Professional Builders Secrets brings you an in-depth episode with Russ Stephens, Co-founder of APB. In this episode, Russ unpacks the three biggest challenges builders are facing worldwide as they head into 2026, breaks down why a lack of planning continues to hold builders back, and explains how mastering lead generation, profit, and systemisation can completely transform the performance of a building business.

This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0

INSIDE EPISODE 220 YOU WILL DISCOVER

• The three biggest challenges builders face heading into 2026
• Why planning is directly linked to higher margins and more profit
• Why financial literacy is critical to sustainable growth
• How construction slots create real scarcity without “selling”
• How documenting processes can add millions to long-term personal wealth
• And much more.

ABOUT RUSS STEPHENS

Co-founder of the Association of Professional Builders, Russ is a data analysis expert who has introduced data-driven decision making to the residential construction industry. Russ is also a proud member of the Forbes Business Development Council.

Connect with Russ:linkedin.com/in/russstephens

TIMELINE

• 03:11 The three biggest problems builders face worldwide
• 07:44 Why planning alone can dramatically increase profit
• 09:15 How an org chart can buy back weeks of your time each year
• 13:18 The real reason builders struggle to get quality leads
• 22:38 How supply and demand impact margins
• 34:18 Why systemisation is the key to scaling without burnout

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website:associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards:associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram:instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook:facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube:youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders

Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with Blake Doolan from The Not So Silent Business Partner. In this episode, Blake breaks down how builders can take control of their financials in a way that’s simple, practical, and sustainable. Drawing on deep experience in construction bookkeeping and financial systems, Blake explains why understanding your numbers is the key to confident decision-making, long-term growth, and real freedom in business.

This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0

INSIDE EPISODE 219 YOU WILL DISCOVER

• Why many builders feel profitable but still struggle with cash flow
• The biggest mistakes builders make when tracking financials
• How the right job management system simplifies financial control
• Why consistency matters more than complexity
• How financial clarity reduces stress and improves decision-making
• And much, much more.

ABOUT BLAKE DOOLAN

Blake Doolan is the Managing Director of The Not So Silent Business Partner, helping residential builders gain clarity and control over their finances. With deep experience in construction accounting and job management systems, Blake focuses on practical financial solutions that enable confident decisions, sustainable growth, and long-term freedom.

Connect with Blake: linkedin.com/in/blake-doolan-3243821b4/?originalSubdomain=au

TIMELINE

• 2:10 Why builders struggle with financial clarity
• 5:05 Why freedom matters more than profit
• 7:30 The power of making systems simple
• 10:15 How to choose the right job management software
• 15:40 Why getting WIP wrong can cost you millions
• 20:30 How financial systems helped a builder step away from the business

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders

Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive end-of-year wrap episode with Russ Stephens, Co-founder of APB. In this episode, Russ reflects on the biggest milestones, challenges, and breakthroughs of 2025, and unpacks the impact APB has had on the building industry, the lessons learned from rapid growth, and the systems that are helping builders become more profitable while working fewer hours.

This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0

INSIDE EPISODE 218 YOU WILL DISCOVER

• The biggest growth challenges APB faced in 2025
• Why “what got you here, won’t get you there”
• The three small systems that help builders reclaim time and add profit
• Key insights from the 2025 State of the Residential Construction Industry Report
• How APB Brain is transforming access to builder-specific knowledge using AI
• And much more.

ABOUT RUSS STEPHENS

Co-founder of the Association of Professional Builders, Russ is a data analysis expert who has introduced data-driven decision making to the residential construction industry. Russ is also a proud member of the Forbes Business Development Council.

Connect with Russ:linkedin.com/in/russstephens

TIMELINE

• 3:31 The growth ceiling that stops builders from scaling
• 7:00 What thousands of builder questions reveal about common challenges
• 13:11 The systems that buy back time and increase profit
• 16:24 How builders are adding net profit through APB Rewards
• 20:26 What makes a truly world-class industry event
• 39:07 The impact of systems beyond business

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website:associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards:associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram:instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook:facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube:youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders

Professional Builders Secrets brings you an in-depth episode with Andy Skarda, Head Coach at APB, to unpack the biggest builder wins across the APB community this year. Throughout this episode, Andy breaks down the five most consistent trends behind real builder success, sharing why profitability, systems, leadership, and implementation are the true drivers of sustainable growth.

