Professional Builders Secrets

Professional Builders Secrets brings you an insightful episode with Andy Skarda, Head Coach at APB. In this episode, Andy breaks down what leadership really means for building company owners, and why it’s the defining factor that separates builders who are stuck in chaos from those running calm, predictable, and scalable businesses.

This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0

INSIDE EPISODE 222 YOU WILL DISCOVER
The difference between fixing symptoms versus fixing systems
What stops builders from becoming effective leaders
How delegation, trust, and systems unlock time and growth
Why your business can never outperform your leadership
Practical steps to start leading intentionally instead of reactively
And much, much more.

ABOUT ANDY SKARDA

Head Coach at the Association of Professional Builders, Andy specialises in helping business owners in the building industry identify and implement the skills and systems they need to be successful, without needing to go back to school. Or more importantly, without going bust.

Connect with Andy: linkedin.com/in/andy-skarda-92a6875/

TIMELINE
2:36 What leadership really means for builders
6:11 Why most builders don’t set out to become leaders
8:38 What well-led building companies actually look like
16:43 Why delegation fails without systems
20:32 Fixing broken systems instead of firefighting symptoms
26:28 Why your business can never outperform your leadership

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders

Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with Nicole Scanlan, Partnerships Manager at APB. Throughout this episode, Nicole breaks down what it really takes to build, manage, and sustain strong business relationships over the long term. Drawing on her experience managing over 130 partners globally, Nicole shares practical, repeatable systems for building trust, reducing friction, and turning short-term transactions into long-term partnerships.

This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0

INSIDE EPISODE 221 YOU WILL DISCOVER
One powerful question that can transform every business interaction
Best practices for handling difficult conversations and misaligned expectations
How authenticity and transparency accelerate trust
The importance of long-term partnerships over short-term transactions
Simple habits that strengthen relationships
And much, much more.

ABOUT NICOLE SCANLAN

Nicole Scanlan is the Partnerships Manager at APB, connecting solution-driven brands with elite residential builders. With a background in events, software, and business development, she builds high-impact partnerships focused on long-term growth, trust, and meaningful engagement.

Connect with Nicole: linkedin.com/in/nicole-scanlan-apb/

TIMELINE
3:04 Why every interaction in your business is a stakeholder relationship
5:04 Common gaps builders face in communication and follow-up
9:30 Why strong relationships are a powerful risk reducer
13:00 Why rapport isn’t a “soft skill” you can build on the fly
21:02 Simple habits that strengthen relationships and avoid the “sorry culture”
28:59 How to handle difficult conversations and realign misaligned partnerships

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders

Professional Builders Secrets brings you an in-depth episode with Russ Stephens, Co-founder of APB. In this episode, Russ unpacks the three biggest challenges builders are facing worldwide as they head into 2026, breaks down why a lack of planning continues to hold builders back, and explains how mastering lead generation, profit, and systemisation can completely transform the performance of a building business.

This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0

INSIDE EPISODE 220 YOU WILL DISCOVER
The three biggest challenges builders face heading into 2026
Why planning is directly linked to higher margins and more profit
Why financial literacy is critical to sustainable growth
How construction slots create real scarcity without “selling”
How documenting processes can add millions to long-term personal wealth
And much more.

ABOUT RUSS STEPHENS

Co-founder of the Association of Professional Builders, Russ is a data analysis expert who has introduced data-driven decision making to the residential construction industry. Russ is also a proud member of the Forbes Business Development Council.

Connect with Russ:linkedin.com/in/russstephens

TIMELINE
03:11 The three biggest problems builders face worldwide
07:44 Why planning alone can dramatically increase profit
09:15 How an org chart can buy back weeks of your time each year
13:18 The real reason builders struggle to get quality leads
22:38 How supply and demand impact margins
34:18 Why systemisation is the key to scaling without burnout

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website:associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards:associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram:instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook:facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube:youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders

Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with Blake Doolan from The Not So Silent Business Partner. In this episode, Blake breaks down how builders can take control of their financials in a way that’s simple, practical, and sustainable. Drawing on deep experience in construction bookkeeping and financial systems, Blake explains why understanding your numbers is the key to confident decision-making, long-term growth, and real freedom in business.

This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0

INSIDE EPISODE 219 YOU WILL DISCOVER
Why many builders feel profitable but still struggle with cash flow
The biggest mistakes builders make when tracking financials
How the right job management system simplifies financial control
Why consistency matters more than complexity
How financial clarity reduces stress and improves decision-making
And much, much more.

ABOUT BLAKE DOOLAN

Blake Doolan is the Managing Director of The Not So Silent Business Partner, helping residential builders gain clarity and control over their finances. With deep experience in construction accounting and job management systems, Blake focuses on practical financial solutions that enable confident decisions, sustainable growth, and long-term freedom.

Connect with Blake: linkedin.com/in/blake-doolan-3243821b4/?originalSubdomain=au

TIMELINE
2:10 Why builders struggle with financial clarity
5:05 Why freedom matters more than profit
7:30 The power of making systems simple
10:15 How to choose the right job management software
15:40 Why getting WIP wrong can cost you millions
20:30 How financial systems helped a builder step away from the business

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders

Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive end-of-year wrap episode with Russ Stephens, Co-founder of APB. In this episode, Russ reflects on the biggest milestones, challenges, and breakthroughs of 2025, and unpacks the impact APB has had on the building industry, the lessons learned from rapid growth, and the systems that are helping builders become more profitable while working fewer hours.

This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0

INSIDE EPISODE 218 YOU WILL DISCOVER
The biggest growth challenges APB faced in 2025
Why “what got you here, won’t get you there”
The three small systems that help builders reclaim time and add profit
Key insights from the 2025 State of the Residential Construction Industry Report
How APB Brain is transforming access to builder-specific knowledge using AI
And much more.

ABOUT RUSS STEPHENS

Co-founder of the Association of Professional Builders, Russ is a data analysis expert who has introduced data-driven decision making to the residential construction industry. Russ is also a proud member of the Forbes Business Development Council.

Connect with Russ:linkedin.com/in/russstephens

TIMELINE
3:31 The growth ceiling that stops builders from scaling
7:00 What thousands of builder questions reveal about common challenges
13:11 The systems that buy back time and increase profit
16:24 How builders are adding net profit through APB Rewards
20:26 What makes a truly world-class industry event
39:07 The impact of systems beyond business

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website:associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards:associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram:instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook:facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube:youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders