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No. 12: Hiring Sales Employees ft. Rick Matus

Design Build Central

Release Date: 11/12/2024

No. 28: Estimating with Design Build Central show art No. 28: Estimating with Design Build Central

Design Build Central

In this episode of Design Build Central, hosts Bruce Case and Bill Millholland sit down with Dave Exton, the primary estimator for the design-build side of Case. Dave walks through his background, his estimating philosophy, and the systems and processes that support accurate, scalable estimating in a growing remodeling company.

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Design Build Central

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No. 26: Priorities: What Really Matters Next show art No. 26: Priorities: What Really Matters Next

Design Build Central

Design Build Central returns with a forward-looking conversation every remodeling professional should hear as we head into 2026.   In this episode, hosts Bruce Case and Bill Milholland of Case Design take a clear-eyed look at what’s changing—and what truly matters most—going into the year ahead. From shifting consumer expectations and evolving team dynamics to the accelerating role of technology and ongoing economic uncertainty, they break down the forces shaping the industry right now.   More importantly, Bruce and Bill share the priorities they believe will separate strong,...

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No. 25: Planning for 2026: Thriving Amid Uncertainty show art No. 25: Planning for 2026: Thriving Amid Uncertainty

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This year feels different.  The economy is uncertain, consumer and employee demands are shifting, AI and technology as a whole are front and center.  We can't just repeat last year's plan - we need to adapt.   Join Bill and Bruce in this episode as they share their planning thoughts and process for 2026.   This includes understanding the environment, strategic planning, marketing & lead generation, operational efficiency, as well as key considerations with sales and gross product.  Spending time on a plan now will allow you to work the plan going...

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No. 24: Beyond Blueprints: The New Era Of Design show art No. 24: Beyond Blueprints: The New Era Of Design

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In our last couple of episodes, we have explored the seismic shifts shaping today’s remodeling clients and businesses: trust in institutions is at historic lows, media channels are more fragmented than ever, and the rise of AI is pushing expectations for speed, customization, and communication to unprecedented heights.    This episode of Design Build Central dives into how design tools, technology, and collaboration are transforming the way remodelers and homeowners bring visions to life.    From shifting consumer expectations and new design processes to the challenges...

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No. 23: The New Rules of Revenue: Sales Strategies That Actually Work Now show art No. 23: The New Rules of Revenue: Sales Strategies That Actually Work Now

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In our last episode, we explored the seismic shifts shaping today’s remodeling clients: trust in institutions is at historic lows, media channels are more fragmented than ever, and the rise of AI is pushing expectations for speed, customization, and communication to unprecedented heights.   Homeowners aren’t just changing what they want from a remodel — they’re changing why they want it, and how they expect the process to unfold. These forces are rewriting the rules of engagement for remodelers everywhere.   In this episode, we dive into how sales strategies need to evolve to...

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No. 22: Remodeling in a Changing World show art No. 22: Remodeling in a Changing World

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In this episode of Design Build Central, we introduce a vital new series on Remodeling in a Changing World.   Today’s clients aren’t just changing what they want in their homes—they’re changing why they want it. We explore the deeper forces reshaping consumer behavior, from the erosion of institutional trust and the decentralization of media to the rise of AI, economic and political uncertainty, and a generational shift in values. These trends are changing how homeowners make decisions and what they expect from remodeling professionals.   We don’t just explore the big...

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No. 20: Today's Consumer Mindset show art No. 20: Today's Consumer Mindset

Design Build Central

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No.19: Mid-Year Check-In: Performance & Possibilities show art No.19: Mid-Year Check-In: Performance & Possibilities

Design Build Central

In this episode of Design Build Central, hosts Bruce Case and Bill Milholland dive into the critical importance of conducting a mid-year business review. They emphasize the value of stepping back to evaluate financial performance—not just overall numbers, but also how results stack up against your original budget. The conversation explores the vital role of cash flow management in sustaining operations and seizing opportunities, especially as the business environment shifts mid-year. Bruce and Bill also highlight the need to assess internal operations beyond the balance sheet. They discuss...

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More Episodes

In Episode #12, Bruce and Bill are joined by Sr. Vice President, Rick Matus for a conversation on hiring new salespeople. It's a wide ranging discussion and touches on many areas to consider if you're thinking about growing your team.

 
First: Hiring and Recruiting
- Where do you find new Project Developers?
- What attributes or traits do you look for? 
- How important is “fit” in deciding to hire a new employee?
 
Bruce, Bill and Rick discuss onboarding and training a new hire. Finding the right candidate is critical, but much of their success will come from a comprehensive training program:
- Start big picture with a broad overview of the organization, it’s history, culture, policies, and process
- Expose them to systems within the business- estimating, CAD, CRM, etc.
- it’s tales daily interaction for some period of time and it will be 6- 12 months before this person is working on their own
- Leverage the team, have others share their expertise and start to build a relationship. Shadowing other salespeople and observing what they do is very helpful
- Set expectations, give homework, establish deadlines- develop lots of small hurdles to get a read on their progress/ ability to do the job
 
Case is a big company with  tools and resources that aren't available to everyone. They discuss ideas about how a firm with fewer resources might think about hiring a new salesperson:
- Be patient! This is going to take 6- 12 months. Are you prepared for this investment of time and money?
- Have a timeline for specific milestones just like a remodeling project
- Spend the time to document your process or have the new hire do it. You have to have a repeatable process to get predictable results.
- Have a chart or document that outlines roles & responsibilities for various “client facing” roles can also be very helpful
 
As the episode wraps up, They share lessons learned along the way:
- Allow this person to fail, they will not get everything right the first time. 
- You learn through practice.
- Some training needs to be self directed. They need to be actively engaged and search out answers to their questions.
- They need confidence in sales! If a new person knows what to do, when to do it, fits with the team, has empathy for the client, and understands your process, they're going to do just fine. 
 
If you have questions, comments, or thoughts, send them to us at dbcentral@casedesign.com