Brad Leavitt Podcast

Amy Margolin is the third-generation co-owner of M&M Lighting. She joined her family business in 2013 after graduating with an English degree from Columbia University working as a manager for an international clothing retailer in Austin, Texas. She was also a food photographer for Zagat, a national restaurant review guide, and spent time as a freelance celebrity stylist at red carpet events in Los Angeles.

Combining her background in writing with her innate sense of style and relentless work ethic, Amy is working hard to bring M&M Lighting—a company with 56 employees that specializes in residential and commercial lighting—into the social media age, and overturn the adage that the third generation ruins family businesses.

We dive into the value of social media as far as how it helped her in building her business and how it has grown her client base as well. She talks about how you can successfully integrate your social media into your business while building a network with architects and designers at the same time.

Listen in as Amy discusses how she uses social media to build her company’s brand, her Instagram content and engagement strategies, the challenges and rewards of working in a family business, and working with lighting architects and designers in an industry that is always evolving.

Topics Discussed:

• 05:21 How Amy is able to effectively use social media to establish M&M’s brand
• 08:48 Why Amy began to do more video home tours
• 12:41 Amy’s experience with TikTok
• 15:12 Building a following on Instagram
• 17:57 How much time Amy spends on social media
• 20:39 Getting better engagement on social media
• 23:18 Amy’s content strategy on Instagram
• 24:41 How using social media impacted Amy’s business
• 27:39 How having a large audience keeps Amy accountable
• 32:26 Justifying higher prices for your products or services online
• 35:34 How social media has benefitted M&M’s relationships with stakeholders
• 39:33 Amy’s experience working on her own projects
• 42:31 Amy’s favorite architectural style
• 43:50 How Amy’s eye for design evolved over the years
• 45:28 Becoming a stylist for celebrities
• 43:50 How Amy’s eye for design evolved over the years
• 48:14 Moving from California back to Texas
• 49:20 What Amy learned about the lighting industry since joining M&M
• 50:51 Lighting architects and other partners that Amy works with
• 54:03 Staying current in an ever-evolving industry
• 56:00 How COVID-19 affected M&M
• 58:47 What Amy is looking forward to in the near future

Connect with Amy Margolin & M&M Lighting: 

• Website
• Instagram
• Tik Tok
• Facebook
• Pinterest
• Houzz
• YouTube

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

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

Resources & People Mentioned:

• Insights on Instagram 
• Nolan Miller with Riverwood Building Company 
• Instagram Reels 
• Wayfair 
• Crate & Barrel 
• Jason Roehner + Dan Ryan Photographers
• Columbia University
• Gucci 
• The New Yorker
• ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) 
• Lightfair 
• Dallas Market Center 
• Ashley Leavitt
• Shea McGee 

Key Quotes by Amy:

• If you want to stay on top with the content you put out and the engagement you get on social media, follow the algorithm.
• It’s “social media” for a reason: You have to be social.
• If you’re not communicating with your people and the customers at every stage of the process, you’ll run into problems you’ll later regret.

Jason Black is the owner and president of Artisan Signature Homes. He had a successful career prior to construction, but his passion for homes eventually led him to start his first company, Stonecroft Homes, in 2002 while still working full-time. This was the beginning of his journey in building custom homes. Jason has worked on a number of projects with his wife, Gretchen—a talented designer in her own right.

Jason does a deep dive into building a brand and scaling your business through social media, particularly through Instagram. He dismisses common misconceptions such as supposedly needing a huge number of followers and a long-term content strategy to build an audience and stand out. We also go into much of the behind-the-scenes of managing a construction firm, with a focus on budgeting and putting together the right crew for each project.

Listen in as Jason discusses how he sets expectations with his clients, why he almost always declines requests to bring in unfamiliar subcontractors, and how to build a powerful brand for your design or construction business on Instagram.

