The Builder Lead Podcast

What separates construction companies that consistently grow from those struggling with employee turnover, leadership challenges, and owner burnout?

In this episode of the Builder Lead Podcast, host Mary Anglade welcomes DeWayne Ables, Founder and President of Pioneer iQ, to discuss why successful construction businesses need more than great projects and strong profits.

With over 25 years of experience in construction, DeWayne helps companies develop stronger leaders, improve employee engagement, and build high-performing teams.

Mary and DeWayne explore why great project managers don't automatically make great leaders, how builders can attract and retain talent, and why purpose-driven leadership is essential for sustainable growth.

DeWayne also shares advice for owners who feel everything depends on them, including how to delegate, develop leaders, and build a business that thrives without their constant involvement.

• Leadership vs. management: Why technical expertise doesn't guarantee leadership ability.
• Employee retention: How belonging and purpose help retain great people.
• Scaling your business: Moving from doing everything yourself to developing and trusting your team.
• Purpose-driven growth: How focusing on people improves performance and profitability.
• Leading through uncertainty: Why transparent communication builds trust.
• Future leaders: Why leadership can be learned with training and motivation.

00:00 – Welcome to the Builder Lead Podcast

00:38 – Meet DeWayne Ables

02:05 – DeWayne's background and Pioneer iQ

03:44 – Differentiating beyond price

05:48 – Managing projects vs. leading people

07:58 – Developing future leaders

09:32 – Warning signs of poor leadership

11:35 – Attracting and retaining talent

14:11 – How owners can stop being the bottleneck

18:58 – Building stronger teams

21:40 – What employees expect from leaders

25:59 – Creating a purpose-driven company

29:40 – How purpose transforms businesses

32:05 – Leading through uncertain markets

34:32 – What makes companies sustainable

38:37 – First steps toward better leadership

44:36 – DeWayne's book, Calling All Waymakers

DeWayne is Founder and President of Pioneer iQ and creator of the Pioneer Method. His team has worked with over 500 design and construction companies nationwide to develop leaders, strengthen teams, and build resilient businesses.

He is also a national instructor for AGC, ACEC, DBIA, and SMACNA.

DeWayne's upcoming book explores how leaders can find their purpose and help others discover direction and meaning in their work.

Available for preorder. Releases March 3, 2027.

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Calling-All-Waymakers/DeWayne-Ables/9781637636459

Connect with DeWayne:
https://pioneeriq.com

Builder Lead Marketing helps home builders, modular manufacturers, and construction businesses generate qualified leads through SEO, AI search optimization, Google Ads, websites, social media, and lead nurturing.

https://www.builderleadmarketing.com

#ConstructionLeadership #HomeBuilders #ConstructionBusiness #BuilderLeadPodcast

What separates a builder who is constantly putting out fires from one who runs a profitable, scalable business?

In this episode of the Builder Lead Podcast, Mary Anglade sits down with Marti Amos, founder of The Professional Builder, who has spent more than 20 years coaching residential building company owners.

Marti shares why talented builders often get stuck working long hours without seeing the profit they should—and how better numbers, systems, marketing, and delegation can help them move from survival to stability and scale.

Mary and Marti discuss how to reverse-engineer profit goals, build predictable lead flow, protect margins, identify the biggest constraint in your business, and determine what the owner should stop doing, automate, or delegate.

If you’re a custom home builder, remodeler, or construction business owner who wants more profit, more control, and a company that doesn’t depend on you for everything, this episode is for you.

IN THIS EPISODE:
• Why knowing your numbers is essential to profitability
• How to reverse-engineer revenue goals into projects and leads
• Why builders should price to a target gross margin
• How consistent marketing and sales help protect margins
• Why charging for preliminary budgeting can improve lead quality
• What changes as builders grow from $1M to $2.5M, $5M and beyond
• What owners should stop doing, automate, or delegate
• How systems and accountability keep projects on track
• Why you should solve your biggest business constraint first

Marti also shares his “golden ratios” for builder profitability and explains why gross margins below 20% deserve attention.

