Business Blueprints

In episode 22 of Business Blueprints, Bryan welcomes Phil Pagliari, a multifaceted individual who is a Christian, father, husband, pastor at Valley Remnant Church, designer, and freelancer. The episode dives into Phil's inspiring journey, highlighting the significant transformations he has undergone since high school. Phil shares his experiences, starting from his graduation in 2004, his brief stint at Pittsburgh Technical Institute, and his early ventures from the streets of Denora. Despite a tumultuous start, Phil's story is one of resilience and continuous growth, showcasing his commitment to his mission and the remarkable changes he has embraced over the years. Tune in to hear more about Phil's life, lessons learned, and the strength of his personal evolution.

In this episode of Business Blueprints, Bryan is joined by Matt Durbin from mad.homes to dive into the world of real estate and mortgages. Matt shares his extensive experience in the industry, starting from his beginnings in mortgage in 2005 during the subprime boom. He discusses his transition to Fort Lauderdale, where he launched a mortgage broker business before shifting focus to real estate brokerage. With 30+ agents and nearly 300 transactions a year, the conversation touches on the challenges of managing a growing team and the importance of staying focused on core business goals. The conversation highlights the importance of having analytic goals in business and the challenges of staying focused in fast-paced industries like real estate and construction. Tune in to gain insights from Matt's journey and learn about the strategies he employs to navigate the complexities of the market.

"YOU JUST HAVE TO REALIZE NOW IS THE MOMENT"

In this episode of Business Blueprints, Bryan sits down with good friend Arron Groomes, a sharp and innovative professional in the real estate industry. They reflect on their early days at Urban Capital, discussing how those formative experiences shape their careers and deepen their understanding of the field.

Arron shares his unconventional path into real estate, beginning with an initial pursuit of physical therapy. After realizing it is not the right fit, he pivots to accounting, where he discovers the tax advantages of real estate and develops a passion for the industry. As a student at the University of Pittsburgh, Arron co-founds a real estate club, creating invaluable networking opportunities and connecting with some of Pittsburgh's most prominent industry leaders.

The conversation highlights the importance of relationships in real estate, with Arron emphasizing how early connections and lessons continue to provide opportunities. He discusses the challenges of wholesaling and property management during the early stages of his career, explaining how these experiences influence his investment strategies and approach to business.

The episode also examines Pittsburgh's unique real estate landscape, from its evolving neighborhoods to the growing impact of tech companies on the local economy. Arron explores the influx of out-of-state investors, the shifting property values, and the critical role of conservative underwriting in navigating unpredictable market conditions.

This episode offers a detailed look at Arron Groomes' professional journey and the dynamic nature of Pittsburgh's real estate market. Through this engaging conversation, listeners gain valuable insights into building a career in real estate and adapting to a constantly evolving industry.

WHEN YOU SEE A PROBLEM IN THE MARKET, TRY AND FIX IT!

In this episode Bryan sits down with agent and construction professional Jon Masuga! Hear how the guys met back in 2014 and how flipping brought them together. The guys talk learning the how to's and why remodeling was the next pivot from flipping. Hear Jon's opinion about why it's so hard finding the right properties and why people are turned off by lazy flips. Find out what a client avatar even is during this awesome discussion. Lastly, Jon also thinks to be a real estate agent you also have to have an extensive knowledge of construction to be great for your clients.

Jon asks Bryan for advice on growth to wrap up the show.

Starting out as an intern for a real estate group in college, Jon has accumulated over 13 years in different positions in real estate, majority of which involved being a Realtor at various big name brokerages. Most recently, Jon was a Sales Representative for NVR home builders (Heartland Homes/Ryan Homes) for 5 years where he sold over 100 new construction homes of all shapes and sizes, ranging from $250,000 to over $1,000,000. In that time, Jon would meet with 4-5 buyers a day and learn about their wants, needs and struggles in the search to find their new home. When COVID hit Jon realized that the nature of real estate was changing forever, and being part of a large corporation would not allow him the flexibility to always do right by the client.

Sensing the enormous change in Pittsburgh real estate with limited inventory and rising prices, Jon saw an opportunity to start a brokerage that acted as a Fiduciary to the client instead of just trying to get their business anyway possible. Jon aims to build his brand around eliminating all the things people hate about traditional brokerages like binding contracts, random fees, minimum commissions or a big team where you can get lost in the shuffle.