Topics Discussed:

• 04:19 - Jason on his spec and build-to-suit homes
• 08:47 - Choosing projects to serve as loss leaders
• 11:29 - Working with other designers
• 13:58 - Creating a budget and knowing how to adapt it as the project progresses
• 30:28 - Working with a business partner
• 32:28 - The typical timeframe for a custom home project
• 36:30 - Saying “no” to certain customers requests (i.e. unproven subcontractors)
• 41:18 - How Jason chooses his crew members
• 46:20 - How Jason manages his Instagram account
• 48:26 - Jason’s content strategy on Instagram
• 54:14 - How social media has benefitted Artisan Signature Homes
• 59:11 - What Artisan Signature has planned for the near future

Connect with Guest: 

• Website 
• Instagram 
• Facebook
• Pinterest 
• YouTube
• Linkedin 

Connect with AFT Construction Podcast Host Brad Leavitt

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

Key Quotes from Interview:

• I don’t chase the dollar. I always sacrifice the dollar for good design, maybe to a flaw. But that’s what I enjoy doing, so that’s what I’m going to keep on doing.
• The trajectory any custom home project takes all boils down to those expectations and communications with the client.
• Having a business partner is like having a sounding board to keep your ideas in check.
• I prefer to stick to what’s tried-and-true with both the people I work with and the system we use. Anytime I fall out of my process, it never has a happy ending.
• It’s taken me a long time to understand that not every customer is the right customer for me. So, it’s sometimes better to say “no” than to take a customer that I know is going to be a pain in the ass to work with.
• When looking for subcontractors, we want a solid company that’s been in business for a long time that has a service crew that’s going to respond in a timely fashion.
• Post what’s true to you. Post the best content that you can produce and share that. I don’t have a stock of 50 images. I usually don’t know what my next post is. Just choose a great photo for the day, keep posting consistently, and engage with your followers. Don’t overthink it.
• The biggest thing with social media is to just put yourself out there. You don’t have to have 50,000 followers. There’s micro-influencers that have a couple hundred or a couple thousand followers. You’re still influencing people. You’ve just got to start. You never know where that opportunity will come from.

Mark LaLiberte is the co-founder and president of Construction Instruction. He has dedicated over 30 years to the building industry. Through his lectures, site assistance, Building Better Homes video series and his mobile App, he provides builders, architects and manufacturers with an in-depth look at the current and future state of housing. His work has earned him a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Energy and Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA), where he developed the highly acclaimed Houses that Work lecture series. The HTW Series has been delivered for over 16 years by the Ci team in 100’s of North American cities.

He works with various manufacturers to assist in developing products and services for the next phase of efficient homes. Mark is the co-creator of the Ci App and animation studio, which developed the number one mobile App in the construction industry and builds realistic state of the art contextual animations on building science concepts and technical installation practices.

He is also President of Sales Instruction Inc., helping to bridge sales and marketing efforts to our industry. Working with leading industry suppliers and manufacturers, his sales training company creates a common language to drive sales and increase productivity for sales teams.

His passion for educating lies in knowing how vital the building industry is.  Building healthy, safe, durable and efficient homes has an effect on the buyer, the builder, the economy and the planet.

Listen in as Mark discusses why he believes builders should adopt a path of continuous improvement, waterproofing best practices, and why you shouldn’t ever need to factor in leaks when pricing your services.

Topics Discussed: 

• 06:46 The biggest mistakes builders are making right now
• 11:12 Creating a solid training program for your tradesmen
• 15:17 Appreciate your tradesman
• 18:17 Set proper expectations to encourage excellence
• 27:14 Tried-and-true methods for waterproofing homes
• 33:29 Working with stucco contractors whose standards are different from yours
• 36:02 How to properly flash a window
• 41:24 Tools to secure exterior walls
• 45:56 The importance of capillary breaks
• 51:36 Why Mark created the Houses that Work lecture series 
• 54:55 Why Mark started Construction Instruction and how to work with him

Connect with Mark LaLiberte: 

• Email: [email protected] 
• Website
• Instagram 
• Facebook 
• Twitter 
• Linkedin 
• YouTube 
• Construction Instruction App Apple
• Construction Instruction App Android
• Construction Instruction Amazon

Connect with Brad Leavitt: 

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

Resources & People Mentioned:

• CBUSA 
• The Path of Continuous Improvement 
• Matt Risinger 
• Capillary Break 
• EEBA 
• Houses That Work 

Key Quotes from Episode:

• It can’t just be about price. Craftsmanship and workmanship comes from the heart. What I leave is a legacy; not just “slap it on, get it done”.
• The tradesmen like doing work carefully and professionally. They just need to be appreciated for it.
• Set your standards, your process, and your educational expectations. Drive those to be exceptional, and you’ll get better performance.
• Whenever you take on a new project, tell yourself: “I have one chance to do this well, and I’m going to do it right this time.” When you always set that standard for yourself, one day it becomes a habit.
• COVID-19 has raised our awareness about the importance of the indoor environment. Houses should be our safe haven.
• Continually learn and invest in your marketplace and invest in learning. Train people. Listen, learn, watch, and question. Hold people accountable for good workmanship. If we do that, we’re going to have this amazing industry, and deliver phenomenal product that will last for generations and be healthy and safe. I think that’s a fair expectation.

Willie Bloomquist is a former MLB player, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Throughout his career in baseball, Willie played for the Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, and Arizona Diamondbacks, and has played every position aside from catcher and pitcher. After retiring from professional sports in 2016, Willie explored his other passions through the avenues of entrepreneurship and philanthropy. His passion for nature led to his founding Elite Outdoor Adventures, a company which “allows you to spend one-on-one time with a professional athlete or celebrity participating in a pastime that you both enjoy.”

Listen in as Willie discusses his journey as a professional athlete and why he decided to turn to entrepreneurship following his retirement from MLB. He also shares his love for the outdoors and the business that resulted from that passion. Finally, Willie talks charity and outreach and why philanthropy has become a huge priority in his life.

Topics Discussed:

• 04:53 Lessons learned throughout Willie’s sporting career
• 07:27 Growing skills while playing multiple positions on the field
• 11:15 Becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable in business
• 13:38 Why Willie made the switch from football to baseball
• 16:10 Knowing what to prioritize in life
• 18:51 Navigating social media as a public figure
• 25:52 Willie’s perspective on failure
• 27:50 Budgeting and other financial considerations as a professional athlete
• 31:23 Willie’s philanthropic efforts at Phoenix Children's Hospital
• 36:01 Why acts of charity are priceless
• 38:38 Transitioning from professional athlete to entrepreneur
• 40:10 Willie on his venture, Elite Outdoor Adventures
• 45:40 Training and motivating your employees
• 50:32 How Willie balanced family life and a high-profile sports career
• 54:10 What sets the Arizona Diamondbacks apart

Connect with Willie Bloomquist:

• Instagram (@eliteoutdooradventures)
• Elite Outdoor Adventures Website
• Twitter (@williebloom)
• Linkedin

Resources & People Mentioned:

• ASU College Baseball
• Pat Murphy
• Bret Boone
• Lou Piniella
• State Champion Football QB
• Derek Jeter
• Mark Candelaria on episode 03
• Phoenix Children's Hospital
• Diamondbacks President & CEO Derrick Hall

Key Quotes from Episode 

• If I’m not going to be good enough, that’s fine; but I’m not going to leave it to chance just because I didn’t work hard enough to give myself every opportunity. Hard work doesn’t guarantee you success, but without it, you don’t have a chance.
• Failure only sharpens us to become better the next time around.
• The way it makes you feel when you help somebody out, unsolicited, makes you feel pretty dang good inside.
• Generosity proceeds prosperity.
• We judge other people on their actions and we judge ourselves on our intensions.
• Surround yourself with good people. People who are going to be honest with you and look out for your best interests.

Ashley Stark Kenner is the Creative Director at Stark Carpet in New York, a company founded by her grandparents, Arthur and Nadia Stark, in 1938. Stark Carpet has been synonymous with the world’s finest floor coverings since its inception and has been the go-to resource for top interior decorators for decades. Ashley is also the Sr. Vice President of Design, bringing her fashion-forward vision to the company while maintaining the classic Stark aesthetic. Her unique style and eye for the eclectic are present in her vision for the company.

Listen in as Ashley discusses how she balances her high-octane career at Stark Carpet with creating content for social media, reaching 1 million Instagram followers, all while being a mother to her three kids. She also talks about where she gets her inspiration for her product line and how social media has allowed her to collaborate with other designers at a greater scale since she began in her career. Finally, she shares the process of taking a product from idea to reality.

