Built. Trusted. Chosen.

Trades and construction projects rarely go wrong because of one big thing. More often, it is the small gaps in communication, process, expectations and trust that create the pressure.

In this episode of Built. Trusted. Chosen., I chat with Erica Kalkofen, a remodel designer based in metro Denver, Colorado. Erica shares how she approaches residential remodels, why her six-step design process helps bring order to complex projects, and what builders, trades and construction leaders can learn from the way designers manage clients, subs, budgets and site realities. We also unpack how to handle mistakes, when ego becomes a red flag, and why the best client relationships are built on relatability, experience and practical communication.

You’ll take away:

• Why remodel projects are “management in three dimensions” 
• How a six-step process can create clarity for clients and trades 
• Why great design starts with how people actually use their space 
• How trust can be strengthened when problems are handled well 
• Why communication and ego are major red flags in collaboration 
• What clients really look for when choosing a designer, builder or contractor 

Guest bio:
Erica Kalkofen is a remodel designer and REALTOR® based in metro Denver, Colorado. Through EK Kitchens + Design, she helps homeowners with kitchen, bathroom and whole-home remodels, combining more than two decades of design, construction and real estate experience with a practical six-step design process.
Guest links:
https://getyourhometoday.com/
https://ekkitchensanddesign.com/

Host bio:
Wes Towers is the founder of Uplift 360 and host of Built. Trusted. Chosen. He helps trades and construction companies be built, trusted and chosen online through high-performing websites and Search Everywhere Optimisation.
https://uplift360.com.au/

Want to be a guest on Built. Trusted. Chosen.? Book here: https://uplift360.com.au/built-trusted-chosen-podcast-guest-booking/

Commercial property can offer stronger cash flow and greater control, but the wrong tenant, lease or location can turn a promising opportunity into a costly problem.

In this upcoming episode of Built. Trusted. Chosen., I speak with commercial buyer’s agent Cameron Jay about how trades and construction business owners should approach commercial property. We discuss owning your business premises, investing elsewhere when your current premises are not available, assessing tenant and lease quality, and understanding when the same property could be a smart purchase for one buyer but a poor investment for another.

You’ll take away:

• An investment should wash its own face 
• Knowledge offsets risk 
• Buy the lease and tenant before the building 
• Owning your premises is not the only path 
• The same property can be a smart buy or a poor investment 
• Specialist advice can create speed, safety and value 

Cameron Jay is the Director of Investwise Property and a commercial buyer’s agent who helps Australian investors and business owners source, negotiate and secure commercial property. Drawing on decades of business experience and a background in commercial real estate, he focuses on identifying risk, assessing leases and tenants, and finding opportunities suited to each buyer’s goals.

Website: https://investwiseproperty.com.au/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronjay/

I’m Wes Towers, founder of Uplift 360 and host of Built. Trusted. Chosen. I help trades and construction companies be built, trusted and chosen online through high-performing websites and Search Everywhere Optimisation.

https://uplift360.com.au/

This conversation provides general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or taxation advice.

Want to be a guest on Built. Trusted. Chosen.? Book here:
https://uplift360.com.au/built-trusted-chosen-podcast-guest-booking/

Builders waste a huge amount of time pricing jobs that were never going to happen.

The problem often starts well before the quote, when homeowners design a dream project without any realistic sense of budget.

In this episode of Built. Trusted. Chosen., I chat with Jared Kemp, founder and director of RedKem Constructions and B4U Build, about the real cost of poor early-stage qualification in residential construction. We talk about getting off the tools, learning business the hard way, building systems, using estimating software to qualify better leads, and why trust is still one of the strongest growth assets a builder can have.

You’ll take away:

• Why builders need to qualify budget before investing months into pricing or design work 
• How a useful website tool can become a stronger lead magnet than a generic downloadable guide 
• Why getting off the tools is often one of the hardest and most important business transitions 
• How business coaching and clear roles can help builders avoid expensive mistakes 
• Why reliable trades, clear expectations and reputation compound over time 
• How trust is won or lost through the client experience, not just the finished build 

Guest bio:
 Jared Kemp is the founder and director of B4U Build and Building Manager and Director of RedKem Constructions in Brisbane. He started in the industry as a carpenter before progressing into building, and now works across both his construction company and software platform designed to help homeowners and builders understand project costs earlier in the process.

