A Major Setback, A Stronger Business | Phill and Heather Oddo of Closer Look General Contracting
Release Date: 12/03/2025
Rebuild Stronger After a Business Collapse | Casey Fabling of Front Range Home Services
Builder Stories
Casey Fabling shares what it takes to come back after losing a company. He walks through how a fast growing business unraveled once visibility and controls disappeared. Casey reflects on the personal toll of shutting down and starting over in a new city. He explains how rebuilding with intention changed every aspect of his approach. This conversation offers a rare look at resilience from someone who has lived it. Casey focuses on what he learned rather than what he lost, and why his second company is being built with a very different definition of success. In this episode you will learn: What...
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The Importance of Failure | Dave Stephens
Builder Stories
In this episode of Builder Stories, Dave Stephens shares practical insights drawn from his real-world journey of building and growing a business on his own terms. The conversation is packed with honest advice that resonates with builders navigating growth and challenges. Dave’s story offers encouragement and clarity for anyone looking to move forward with confidence, wherever their path may lead. In this episode you will learn: How to transition from a different career into construction Learning from failures to become even more successful Why consistency matters How hiring coaches can help...
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Build Stronger Partnerships That Support Your Business | Eric Anderson of DreamMaker Bath and Kitchen
Builder Stories
In this episode of Builder Stories, Eric Anderson shares what it looks like when a technology partner truly understands the needs of builders and remodelers. He reflects on DreamMaker’s experience working with JobTread and why genuine care for both people and product makes a measurable difference. Eric offers insight into how the right systems and relationships can improve operations while strengthening trust across your team. This conversation highlights why alignment and service matter just as much as features when choosing tools for your business. In this episode you’ll learn: Why...
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Make Better Decisions to Build a Stronger Business | Brandon Fuchs of Elite Builder Society
Builder Stories
Construction business coach Brandon Fuchs shares lessons shaped by his early years running a remodeling company without clear guidance. He describes how following the wrong advice created confusion and delayed progress. Brandon explains why many remodeling businesses fail within the first five years and how indecision plays a major role. This conversation challenges contractors to rethink who they listen to and how they approach growth. In this episode you will learn: What contractors should focus on first when starting out How to decide when to outsource work Why many remodeling businesses...
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Shift From Reactive to Intentional Ownership | Steve Rozenberg of The Rozenberg Group
Builder Stories
After losing his airline job in the wake of 9-11, Steve Rozenberg learned that career stability can disappear overnight. That loss fueled his drive to build a highly successful property management business that scaled to 1,000 properties and was later sold to a venture backed company. In this episode, Steve explains why many contractors are stuck in a chaotic reactive mode without clearly defined systems and processes. He also shares why proactive leadership and in person connection matter when building a company that can withstand disruption. In this episode you will learn: What a sale date...
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Strengthening Your Marketing Engine | Meysam Pourkaram of Enzo Design Build
Builder Stories
Meysam shares how early challenges with lead flow pushed him to study marketing, create his own content, and eventually build a results-driven in-house team that reflects his company’s vision. He reveals his winning strategy for attracting attention in a landscape that’s increasingly driven by AI, and provides insight on how to use social media to produce the best results. A key component of Enzo’s success lies in the company’s carefully curated tech stack, and Meysam also outlines the solutions he relies on and how each of them fits into his overall business strategy. In this episode...
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A Major Setback, A Stronger Business | Phill and Heather Oddo of Closer Look General Contracting
Builder Stories
In this far-ranging conversation, Phill and Heather revisit a painful embezzlement that left them questioning every facet of the business. Rather than retreat in the face of that disruption, they used the moment as an opportunity to rebuild their systems with a trust-but-verify mindset, putting safeguards in place that protect the business from repeating past mistakes. The discussion also covers the success habits that strengthened their leadership and brought their team into full alignment. In this episode you will learn: How to identify the right moment to make early hires Strategies for...
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Strengthening Operations With Support | Cody Reinke of Wings Construction
Builder Stories
In this episode, Cody Reinke reflects on the mindset that helped him stay successful while building and managing a company on his own. Eric Fortenberry offers guidance on identifying the right time to hire, structuring compensation, which tasks are best to outsource and understanding the key business metrics. Their conversation gives listeners a clear look at how thoughtful support and practical planning can strengthen daily operations. In this episode you will learn: How to identify the right moment to make early hires Ways to balance time in the field with time running the business...
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The Power of Outside Expertise | Ben and Amy Wright of Center State Craftsmen
Builder Stories
Ben and Amy Wright describe how a move to Nashville for music eventually led them into house flipping, and ultimately a thriving construction business. They share how years of working on their own homes helped them gain confidence, attract referrals, and step into larger projects. Coaching played a major role in shaping their mindset, improving their systems, and helping them grow into the high end work they now enjoy. Ben and Amy’s story shows how thoughtful decisions, and the willingness to learn can completely reshape a business. In this episode you will learn: Which coaches accelerated...
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Creating Order in Construction | Brandon Sinkler of Coastal Builders and Consultants
Builder Stories
Brandon Sinkler traded firefighting for construction and built a successful remodeling company in Charleston, South Carolina. What began as a leap of faith into house flipping became a career grounded in consistency and service. Brandon shares how he grew from working solo to adding key hires who helped him bring structure and balance to his work. His story highlights how he developed clear systems and standard operating procedures that now guide every project. In this episode you will learn: How Brandon transitioned from public service to construction The lessons he learned pricing and...
info_outlineIn this far-ranging conversation, Phill and Heather revisit a painful embezzlement that left them questioning every facet of the business. Rather than retreat in the face of that disruption, they used the moment as an opportunity to rebuild their systems with a trust-but-verify mindset, putting safeguards in place that protect the business from repeating past mistakes. The discussion also covers the success habits that strengthened their leadership and brought their team into full alignment.
In this episode you will learn:
- How to identify the right moment to make early hires
- Strategies for using partners and systems to keep admin work organized
- Key numbers to follow when planning for long term growth
- What it takes to shift your energy toward the tasks that move the business forward
- The organization that changed how they approach business
Listen to the episode to learn more.
Resources:
Visit Closer Look General Contracting here.