Builder Stories Eric Fortenberry

Meet Michael Miller the owner of M3 Decks, a deck building company based in Woodinville, Washington. In business for six years, he built his company out of necessity and quickly realized he needed to better track cash flow and understand the business financials. With a goal of achieving $3 million in projects for 2024, he credits his success to a perpetual thirst for knowledge and the pursuit of finding the best way to do things.
 
 
Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion with Michael:
Growing your business to meet customer needs Making sure you are paying yourself Understanding cash flow Investing in coaching programs Seeking out opportunities to learn more  
Visit the M3 Decks website here: https://www.m3decks.com/
 
 
Own a construction company and want to share your story? Apply to be on an upcoming episode of Builder Stories at https://www.builderstories.com

Meet Ben Schneider the owner of Peak Sodding, a niche landscape company based in North Carolina. Started in 2019 at the age of 21, Ben saw there was an opportunity to specialize in providing sod for landscaping jobs. Drawn to entrepreneurship at an early age, Ben had to learn on the go as he was building the company. From tracking KPIs to planning out your cash flow with a cyclical business, Ben has figured out vital business processes to streamline his operations.
 
 
Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion with Ben:
Learning how to manage business finances Shifting from employees to subcontractor labor Avoiding the comparison game Planning goals with a cyclical business Creating a service oriented culture and empowering employees  
 
Visit the Peak Sodding website here: https://peaksodding.com/
 
 
Own a construction company and want to share your story? Apply to be on an upcoming episode of Builder Stories at https://www.builderstories.com

Meet Matt Blood the solo owner operator of Paragon Tile Installation based in Cumberland, Rhode Island. With over 20 years of experience in the tile industry, Matt initially started his business as a side hustle while working as a full-time firefighter. However, upon retiring from his firefighting career, he dedicated himself fully to his passion. Now he’s learning how to refine his sales process to provide a better overall client experience.
 
 
Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion with Matt:
Learning from coaching groups Getting out of your own way Refining the client communication process Developing a process for pricing jobs Finding a niche for your skill  
 
Visit the Paragon Tile Installation website here: https://paragonri.com/
 
 
Own a construction company and want to share your story? Apply to be on an upcoming episode of Builder Stories at https://www.builderstories.com

Meet David Bryan owner of Blackdog Builders a design, build, and remodel firm based in Salem, New Hampshire. With 33 years of business experience and 65 team members, Blackdog Builders is projecting $16 million in revenue this year. David reflects on closing his first business, why he places a huge emphasis on culture and staff appreciation, and the importance of building out your processes and procedures.
 
 
Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion with David:
Learning how to run a business the hard way Listening to those who have more experience Maintaining a team culture to retain employees Being financially transparent with your team Developing a process and procedure for everything you do  
 
Visit the Black Dog Builders website here https://www.blackdogbuilders.com/. 
 
 
Own a construction company and want to share your story? Apply to be on an upcoming episode of Builder Stories at https://www.builderstories.com

Meet Liliana Escudero, president of J Designs Pool & Spa, a boutique pool building company in Los Angeles, California. Their typical build is between $350k - $500k and they do not take on more than 10 projects a year in order to focus on excellent customer service. Liliana believes that it is important to learn your trade, find mentors, and stay on top of new technologies in order to keep growing your business.
 
 
Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion with Liliana:
Working with family members Building out a tech stack for your company Learning how to import custom materials Scaling so you work on the business not in the business Building a strong relationship with subs  
 
Visit the J Designs Pool & Spa website here https://www.jdesigns.com/

 

Own a construction company and want to share your story? Apply to be on an upcoming episode of Builder Stories at https://www.builderstories.com

Meet Luan Nguyen, founder of Deck Bros, a deck building company in Omaha, Nebraska. After having his work hours reduced during the pandemic, he started fixing up his own home and realized he could do it for others. He began advertising on Facebook to see if there was any interest and a business was born. After finding a business partner, they did over $1 million in the first year of business, crediting the success to always marketing the business.
 
 
Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion with Luan:
Be a marketing and sales company first How to convert interest into deals Putting a personal touch on branding How the law of reciprocity can impact sales Focusing on customer testimonials  
Visit the Deck Bros website here https://deckbros.com/. 
 
 
Own a construction company and want to share your story? Apply to be on an upcoming episode of Builder Stories at https://www.builderstories.com