Guest links:
https://b4ubuild.com.au/
https://redkem.com.au/

Host bio:
 I’m Wes Towers, founder of Uplift 360 and host of Built. Trusted. Chosen., the podcast for leaders and marketers in trades and construction. I help trades and construction companies be built, trusted and chosen online through high-performing websites and Search Everywhere Optimisation.
https://uplift360.com.au/

Want to be a guest on Built. Trusted. Chosen.? Book here: https://uplift360.com.au/built-trusted-chosen-podcast-guest-booking/

Most trades businesses don’t have a revenue problem.They have a labour performance problem.

In this episode of Built. Trusted. Chosen., I sit down with Michael Fortenberry to unpack what actually happens when a founder-led trade business starts scaling and the owner is no longer on site. We talk culture, systems, job costing, and the uncomfortable truth about hourly pay. Michael shares how his construction companies grew, the mistakes along the way, and how performance-based incentives changed everything.

You’ll take away:

• Why the first real growth hurdle is when work happens without you on site
• Why hourly pay quietly incentivises inefficiency
• How showing crews the labour budget changes behaviour instantly
• Why quality improves when rework hits their bonus
• The link between authentic company culture and financial performance
• How incentives turn employees into ownership thinkers

Michael Fortenberry is a construction company owner and the founder of Protiv, a performance-based compensation software built specifically for contractors. After scaling construction businesses in New York City, he developed systems to align labour performance with profit. Protiv helps contractors manage incentive programmes tied directly to labour budgets and job costing.
 Website: https://www.protiv.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfortinberry/

I’m Wes Towers, founder of Uplift 360. I help trades and construction companies be built, trusted, and chosen online through high-performing websites and Search Everywhere Optimisation.
 Learn more at https://uplift360.com.au/

Want to be a guest on Built. Trusted. Chosen.? Book here:
https://uplift360.com.au/built-trusted-chosen-podcast-guest-booking/

I’ll be going live with Aaron Husak to unpack what actually drives consistent leads for trades and construction businesses right now. We’re getting practical on Google Business Profile optimisation (and why it can matter more than your website), what “consistency” really means to Google, when Google Ads makes sense (and when it becomes a money pit), and how AI is changing the way customers compare quotes and choose contractors. If you’re serious about lead flow without chaos, you’ll get plenty to steal from this one.

You’ll take away

• Why Google may trust your Business Profile more than your website
• The tiny inconsistencies (hours, address, phone) that quietly kill local rankings
• When Google Ads is worth it, and when LSA is the better move
• What a landing page needs to turn clicks into calls and bookings
• How AI will soon be analysing your proposals before a customer decides

Guest: Aaron Husak
Aaron Husak is the founder of Sequoia GEO, where he helps contractors improve local visibility and lead flow through Google Business Profile optimisation, smarter content, and generative engine optimisation strategies. After scaling his own multi-division home services business and earning four consecutive Inc. 5000 rankings, he now works with trades businesses on building marketing systems that stand up in the AI era.

• https://www.sequoiageo.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahusak/

Host: Wes Towers
Wes is the founder of Uplift 360 and host of Built. Trusted. Chosen. He helps trades and construction companies be built, trusted, and chosen online through high-performing websites and Search Everywhere Optimisation.

https://uplift360.com.au/

CTA
Want to be a guest on Built. Trusted. Chosen.? Book here: https://uplift360.com.au/built-trusted-chosen-podcast-guest-booking/

Most trades and construction businesses don’t lose work because they’re bad. They lose it because they’re bland, unclear, or competing on the wrong thing.

In this conversation with Alex Gore, co-founder of F9 Productions, we unpack what it really takes to get chosen for the right projects in architecture and construction. We talked about the hidden cost of cheap drawings, why most pitches sound identical, how to build trust that actually compounds, and why demonstrating your craft beats talking about it every time.

