Stan Romanek is the kind of contractor you’d want running your own home renovation or addition — someone who values the craft, enjoys being in the mix every day with his bags on, and leads by example with his two-man crew.

Stan’s true to his word and consistently overdelivers. We get into how he stays so dialed in on his numbers for fixed-price work and schedule durations — especially since most of his projects involve homeowners living in the house during construction.

He’s also been smart about keeping his scopes tight and his crew size manageable. And here’s the kicker — Stan paid off his house last year. That kind of discipline, drive, and focus is rare in this business.

Hope you enjoy this conversation with Stan Romanek!

Project size: varies between $3k- $400,000.

Projects per year: 20-30

Revenue between 750-950

Employees: 2

Learn more about Ep. 26 Guest:

@levelhomeimprovement

Levelhomeimprovements.com

Listen • Subscribe • Watch• REVIEW

@apple

@spotify

@youtube

Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com

 @durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com

@hdpocketdoors

Local Sponsor:

www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs!

@HireSmooth

Episode 25 — Rick Mills | Jackson Andrews Building + Design
Rick Mills out of Virginia is the perfect blend of building science and on-site execution. We share a similar path into the industry, and in this episode we dive into his early exposure to the trades—how money, experience, and growth shaped the journey.

Rick’s held down the Superintendent / Project Manager role for more than 16 years and recently stepped into a Senior PM position. We get into the Do’s and Don’ts of running projects as a Super, what it takes to level up after 23 years in the industry (and 12 with the same company), and how to stay sharp while taking on new responsibilities.

An incredible guy backed by an incredible company—Jackson Andrews Building + Design—turning out some seriously cool projects.

🎧 Hope you enjoy this conversation.

Project Size: Jobs ranging from 300k up to 15mil+

Projects per Year: 5-7 (but some are multi-year)

Company Size: 15 employees

Learn more about Ep. 25 Guest:

@rick.jacksonandrewsbuilding

Jacksonandrewsbuilding.com

Listen • Subscribe • Watch• REVIEW

@apple

@spotify

@youtube

Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com

 @durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com

@hdpocketdoors

Local Sponsor:

www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs!

@HireSmooth

The great and powerful Spencer Lewis joins the pod this week!

Spencer cut his teeth running insane trim packages solo—the kind of work most can’t sustain, but he’s built a career on it. He’s grown on his own terms, never sacrificing his means or methods.

What I love most about Spencer is his ethos. His pursuit of execution has always been for himself and his own standards—not for followers or clients. Few truly understand what it takes to pull off the level of trim and millwork packages he delivers. Like any perfectionist, he keeps pushing regardless of who’s watching.

That authenticity carries into his IG and YouTube channels. They weren’t created for likes—they’re platforms to spread knowledge. And in doing so, Spencer has become a trusted voice in the carpentry world, sharing tips, tricks, and insights into how he executes at such a high level.

Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned vet, Spencer is a resource every carpenter can learn from. It was awesome catching up and talking shop with him—I think you’ll enjoy this one.

Project (Home) size: $2-4 million

Projects per year: 6-12

Company Size: 3 team member including owner.

Learn more about Ep. 24 Guest:

@insider_carpentry

insidercarpentry.com

https://youtube.com/@insidercarpentry?si=fszRivpIEKHDADqT

Listen • Subscribe • REVIEW

@apple

@spotify

Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com

 @durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com

@hdpocketdoors

Local Sponsor:

www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs!

@HireSmooth

David West Photography

@bornimagery

www.bornimagery.com

This week we sit down with Andy Moore of ModernOak Construction out of Lynchburg, Virginia — a smaller market where the median home price runs around $270k–$300k and construction comes in between $200–$400 per square foot (per my ChatGPT research).

Andy is coming up on his 12-year anniversary with ModernOak, a milestone worth celebrating. We asked ChatGPT what it had to say about Andy’s company and his market, then dug into the real stuff: what it takes to train employees, lose employees, and transition from being “on the bag” to stepping back into leadership.

