The Contractor Grow Show

In this episode of The Contractor Grow Show, Mark talks with Micah and Jennifer Jefferson, franchise owners of Restoration 1 of West Denver, about how they left successful corporate careers to build a highly rated restoration company along the Front Range and into Summit County. They break down what it really takes to be a full-service, 24/7 “bad day” problem solver for homeowners dealing with water, fire, mold, and insurance chaos.

• How Micah went from 20 years in IT and corporate life to choosing a “recession-resistant” restoration franchise with the help of an entrepreneur coach.
• How Jen’s background at GE and in her own company shaped their focus on process, talent development, and knowing “what right looks like” inside a small business.
• Why Restoration 1 of West Denver is built as a true one‑stop shop: mitigation, asbestos handling, contents, and full rebuilds so clients don’t have to find separate contractors.
• The emotional side of restoration—helping first‑time and elderly homeowners navigate claims, shock, and disruption—and why that human support keeps them coming back to the work.
• How they work with insurance carriers as advocates to make sure clients are made whole, not shortchanged, and why that’s “not glamorous but necessary.”
• Their approach to hiring A‑players in a high‑turnover field: always recruiting, hiring slowly, firing quickly, and prioritizing passion, willingness to learn, and cultural fit over perfect résumés.
• The role of trusted subs and partner companies, including helping a house cleaner spin up a cleaning business that now supports large‑scale events like the Marshall Fire.
• How a long‑term focus on reputation, making things right when they miss, and staying customer‑centric has led to 500+ five‑star reviews and strong referral-driven growth in West Denver.

In this episode of The Contractor Grow Show, host Mark Lamberth sits down with Jeff Toren, franchise owner of multiple Kitchen Tune-Up and Bath Tune-Up locations serving the Main Line and greater Philadelphia area, and co-owner of Happy Life Kickboxing & Fitness. Jeff shares how he walked away from a successful enterprise software sales career and VP role to build a portfolio of seven Kitchen Tune-Up territories, five Bath Tune-Up territories, and a growing fitness brand—all while navigating the realities of cashflow, hiring, and scaling in the remodeling world.

You’ll hear Jeff break down:

• Why he left corporate tech after becoming a VP of sales, and how a severance package plus a business coach led him into franchising instead of another job search.
• How his first year with Kitchen Tune-Up hit roughly 600K in revenue and why launching a gym franchise at the same time was “insane” in hindsight.
• Growing to seven Kitchen Tune-Up and five Bath Tune-Up territories around Philly, winning Bath Tune-Up Franchise of the Year (“Franny of the Year”), and building a business designed to be a long-term family legacy instead of just a sales job.
• The hidden difficulty of remodeling: economic cycles, seasonality, and the brutal importance of cashflow planning, savings, and lines of credit so a few slow weeks don’t wipe you out.
• Why owner-operators who do all their own selling typically cap around 1M, and how Jeff structures his commission, draws, bonuses, and incentives so top sales designers can earn more than he does while driving consistent growth.
• His “broken dreams boat” experience hiring salespeople, how a coach helped him overhaul his hiring process into a three-step filter (culture screen, tough skills interview, then Jeff), and why A‑players usually aren’t on job boards.
• The power of proactive recruiting through vendor partners, industry events, and networks—plus how one conversation with a tile rep led to a future 2M‑per‑year designer.
• How he builds a growth-minded culture with ongoing training, franchise programs, and external sales coaching so his team can handle losing 60–70% of bids without burning out.
• The vision behind Happy Life Kickboxing & Fitness, why he and his wife Penny only choose businesses that genuinely improve people’s lives, and how kitchens, baths, and fitness all fit into that mission.

If you’re a contractor or home-service entrepreneur who wants to grow beyond the “one-man sales show,” hire true top talent, and survive the cashflow rollercoaster of remodeling, this conversation with Jeff is packed with honest lessons, cautionary tales, and practical strategies you can apply right away.

In this episode of The Contractor Grow Show, host Mark Lamberth sits down with Jay McDade of Conservation Construction, a Denver-area window and siding company serving Colorado homeowners from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins and beyond. Jay shares how he went from working at one of the largest window and siding companies in America in the 1980s to launching a family-owned, highly reviewed replacement window business that’s held steady around eight figures in annual revenue with just over 100 people across Colorado and Texas.

