On Site

On the On Site Podcast, host Brandon interviews educator and HR/training professional Manja Horner, who just hit #1 bestseller status with her new book, "Pass the Torch," a rallying call about the trades labor crisis and the need for leaders and business owners to invest in apprentices and inexperienced workers. Horner shares where to buy the book (Amazon and other retailers), upcoming audiobook plans, and her social profiles, then discusses the book’s themes including retention, company culture, knowledge capture from retiring experts, and generational strengths and weaknesses. She also recounts her background growing up in Ontario around her father’s heritage restoration construction business, her path through music and corporate training into building a training/HR services company, and the visibility and mental-health challenges of publishing, including using EMDR therapy.

Chapters

Connect with Manja Horner:

Connect with Brandon Fuchs
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach

Join the Elite Builder Society
Website: https://ebsworks.com/

Episode 48 of the On Site Podcast welcomes back Sam to share updates on Coronation Construction’s growth, including stepping back from hands-on work into admin, sales, and estimating, and investing in Google/Meta ads and higher-production content to increase visibility. Sam outlines current projects (bathrooms, basements, and a medical office build-out) and discusses gaining confidence by taking action on challenging details like a tiled arched shower entry. He explains his push toward new construction for better pay, focus, and a bigger “wow factor” to showcase skills in one home. They discuss business volatility in Ontario, differentiating from low-quality competitors through consistency and client experience, and Sam details Coronation’s process: fast follow-up, 48–72 hour estimates, in-person proposals, JobTread client portal updates, and strong jobsite protection and respect. Sam plugs Coronation Construction in London, Ontario and shares where to find the company online.

Chapters

Connect with Sam Alibabai:

Website: https://www.coronationconstruction.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coronationconstruction

Connect with Brandon Fuchs
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach

Join the Elite Builder Society
Website: https://ebsworks.com/

On episode 47 of the Onsite Podcast, Brandon welcomes returning guest Chris Mackey from Blue Collar Marketing, a full-service digital marketing agency focused on trades, now grown to about 18–19 people. They discuss how contractors can use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini, emphasizing choosing what fits a workflow and noting Gemini’s integration with Google Workspace. Chris explains that AI can speed up agency work but doesn’t replace the nuance needed to build performance-focused, Google-friendly contractor websites that deliver outcomes, not just visuals. They cover shifts in search behavior and the importance of making sites crawlable for AI (including adding an LLM.txt file). Chris also outlines current ad trends: Google for intent-driven leads and Meta for awareness, where recent changes make ad success more dependent on high-quality creative volume than targeting. Brandon promotes Blue Collar Marketing audits and the Elite Builders Society membership at EBSworks.com for $49/month.

Chapters

Connect with Chris Mackey:

Connect with Brandon Fuchs
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach

Join the Elite Builder Society
Website: https://ebsworks.com/

The Onsite podcast hosts entrepreneur and Lions Not Sheep founder Sean Whalen, who discusses loving life as a father, grandfather, and business owner while navigating an unexpected divorce. Whalen shares his construction and real estate background, including completing over 3,700 flips across 13 states, and his current focus on building a barndominium ranch on 500 acres, emphasizing his passion for creation and learning skills like welding. He explains how he curates social media as a “university” for self-education and advocates a blunt, personal-responsibility approach for men struggling with distractions or addictions, especially fathers. Whalen outlines his new $27/month Lions Not Sheep Brotherhood, aiming to unite 1–3 million men via a private app and monthly town halls to coordinate civic and cultural action, while the host also promotes the Elite Builder Society coaching group.

Chapters

Connect with Sean Whalen:

Connect with Brandon Fuchs
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach

Join the Elite Builder Society
Website: https://ebsworks.com/

The Onsite Podcast host interviews Ontario drywall finisher Sean Naylor of The Mudder’s Touch Ltd, a third-generation drywaller with 27 years’ experience who also makes content for tool and product brands. The main discussion centers on Mud Pro, a mineral-based drywall mud additive invented in the U.S. that Sean says allows wet-on-wet applications through multiple coats, delivers about 50% less shrinkage, can be reactivated with water for polishing, and can reduce sanding for level 5 finishing while drying similarly to traditional mud but curing harder. Sean explains how it can cut scheduling inefficiencies by enabling taping through additional coats in one sitting, and he offers samples and demos via his website and social channels. He also mentions Mud Pro’s Optimal product (paint-ready without priming), Comy Trowels, CanAm Tools, and encourages networking and joining the Elite Builders Society community.

Chapters

Connect with Sean Naylor:

Connect with Brandon Fuchs
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach

Join the Elite Builder Society
Website: https://ebsworks.com/

Episode 44 of the Onsite Podcast features Philip Sessions of Refined VA, who discusses helping contractors implement and support JobTread through account setup, templates, catalogs, estimating, QuickBooks mapping, ongoing internal support, and virtual assistant placements. Philip shares his background (from Houston to Greenville, married with two young daughters), faith, and the challenges of juggling a booming business with family responsibilities, emphasizing “harmony” over balance and avoiding hustle culture that harms relationships. The conversation highlights contractors’ common bottleneck—getting accurate estimates out quickly—and how Refined VA meets clients where they are by producing immediate estimates, then building repeatable templates and cost catalogs (using a contractor named Kevin as an example). Brandon also promotes JobTread, Refined VA, and his Elite Builder Society community.

