The Commercial Builders’ Network (TCBN)

⚡ Where can learning one skilled trade actually take you?

For Craig Harris, Founder and CEO of New Beginnings Electrical Services, the answer has included the field, purchasing, warehouse management, project management, estimating, executive leadership—and ultimately business ownership.

Craig has spent 35 years in the electrical industry, but his path didn't begin traditionally.

After becoming incarcerated as a teenager, Craig was assigned to a maintenance detail where he worked alongside a master electrician. That's where electrical work began to stick. After returning home, he entered a four-year apprenticeship program and started building a career that would eventually take him far beyond the field.

In this episode of The Commercial Builders' Network, we're talking about what a career in the skilled trades can actually become.

⚡ How Craig discovered the electrical trade

🛠️ Apprenticeships and hands-on training

🔄 Creating a new career after incarceration

💼 Moving from the field into project management, estimating and leadership

💰 Six-figure earning potential in the skilled trades

🏗️ The shortage of electricians and other skilled tradespeople

🎓 Why college doesn't have to be the only successful path

👷 Why hands-on experience matters

📈 Moving from skilled tradesperson to entrepreneur

💵 The difference between revenue and profit

🏫 What construction education could look like in high school

🤝 Why today's contractors need to expose the next generation to the trades

Craig also explains one of the biggest lessons he learned when transitioning into entrepreneurship:

There's a difference between a business and a hustle.

Making enough money to pay yourself isn't necessarily the same as building a profitable company with money on its balance sheet.

And for anyone looking for a career pivot or second chance, his advice is simple:

Decide what you want. Do the research. Start walking toward it.

A skilled trade doesn't have to be your backup plan.

It can become your career, your livelihood, your business—and your new beginning.

🎥 Subscribe for conversations about construction careers, skilled trades, contracts, business ownership, development and economic opportunity.

Construction can change your life—and it's starting to look a lot like you.

#SkilledTrades #ElectricalCareers #ConstructionCareers #Electrician #Apprenticeship #ConstructionJobs #WorkforceDevelopment #SecondChances #ConstructionBusiness #TheCommercialBuildersNetwork

🏗️ Want to grow your construction company and compete for larger contracts? Getting the opportunity is only part of the equation. Your business has to be prepared to handle it.

In this episode of The Commercial Builders' Network, I'm joined by Claudette Freeman, Managing Partner of F&F General Construction, a Black woman-owned full-service construction firm providing design-build, general construction, construction management and turnkey project delivery. Pasted text

Claudette's journey began in architectural engineering before taking her into project management, consulting and eventually business ownership.

Along the way, she saw a recurring problem: many contractors knew how to perform the work, but struggled with the administrative and business infrastructure needed to maintain a pipeline and grow. Pasted text

In this conversation, we're breaking down what it actually takes to build and scale a construction company.

💰 Managing cash flow through construction's feast-and-famine cycles

📑 Why a strong contract can protect your company

🏗️ Moving from smaller projects into larger contracts

💳 Lines of credit and preparing for project expenses

🤝 Strategic partnerships and joint ventures

📋 Using certifications to access opportunities

👷 Building relationships with quality subcontractors

📈 Helping smaller trade partners build financial capacity

🎯 Why you shouldn't bid every opportunity

⚠️ Protecting your company when costs unexpectedly increase

👩🏾‍💼 Building credibility as a Black woman in general contracting

🤝 Accountability, quality and rebuilding trust

Claudette's first F&F project started as approximately a $350,000 contract, grew to $800,000 and ultimately finished around $1 million—all during COVID. Pasted text

When material costs skyrocketed, one provision in her contract became critical: increases above the agreed inflation threshold became the client's responsibility. Claudette says that protection may have saved her business during its first year. Pasted text

Her message to growing contractors is clear:

Know your numbers. Protect your business. Don't be afraid to ask questions. And don't be afraid to partner.

🎥 Subscribe for conversations about commercial construction, contracts, careers, business growth, development and building wealth.

Don't just watch these conversations. Use them.

#CommercialConstruction #ConstructionBusiness #GeneralContractor #ConstructionContracts #SmallBusiness #ConstructionManagement #WomenInConstruction #BlackWomenInConstruction #Contractor #TheCommercialBuildersNetwork

👷 Construction companies say they need workers. Skilled trades programs are training people. So why are so many people still struggling to make the connection between training and employment?

In this episode of The Commercial Builders' Network, I'm joined by Rick Ellis of Blest Trade Alliance, a workforce-development professional with nearly three decades of experience connecting people with employment opportunities.

Rick explains why completing a training program and being job ready are not necessarily the same thing—and what workers, training providers and employers can do differently.

We talk about the gap between the classroom and the jobsite, and why technical training alone may not prepare someone for expectations like:

⏰ Showing up consistently and on time
🤝 Being coachable
🚗 Having reliable transportation
🗣️ Communicating effectively
👷 Understanding jobsite expectations
📈 Knowing how to grow once you're hired

But this conversation isn't only about the worker.

Rick explains why employers also have a responsibility to create a stronger bridge into the industry—with mentoring, realistic expectations, structured 30/60/90-day plans, regular feedback and opportunities for entry-level workers to gain real experience.

We also discuss:

🏗️ How Blest Trade Alliance connects schools, workers and employers

💼 Why small construction businesses shouldn't assume they have to train new workers alone

🎓 Why a certificate doesn't automatically make someone employable

🛠️ How real jobsite experience can help close the workforce gap

📈 How employers can improve retention after hiring someone

🏠 Why transportation, childcare, housing and other barriers matter when helping someone transition into a career

💰 Why skilled trades can become a pathway to stronger income, entrepreneurship and long-term opportunity

🔧 Why electricians, HVAC professionals, construction workers and other skilled tradespeople shouldn't view these careers as “settling”

Rick makes an important distinction:

Everybody who will pay you isn't necessarily going to invest in you.

For workers, the goal shouldn't simply be finding someone willing to hire you. Look for employers willing to help you continue developing your skills and career.

And for employers?

Training is an investment.

If the construction industry wants to solve its workforce shortage, workers, training providers, employers and workforce organizations have to work together.

🎥 Watch the full episode and subscribe to The Commercial Builders' Network on YouTube.

Construction can change your life—and it's starting to look a lot like you.

#ConstructionCareers #SkilledTrades #ConstructionJobs #WorkforceDevelopment #Apprenticeships #ConstructionIndustry #CareerDevelopment #ConstructionTraining #TradeSchool #TheCommercialBuildersNetwork

🏗️ Want to win contracts with Brasfield & Gorrie? This episode breaks down where to start.

In this episode of The Commercial Builders' Network, I'm joined by Jessica McMahan, Senior Supplier Opportunity Manager at Brasfield & Gorrie, to explain how subcontractors, suppliers, trade contractors and small construction businesses can position themselves for opportunities with a major commercial general contractor.

We take a deep dive into EQUIP, Brasfield & Gorrie's program designed to connect contractors with people, resources, training and real project opportunities.

🏗️ How to do business with Brasfield & Gorrie

🤝 How the EQUIP program works

📋 Brasfield & Gorrie's prequalification process

💻 How BuildingConnected is used for bidding

📍 Where to find upcoming project opportunities

📞 Who contractors should build relationships with

⚠️ Common mistakes contractors make when bidding

📈 What makes a subcontractor stand out

💬 When and how to follow up after submitting a bid

🎓 Training, networking and technical assistance through EQUIP

👷 Career, internship and apprenticeship opportunities in construction

One of Jessica's biggest lessons: don't bid one project, lose it, and walk away.

Commercial construction has a long bidding cycle. Contractors may participate in multiple rounds—from conceptual and schematic pricing through final documents—before an award is made. Building relationships, understanding the project schedule, bidding consistently and requesting feedback throughout the process matter.

And there's proof the process can work.

Jessica shares the story of a contractor that engaged consistently with EQUIP, secured an initial project worth approximately $222,000, and later received an award exceeding $1 million.

Whether you're a subcontractor, supplier, architect, engineer, trade contractor or small construction company trying to break into commercial construction, this conversation gives you actionable next steps.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube Wednesday and subscribe to The Commercial Builders' Network.

Don't just learn about opportunities. Learn how to access them.

💬 What's your biggest challenge when trying to work with a major general contractor?

#BrasfieldAndGorrie #CommercialConstruction #ConstructionContracts #Subcontractor #GeneralContractor #ConstructionBusiness #Procurement #SmallBusiness #SupplierOpportunity #TheCommercialBuildersNetwork

🏠 HOUSE MEETING! The Commercial Builders' Network is evolving—and we need to talk about where we're going.

After all of the conversations we've had across commercial construction and real estate, I started asking one question:

When you finish watching an episode, what are you actually going to DO with the information?

Information is great. Inspiration is great. Stories matter. But at some point, we need instructions.

So consider this our first official TCBN House Meeting.

No guest this time. I'm explaining where The Commercial Builders' Network is going, what you'll be able to find here, and why we're changing the way we approach these conversations.

The mission isn't changing. It's getting clearer.

Moving forward, every TCBN conversation will be built around three principles:

🔎 Clarity — Why does this information matter to you?
📚 Comprehension — What does it mean and how does the process work?
🎯 Credibility — Are we learning from someone who actually works in that area?

Instead of simply telling you opportunities exist, TCBN will go directly to the people and organizations who can explain how to access them.

🏗️ Contracts & Small Business Opportunities
How to work with general contractors, government agencies, developers and major institutions—including procurement, prequalification, certifications and supplier development.

👷 Construction Careers & Workforce Development
Skilled trades, apprenticeships, training, salaries, career changes and pathways into construction.

🏢 Commercial Real Estate & Development
How projects move from an idea to reality—from evaluating property and hiring an architect to due diligence, permitting, selecting contractors and avoiding expensive mistakes.

💰 Financing & Access to Capital
Commercial lending, SBA financing, private capital, debt, equity, investors, underwriting and what actually makes someone financeable.

🏡 Housing & Homeownership
Affordable and attainable housing, homeownership programs, financial readiness, housing development and the connection between income, ownership and wealth.

🤝 Trust & Transparency
How institutions, businesses and communities can rebuild trust by making opportunities and processes more transparent.

These aren't separate conversations.

Exposure creates opportunity.
Opportunity creates careers.
Careers create income.
Income creates stability.
Stability can create homeownership.
Skills can create entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship can create ownership.
Ownership can create investment.
Investment can create wealth.
And wealth, protected and transferred, can become legacy.

That's the ecosystem we're building.

TCBN isn't becoming a different platform. It's becoming a more useful one.

🎥 Subscribe and use this channel as your resource for careers, contracts, commercial construction, commercial real estate, development, financing, housing and economic opportunity.

Don't just watch these conversations. Use them.

#CommercialConstruction #ConstructionCareers #ConstructionContracts #CommercialRealEstate #WorkforceDevelopment #SmallBusiness #EconomicDevelopment #SkilledTrades #RealEstateDevelopment #TheCommercialBuildersNetwork

The biggest opportunity for your business may not be something you build alone.

In this episode of The Commercial Builders' Network, Jonathan Clark of Community Solutions by Design shares how nine Tennessee State University graduates came together around one vision and built a successful architecture and engineering firm through collaboration, trust, complementary strengths, and strategic partnerships.

Jonathan originally shared his entrepreneurial vision with dozens of classmates. Years later, eight of them answered the call to build with him.

They brought different experiences across architecture, engineering, construction, construction management, and owner's representation—and used those differences as an advantage rather than trying to do everything individually.

Their journey offers an important lesson for entrepreneurs: you don't always have to find someone ahead of you. Sometimes the people you need to build with are standing beside you.

In this episode, we discuss:

🤝 Why collaboration can accelerate business growth

🏗️ How nine college friends built an architecture & engineering company

💼 Why complementary strengths matter when choosing partners

🧠 How to divide responsibilities when you're surrounded by talented people

⚠️ Why character matters more than technical ability in a long-term partnership

💰 Why "not all money is good money"

🏢 Growing from residential work into major commercial projects

✈️ How relationships and partnerships created opportunities in aviation

📐 Architecture, engineering, construction and development

🌱 Why relationships you build today can create opportunities years later

Jonathan also explains why choosing the right partners matters just as much as choosing to partner at all. His advice: pay attention to someone's character when things aren't going well, because stress often reveals who you're really building with.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, contractor, architect, engineer, developer, small business owner, or professional considering starting a company, this conversation challenges the idea that success has to happen alone.

🎥 Watch the full episode and subscribe to The Commercial Builders' Network for conversations connecting people to careers, businesses, partnerships, and opportunities across commercial construction and real estate.

💬 Would you rather build a company alone—or build with partners who bring strengths you don't have?

#BusinessPartnership #Entrepreneurship #Architecture #Engineering #CommercialConstruction #SmallBusiness #BusinessGrowth #StrategicPartnerships #CommercialRealEstate #TheCommercialBuildersNetwork

Want to work with a major general contractor but don't know where to start?

In this episode of The Commercial Builders' Network, Yomi Adeyemo, Director of Community Engagement at Juneau Construction, explains exactly what his team looks for when selecting subcontractors, suppliers, and business partners. From prequalification and safety records to financial readiness, communication, and relationship-building, this conversation provides practical guidance for businesses looking to break into commercial construction.

You'll also learn how Juneau's Cultivate trade partner development program helps emerging businesses prepare for larger commercial opportunities and how the company is investing in workforce development through internships, work-based learning, and community engagement.

✅ How to become a subcontractor for a major general contractor

✅ What Juneau looks for during prequalification

✅ The biggest mistakes that keep companies from getting opportunities

✅ Why communication and preparation matter

✅ Certifications that can strengthen your business

✅ How emerging businesses can transition from residential to commercial work

✅ Workforce development and internship opportunities

✅ Why collaboration between small businesses creates more opportunities

Whether you're a subcontractor, supplier, consultant, architect, engineer, or small business owner, this episode offers practical strategies to help you compete for commercial construction projects.

🎥 Watch the full episode and subscribe for weekly conversations connecting people to careers, businesses, and opportunities in commercial construction and commercial real estate.

💬 What's the biggest challenge you've faced trying to work with a general contractor?

#CommercialConstruction #ConstructionContracts #GeneralContractor #Subcontractor #Procurement #SupplierDiversity #SmallBusiness #ConstructionBusiness #CommercialRealEstate #TheCommercialBuildersNetwork

Construction jobs are in high demand, yet the industry is still facing a shortage of hundreds of thousands of skilled workers. So where's the disconnect—and how can job seekers take advantage of the opportunity?

In this episode of The Commercial Builders' Network, Jason Walker, National Engagement Manager for Building Talent Foundation, explains why the construction workforce shortage exists and how JobsToBuild, a free career platform, is helping connect students, career changers, veterans, returning citizens, women, and employers with meaningful opportunities in residential construction.

Jason also shares exciting news about Pell Grants now being available for eligible skilled trades training programs, making it easier than ever to start a construction career without taking on significant student debt.

✅ Why construction is facing a workforce shortage

✅ How the free JobsToBuild platform works

✅ Construction careers that don't require a four-year degree

✅ Apprenticeships and "earn while you learn" opportunities

✅ How Pell Grants can now help pay for skilled trades training

✅ What employers look for beyond technical skills

✅ Why HVAC, plumbing, and electrical careers have long-term demand

✅ Career pathways for students, veterans, women, and returning citizens

Whether you're exploring a new career, changing industries, hiring talent, or supporting workforce development, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you take the next step.

🎥 Listen to the full episode and subscribe for weekly conversations connecting people to careers, businesses, and opportunities in commercial construction and commercial real estate.

💬 If you could learn one skilled trade, which would you choose and why?

#ConstructionJobs #ConstructionCareers #SkilledTrades #WorkforceDevelopment #Apprenticeships #CommercialConstruction #CareerPathways #ConstructionIndustry #JobsToBuild #TheCommercialBuildersNetwork

Affordable housing isn't just about finding a place to live—it's about creating a pathway to homeownership, financial stability, and generational wealth.

In this episode of The Commercial Builders' Network, Shedra Jones, Program Manager at Develop Clayton, explains the difference between affordable housing and attainable housing, how first-time homebuyers can prepare for ownership, and why homeownership remains one of the strongest tools for building wealth.

You'll also learn about down payment assistance, home repair programs, rent and mortgage assistance, public-private partnerships, and how developers, contractors, and small businesses can help shape stronger communities.

✔ Affordable Housing vs. Attainable Housing

✔ From Renting to Ready

✔ First-Time Homebuyer Resources

✔ Down Payment Assistance Programs

✔ Home Repair Grants

✔ Rent & Mortgage Assistance

✔ Building Generational Wealth Through Homeownership

✔ Opportunities for Developers & Contractors

✔ Mixed-Use Development

✔ Public-Private Partnerships

✔ Housing and Economic Development

Whether you're a renter, homeowner, developer, contractor, real estate professional, or community leader, this episode provides practical insights into creating stronger communities through housing.

👇 Which housing topic would you like us to cover next? Tell us in the comments.

#AffordableHousing

#Homeownership

#FirstTimeHomeBuyer

#GenerationalWealth

#Housing

#CommercialRealEstate

#CommunityDevelopment

#EconomicDevelopment

#PublicPrivatePartnerships

#MixedUseDevelopment

#Construction

#RealEstate

#WorkforceDevelopment

#ClaytonCounty

#TheCommercialBuildersNetwork

Millions of people are searching for meaningful careers while employers struggle to find skilled workers. Why is that happening?

In this episode of The Commercial Builders' Network, workforce development leader Angelia O'Neal, founder of MWI Workforce Institute and Talent Acquisition Coordinator, explains how construction, skilled trades, apprenticeships, and workforce development are creating life-changing career opportunities.

With more than 20 years of experience helping people connect to employment and long-term economic mobility, Angelia shares practical advice for job seekers, employers, and anyone looking for a better future.

✔ Why skilled trades are one of America's fastest-growing career paths

✔ Careers that don't require a traditional four-year degree

✔ Opportunities for women, veterans, and returning citizens

✔ The soft skills employers want most

✔ How apprenticeships and certifications open doors

✔ Why workforce development is about building careers—not just filling jobs

✔ How hope, preparation, and opportunity change lives

Whether you're entering the workforce, changing careers, hiring talent, or building a business, this conversation offers valuable insight into today's workforce landscape.

🎥 Listen to the full episode and subscribe for more conversations connecting people to careers, businesses, and opportunities in commercial construction and commercial real estate.

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#ConstructionCareers #WorkforceDevelopment #SkilledTrades #CommercialConstruction #CareerPathways #Apprenticeships #EconomicDevelopment #CommercialRealEstate #Leadership #TheCommercialBuildersNetwork