In this episode of Blue Collar Startup, hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with Denver Whetten of Degan Construction LLC to discuss building a successful construction company through leadership, Extreme Ownership, and strong client relationships. Denver shares how he scaled from a small concrete startup into a major contractor while developing leaders, creating a winning company culture, and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship in the trades.

Learn more about Denver Whetten and Degan Construction LLC, based in Phoenix, Arizona, at deganconstruction.com.

0:00 Intro & opening banter

1:22 AI, marketing shifts, and adapting in business

3:01 Introducing Denver Whetten & Degan Construction

4:37 EOS and Extreme Ownership discussion begins

7:00 Leaving corporate construction to start the company

11:25 Landing the first jobs with no real plan

13:22 Learning to solve problems without all the answers

15:17 Advice for tradespeople starting a business

17:01 “Make a lot of money, so everybody wins” philosophy

21:38 Discovering Extreme Ownership leadership principles

26:33 Realizing “I was the problem” as a leader

29:35 Weekly leadership training inside Degan Construction

34:05 Building trust with customers through performance

39:21 Why reputation matters more than short-term profit

40:38 Family business leadership & avoiding nepotism

46:46 YouTube Exclusive begins (youtube.com/@bluecollarstartup849)

In this episode of Blue Collar Startup, hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with Lawrence Castillo to talk about scaling an HVAC business through customer service, recruiting, training, and operational structure. Lawrence shares how Brody-Pennell HVAC grew from a legacy company with 250 Google reviews into a dominant Southern California brand with over 5,000 five-star reviews while building a people-first culture focused on long-term growth.

Find Lawrence Castillo and Brody-Pennell HVAC online at brodypennell.com and connect with him on LinkedIn.

0:00 Introduction and guest welcome

3:00 Brody-Pennell HVAC growth story

6:25 Challenges of the LA HVAC market

10:00 Customer service philosophy

11:57 Growing to 5,000 Google reviews

16:24 KPIs and technician accountability

21:10 Building an in-house training program

24:11 Hiring communicators over mechanics

29:01 Recruiting systems for scaling

33:20 Solving the labor shortage

36:01 Service agreements and recurring revenue

40:36 Creating a customer service culture

44:53 Managing multiple businesses

49:28 Advice for tradespeople and owners

54:00 Where to find Lawrence Castillo

55:29 Outro and sponsors

In this episode of Blue Collar Startup, Scott Sypniewski and Scott Sypniewski Jr. share how they built SSLLC Plumbing into a $25M+ plumbing business by combining extreme ownership, leadership development, and strong company culture. From overcoming personal struggles to scaling fast in the trades, this father-son team breaks down real strategies for growing a service business, implementing EOS, and creating a team that drives long-term success.

Find Scott Sypniewski, Scott Sypniewski Jr., and SSLLC Plumbing at ssllc.pro and connect with them to learn more about their work in the trades.

Watch the full YouTube exclusive segment here: youtube.com/@bluecollarstartup849

00:00 Introduction

1:45 Meet the Guests: Scott Sypniewski Sr. & Scott Sypniewski Jr.

3:30 How Junior Successfully Works Remotely

5:16 Transitioning from Father/Son to Business Partners

8:56 The Power of Using First Names in a Family Business

10:43 The Origin Story of SSLLC Plumbing

14:08 Scott Sr.'s Defining Moment & Extreme Ownership

16:15 Landing a $7.2 Million Contract on Day One

18:46 A Brutal Self-Assessment with Echelon Front's JP Dinnell

23:45 SSLLC Plumbing's Vision: Building on the Success of Others

27:58 Junior Takes the Baton: Building Business Structure

32:08 Implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)

36:15 The Unique Visionary & Integrator Dynamic

40:00 Level 10 Meetings & Decentralized Command in Action

43:18 The 80/80 Principle Explained

48:25 Appointing a Chief Culture Officer

55:58 SSLLC Plumbing's Core Values & Hiring Criteria

1:07:10 Head over to our YouTube channel to watch the YouTube exclusive segment! 

In episode 127 of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Michael Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with Bill Tansey to discuss bringing structure to a chaotic business and defining the real root of your operational fires. They dive into the critical differences between just being busy and actually being productive, and how to know when wearing every hat becomes a liability instead of a hustle.

You can connect with Bill Tansey Jr. on LinkedIn, visit his website at theopexshop.com, or email him directly at [email protected].

