Blue Collar Business Podcast

The days of subsidizing a general contractor's administrative overhead are over. Bassem Hamdy, CEO of BRIQ, brings 27 years of tech experience to explain why generic software fails the trades and how applied intelligence fixes it.

Operators are drowning in ITBs while unrecorded field directives turn into margin fade before hitting the monthly forecast. Bassem details how specialized systems target these bottlenecks by scoring leads before an estimator even opens the file. We break down the mechanics of using closed language models to reclaim billable hours, process change orders, and completely eliminate double data entry from the job site.

For subcontractors losing bids to slow estimating cycles, this conversation provides a blueprint to automate the intake pipeline. Please subscribe and share this episode with an operator who needs to audit their software spend. What administrative task is draining the most time from your field crews?

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Check out our Sponsors:

PayDirt Support: paydirtsupport.com 

Trainual: trainual.com/bluecollar

Bolster Built: bolsterbuilt.com

Nextiva: nextiva.com

Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up.

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Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com
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Scaling a heavy civil operation often means suffocating under debt and yellow iron. Shenar Wood from Practical Grit, outlines his exact path from directional drilling to a strategic private equity rollup.

Operators routinely bleed cash by mismanaging field production and running blind on financial data. Shenar breaks down the steps he took to prepare his underground utility company for a profitable exit. He shares the brutal cost of untangling messy accounting and why hiring a fractional CFO is non-negotiable for contractors wanting to increase margins.

For heavy civil owners drowning in personal guarantees, this conversation delivers a clear roadmap to sell your company. Subscribe and share this episode with a fellow operator looking to clean up their operations. What specific metric are you tracking this week to increase job site profitability?

Support the show

Check out our Sponsors:

PayDirt Support: paydirtsupport.com 

Trainual: trainual.com/bluecollar

Bolster Built: bolsterbuilt.com

Nextiva: nextiva.com

Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up.

Follow and stay connected:

Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast
Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast
TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod
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A single utility strike can bankrupt a project before lunch. JC Spalding, owner of 502 Equipment, explains why hydro excavation is rapidly replacing manual spot digging across the nation.

Leaving traditional methods behind requires serious capital, but failing to adapt exposes contractors to catastrophic liability. JC breaks down the true cost of operating vacuum trucks compared to the financial ruin of hitting an undocumented main. He unpacks the necessary shift in safety protocols and how equipping operators with the correct accessories minimizes downtime on high-value machinery.

For utility contractors weighing the transition to hydro excavation, this conversation outlines the exact operational considerations to make the leap. Subscribe and share this episode with your field supervisors. What is the most expensive subsurface surprise your crew has encountered?

Support the show

Check out our Sponsors:

PayDirt Support: paydirtsupport.com 

Trainual: trainual.com/bluecollar

Bolster Built: bolsterbuilt.com

Nextiva: nextiva.com

Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up.

Follow and stay connected:

Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast
Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast
TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod
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Unseen utility lines and bad data quietly drain civil construction margins. Alec Pestov, founder of vGIS, explains how 3D site scanning instantly protects your bottom line.

Many contractors run complex excavation projects on messy spreadsheets. We map out a unified operational system built specifically for the underground space. You will learn how to use standard iPads to capture open trench scans, document foreign crossings, and convert field redlines into billable quantities. When engineers challenge your pay apps, having time-stamped visual data ends the argument fast.

For utility operators fighting over change orders, this provides a blueprint to back up your billing with indisputable proof. Subscribe and share this conversation with a project manager needing better field tracking. What is the most expensive site condition you failed to properly document? Let us know in the comments.

Support the show

Check out our Sponsors:

PayDirt Support: paydirtsupport.com 

Trainual: trainual.com/bluecollar

Bolster Built: bolsterbuilt.com

Nextiva: nextiva.com

Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up.

Follow and stay connected:

Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast
Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast
TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod
Facebook: B...

Your biggest cash flow issues are just people problems in disguise. Mike Matalone unpacks why contractors consistently fail at hiring and retaining skilled labor.

Stop hunting for natural-born leaders. Operational growth comes from establishing non-negotiable core values and transforming average recruits into high-performers through strict accountability. We break down exact interview tactics needed to weed out uncoachable candidates. Instead of letting high turnover erode profit margins, you must define specific job KPIs before posting an ad. Aligning personal goals with company targets turns you from a babysitter into a true business owner.