You’ll hear Jay break down:

• How he and his wife Lynn started by walking Hutchinson neighborhoods, handing out flyers, selling, and installing every job themselves.
• Why he rejected “cover the whole country” growth in favor of focusing on the Denver metro and Front Range—and how that created durable, referral-driven demand.
• The evolution of their window lines from Amerimax to today’s Inland windows, and why a double lifetime warranty (including labor for the original owner) has been a game-changer for trust and long-term customers.
• How Conservation Construction built a deep bench of subcontract installers who stay for decades, including Jay’s “trust but verify” approach, random install check-ins, and only keeping the true grownups who do it right even when nobody’s watching.
• The pros and cons of staying “stuck” around the 10M mark, why weather and cold snaps still move the phones, and how they manage stable, controlled growth instead of chasing every market.
• Jay’s life outside the business, from skiing and snowboarding to volunteering with the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) at Winter Park, helping adaptive skiers get onto the mountain.

If you’re a contractor or home service business owner who wants to build a specialized, reputation-driven company with long-term subs, great reviews, and strong systems—without losing the personal touch—this conversation with Jay is packed with practical, real-world insight you can apply right away.

Need new windows, siding, or exterior upgrades in the Denver metro or along the Front Range? Or looking for a long-term home with a stable, established team? Reach Conservation Construction at 303-237-1687, email Jay at [email protected], or visit ConservationConstruction.com.

In this episode of The Contractor Grow Show, host Mark sits down with Chad Strutzel (Lakeland Builders & Performance Exteriors & Contracting) in the Madison, Wisconsin area to break down what’s actually driving growth in his businesses — and why “calling people back fast” is one of the biggest competitive advantages in contracting.

Chad shares his unique path from the Marines to construction, how he started Lakeland Builders nearly 30 years ago, and why he shifted away from subdivision builds to focus on higher-margin lake homes. He also explains the behind-the-scenes realities of lakefront building: zoning, engineering, erosion control, water mitigation, and the months of holding costs before work even begins.

You’ll also hear how Chad runs his companies with military-level discipline, including a strict return-call standard (within two hours), and how that simple principle helps them win jobs consistently. He also shares why he prefers keeping Lakeland Builders stable (9–12 homes per year) while continuing to grow the roofing side year over year with a stronger team — including his son joining the business.

To learn more:

LakelandBuilders.net

Performance Exteriors & Contracting

In this episode of the Contractor Grow Show, host Mark Lamberth sits down with Charlie Schmaltz, owner of CS Home Remodeling in Marion, Lowa, to talk about building a profitable remodeling company the old-school way — through trust, transparency, and deep local relationships.

Charlie shares how he saw a major disconnect in the remodeling industry — too many layers between the homeowner and the work being done — and decided to eliminate it. By becoming the single point of contact, communicating change orders upfront, and keeping overhead low, he’s built a highly rated company fueled almost entirely by word-of-mouth.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why removing the “salesman layer” builds stronger client relationships
• How to handle change orders without damaging trust
• Why keeping overhead low increases long-term profitability
• The profit difference between roofing and interior remodeling
• How specializing (steel shingles, durable exteriors) protects margins
• Why AI won’t replace skilled trades anytime soon
• How focusing on one tight local community can outperform paid ads
• Creative ways to recruit labor (including tapping into art majors 👀)

Charlie also shares why he believes:

👉 “If you’re not growing, you’re dying.”

Whether you're a contractor looking to scale, improve margins, or strengthen your local presence — this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.

📍 Based in Marion & Cedar Rapids, Iowa

🌐 Learn more: https://cshomeremodeling.com

#ContractorGrow #HomeRemodeling #RoofingBusiness #SkilledTrades #ConstructionEntrepreneur #SmallBusinessGrowth #RemodelingContractor

How do you grow an electrical company without becoming “everything for everybody”?

In this episode of The Contractor Grow Show, Mark sits down with Nathaniel Maes, owner of Mountain Area Electrical Services in Colorado’s Front Range, to break down how niching down, offering 24/7 emergency service, and serving underserved mountain towns has fueled his growth.

Nathaniel shares:

• How he started the company with 300 books and a gang box of tools

• Why specializing in breweries, restaurants, warehouses, and grow facilities gives them a competitive edge

• How 24/7 emergency service allows them to charge premium rates

• The power of contract-based work (like walk-in bathtub installs) for predictable profit

• Why servicing remote mountain towns can be more profitable than city jobs

• Lessons learned from losing a major contract

• His goal to double the company this year

If you're a contractor looking to increase profit margins, charge premium rates, and carve out a defensible niche, this episode delivers practical insights you can apply immediately.

Mountain Area Electrical Services serves Denver and the greater Colorado Front Range.

In this episode of The Contractor Grow Show, host Mark sits down with Ulises Sandoval, owner of Golden State Paving in Buena Park, California (serving much of Southern California).

Ulises shares the multi-generation story behind the company—how his dad launched Golden State Paving in 2000, how Ulises spent 17 years learning the business “from every seat” (crew, sales, estimating, project work), and how he and his wife eventually took over to keep the legacy growing.

