Episode 31: Capturing the Market with Greg Sproul
Business Blueprints
In this episode of Business Blueprints, Bryan sits down with Greg Sproul, founder of Captured Listings, to talk about turning a side hustle into a growing real estate media business. Greg shares how he built his company on word of mouth and organic marketing—without traditional advertising. They explore what it takes to scale a seasonal service business, the challenges of hiring, and the nuances of working in both standard and luxury markets. Greg also opens up about the shifting content landscape, viral clips, and why creating value goes beyond just showing up with a camera. Whether you're...
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Episode 30 - Hugh Rumbaugh
Business Blueprints
In this episode of Business Blueprints, Bryan sits down with Hugh Rumbaugh, a construction entrepreneur who’s built a multi-business portfolio across masonry, roofing, remodeling, insurance, and materials. Hugh shares how he transitioned from working in the field to owning and integrating ten companies under one umbrella. They discuss how to evaluate acquisition opportunities, maintain culture through ownership transitions, and build teams that operate independently. Hugh explains why he prioritizes lean, profitable companies with strong operators—and how he approaches post-sale...
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Episode 29 - Justin Escajeda | Escajeda Masonry
Business Blueprints
In this episode of Business Blueprints, Bryan sits down with Justin Escajeda of Escajeda Masonry to unpack what it takes to grow a construction business without losing control or culture. Justin shares his journey from working in the field to acquiring and overseeing multiple businesses across trades. He talks through the challenges of transitioning out of daily operations, trusting leaders, and maintaining efficiency across companies. The conversation covers how to evaluate a business for acquisition, the importance of post-sale transitions, and why not every deal is worth doing. They...
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Episode 28 - Mike Claudio | WinRate Consulting
Business Blueprints
In this episode of Business Blueprints, Bryan sits down with Mike Claudio, founder of WinRate Consulting and ZDM Marketing, for a candid conversation on leadership, scaling, and personal growth. Mike shares insights from a full day spent coaching Bryan’s team, emphasizing the importance of evolving leadership alongside business growth. They discuss the challenges of hitting growth plateaus, building effective systems, and the emotional toll of leading through rapid scaling. The episode explores how leaders must transition from doers to strategic guides, the risks of miscommunication with...
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Episode 27 - Al Farah | Build412
Business Blueprints
In this episode of Business Blueprints, host Bryan Bercik sits down with Al Farah to explore the journey of building a successful contracting business and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship in the construction industry. Al shares how he got his start in the business, from early experiences in the field to the pivotal moments that led him to establish and grow his own company. The conversation highlights the importance of discipline, strategic decision-making, and building strong relationships to sustain long-term success. The discussion also covers key industry insights, including...
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Episode 26 - Brian Kirchner
Business Blueprints
In this episode of Business Blueprints, Bryan sits down with Brian Kirchner from City Life Group to discuss the journey of building a real estate investment and management powerhouse in Pittsburgh. They explore the early days of starting in real estate, the pivotal moments that led to launching City Life, and the strategic decisions that shaped their growth. The conversation delves into the complexities of running a brokerage, investing in properties, and scaling a business while maintaining operational efficiency. Brian shares insights on why they initially pursued a ReMax franchise, the...
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Episode 25 - EJ Pettiford
Business Blueprints
In this episode of Business Blueprints, host Brian welcomes tattoo artist EJ Pettiford, who has been pursuing his lifelong dream of tattooing in the Pittsburgh area for five years. EJ shares his journey, highlighting the various jobs and experiences that led him to finally achieve his goal. He discusses his current position at Crimson Lotus Collective, where he works alongside mentors who have significantly influenced his creative growth in the tattoo industry. The episode reflects on the importance of meaningful conversations and planning, with Brian and EJ reminiscing about their many car...
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Episode 24 - Bradley Jacobs
Business Blueprints
In this episode of Business Blueprints, guest Bradely Jacobs joins Bryan to discuss the power of focusing on a single business model before branching out into new ventures. The conversation highlights the pitfalls of “scatterbrain syndrome,” where entrepreneurs attempt to juggle multiple income streams, often at the expense of true mastery and success. Drawing from real-world experiences, the speakers share insights on building a strong foundation by concentrating on one area, such as flipping homes or multifamily properties, before diversifying. They delve into lessons learned about...
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Episode 23 - Jim Fredo
Business Blueprints
In this episode of Business Blueprints, Bryan interviews Jim Fredo from Spring Capital Partners about his transition from corporate America to real estate investing. Jim shares lessons learned from early mistakes and discusses his investment strategies, including conservative financial practices and managing multifamily properties. Bryan and Jim delve into key aspects of property management, from tenant relations to renovations. They discuss the importance of vertical integration, using project management tools like Asana, and maintaining integrity in construction. Bryan also reflects on the...
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Episode 22 - Phil Pagliari
Business Blueprints
In episode 22 of Business Blueprints, Bryan welcomes Phil Pagliari, a multifaceted individual who is a Christian, father, husband, pastor at Valley Remnant Church, designer, and freelancer. The episode dives into Phil's inspiring journey, highlighting the significant transformations he has undergone since high school. Phil shares his experiences, starting from his graduation in 2004, his brief stint at Pittsburgh Technical Institute, and his early ventures from the streets of Denora. Despite a tumultuous start, Phil's story is one of resilience and continuous growth, showcasing his commitment...
info_outlineWHEN YOU SEE A PROBLEM IN THE MARKET, TRY AND FIX IT!
In this episode Bryan sits down with agent and construction professional Jon Masuga! Hear how the guys met back in 2014 and how flipping brought them together. The guys talk learning the how to’s and why remodeling was the next pivot from flipping. Hear Jon's opinion about why it’s so hard finding the right properties and why people are turned off by lazy flips. Find out what a client avatar even is during this awesome discussion. Lastly, Jon also thinks to be a real estate agent you also have to have an extensive knowledge of construction to be great for your clients.
Jon asks Bryan for advice on growth to wrap up the show.
Starting out as an intern for a real estate group in college, Jon has accumulated over 13 years in different positions in real estate, majority of which involved being a Realtor at various big name brokerages. Most recently, Jon was a Sales Representative for NVR home builders (Heartland Homes/Ryan Homes) for 5 years where he sold over 100 new construction homes of all shapes and sizes, ranging from $250,000 to over $1,000,000. In that time, Jon would meet with 4-5 buyers a day and learn about their wants, needs and struggles in the search to find their new home. When COVID hit Jon realized that the nature of real estate was changing forever, and being part of a large corporation would not allow him the flexibility to always do right by the client.
Sensing the enormous change in Pittsburgh real estate with limited inventory and rising prices, Jon saw an opportunity to start a brokerage that acted as a Fiduciary to the client instead of just trying to get their business anyway possible. Jon aims to build his brand around eliminating all the things people hate about traditional brokerages like binding contracts, random fees, minimum commissions or a big team where you can get lost in the shuffle.
Jon has built a trusted network of real estate professionals including lenders, title companies, real estate attorneys, new construction sales reps, investors and an most of all an affiliated construction team to deliver real value to all his clients. Jon owns and invests in the markets you’re already looking so he can relate to what you’re going through in your search first hand. Whether you’re selling your home, finding your next or looking to start into the world of investing, JEM Realty has it all in one place.