This week, John Talman and Luke Hansen sit down with Dmitriy Ivanchuk, founder of HeyPros and Homze, to unpack his remarkable journey from an immigrant family steeped in trades work to becoming a tech innovator reshaping labor management in construction. From launching his first painting business at 18 to designing algorithms that help even greenhorns quote like seasoned pros, Dmitriy explains how creativity, marketing savvy, and relentless problem-solving led to the birth of HeyPros and Homze. Whether you’re a contractor, business owner, or just someone passionate about solving real-world problems, this episode delivers insights, laughs, and inspiration in equal measure.

Key Takeaways Start Small, Think Big: Dmitriy’s entrepreneurial journey began with small painting jobs and grew into developing full-scale software platforms that solve industry-wide challenges.

Solving Real Problems: HeyPros and Homze focus on tackling actual pain points.

Empowering Subcontractors: Dmitriy’s mission is to give subcontractors access to more jobs and fair opportunities.

Automation + Human Touch: Dmitriy emphasizes that human connection and responsibility remain essential amidst all the autamated innovations within construction.

Optimism for the Future: Dmitriy sees younger contractors prioritize professionalism, customer experience, and doing things "the right way" even amid labor shortages.

Good Contracting = Good Character: In Dmitriy’s words, being a good contractor (and a good person) comes down to effort, responsibility, and genuine care.

This week, Luke Hansen and John Talman return for a special episode packed with insights, hard-earned lessons, and some laughs along the way. With no guest in the hot seat, the conversation covers everything from the unpredictability of trade shows to the evolving role of AI in the contracting world.

• Show Up and Do the Work: The most essential quality in a contractor is reliability—showing up on time, doing what you say you will, and communicating well.

• AI Can Help, But It Won’t Replace Tradespeople: While AI will handle more admin-heavy tasks, it’s a long way from replacing the boots-on-the-ground skills needed in construction.

• Scaling Brings New Challenges: As businesses grow, the challenges don’t go away—they just change form.

• Innovation Is Constant: Each year brings new materials and gadgets for homes. Staying curious and aware of these innovations is part of thriving in the trades.

This week, John Talman and Luke Hansen sit down with Dan Waters, owner of Decks Unlimited (now Deck City), to talk about breaking industry norms, growing a specialized business, and the power of mentorship in the trades. Dan shares how he built a deck-focused business despite industry skepticism, the challenges he faced when expanding into materials distribution, and how he continues to mentor and uplift the next generation of tradespeople. Whether you're a contractor, entrepreneur, or just looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with insights, humor, and hard-earned wisdom.

Key Takeaways:

• Defying Expectations: Dan built a deck-only business despite being told it would never work.
• Customer Service Wins: Personalized service and deep product knowledge helped him stand out in a tough market.
• Mentorship Matters: He believes investing in people is just as important as building great decks.
• Navigating Industry Pushback: As he moved into deck materials distribution, larger suppliers tried to shut him out, but he found ways to succeed.
• The Future of the Trades: Dan supports programs that help young people enter the industry and build careers without college debt.

This week, John Talman and Luke Hansen take a break from guest interviews to share their experiences at the AHR Expo in Orlando and what makes a truly great contractor.They discuss the quirks of trade show culture and dive into a deeper discussion on why people enter the trades—whether for financial security, craftsmanship, or the satisfaction of doing the job right.

• Trust is Everything: The best contractors aren’t just skilled—they’re reliable, honest, and follow through on their commitments.
• Why People Choose the Trades: Many get into it for the money, but stay for the pride of craftsmanship and the opportunity to serve customers with integrity.
• Trade Shows are a Goldmine: Events like AHR Expo and IBS aren’t just for networking—they’re where industry pros can learn about the latest innovations and connect with like-minded professionals.

This week, John Talman and Luke Hansen sit down with Kevin Choquette, owner of Ravin Builders, to discuss his unconventional journey into the trades. From leaving high school early to building a high-end decking business, Kevin shares the lessons he’s learned along the way. He talks about overcoming obstacles, mastering his craft, and how contractors can use social media to grow their businesses. Whether you’re a seasoned tradesperson or just starting out, this episode is filled with valuable insights on perseverance, skill development, and the power of hands-on learning. Key Takeaways

• The Trades as a Pathway: Kevin’s journey proves that the trades offer incredible opportunities for those willing to work hard and learn.
• Overcoming Challenges: Success isn’t about where you start but how you adapt, persist, and grow.
• Specialization Wins: Kevin found his niche in high-end deck building, demonstrating the value of focusing on a specialty.
• The Power of Social Media: Leveraging Instagram helped Kevin land high-value clients and establish credibility in his field.
• Continuous Learning: The best contractors are always improving, staying open to new techniques, and refining their craft.

In this episode Luke and John reflect on 17 unexpected episodes packed with laughter, lessons, and insights into what makes a “good contractor.” With reflections on favorite episodes and unexpected listener feedback, capturing memorable stories from guests who exemplify resilience and growth. With Season Two slated for early 2025, they’re eager to hit the road, share more powerful stories, and keep asking what it means to truly excel in the trades. 

Luke and John are jumping in the waters of yet another new trade. Meet Eric Triplett, better known as The Pond Digger. He's battled business, battled cancer, turned passion into a profession and done all of this while helping people every step of the way through coaching or mentorship. Dive in to Episode 17 and as Eric says, "let's make a splash!" 

Episode 16 sees Luke and John diving into the world of solar energy, and if we're going to hit up that particular trade, it makes perfect sense to start with The Solar Goat: Brandan Sirrine. How did Brandan go from accounting (yes, accounting of places) to a career in solar? We'll let him tell you about this amazing journey. 

We welcomed Jarod Coffman of Coffman Construction a few episodes ago. In that episode, Jarod talked about how he met a new friend whom he would work alongside and, eventually, would become his brother-in-law. That person is Landon Nortune and it was his turn to join the Good Contractor Podcast to share his incredible journey.

Marco Radocaj played college football at Villanova, where he met his wife. Marco and his wife moved to Florida, and he starting learning the ins and outs of HVAC. Amidst all this, on a mission to figure out what was ailing one of his children, he formed a business with an entirely new perspective on the air we surround ourselves with in our homes.