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

Ryan Englin
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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. Career Path Strategies for Growing Businesses

    2D AGO

    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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. How to Build Leadership, Culture, & People Success in Construction

    APR 15

    How to Build Leadership, Culture, & People Success in Construction

    In today’s episode, we dive deep into a powerful conversation with Russ Clemmer, CEO of Legacy Advisory Partners, focused on legacy planning, leadership alignment, frontline engagement, and the practical systems that bridge strategic vision with everyday execution. Russ and Ryan explore why people disengage at work, how to connect with your employees as human beings, and why the C‑Suite must build a legacy that resonates throughout the entire organization, from owners and executives down to every crew member in the construction and trades world. This episode is especially valuable if you’re: A construction or trades leader struggling with employee engagement or retention.Preparing for ownership transition or succession planning.Looking to align your frontline workforce with executive vision.Seeking tangible tools to improve team communication and performance.This one’s packed with practical insights that can help you build stronger engagement, better culture, and more profitable outcomes. Key Takeaways 02:15 – What Core Matters Does for People Engagement09:40 – Why People Really Leave Their Jobs17:30 – The Importance of Connecting With People Personally23:50 – Legacy, Ownership Transition, and Vision Alignment31:10 – Translating Vision Into Meaningful EngagementConnect With Russ: Website: http://legacyadvisorypartners.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russclemmer/ 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.

    39 min
  5. How Go Build Tennessee Is Rebuilding Construction

    APR 8

    How Go Build Tennessee Is Rebuilding Construction

    Is your construction business struggling to find skilled labor? You’re not alone. And this episode could be the game-changer you need. Ryan Englin sits down with Nick Lawrence, President of Go Build Tennessee, a nonprofit working to reverse the skilled trades labor shortage by doing what most of the industry ignores: marketing to the next generation and their parents. Nick shares the hard truths about why young people aren’t choosing the trades, what needs to change, and how Go Build is using social media, storytelling, and grassroots partnerships to rebrand construction as a first-choice career. Whether you’re in Tennessee or not, the strategies Nick shares can be applied in any market. Timestamps: [2:00] From tobacco fields to the trades. Nick’s journey into construction.[4:30] The real reason young people aren’t entering the trades.[6:10] Why marketing is the construction industry’s biggest weakness.[8:00] How Go Build Tennessee unites organizations to tackle the labor gap.[10:25] The matchmaking role Go Build plays with apprenticeship programs.[12:45] 11 million ad impressions later and how they’re reaching parents.[14:00] The one thing every contractor can do to solve the labor crisis.[16:30] Think construction is just hard, dirty work? Think again.[18:20] Want to start your own business? Learn a trade first.[21:00] How robotics and middle school programs are reshaping the future.Connect With Nick: Website: https://www.gobuildtennessee.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-lawrence-222882130/ 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. From Wrench to Revenue: How to Build a Business with Culture and KPIs

    APR 1

    From Wrench to Revenue: How to Build a Business with Culture and KPIs

    What does it take to grow a one-man plumbing operation into a 26-person business that thrives on performance, profitability, and culture? In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin sits down with Al Fagundes of Fagundes Plumbing & Heating, who shares the hard-earned lessons from his 23-year journey in the trades. Al dives deep into the turning points that shifted his business from a high-paying job to a true company. He reveals how focusing on EBITDA instead of revenue, ditching off-the-shelf price books, and building a performance pay model helped him scale sustainably. But even more powerful is his relentless focus on culture, from training and role-playing to open-book financials. If you’re a blue-collar leader looking for actionable insights on leadership, hiring, and operational efficiency, this episode is packed with value. Takeaways: [1:00] Why going out on your own isn’t as simple as firing your boss.[2:30] The biggest hurdle Al faced: hiring his first office employee.[5:10] How industry “norms” held his business back for years.[7:20] The major shift that happened when Al ditched flat rate pricing.[10:15] How tying performance pay to efficiency changed everything.[14:00] Role-playing and training: Why Al doesn’t script his techs.[15:25] How company culture drives clean job sites and accountability.[17:35] The power of open-book management in blue-collar leadership.[21:00] How Al connects with local technical schools to recruit young talent.[22:40] Why core values matter more than experience when hiring.Connect With Al: Website: https://www.afphpro.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/al-fagundes-77ab2244/ 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.

    26 min
  7. The Truth About Second-in-Command Leadership With Cameron Herold

    MAR 25

    The Truth About Second-in-Command Leadership With Cameron Herold

    Are you overwhelmed, wearing every hat in your construction business, and thinking, “I need a COO”? Think again. In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin sits down with Cameron Herold, author of Second in Command and founder of the COO Alliance, to break down what growing companies really need when it comes to operational leadership. Cameron has helped scale hundreds of companies and has been the COO behind explosive growth stories like 1-800-GOT-JUNK. Whether you’re in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or general contracting, if you’re a business owner tired of bottlenecking your own success, this episode is your wake-up call. Tune in and discover: The biggest mistake owners make when hiring operational help.Why most businesses don’t need a COO… yet.How delegation can unlock serious growth.The hidden cost of doing $40/hour work as a $250/hour leader.Takeaways with Timestamps: 1:04 – Cameron’s entrepreneurial journey and early signs of being unemployable.4:18 – Why thinking you need a COO may be a sign you just need help.5:15 – The cost of doing $15/hour tasks as a six-figure business owner.6:11 – What revenue level really warrants a true C-level hire.7:22 – The real difference between working in vs. on your business.9:24 – How to scale your time by delegating genius-level work.11:48 – What truly makes a great COO (and it’s not a fancy resume).14:02 – Why the CEO-COO relationship is more like a marriage than a job.19:00 – Understanding the psychology behind who gets credit in a company.35:33 – The one uncomfortable truth every founder and COO must face.Connect With Cameron: Website: https://cameronherold.com/ Website: https://cooalliance.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronherold/ 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.

    41 min
  8. Solving the Skilled Trades Shortage

    MAR 18

    Solving the Skilled Trades Shortage

    The construction industry is in crisis. For every five skilled tradespeople retiring, only two are entering the field. In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin talks with Clay Crownover, President and CEO of ABC Greater Tennessee and a key leader behind Go Build Tennessee. Clay shares what’s actually working to attract Gen Z into the trades and what’s still holding the industry back. From soft skills and culture shifts to how tech is changing training, this episode dives deep into the future of skilled labor and what it’ll take to fix the talent pipeline. Whether you’re a contractor, a parent, or an industry leader, you’ll walk away with practical strategies for creating a stronger, more sustainable workforce. Takeaways: 01:41: What Go Build Tennessee is doing to attract new tradespeople.03:14: Why the industry needs to stop saying “not everyone’s cut out for college.”05:32: The two biggest barriers holding back new entrants: soft skills and short-term thinking.07:29: Why employers need to “finish parenting” young workers.10:27: Meeting Gen Z where they are: hybrid training and flexibility.13:13: What separates award-winning contractors from the rest.15:20: Why “good enough” isn’t good enough in skilled trades.18:50: Magic wand moment: what needs to change in K-12 education.22:32: Why five-year-olds want to be Yankees but not operators and how to change that.24:47: Marketing the trades differently to parents and kids.28:00: ABC’s 5-year plan: more trades, more students, more impact.Connect With Clay: ABC Tennessee Website: https://abctn.org/ Go Build Tennessee Website: https://www.gobuildtennessee.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claycrownover/ 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.

    32 min
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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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