0:00 Introduction & Welcome 

2:49 Introducing Bill Tansey & The OpEx Shop 

5:02 What to do when "everything feels like it's on fire" 

7:35 Defining the performance gap in your business 

10:22 The importance of proper problem definition 

12:56 Common examples of small business chaos 

14:00 When does wearing every hat become a liability? 

16:13 Quantifying the risk of doing everything yourself 

18:34 Are you running a business or being self-employed? 

20:57 The 3 types of motion: Rotation, Vibration, Translation 

23:43 Moving things from point A to point B 

26:18 Falling out of your personal operating system 

28:40 The "Automate or Delegate" mindset 

31:20 Bringing structure to a company with none 

33:41 Setting success metrics for standard roles 

36:42 The biggest mistake owners make when getting organized 

39:49 Leading your team vs. doing the work yourself 

43:41 Where to find Bill Tansey 

45:20 Wrapping up the main episode

In episode 126 of Blue Collar StartUp, Derek and Mike break down what marketing actually looks like when you’re starting a blue-collar business, from building a simple website to leveraging personal social media for real leads. Listen in as they discuss what’s worth your time, what’s a waste of money, and how to grow your visibility without overcomplicating the process.

For exclusive content, bonus segments, and deeper dives, check out the Blue Collar StartUp Patreon. https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink

0:00 Intro and welcome

2:37 New episode formats and updates

5:14 Kicking off the marketing conversation

7:32 Why a simple website matters first

9:58 Avoiding common beginner marketing mistakes

12:26 Google Business Profile importance

14:52 Setting up email and basic infrastructure

17:18 Why personal social media beats business pages

19:44 The reality of Facebook reach

22:10 Choosing the right platforms

24:36 Understanding your target audience

27:02 Social media strategy pitfalls

29:28 Transition into AI and marketing changes

31:54 How AI is impacting search and discovery

34:20 Adapting to new marketing trends

36:46 Simplifying your overall strategy

40:12 Key takeaways for business owners

47:11 Episode wrap-up

In episode 125 of Blue Collar StartUp, guest host Stacy Spector sits down with Sarah Patrie to explore her journey from growing up in a construction family to becoming Executive Director of PCI Northeast, highlighting the power of mentorship, industry involvement, and embracing nontraditional career paths. They dive into workforce development, innovation in concrete, and the critical role of relationships and associations in long-term success in the trades.

You can find Sarah Patrie and learn more about PCI Northeast at pci.org and by following her on LinkedIn.

Discover more in-depth trades business insights and exclusive Patreon-only segments by subscribing to our Patreon for just $5/month.

https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink

0:00 Intro to Women in Trades format

2:40 Meet Sarah Patrie

5:20 Growing up in construction

8:00 Discovering engineering and BOCES impact

10:40 Clarkson decision and education path

13:20 First role at D.A. Collins

16:00 Early career challenges and mindset

18:40 Transition into AGC

21:20 Policy, advocacy, and DC experience

24:00 Power of networking in trades

26:40 Moving into PCI Northeast

29:20 Workforce development challenges

32:00 Educating the next generation

34:40 Telling the story of construction

37:20 Passion for the industry

40:00 Lightning round and personality

42:30 Wrap-up and key takeaways

44:55 End of episode

In episode 124 of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Mike and Derek chat with Codey Gandy of Echelon Front as he breaks down what real leadership looks like in the trades, and why most people get it wrong. From extreme ownership to building strong relationships, this conversation is packed with practical insights for anyone looking to grow a team or business.

You can find Codey Gandy and learn more about his work at Echelon Front on their website at echelonfront.com or connect with him on Instagram @codey.gandy.

For exclusive content and deeper blue-collar insights, subscribe to our Patreon. 

https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink

0:00 Intro and welcome

2:00 Mission behind the show and scholarships

4:10 Introducing Codey Gandy

4:40 Codey’s background and Echelon Front overview

6:00 Experiential leadership training explained

7:30 Why stress reveals true leadership traits

9:00 The problem with traditional training

10:30 Sustainability and long-term leadership growth

11:30 What “extreme ownership” actually means

13:00 Leadership vs authority

14:30 Applying ownership as an employee

16:00 Real impact of extreme ownership in business

17:30 Fixing underperforming team members

19:00 Why relationships matter in leadership

21:00 Transitioning from worker to leader

23:00 Why most leaders are set up to fail

25:00 Learning leadership before promotion

30:00 Leadership applications

40:00 Advanced leadership mindset shifts

48:00 Final thoughts and shift to Patreon segment

In episode 123 of Blue Collar Startup, host Derek Foster welcomes back guest Josh Jewett for an in-depth conversation on his path from a Hudson Valley Community College auto-body student to owning Lazzaro’s Autobody and acquiring a second shop in Saratoga—all within six months. Josh shares hard-won lessons on perfectionism, implementing shop processes, mentoring his team, continuing education, and the mindset required to scale a blue-collar business.  

Connect with Josh by emailing him at [email protected] and check out Lazzaro’s Autobody in Green Island and Saratoga Springs, New York, or on their website at lazzarosautobody.com.

Subscribe to our Patreon for a full bonus Q&A with Josh and exclusive Blue Collar insights after every episode. 

https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink

00:00 Welcome to Blue Collar Startup  

00:29 New episode formats, sponsors & Patreon reminder  

03:28 Introducing returning guest Josh Jewett

04:21 Josh’s early spark for cars and Hudson Valley Community College  

08:09 From technician to business owner: when the goal shifted  

09:58 The perfectionist mindset that drives Josh  

12:32 Advice for young tradespeople: self-education & YouTube  

18:31 Owning Lazzaro’s Autobody – one year in  

20:27 Taking over a 50-year shop: first-year challenges & observation  

24:43 Creating & rolling out new processes with the team  

29:33 How processes built culture & staff retention  

32:29 What Josh looks for when hiring today  

35:06 iCar training, continuing education & staying sharp  

38:54 Future vision: becoming the go-to shop for anything on wheels  

41:42 How Josh bought a second shop in Saratoga in just six months  

42:08 Introducing Patreon exclusive segment, and episode closure 

In episode 122 of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Michael Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with  Richard Ruzzo, who shares how he built Shepherd Communication & Security from a small telecom contracting operation into a growing commercial security company by refocusing the business, embracing enterprise thinking, and betting on the right people. He talks about losing a major revenue stream, rebuilding from the ground up, and the lessons every trade business owner should learn.

You can learn more about Richard Ruzzo and Shepherd Communication & Security at shepherdcny.com.

Check out our Blue Collar StartUp Patreon for exclusive bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/c/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink

0:00 Intro

0:15 Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp

1:04 Business owner group therapy

2:15 Help us grow the show

4:28 Patreon and business growth insights

5:36 Introducing Richard Ruzzo

6:14 What Shepherd Communication & Security does

8:03 Why security and low-voltage work is still a trade

11:58 Growing the company to 34 employees

13:11 Why trades can outperform traditional college paths

16:13 The garage business that sparked the idea

17:28 Landing their first telecom contract

18:36 Building the Shepherd brand

19:30 Why relying on one client is dangerous

20:45 Lifestyle business vs enterprise business

23:03 Rethinking the entire company strategy

24:38 Losing a major revenue stream

27:06 The people who helped transform the company

32:00 Landing a project 10x bigger than anything before

35:06 How Shepherd decides which services to offer

41:57 Why security matters more than ever today

43:00 Final thoughts and where to find Shepherd

In episode 121 of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with Jim Sasko, founder and president of Teakwood Builders, to discuss his 30-year journey from a hands-on 26-year-old carpenter to leading a premier design-build firm specializing in luxury homes. Jim shares hard-earned lessons on saying no, building strong company culture, and focusing on exceptional client experiences and team development.

Connect with Jim Sasko and Teakwood Builders at teakwoodbuilders.com, or find Jim on LinkedIn.

Discover more in-depth trades business insights and exclusive Patreon-only segments by subscribing to our Patreon for just $5/month.

https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink

0:00 Intro and welcome to Blue Collar StartUp

0:40 Shoutout to sponsors

1:25 Introducing guest Jim Sasko and Teakwood Builders overview

2:00 Explaining design-build remodeling and luxury custom building

3:45 Celebrating 30 years in business and Jim's origin story

5:00 Early hands-on days, learning the craft, and organic growth

7:30 Transitioning from fieldwork to project management and scaling

9:20 Evolving from general remodeling to luxury-level projects organically

11:50 Lessons learned from overcommitting

14:00 Knowing when to say no to projects

16:30 Building a true "company" vs. personal business

19:00 Implementing systems, processes, EOS, and leadership team development

22:30 Proving the systems work

24:50 Material/labor price escalation and long sales cycles

27:00 Overcoming staffing hurdles in recent years

30:00 Upside-down org chart and production-first mindset

33:30 Secrets to long-term employee retention

36:00 How to connect with Jim and Teakwood