Professional Builders Secrets

Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode featuring Russ Stephens, Co-founder of APB, and Cameron Jahn, Product Marketing Lead at Houzz Pro. Together they dive deep into why so many builders deliver great homes but still end up with frustrated clients, and what the best builders are doing differently to fix that.

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

INSIDE EPISODE 237 YOU WILL DISCOVER
Why unrealistic client expectations are the number one challenge
How to set expectations before problems arise
Why being the single point of contact is a single point of failure
Why poor communication is quietly destroying builders' net profit
How AI is transforming the client experience for builders of all sizes
What the best builders are doing differently to keep clients happy
And much, 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

ABOUT CAMERON JAHN

Cameron Jahn leads product marketing at Houzz Pro, a construction management platform helping builders simplify processes, scale operations, and deliver a standout client experience. Based in San Francisco, Cameron works closely with builders across North America and brings a deep understanding of how technology and systems can transform the way builders communicate with and retain their clients.

Connect with Cameron: linkedin.com/in/cameronjahn/

TIMELINE
7:23 Why great builders still end up with frustrated clients
9:30 How the best builders use their process as part of their sales pitch
19:17 Why owners become the bottleneck
27:49 The hidden cost of poor communication
38:16 What the best builders do differently to keep clients happy
44:09 Why you need to systemise and how AI agents are changing everything

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 featuring Clint Best, Executive Business Coach at APB, and Hill Dickerson, co-founder of BuilderPad, a construction management platform designed to help builders improve communication. With over 20 years of experience each, Clint and Hill dive deep into why communication is the foundation of every successful building company, and what happens when it breaks down.

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

INSIDE EPISODE 236 YOU WILL DISCOVER
Why communication is the foundation of any building company
How fear inside your team is silently killing your margins and morale
What the signs of poor communication look like in a building company
How to create a culture where people feel safe to speak up
Why emotional intelligence is a learnable skill every builder needs
And much, much more.

ABOUT CLINT BEST

Clint was trained and certified by the world’s largest business coaching team and was eventually named the Canadian Coach of the Year in 2006, before leaving to form Kaizen Business Development in 2007. He has been successfully coaching business owners in Canada and the United States for 18 years and now forms part of the Executive Business Coaching Team at APB.

Connect with Clint: linkedin.com/in/clintbest/?originalSubdomain=ca

ABOUT HILL DICKERSON

Hill Dickerson is the co-founder of BuilderPad, a construction management platform designed to help builders improve communication and streamline their projects. With over 18 years running a fireplace distribution company working alongside 500+ custom home builders, Hill brings a unique on-the-ground perspective to what great builder communication looks like in practice.

Connect with Hill: linkedin.com/in/hill-dickerson/

TIMELINE
11:02 The data that proves daily huddles directly improve gross margins and owner returns
14:09 Why fear is the root cause of communication breakdown in most businesses
21:44 The warning signs that communication in your building company is failing
29:00 How poor communication leads to burnout, stress and working excessive hours
38:31 Why technology is now a must-have, not a nice-to-have, for builder communication
42:35 The practical systems and meeting rhythms every builder should put in place

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 featuring Tony Marnella, founder of Marnella Homes, a health-focused luxury home builder operating in the Pacific Northwest. After facing a serious personal health crisis, Tony completely transformed the way he builds, diving deep into building science, indoor air quality, and what it truly means to create a healthy home.

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

INSIDE EPISODE 235 YOU WILL DISCOVER
How a personal health crisis changed the way Tony builds forever
What the invisible details are and why they matter more than finishes
How niching down to health-focused builds simplified his entire business
The sales approach that turns education into trust and trust into contracts
Why having a clear purpose aligns your team, trades and clients
And much, much more.

