What if the fastest way to scale your construction business isn’t more leads… but a referral engine + a team that runs without you?

In this episode of Savage Angel, Angela sits down with Jason Avery—founder of Avery Construction, multi-business owner, and the guy Angela swears will be the next Tony Robbins.

Jason breaks down how he went from swinging hammers with a tiny crew to building a company with 45 team members, plus multiple additional revenue streams—because he learned how to work ON the business, not IN it. You’ll hear the real numbers behind why referrals outperform home shows and internet leads, how he built a relationship-first “giver” network, and what leadership actually means when you’re serious about building an asset (not just buying yourself a job).

• Why “working in the business” keeps most owners trapped—and how Jason started offloading the right tasks first
• Jason’s close-rate reality check: internet vs home shows vs referrals—and why referrals win on speed, trust, and margins
• How to build a referral network like a pro (BNI, chambers, community, and “Cupid connections” that pay for years)
• The leadership shift that changes everything: your job is talent + systems + roles (not doing every task yourself)
• The 80% rule: why “good enough” delegation is the only way to scale
• How Jason empowers teams with performance-based incentives and decision-making—so the business doesn’t bottleneck on the owner

Connect with Jason Avery / Constructing Success + Avery Construction

Website (Coaching/Consulting)

Website (Avery Construction / Remodeling)

LinkedIn (Constructing Success Inc)

Facebook (Constructing Success Inc)

What if your hiring strategy isn’t broken… but the market has changed so fast it’s making everyone feel crazy?

In this episode of Savage Angel, Angela sits down with Mark Toscano, a recruiter with 20+ years in the trenches, to talk about what’s actually happening in today’s job market—why it feels brutal, why those “2,000 applicants” numbers are misleading, and what job seekers (and employers) need to understand right now.

Mark breaks down the real math behind LinkedIn job posts (spoiler: impressions ≠ applicants), why only a small percentage of people applying are truly qualified, and the surprising reason recruiters often can’t even get qualified candidates to call back. We also dive into the massive mismatch between white-collar layoffs and the exploding demand for skilled trades, plus the rise of “over-employment” and why some people are stacking jobs to survive.

What You’ll Learn

• Why Mark says this is the worst job market he’s seen—even compared to 2008
• What LinkedIn’s “applicant count” is really measuring (and why it scares people for no reason)
• Why only about 10% of applicants are typically qualified—and how that changes your odds
• The #1 mistake job seekers make after applying (and how to avoid getting overlooked)
• Why skilled trades are starving for talent while tech roles are getting flooded
• What forward-thinking companies are doing: academies, training pipelines, and partnerships
• The truth about Over-Employment (OE)—why it’s rising and what employers fear most

Connect with Mark Toscano / NRB Services
💼 LinkedIn: Mark Toscano

What if the next big breakthrough in healthcare isn’t a new drug… but a smarter way to manufacture every drug?

In this episode of Savage Angel, Angela sits down with Ben Davis, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Phizzle—a company bringing automation and data integrity to pharmaceutical manufacturing by digitizing and remotely operating critical “everyday workhorse” lab instruments.

Ben shares the wild behind-the-scenes reality of how much pharma still relies on manual workflows (yes, including paper), why that creates risk and costly delays, and how Phizzle’s platform helps manufacturers improve compliance, reduce operational waste, and move faster—without sacrificing precision.

You’ll also hear Ben’s founder journey: from building and selling a mobile gaming company, to launching Phizzle in 2005, to making a major pivot in 2019 that positioned the company for its current mission in pharma.

• Why pharma manufacturing is still one of the most manual + heavily regulated industries on the planet—and what that means for cost and speed
• What “data integrity” really means in regulated environments (and why it’s non-negotiable)
• How automating instrument workflows can reduce errors, protect batches, and accelerate time-to-market
• The “big pivot” Ben made in 2019—and how Phizzle repositioned into pharma automation
• The bigger vision: what automation unlocks as the industry moves toward more advanced therapies

🔗 Connect with Ben Davis / Phizzle
🌐 Website: Phizzle
▶️ YouTube: Phizzle

What if “getting older” didn’t mean shrinking your life… but expanding it with intention?

In this episode of Savage Angel, Angela sits down with Chris Moore, founder of Senior Remodeling Experts in Salem, Virginia (Blue Ridge Mountains) a builder-turned-aging-in-place advocate who’s spent decades helping seniors and disabled veterans stay safe, independent, and confident at home.

Chris shares the personal moment that changed everything: helping his own mom after a stroke and realizing most homes simply aren’t built for mobility changes. That experience didn’t just reshape his business… it reshaped his mission.

Now, with the release of his new book Age Out Loud, Chris is challenging one of the last “socially acceptable” biases: ageism and the quiet belief that life only gets worse with time.

From universal design basics (like safer bathrooms and step-free entries) to the deeper mindset shift that can literally change outcomes, this conversation will make you rethink aging, community, and what “independence” really means.

• Why many seniors need home modifications—but don’t want them (and how mindset drives that resistance)
• The “3-part formula” for aging in place: person + place + support network
• The two areas that usually become obstacles first: entryways and bathrooms
• Practical universal design upgrades that protect mobility (without making a home feel “medical”)
• Why separating seniors from the rest of society weakens communities—and what integrated living can restore
• How purpose changes everything (and why “traditional retirement” can backfire without a plan)

🌐 Senior Remodeling Experts (VA): seniorremodelingexperts.com
📺 YouTube: Senior Remodeling Experts
📘 Book Website: ageoutloudbook.com
💼 LinkedIn: Chris Moore

What if the “labor shortage” isn’t the full story… and the real profit leak is process?

In this episode of Savage Angel, Angela sits down with Mike Kanaby, Managing Partner & Co-Founder of Profitability Works, a construction operations consulting firm helping trade contractors and PE-backed platforms scale with structure, clarity, and repeatable execution.

Mike’s not speaking from theory—he came up through the trades (starting in the field as a carpenter), then climbed the leadership ladder all the way to running a $1.5B P&L with 3,000+ team members and 128 offices across North America.

Now, through Profitability Works’ Building Excellence Blueprint, Mike and his partner Stephanie Simmons help companies eliminate chaos by auditing operations end-to-end, rebuilding SOPs with bottoms-up planning, and making change stick through real-world change management (not “email it and hope”).

They also take on the big topics construction leaders can’t ignore: why “we just need more people” can sometimes be a symptom of inefficiency, how high-performing teams become magnets for talent, and why AI won’t save a broken business—but structured processes + centralized data will unlock AI’s real value.

If you’re a contractor trying to scale, integrate acquisitions, or stop losing margin to inefficiency, this conversation is your roadmap.

• Why the best-performing branches treat SOPs like “gospel” (and failing branches drift from them)
• How bottoms-up planning increases buy-in and makes processes actually usable in the field
• The hidden way inefficiency creates a bigger labor shortage than you think
• Why “standing around on jobsites” is often a systems issue—not a people issue
• What forward-thinking contractors are doing: academies, mentorship, and capturing knowledge before retirements
• The 3 AI camps in construction—and why only one wins long-term
• Why AI requires centralized data + clear process checklists (or it outputs garbage)
• The first step a smaller contractor should take to build scalable operations

🌐 Website: Profitability Works
💼 LinkedIn: Mike Kanaby

What if the real reason construction companies can’t keep great people… isn’t pay, or projects, or even the labor shortage—but leadership?

In this episode of Savage Angel, Angela sits down with Ralph Crawford Jr., General Superintendent at Jimerson Underground (Houston-area), for a powerful conversation about what it actually looks like to work for a company where “people come first.”

Ralph shares why he left a well-known large contractor after 13 years to join Jimerson Underground—an underground utilities firm founded and led by Alicia Jimerson, a respected industry leader who’s made history in Houston construction, including serving as President of the Houston Contractors Association (2011).

But this episode isn’t a “feel-good leadership story” (even though it will hit you in the heart). It’s a masterclass in culture: how small human moments create loyalty, how leadership by example changes performance, and why companies that genuinely care become magnets for talent.

Then Angela and Ralph zoom out into the future—AI in construction, where it helps, where humans remain essential, and why the next generation needs one lesson above all: don’t show up just for a paycheck.

• What it’s like working for a woman-led construction firm—and why it matters in a male-dominated industry
• The culture difference between “management” and true leadership (Ralph calls it: leader by example, not dominance)
• The real reason Jimerson Underground retains long-tenured foremen and crews (hint: it’s personal)
• Where AI fits in construction today: estimating, takeoffs, design support—and where the “human touch” stays non-negotiable
• The career advice Ralph lives by: show up early, learn the craft, study the plans, and own the work no one wants
• Why “people-first” companies win in a tight labor market

💼 LinkedIn: Ralph Crawford Jr.

What if the real problem with most buildings today isn’t cost… it’s lack of soul?

In this episode of Savage Angel, Angela sits down with Jim Heimler—architect, planner, and activist—for a wide-ranging conversation on what architecture should do: support real human life, elevate spirit, and integrate function, community, and environment into one coherent whole.

Jim shares how he’s been “designing since first grade” (yes—he drew floor plans when everyone else drew a triangle-roof house), how he learned under architects connected to Frank Lloyd Wright-era influence, and why he still believes the floor plan comes first—not the rendering.

You’ll hear Jim’s take on how computer-driven design can shrink imagination (“you only see a piece of the pie”), how AI is getting closer to translating pure creative intent, and why most clients struggle to communicate what they really want—until someone listens past the words.

Then the conversation goes deeper: Jim’s decades of hands-on activism, affordable housing involvement, recycling work, and his forward-looking efforts through ventures like Green Wisdom and Red Planet Ventures.