Topics Discussed 

• [04:33] Why Ashley went all-in on Instagram & reaching 1 million followers
• [08:50] Advice for succeeding on Instagram 
• [10:04] Avoiding burnout on social media
• [12:17] The power of authenticity on social media
• [16:56] Teaching your kids about the dangers of social media
• [18:36] Exposed to the world and building collaborations through Instagram 
• [20:40] Ashley’s role and responsibilities at Stark Carpet 
• [22:59] The process of taking a design from idea to reality
• [26:56] How COVID-19 has affected Stark Carpet 
• [30:26] Styles that Ashley gravitates toward
• [32:52] Requests for custom designs
• [39:04] Underrated design aspects around the home
• [40:36] Why Ashley loves traveling for work
• [46:16] Balancing family and work amid the pandemic
• [48:38] What Ashley is looking forward to in the near future

Connect with Ashley Stark & Stark Carpet

• Website 
• Instagram 
• Facebook 
• Pinterest 

Resources Mentioned

• Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove Showroom
• Architectural Digest - Step Inside Ashley Stark's Transformed Upper East Side Abode
• Stark Carpet History 
• Stark Carpet Showrooms
• Prestige Mills
• Maison & Objet
• Rebel Traditionalist Article 
• Domino Magazine
• Staircase Carpet Instagram Post

This week on the podcast we were joined by @KathleenAAnderson, principal of Material Design. Kathleen has extensive experience in both architecture and design. She has a Master’s degree in architecture from the UPC In Barcelona which has helped her knowledge and expertise in regard to interior design. She has also created an online spec book available for purchase to spec builders across the country. It is a revolutionary program and idea to assist builders that are in need of a good design for their project. We also discussed the importance and coordination of builders and designers on the front-end of a project to ensure it runs smoothly. Check the link in our profile for the full episode and here is the link to her design book: https://materialdsgn.com/design-kit-for-builders/.

We kick off our second season with Taylor Plosser Davis with @TPDArchitect. Taylor discussed the most important features to consider when building or renovating your own “forever” home. We spoke about the pros and cons of a remodel vs new-build. Taylor is also a certified “aging in place specialist” and we spoke in detail about what that is and the importance of the strategy. She received her undergraduate degree from Princeton University, and a Masters in Architecture from the University of Virginia. She is a member of the AIA, is NCARB certified and recently completed her Aging in Place Certification through the National Association of Home Builders. As an architect, Taylor is focused on thoughtful design strategies to address the unique needs of her clients, whether that involves working with a growing family or a couple downsizing for the next chapter. A mother of three, Taylor enjoys travel and her tap dancing classes. She is a Councilor of the Birmingham chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and is a member of the Advisory Committee for the Morris Fund for the Design Arts.

Today we celebrate our 1 year anniversary of the AFT Construction Podcast. Stay tuned to our stories as we release a recap of our amazing guests this past year. And for 52nd episode, we had my wife, Ashley Leavitt join the podcast @goldandoak. Many of our listeners had asked to bring her on to learn a little bit more about the life behind the scenes. And I have to give credit to @johnwmerritt that really was a catalyst to make this happen. In fact, John helped write the questions for our episode. Ashley spoke about our story, her favorite design styles, and what it is like to raise 6 kids and also have her own design business. We spoke about mentors and what inspires us behind the scenes. Ashley has had incredible experience working for 2 large design and construction firms in both Scottsdale and Washington DC.

This week on the podcast we were joined by Dr. Tyler Hales with Hales Parker Dentistry in Orange County, CA. Tyler offers tremendous insight into marketing, social media, branding and work experience. He had the opportunity to work for many different practices that really gave him good insight as to what field of work would suit him best. He also spent some time speaking about customer service and company culture. Dr. Hales comes from a long line of medical professionals and chose to be a dentist because he loves connecting with people while caring for their dental health. He is passionate about helping his patients increase their confidence through smile design and cosmetic dentistry, which are a focus of Hales Parker Dentistry in Ladera Ranch

Steven is the VP of Sales for Smart Exteriors and has tremendous experience in marketing, sales and brand awareness. We spoke about how to build your marketing through a recession, understanding your strengths as a company, and how to prepare your company through uncertain market conditions