We cover the types of projects Andy takes on, how they’ve matured as his business has grown, what non-negotiables before he says “yes” to a client/ project and what’s next for him, his career, and ModernOak.

Hope you enjoy this conversation with Andy!

Project Size: $300K - $350K

Project per Year: 4-5 projects

Yearly revenue: $600K - $750K gross

Company Size: 3-4 employees (including Andy)

Learn more about Ep. 23 Guest:

@modern_oak

Modernoakconstruction.com

Listen • Subscribe • REVIEW

@apple

@spotify

Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com

 @durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com

@hdpocketdoors

Local Sponsor:

www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs!

@HireSmooth

David West Photography

@bornimagery

www.bornimagery.com

I sit down with PJ Antonik — Emmy-nominated developer, TV personality, builder, husband, and father. Each of those could stand alone as a full-time career, but PJ finds a way to take them all on.

We dig into how he balances it all: time management, mental and physical health, leading a team, and the risks that come with wearing so many hats. PJ also opens up about the humbling transition from running a 20+ person company to working solo—and the lessons he’s still learning from that shift.

Finally, we look ahead: what’s next for PJ and Oak Development, from customs to flips and specs, and the goals he’s setting as he continues to juggle TV, business, and family life.

Project Size: 1-2mil

Yearly Revenue: $5mil

Company size: 1-5 employees

Project Size: $250k- 3mil

Projects: 3-7

Company size: 1-5 employees

Learn more about Ep. 22 Guest:

Oakdd.com

@oak_development

Heartofoaktv.com

Listen • Subscribe • REVIEW

@apple

@spotify

Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com

 @durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com

@hdpocketdoors

Local Sponsor:

www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs!

@HireSmooth

David West Photography

@bornimagery

www.bornimagery.com

Episode 21 hits different. My guest, Adam Heffner, went from ironworker to specialty metal fabricator and entrepreneur. Maker Table is his third company—and it’s taken off thanks to a mix of calculated strategy and a little luck.

From plasma-cut signs and outdoor décor to massive art installations at the Hard Rock Hotel, Adam’s work blends precision with creativity. He’s a deep thinker, and I always love catching up to dig into his “why.” His drive is relentless—he doesn’t just quote Malcolm Gladwell’s “10,000 hours to become an expert,” he lives it. Adam reverse-engineered his path, figuring that by working seven 10-hour shifts and taking off every other Sunday, he could hit mastery in just over three years—without burning out.

That focus and discipline fueled Maker Table and launched his latest venture, Hero Machine Co., bringing plasma and laser cutting by makers, for makers. Adam believes in the “rising tide lifts all boats” mentality, and it shows in everything he does.

I think you’re going to get a ton from this one—enjoy the conversation, and if you do, please leave a review on your listening platform!

Ep. 21 Guest:

@maker.table

Malertable.com

@heromachineco

Heromachineco.com

Listen • Subscribe • REVIEW

@apple

@spotify

Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com 

@durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com 

@hdpocketdoors

Local Sponsor:

www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs!

@HireSmooth

Episode 20: Finding Balance with Taylor English of Tailored Design + Decked by Tailored

In this episode, I catch up with Taylor English to explore the real-world dilemmas many small firms face. We discuss whether chasing “big” jobs is really worth it, or if multiple smaller projects can be more profitable. Taylor also shares how he separates his love for the craft from the need to run a sustainable business—without sacrificing his passion.

Taylor doesn’t just think about these ideas; he’s putting them into practice. By focusing on one or two flagship renovations each year and layering in 10–15 deck projects, he’s found a balance that lets him hone his business and marketing while still enjoying the work.

If you’ve ever wondered how to balance creativity, service, and profitability, you’ll enjoy this conversation with Taylor English.

