Today I’m joined by Adam Cooper, the President of Ascent Consulting. 

Adam started out in the industry as an electrician. He then worked his way up through project management and eventually stepped away from the job site to help contractors run better businesses behind the scenes.

Over the past decade, he’s worked with hundreds of construction companies across the US, helping them put structure around things most businesses just “figure out as they go.”

We got into private equity rolling into construction, why it works in some parts of the industry and completely falls apart in others, and what actually makes a construction business valuable enough to sell in the first place.

We spoke about systems, why most businesses are far more owner-dependent than they think, and what needs to be in place if you ever want to step away without everything slowing down.

Adam also shared how he nearly became a chemical engineer… which probably would’ve led a very different life.

Connect with Adam Cooper:
Website: https://ascentconsults.com/
Podcast: https://ascentconsults.com/construction-hot-takes-podcast/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand?
Take the quiz to find out:
http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Today I sat down to have a chat with Eric Anderton. He is the man behind the Construction Genius Podcast and has spent the last two decades helping contractors figure out something most of them were never trained to do: lead people.

Since 2004, he’s worked closely with construction leaders across the US, helping technically skilled builders make the shift from building projects to building teams.

We talked about the difference between hard bid environments and negotiated work, why many contractors believe price is everything, and how mindset often plays a bigger role in winning better projects than strategy alone.

Towards the end, we also dug into where the industry is heading, the next generation entering construction, and why Eric believes the combination of skilled trades and emerging technology is going to create enormous opportunities over the next decade.

If you’re trying to build better leaders inside your company, this is one worth listening to.

Connect with Eric Anderton:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andertoneric/
Website: https://www.constructiongenius.com
Podcast: Construction Genius

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand?

Take the quiz to find out:
http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

This week, I’m joined by Alastair McDonald from EDG Projects: a building design, architecture, and project management firm based in Echuca.

Growing up in a farming family in regional Australia, Alastair learned early what it means to take ownership of your work, especially when the risk is real and the consequences can land directly at your feet. 

Now, as CEO and Director of EDG, that same mindset continues to influence his leadership.

We talked about EDG’s humble beginnings in Alastair’s parents’ spare room, what it took to build a serious business outside the major capitals, and how EDG stays involved from the designing process to construction on site.

Alastair also shared his perspective on post-COVID quality in the industry and how he approaches developing people without creating bottlenecks in the business.

This one is about patience, accountability, and building something that lasts.

Connect with Alastair McDonald:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alastairmcdonald/
Website: https://edgprojects.com.au/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand?

Take the quiz to find out:
http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

This episode is a bit of a crossover between construction and technology, and it’s one I’ve been looking forward to.

I sat down with Jeff Sample, who works with Bluebeam and is also the host of the ConTechCrew podcast. Jeff has spent the last decade operating at the intersection of construction and technology, helping contractors make sense of tech without the hype.

Jeff’s time working inside a masonry contractor gave him a clear view of how technology actually lands in the field, not just how it is sold. That experience shaped how he thinks about tech adoption, process, and where most construction businesses go wrong.

We talked about why construction tech exploded so quickly, how venture capital misunderstood the industry, and why many contractors became sceptical after being sold tools that promised everything and delivered very little.

Jeff also shared what genuinely excites him about where construction is heading, including the shift toward prefabrication and design for manufacturing, and why that change could reshape the industry far more than any new app.

Connect with Jeff Sample:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit
Podcast: https://thecontechcrew.com/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand?

Take the quiz to find out:
http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Today, I’m joined by Tyler Vander Vegt from DM Construction.

Tyler’s story is a good reminder that construction careers don’t always start with some grand plan. His dad wasn’t even in construction. He was in corporate operations and equities. Then the 2008 crash hit, everything shifted, and they ended up finding a masonry business for sale on Craigslist. Yeah, Craigslist.

That business was Dutch’s Masonry. Tyler came in a couple of years later as the second employee. Fast forward to today, and they’ve rebranded to DM Construction, expanded into multiple states, and grown into a full turnkey exterior cladding contractor doing $20M to $25M a year.

We talked about what it’s like building a business in cold-weather markets where wrapping buildings is normal, and how something that keeps crews productive can also turn into a safety nightmare if it’s done wrong.