Jon has built a trusted network of real estate professionals including lenders, title companies, real estate attorneys, new construction sales reps, investors and an most of all an affiliated construction team to deliver real value to all his clients. Jon owns and invests in the markets you're already looking so he can relate to what you're going through in your search first hand. Whether you're selling your home, finding your next or looking to start into the world of investing, JEM Realty has it all in one place.

GROWTH IN A BUSINESS STARTS WITH SELF-DEVELOPMENT!

In this episode, Bryan sits down with Travis Kenny & Adam Fincik of Planet Roof! Hear the guy's amazing story of how to run a business and still believe in yourself, and to know when it needs to pivot. Being in business together for 9 years they noticed they were not properly running their business. Now the guys are leading from the front with both in sales after restructuring. They dive into a common theme on our show - RELATIONSHIPS ARE EVERYTHING and business coaching is KEY!

The guys also give their opinions on the insurance world and why as a roofing company they no longer do insurance claims. Lastly, the guys give their one piece of advice to anyone wanting to start a business.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

Adam started roofing at age 17. He had over a decade of experience before joining with Travis to start their own company. Together, they have 40 years of combined experience.

Adam saw that some of the companies he worked for were unethical and cut corners to make more money. This is a concept that both Adam and Travis disagreed with, so they made it a mission to ensure that Planet Roof always puts the customer first, ensuring quality work and total satisfaction.

Planet Roof was established with customer's expectations as a top priority. We believe in providing customers with top quality and a satisfying project experience unlike any they've ever had. They are committed as owners and as an organization to consistently improve their services by staying on top of all the latest technological advances and quality materials of construction to deliver the best value possible for every customer.

THE POWER OF EDUCATION

In this one, Bryan is joined by a person he has known for a very long time, Daniel Costantino of Achieve Capital Partners! The guys go over some war stories and Dan's most recent nightmare that has now turned out into a great thing. He also explains how he got his start and how a mastermind group changed his life. His biggest piece of advice on how to learn is "Get around the people who do what you want to do". Also who doesn't love hearing some crazy covid business stories?!

You will become a better leader after listening to this one, listen up!

Achieve Capital Partners is a leading private equity real estate firm that offers stable, high-yield returns to accredited investors. Their investment options are comprised of multi-family housing throughout the Greater Pittsburgh area and have been growing steadily since founded.

Vertically integrated, they have in-house property management, maintenance, and construction which gives them the ultimate control over investment assets.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

THE LESSON IN THIS ONE IS GOOD BUSINESS GOES A LONG WAY!

In this episode, Bryan sits down with friend DJ Fairley of eXp Realty LLC. The guys go over a lot in this one including their takes on the current market. DJ drops some gems and even gives some of the key pointers to how his business navigates the ever-changing landscape.

The guys are both fans of the 75 Hard Challenge and explain why they think it makes you a better business owner. Both Bryan and DJ are in agreeance on the importance of interest rates and discuss why price is such a pressing issue for some new clients.

One of the Top Real Estate Teams in all of Western Pennsylvania with EXP Realty (powered by Place). With over $290,000 Million in Real Estate Sold and over 1,200 homes sold, we are in the Top 1% of the 1% of real estate agents in the country. "We strive to give all of our clients 5 Star Service and our business is growing as a result of this." Ranked #6 out of over 9,000 Agents in 2022 in all of Western PA - Pittsburgh Post Gazette. $69M Sold in 2023 and 236 Homes Sold.

Ranked #1 in state of Pennsylvania '21 - EXP Realty (largest independent brokerage in the world). AEF Titanium Award Winning, EXP Realty Mega Icon Team '22 & '23, Icon '20 &'21, Who's Who in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Business Times, Hall of Fame - Nexthome.

Visit at website: mad.homes

WE ARE BACK AFTER A QUICK SUMMER VACATION!

