The Construction Leading Edge Podcast - podcast cover

The Construction Leading Edge Podcast

This podcast is dedicated to helping construction business owners eliminate chaos, maximize profit, and reclaim their freedom. Designed for leaders who are ready to step out of the daily grind and take control of their business, The Construction Leading Edge Podcast delivers actionable strategies on systematization, time management, increasing profitability, and business growth. Whether it’s stopping profit bleeds, building high-performing teams, or creating systems that allow your business to run without you, each episode will leave you with practical tools to unlock more profit, freedom, and impact. Join Todd Dawalt every week for solo episodes packed with insights and guest interviews featuring industry experts who’ve mastered the art of building self-sustaining businesses. If you’re ready to stop wearing so many hats and start leading your business like a visionary CEO, this podcast is for you.
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Episodes

Cut Project Schedules by 25% and Boost Profitability by 38% - Here's How w/ Michael Thorp | E374

☎️ Schedule your free business evaluation call with our team HERE 👉Watch the free masterclass: How to Escape from Day-to-Day Operations HERE – EPISODE 374: Is your construction business stuck in “just enough to start” mode? Are constant mistakes and delays eating away your profits? This week, I sit down with Michael Thorp, owner and designer at Kitchen Design—and a Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) student—to break down how he escaped the “Just Enough To Start” (JETS) trap and incre...

Feb 10, 202556 minEp. 374

4 Foolproof Steps to Stop Construction Chaos (Before It Costs You Thousands!) | E373

☎️ Schedule your free business evaluation call with our team HERE 👉 Learn How to Get Paid for Estimates (Free Masterclass) HERE – EPISODE 373: Have you ever stayed up late worrying about scope gaps, delays, or the next uncomfortable client call? For many construction business owners, these challenges are normal—part of their day-to-day firefighting mode. But what if there’s a way out? In this week’s episode, I’ll reveal the secret profit phase and foolproof strategies that big contractors use t...

Feb 03, 202527 minEp. 373

Exposing 6 Lies that Keep Construction Businesses Stuck in Chaos | E372

☎️ Schedule your free business evaluation call with our team HERE 👉 Learn how to make your business run without you HERE – EPISODE 372: Do you believe that chaos is inevitable in construction? Or do you feel like your business is too small for systems? Here’s the truth: chaos isn’t constant—it’s a choice. In this week’s episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast, we’ll dive into the six biggest lies that keep construction businesses stuck in firefighting mode. From believing you’re too sm...

Jan 27, 202533 minEp. 372

4 Profit-Killing Mistakes Construction Business Owners Make and How to Fix Them | E371

☎️ Schedule your free business evaluation call with our team HERE 👉Join The Construction Financial Masterclass: HERE -- EPISODE 371: Is your construction business truly profitable? Many construction business owners believe that a steady stream of projects means their financials are good in shape. But more often than not, they find themselves overworked and barely breaking even. You might be making one of these common profit-killing mistakes. In this week’s episode, we’ll explore the four most c...

Jan 20, 202531 minEp. 371

Reduce Stress While Growing Your Construction Business with Tod Ingersoll | E370

☎️ Schedule your free business evaluation call with our team HERE 👉Download our FREE Strategic Planning Guide HERE -- EPISODE 370: Do you feel like your construction business is running you instead of the other way around? In this latest episode of the Construction Leading Edge podcast, I sit down with Tod Ingersoll, founder and president of NuWood Creations, about how he turned his chaotic construction business into a well-oiled 7-figure business machine. Tod shares his journey from the corpor...

Jan 13, 202554 minEp. 370

Secrets to Building a Multi-Generational Construction Business to $20M | E369

EPISODE 369: Is your construction business stuck in chaos? How do you build a thriving multi-generational construction business? Join us as we uncover the secrets to creating a self-managing construction business that thrives for generations. In this week’s episode, I sit down with Rocky Rhodes, co-owner of Dusty Rhodes Homes–a Kansas City-based custom home builder operating for nearly 60 years. Rocky shares his journey from chaos to clarity, breaking down the strategies that helped his family b...