Tyler’s big on being intentional. Knowing who you are, what you do best, and being willing to walk away from the wrong work, even when it’s tempting to say yes just to keep people busy.

Tyler’s also training for a full Ironman next year, which feels pretty on brand for someone who likes doing hard things the hard way.

Connect with Tyler Vander Vegt:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-vander-vegt-58388446/
Website: https://www.dmconstruction.com/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand?

Take the quiz to find out:
http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Today, we’re sitting down with Wally Adamchik, a leadership speaker, coach, author, and consultant who works closely with construction and infrastructure companies on the people side of the business.

He grew up around construction, spent ten years in the Marine Corps, and now helps leadership teams develop the skills they’re rarely taught but constantly expected to have when the pressure’s on.

A big part of this conversation is about how leadership actually gets learned in construction. Most people are promoted because they’re good at the work, then expected to figure everything else out as they go.

Wally’s big on the idea that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. We talked about why middle management is the real leverage point in construction, the impact of ego and burnout on teams, and why investing in people is no longer optional if you want a sustainable business.

We also covered Wally’s time as the University of Notre Dame’s mascot… and it’s exactly as entertaining as you’d expect.

Connect with Wally Adamchik:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wallyadamchik/
Website: https://www.wallyadamchik.com/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand?

Take the quiz to find out:

 http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Civil construction has communication and cost-control problems. Everyone knows it. Very few people actually try to fix it.

That’s what led James Baker to build Varicon, a construction management software platform designed specifically for civil contractors.

James didn’t come into tech chasing hype or investor buzz. He came into it frustrated. After years of working as a contractor for principals and administering contracts, he kept seeing the same issues everywhere.

Too much admin. Too much paper. Too many spreadsheets. And way too much friction killing relationships and cash flow.

So, Varicon was born.

In this episode, we talked about James growing up in Tasmania, chasing elite rowing overseas, working in Brazil during the oil and gas boom, and how seeing construction from every angle gave him a clearer view of what was broken.

And somehow, we also ended up talking about home-brewing beer... and how it nearly landed him a trip to Antarctica.

Connect with James Baker:
 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameshsbaker/
 Website: https://varicon.com.au/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:
 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand?

Take the quiz to find out:
http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

This week, I caught up with Vinay Reddy, a civil engineer who runs one of Southern California’s fastest-growing construction management and landscape architecture firms, RE Services.

Vinay thought he had it figured out: computer engineering, then Silicon Valley. But after too many late nights in the lab and a humbling realisation that he just wasn’t cut out for code, he found himself standing in front of a drywall contractor at a Uni career fair. 

They talked. He got an internship. And from that moment on, construction just made sense.

This episode mostly touches on the messy stuff, like starting a business from scratch, how to stay sharp and smart, and why most clients still don’t understand what a billable hour actually includes.

Vinay also shared how his parents’ relentless work ethic shaped his leadership style… and why building a team of A-players has been the backbone of RE Services’ growth, (and could be the key to yours, too).

Connect with Vinay Reddy:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vreddype/ 
Website: https://reddyengineering.com/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand? 
Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Today I’m joined by Mark Ballinger from Payapps.

Mark’s story isn’t what you’d expect. He came from finance and tech, landed in construction by accident, and found himself deep in one of the industry’s biggest headaches: getting paid on time.

Now he leads strategy for Payapps, the Autodesk platform bringing builders and subbies on the same page when it comes to claims, variations, and cash flow.

We talked about the tug-of-war over payments, why late pay isn’t always about bad intent, and how the industry’s drowning in red tape that kills efficiency.

Mark’s all about consistency, clarity, and creating one source of truth everyone can trust. He’s convinced that if you want to bring AI into your business, you’d better fix your processes first.

Mark also hates Vegemite. So take that how you will.

Let’s get into it.

Connect with Mark Ballinger:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-ballinger-645b5a1/

Website: https://www.payapps.com/ 

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand? 

Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Today, we're sitting down with Josh Smyser, the owner of TNT Tuckpointing Building Restoration,LLC. Josh's journey is a powerful case study in how a completely different professional background can become your greatest business advantage.

He was a certified public accountant (CPA) working for a major firm. But when a family tragedy struck, he was thrust back into the family trade business he never planned to run.

