Episode 14 brings in Nate Altheimer of A3 Builders, based out of Belgium, Wisconsin.

With 30 years in the game and still wearing his bags, Nate splits his time between running a young framing crew—where his oldest is now swinging a hammer—and supervising larger development projects.

We dig into what it means to build in a market where “high-end” doesn’t look like what you see on social media—and how chasing that illusion can lead to overbuilding in a landscape where that kind of demand doesn’t exist.

In Nate’s world, the goal is clear: build smart—for efficiency, longevity, and reputation.

It was great catching up with Nate, and I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.

Project Size: 2-3 Spec Homes, 1-2 Development projects & Supervision

Yearly Revenue: $5mil

Company size: 3-5 employees

Ep. 14 Guest:

@A3Builders

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Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com 

@durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com 

@hdpocketdoors

Local Sponsor:

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

@HireSmooth

Andrew Prchlik, owner-operator of Whalebone Homes in Osterville, MA, is one of the best-kept secrets in high-end residential construction.
For the past 19 years, he’s quietly built a reputation for crafting exceptional homes—whether through spec builds, renovations, or ground-up custom projects—for a small, select group of clients.

I met Andrew a few years back and felt an instant connection rooted in a shared love for the craft, acts of service, deep relationships, and a passion for creating. This episode marks round two of our conversations—and this time, we’re bringing it to the podcast.

This isn’t a checklist of what makes Andrew great as a builder or person. You won’t find labeled chapters or step-by-step takeaways. Instead, the real value is laced throughout the conversation—layered in stories, insights, and subtle truths. That’s what I love about talks like this.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Project Size: 4-6 Custom Projects Yr

Yearly Revenue: $6-10mil

Company size: 2-4 employees

Ep. 13 Guest:

https://whalebonehomes.com

@whalebonehomes

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Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com 

@durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com 

@hdpocketdoors

Local Sponsor:

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

@HireSmooth

Otto Magdanz of Coda Managed Homes took a distinctly different path into residential construction—and it shows in everything he does. A Harvard Business School grad with roots in the trades, Otto didn’t set out to build flashy custom homes. He set out to fix what was broken. After years of listening to clients’ frustrations and pain points early in his career, his mission became clear: build a process that puts the homeowner first. That mindset naturally led to stunning homes, happy clients, and a niche approach that sets Coda apart. In this episode, we dive into the why behind Otto’s model—and what the industry can learn from it. Enjoy the conversation.

Project Size: 2-3 Custom Projects Yr + Concierge Projects

Yearly Revenue: $6-10mil

Company size: 8-10 employees

Ep. 12 Guest:

https://codahome.com

@codahome

The Wall Street Journal Link:

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Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com 

@durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com 

@hdpocketdoors

Jacob’s entry into the industry is wild—pure chance, but it lit a fire. With the backing of a mentor and a relentless drive to learn the craft, he fast-tracked his way through the trades, building up both skill and a trusted sub-pool. His first major project? Building his own home—something most only dream of. That experience catapulted him into the spec world, then onto the Parade of Homes, and eventually into high-end custom builds and renovations. Along the way, he brought millwork in-house to dial in execution and control—raising the bar on every project. Killer convo with a true craftsman.

Project Size: 6-8 Custom Projects Yr

Yearly Revenue: $5mil

Company size: 10+ employees

Ep. 11 Guest:

https://reinboldinc.com

@reinboldinc

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Review Shoutout:

Freddy @periodcraftsmen thank you!!

Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com 

@durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com 

@hdpocketdoors

Brian Greenberg of Grit & Grace Custom Homes is a true “bags-on” builder, leading a tight crew of five. They self-perform everything — from framing to finish carpentry — bringing an old-school work ethic and ethos to every job. Brian runs only two projects at a time, making it feel like you hired him — not just an employee. A true craftsman with a deep love for the trade, Brian and I dive into everything: project management, how he approaches a build, paper plans vs. digital, quality control, Lump Sum vs. Cost Plus contracts, change orders, and more.

Brian’s journey started in the white-collar world before he shifted to blue-collar life — and never looked back. He dipped his toe into real estate flips while commuting into Boston for his full-time gig, eventually evolving into spec homes and now custom builds and renovations.

Super proud of this episode, enjoy!!!

Book Brian mentioned:

Shop Class as Soulcraft: “An Inquiry into the Value of Work”

Author: Matthew B. Crawford

Project Size: 2-3 Custom Projects Yr

Yearly Revenue: $5mil

Company size: 5-6 employees

Guest:

https://www.ggbuilds.com

@gritandgracebuilds

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Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com 

@durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com 

@hdpocketdoors

Austin King started as a flipper and over 13yrs + has grown into a custom Design Build firm. Project sizing from $1.5 up to $10mil and even opened a finish trim company putting the finishing touches on RafterHouse Builds but also other projects in the area.

Project Size: 8-10 Custom Homes Yr

Yearly Revenue: $12-15mil

Company size: 10-15 employees

Guest:

https://www.rafterhouse.com

@_rafterhouse_

https://www.arcadiatrimco.com

@arcadiatrimco

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Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com 

@durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com 

@hdpocketdoors

Micheal Conneely of Greenside Design Build a true vet of the industry of 29yrs + joins the podcast on episode 8 to catch up, dig into “what is a MASTER BUILDER”, staying lean while running 8-10 builds…. Always amazing to catch up w/ this great dude! Enjoy!!

Project Size: 8-10 Custom Homes Yr

Yearly Revenue: $16mil

Company size: 4-5 employees

Guest:

https://www.greensidedesignbuild.com

@greensidedesignbuild

Listen • Subscribe • Review

@apple

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Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com 

@durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com 

@hdpocketdoors

JLC Live is a Rhode Island based Trade Show where I caught up w/ a couple carpentry class students. We talk about the show and what they like about the industry and the show floor.

We also catch up w/ Rick Mills of @jacksonandrewsbuilding and what brings him from VA to the show. Garret Davis @lifeofbub also joins us on the shows values and what's new in the his world of decks in FLA.

JLC Live

www.jlclive.com

@jlclive

Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com 

@durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com 

@hdpocketdoors

Jason Black of Artisan Signature Homes joins us to catch-up and talk a little shop; vetting clients/ projects, finding your lane, stress, work/ life, gmp v. cost plus, struggles & success.

Project Size: 2-3 Custom Homes + 2-3 High-End Spec Homes

Project Value: $1.2mil- $5mil

Company size: 4-5 employees

Guest:

www.artisansignaturehomes.com

@artisansignaturehomes

Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com 

@durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com 

@hdpocketdoors

Mike Whalen Lead Carpenter/ PM with 30+ yrs experience. We talk about site culture, project management, owning a company, tracking data from site, being the best PM/ Lead and how….

Project Size: 77 Renovations a yr

Project Value: $15k-$500k

Company size: 20-25 employees

Guest:

www.DBSRemodel.com

@dbsremodel

Sponsors:

www.durationmillwork.com 

@durationmouldingandmillwork 

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com 

@hdpocketdoors

JLC Live classes

March 27th & 28th

TH07 Project Management Class 9:30-12:30 27th

FR08 Schedule & Budget Class 9:30-11 28th

Mike’s classes:

TH12 Mastering Managing From the Field 1:30-4:30 27th

FR20 Custom Service From the Field 2:30-4 28th