This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0

INSIDE EPISODE 217 YOU WILL DISCOVER

• Why Pricing 4 Profit© and fixing margins are the foundation of growth
• The power of structured sales processes
• Why consistent marketing creates pipeline stability and better clients
• How leadership, vision, and clarity tie every system together
• How builders are working fewer hours while earning significantly more
• And much, much more.

ABOUT ANDY SKARDA

Head Coach at the Association of Professional Builders, Andy specialises in helping business owners in the building industry identify and implement the skills and systems they need to be successful, without needing to go back to school. Or more importantly, without going bust.

Connect with Andy: linkedin.com/in/andy-skarda-92a6875/

TIMELINE

• 04:49 Why implementation matters more than knowledge
• 06:32 Pricing for profit and fixing margins to fund growth
• 16:11 How hiring and delegation remove the biggest bottleneck
• 26:00 Why structured sales processes lead to higher-value contracts
• 31:55 How consistent marketing creates pipeline stability
• 40:47 Why leadership, vision, and clarity tie everything together

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders

Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with Leah Ward, Executive Business Coach at the Association of Professional Builders. Throughout this episode, Leah unpacks how understanding both your own communication style and your team’s can radically improve leadership, trust, and performance inside your building company.

This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0

INSIDE EPISODE 216 YOU WILL DISCOVER

• Why miscommunication derails great intentions, ideas, and teams
• The four DISC quadrants and how they show up on site and in the office
• How to avoid pigeonholing people while still using profiles effectively
• Practical ways to structure roles and hiring around communication strengths
• How self-awareness shifts you from managing to truly motivating your team
• How to read non-verbal cues and adapt to clients to build trust faster
• and much, much more.

ABOUT LEAH WARD

With more than two decades in corporate finance and leadership, Leah’s coaching approach is deeply rooted in enhancing financial performance, nurturing effective communication, developing mindset strategies, and fostering team building. Her extensive experience in financial management and consulting has provided her with a profound understanding of the key factors that drive success for both companies and their teams.

Connect with Leah: linkedin.com/in/leahmward/

TIMELINE

• 3:50 Why miscommunication derails “good” teams
• 9:40 The DISC quadrants and non-verbal cues
• 15:20 Matching roles and hires to communication styles
• 22:10 How self-awareness transforms your leadership
• 28:45 Using micro-adjustments to better connect with clients

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders

Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with Scott Groschel, owner of SG Construction. Throughout this episode, Scott shares how he has completely reshaped his business by embracing offshore team members, leveraging the right software, and working closely with his APB coach to free up his time, improve margins, and build a stronger team culture both locally and overseas.

This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0

INSIDE EPISODE 215 YOU WILL DISCOVER

• How Scott used JobTread to identify bottlenecks
• How he successfully rebuilt his offshore team with GoRecruit
• How an offshore drafter evolved into a trusted office manager
• Practical ways Scott integrates offshore team members into his company culture
• Why offshoring hasn’t replaced local jobs in his business
• and much, much more.

ABOUT SCOTT GROSCHEL

Scott Groschel is the owner of SG Construction, a company specialising in fully custom outdoor living spaces. Starting his career in construction at age 15, Scott has grown his business through strong systems, JobTread implementation, and successful offshoring, creating a more efficient and scalable operation.

Connect with Scott: linkedin.com/in/scott-groschel-96227889/

TIMELINE

• 4:20 Why the pandemic pushed Scott to overhaul his systems
• 9:10 How JobTread opened the door to offshoring
• 13:50 The time audit that revealed what Scott needed to delete, automate, or delegate
• 18:30 Scott’s first failed offshore hire—and how GoRecruit helped him bounce back
• 24:40 How offshoring improved margins and allowed Scott to expand his U.S. team

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders

Professional Builders Secrets brings you an insightful episode with Skye Waterson from Unconventional Organisation. Skye is a former academic and ADHD business owner who discovered that the “standard” way of running a business simply didn’t fit the way her brain worked. After a late ADHD diagnosis, she turned her research and lived experience into a company that helps business owners design ADHD-friendly systems that actually work in real life.

This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0

INSIDE EPISODE 214 YOU WILL DISCOVER

• What ADHD really looks like in practice for business owners
• How symptoms like time blindness and working memory struggles show up on site and in the office
• The hidden impact ADHD can have on your health, family time and reputation
• A simple 5-minute daily task system to separate what’s truly urgent from everything else
• Why traditional productivity advice often fails ADHD brains
• and much, much more.