So, how did he apply an accountant's mindset to transform a small, traditional tuck pointing operation into a multi-million dollar company? He explains how his financial background provided a roadmap from chaos, why he shifted to cost-based pricing, how he's using AI to build a leaner company, and why hiring for attitude not skill is the key to scalable, drama-free growth.                                   

Connect with Joshua Smyser:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-smyser

Website: https://www.tnttuckpointing.com/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand? 

Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Nate grew up in a controlled, fundamentalist cult where entrepreneurship was discouraged and the outside world was off-limits. His story isn't just about business growth; it's a profound lesson in building personal and professional freedom from the ground up.

He isn't afraid to get real about the hard stuff: how cash desperation creates a race to the bottom, why the right partners are everything, and what it's actually like on the other side of high-profile, high-cost business coaching.

Sharing how Tecton Framing broke every mold, this episode digs into the raw realities of overcoming your circumstances—whether they're financial, cultural, or self-imposed.

For Nate, it all comes down to resilience, smart cash management, and trusting your own gut over the hype. Sounds like the kind of truth we all need to hear, right?

Let's get started.

Connect with Nate Carlisle:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-carlisle-7bb66b14a/

Website: https://www.tectonco.com/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Ever wonder if you're being paid what you're worth? Or if you're paying your team fairly? Martin from Built & Byron's recruitment surveys 500+ actually employed construction pros (not just job-seekers) to reveal real Melbourne salary benchmarks.

👉 Grab the free Salary Insights Report:www.buildingenvironsrecruitment.short.gy/Salaryinsightsreport

Do you have an influential personal brand? 

Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Joining us to unpack this bold idea is Anna Verghese, Founding Director of client-side consultancy Cerulean.

Anna has a radically different view on stability, and she's built her entire career on it: true security isn't given to you by a company, it's built by you through calculated risks, global experience, and betting on yourself.

Sharing how her journey from massive projects in Dubai to landing in Australia with no job offer led to a thriving business, this episode dives into the post-COVID realities of work - proving just how fragile the traditional career path really is.

For Anna, it's all about self-reliance, transferable skills, and entrepreneurial courage - that's how we build a truly secure future. Sounds pretty necessary, right?

Let's get started.

Connect with Anna Verghese:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-verghese-au/

Website:https://www.ceruleanppl.com/team/anna-verghese

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Ever wonder if you're being paid what you're worth? Or if you're paying your team fairly? Martin from Built & Byron's recruitment surveys 500+ actually employed construction pros (not just job-seekers) to reveal real Melbourne salary benchmarks.

👉 Grab the free Salary Insights Report:www.buildingenvironsrecruitment.short.gy/Salaryinsightsreport

Do you have an influential personal brand? 

Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

This week, we're sitting down with Sean Rice from Proterra Group - an accidental founder who never set out to run an 80-person business.

Starting with a single 6-month contract and a personal credit card used to cover his first payroll, Sean has navigated market crashes, painful downsizing, and the complexities of bringing in - and later buying out - business partners.

Sharing how he built a business serving 45+ local councils without a master plan, this episode is a deep dive into resilient leadership, strategic pivots, and why sometimes the best businesses are built by accident.

For anyone who’s ever bootstrapped, bet on themselves, or wondered how to lead a team through tough times - this one’s for you.

Let's get started.                                                                                    

Connect with Sean Rice:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/s-rice/

Website:https://www.proterragroup.com.au/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Ever wonder if you're being paid what you're worth? Or if you're paying your team fairly? Martin from Built & Byron's recruitment surveys 500+ actually employed construction pros (not just job-seekers) to reveal real Melbourne salary benchmarks.

👉 Grab the free Salary Insights Report:www.buildingenvironsrecruitment.short.gy/Salaryinsightsreport

Do you have an influential personal brand? 

Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

This week, Jordan sits down with Nic Parish - a man who went from designing chairs in college to co-owning and running his family's heavy civil, trucking, and dumpster businesses in Mississippi.

But this isn't your typical "third-generation success story." Nic's grandfather famously sat him down and begged him: "Please don't do this. Go do anything but this. You do not want this life."

He ignored the advice, bought in, and quickly learned why he got the warning. The pressure of the business led him to a dark place where the only way out felt like suicide -a story he shares with shocking honesty.