ABOUT MARTI AMOS

Marti Amos is the founder of The Professional Builder. For more than two decades, he has helped residential builders improve their numbers, sales and marketing, systems, leadership, and teams so they can create more profitable businesses—and more freedom for themselves.

SHOW NOTES

00:00 — Welcome to the Builder Lead Podcast
01:25 — Meet Marti Amos
01:51 — From marketing executive to builder business coach
04:17 — The keys to building a profitable, systemized business
05:56 — What chaos looks like inside a building company
07:41 — Why visibility into your numbers matters
08:15 — Reverse-engineering profit goals into leads and projects
10:04 — Why builders should charge for preliminary budgets
11:52 — Growing from $1M to $2.5M, $5M and beyond
13:15 — Why you can’t scale chaos
14:31 — Calculating the value of the owner’s time
15:30 — What to stop, automate or delegate
16:39 — Overcoming “No one can do it as well as I can”
18:43 — Building the right systems
22:25 — The profitability principle builders underestimate
23:00 — How predictable lead flow helps protect margins
24:34 — Where an overwhelmed builder should start
25:00 — Marti’s “golden ratios” for profitability
26:00 — Solve your biggest constraint first
27:01 — Connect with Marti + free book offer

CONNECT WITH MARTI

The Professional Builder
theprofessionalbuilder.com
YouTube & Social: Search “The Professional Builder”

ABOUT BUILDER LEAD MARKETING

Builder Lead Marketing helps home builders, modular manufacturers, and construction companies generate more qualified leads, increase online visibility, and build stronger sales pipelines.

From SEO and AI visibility to Google Ads, social media advertising, email marketing, websites, and lead generation, we help builders turn digital marketing into measurable business growth.

Visit builderleadmarketing.com to learn more.

Subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

What is possible when a construction business owner has the right strategy, systems, and support to grow?

In this episode of The Builder Lead Podcast, Mary Anglade talks with Paul Atherton, co-founder and CEO of HighSpire, about how construction companies can scale—and how successful contractors can use their construction businesses to create long-term wealth through real estate development.

Paul shares the remarkable story of a former police officer who started a construction company at age 48. Over the next 11 years, he and his wife grew the business to more than $20 million in annual revenue while investing the company’s retained earnings into real estate. By age 59, they had built a portfolio valued at approximately $160 million, with $55 million in equity.

Their story shows that meaningful growth is possible at any stage of life—but it requires more than hard work. Paul explains why owners must get out of the field, hire strong project managers, understand their financial numbers, and surround themselves with people who know what successful growth looks like.

Mary and Paul also discuss:

• The key moves that help construction companies grow from $1 million to $5 million
• Why owners must stop trying to do everything themselves
• The financial metrics that should guide growth decisions
• How growing companies can build effective teams and accountability systems
• Why construction businesses have a unique advantage in real estate development
• How to evaluate opportunities without taking unnecessary risks
• Why continued marketing is especially important when the market slows

Whether you are building your first million-dollar company or preparing for your next major stage of growth, this episode offers practical guidance—and an inspiring example of how far a well-run construction business can go.

Connect with Paul Atherton and Highspire: highspire.com Highspire
Learn more about Builder Lead Marketing: builderleadmarketing.com

David Endy didn’t plan on a career in modular construction. He was a banker when he was asked to take a closer look at a small Wisconsin manufacturer that had stalled. He saw the potential—and more than 30 years later, he leads Stratford Homes.

In this episode, David tells Mary Anglade what it took to grow the business, including Stratford’s expansion into the Pacific Northwest, where his team had to help create a market for modular homes as one did not exist yet. He shares how the industry moved beyond cookie-cutter designs to today’s custom builds, and why Stratford’s growth has always depended on helping its builder partners grow.

David also offers his perspective on AI in home design and advice for custom stick builders considering modular construction. Listen for the stories and lessons behind three decades of change in the industry.

In this episode

• How a former banker found his way into modular construction
• The changes that helped turn Stratford Homes around
• Why supporting builders became central to Stratford’s growth
• What it takes to create demand in a market where modular is unfamiliar
• Lessons from expanding into the Pacific Northwest
• How modular construction moved beyond cookie-cutter designs
• The level of customization available in modular homes today
• How AI is changing architectural renderings and home design
• The opportunities and challenges David sees ahead
• Advice for custom stick builders considering modular construction

Visit Stratford Homes to learn more about its custom modular homes, multifamily projects and builder opportunities.

Learn more about marketing and lead-generation strategies for builders and modular manufacturers at Builder Lead Marketing.

Listen to more conversations with construction industry leaders on The Builder Lead Podcast.

What began as a young couple building their own home with no money down—and creating $85,000 in equity—eventually became an award-winning off-site construction company.

In this episode of the Builder Lead Podcast, Mary Anglade speaks with Katrina “Tina” Holtz, founder, CEO and owner of Honor Built Homes, about her unconventional journey from growing up around construction and building homes with her husband to creating a company committed to building smarter, better and faster.

Tina explains how modular and panelized construction can help address labor shortages, rising costs, weather delays, material waste and the urgent need for more housing. She also clears up common misconceptions about modular homes and shares how factory quality control, detailed pre-construction planning and parallel construction can create a faster, more predictable building experience without limiting customization.

Tina also shares her perspective as a woman CEO and business owner in the male-dominated construction industry. She discusses the challenges women can face establishing credibility, the unique strengths they bring to construction and why more women should consider careers in building and the skilled trades.

You’ll hear:

• How Tina’s experience building her first home changed the direction of her life
• The differences between modular, panelized and manufactured homes
• Why Honor Built Homes will never return to traditional site-built construction
• How off-site construction reduces waste, delays and unexpected costs
• Why education is critical to overcoming the stigma surrounding modular construction
• What Tina has learned as a woman CEO and owner in the construction industry
• Her advice for women interested in construction and the skilled trades
• Where Tina believes off-site construction is headed next

Tina also discusses what it means to lead a smaller company that is making a real impact on the industry. Honor Built Homes was named “Emerging Construction Innovator of the Year 2026 – Mountain States USA” and “Recognized Leaders in Off-Site Construction 2026 – Mountain States USA” in BUILD’s Construction & Engineering Awards. These honors mark the company’s third consecutive year of recognition from BUILD.

Whether you are a builder considering off-site construction, a manufacturer, developer, housing professional or prospective homeowner, this conversation offers an inspiring look at what becomes possible when experience, persistence and innovation come together.

Connect with Tina Holtz and Honor Built Homes:

Learn more about Honor Built Homes and its custom modular and panelized building solutions at HonorBuiltHomes.com.

Enjoyed this episode? Follow the Builder Lead Podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re watching on YouTube, subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations with the leaders shaping the construction industry.

In this episode of The Builder Lead Podcast, Mary Anglade breaks down the differences between the two platforms and the role each plays in the home buyer’s journey. Google Ads can help builders reach people who are actively searching, while Facebook and Instagram ads can build awareness and introduce your homes to buyers before they begin their search.

You’ll learn:

• How buyer intent differs between Google and Meta
• When Google Ads may be the better place to start
• When Meta Ads can be especially effective
• Why clicks from the two platforms shouldn’t be evaluated in the same way
• How your website and follow-up process affect campaign performance
• Why using both platforms can create a stronger overall strategy

If you’re trying to decide where to invest your advertising budget, this episode will help you choose the right approach based on your goals, market and buyers.

Home buyers aren’t just searching on Google anymore. They’re asking ChatGPT which builders they should consider—and if your company isn’t appearing in the answer, one of your competitors may be.

This episode of The Builder Lead Podcast features a recorded webinar presented by Mary Anglade, founder of Builder Lead Marketing, on how home builders and modular manufacturers can improve their visibility in ChatGPT and other AI search engines.