ABOUT SKYE WATERSON

Skye Waterson is an ADHD strategist and founder of Unconventional Organisation, a multi-six-figure business helping entrepreneurs turn ADHD into their greatest asset. When Skye was diagnosed with ADHD during her PhD, she realised that mainstream productivity advice didn't work for her. So, she took matters into her own hands, researching, testing, and perfecting strategies that truly help. Today, she equips coaches, consultants, founders, and executives with the same ADHD-friendly systems.

Connect with Skye: linkedin.com/in/skye-waterson-026286204/

TIMELINE

• 3:25 How ADHD symptoms show up for builders
• 7:10 Why delegation and hiring feel impossible
• 11:50 The real cost of staying stuck in the business
• 16:20 A 5-minute daily system for urgent vs important
• 20:55 Mapping your whole business with red/amber/green

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders

Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with Jacob Oelofse, Executive Business Coach at APB. In this conversation, Jacob dives into the unique world of husband and wife building companies, sharing why these partnerships can be a genuine “superpower” when they’re structured well.

This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0

INSIDE EPISODE 213 YOU WILL DISCOVER

• Why husband and wife building company teams have a unique superpower
• The most common challenges couples face when mixing marriage and business
• How to define clear lines between “husband and wife” time and “business partner” time
• Practical rule-sets to manage “shop talk” at home, on holidays and during family time
• and much, much more.

ABOUT JACOB OELOFSE

Jacob joined the APB team in 2021 when he moved his family from South Africa to Sydney. Jacob has coached hundreds of building company owners over the last 15 years. He enjoys stakeholder relations, financials and risk, sustainability, growth, marketing, and maximising profit margins in a company.

Connect with Jacob: linkedin.com/in/jacob-oelofse/?originalSubdomain=au

TIMELINE

• 4:20 What it means to be a “professional” builder
• 9:40 Why husband & wife teams are a “superpower”
• 15:10 Drawing the line between marriage and business
• 20:35 Same-page meetings & strategic planning
• 27:00 Final advice for husband & wife teams

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders

Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with Jon Engquist, third-generation contractor and Founder of Subtrak. Jon breaks down how to turn your company’s know-how into clear systems and live checklists your team actually follows, so you get consistency, accountability, and the freedom to grow without firefighting.

This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0

INSIDE EPISODE 212 YOU WILL DISCOVER

• What a “system” really is
• How to structure your business
• Why so many builders get stuck in chaos mode
• How strong SOPs help you train faster, cut rework and callbacks, and attract A-players
• and much, much more.

ABOUT JON ENGQUIST

With over 15 years of experience in the construction industry, Jon honed his expertise in managing high-value projects, leading teams, and improving operational efficiency. As a third-generation construction professional, Jon has successfully overseen everything from estimating and scheduling to contract negotiation, dispute resolution, and team development.

Connect with Jon: linkedin.com/in/jonengquist/

TIMELINE

• 5:20 Why most builders struggle to document their processes
• 10:15 The “contractor hamster wheel” and how to break free from chaos
• 15:00 The simple weekly routine to start building your playbook
• 19:40 How to turn SOPs into real checklists your team actually follows
• 23:30 How Subtrak helps builders systemise fast

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders

Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with Rick Storlie from Builder Lead Converter. In this episode, Rick reveals how builders can transform simple project photos into engaging, professional-grade videos that help convert more leads into clients. Even if you’ve never created a video before, new AI technology is making it easier than ever for builders to showcase their work, build trust, and attract the right type of clients through storytelling and visual marketing.

This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0

INSIDE EPISODE 211 YOU WILL DISCOVER

• How builders can turn project photos into stunning marketing videos
• The psychology behind emotional connection
• Why video builds trust faster than any other marketing tool
• How to use videos at every stage, from attracting leads to converting clients
• Why understanding your target market is critical before creating content
• and much, much more.

ABOUT RICK STORLIE

Rick Storlie is the founder of Builder Lead Converter. Starting his career in home building & remodeling as an entry level carpenter, he quickly moved to salesperson, sales manager, general manager, coach and now operates as “Chief Lead Converter” at Builder Lead Converter.

Connect with Rick: linkedin.com/in/rickstorlie/

TIMELINE

• 6:12 Why buyers are purchasing a “hoped-for lifestyle”
• 14:10 How to avoid being eliminated by prospects online
• 22:05 How AI turns project photos into great videos
• 29:40 Using video to build trust and differentiate your business
• 36:15 How to make video part of your overall marketing system

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders