George Passas (Founder of Pascon & Builder Elite) - Jimmy Talks Episode 29

In this episode of Jimmy Talks Construction, Jimmy sits down with George Passas, founder of Builder Elite and Pascon, for an honest, no-BS conversation about the realities of running a construction business when everything goes wrong.

George opens up about being locked into high-risk construction contracts during COVID, how poor contract structures nearly destroyed his business, and the brutal reality of losing over $1,000,000 in a single year. He breaks down what that period taught him about risk management, cash flow, leadership, and why trust is everything in the construction industry.

If you enjoyed this chat, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share the podcast. Follow James and George to keep up with more stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes of building successful businesses from the ground up.

Connect with George Passas

💼 LinkedIn (George): https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgepassas/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/george.passas/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgepassasofficial/ Facebook

🌐 Personal Website: https://georgepassas.com/

Million Dollar Days Podcast

🌐 Official Site: https://milliondollardays.com.au/

🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/million-dollar-days/id1716294586

🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MillionDollarDaysPod/featured

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milliondollardayspod/

Connect with Jimmy:

🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/

Buy CONEXPO 2026 Tickets NOW, and don’t miss my small business workshop on the Friday!

https://www.conexpoconagg.com/attend-the-show/registration-and-pricing

Use code STARBUCK20 to save 20% at checkout.

Valid through to March 2nd

In this episode, Jimmy has a chat with Colm Phibbs, the MD at Cono Services. Colm talks about first moving from Ireland to Australia during the Global Financial Crisis, and building his business from then, to now being a large company which offers bulk excavations, civil, and plant hire services in some of Sydneys biggest projects.

If you enjoyed this chat, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share the podcast. Follow James and Colm to keep up with more stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes of building successful businesses from the ground up.

Connect with Colm:

🌐 Website: https://conoservices.com.au/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conoservices/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/conoservices/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colm-phibbs-cono-services/?originalSubdomain=au

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cono-services/posts/?feedView=all

Connect with Jimmy:

🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/

Buy CONEXPO 2026 Tickets NOW, and don’t miss my small business workshop on the Friday!

https://www.conexpoconagg.com/attend-the-show/registration-and-pricing

Use code STARBUCK20 to save 20% at checkout.

Valid through to March 2nd

In this episode, Jimmy has a chat with Mark Kelly. They first met at CONEXPO a few years ago, where Mark was trying to kick start some small business education for himself. They also dive into culture behind business’, especially the importance of manners.

If you enjoyed this chat, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share the podcast. Follow James and Mark to keep up with more stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes of building successful businesses from the ground up.

Connect with Mark:

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kelly-27427223a/

Connect with Jimmy:

🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/

Buy CONEXPO 2026 Tickets NOW, and don’t miss my small business workshop on the Friday!

https://www.conexpoconagg.com/attend-the-show/registration-and-pricing

Use code STARBUCK20 to save 20% at checkout.

Valid through to March 2nd

In this episode, Jimmy has a chat with Jim Penman. An Aussie icon founder of Jim’s mowing, and the wider Jim’s group. Jim discusses why he chose the franchise model and how he built a business that has created more millionaires in Australia, than any other. He also touches on politics and his most recent research project he has been funding.

If you enjoyed this chat, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share the podcast. Follow James and Jim to keep up with more stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes of building successful businesses from the ground up.

Jim’s New Book!

https://jimpenman.com.au/books/

Connect with Jim:

🌐 Website: https://jimpenman.com.au/

📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thejimpenman/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JimsGroupAUS/

💼 LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/jimsgroup

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimsGroup

Connect with Jimmy:

🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/

In this episode, Jimmy sits down with Alastair, former partner of Doherty's Gym, now owner of Victims of Ink, and a welder, to unpack his journey through business and the construction world, navigating some troublesome situations and crowds, including running from the police, dealing with the underworld, and his two-cents on Derrimut gym's.

If you enjoyed this chat, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share the podcast. Follow James and Alastair to keep up with more stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes of building successful businesses from the ground up.

Connect with Alastair:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rookiewelder/

Connect with Jimmy:

🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/

In this episode, Jimmy sits down with Cameron Bongers, co-director of Civelite and LandUrban, to unpack his journey through the civil construction world. Cameron dives into scaling Civelite, the lessons learned building high-performing teams, and the mindset behind growing sustainable businesses in the civil and track building spaces.

If you enjoyed this chat, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share the podcast. Follow James and Cameron to keep up with more stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes of building successful businesses from the ground up.

Connect with Cameron:

🌐 Website: https://www.civelite.com.au/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/civelite/?hl=en

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/civelite/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-bongers-900656188/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/civelite/?originalSubdomain=au

Connect with Jimmy:

🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/

In this episode, Jimmy talks to Nouri about his journey in concreting, building the successful concrete city construction. He also discusses his latest venture into developing an app CreteMate, where subbies can find work, and also get reviewed by their employers.

If you enjoyed this chat, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share the podcast. Follow James and Nouri to keep up with more stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes of building successful businesses from the ground up.

Connect with Nouri:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/concretecityconstruction/?hl=en

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crete.mate/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/concretecityconstruction/

DOWNLOAD CRETEMATE:

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/cretemate/id6751138839

Connect with Jimmy:

🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/

In this episode, Jimmy talks to Chris AI Safety and the innovative features HSE pacific is bringing to Australia. They also go deeper into the relationship of onsite safety, and how it can severely impact productivity, and thus, profit.

If you enjoyed this chat, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share the podcast. Follow James and Chris to keep up with more stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes of building successful businesses from the ground up.

Connect with Chris:

🌐 Website: https://hsepacific.com.au/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hse_pacific/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hsepacific/

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HSEPacific

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hsepacific/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-newton-1649b816/

Connect with Jimmy:

🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/

In this episode, Jimmy talks to Ryan about his journey in civil construction, as well as some deep conversations about lessons learnt, and when ego’s got the best of them. They also skim the surface of Australian and New Zealand politics and their impacts on the current state of the construction industry as a whole.

If you enjoyed this chat, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share the podcast. Follow James and Ryan to keep up with more stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes of building successful businesses from the ground up.

Connect with Ryan:

🌐 Website: https://www.nextlevelcivil.co.nz/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextlevelcivil/?hl=en

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nextlevelcivil/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/next-level-civil/?originalSubdomain=nz

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-ruthe-a94027144/

Connect with Jimmy:

🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/

In this episode, Jimmy talks to Joshua, who's just started his own engineering group. Despite being a young buck in business ownership, Josh has been everywhere and his experience is nothing to be sniffed at.

If you enjoyed this chat, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share the podcast. Follow James and Joshua to keep up with more stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes of building successful businesses from the ground up.

Connect with Joshua:

🌐 Website: https://beardengineeringgroup.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beardengineeringgroup/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beardengineeringgroup/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-beard-3a103aa9/

Connect with Jimmy:

🌐 Website: https://starbuckgroup.com.au

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTalksConstruction

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbuckexcavation

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbuckexcavation

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-starbuck-13336546/