If you’re an architect, builder, developer, student, or just someone who wants spaces that feel alive—this one will rewire how you see the built world.

• Why Jim believes great architecture starts with function + floor plans, and “looks” come last
• How to “listen past the words” when clients describe what they want
• Why many modern buildings feel empty—and how young designers can bring back heart and soul
• The hidden design details that impact daily life (like distance-to-bathroom logic and acoustics)
• How computers changed design workflows—and what AI could restore (or accelerate)
• Jim’s philosophy: spaces should lift your spirit, not just meet code
• How activism and architecture intersect through housing, policy, and community planning

🌐 Firm Website: James Heimler, Architect, Inc. (JHAI)
💼 LinkedIn: Jim Heimler

What if the future of construction isn’t just smarter tools… but smarter people using them?

In this episode of Savage Angel, Angela Giles sits down with Erin Khan—a civil engineer turned construction tech strategist who’s helping contractors and startups bridge the gap between innovation and real-world execution.

Born and raised on Long Island and educated at University of Southern California, Erin began her career renovating historic campus buildings before diving headfirst into construction operations, technology, and innovation. After working with large-scale builders like Suffolk Construction, she launched her own consulting practice to help teams actually use the technology they invest in.

Together, Angela and Erin unpack why tech adoption in construction so often falls flat, how change management is really a human problem (not a software one), and why AI should be treated like a powerful assistant—not a replacement for critical thinking. From field crews still using pen-and-paper to leadership teams rolling out tools no one wants to touch, this episode is a real, honest look at what it takes to modernize one of the world’s most essential industries.

They also dive into women in the trades, mentorship, confidence in male-dominated spaces, and why “finding comfort in discomfort” might be the most valuable career skill of all.

This conversation is a must-listen for contractors, tech founders, innovators, and anyone navigating rapid change in a hands-on industry.

• Why most construction companies underutilize their tech—even at the highest levels
• How early buy-in and internal “tech champions” make or break adoption
• Why training matters more than flashy software
• How AI is changing skill sets without replacing human expertise
• The risks of over-relying on AI without verification or critical thinking
• What it’s really like to be a woman in a male-dominated industry—and how to thrive
• Why curiosity, good questions, and discomfort fuel innovation
• How contractors and startups can build sustainable innovation strategies

💼 LinkedIn: Erin Khan

What if the cure for isolation, burnout, and “always-online” life isn’t another app… but a place?

In this episode of Savage Angel, Angela sits down with Christopher Ryan of Chris Ryan Studio—a global designer and developer who helps create modern “Third Places”: real-world environments where people gather, connect, and build community outside of home and work.

Chris breaks down the origins of Third Places, why they matter more than ever after the pandemic, and what it takes to design spaces people actually return to multiple times a week—not once a year. From climbing gyms and activity-based venues to mixed-use ecosystems that blend coworking, movement, and social connection, this conversation will change how you see your community (and your own need for connection).

• What a “Third Place” is (and why the concept matters for healthy communities)
• Why online connectivity can’t replace face-to-face belonging
• How “home, work, and play got blended” during COVID—and what we can rebuild now
• What makes Third Places work: intention, curation, and authenticity (not random amenities)
• Examples of modern Third Place ecosystems (think: activity + fitness + coworking + coffee + community)
• Why community is usually a result, not the starting point

🌐 Website: https://www.chrisryanstudio.com/
▶️ YouTube: Chris Ryan Studio
💼 LinkedIn: Christopher Ryan

AI is shaking up digital marketing—but SEO, Google Business Profiles, and organic lead generation aren’t going anywhere. They’re just changing.

In this episode of Savage Angel, Angela Giles sits down with Todd Baldwin, founder of Everyday Media Group, for a no-BS conversation about what actually works in marketing right now. From AI-powered search results to Google’s evolving algorithms, Todd breaks down how service-based businesses can stay visible, trusted, and profitable in a rapidly shifting landscape.

If you’ve been burned by flashy promises, confused by AI buzzwords, or wondering how to future-proof your marketing, this episode brings clarity, strategy, and real-world experience.

• Why SEO is still a cornerstone of lead generation—even in the age of AI
• How ChatGPT and AI search tools are already driving leads (often without businesses realizing it)
• Why Google Business Profiles and reviews matter more than ever for trust and visibility
• The truth about schema markup—and why most businesses are missing a massive opportunity
• How to evaluate agencies promising “AI magic” (and spot red flags fast)
• The best lead-generation strategies for service-based businesses right now
• Why content, consistency, and fundamentals still outperform shortcuts

🌐 Website: https://everydaymediagroup.com/
📊 Services: SEO • Google & Meta Ads • Web Development • Lead Generation • AI-Ready Marketing
🤝 Ideal for: Service-based businesses ready for sustainable growth—not hype

Hosted by Angela Giles — The Queen of Strategic Business Transformation