Brad Leavitt Podcast

Listen in as Brad shares why creating an org chart from the get-go is one of the best things you can do, even if it’s meant to be a reference for just you and your partner. He also says that it’s always best to consume the same educational resources together in order to be on the same page when considering the future of you and your partner’s business.

Asked about leading the 250+ person team at Radiant Plumbing, Brad explains that cultivating a “work hard, play hard” company culture with a system that recognizes the achievement of each and every member of the team is vital to the company’s success.

Finally, Brad gives his advice to those who are currently at the start of their business journey, and in particular why finding a coach has been of tremendous help to both him and Sarah at the beginning of their partnership.

Brought to you Pella Windows & Doors

Topics Discussed: 

• The challenges of doing business with your spouse
• When Brad and Sarah began working together
• Managing a company with 250+ employees
• Writing the book
• How Brad and Sarah decided on their roles in the company
• Why Radiant Plumbing conducts wellness retreats
• From call to permit to completion
• How Radiant Plumbing provides feedback to each of their 250+ employees
• Sarah’s contribution to the business
• Learning to separate business from personal life
• Setting boundaries with your business partner/spouse
• How to deal with business failures personally and with your partner
• Building a company culture of “work hard, play hard”
• The business owner’s mindset: from craftsman to entrepreneur to legacy-seeker
• Brad’s advice to those who are at the beginning of their business journey
• What Brad is most excited about

Connect with Guest: 

• Website 
• Facebook 
• LinkedIn 
• Book

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• Website 
• Instagram
• Facebook 
• Houzz 
• Pinterest 
• YouTube 

Key Quotes by Brad:

• Creating some real structure and real roles and real responsibilities cleans up a lot of those grey areas where you would have a lot of conflict, because you’re in each other’s lane, you’re second-guessing each other’s decisions, and it’s really inefficient.
• Two of the biggest mistakes I see people make are: a) don’t get coaching; and b) they get coaching by themselves and try to sell their partner on it later. Do it together. If you’re going to a conference, do it together. If you’re going to see a speaker, read a book, do it together and compare notes.
• It doesn’t matter where your business is at. There’s always more you can do.
• I can’t express to you how important it is for my employees to feel like they’ve got a relationship with their manager.
• I challenge you to let [the wrong people] go. You’re going to lose the good ones because you’re keeping the bad ones.
• Get coaching, together. Somebody has solved it in your industry. [...] They might even charge you some money, and you should fork it over because it might be the cheapest thing you’ve ever invested in. [...] Often, the more we spend, the better it is.
• I needed to learn not to be the limitation to my company’s growth.

Today Brad speaks with Dan and Emily Clark of Clark & Co. Homes. The Clarks established their firm in 2011 with the mission of bringing creative design solutions to the Treasure Valley through their highly functional home plans and character-filled interiors.

Dan’s background in real estate, residential home construction management, and land development consulting gives him a unique, holistic approach to the building process. Emily's New England upbringing exposed her from an early age to historic proportions and timeless design, uniquely informing her distinctive style viewpoint.

With supply chain issues and all manner of challenges around communicating with clients and vendors developing by the day throughout the last 18 months, Dan and Emily explain that they practically had to “throw out” many of the processes that they had only settled into since starting their business.

“It just allows us to be creative,” says Emily, “and really capitalize on that ability.” And part of that ability to stay creative includes having to establish a system that is more streamlined as well as being more discerning about which clients to accept.

To the Clarks, thriving in the design and construction industry in the new normal has largely been a matter of strengthening relationships with clients and vendors and making sure that everyone has utmost confidence in their ability to deliver by setting clear expectations with each party.

Brought to you by Pella Windows & Doors

Topics Discussed: 

• [02:19] Navigating the design and construction industry in 2020 and 2021
• [06:35] Dealing with unforeseen issues and keeping clients happy
• [12:59] Planning for contingencies
• [15:47] Why Clark & Co. Homes have been more focused on “hybrid spec”
• [20:55] Introducing “universality” of design in the Boise market
• [25:48] Dan and Emily’s respective roles and how they built the company
• [36:04] Conducting virtual tours of finished concept homes
• [39:03] Drawing inspiration from Emily’s upbringing in Maine and travels
• [42:02] Building and strengthening relationships in the industry
• [47:34] How social media has helped Clark & Co. Homes grow
• [50:16] Setting expectations with clients
• [54:46] Managing emergencies
• [59:15] Dan and Emily’s secrets to success
• [1:05:31] What’s next for Clark & Co. Homes?