For operators trapped in the daily grind of managing chaotic crews, this conversation provides a clear roadmap to build an autonomous team. Subscribe and share this episode with a fellow contractor battling high turnover. What test do you use during interviews to determine if a candidate is truly coachable?

Support the show

Check out our Sponsors:

PayDirt Support: paydirtsupport.com 

Trainual: trainual.com/bluecollar

Bolster Built: bolsterbuilt.com

Nextiva: nextiva.com

Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up.

Follow and stay connected:

Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast
Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast
TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod
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The industry complains about a lack of skilled operators instead of actually training them. Cole Morse and the More Dirt Pro team break down how they launched an interactive app and hands-on dozer school to solve this gap.

We review the logistics of bringing complete beginners into the seat to safely cut slopes and hit hubs. Relying purely on machine control creates vulnerable crews, so we explain why learning to pull grade freehand beats staring at a rover when the satellites drop out. Securing corporate backing and dealing with heavy equipment overhead takes serious conviction.

For dirt contractors frustrated by green hands breaking iron, this conversation delivers actionable methods to structure entry-level training. Please subscribe and share this specific episode with an earthmoving peer. Are you pushing new operators to master manual grade checking before introducing cab monitors?

Support the show

Check out our Sponsors:

PayDirt Support: paydirtsupport.com 

Trainual: trainual.com/bluecollar

Bolster Built: bolsterbuilt.com

Nextiva: nextiva.com

Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up.

Follow and stay connected:

Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast
Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast
TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod
Facebook: B...

Chasing endless growth can slowly drain the life out of a business owner. Too many contractors are burning themselves out trying to feed a massive payroll instead of doing the actual work they love. Ron Bylo of Bylo Acres joins the show to share his deliberate choice to step back from managing crews and build a highly profitable solo residential excavation company.

We sit down to unpack the exact framework behind his success in the residential dirt world. We get into establishing bracketed pricing, mastering true job costing to absorb the blow of a broken mulcher tooth, and handling steep terrain drainage issues in the Ozarks. Ron operates with a unique philosophy that your business is simply a tool to support your family's freedom, which completely changes how you approach marketing and filtering client leads.

Managing a team and acquiring fleet assets brings a heavy burden of scheduling, maintenance headaches, and continuous phone calls that pull you right out of the cab. You will walk away from this conversation with a method for pricing your daily operating costs, tactics for using simple social media stories to build local trust, and the mindset shift required to walk away from a bad project.

If you care about taking control of your schedule, locking in your job costs, and building a highly loyal customer base, you’ll get a lot from this. Please subscribe to the channel and share this episode with a fellow contractor who might be stuck carrying too much weight on their shoulders. What is the single biggest hidden expense that caught you off guard when you priced your first few jobs?

Support the show

Check out our Sponsors:

PayDirt Support: paydirtsupport.com 

Trainual: trainual.com/bluecollar

Bolster Built: bolsterbuilt.com

Nextiva: nextiva.com

Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up.

Follow and stay connected:

Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast
Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast
TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod
Facebook: B...

A piece of paper will never show what a man with callused hands can actually build in the field. As the older generation retires and the skilled labor gap widens, figuring out how to properly vet and hire true craftsmen is the difference between making schedule and going bankrupt. Rocco and Cheri Molfese, founders of Crown Coverings and the Collars app, join the show to share their specific expertise in changing the hiring landscape for tradesmen.

We sit down to discuss the painful lessons learned from taking a massive personal risk to build a commercial flooring enterprise from the ground up. We get into navigating the jump from residential to commercial, the hidden leverage of value engineering, and how to manage general contractor relationships before scissor lifts completely derail your floor prep. The real breakthrough comes when Rocco explains how a visual portfolio tells a more complete story of a worker's value on a prevailing wage job than a generic AI-generated resume ever could.

Running a trade business takes a massive mental toll when you are acting as the bank for contractors and maxing out personal credit lines just to keep the lights on during an economic downturn. Moving into the commercial sector requires serious grit and a willingness to step in and save the day when other crews fall behind schedule. You will walk away with a clear understanding of why protecting your company with a lien is just smart business, and how leaning on local supply house relationships can keep your cash flow alive during massive contract payouts.