Jan 06, 20251 hr 2 minEp. 369

How to Hire and Retain A-Players for Your Construction Business w/ Isaac Barlow & Derrik Shakespear | E368

EPISODE 368: What if hiring the right people could solve most of your construction business problems? This week, Isaac Barlow, founder and former CEO of Busybusy, and Derrik Shakespear, chief revenue officer of Busybusy, reveal how construction business owners can attract and retain top talent. They unpack what makes an A-player thrive, why a flat culture can outperform traditional operational hierarchies, and practical methods to avoid bad hires. Packed with real-world examples and insights, th...

Dec 30, 202451 minEp. 368

Pre-Construction Secrets That Built a $250M Business with Wes Palmisano | E367

EPISODE 367: Is chaos keeping you from scaling your construction business? In this episode, I’m joined by Wes Palmisano, founder of WJ Palmisano Construction, who scaled his company to $250M and 250 employees by fostering innovation and streamlining operations. Wes shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting with his family’s construction legacy to creating it into a complex, multi-faceted business. From leveraging a “Renegade” mentality to rethinking pre-construction planning and building trus...

Dec 23, 202454 minEp. 367

From $0 to $200M: The Ultimate Construction Business Guide with Torrey Hawkins | E366

EPISODE 366: Want to scale your construction business without the chaos? Torrey Hawkins, President of Angler Construction, LLC, shares how he managed to scale his construction business to $200 million in annual revenue. In this week's episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast, I sit down with Torrey to talk about... the biggest challenges in growing a business to $200 million per year the systems and processes that propelled his business to success how to lead a construction team through ...

Dec 16, 20241 hr 2 minEp. 366

10x Is Easier Than 2x | E365

EPISODE 365: Scaling your construction business isn’t about working harder; it’s about working smarter. In this episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast, I sit down with Leyah Hostetter, Director of Customer Success, and Monish Khadye, Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) coach, to unpack the transformative strategies from the best-selling book 10x Is Easier Than 2x. Today, you’ll learn why setting massive goals simplifies execution and how focusing on 20% of your high-value act...

Dec 09, 20241 hr 12 minEp. 365

Why More Sales Won’t Save Your Business from Chaos with Cole West | E364

EPISODE 364: Does your construction business feel like chaos on steroids? Join us in this week’s episode as we interview Cole West, the integrator at Matchless Concrete Construction, as he shares his journey from retail management to construction and how he embraced planning and clarity to transform operations. Learn how his company overcame inefficiencies caused by rapid growth, how they were able to save $40,000/month in rental costs, and how they empowered employees by simplifying job descrip...

Dec 02, 202453 minEp. 364

5 Steps to Creating a Foolproof Customer Acquisition System for Builders with Spencer Powell | E363

EPISODE 363: Is your construction business relying too heavily on referrals? It’s time to rethink your marketing strategy. In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Spencer Powell, founder of Builder Funnel, where we discuss in-depth on how to create a customer acquisition system that attracts the right customers consistently. Spencer reveals the risks of depending solely on word-of-mouth marketing, the power of targeted marketing, how to craft messaging that truly resonates with potential clients...

Nov 25, 20241 hr 3 minEp. 363

Pitfalls to Avoid When Scaling a Construction Business | E362

EPISODE 362: Has your construction business been doing great lately and now you’re thinking about scaling up? Before you make any moves, you need to hear this. In this week’s episode, we’re joined by our Construction Leading Edge team, Leyah Hostetter and Monish Khadye, to dive into the common pitfalls of scaling a construction business. We break down why chaos is a choice, how the “Just Enough to Start” (JETS) trap can hurt your reputation and profits, and why the DIY approach simply doesn’t wo...

Nov 18, 202451 minEp. 362

Breaking Free From the Construction Overwork Culture and Client Chaos w/ Kris Miller | E361

EPISODE 361: Do you feel trapped by the constant chaos of your construction business? In this week’s episode, Leyah Hostetter, our Director of Customer Success, sits down with Kris Miller, President of KLM Construction, to explore the strategies that turned his business from a chaotic struggle into a well-oiled machine. Kris opens up about the impact of simple yet powerful communication hacks he implemented, like weekly client updates, and how a systematized handoff between pre-construction and ...