Project Size: 15,000-300,000

Projects: 15-20

Yearly Revenue: $800-1 mil

Company size: 3 employees

Ep. 20 Guest:

@tailored_design_build

@decked_by_tailored

Tailoreddb.com

Listen • Subscribe • Review

@apple

@spotify

Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com 

@durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com 

@hdpocketdoors

Local Sponsor:

www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs!

@HireSmooth

Mike Michalowicz joins the show!
Author of Profit First, Pumpkin Plan, Clockwork, Fix This Next, All In—and more.

Mike wrote his first book back in 2008, but he landed on my radar closer to 2018 when Profit First shifted the way I thought about business. That book—and honestly, most of his others—should be required reading whether you’re running a business or managing a single job site.

Every project is a business in itself. If you don’t treat it like one—with structure, systems, and accountability—you might be delivering great-looking work while running a failing operation behind the scenes.

In this episode, we hit on several of Mike’s key concepts:

1. Profit First – Create margin first so you can build systems and hire support.

2. Pumpkin Plan – Identify your best clients and prune what no longer serves you.

3. Clockwork – Build repeatable systems so the business runs even when you're not on site.

4. Fix This Next – Diagnose what’s really broken before making your next move.

5. All In – Hire the right people to fit your business and your values.

It was an awesome conversation with a guy who’s helped thousands of entrepreneurs work on the business, not just in it. Enjoy the episode!

Additional Resources below!

Ep. 19 Guest:

@mikemichalowicz

Mikemichalowicz.com

Profit First Resources:

Profitfirstbook.com

Pumpkin Plan Resources:

Pumpkinplan.com

Clock Work Resources:

clockworkbymikemichalowicz.com

Fix This Next Resources:

fixthisnext.com

All In Resources:

allinbymike.com

Listen • Subscribe • Review

@apple

@spotify

Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com 

@durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com 

@hdpocketdoors

Local Sponsor:

www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs!

@HireSmooth

EP18: Joe Langlais — From Apprentice to Owner of Langlais Custom Builders

In Episode 18, we sit down with Joe Langlais of Langlais Custom Builders — a true “mom & pop” New England contractor. Joe runs the field, while his wife Emily keeps everything moving behind the scenes. Together, they’ve built something special.

Joe also has one of the best origin stories in the business. As a student at a local vocational school, he was selected for an apprenticeship on This Old House — and his first interview? None other than Tom Silva. What followed was a decade-plus of mentorship under Tommy at Silva Brothers before Joe stepped out on his own to launch Langlais.

Now nine years in, we dig into the “why” behind the company, the goals, the boundaries, and the systems that bring stability to an otherwise chaotic industry. We talk backlog, team building, and how to create something sustainable — not just successful.

Hope you enjoy this one!

Project Size: 5-8 Projects

Yearly Revenue: $1-1.3mil

Company size: 1-3 employees

Ep. 18 Guest:

@Langlaiscustombuilders

Langlaiscustombuilders.com

Listen • Subscribe • Review

@apple

@spotify

Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com 

@durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com 

@hdpocketdoors

Local Sponsor:

www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs!

@HireSmooth

Episode 17: Paul Charett of Wood Theory Design

Paul is the perfect mix of woodworker and artist—bringing true artisan energy to life through his use of reclaimed wood, salvaged doors, and materials with soul. He gives old pieces new purpose in some of the sexiest builds across New England.

We dig into what it’s like to narrow your focus to such a specific niche—how that tight client funnel forces you to be intentional about who you work with, and why finding the right client to “marry” matters more than ever. We also talk about setting boundaries, honoring craft, and building a business that stays true to who you are.

Great conversation with an amazing dude and a wildly talented maker I’m proud to call a friend. Hope you enjoy it!

Project Size: 25-30 Projects

Yearly Revenue: $500k

Company size: 1-4 employees

Ep. 17 Guest:

@woodtheorydesign

Listen • Subscribe • Review

@apple

@spotify

Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com 

@durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com 

@hdpocketdoors

Local Sponsor:

www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs!

@HireSmooth