The Innovative Builder Podcast

What are the guys on the ground saying?

It is always fascinating to get the perspective from the field, especially the newest hires. Their first impressions hold a lot of weight, as their view of the company and its culture are unbiased as they try to navigate uncharted waters.

Micki grew up in the Duluth area and she started out her career in the medical field. After about a decade in the medical field as a transcriptionist she made the transition to her husband's family business (Reliable Insurance Agency). Micki loves spending time with her family, she enjoys watching her kids sports and being in the outdoors.

 In this episode Ty sits down with Micki Wojtysiak and they discuss the difficulties of a growing business, scaling positive culture, and the importance of good relationships with clients and co-workers.

In this episode Lampert Lumbers Ron Leslie gives valuable insight into how the building materials industry has been affected in the last couple of years by Covid-19, from increases in demand and lack of people in the work force. Ron breaks down the many factors that contribute to longer lead times on not only building materials but products in every industry. Although times may have been tough in the last couple of years, Ron tends to be optimistic about the future of housing and building materials.

In this episode Ty sits down with marketing assistant Louie Sundberg. 

Louie started out like the rest of his brothers. After high school if no plan is solidified yet, you go work for the family construction company. Louie did well with trim carpentry, but when the opportunity arose for him to join marketing, he gladly obliged. Today Louie is a crucial member of the marketing team at J&RS, his passion for photo and video along with graphic design helps to ensure that J&RS is putting their best foot forward when it comes to content and marketing.

"The best way to achieve personal growth is by putting yourself in those uncomfortable situations" - Matthew Ward

In this episode Ty gets to know Trim Supervisor Matt Ward on a deeper level, Matt shares insight into his personal trials, dreams, and passions. 

Last week in episode 27 part 1. our design team went live at the International Builders Show in Orlando Florida to discuss some of the highlights of the show and what they were seeing. 

In this episode Ty sits down with Sam, Max, and Nate to recap their trip and to gather the perspective of the Build team. They discuss everything from new innovative products to the latest and greatest construction software's.

Jeff Aili is a sales coach by day and a multi-family real estate investor by night. He started his career in the HVAC business and from there went on to work for a basement repair company. His experience as a salesman in the trades has been monumental in the development of his sales coaching career. 

In this episode the host Ty Sundberg discusses Jeffs passion for real-estate and his role at J&RS.

Here are some of the questions that Jeff covers in this episode.

Are salesmen shady? 

Is a very high closing rate a good thing?

Should we keep score?

In this episode Max, Ty, and Ray reflect on the craziness of 2021 where J&RS opened up a new showroom and design studio in West Duluth and started a marketing and branding company (Framework). They also discuss their annual business meeting and the goals that were set for 2022.

In this episode Ty Sundberg sits down with J&RS Supervisor Mike Shaeffer. Mike is one of the seasoned veterans at J&RS, and his insight and pleasant demeanor are highly respected. 

In today's fast paced world of social media, instant gratification, and philosophical & intellectual superiority we often overlook the simple value of basic human decency and leadership. Listen to this episode to get to know Mike, and to receive a refreshing dose of timeless wisdom.