Nov 11, 202419 minEp. 361

From Breaking Even to Big Wins: How Empowered Teams Drive Real Profits w/ John & Shannon Springstead | E360

EPISODE 360: Is your construction business stuck operating on a zero-profit margin while you’re tied to it 24/7? It’s time to break the cycle, just like our guests did. Meet John and Shannon Springstead of John Springstead Construction–a father-and-daughter duo who completely overhauled their business. In this episode, John and Shannon share their experience with our Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) program, which helped them reduce chaos and move toward profitability. They share ho...

Nov 04, 202429 minEp. 360

Why Saying “No” to Clients Could Save Your Construction Business w/ Dan Flansburg | E359

EPISODE 359: Imagine being booked solid for the entire year but not with the right projects or clients. Sound familiar? Meet Dan Flansburg, owner of Flansburg Construction. This was Dan’s reality until he realized that saying “yes” to every client and project was holding him back. In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Dan, who shares his experiences and strategies for growing a successful design-build construction company. Driven by a misalignment of values with his previous employer, Dan deci...

Oct 28, 202458 minEp. 359

How to Get Paid for Upskilling Your Construction Employees w/ Krysta Van Ranst | E358

EPISODE 358: Did you know construction companies are sitting on untapped training funds? In this week’s episode, Krysta Van Ranst of Building PPL–a consulting firm specializing in training and team building for construction companies–reveals how businesses can use state grants to fund training programs, upskill employees, and boost profitability. Today, Krysta breaks down everything you need to know about qualifying for a construction training grant and aligning training with business goals for ...

Oct 21, 202456 minEp. 358

How Construction Business Owners Can Have an Empowered and Accountable Team by Fixing the Actual Problems | E357

EPISODE 357: Do you feel stuck doing everything in your construction business? Or do you delegate tasks, but somehow, things still end up on your plate? In this episode of The Construction Leading Edge podcast, I’m joined by Monish Khadye and Leyah Hostetter to discuss why so many construction business owners have difficulty empowering their teams and how to overcome these challenges. Today, we’ll discuss the importance of clear communication, setting expectations, and why trust is the most sign...

Oct 14, 20241 hr 5 minEp. 357

How a Lawsuit and Knee Injury Saved a Construction Business with Nate Mielke | E356

EPISODE 356: Have you ever felt like your business was running you instead of the other way around? That’s exactly how today’s guest felt for a long time. In this week’s episode, I sit down with Nate Mielke, owner of Skäpar Design Build, to talk about how his challenges–a lawsuit and a knee injury–forced him to rethink his approach to running a construction business. With over 25 years of experience under his name, Nate shares how mentorship helped him make the transition from a hands-on worker ...

Oct 07, 20241 hr 7 minEp. 356

The Key to Growing a Profitable Family-Owned Construction Company with Sam and Jake Holman | E355

EPISODE 355: How hard could it be running a construction business with your brother? Meet Sam and Jake Holman, founder and owners of Project Nine Property Group, a UK based construction company specializing in high-end remodels, extensions, and renovations. In this episode, Sam and Jake share their journey from struggling entrepreneurs to running a profitable, systematized construction company. They delve into strategies for running a family-owned business, the challenges they were facing, the g...

Sep 30, 20241 hr 6 minEp. 355

Critical Pitfalls Every Home Builder Needs to Avoid w/ Brad Haubert | E354

EPISODE 354: Are you tired of constantly putting out fires in your construction business? Does it feel like you’re always one step behind? In this episode of the Construction Leading Edge podcast, I sit down with Brad Haubert, a home building industry expert since 1993. Brad takes us through his journey from running a family-owned home building business to consulting for builders across North America. His mission? To help builders avoid costly mistakes that can lead to business failure. We’ll ex...

Sep 23, 202459 minEp. 354

Build Unbreakable Client Trust Even in Tough Times w/ Andrea and Ashley Fleschner | E353

EPISODE 353: Running a construction business with your spouse can be quite challenging, but Ashley and Andrea Fleschner of Fleschner Construction have mastered the art of building client trust through their partnership. In this week’s episode, Ashley and Andrea reveal the secrets behind the success of Fleschner Construction and how trust has been a cornerstone in their success. They discuss the strategies they’ve implemented to enhance client communication, streamline operations, and foster trus...