If you care about hiring reliable crews, expanding your commercial footprint, and fixing the broken application process, you’ll get a lot from this. Please subscribe to the channel and share this episode with another contractor who is fighting in the trenches right now. What is the hardest part about vetting new talent in your specific trade today?

Support the show

Check out our Sponsors:

PayDirt Support: paydirtsupport.com 

Trainual: trainual.com/bluecollar

Bolster Built: bolsterbuilt.com

Nextiva: nextiva.com

Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up.

Follow and stay connected:

Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast
Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast
TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod
Facebook: B...

Untracked dirt and lost load tickets are a direct leak in your profit margin. In an economy where margins are tightening and projects demand precision, you can no longer afford to guess what your equipment and crews are actually costing you day-to-day. Today, we sit down with Long Nguyen, the solo founder and developer of SpoilStack, who built a straightforward dirt-tracking platform specifically to eliminate the friction between field crews and front-office data.

We get into the exact mechanics of bringing modern tech to the dirt world without alienating your foremen. We cover tracking load counts in real-time, matching machine hours to initial estimates, and the fatal flaws found in over-engineered project management systems. Long's core philosophy is that the tool should soak up the work rather than create it, meaning software must be dead simple if you ever expect an operator out in the mud to actually hit the submit button.

The reality of implementing new tech is that change is exhausting for a crew already battling summer heat, machine downtime, and tight deadlines. Getting your guys to simply download an app and log a dump truck ticket can turn into a massive headache if the friction is too high. You will walk away from this conversation with a clear framework for reducing that operational friction, a better understanding of how field-level documentation bridges the estimation gap, and a stark reminder that relying on memory or disorganized text threads will eventually cost you real money.

If you care about tightening your estimating cycle, stopping profit leaks, and getting your field operators on the exact same page as your office, you’ll get a lot from this. Please make sure to subscribe to the channel and share this episode with another contractor who is currently fighting to keep their operations organized. What is the absolute biggest hurdle you face when trying to roll out a new process to your crews in the field?

Support the show

Check out our Sponsors:

PayDirt Support: paydirtsupport.com 

Trainual: trainual.com/bluecollar

Bolster Built: bolsterbuilt.com

Nextiva: nextiva.com

Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up.

Follow and stay connected:

Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast
Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast
TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod
Facebook: B...

Relying on a yellow pad and a good memory is a guaranteed way to lose a six-figure contract. As the market tightens and technology evolves, failing to track your sales and production data means you are actively bleeding profit out of your bottom line. Moustafa Moursy from Push Analytics joins the show to explain how to build foolproof, foundational systems that actually work for blue-collar businesses.

We sit down to unpack the exact framework for transitioning from a chaotic, people-dependent operation to a streamlined, system-dependent machine. We get into flow-charting your current workflow, integrating client relations management platforms like HubSpot or Monday.com, and leveraging tools like Claude for real-time production analysis. The real breakthrough comes when you understand that buying an expensive piece of software is entirely useless if you haven't properly mapped out the foundational human processes first.

The hardest part of scaling isn't paying for the software, but getting your seasoned superintendents and estimators to actually use it without walking off the job. We break down the heavy friction of changing established field habits, the painful financial cost of neglected follow-ups, and the trap of trying to build a system for a $10 million company when you are currently doing $5 million. You will walk away with a clear roadmap to map your baseline workflow, prioritize necessary features over bloated tech fluff, and hold your crews accountable without micromanaging.

If you care about lead capture, bid tracking, and operational efficiency, you’ll get a lot from this. Please remember to Subscribe to the channel and Share this episode with another contractor who is currently drowning in disorganized paperwork. What is the one operational bottleneck you are committing to finally systemize this week?

Support the show

Check out our Sponsors:

PayDirt Support: paydirtsupport.com 

Trainual: trainual.com/bluecollar

Bolster Built: bolsterbuilt.com

Nextiva: nextiva.com

Tune in to the Blue Collar Business Podcast with Sy Kirby for the rawest, most relevant stories behind building a successful business in the trades. New episodes drop every Wednesday at 5 am CST—put your boots on and get ready to level up.

Follow and stay connected:

Website: bluecollarbusinesspodcast.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@BlueCollarBusinessPodcast
Instagram: @bluecollarbusinesspodcast
TikTok: @bluecollarbusinesspod
Facebook: B...