In this practical session, Mary explains:

• How AI is changing the way buyers research and choose builders
• The difference between traditional SEO and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)
• The signals ChatGPT uses when deciding which builders to recommend
• Why your website, reviews, content and broader digital footprint all matter
• How FAQs, pricing information, fresh content and YouTube videos can improve AI visibility
• The first steps to include in your own 90-day action plan

Because this episode was originally presented as a webinar, you may want to watch the video version on YouTube to follow along with the slides, examples and demonstrations.

The way buyers search is changing quickly. The question is no longer simply whether they can find your website—it’s whether ChatGPT will recommend your company when they ask for the right builder.

Construction financing is one of the most important—and often misunderstood—aspects of building a new home. In this episode of The Builder Lead Podcast, Mary Anglade sits down with Tom Coronato, Senior Vice President of Construction Lending at CalCon Mutual Mortgage, to discuss what builders, modular manufacturers, and home buyers need to know about today's lending environment.

Drawing on decades of experience in construction lending and leadership within the National Association of Home Builders, the Modular Home Builders Association, and the Modular Building Institute, Tom shares practical insights on construction loans, today's interest rate environment, financing for modular homes, and the opportunities and challenges facing the home building industry.

In this episode, you'll learn:
• How construction loans work and what builders should know
• Common misconceptions home buyers have about financing a new home
• The impact of today's interest rates on the housing market
• Financing considerations for modular and off-site construction
• Why attainable housing remains one of the industry's biggest opportunities
• How builders can better educate buyers throughout the sales process
• Tom's perspective on AI and the future of the home building industry

Whether you're a builder, lender, modular manufacturer, or construction industry professional, this conversation offers valuable insights to help you better serve your customers and grow your business.

About Tom Coronato

Tom Coronato is Senior Vice President of Construction Lending at CalCon Mutual Mortgage. A nationally recognized expert in construction lending, he has served as Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders' Building Systems Council and currently serves on the NAHB Housing Finance Committee and Leadership Council. He is also a board member of the Modular Home Builders Association and an active member of the Modular Building Institute.

For more episodes and builder marketing resources, please visit Builder Lead Marketing.

Modular construction is having a moment.

As housing affordability challenges continue to grow, builders, developers, and policymakers are taking a fresh look at the speed, efficiency, quality, and sustainability of off-site construction.

In this episode of The Builder Lead Podcast, host Mary Anglade sits down with Tom Hardiman, one of the industry's most respected advocates, to discuss why the time for modular construction has arrived.

In this conversation, you'll learn:

• Why modular construction is uniquely positioned to address today's housing challenges
• The misconceptions that continue to hold the industry back—and why countries like Japan have embraced off-site construction so successfully
• What Tom would love to see happen next for the modular industry
• His advice for builders considering modular construction for the first time
• Where the industry is headed and why the future has never looked brighter

Whether you're a builder, developer, architect, manufacturer, or simply curious about the future of homebuilding, this episode offers valuable insights from one of modular construction's leading voices.

About Tom Hardiman

Tom Hardiman is the Executive Director of the Modular Home Builders Association as well as the Modular Building Institute. He has spent his career advancing modular and off-site construction through education, advocacy, and industry leadership. His work has helped builders, manufacturers, developers, and industry partners better understand the opportunities modular construction creates for the future of housing.

Social media isn't just for likes and followers — it's one of the most powerful tools builders have to showcase their work, build trust, and generate qualified leads.

In this webinar, Builder Lead Marketing founder Mary Anglade shares practical, no-fluff strategies that modular home builders, manufacturers, and construction professionals can use to turn social media into a real business development channel.

You'll learn:
• Which platforms matter most and how to prioritize them
• The types of content that generate inquiries, not just engagement
• How to showcase projects in a way that builds credibility and trust
• Simple, repeatable tactics to create a consistent social media presence
• How social media fits into today's buyer journey and lead generation ecosystem

Whether you're just getting started or looking to improve your current strategy, this session will give you actionable ideas you can begin implementing immediately.