Behind the Build

Clearstory

Construction is more than what shows up on the drawings. Hosted by Clearstory founder and CEO Cameron Page, Behind the Build goes inside the real stories, decisions, and trade-offs that shape modern construction. Through candid conversations with builders, GCs, subs, and construction tech leaders, the show explores what actually happens behind the scenes. No fluff. Just real conversations from the people who build.

Episodes

  1. From $20M to $600M: Ryan Wall, CEO, Silicon Valley Mechanical

    MAR 26

    From $20M to $600M: Ryan Wall, CEO, Silicon Valley Mechanical

    About This EpisodeMost contractors wait for an ownership opportunity to come to them. Ryan Wall went and found one. In this episode, the CEO of Silicon Valley Mechanical breaks down how he and two partners acquired a $20M contractor in 2014 and built it into a $600M business with over 1,000 employees, and what he'd tell anyone in construction who wants to do the same. Ryan and Clearstory Founder and CEO Cameron Page cover the acquisition structure, the culture shifts that made SVM what it is today, and how the AI and data center boom is reshaping mechanical contracting from the ground up. What You'll LearnHow three PMs quietly acquired SVM without tipping off the marketWhy buying an existing company beat starting from scratchHow SVM broke down the office/field divide and made it a competitive advantageWhere AI is delivering results in mechanical contracting, and where it fell flatWhat PMs should be doing now to position themselves for ownershipTimestamps0:00 Ryan's path into mechanical contracting9:50 The SVM acquisition: how the deal came together22:41 From project manager to CEO: imposter syndrome and leadership28:39 Why field experience matters in construction leadership35:23 Early AI adoption: what worked and what flopped40:51 How AI is changing construction processes on the ground46:47 Career advice for PMs with an entrepreneurial spirit53:38 The future of construction and AIKey TakeawaysBuy, don't build from zero. Doubling $20M is easier than doubling nothing.Succession gaps are opportunity. Healthy business, no exit plan. More common than you think.Communication is the job. Over-communicate, especially when things go wrong.Break down the wall. Office and field on the same side. It changes everything.AI improves process, it doesn't replace people. Yet.Train your replacement. Every transition opens a door for someone below.

    50 min

  2. MAR 15

    Trailer

    This is Behind the Build — a podcast hosted by Clearstory founder and CEO Cameron Page. Each episode goes inside the real stories shaping modern construction, with candid conversations with builders, GCs, subcontractors, and construction tech leaders about the decisions, trade-offs, and realities that almost never happen in public. Hit subscribe so you don't miss an episode.

    1 min

Trailer

About

Construction is more than what shows up on the drawings. Hosted by Clearstory founder and CEO Cameron Page, Behind the Build goes inside the real stories, decisions, and trade-offs that shape modern construction. Through candid conversations with builders, GCs, subs, and construction tech leaders, the show explores what actually happens behind the scenes. No fluff. Just real conversations from the people who build.

Information

  • Creator
    Clearstory
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Clearstory
  • Show Website
    Behind the Build

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