This one is practical. Especially if you want better clients, smoother builds, and stronger referral partnerships.

You’ll take away:

• Why “cheap drawings” often become the most expensive decision on a project
• How clarity in documentation makes life easier for contractors and protects profit
• The difference between saying you’re good and demonstrating you are
• Why niching is powerful, but dangerous if misunderstood
• How to position yourself so architects and contractors want to refer work to you
• The “Be Brilliant at the Basics” principle that separates the top 10%

About Alex Gore

Alex Gore is co-founder of F9 Productions, an architecture firm built around nine core values. He has worked on major projects early in his career and later co-founded his own practice, eventually moving into both architecture and construction. Alex is passionate about improving clarity in design, elevating construction standards, and helping teams build better outcomes from the ground up.

Website: https://www.f9productions.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexgore/

About Wes Towers

Wes Towers is the host of Built. Trusted. Chosen. and founder of Uplift 360. He helps trades and construction companies be built, trusted, and chosen online through high-performing websites and Search Everywhere Optimisation.
 Learn more at: https://uplift360.com.au/

Want to be a guest on Built. Trusted. Chosen.? Book here:
https://uplift360.com.au/built-trusted-chosen-podcast-guest-booking/

Too many trades and construction businesses stay busy but never become truly valuable. They win work, carry the stress, manage every decision, and still end up with thin margins and a business that depends too heavily on the owner. 

In this episode of Built. Trusted. Chosen., I sit down with Stefan Kazakis to unpack what it really takes to grow a trade or construction business beyond survival mode. We talk about pricing discipline, building an A-grade team, creating an org chart that supports scale, and why the smartest owners build with exit in mind long before they ever plan to sell. This is a practical conversation for leaders who want more margin, more freedom, and a business that can stand on its own. 

You’ll take away:

• Why the skills that start a business are different from the skills needed to grow and scale it 
• How reviewing the gap between what you quoted and what delivery actually costs can transform margin 
• Why reliability, attention to detail, communication and integrity are the real foundations behind premium pricing 
• How to grow leaders in your team without relying only on money or tenure 
• Why loyalty does not automatically equal promotion, and how to avoid entitlement traps in leadership development 
• How the right org chart, scorecards and roles create leverage and reduce founder dependency 

Stefan Kazakis is the founder of Business Benchmark Group, a Melbourne-based growth and succession advisory that works with founder-led trade and construction businesses. Business Benchmark Group helps owners reduce founder dependency, build long-term enterprise value, and prepare their businesses for growth, succession and eventual exit. Links:

https://www.businessbenchmarkgroup.com.au/

https://au.linkedin.com/in/stefankazakis 

 I’m Wes Towers, founder of Uplift 360 and host of Built. Trusted. Chosen. I help trades and construction companies be built, trusted, and chosen online through high-performing websites and Search Everywhere Optimisation. https://uplift360.com.au/

Want to be a guest on Built. Trusted. Chosen.? Book here: https://uplift360.com.au/built-trusted-chosen-podcast-guest-booking/

Trades and construction businesses don’t usually fail because the work isn’t good. They stall (or break) because the foundations underneath the work are shaky: cashflow, systems, and consistency.

In this upcoming live conversation, I’m sitting down with Adrian Henry from Business Grower to unpack what actually helps contractors grow without overcommitting, burning out, or getting smashed by “surprise” tax bills. We’ll talk about the unsexy stuff that keeps a business stable, and the practical moves that help you look more trusted, stay front-of-mind with past clients, and scale in a way your team (and your personal life) can handle.

You’ll take away:

• Why cashflow is the first trap for new tradies, and how GST/BAS catches people out
• How to build a “solid foundation” so your business looks professional and trusted early
• Why owner visibility builds trust faster than trying to look like a big company
• How process and accountability beat motivation when you’re flat out
• What growing really costs once you start hiring (beyond wages)
• Why a CRM and simple follow-up keeps you front-of-mind and fuels referrals

Guest bio:
Adrian Henry is a Geelong, Victoria-based business advisor and the founder of Business Grower, where he helps trades and construction businesses build stronger foundations across cashflow, systems, and practical growth habits. He’s worked across sales and business development roles in multiple industries and focuses on “keeping it real” for local business owners.
 