We dive into how that moment became a catalyst for change, forcing him to take 10 days off (the "best career decision he ever made") and ultimately leading him to implement the EOS system that transformed everything.

Let’s get it started!

Connect with Nic Parish:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicparish/

Website:https://www.burnsdirt.com/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Ever wonder if you're being paid what you're worth? Or if you're paying your team fairly? Martin from Built & Byron's recruitment surveys 500+ actually employed construction pros (not just job-seekers) to reveal real Melbourne salary benchmarks.

👉 Grab the free Salary Insights Report:www.buildingenvironsrecruitment.short.gy/Salaryinsightsreport

Do you have an influential personal brand? 

Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

After a chaotic few weeks of scheduling nightmares (thanks, end-of-financial-year madness), we’re finally back with a banger of an episode. I sat down with Kyra Naylor - CEO of Naylor Commercial Interiors and third-generation leader of her family’s Dallas-based architectural finishes biz.

Kyra’s story isn’t your typical "grew up in the trades" tale. She was the kid in cowboy boots translating for supers on job sites, detoured through law school, then got yanked back into construction when COVID hit. Now? She’s running the show with a mix of old-school grit and next-gen strategy like slashing 500 weekly bid requests to focus on clients who actually pay.

We cover Texas's boom-or-bust construction market, why election years bring projects to a standstill, and when "being nice" at work goes too far. Plus: the raw truth about inheriting a family business - from tough firings to construction-style networking.

Let’s get started!

Connect with Kyra Nylor:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyra-naylor

Website:https://naylorcommercial.com/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Ever wonder if you're being paid what you're worth? Or if you're paying your team fairly? Martin from Built & Byron's recruitment surveys 500+ actually employed construction pros (not just job-seekers) to reveal real Melbourne salary benchmarks.

👉 Grab the free Salary Insights Report:www.buildingenvironsrecruitment.short.gy/Salaryinsightsreport

Do you have an influential personal brand? 

Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

At 14, Kazan Hadden was training with Liverpool FC's youth squad. By 18? Injured, broke, and living in a caravan. Today, he's the founder of Nickaz Australia - a construction business that's thrived for three decades without ever chasing tenders.

We're digging into how getting cut from football taught him more than any business degree, why he keeps 15 full-time trades when everyone else subcontracts, how childhood trauma became his unfair business advantage and the $200,000 mistake that changed how he hires forever.

Real stories from a builder who's been through the fire. Hit play.

Connect with Kazan Hadden:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kazan-hadden-nickaz/

Website: https://nickaz.com.au/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand? 

Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Sharing how CCS operates differently, this episode takes us inside the challenging world of live-site construction - schools, hospitals and shopping centers where the public never stops moving around your work. Todd proves why this niche might just be the ultimate test of a builder's skill and patience.

For Todd, it's about balancing growth with sanity, investing in proper planning, and remembering to step away occasionally (even if that means battling boredom on a bike trainer). That's how we build better businesses - and a better industry.

Sounds refreshingly honest, doesn't it?

Let's get started.

Connect with Todd Bacon:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-bacon-639b67b/

Website: https://collaborative.com.au/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand? Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

For Episode 112, we’re sitting down with Kane Keefe, the visionary Managing Director behind Alliance Building Construction.

Based in Toowoomba but operating across Queensland, Kane took the unconventional path - launching during COVID’s toughest months, then systematically purchasing complementary businesses like a 30-year-old earthworks company rather than chasing traditional tenders.

He reflects on this bold journey, sharing how buying competitors became his secret to unlocking 8 figure scale, why vertical integration beats the race-to-the-bottom tender cycle, and how everything changes when you transition from employee to owner with real skin in the game.

Let’s dive in.

Connect with Kane Keefe:

Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kane-keefe-3ba53368/

Website: https://alliancebc.com.au/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand? Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

This week, we’re sitting down with Brodie Haughton, Managing Director of Solidity, a company that’s redefining foundation engineering with screw piling.

Now, screw piling might sound like a niche dark art (because it is), but Brodie’s taken this overlooked corner of construction and turned it into a multi-million-dollar business. And he did it by creating demand, not just fighting for scraps in an existing market.

