PowerTips Unscripted

In this episode, Jeff Talmadge discusses how he and his team created a point system for his design staff to spread their workload.  Each designer is assigned a predetermined number of points, weighted by criteria such as permitting, scope, and complexity of the job.  The team tracks points weekly and has found that designers are less stressed, customers are given more accurate timelines, and production can plan their workload better.

Jeff Talmadge is the president of Talmadge Construction, a large, premium design-build firm based in Aptos, CA.  Jeff and his team pride themselves on their commitment to customer service, quality workmanship, and a strong team culture.  

Jeff’s five words of wisdom – patience, persistence, never give up.

Listen as Jeff, Victoria, and Mark discuss:

Join a Remodelers Advantage Roundtables Peer Group and connect with high-performing remodelers who share real-world solutions to the exact challenges you’re facing.

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Employees thrive on feedback.

Then why is it that so few leaders proactively provide it? 

The answers, along with simple steps on how to provide timely, respectful, actionable feedback to your employees, are provided in this episode by guest, Tina Clements.

Tina, Vice President of The Retail Performance Company, is a leader, speaker, author, coach, entrepreneur.com contributor & facilitator, leading luxury industries for over 25 years. Her clients confirm, she is a communications expert & her book, The ART of Facilitation and keynote address ‘Yes, You Do Have a Choice’ are testimonials to her talent.

Victoria, Mark and Tina talk more about:

Our Roundtables provide a safe, proven space where remodeling business owners grow as leaders—by practicing the very skills Tina shares in this episode. From handling tough conversations to offering timely, respectful feedback, you’ll learn from peers who’ve been there and done it.

Step into a Roundtable. Become the leader your team thrives under.

The post How to Give Performance Feedback and Why it’s Critical for Success with Tina Clements – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Today on PowerTips Unscripted, we’re excited to welcome Bjorn Johnson to the show! As General Manager at TraVek Remodeling and Roofing, Bjorn shares insights into the company’s journey as one of Arizona’s most trusted leaders in remodeling and roofing. Tune in to hear about TraVek’s dedication to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, which has cemented its strong reputation in the industry.

Bjorn, who is passionate about sales and supporting his team’s growth both in and out of the office, joined TraVek for its solid foundation, core values, and great culture. He finds fulfillment in helping others succeed and is committed to making a meaningful impact on people’s lives. Join us as he unpacks the challenges, successes, and secrets behind TraVek’s top-tier service!

Bjorn, Victoria, and Mark talk more about:

• How is TraVek different from competitors?
• What do you attribute your success to?
• What is in the future for TraVek?
• How are you handling these trying economic times in the construction industry?
• And more…

The post How to Build a Reputation That Stands the Test of Time with Bjorn Johnson – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Successful organizations rely on accurate financial information to make informed decisions. But what sets great organizations apart is having a formal month-end close process in place. This ensures that financials are completed, reviewed, corrected, and ready for leaders and managers to use confidently in decision-making. In this episode of PowerTips Unscripted, Doug Howard joins us to break down what a strong month-end close process looks like and how to implement it effectively.

Doug Howard, a senior consultant with Remodelers Advantage since 2017, brings a wealth of experience to the table. Having facilitated over 8 Roundtables meetings each year, Doug has worked with hundreds of remodeling clients to help them master their financials, refine processes, and boost profitability.

Doug, Victoria, and Mark talk more about:

• What is included in a good month-end process?
• How should financials be reviewed to know they are correct?
• Who should be involved in the financial process?
• And more…

A solid month-end close process isn’t just about clean books—it’s about making smarter, more profitable decisions with confidence. If you’re unsure whether your process is giving you accurate, actionable data, it’s time to fix that.

Work with a Remodelers Advantage consultant to build a financial system you can trust.

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Do you feel comfortable when presenting proposals/estimates to clients? Why should clients like the sound of your voice if you don’t? You might know what to say, but do you feel ok saying it?  

These are all questions that body language and voice coaching expert John Baron is here to answer. John brings actor skills training to the business world, he was also a professional actor, owned and sold his own marketing business, a teacher of the Alexander Technique, a Corporate Trainer, and the founder of VocalCommunicationInBusiness.

Victoria, Mark and John talk more about:

• Why Construction Industry Professionals need voice training
• Voice habits that are viewed negatively by clients
• And more…

If you struggle to sound confident when presenting estimates—or if your voice and body language are unintentionally holding you back—you’re not alone.

On our latest podcast, expert John Baron breaks down how voice training can transform your client conversations. But what if you could go a step further?

In Remodelers Advantage Roundtables, you don’t just learn what to say—you gain the support and accountability to practice how to say it. From presentation skills to pricing strategies, your peer group helps you sharpen the communication skills that close deals.

Join Roundtables and become the confident, credible leader your clients want to hire.

The post Can “Voice Training” Skyrocket Your Success? with John Baron – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Today’s episode of PowerTips Unscripted features Peg Buehrle as a guest. During the show, she discusses the significance of team development for business growth. The growth of a business depends on the growth of its key leaders and their respective teams. Therefore, it is crucial to have a development plan for each team member. Peg will shed light on how to ensure that this remains a top priority.

Peg is a co-managing partner of ActionCOACH Columbus, the co-author of The Honest Truth about Leadership, and an internationally recognized speaker. She has 17 years of coaching experience and has helped hundreds of businesses grow. Peg is also a Remodelers Advantage consultant and specializes in team development. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment, click here: https://remodelersadvantage.com/coaching/

Peg, Victoria, and Mark talk more about:

• Common omissions that business owners have about their teams
• What gets in the way of business owners of actually doing a development plan
• How do you create the discipline to make sure you execute your people plan?
• And more…

The post Cultivating Growth: Integrating Employee Development into Your Business Strategy with Peg Buehrle – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Today on Power Tips Unscripted, Arlin Sorensen, the CEO of Oak Road Consulting joins the show. Understanding the art of creating value within your business is pivotal, especially in the context of planning your exit strategy. It’s all about setting clear goals for your personal wealth and translating that into a business value target that can drive your success. Arlin is here to share invaluable insights on how you can craft a robust value-creation strategy and harmonize it with your long-term financial goals.

Arlin Sorenson is a simple Iowa farm boy who fell in love with technology and has spent the past 40 years in the IT industry. His passion is helping business owners and leaders achieve their definitions of success.

Arlin, Victoria, and Mark talk more about:

• How to create a value-creation strategy
• Legacy/succession planning
• What things can derail value?
• And more…

Arlin Sorensen dives into building value in your business and planning for what’s next—but conversations like these are just the beginning.

In Remodelers Advantage Roundtables, you’ll join a community of smart, growth-minded remodelers who don’t just talk about value—they build it, every single quarter. With expert facilitation, peer accountability, and real-world strategy sharing, you’ll transform insights like Arlin’s into measurable results.

Don’t just plan your legacy—build it with Roundtables.

The post Creating Value: A Guide to Maximizing Your Company’s Worth with Arlin Sorensen – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

In this episode of PowerTips Unscripted, Victoria and Mark are joined by Pete McDowell to discuss succession planning and how business owners can exit their company. According to Pete, there are four primary ways for a business owner to leave their company: selling the company, transferring the company to family or employees, or ESOP. He also highlights some of the basics of a succession plan, regardless of the option the business owner chooses.

Pete McDowell is a Partner at ActionCOACH Columbus. Pete, alongside his partner, Peg Buehrle are a part of Remodelers Advantage as Consultants. They help people evaluate each of these options and select the best path. Along the way, they assist their clients to work less and build the value of their business. In this way, you can enjoy life NOW and look forward to a comfortable next chapter!

Pete, Victoria, and Mark talk more about:

• Preparing the team for succession planning
• Examples of well executed succession plans
• And more…

Whether you’re planning to sell, pass it on, or explore an ESOP, Pete McDowell and Peg Buehrle—part of the Remodelers Advantage Consulting Team—are here to guide you every step of the way. With a proven process to help you work less, grow your business value, and prepare for a smooth transition, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

The post Preparing Your Business For Your Departure with Pete McDowell – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

For many remodelers, digital marketing is the “voodoo” magic. With so many options, where do you begin? Well, Spencer Powell has the answer.

In this episode, Spencer dives into his book, The Remodeler Marketing Blueprint. He talks about everything that you need to know about being found online, successfully.

Spencer is the CEO of Builder Funnel and founder of Builder Funnel Academy, author, and radio host. Spencer has been a longtime guest and sponsor of the show, and gives listeners even more knowledge about marketing in the remodeling world in this episode.

Victoria, Mark and Spencer talk more about:

• How this journey began.
• How marketing has changed over the years.
• What the marketing blueprint looks like for remodelers.
• The biggest mistakes remodelers are making today.
• And more…

Imagine having a trusted group of fellow remodelers—people who get it—to help you solve challenges, grow profits, and keep you accountable.

That’s the power of Roundtables by Remodelers Advantage.

Learn from industry leaders
Get real-world advice—not theory
Grow your business and your leadership skills

Ready to stop going it alone?

The post The Remodeler Marketing Blueprint with Spencer Powell – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

The thought of showing your financials to your employees may be unsettling. We’ve known remodelers who are so leery of sharing their numbers, their field crews don’t even know their project budgets.

But it doesn’t have to be that way, says Ken Kirsch, a proponent and practitioner of Open Book Management. In this episode, Ken tells Victoria and Mark that showing your numbers will engage and motivate your team — while helping your bottom line.

Ken is the president of MAK Design+Build Inc. in Davis, CA. Drawing on his experience as a carpenter and an artist, he and his wife Ellen started MAK Design+Build in 2003, out of an Airstream Trailer in their driveway. Ken’s a member of Roundtables group Krypton, and was introduced to the concept of Open Book Management at his very first RA meeting.

Victoria and Mark talk with Ken about the positives, and one surprising negative, he’s experienced since embracing Open Book Management. They discuss:

• What to show and what to avoid
• Focusing on the Big Picture 
• The importance of your team being financially literate
• When and how to discuss your numbers
• Engaging your employees for lower turnover
• And a whole lot more…

Loved Ken Kirsch’s insights on open-book management?

Ready to take your remodeling business to the next level?

Learn how Remodelers Advantage can help you implement strategies like this—and more.

Start your journey here.

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