Episode 37 - Mike Lucas | Revive Flooring & Paint
Business Blueprints
In this episode of Business Blueprints, Bryan sits down with Mike Lucas of Revive Flooring & Paint to talk about launching a new business, scaling smart, and learning from years of experience in construction. Mike shares how his six years running the construction arm of CityLife gave him the foundation—and confidence—to start his own company. He talks about the challenges of building systems from scratch, hiring the right people early, and finding that balance between taking on work to stay busy and staying true to your niche. Bryan and Mike dive deep into leadership lessons, growing...
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Episode 36 - Building Culture & Clarity in Business with Quentin Trisler
Business Blueprints
In this episode, Bryan sits down with Quentin Trisler to talk about the importance of building a strong company culture and the clarity it brings to leadership and growth. Quentin shares how his team defines values beyond buzzwords and uses them as a compass for decision-making and accountability. They dig into what it means to develop leaders internally, create transparency around expectations, and avoid the pitfalls of misalignment as companies grow. Quentin also discusses how he balances ambition with patience—knowing when to push for more and when to solidify foundations. The...
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Episode 35 - Mike Sante | Flipping 412
Business Blueprints
In this episode of Business Blueprints, Bryan sits down with Mike Sante of Flipping 412 to unpack his journey from building decks to building one of Pittsburgh’s most recognized flipping and investing brands. Mike shares how he transitioned from construction into real estate, why understanding the order of construction is critical for investors, and how consistency—not quick wins—is the real key to success. The conversation covers the lessons learned from mistakes, the importance of networking, and the value of building a brand that carries trust in the marketplace. They also dive into...
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Episode 34 - Andrew Nuhfer | AKN Interiors
Business Blueprints
In this episode of Business Blueprints, host Bryan Bercik sits down with Andrew Nuhfer to explore his entrepreneurial path and lessons from building a thriving business. They discuss navigating early challenges, building strong client relationships, and creating efficient operational systems. Andrew shares his approach to scaling while maintaining quality, including hiring strategies, fostering company culture, and leveraging technology to streamline processes. He reflects on pivotal decisions that shaped his growth and offers advice for aspiring business owners on risk-taking and resilience....
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Episode 33 - Skyler Stewart | Dino Painting
Business Blueprints
In this episode of Business Blueprints, Bryan sits down with Skylar Stewart of Dino Painting to talk about rebranding, building efficient systems, and scaling a service business without losing your edge. Skylar shares how he went from solo painter to running one of Pittsburgh’s standout residential painting companies. They dive into what it really takes to pull off a successful rebrand, how Skylar built custom systems using tools like Monday and CompanyCam, and why moving from in-house crews to subs changed the game. They also discuss automation, client experience, hiring PMs, and the...
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Episode 32 - Ray Benvenuti | Benvenuti Landscaping
Business Blueprints
In this episode, Bryan sits down with Ray Benvenuti of Benvenuti Landscaping and Reconstruction to talk about building a service-driven brand, navigating growth in the home services industry, and maintaining authenticity through it all. Ray shares the story behind two viral jobs where he stepped in to rescue homeowners from bad contractor experiences—one of which caught the attention of KDKA. He explains how leading with integrity and doing the right thing, even when it’s not profitable, has helped cement his reputation in the Pittsburgh area. The conversation digs into the evolving...
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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...
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.