Sep 16, 20241 hr 3 minEp. 353

Construction Accounting Mistakes Ruining Your Business with Chris Lee | E352

EPISODE 352: Do you feel like your business is growing but not necessarily increasing in value? Today’s guest learned it the hard way and now shares how he turned it around. Meet Chris Lee, a seasoned construction and technology entrepreneur who started a contracting business in Austin. Revenue was doubling year after year–everything looked perfect for Chris’s contracting business. But when it was time for him to sell it, he learned that it was worth far less than he had imagined. In this week’s...

Sep 09, 202457 minEp. 352

The Secret to Building a Self-Managing Construction Business w/ Eric Brownson | E351

EPISODE 351: Imagine waking up every morning feeling like you’re three hours behind. Your phone is ringing nonstop and you haven’t even had your first cup of coffee. Sounds familiar? For over 20 years, this was the daily grind for our guest as a seasoned construction business owner. But everything changed when he joined our Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) program. In this week’s episode, our Director of Customer Success, Leyah Hostetter, interviews Eric Brownson, owner of Sweet Hom...

Sep 02, 202422 minEp. 351

Double Your Revenue While Cutting Work Hours in Half w/ Jacob Richmond | E350

EPISODE 350: Is it really possible to double your revenue while cutting your work hours in half? Jacob Richmond didn’t believe it–until he made it happen. In this week’s episode, I interview Jacob Richmond, owner of Richmond Construction, a general contracting company based in Washington specializing in custom homes and large additions. Today, Jacob shares his journey from a labor-intensive role in commercial construction to becoming a strategic business owner who’s nearly doubled his revenue wh...

Aug 26, 20241 hr 6 minEp. 350

How to Get Out of Estimating: A 5 Step Process | E349

EPISODE 349: Are you tired of being chained to your desk, doing estimates, and feeling like your business can’t run without you? It’s time to ditch the estimator hat once and for all and start putting on your CEO hat! In this week’s episode, I’ll reveal a five-step process to help you construction business owners transition out of your estimating roles. We’ll discuss why transitioning from free estimates to paid pre-construction services is crucial, how this shift can turn your construction busi...

Aug 19, 202436 minEp. 349

This is How to Break Free from the Owner's Trap in Your Construction Business | E348

EPISODE 348: Do you find yourself working late into the night, constantly putting out fires in your construction business? This week’s episode might be just what you need. Meet Travis Balcom, owner of TAB Construction LLC, a custom home-building company based in upstate New York. Travis shares his transformative journey from being the bottleneck in his business to implementing effective systems that empower his team. After his wife's pregnancy with their first child, he realized he needed to cha...

Aug 12, 20241 hr 1 minEp. 348

Growth Tactics For Your Family-Owned Construction Business with Ashlee & Alexis of MDT Inc. | E347

EPISODE 347: Running a construction business is tough. It even gets challenging when you’re doing it with your family. However, these two sisters found a way around to turn chaos into order. In this week’s episode, I sit down with sisters Ashlee Mejia and Alexis Izquierdo of MDT Inc., a contracting firm based in Southern California and students of our Systematize Your Construction Business (SYCB) Program. They share their journey of transitioning from remodeling to larger-scale projects, using I...

Aug 05, 20241 hr 9 minEp. 347

How Technology Can Efficiently Scale Your Construction Business | E346

EPISODE 346: Are you tired of the chaos in your construction business? Do you wake up at night worrying about project management and cash flow? Today’s guest might have the solution you need. Meet Eric Fortenberry, the founder and CEO of JobTread, an all-in-one construction project management software for builders and contractors. Today, Eric shares his journey from transforming a chaotic construction company into an organized, scalable operation using systematization and technology. Learn how t...

Jul 29, 20241 hr 9 minEp. 346

Build a Brand: Why It’s As Crucial as Your Systems and Processes | E345

EPISODE 345: What makes a construction company attractive to customers? In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Anthony Perera, a serial entrepreneur who has successfully built and sold multiple businesses, including a popular mud racing magazine and a multi-state HVAC company. Today, Anthony shares his journey from his first venture at 19 to his current role in the private equity firm Exuma Capital Partners. He offers valuable brand-building insights and explains why it’s as crucial as your sys...

Jul 22, 202456 minEp. 345
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