders is presented by TradeGuard, the risk management platform built for contractors and trades businesses. TradeGuard helps contractors streamline subcontractor compliance, insurance verification, onboarding, and risk management in one place. Learn more at https://tradeguardins.com/

    This Woman-Owned General Contractor Is Dominating the Texas Market

  8. Jun 15

    15+ Year Construction Veteran Goes All in On His Own Business

    This episode of American Builders features Ryan Powell, Founder of AIM Construction Partners. We discuss Ryan's journey from JE Dunn to Oddo Development and ultimately launching his own construction company, the lessons he learned from both the GC and developer sides of the industry, and how he landed and executed a nearly $9 million design-build project in AIM's first year.  Ryan also shares insights on subcontractor relationships, operational excellence, networking, and what it really takes to build a successful construction business from the ground up. American Builders is presented by TradeGuard, the insurance and compliance partner built for contractors. Learn more at https://tradeguardins.com/

    15+ Year Construction Veteran Goes All in On His Own Business
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About

American Builders is the podcast where the backbone of the country—the contractors, tradesmen, and builders who actually make things—tell their stories.  Presented by TradeGuard, the AI-powered insurance agency built for the trades, the show goes deep with founders who are building America one project at a time. Each episode breaks down how real operators think: the grind of winning bids, managing crews, navigating risk, scaling a business, and everything in between. No fluff. No corporate jargon. Just the truth about what it takes to build something that lasts.  Whether you run a $2M shop or a $200M operation, this is where you’ll learn from the people who’ve already walked the path—what worked, what didn’t, and what the next generation of builders needs to know.  American Builders is for the entrepreneurs keeping America running. And we’re here to tell their stories.

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