The Hard Work Starts Today | Sargent 100-Year Story (Part 1 of 2)Most companies won’t make it 100 years.Even fewer do it on purpose.This episode of The Line by Blackline LTD tells the story of Sargent, a 100% employee-owned company, and what it actually looks like to build something that lasts.In this conversation, Herb Sargent (chatgpt://generic-entity?number=0) shares how their team invests in people, develops the next generation, and thinks long-term, not just about the next project, but the next hundred years.We also sit down with Chandler, one of their operators, for a real, honest look at what that culture feels like on the ground and what the future of Sargent means to the people doing the work every day.This isn’t just a story about longevity.It’s about servant leadership, ownership, and choosing to invest in people so the work, and the impact, carry on long after you’re gone.The hard work starts today.SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW THE LINEIf you’re in the skilled trades, leadership, or building something that matters, this is for you.Subscribe for more stories from the people who do the workFollow Blackline for more episodes and field conversationsShare this with someone building something that lasts⸻#Leadership #SkilledTrades #EmployeeOwnership #Construction #CompanyCulture #Blackline #TheHardWorkStartsToday

--------------------------WHERE TO WATCH:Spotify ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hF...Apple ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...-------------------------FOLLOW JOSH:X: https://x.com/Joshuadmellott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠... / joshuadmellott LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ucc11qg6hxwp7tmvmr_sv7vg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --------------------------FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltdInstagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / blacklinelt. .Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...LinkedIn: / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / @blacklineltd Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.blacklineltd.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--------------------------EXPLORE THE PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hF...Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

I went to Massachusetts to sit down with Blue Collar Bobby.

This is a real conversation about the sprinkler fitter trade, fire protection, and what it actually means to do the work.

Bobby is also the host of The Dope and Tape Show, where they’re talking with anyone in the fire protection industry, real conversations with the people actually doing it.

We get into what it takes to earn your place.

Not talking your way in, but proving you’re worth investing in. Showing up in a way the older generation respects.

Bobby shares stories from the field, some of the more complicated projects he’s been a part of, and what it takes to figure things out when it matters.

And like any honest conversation in the trades, there’s plenty of laughter along the way. Because if you’ve done the work, you know the job comes with stories you can’t make up.

This one’s real.

👉 If you’re in the trades, thinking about getting in, or just want to hear real conversations from the men and women who do the work, hit subscribe.

Step up to the line.

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#BlueCollarBobby #DopeAndTapeShow #FireProtection #SprinklerFitter #SkilledTrades #BlueCollar #TheLine #Blackline #ForTheTradesByTheTrades

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If you’re not measuring your work, you don’t actually know what you’re doing.This Monday, I sit down with Marcos from Ruby-Collins as he leads a pipe crew and breaks down what that really means in the field.We talk about what it takes to understand your work, have the right tools in your hands, and see what others miss. Marcos shares how their team builds culture, trains the next guy up, and mentors for the future, not just for the job, but for life.This isn’t just about pipework. It’s about leadership, accountability, and learning how to balance the demands of the trades with the responsibility of a family.It’s about knowing where you stand, where you’re going, and making sure you measure up.Step up to the line with us and hear what Marcos has to say. --------------------------WHERE TO WATCH:Spotify ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hF...Apple ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...-------------------------FOLLOW JOSH:X: https://x.com/Joshuadmellott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠... / joshuadmellott LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ucc11qg6hxwp7tmvmr_sv7vg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --------------------------FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltdInstagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / blacklinelt. .Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...LinkedIn: / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / @blacklineltd Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.blacklineltd.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--------------------------EXPLORE THE PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hF...Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

This week, Blackline spent time in Georgia with Ruby-Collins, a general contractor that does things a little differently.From civil work to plant work, underground, boring, and more—this is a team that’s been building for nearly 60 years out of Smyrna, Georgia.In this episode of The Line, we sit down with Jason Hyde, one of their VPs, inside their newly built office to talk about what they do, how they operate, and how they’ve been able to bridge the gap between generations.Not just talk about it—actually do it.What we saw is this: when leadership is intentional—when you care about people, when you listen, and when you have a clear vision for the future—you can bring the office and the field together… and you can bring generations together.And when that happens, both get stronger.Jason shares what their leadership has done to create a culture where people collaborate, grow, and move forward together.If you want to be a champion, you’ve got to be willing to pay the dues.This is The Line.See what Ruby-Collins is building. --------------------------WHERE TO WATCH:Spotify ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hF...Apple ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...-------------------------FOLLOW JOSH:X: https://x.com/Joshuadmellott⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠... / joshuadmellott LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ucc11qg6hxwp7tmvmr_sv7vg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --------------------------FOLLOW BLACKLINE: @blacklineltdInstagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / blacklinelt. .Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...LinkedIn: / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / @blacklineltd Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.blacklineltd.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--------------------------EXPLORE THE PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/07rT0hF...Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Building What Can’t Fail. Moms are an interesting thing for me. My mother is one of the most influential people in my life, and I don’t think that’s uncommon. But I do think we underestimate what’s really out there — the opportunities, and the women willing to do what it takes to make a difference not just in their kids’ lives, but in our country and our future. I sat down with Liddy Fair of Micro Facture inside their manufacturing facility, where they produce precision components for companies like SpaceX, the United States Navy, and other critical industries. What they build cannot fail. And yet, most people have no idea what modern manufacturing actually looks like — the precision, the responsibility, and the opportunity that exists. In this conversation, Liddy shares: What it means to be a woman in manufacturing. The misconceptions around the trades. The reality of working in a family business. And what it looks like to be a mom while building something that matters. When I walked into her office, she had one of her kids on her hip before taking me out onto the floor to show me what they do. That moment stuck with me. This isn’t just about manufacturing. It’s about legacy, responsibility, and the people who are quietly building the future around us. Let’s honor the women in the trades — in manufacturing, construction, and beyond — for the role they play in shaping our world and investing in the next generation. Because in more ways than we realize… They’re building America.