This is a masterclass for business owners who want to spot and dominate a niche, bootstrap like a madman, survive cash flow nightmares, and use vertical integration to lock out competitors.

If you’ve ever thought, "There’s no room left to innovate in construction," this episode will prove you wrong. Let’s dive in!

Connect with Brodie Haughton:

Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brodie-houghton-86909984/

Website: https://www.solidity.com.au/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand? Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

This week, we chatted with James Rutledge, the gritty founder of Rutledge Drilling -  a family owned and operated geotechnical drilling and stabilisation company.

From dodging cyclones to rebuilding after floods, James knows what it takes to stabilize both crumbling hillsides and a growing business. He shares his unorthodox journey from Army vet to underground miner to high-risk license trainer and why he finally decided to stop making money for someone else.

Ever wondered how to turn a niche trade into an industry contender? Curious what happens when you mix family dynamics with heavy machinery? Or just want to hear why “some people have to piss on the electric fence to learn”?  Strap in! This one’s packed with hard-won wisdom.

Connect with James Rutledge:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/red_dog_group/

Website: https://www.rutledgedrilling.au/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand? Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

This week, we’re sitting down with James Elliott, owner of Red Dog Group and a UK-born builder who traded drizzle for Queensland downpours (and somehow still came out on top).

James has strong opinions about our industry, and he’s not sugar coating them: Builders are tired of being the scapegoat for every delay and price hike, overregulation is choking growth, and if we don’t start making trades appealing again, we’re in serious trouble.

From battling another year of biblical rain to flipping the script on sales (hint: stop selling services, start selling products), this episode digs into why 2025 might be the toughest year yet for builders.

And if you thought post-COVID chaos was behind us? Think again. James breaks down why the ripple effects,material costs, labor shortages, and red tape are still hitting hard.

Ready for some straight talk? Let’s go!

Connect with James Elliott:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/red_dog_group/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-elliott-99252334/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand? Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

This week’s guest is Brendan Nielsen, the founder of JC Engineers.

Brendan’s not your typical engineer. He’s spent years getting his boots dirty on site and knows firsthand that there’s a big difference between what’s drawn on paper and what actually works in the real world. In this episode, he shares how he went from working in the industry to backing himself and starting JC Engineers, a business built on solving real problems with the right people around him.

We get into how studying engineering didn’t exactly prepare him for what came next, what finally pushed him to take the leap, and why he’s more focused on building something solid than chasing wild growth. Brendan also gets real about what it’s like to run a business, the early frustrations, and why a degree doesn’t always mean you’ve got it sorted on site.

If you’ve ever felt like experience beats theory or you're someone who wants to hear the honest side of building something from scratch, this one’s worth a listen.

Let’s get into it with Brendan!

Connect with Brendan Nielsen:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-nielsen-59013a46/

Website: https://www.jcengineers.com.au/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand? Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Joining us today is Joseph Wainwright, the founder of Wainwright Facades, a successful cladding company based in Canberra. Joseph’s journey is one of hustle, persistence, and overcoming challenges that many in the industry can relate to.

From leaving school at 16 and working odd jobs in the UK, to navigating the ups and downs of starting a business from scratch, Joseph opens up about the reality of building a company in today’s market. He talks about the tough moments: chasing leads that never panned out, dealing with slow-moving jobs, and the challenges of the tendering process.

Joseph also shares a game-changing moment when he lost nearly $864,000 overnight, but instead of giving up, he kept going, proving that grit and perseverance are at the core of success in the construction world.

Let’s dive in!

Connect with Joseph Wainwright:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-wainwright-6b999368/

Website:https://www.wainwrightfacades.com/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand? Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

You know that moment in business where everything’s ticking along nicely, and instead of finally relaxing, your brain goes, Cool cool cool… But what now?

In this episode, Jordan catches up with Anthony Braile, the Managing Director of Combined Demolition, and they get real about his wild ride from being a chippy on the tools to running a successful demolition company. They chat about how he spotted a gap in the industry, built something with real heart, and what it feels like when the business doesn’t need you in the day-to-day anymore… but you’re still trying to figure out how to stay fired up and fulfilled.

They also talk about the harsh truths of working as an employee — the lies and broken promises, and the impact of bad bosses. It’s a wake-up call for anyone who’s ever felt stuck in a job or leadership role that just doesn’t align.

It’s honest, a bit gritty, and it’s packed with gems for anyone leading a team, dealing with burnout, or just wondering what the hell the next chapter looks like.

Connect with Anthony Braile:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-braile-85901b140/

Website: https://www.combineddemolition.com/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Starting a construction business at just 21 is no small feat especially in an industry known for its challenges and curveballs.

In this episode, I sit down with Ethan Chittick, Founder of B&E Built and Commercial Carpentry. We chat about what it was really like getting his business off the ground at such a young age and the lessons he's learned along the way.

We dive into the highs and lows of running a construction company, including how Ethan decides which clients are the right fit (spoiler: it’s not just about the money). He shares why aligning values with clients has become such a big focus for him and how that can make or break a project.

So if you're in the trades, thinking about starting your own business, or just curious about how someone makes it work in this industry- this episode is packed with good stuff. Definitely give it a listen!

Connect with Ethan Chittick:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-chittick-a22460191/

Website: https://bebuiltpl.com/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Are you as influential in the construction industry as you think? Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Building something great requires a strong foundation-whether it’s a skyscraper, a business, or even a podcast. Just like in construction, where every beam and bolt serves a purpose, the right tools and insights can shape the industry’s future.

But what happens when the technology meant to help builders becomes more of a hindrance than a solution?

Today, we’re talking with Tyler Campbell, a former steel detailer, co-host of the Construction Brothers Podcast, and the mind behind Field Proof. After seeing firsthand how many construction professionals struggled with technology that wasn’t working for them, Tyler set out to create Field Proof to address these challenges. We’ll dive into the evolving world of construction tech and explore how we can make it work for the people who need it most.

Connect with Tyler Campbell:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerscottcampbell/

Website: https://www.fieldproof.io/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

PERSONAL BRAND QUIZ:
Are you as influential in the construction industry as you think? Take the quiz to find out: http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

This week sees Daniel Ouliaris step into the chair - he's a former concreter and now Founder/CEO of Neo Intelligence.

Neo came about when Daniel and his brothers chose to reinvest money from their successful concreting business into designing software that solves all of their biggest pain points.

And it turned out they weren't alone - subbies all over Australia are reaping the rewards. He takes us through how the company came to be, what they're solving, and why he believes a broken industry is a chance to rebuild from the ground up.

Let's get started.

CONTACT DETAILS

Daniel Ouliaris
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/daniel-ouliaris
Website: https://neointelligence.com.au/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Are you as influential in the construction industry as you think? Take the quiz to find out:
http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

This week's guest is none other than Peter Bottero, Founder/Director of Tensile Design & Construct.

Tensile have a unique niche within the industry. They specialise in structural cables, rods and tensioned mesh - transforming interiors, decorating facades and implementing cutting edge urban green roofing to help cool our cities.

He reflects on how he found his niche, laughing about business mishaps and lessons learnt, and why he's got a thing or two to say about uni grads ending up in management fresh from their degree.

Peter's a great laugh and there's plenty to learn here. Let's get started!

CONTACT DETAILS

Peter Bottero
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/peter-bottero-88b27550
Website: https://www.tensile.com.au/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Are you as influential in the construction industry as you think? Take the quiz to find out:
http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Jeremy takes us through the unique way his business operates - sharing how the franchising model works perfectly for fitouts, and provides a heap of benefits to everyone involved.

As he says, business is all about relationships. Whether that's getting your face out there on buses and sponsoring sports teams, getting a recommendation from a happy client, or shaking hands on the golf course, Jeremy shares his tricks and tips for growing your business sustainably, on your terms!

Let's get started.

CONTACT DETAILS

Jeremy Dyer
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-dyer-63171228
Website: https://www.totalfitouts.com.au/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Are you as influential in the construction industry as you think? Take the quiz to find out:
http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Brett has a few stories from his time in business, and he shares candidly on his upbringing, his route into the industry, and some of the hardships he's faced along the way.

With DBG Projects now putting a difficult COVID era behind them, they're setting the sights on the future - doubling down on their strengths and maintaining great relationships with subbies and fellow businesses.

Let's dive in.