In this episode, Bryan sits down with lender Kevin O'Laughlin of Movement Mortgage. Hear a story of someone who bounced around looking for the right industry and FOUND IT. Kevin originally from NY has worked in loans most of his life. He got into understanding mortgages during his time in Houston Texas. He fully explains why the mortgage industry and specifically things like interest rates have changed so much over the years. He goes into how his line of work has changed and undergone a process of margin compression with tech being helpful, but also making his workload larger. The one thing you will take from this is a true understanding of what sets interest rates and why there is more to mortgages than just the rate! A quote from this one is "Good Lenders Are Like Good Builders" see what the guys mean at about the halfway point.

Some gems not to be missed in this one!

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts,

In this episode, we sit down with fellow builder and business owner Brian Gaudiano of Omega Building Company. The guys talk about everything from the difference between private and public builds to why you take on bonds. We also hear from Brian about what matters most in his life and how adjustments are KEY when owning a business. When Brian founded Omega he was motivated to build on the core values he holds close in his life. Honesty, integrity, building others up and always doing the right thing.

Services they offer

Re-purposing and Renovations – Our team have become masters of re-purposing and retrofitting properties. Whether for the same use as in it's previous life or a completely different use; we have the vision to help you bring your project to life. Many times these projects present great challenges, and that's why our agility in overcoming obstacles adds great value.

Design-Build or Design Assist – Many of our projects involve us being intimately entrenched in the design and pre-construction phase. Whether we are doing the design or assisting your favorite architect; Our vision can really help you achieve your goals. This works especially well when we are involved, intimately, from the onset of a project. We add value by ensuring your investment is being well spent on items that add value. We always have your budget and goals in mind when reviewing constructability. This makes our involvement, from day one, imperative to the success of your project.

Automotive Dealerships – Our team has over 50 automotive dealership projects under our belt. We have been involved in the design, full ground-up construction, and renovation of dealership facilities. We add value by implementing our intimate knowledge of not only how a dealership functions, but also the best construction methods for an efficient facility.

Multi-Family Housing – Our team has built and renovated over 1,500 units of affordable and market rate housing. In addition to new, ground up construction, we have developed a niche for capital improvement unit upgrades. We also have extensive experience in assisting with HUD and LIHTC funding for affordable housing projects in the pre-construction planning phase.

Retail and Restaurants – Our team has completed over 150 retail and 150 restaurant projects. We self-perform carpentry, drywall, acoustical ceilings, painting, flooring and minor electrical work. This gives us a huge competitive advantage on small retail and restaurant build-out projects.

Office/Warehouse and Industrial – Our team has designed, built and renovated over 5 million square feet of commercial space. We have done a little bit of everything, including, simple office build-outs, top secret projects for government contractors, warehousing and distribution centers and very complex FDA testing facilities for top pharmaceutical companies. Our Agile Project Delivery methods save time and money adding value to your bottom line.

Self – Storage – As Americans, we like to collect things. Everyone needs a place to keep their "stuff". With strategic partnerships, we offer the most comprehensive and advanced knowledge of design and construction for large footprint self – storage facilities. We can even partner with you to develop and operate your facility. No one else in the Pittsburgh market can add value like this for a self-storage project.

Pre-Engineered Buildings – We are a proud representative builder for Ceco Building Systems. Ceco is a member of The Cornerstone Building Brand family of companies. This offers us a great competitive advantage, not only for pre-engineered building needs, but also many other product offerings. Ceco's building offerings are top notch in the metal building industry and their values align well with ours. We don't sacrifice quality and neither do they.

Development and Development Assistance – Our team is always looking for development opportunities. From time to time we will partner with owners to develop projects. We also lead development projects of our own. If you have a project or idea for a development but need assistance to get it off the ground, we can help.

Transparent Project Delivery – Many times a projects scope is not clearly defined or, especially with renovation projects, there are many variables to consider when preparing an estimate. We realize that the best value for our clients, at times, is to deliver projects cost plus with a guaranteed maximum. We work to fully transparent with our clients to always add value.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

In this episode, we talk interiors with Amy Hawkins of HSD Services! Amy was the daughter of a house flipper (BEFORE IT WAS POPULAR), and that's just where her experience began. As we talk in this episode, the term designer is a loose-based term. Some people just hang their hats with their certifications and college degrees, but that is simply not her. Unlike most in her industry, she likes to explain the why, the HOW-TO of it all. Constant communication and consistent work and effort are the name of the game. This, like most of our episodes is FULL of free game. Learn what it takes to become a successful designer without the hard lessons.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!!