In this episode of the Collective Genius Podcast, I sit down with Ryan Berry—an investor who's proving you don't need a massive metro to build a massive business. Operating out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Ryan shares how he's consistently flipping 70–80 homes a year while managing a lean, high-performing team. We unpack the systems, team structure, and marketing moves that allow him to dominate a market many would overlook.

Ryan gets candid about the lessons he's learned from scaling too fast, making bad hires, and chasing the wrong KPIs. But more importantly, he reveals how discipline, clarity, and simplicity helped him build a business that runs profitably and predictably. Whether you're in a small town or a big city, this episode is a blueprint for sustainable, systemized growth.

Timeline Summary

[0:00] - Introduction

[2:00] - Ryan's background and how he scaled in a small Midwest market

[6:20] - Building a lean team that flips 70–80 homes per year

[10:45] - The systems and dashboards that keep operations tight

[15:30] - Lessons from scaling too quickly and hiring the wrong roles

[19:40] - Why the wrong KPIs almost broke his business

[23:50] - How switching marketing strategies helped boost deal flow

[28:30] - What he looks for in a killer acquisitions rep

[33:10] - The tech stack Ryan relies on to streamline operations

[38:00] - Staying disciplined and avoiding shiny object syndrome

[42:00] - How his leadership style evolved as the team grew

[46:30] - What's next: adding wholetail and rental models to the machine

5 Key Takeaways

You Don't Need a Big Market to Build a Big Business – With systems and discipline, even a city like Cedar Rapids can support a high-volume flip business.

Focus Beats Scale – Scaling too fast can create chaos. Master your market, your team, and your numbers first.

KPI Clarity = Business Clarity – Tracking the wrong metrics led Ryan astray. Real insights come from tracking what actually moves profit.

Build a Team You Can Trust – Lean, committed teams often outperform bloated org charts.

Simplicity Wins – Simple marketing, simple tech, and clear roles are what drive consistent execution.

Links & Resources

• ExploreCG.com – Join the Collective Genius community

If this episode gave you insight or inspiration to clean up your operations or scale smarter, don't forget to follow, rate, and share the Collective Genius Podcast. Let's grow more with less.