• https://businessgrower.com.au/
• [email protected]

Host bio:
I’m Wes Towers, founder of Uplift 360 and host of Built. Trusted. Chosen. I help trades and construction companies be built, trusted, and chosen online through high-performing websites and Search Everywhere Optimisation. https://uplift360.com.au/

Want to be a guest on Built. Trusted. Chosen.? Book here: https://uplift360.com.au/built-trusted-chosen-podcast-guest-booking/

Running a trades or construction business is hard enough without disengaged crews, missed expectations, and constant frustration on site.

In this episode of “Built. Trusted. Chosen.”, I sit down with executive coach Trevor Blondeel to unpack why leadership breakdowns happen in trades and construction, and how small shifts in communication, expectations, and accountability can completely change the way teams show up.

This conversation is all about practical leadership. We talk about how leaders unintentionally disrupt productivity, why culture never improves as you scale, and what it actually takes to build trust across crews, supervisors, and management.

You’ll take away:

• Why leaders talking too much can cost productivity on site
• How culture reflects leadership behaviour, not posters or values
• A simple framework for setting expectations crews actually own
• How accountability builds trust when it’s done in the right order
• Why behaviour problems often hide deeper personal struggles

Guest bio:
Trevor Blondeel is an executive coach who spent years running manufacturing plants and now works with owners and leaders across construction, logistics, and manufacturing. He helps leaders improve communication, strengthen accountability, and build cultures people actually want to be part of.
https://www.trevorblondeel.com/
https://manufacturinggreatness.com/

Host bio:
I’m Wes Towers, founder of Uplift 360 and host of Built. Trusted. Chosen. I help trades and construction companies be built, trusted, and chosen online through high-performing websites and Search Everywhere Optimisation.
https://uplift360.com.au/

Want to be a guest on Built. Trusted. Chosen.?
Book here: https://uplift360.com.au/built-trusted-chosen-podcast-guest-booking/

Trades and construction businesses often help create value in investment properties, but many owners and project teams do not fully understand how that value can flow through into tax deductions and cash flow. That gap can mean missed opportunities, weaker pitches, and less confidence when talking to property investors.

In this episode, I sat down with Jarrel Dugay from Duo Tax to unpack how tax depreciation really works in the real world. We discussed why new builds usually have stronger depreciation potential, why older properties can still hold hidden value, how renovations by previous owners may still matter, and why getting the right expert involved can protect both cash flow and compliance. It’s a practical conversation for trades, builders, renovators and construction leaders who want to better understand the financial lens many property investors bring to a project.

You’ll take away

• Why new builds usually open up more depreciation opportunities than older properties 
• Why older properties are not automatically “fully depreciated” if renovations have been done 
• The key difference between second-hand plant and equipment versus structural improvements to the property 
• How replacing items like an air conditioner can change what is claimable going forward 
• Why a depreciation schedule can improve cash flow and help offset the pain of negative gearing 
• Why compliance matters just as much as maximising deductions 

Guest bio
Jarrel Dugay is part of the team at Duo Tax, an Australian firm specialising in tax depreciation schedules for property investors, along with property valuation services for tax-related purposes. Duo Tax services clients across Australia and works across residential, commercial and specialised property types.
Guest links:

• Duo Tax: https://duotax.com.au/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarrel-dugay/ 

Host bio
I’m Wes Towers, founder of Uplift 360 and host of Built. Trusted. Chosen. I help trades and construction companies be built, trusted, and chosen online through high-performing websites and Search Everywhere Optimisation. https://uplift360.com.au/

 Want to be a guest on Built. Trusted. Chosen.? Book here: https://uplift360.com.au/built-trusted-chosen-podcast-guest-booking/