In this episode of The Line, Joshua D. Mellott sits down with George Bee of U.S. Gold Corp to talk about what it actually takes to develop the next American gold mine. George shares insights into the exploration and development process, what his team is working on in the United States, and why domestic mining still matters for our economy and our country’s future. Along the way, the conversation moves beyond mining into leadership, building organizations, and lessons learned from years in the industry about patience, discipline, and long-term thinking. It’s an honest conversation about mining, leadership, and the industries that quietly power our economy. Step up to the line and join the conversation.

What happens when a company actually has a plan—not just to win work, but to change an industry? In this episode of The Line, I sit down with Garret Barbush of Warfel Construction. As he walked me through their strategic plan, one thing became clear: They’re not just building projects. They’re building a culture. At Blackline, we talk a lot about elevating the view of the skilled trades. Listening to Garret describe the investment they’re making in people and in their organization, I realized something simple: Our plans align. Because the truth is, it doesn’t really matter who gets the credit. What matters is that we’re willing to step up to the line and make a difference. That means being intentional about how we treat people. Intentional about how we invest in our teams. From the field to the office.Because the reality is this: When a building goes up, every trade matters.If one of them didn’t matter, they wouldn’t be there.You can look successful for a while by chewing people up and spitting them out. Some companies do. But it won’t last. You won’t have a legacy. You’ll have a horror story.Real success—the kind that lasts—comes when you value every member of the team. So today, step up to the line with Garret and me. Let’s talk about The Plan.

In this episode of The Line, I sit down with Shane Stolp, CEO of Wescom, Inc., and host of the Energizing America Podcast.We talk about how we attract new talent to the trades — and the real opportunities that exist. The trades aren’t a dead end. They’re a launching point. The skills learned in the field can transfer into leadership, ownership, entrepreneurship, and countless other paths. In this conversation, Shane shares real wisdom — about his company, their success, and the broader opportunity we have in this country if we’re willing to invest in people and elevate the view of blue-collar work. He’s not only leading an electrical company — he’s using his voice to champion the trades and the men and women who power America every day. I invite you to step up to the line with us and hear what Shane has to say. This was a great conversation. I truly enjoyed it.

The definition of the word trademark is simple. It’s a symbol that identifies a company, a product, or a body of work. But at its origin in America, a trademark was something even more personal. It was your mark. It was how you gave your word. It was how you signed a contract, how you did business, how blacksmiths, stonemasons, and silversmiths marked their work so people knew exactly who stood behind it. I’ve always found that interesting. If you ever work with someone who doesn’t want to mark their work, it’s probably worth asking why. Why wouldn’t you want people to know what you built, what you fixed, what you created? This week’s episode is a little different. I’m not sitting down across from a guest. Well, I guess I am. I’m making you the guest. Step up to the line. We want to tell you what we’re doing with Trademark magazine and why. This first issue is titled Leave Your Mark, and the purpose behind it matters. I could try to explain it all in writing, but the reality is that’s why we recorded the podcast. If you want a deeper understanding of why we’re doing this, I open up about some things that aren’t always easy to admit. I ask myself the same questions I ask everyone else. What mistakes have you made? Where have you gotten it wrong? I try to answer honestly, even when it’s uncomfortable.Here’s the truth. Whether you ever listen to the podcast or just read this post, leaving your mark matters. It requires intention. If you’re a business and you’re not telling your story, if you’re not communicating who you are and what you believe, you will struggle to find the right clients and the right people who align with your why. When you communicate your story and build your brand, you begin to attract the people who are aligned with what you’re doing. And when that happens, your work becomes effective on a level that’s hard to explain until you experience it. The podcast is now available wherever you listen. If you’re curious about the heart behind Trademark and why leaving your mark matters, I’d encourage you to tune in. This episode is personal. Step up to the line.

This one was cold. As I write this post, I can still feel it.
I sat down in the snow on a project with Christopher Maharg , Vice President of Legacy Electrical Services Inc. We were out there while his teams worked behind us to complete the project on time and under budget—words clients absolutely love to hear.
We talked about what’s needed in the trades and how his company sometimes feels called to provide a kind of nursery—a place where people can learn, where it’s okay not to have it all figured out, and where those with experience understand that growth takes time. Chris shares some real and honest things about who he is, how he handles situations, and how he and his team are working to build electricians for the next generation.
He challenges others in the field to do the same, because he believes it’s something our industry desperately needs. Now an owner of the construction company he’s been part of for so many years, he reflects on the opportunities he was given. Without what I’ll call those “nursery” seasons, he wouldn’t have come up through the trades with the knowledge, confidence, and ability to make decisions—or to have a vested interest in where the company is going.
I joke about the cold, but we truly believe our studio is the jobsite. We stood in the cold because the men and women who do this work stand in the cold. They work in the heat. They work no matter what to bring projects out of the ground—to build a legacy that you and I get to live in and be a part of.
Their sacrifice is what the trades are all about: serving others for their success in work and in life.
I encourage you to check out this new episode of The Line by Blackline LTD , wherever you listen to podcasts.