Connect with Guest:

• Website
• Instagram 
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

Connect with Brad Leavitt: 

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Houzz
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Key Quotes by Dan and Emily:

We’re definitely curious about how people live, how our clients live, and wanting to answer their pain points. ~Emily

I’ve been in this [industry] for over 15 years now. When someone gives me a menu from The Cheesecake Factory, it’s just overwhelming. It’s anxiety-producing. I think there’s an element of truth to that same concept in homebuilding and design. ~Dan

We have a great team, and we make it a point, right from the start, to make sure that the clients are aware that we chose the people that are working with us for a specific reason, and that they have super powers that no one else at the office have. ~Emily

If there’s anything I learned in the last year-and-a-half, it’s that very few things are actual emergencies. ~Emily

It makes our job easier when we can put our trust into a team that’s competent and passionate. ~Dan

It’s been a fortunate turn of events that we’ve been able to curate a great team and it comes down to the passion and the assimilation with our ideals of the branding and what we’re putting together. Creating a home for somebody is such an intimate experience. ~Dan

Listen in as Max and Patrick reflect on their journey in the world of real estate, from making that first flip to becoming local celebrities involved in ultra high-end luxury developments in the state.

They speak on the vital importance of creating quality products to shield one’s business from falling behind should economic crises (including that which came as a result of the pandemic) emerge. This is simply because “everybody’s going to go to the best product first” and cut corners on everything else.

Max and Patrick go on to share how they have built and managed relationships with their pool of investors and wealthy clients, as well as how they are navigating operational and logistical challenges around the pandemic.

Brought to you by Pella Windows & Doors

Topics Discussed:

• [01:52] Max and Patrick’s path to founding American One and finding massive success
• [07:53] Staying on top of the market during the pandemic
• [12:15] How involved Max and Patrick become with the design, architecture, and layout of any new project
• [13:32] Doing market research to understand one’s ultra-high net-worth clients
• [16:03] Working with banks and investors
• [21:04] Building a resource pool of investors
• [30:47] Managing client expectations
• [34:40] Permit-related challenges in 2021
• [40:52] The most stressful part of Max and Patrick’s business today
• [47:04] How Max and Patrick turn discouragement into fuel
• [53:47] How Phoenix compares to other luxury markets
• [55:54] What Max and Patrick do for fun
• [59:02] Exciting upcoming projects for Max and Patrick

Connect with Guest:

• Website Max & Patrick 
• American One Luxury Real Estate 
• Instagram 
• Facebook 
• YouTube 
• LinkedIn 

Connect with Brad Leavitt: 

• Website 
• Instagram 
• Facebook 
• Houzz 
• Pinterest
• YouTube 

Key Quotes by Max and Patrick:

Sometimes, the best deals are the ones you shouldn’t do. ~Max

You’ve got to have a good-quality product, because if the market does change or slow down, the first thing to go are the components where people can cut corners. When the market changes, everybody’s going to go to the best product first. ~Patrick

Our spec is somebody else’s custom. ~Patrick

The market right now is still strong [and] has been going strong—much better than anyone would have expected when the pandemic started. ~Max

With a particular focus on commercial projects, Micky explains that there is less customization involved when working with a typical commercial client versus a residential one who obviously tends to be much more discerning, detail-oriented, and at times particularly challenging when they put in change orders while their project is already underway.

Asked how she and her team are able to stay on top with the latest regulations and standards in any given state when working on projects, Micky says that communication is key, both between her team members as well as with the contractors that the firm partners with. The same is true when it comes to choosing top-quality materials from a health standpoint.

From keeping up with code to handling logistics to meeting client expectations, commercial design carries with it a myriad of unique challenges. Micky addresses some of these and describes the process that has brought her and her team of five amazing success in the industry.

Topics Discussed: 

• [02:08] The differences between Micky’s commercial and residential clients
• [08:55] Why Micky decided to go into the commercial and hospitality world
• [12:14] How Micky stays on top with ever-evolving regulations and standards for commercial projects
• [16:29] How involved Micky is with FF&E (furniture, fixtures, and equipment)
• [18:31] Making sure that the design fits the client’s budget and creating the design book
• [24:01] How Micky delegates responsibilities to her five team members
• [38:40] What inspired Micky to go into interior design and how she built her career
• [41:50] What Micky wishes she knew at the beginning of her career
• [43:15] Why Micky decided to launch her own textile line
• [45:36] How Micky does social media and why she focuses on LinkedIn and blogging
• [49:39] How Micky stays on top of design trends and best practices in the industry
• [50:37] What Micky likes to do for fun
• [52:05] Exciting upcoming projects and other events for Micky