Chapters

Connect with Philip Sessions -

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamphilipsessions/

Website: https://www.refinedva.com/

Connect with Brandon Fuchs
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach

Join the Elite Builder Society
Website: https://ebsworks.com/

Onsite Podcast episode 43 features returning guest Doug Mitchell discussing his move to HireVP, a virtual professional placement agency focused on proactive support, systems, and SOP development for contractors. Doug shares his background running a 13-year door-to-door sales organization and hiring his first VA, Nica, nearly five years ago, emphasizing that many VA failures stem from undocumented systems and unclear expectations. He explains HireVP’s approach of placing role-specific “virtual professionals” (often project coordinators) who help project managers with CRM updates, client touchpoints, and accountability across project tasks, and gives a method for building custom SOPs using recorded conversations, transcripts, and ChatGPT follow-up questions. Doug outlines HireVP’s process, $1,997 upfront recruiting/onboarding fee, monthly pricing ($2,100–$2,400) including pay and benefits, a Philippines-enforceable exclusivity contract, two replacements per year, 90-day agreement then month-to-month, and retention metrics.

Chapters

Connect with Doug Mitchell

Book a Discovery Call with Doug Mitchell:  https://link.hirevp.us/widget/bookings/hirevp-discovery-call-with-doug

Connect with Brandon Fuchs
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach

Join the Elite Builder Society
Website: https://ebsworks.com/

In episode 42 of the Onsite Podcast, Brandon talks with Brendon from Nano Boost Digital, an Elite Builders Society educator, about running effective ad strategies for contractors using Google Ads and integrating Meta where appropriate. Brendon shares his background (Toronto, biotech schooling, experience at Google Ads and agencies) and emphasizes simplifying digital marketing, fair pricing, and removing the “black box,” noting ads only work when the website and sales process convert. They discuss how ads track the economy, rising costs and competition (especially in renovation markets), the need for multi-channel marketing, and AI’s growing impact. Brandon calls two contractors using Brendon’s services: Tom, an Ontario-area electrician, credits Google ads for scaling from four to six staff and generating strong ROI, while Fraser of Black Belt Contracting in Vancouver describes slow initial results but later receiving large renovation leads, reinforcing that Google Ads is a long-term game.

Chapters

Connect with Brandon Ratos

Connect with Brandon Fuchs
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach

Join the Elite Builder Society
Website: https://ebsworks.com/

On this episode, the host interviews Matt, an Arizona-based licensed general contractor and owner of Nimble LLC, about his focus on residential assisted living and residential multifamily projects. Matt explains the HUD-defined multifamily concept, the residential vs. commercial distinction in assisted living (with 10 residents as the legal residential limit and 11+ rooms considered commercial), and why residential models can offer more personal “white glove” care. He discusses educating investors and homeowners on using loans (including FHA) and creative additions to existing homes, the importance of involving contractors before purchasing properties to avoid issues like unpermitted additions, and typical revenue potential per resident (around $7,000+ per month, higher in luxury markets). Matt shares a current 1,700 sq. ft. assisted living addition project delayed by permitting and flood-zone requirements, notes his family support, and mentions his background as a materials engineer before construction. He can be reached via Instagram @nimmbol and nimmbol.com.

Chapters

Connect with Matt Cox:

Connect with Brandon Fuchs
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach

Join the Elite Builder Society
Website: https://ebsworks.com/

In episode 40 of the Onsite Podcast, Brandon interviews his friend Amon of San Antonio’s Golden Bexar Cabinets (formerly Cabinets and Granite Creations) about buying out a partner, rebranding around a more luxury, cohesive identity, and launching goldenbexar.com.  Amon discusses concerns about leaving strong prior SEO, positive client reception, and how his wife Kristen led the brand aesthetic. He shares family milestones including 25 years of marriage celebrated with a vow renewal in Mexico and a daughter’s engagement, while also onboarding JobTread and attending JobTread Connect. Amon explains his RTA, all-wood cabinetry model with soft-close hardware, fast turnaround (often two weeks for cabinets, countertops, and backsplash), consistent quality, easy replacement parts, and reduced shipping damage, plus ambitions to expand shipping cabinets nationwide, citing successful orders to North Carolina and Hawaii. He recounts setbacks in 2017 involving an unpaid builder and a flooring install disaster, and both discuss trust issues with employees and building systems. The episode ends with a plug for Elite Builder Society at ebsworks.com.

Chapters

Connect with Amon Werthman:

Connect with Brandon Fuchs
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_contractorcoach

Join the Elite Builder Society
Website: https://ebsworks.com/