Crushing It In Construction

Welcome Back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.

This week, we chatted with James Rutledge, the gritty founder of Rutledge Drilling -  a family owned and operated geotechnical drilling and stabilisation company.

From dodging cyclones to rebuilding after floods, James knows what it takes to stabilize both crumbling hillsides and a growing business. He shares his unorthodox journey from Army vet to underground miner to high-risk license trainer and why he finally decided to stop making money for someone else.

Ever wondered how to turn a niche trade into an industry contender? Curious what happens when you mix family dynamics with heavy machinery? Or just want to hear why “some people have to piss on the electric fence to learn”?  Strap in! This one’s packed with hard-won wisdom.

Connect with James Rutledge:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/red_dog_group/

Website: https://www.rutledgedrilling.au/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand? Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.

This week, we’re sitting down with James Elliott, owner of Red Dog Group and a UK-born builder who traded drizzle for Queensland downpours (and somehow still came out on top).

James has strong opinions about our industry, and he’s not sugar coating them: Builders are tired of being the scapegoat for every delay and price hike, overregulation is choking growth, and if we don’t start making trades appealing again, we’re in serious trouble.

From battling another year of biblical rain to flipping the script on sales (hint: stop selling services, start selling products), this episode digs into why 2025 might be the toughest year yet for builders.

And if you thought post-COVID chaos was behind us? Think again. James breaks down why the ripple effects,material costs, labor shortages, and red tape are still hitting hard.

Ready for some straight talk? Let’s go!

Connect with James Elliott:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/red_dog_group/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-elliott-99252334/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand? Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.

This week’s guest is Brendan Nielsen, the founder of JC Engineers.

Brendan’s not your typical engineer. He’s spent years getting his boots dirty on site and knows firsthand that there’s a big difference between what’s drawn on paper and what actually works in the real world. In this episode, he shares how he went from working in the industry to backing himself and starting JC Engineers, a business built on solving real problems with the right people around him.

We get into how studying engineering didn’t exactly prepare him for what came next, what finally pushed him to take the leap, and why he’s more focused on building something solid than chasing wild growth. Brendan also gets real about what it’s like to run a business, the early frustrations, and why a degree doesn’t always mean you’ve got it sorted on site.

If you’ve ever felt like experience beats theory or you're someone who wants to hear the honest side of building something from scratch, this one’s worth a listen.

Let’s get into it with Brendan!

Connect with Brendan Nielsen:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-nielsen-59013a46/

Website: https://www.jcengineers.com.au/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand? Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.

Joining us today is Joseph Wainwright, the founder of Wainwright Facades, a successful cladding company based in Canberra. Joseph’s journey is one of hustle, persistence, and overcoming challenges that many in the industry can relate to.

From leaving school at 16 and working odd jobs in the UK, to navigating the ups and downs of starting a business from scratch, Joseph opens up about the reality of building a company in today’s market. He talks about the tough moments: chasing leads that never panned out, dealing with slow-moving jobs, and the challenges of the tendering process.

Joseph also shares a game-changing moment when he lost nearly $864,000 overnight, but instead of giving up, he kept going, proving that grit and perseverance are at the core of success in the construction world.

Let’s dive in!

Connect with Joseph Wainwright:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-wainwright-6b999368/

Website:https://www.wainwrightfacades.com/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Do you have an influential personal brand? Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.

You know that moment in business where everything’s ticking along nicely, and instead of finally relaxing, your brain goes, Cool cool cool… But what now?

In this episode, Jordan catches up with Anthony Braile, the Managing Director of Combined Demolition, and they get real about his wild ride from being a chippy on the tools to running a successful demolition company. They chat about how he spotted a gap in the industry, built something with real heart, and what it feels like when the business doesn’t need you in the day-to-day anymore… but you’re still trying to figure out how to stay fired up and fulfilled.

They also talk about the harsh truths of working as an employee — the lies and broken promises, and the impact of bad bosses. It’s a wake-up call for anyone who’s ever felt stuck in a job or leadership role that just doesn’t align.

It’s honest, a bit gritty, and it’s packed with gems for anyone leading a team, dealing with burnout, or just wondering what the hell the next chapter looks like.

Connect with Anthony Braile:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-braile-85901b140/

Website: https://www.combineddemolition.com/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.

Starting a construction business at just 21 is no small feat especially in an industry known for its challenges and curveballs.

In this episode, I sit down with Ethan Chittick, Founder of B&E Built and Commercial Carpentry. We chat about what it was really like getting his business off the ground at such a young age and the lessons he's learned along the way.

We dive into the highs and lows of running a construction company, including how Ethan decides which clients are the right fit (spoiler: it’s not just about the money). He shares why aligning values with clients has become such a big focus for him and how that can make or break a project.

So if you're in the trades, thinking about starting your own business, or just curious about how someone makes it work in this industry- this episode is packed with good stuff. Definitely give it a listen!

Connect with Ethan Chittick:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-chittick-a22460191/

Website: https://bebuiltpl.com/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Are you as influential in the construction industry as you think? Take the quiz to find out:

http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.

Building something great requires a strong foundation-whether it’s a skyscraper, a business, or even a podcast. Just like in construction, where every beam and bolt serves a purpose, the right tools and insights can shape the industry’s future.

But what happens when the technology meant to help builders becomes more of a hindrance than a solution?

Today, we’re talking with Tyler Campbell, a former steel detailer, co-host of the Construction Brothers Podcast, and the mind behind Field Proof. After seeing firsthand how many construction professionals struggled with technology that wasn’t working for them, Tyler set out to create Field Proof to address these challenges. We’ll dive into the evolving world of construction tech and explore how we can make it work for the people who need it most.

Connect with Tyler Campbell:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerscottcampbell/

Website: https://www.fieldproof.io/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

PERSONAL BRAND QUIZ:
Are you as influential in the construction industry as you think? Take the quiz to find out: http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.

Are you a subcontractor who's lost in an endless list of manual tasks and processes?

This week sees Daniel Ouliaris step into the chair - he's a former concreter and now Founder/CEO of Neo Intelligence.

Neo came about when Daniel and his brothers chose to reinvest money from their successful concreting business into designing software that solves all of their biggest pain points.

And it turned out they weren't alone - subbies all over Australia are reaping the rewards. He takes us through how the company came to be, what they're solving, and why he believes a broken industry is a chance to rebuild from the ground up.

Let's get started.

CONTACT DETAILS

Daniel Ouliaris
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/daniel-ouliaris
Website: https://neointelligence.com.au/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Are you as influential in the construction industry as you think? Take the quiz to find out:
http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.

This week's guest is none other than Peter Bottero, Founder/Director of Tensile Design & Construct.

Tensile have a unique niche within the industry. They specialise in structural cables, rods and tensioned mesh - transforming interiors, decorating facades and implementing cutting edge urban green roofing to help cool our cities.

He reflects on how he found his niche, laughing about business mishaps and lessons learnt, and why he's got a thing or two to say about uni grads ending up in management fresh from their degree.

Peter's a great laugh and there's plenty to learn here. Let's get started!

CONTACT DETAILS

Peter Bottero
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/peter-bottero-88b27550
Website: https://www.tensile.com.au/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Are you as influential in the construction industry as you think? Take the quiz to find out:
http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz

Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast.

And a warm welcome to Jeremy Dyer, Managing Director of Total Fitouts.

Jeremy takes us through the unique way his business operates - sharing how the franchising model works perfectly for fitouts, and provides a heap of benefits to everyone involved.

As he says, business is all about relationships. Whether that's getting your face out there on buses and sponsoring sports teams, getting a recommendation from a happy client, or shaking hands on the golf course, Jeremy shares his tricks and tips for growing your business sustainably, on your terms!

Let's get started.

CONTACT DETAILS

Jeremy Dyer
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-dyer-63171228
Website: https://www.totalfitouts.com.au/

Jordan Skinner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-skinner-685439178/
Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

Are you as influential in the construction industry as you think? Take the quiz to find out:
http://www.constructingaleader.com/quiz