You’ll also hear what Golden State actually does day-to-day (asphalt paving + full parking-lot services), why school projects are a major part of their “bread and butter,” and how contractors can break into public bids and win work in a competitive, cutthroat environment—by truly understanding labor, equipment, and material costs.

Ulises breaks down what “old school customer service” means in construction: keeping your word, fixing issues instead of running from them, and showing up for your crew. He also shares how they use marketing to stand out—including their customer-focused YouTube channel, “Let’s Pave Cali.”

Episode highlights:

• How Golden State Paving grew from a “one-man show” into a full team
• The real mix of their work: paving, repairs, seal coating, concrete, striping
• Why schools are a core niche—and how public bidding works
• Tips for bidding competitively (and not guessing your numbers)
• Leadership + retention: staying visible, building culture, treating people like adults
• Marketing that educates customers (not just other contractors)

If you’re a contractor who wants to grow through reputation, smarter bidding, stronger leadership, and real customer service—this one’s packed with practical takeaways.

In this episode of The Contractor Grow Show, we sit down with Joe Gumbert, owner of All Weather Roofing & Remodeling in Kerrville, Texas — a third-generation roofer who’s been in the industry since childhood.

Joe shares what it was like growing up on job sites, learning the trade from his father, and officially launching his business in 1992. From carrying shingles at five years old to running multiple crews across the Texas Hill Country, Joe’s story is one of grit, discipline, and long-term commitment to craftsmanship.

Over three decades in business, Joe has built a reputation-driven company rooted in:

• Word-of-mouth growth
• Strong ethical standards
• Detailed insurance documentation
• Turning down the wrong clients
• Maintaining quality over volume
• Backing his work with a 10-year transferable warranty

In a world where many contractors chase rapid expansion, Joe shares why he focuses on stability, smart client selection, and protecting both his business and his customers.

He also dives into:

• Why he personally handles inbound calls
• How he “interviews” potential clients before taking the job
• The realities of navigating insurance claims
• Hiring standards and maintaining crew quality
• Why sometimes growth means discipline — not scale

If you're a contractor looking to build a business that lasts decades — not just seasons — this episode offers real-world insight from someone who’s lived it.

Aaron Moore of Aaron’s Garage Doors joins Mark on The Contractor Grow Show to break down what it really takes to dominate a local market without “going big” and losing your soul as a contractor. From starting in garage doors back in 1995 and subcontracting for other companies to building one of Mount Juliet’s most trusted names, Aaron shares how staying tightly niched in garage door repair and installation has been the key to his long-term success.

In this episode, Aaron explains why he walked away from new-construction work to focus almost exclusively on retail customers, and how that shift transformed his business, margins, and stress levels. He and Mark dig into Aaron’s owner-led sales model—why he still answers most calls himself, how he pre-qualifies issues over the phone, gives ballpark pricing, and keeps the process completely low-pressure instead of running the aggressive upsell playbook so common in the industry.

You’ll hear the simple, repeatable system Aaron uses to generate nearly 200 five-star reviews—finishing the job right, tightening the last bolt, and then sending a direct text with a review link once the customer is genuinely happy. He also talks about experimenting with marketing channels like Google, SEO, talk radio, social media, and review tools, including why he gives new ideas at least three months, what’s flopped, and what’s actually moved the needle for his online presence and lead flow.

Mark and Aaron wrap up by talking team size, training techs for six to twelve months before sending them out solo, and how Aaron thinks about growth: staying flexible, adding or trimming crew as needed, and evolving without abandoning the owner-accessible, relationship-first culture that built the business in the first place.

If you’re a contractor who wants more high-quality leads, better reviews, and a tighter sales process—without turning into a call-center-driven, high-pressure operation—this conversation is a masterclass in how to do it the right way.

In this game-changing episode of The Contractor Grow Show, host Mark Lamberth sits down with Brad Langerak, Ben Byerly, and Dr. Alan Blaher — the powerhouse team behind ConX USA, a groundbreaking labor-sharing platform built by contractors, for contractors.

From Castle Rock, Colorado, these three founders discuss how ConX USA is solving one of construction’s toughest challenges: managing fluctuating labor demand. Inspired by the sharing economy, ConX lets contractors lend, borrow, and manage workers seamlessly — turning labor into a dynamic, revenue-generating resource instead of a cost burden.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• How ConX turns downtime into profit through labor sharing.
• Why it’s being called “the Airbnb for construction labor.”
• How simplicity, transparency, and trust drive adoption across the trades.
• The founders’ diverse backgrounds — from electrical contracting to chiropractic practice — and how relationship building, faith, and community power this vision.

If you’ve ever struggled to balance crews, meet deadlines, or keep good people employed through the ups and downs of the market — ConX USA might just change the game.

👉 Learn more and join free at ConX-USA.com

👉 Listen now on The Contractor Grow Show