Connect with Micky Klein:

• Website - https://mickyklein.com/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/micky_klein_interiors/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Mickykleininteriors/
• LinkedIn - http://linkedin.com/in/micky-klein-84681a76
• YouTube - https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCfLrGMXzc-habHNqV0tpMKA

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• Website - https://aftconstruction.com
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/aft_construction
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aftconstruction
• Houzz - https://www.houzz.com/pro/aft-construction/aft-construction
• Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.ph/AFT_CONSTRUCTION/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzB4R_DHPVV1SPh7RUfR5jg

Key Quotes from Episode:

• I’m very, very into criticism. I find it refreshing, because the more black and white my client can be and tell me exactly what their vision is and tell me what they do like and what they don’t like, I’m able to give them the product that they envision from the get-go.
• I really appreciate how I came to where I am today knowing that a lot of it was me and the help of others giving me advice. But, at the end of the day, I know that I woke up and decided to keep going instead of giving up when the frustration or lack of knowledge kicked in.

Angela herself is an award-winning designer and a recognized innovator in the builder and developer community. Under her leadership, TRIO has received more than 50 Awards in the past five years, including both Detached Community of the Year and Master Planned community of the Year at NAHB’s The Nationals in 2019.

In 2019 Angela launched her own lifestyle brand, which includes an innovative furniture line with Phillips Collection and a successful tile line with TileBar, which can now be found at Home Depot and Wayfair.

Listen in as Angela looks back on her 20-year career and how she was able to marry her passion for creativity and entrepreneurship to become what is now TRIO Design.

She describes why 

wellness 

is such a huge component of TRIO’s company culture, as well as how her team of 95 has become so effective at managing complex projects, from two office locations to boot.

Brought to you by Pella Windows & Doors

Topics Discussed: 

• [01:42] All about TRIO’s Wellness Week and how it has impacted the company culture
• [08:36] Managing Wellness Week while working in a very demanding industry
• [12:32] How leadership works at TRIO with its team of 95
• [17:51] How TRIO handles logistics when working on a project
• [21:40] Navigating the challenges that come with an acquisition
• [28:43] Coming up with the values that set TRIO apart
• [31:45] Where Angela got her intense drive to succeed
• [34:42] Maintaining the company’s vision while continuing to innovate and optimize
• [40:06] Where Angela developed her passion for design and confidence as a designer
• [44:56] The elements of great design and the best way to work with clients
• [47:19] Other ways TRIO promotes wellness and all about the DO GOOD initiative
• [53:21] How Angela manages the dynamic of two offices

Connect with Guest:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

Connect with Brad Leavitt: 

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Houzz
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Key Quotes from Episode:

• A failure for one is a failure for all and a success for one is a success for all. Especially now, with all the challenges that we’re seeing in our industry, [...] my philosophy or strategy as CEO of TRIO is, “Hey, we’re going to take care of our people first so that our people take care of our clients and industry partners.”
• I love to say, “We are a creative firm.” And that doesn’t mean just from a design perspective: Our business people are just as creative as our creative staff and it takes everybody to have that open mind to constantly problem-solve and just be creative in every aspect of the organization.
• I’ve never been fond of the slogan, “It takes a village.” It takes so much more than just a village. It takes a group of stakeholders coming around the table that share the same vision and have the same values, coming together time and time again to solve for the challenges and to celebrate the wins.
• We didn’t just want to be a creative partner. We wanted to be a business partner.
• I think what makes great design is being able to understand our consumer, where the consumer is going, and the demands of the consumer—and then marrying that with unlimited creativity and being able to tell that story.
• We do so much more than design: We create communities.

Founded in 1977 by Sharon and Robert Woods, the firm pioneered the design-build concept with architectural design and construction being performed by the same team. In 2008 Sharon’s sons, Rob and Shane, joined the company and now serve as second-generation owners, while Sharon has remained with the company to oversee design.

Listen in as Rob and Shane share the ins-and-outs of taking over and running a family business and how the two brothers have successfully been able to maintain a great working relationship over the years as they continue to scale the firm.

“We only seek what’s best for the company,” they say. “That’s always first and foremost on our mind. That will lead us to success.”

This translates into their focus on empowering both trade partners and clients and giving a voice to each party in the development of their respective builds.

Brought to you by Pella Windows & Doors

Topics Discussed: 

• Rob and Shane’s roles at Woods Design
• Negotiating and settling fee structures throughout the process
• Why Woods Design only does lump sum
• Woods Design’s requirements before breaking ground
• How Rob and Shane deal with disagreements at work
• Empowering partners and clients
• How costs are tracked as projects progress
• How Rob and Shane went about taking over the company
• Negotiating the buyout
• Keeping business, business; keeping family, family
• How Rob and Shane are preparing for their exit strategy
• How Rob and Shane found out about Builder 20
• What Rob and Shane do for fun

Connect with Guest:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Houzz
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Key Quotes from Episode:

• [Shane and I] each have our domains—our world. We don’t mess with the other one’s world. I don’t go to Shane and tell him which super to put here or which subcontractor to put there. And Shane’s not going to come to me and tell me how the contract should be. ~Rob
• It’s a process of respecting the supers, the project managers, or whoever is running the job. I respect that they know more than me. And I’m not going to tell them to do something [against their better judgement]. ~Shane
• We believe in empowering our employees and making sure that they have a stake in what we’re doing. We want them to make these decisions. Shane and I are not micromanagers. We’re not going to be out there over somebody’s shoulder. We believe in results. ~Rob
• The key is forecasting. You can have a ton of budgets and track them; but, you’ve got to look for patterns and forecast. That’s what helps you in the long run. ~Rob
• One of the trickiest parts is coming up with that buyout number. Construction is a really hard industry to put a number to a company. We don’t have many assets; we sub everything out. We have our goodwill; we have our reputation. And the person selling it to you is selling that reputation. ~Rob

Dagan's interest in design and construction began at a young age when he assisted his father in designing and building their home in Solana Beach. After college Dagan worked in New York City as a set designer and builder for commercial photo shoots. He also designed and constructed several high-end storefront displays.

When he returned to the West Coast, Dagan worked in Northern California doing complete home renovations and remodels. During that time he also developed an affinity for and honed his skills as a woodworker and carpenter. His path eventually led him to receiving his general contractor license and founding his own firm, DDC.

With supply chains continuing to be shaky as of August 2021, Dagan talks about how he is able to keep his stock organized and “stay ahead of the curve” by maintaining a close relationship with valuable vendors and subcontractors who often update Dagan on price changes and other developments in the market..

Along with having to stay on top of fluctuations and other uncertainties in the industry, Dagan shares how he calculates the lump sum for his remodels and builds, as well as how he deals with changes requested by clients when a project is already underway.

Finally, Dagan speaks on his varied career path which includes his transition from the wine industry into furniture design, and finally into construction.

Brought to you by Pella Windows & Doors

Topics Discussed:

• [00:56] How Dagan is coping with the current state of the supply chain
• [13:37] How Dagan calculates the lump sum for remodels
• [21:34] Staying protected whether you opt for lump sum or cost plus
• [23:20] How Dagan deals with requests from clients that impact the bottom line
• [31:56] From the wine industry to furniture design to construction
• [36:41] What Dagan wishes he knew about construction from day one
• [43:26] Trends that have come about due to COVID
• [49:34] Dagan’s work aside from general contracting
• [1:03:56] What’s next for Dagan?

Connect with Dagan Koffler:

• Website
• Instagram @dagandesign

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Houzz
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Key Quotes by Dagan:

• With cost plus, the risk is on the owner to spend as much as they want. With lump sum, the risk is a little bit more on the contractor.
• Setting up systems is key in getting those change orders signed right away and making sure that everyone’s on the same page.
• Everyone wins when I have the confidence to say “no”.

Listen in as Walt reflects on a childhood filled with abuse at the hands of his own father, a suicide attempt at age 13 that he believes was thwarted by a higher power, and an aunt that changed his life forever when she taught him what love truly looked like.

Walt discusses the three big lessons he had to learn in order to heal from his trauma: speak your truth, acknowledge how you feel, and be willing to forgive.

He also speaks on how his almost 20-year career in the military and another five years in corporate America further shaped his worldview and led him down the path to becoming a mentor to men across the country who have also suffered abuse.

Finally, Walt explains that he chose this journey because he believes that there are too few voices speaking on childhood trauma, even as abuse cases are reported every ten seconds.

Walt says, “I refuse to be a person who doesn’t dig in, do something different, and serve people in a way that really moves them forward that lets them heal from their trauma through motivational speaking and one-on-one coaching. It lets them literally change their family’s legacies forever.”

Brought to you by Pella Windows & Doors

Topics Discussed: 

• [03:12] Walt’s own experience with abuse in his younger years
• [09:03] How Walt’s aunt turned his life around from one of abuse to one of love
• [17:01] Overcoming his angry and violent teenage years
• [24:40] Why Walt decided to join the Navy and how it helped him to heal further
• [35:32] How the military helped shape Walt’s relationships, especially his marriage
• [40:05] Making the transition to corporate America
• [49:20] Becoming a coach, author, and motivational speaker
• [54:24] The crucial role of mindset
• [56:48] How to contact Walt and access his resources
• [59:37] Walt’s experience building his business

Connect with Walter McKinley

• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Connect with Brad Leavitt: 

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Houzz
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Key Quotes by Walt:

• Abuse is abuse no matter what. People diminish our abuse by comparing it to someone else’s.
• I’m thankful that what happened to me happened to me because it’s made me an amazing human being and it’s unlocked these amazing gifts from my trauma that helped me help other people.
• The military is really a great way to set you back where you need to be and put you on the path forward so you can have the success you want.
• I refuse to be a person who doesn’t dig in, do something different, and serve people in a way that really moves them forward that lets them heal from their trauma through motivational speaking and one-on-one coaching. It lets them literally change their family’s legacies forever.
• Enjoy the journey and celebrate every single win.

Listen in as Lisa and Heather touch on their signature “turnkey” room designs, or spaces that they describe as “functional, comfortable, accessorized, and styled right down to the last beautiful detail.”

They discuss how they vet and set expectations with clients while working through value engineering, as well as why they make it a point to do frequent site visits no matter where the home is being built. 

Topics Discussed:

• [02:24] Why HW Interiors refers to every finished room as “turnkey”
• [05:39] How early and how often a designer should communicate with clients
• [08:01] Vetting clients
• [15:54] Managing the budget as a designer
• [18:50] Setting expectations with the client and creating a design book
• [24:46] What makes a builder successful
• [28:45] The importance of site visits by the designer
• [36:03] Explaining furniture-related costs
• [39:54] Lisa and Heather’s favorite trade shows
• [43:54] Managing schedules, keeping clients updated, and using social media
• [50:38] How Lisa and Heather met and started their business
• [59:01] What’s next for HW Interiors?

Connect with HW Interiors:

• Website 
• Instagram 
• Facebook 
• Pinterest 
• Houzz 
• Vimeo 

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• Website 
• Instagram 
• Facebook 
• Houzz 
• Pinterest 
• YouTube 

Key Quotes from Episode:

• Design is a luxury business. I always tell clients: “We’re not in the business of saving you money. We’re in the business of making this as amazing as possible.”
• We’re in the business of building luxury homes, and I don’t think you can call yourself a luxury home builder if you’re not willing to do things outside the box.

Dave is involved in a number of ventures outside of construction, including serving as CEO of Main Street Ingredients (MSI), a manufacturer of ingredients for use in ice cream, frozen desserts, cheese, bakery items, nutritional beverages, and confections.

He has also worked for Kraft Foods and is partnered with sports nutrition brands Soul & Science and Kill Cliff.

Listen in as Dave and Brad go down memory lane to speak on the various personal and professional obstacles that they have had to overcome through the years, from economic setbacks during the Great Recession to Dave’s battle with cancer.

Dave also touches on his love for people and how this passion influences his style and decision-making framework as a serial entrepreneur.

Brought to you by Pella.

Topics Discussed:

• [02:42] When Dave began his professional career in Arizona
• [10:51] How to maintain positivity as an entrepreneur and leader
• [14:37] How Kraft’s R&D develops ideas for products
• [18:00] Partnering with other big food brands such as Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever
• [26:47] What inspired Dave to establish MSI
• [32:34] Moving to Arizona in the 2000s and meeting Brad
• [42:49] Brad’s personal challenges in 2011 and finding success in business
• [54:38] Dave’s work with Kill Cliff
• [01:00:57] Soul & Science’s products
• [1:08:11] Looking forward despite battling with cancer
• [1:18:37] What Dave does for fun

Connect with Dave Clark:

• Website -
• Instagram -
• Facebook -
• Pinterest -

Connect with Brad Leavitt: 

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook 
• Houzz
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Key Quotes by Dave:

• You don’t [build companies] by yourself; you do it with people. It’s not only about finding opportunities but finding and putting the right staff in place to get the job done.
• You always look at what your company value is but you also look at what lies ahead of you. If you have a path to really get into bigger things, you first have to find a way to get to that next step.
• You have to be your own advocate, but you also have to listen and learn. You can’t be a know-it-all.