CONTACT DETAILS

Brett Marris
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/brett-marris-4163467a
Website: https://www.dbgprojects.com.au/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Are you as influential in the construction industry as you think? Take the quiz to find out:
http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Mark has issues with our industry, and he isn't afraid to spell it out: we need to get rid of retention, get our teams working in the office together, and promote the importance of connection.

Sharing how CC are handling things differently, this episode dives back into the post-COVID aftermath - proving just how much we are still feeling the effects of lockdown to this day.

For Mark it's all about community, connection and respect - that's how we move forward as an industry. Sounds pretty good, right?

Let's get started.

CONTACT DETAILS

Mark Stewart
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/markstewartcc
Website: https://www.classiccontractors.com.au/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Are you as influential in the construction industry as you think? Take the quiz to find out:
http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

It's time to learn from a Managing Director with some stories to tell about growing a company from the ground up. This week's guest is Garreth Higgins, from Offaly Civil in Queensland.

Recounting his route into the industry, he shares how a few too many beers one night led to landing Offaly's first contract the next day, how he incorporated the business on a laptop and how the business has grown from strength to strength.

Garreth also talks candidly about a cashflow situation that could have spelled the end for the company. But they're still here - and all the stronger for it. 

This is a great episode to uncover some tips for staying on top of cashflow, planning ahead, and keeping the business growing.

CONTACT DETAILS

Garreth Higgins
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/garreth-higgins-38235a50
Website: https://offalycivil.com/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Are you as influential in the construction industry as you think? Take the quiz to find out:
http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Here to share his blueprint for keeping your business afloat in an increasingly difficult economic environment is Director and Head of Operations at Haddarco, Abdullah Haddara.

Founded as a one-man operation by Haddara Snr. back in 1965, the business gained a new lease of life when brothers Abdullah and Mohammed took it on twenty years ago.

Abdullah shares how they learned to delegate responsibility as they scaled, why you need to manage your cashflow, and how business survival ultimately comes down to  adaptability and mindset. 

Time to get the notebooks out.

CONTACT DETAILS

Abdullah Haddara
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/abdullah-haddara-5592337b
Website: https://haddarco.com.au/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Are you as influential in the construction industry as you think? Take the quiz to find out:
http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

It's time for a masterclass from residential building business coach Mick Hawes, of Builders Business Blackbelt.

He takes us through how he found his niche, and reveals how he helps great builders get better at being entrepreneurs.

Revealing exercises and processes that he uses at his in-person training days, Mick brings some brilliant strategies for fixing mistakes, enhancing the ambition of your vision and being a builder that people want to come back to.

Let's get started.

CONTACT DETAILS

Mick Hawes
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/mickhawes
Website: https://buildersbusinessblackbelt.com.au/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Are you as influential in the construction industry as you think? Take the quiz to find out:
http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

• How did 2Construct get started?
• Why are builders and contractors bankrolling jobs instead of developers? 
• How have contracts and payment terms changed over the years? 

Join us for an insight-packed dive into Peter's outlook on our industry.

CONTACT DETAILS

Peter Rahilly
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-rahilly
Website: https://www.2construct.com.au/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Want to book a FREE 30-minute consultation call? Book a time to speak here: https://calendly.com/book-a-chat-with-jordan/chat-with-jordan

Is your company attractive to potential employees? Take the scorecard: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/scorecard

• Are attracting less than ⅓ of the job applications compared to 10 years ago
• Have an aging workforce that is rapidly moving towards retirement
• And our industry is failing to attract enough younger talent 

So in today's episode, we wanted to give people an actionable method they can implement to attract better people to their business and ultimately thrive.


CONTACT DETAILS

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Want to book a FREE 30-minute consultation call? Book a time to speak here: https://calendly.com/book-a-chat-with-jordan/chat-with-jordan

Is your company attractive to potential employees? Take the scorecard: https://moonshotmedia.com.au

Alex Crosby
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crosbyalex/
Website:  https://multiworks.com.au/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Nick Somes
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-somes-a74892b/
Website: https://www.ecodynamics.com.au/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Ben Mullaney
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-mullaney/
Website: https://inquik.com.au/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Robin Hastings
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinhastings/
Website: https://pitchthis.co/au/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Ed Ross
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardkcross/
Website: https://trademutt.com/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Mark Yates
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-yates-3716425b/
Website: https://yesgroupsa.com.au/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/