ABOUT TONY MARNELLA

Tony Marnella is the founder of Marnella Homes, a health-focused luxury home builder based in the Pacific Northwest. After facing a serious personal health crisis, Tony transformed his approach to construction, specialising in high-performance custom homes that prioritise clean air, clean water, and healthy indoor environments for the families that live in them.
TIMELINE
7:32 How a serious illness sent Tony down the path of building science and healthy homes
10:09 The invisible details: air sealing, intelligent air management and water quality explained
16:01 Why health and wellness features deliver a better return than a countertop upgrade
23:59 How niching down narrowed the field but transformed the quality of clients
29:54 Why Tony's sales conversations are completely different to every other builder
34:48 What Tony gets out of business coaching and why he keeps renewing with APB

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 featuring Andy Skada, Head Coach at APB, alongside Ahmed Yusuf and Erick Villa from Wunderbuild, a cloud-based construction management software built specifically for builders. Together, they dive deep into the financial habits that separate profitable building companies from those that are busy but barely breaking even.

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

INSIDE EPISODE 234 YOU WILL DISCOVER
Why being busy doesn't always translate into being profitable
How growing too fast without the right systems can destroy a business
Why your bank balance is not an indicator of financial health
The financial habits that high-performing builders use every day
What financial roles you need to hire as your business scales
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/

ABOUT AHMED YUSUF

Ahmed Yusuf is a Director at Wunderbuild, a cloud-based construction management software built specifically for builders. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Ahmed works closely with thousands of builders to help them manage growth, build better financial habits, and put the right systems in place to scale their businesses sustainably.

Connect with Ahmed: linkedin.com/in/amedi65/

ABOUT ERICK VILLA

Erick Villa is a Customer Success Manager at Wunderbuild, a cloud-based construction management software built specifically for builders. With over 20 years of experience leading high-performing customer support teams across multiple industries, Erick is passionate about helping builders get the most out of WonderBuild to grow and scale successfully.

Connect with Erick: linkedin.com/in/erick-vincent-villa/

TIMELINE
9:35 Why builders can work 80 hour weeks and still not know if they're profitable
16:15 How a builder spent money he never actually had
25:17 Why APB won't scale an unprofitable business
28:34 When business complexity outgrows your systems
42:35 The non-negotiable reporting cadence every builder needs
45:11 Practical daily, weekly and monthly financial habits to keep you in control

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 featuring Anthony and Paul Mancini, founders of Mancini Made, a design and build company delivering high-end architecturally designed homes in Melbourne, Australia. Over 15 years, they've grown their business to $25 million in annual revenue and share everything they've learned about building a successful construction company from the ground up.

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

INSIDE EPISODE 233 YOU WILL DISCOVER
How watching previous employers fail shaped their business foundations
Why cash flow and pipeline management eliminate business pressures
How design and build gave them a competitive edge
The branding and Instagram strategy that built their reputation early
How staff buy-in and open book management transformed their culture
What personal development and mentorship have meant for their growth
and much, much more.

ABOUT PAUL MANCINI

Paul Mancini is the Co-Director and Owner of Mancini Made, a multi-award-winning design and build company delivering premium architectural homes in Melbourne. With a double degree in Construction and Architecture from Deakin University and 15 years of experience, Paul oversees design, cash flow and business operations across 230+ completed projects.

Connect with Paul: linkedin.com/in/paul-mancini-aab23a206/

ABOUT ANTHONY MANCINI

Anthony Mancini is the Co-Director and Owner of Mancini Made, a multi-award-winning premium builder delivering architecturally designed homes across Melbourne. With a double degree in Construction and Facilities Management from Deakin University and 15 years of experience, Anthony oversees construction, branding, marketing and business development across 230+ completed projects.

Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthony-mancini-2b634b2a/

TIMELINE
5:50 Why watching employers go into liquidation became their greatest lesson
12:31 How staying 12 months ahead on projects eliminates cash flow stress
18:20 The early Instagram and branding strategy that punched above their weight
25:48 Why a dedicated aftercare manager has been a game changer
37:32 Understanding your strengths and weaknesses to build a stronger team around you
41:46 How open book management and quarterly huddles created an unshakeable culture

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