Ben Juncker is the co-founder and CEO of Craftsman’s Choice, a leading exterior remodeling contractor in Minnesota and one of the highest volume James Hardie siding installers in the United States. As a result of his success in the residential home improvement industry, Ben has been tapped many times by major home improvement brands, including James Hardie, to help up-and-coming contractors overcome their growth challenges so that they can scale into profitable 8-figure construction businesses.


​In 2021, Ben wrote the book The Minnesota Homeowner’s Guide to Exterior Siding, an Amazon #1 bestseller in the home improvement category. When he’s not coaching other contractors or helping people fall in love with their homes again, you can find Ben playing an active role in his community as a minister at his church.


2:06 Getting Started in the Business 
3:48 Why James Hardy Siding 
6:04 Business Structure and Growth 
13:18 Ben's Biggest Challenge Today in the Business 
22:00 Managing Client Expectations 
28:04 James Hardy new product line and a new sales process 
30:00 Best advice for Contractors


FOR MORE FROM BEN: 
Twitter Handle: @CraftsMNsChoice
Website: https://craftsmanschoice.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-juncker-54256034/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Craftsmans-Choice-143846665627086/

As a 4th generation mason, Matt DiBara took over a very successful company and made it even more successful in the Los Angeles area. Matt used his degree in construction management and environmental design from UMass to earn a reputation for high-quality craftsmanship and impeccable service by bringing a fresh perspective to an old-school industry. In doing so, Matt discovered the answer to the biggest single challenge all contractors are now facing: recruiting. He also offers co-founded The Contractor Consultants, a service offering education, consultation and outsourced hiring for contractors.
In this episode, Matt shares some serious wisdom for contractors and business owners, how improper recruiting almost bankrupted his company, what he did to flip this around, what their greatest marking strategy is, and so much more. 
0:27 - Introduction
5:10 - The challenge of modernizing, should be difficult, shiny object syndrome 
6:32 - Keeping a good balance of tradition and modern, approach
7:33 - Strategic thinking 
11:34 - Modernizing approach, process improvements creating exponential growth 
14:10 - Venn diagram exercise 
15:16 - Almost went bankrupt/Recovering sales junkie
17:20 - Recruiting: 4 key parts
21:09 - Skills Assessments 
27:47 - Marketing: One of the best tools 
29:45 - Timing: How to Meet Contract Deadlines 
32:30 - Process Innovation & solving problems in the future

For More From Matt:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewdibara/
https://www.thecontractorconsultants.com/
The Conscious Builder Academy:
https://www.consciousbuilderacademy.com

David Neagle is the founder of the multimillion-dollar global consulting company, Life Is Now, Inc, and host of the Business Daily News ranked podcast - The Successful Mind. Being in the personal and professional development industry for more than 20 years, David has worked alongside other well-known mentors like Bob Proctor and Tony Robbins, and his clients include many well-known people, including New York Times #1 best-selling author Jen Sincero. David has helped tens of thousands of students from across the globe, and is one of the architects of the personal growth industry. 

​In this conversation we talk about what you need to do in order to find more opportunities, how to bring A+ people into your business, the principles of leverage, the 4 things you need to learn how to leverage, and a lot more! 

2:46  Intro 
8:00 Triple Income 
15:30 Challenges 
18:20 Hiring process
24:40 Leadership 
31:00 Coaches/consultants 
39:00 website assessment 
 
For more from David: 
https://www.lifeisnowinc.com/vla-grow
https://www.instagram.com/david_p_neagle/
https://www.instagram.com/lifeisnowinc/
https://www.facebook.com/DavidNeagleCommunity/
https://www.youtube.com/c/LifeIsNow
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedavidneagle/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-is-now-inc/mycompany/

David Vauthrin co-founded FinalCad 15 years ago. Since then, he has been committed to supporting the modernisation of construction. He is based in France but is now looking to bring FinalCad to the global market.
In this episode we talk about how selling from the bottom up can be more impactful than going right for the CEOs, how to use AI within your business and other software that can help you succeed. Enjoy this conversation with David Vauthrin.
​
2:07 Intro 
7:46 FinalCad
17:500 Challenges in the Business 
21:40 AI Technology
 For more from David:
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/finalcad-international/
https://www.finalcad.com

Maria Coulter is the Founder of Construction Coach. With a career spanning over 20 years in the industry as a Quantity Surveyor, Project Manager and Risk Manager, Maria’s interest in personal development led her to become a qualified Personal and Business Coach in 2012. Maria launched Construction Coach in 2014 working with SME’s and micro-businesses to build stronger, more profitable and happier businesses. She also hosts the Construction Revolution podcast where she interviews change makers from inside and outside of the industry. To influence change Maria is also a Non-Executive Director on the Construction Industry Council national board, Chair of the CIC Diversity and Inclusion Panel, Chair of the CLC RMI Skills Group and member of the CLC working group, Skills for a Modernized Industry.
In this episode we chat about the biggest hurdle that most contractors face, why working on yourself needs to come before working on the business and how to design your business for a successful life.


2:36 Intro 
8:30 Challenges in Business 
18:40 Creating Community 
For more from Maria:
​
https://www.facebook.com/constructcoach
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-coulter-bem/
https://www.instagram.com/construction_coach/
https://twitter.com/constructcoach

Craig Toohey directs Business Development at Collective Carpentry, a custom home wood product-based prefabrication company in Invermere, British Columbia focusing on super-insulated assemblies, low carbon materials, and off-site Passive House construction.
Craig has been certified by both the Passive House Institute and PHIUS, and currently works remotely from Europe where he is closely connected to the European industry for prefabricated Passive House construction.

Craig has worked with Passive House practitioners across North America, using his background in sustainable business strategy and technical product sales to simplify, communicate, and put into action the solutions that developers, architects, and builders need to meet their business challenges, regulatory requirements, and their own ambitions for providing effective radical building efficiency and carbon mitigation solutions.
This episode is all about prefab construction. We chat about when it’s best to use Prefab, how Collective Carpentry is achieving Passive House Certification, how the industry is going to benefit from technology and so much more. 
​
3:33 What got you into Pre Fab?
9:05 Getting to Scale 
20:02 Wall section details 
26:09 Biggest challenge in the industry 

For more from Craig:  https://www.instagram.com/collective_carpentry/?hl=en
Website: https://collectivecarpentry.com/

This is part two of chatting with Sigi Koko, principal designer at Down to Earth Design, which she founded in 1998 to help people achieve their dreams of living in natural, healthy homes. (Part one is episode #201)

In this episode, we touch on things like what the key to straw bale construction is, why she never uses a vapour barrier, what a waddle and dobb wall is, why ducts are unhealthy and so much more. 

Sigi translates each client’s vision into a unique building design that reflects their personality and lifestyle, while responding to the surrounding landscape and climate. Her uniquely collaborative design process provides a high level of information and support, encouraging her clients to engage fully throughout design and construction.
She also teaches natural building workshops that empower her clients to contribute meaningfully during the construction of their own home. 
​
2:57 What is the structure?
9:42  Foundation to wall transition 
13:55 Tips for straw bale 
17:00 Vapour Barrier 
26:35 Roof ceiling connection 
30:45 Electrical 
42:45 HVAC 
For more from Sigi
https://www.facebook.com/buildnaturally
https://www.instagram.com/buildnaturally/
https://www.youtube.com/user/sigikoko
https://twitter.com/buildnaturally

​Allison Bailes is the Chief Troublemaker at Energy Vanguard, a building science firm located in Decatur, Georgia. The company’s focus is on residential HVAC design, consulting, and training. Dr. Bailes has a PhD in physics from the University of Florida and has been involved with the field of building science since 2001, when he built a high-performance home out of structural insulated panels. He is the author of a popular building science book titled A House Needs to Breathe…Or Does It? He also is well known for writing the Energy Vanguard Blog and a weekly newsletter.
This episode is all about HVAC. We chat about what systems seem to be popular and why, the best place to filter the air for your central forced air system and the biggest mistake people make when designing a home from the perspective of an HVAC designer.


2:26 Intro
3:15 Catalyst into building science 
6:01 Lessons learned from building house 
7:00 Heat Load Calculation 
10:00 Current challenges 
14:26 SIPS - why 
16:35 A House needs to breath or does it?
 26:40 Electrification
29:00 High Humidity


 For More From Allison
https://www.energyvanguard.com/book-house-needs-breathe-or-does-it
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonabailes/
https://twitter.com/EnergyVanguard

Andreas M. Benzing is a practicing architect, teacher, and social entrepreneur. He is a distinguished faculty member and Part-Time Assistant Professor at Parsons School of Design, teaching Environmental Design and Design Studio to the next generation of architects. He is also a co-founder of New York Passive House where he serves as President and Executive Director.
Andreas developed his tireless work ethic at the famous Bauhaus University in Weimar, Germany, where he received his Master of Architecture degree in 1998. He was awarded the European Erasmus Scholarship and established his career at Oswald Mathias Ungers, and Hans Kollhoff in Berlin, Germany, learning the craft of the architectural profession. He then founded his company in 2006. Now he is licensed to practice Architecture in New York State, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Germany, and became a Certified Passive House Designer in 2009.
In this episode we discuss why LEED certified buildings do not necessarily equal a better buildings, whether or not Passive House is picking up traction and recommendations for people interested in designing Passive Houses.

2:30 How did he get into Architecture
5:30 LEED 
8:50 why build better
10:10 Current challenges
14:35 Passive house value in New York 
23:56 products recommended  

For more from Andreas check out: 
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7000466831228424192/
Andreasbenzing.com

Brad Leavitt is President and Founder of “A Finer Touch Construction” - a Scottsdale based luxury residential and commercial builder. AFT Construction, as known throughout the industry, is an award-winning construction firm and has been nationally published in magazines such as: Fine Home Building, Luxe Interiors and Design, and Professional Builder. Brad was awarded as an “Icon” in the AZ building industry by Sources for Design in October, 2019. He was also recognized as a 2022 Phoenix Titan 100. The Titan 100 program recognizes Phoenix’s Top 100 CEO’s & C-level executives.

His Podcast, “The AFT Construction Podcast”, is focused on bringing value to its listeners, no matter their industry. The topics are focused on marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, organization, building science and construction. 
In this episode we discuss what Brad did to build his company from scratch to do doing large multi-million dollar projects, how to manage the fluctuating prices, and what and how you should be charging for your services.
​
3:36 Starting in the Business 
6:10 What does it take to become a contractor 
10:03 Breaking into the high end luxury market
13:59 Business challenges today
19:30 Net Zero High Performance
20:47 Cost Plus
31:36 Current developments and changes in the industry


For more from Brad and AFT:
social media: @aft_construction 

• AFT Construction Podcast
• www.aftconstruction.com

For more details on Solar Panels: theconsciousbuilder.com/solar