The Top Contractor Podcast

Welcome back to the Top Contractor School Podcast, where contractors come to grow stronger, scale smarter, and lead businesses that last.

In this episode, Eric Guy sits down with Tim Klimchock, CPA, CCIFP, and founder of Collaborative Advisory Group, to break down what financial capacity really means—and how contractors can use data, discipline, and better systems to fuel sustainable growth. With over two decades serving the construction industry, Tim brings a wealth of real-world experience helping companies scale from small family operations to industry leaders.

🔥 Inside this episode:

✅ What "financial capacity" really means beyond labor and equipment

✅ How to shorten your operating cycle and improve cash flow

✅ The key metrics every contractor should track monthly and quarterly

✅ The most important financial signals that show you're ready to scale

✅ What to expect from your CPA, CFO, or fractional financial advisor

✅ How to build a strong advisory team—including accountants, attorneys & bond agents

✅ Why communication between estimating, project management, and operations is critical

✅ How to use gain/fade analysis to find lessons, not blame

✅ The most underleveraged opportunity in construction finance: timely change orders

✅ Rapid-fire insights: cash vs. backlog, debt vs. equity, and how to celebrate wins without losing discipline

If you're serious about leading your company with clarity and control—and want to make smarter financial decisions that set you up for long-term success—this episode will give you the roadmap to get there.

👇 Join the community that helps you grow in business and life:

🚀 Join the 1TEAM Network → https://www.1teamnetwork.com/

📈 Join Top Contractor School → https://topcontractorschool.com/

Welcome back to the Top Contractor School Podcast, where contractors come to grow stronger, scale smarter, and lead businesses that last.

In this episode, Eric Guy sits down with Tim Klimchock, CPA, CCIFP, and founder of Collaborative Advisory Group, to break down what financial capacity really means—and how contractors can use data, discipline, and better systems to fuel sustainable growth. With over two decades serving the construction industry, Tim brings a wealth of real-world experience helping companies scale from small family operations to industry leaders.

🔥 Inside this episode:

✅ What "financial capacity" really means beyond labor and equipment

✅ How to shorten your operating cycle and improve cash flow

✅ The key metrics every contractor should track monthly and quarterly

✅ The most important financial signals that show you're ready to scale

✅ What to expect from your CPA, CFO, or fractional financial advisor

✅ How to build a strong advisory team—including accountants, attorneys & bond agents

✅ Why communication between estimating, project management, and operations is critical

✅ How to use gain/fade analysis to find lessons, not blame

✅ The most underleveraged opportunity in construction finance: timely change orders

✅ Rapid-fire insights: cash vs. backlog, debt vs. equity, and how to celebrate wins without losing discipline

If you're serious about leading your company with clarity and control—and want to make smarter financial decisions that set you up for long-term success—this episode will give you the roadmap to get there.

👇 Join the community that helps you grow in business and life:

🚀 Join the 1TEAM Network → https://www.1teamnetwork.com/

📈 Join Top Contractor School → https://topcontractorschool.com/

Welcome back to the Top Contractor School Podcast, where contractors come to grow stronger, scale faster, and build businesses that last.

In this episode, Eric Guy sits down with Jordan Lambeth, owner of Lambeth Paving, to talk about faith, perseverance, and the lessons learned while building one of North Carolina's most respected paving companies. From mowing lawns to running multimillion-dollar projects, Jordan's story is a powerful reminder that faith, hard work, and doing the right thing still matter in business—and in life.

🔥 Inside this episode:

✅ How one Facebook post launched Lambeth Paving from side hustle to success

✅ The defining "God moment" that gave Jordan the courage to go all in

✅ Early challenges: borrowed equipment, small crews, and big dreams

✅ Why honesty and communication are Jordan's secret to customer loyalty

✅ How family legacy and reputation drive his leadership every day

✅ The hidden costs contractors often underestimate (and how to fix it)

✅ How technology like Walker has streamlined their operations

✅ Lessons learned from fast growth—and how to avoid burnout

✅ Why faith and gratitude are the foundation of Jordan's success

✅ The role TCS plays in helping him scale, connect, and lead with confidence

If you're building a business from the ground up or just looking for motivation to push through the next season, this episode will remind you that faith and grit can take you further than fear ever will.

👇 Join the community that helps you grow—personally and professionally:

🚀 Join the 1TEAM Network → https://www.1teamnetwork.com/

📈 Join Top Contractor School → https://topcontractorschool.com/

Welcome back to the Top Contractor School Podcast, where contractors come to grow stronger, scale smarter, and build businesses that last.

In this episode, Eric Guy sits down with Ron Beckner — retired military veteran, third-generation pipefitter/welder, and now a financial educator helping working-class Americans take control of their money. Ron breaks down the biggest financial mistakes contractors make and shows how to build real financial freedom through budgeting, tax strategy, and smart planning — without overcomplicating the process.

🔥 Inside this episode:

✅ Why contractors struggle with finances (and how to fix it)

✅ Confusing cash with profit — and how to protect your margins

✅ How to budget for growth without feeling restricted

✅ The real cost of poor job costing and lack of financial tracking

✅ How overhead sneaks up — and how to stay ahead of it

✅ The importance of cash reserves and how to build them consistently

✅ Understanding the 4 tax quadrants and 3 "money buckets"

✅ Why money is a tool — and how to make it work as hard as you do

✅ Financial systems contractors can apply immediately

✅ Ron's #1 advice for contractors who feel broke today

Whether you're scaling fast or just getting started, this episode will give you the clarity and tools to lead your business with confidence — not fear.

👇 Join the community that helps you grow your business and your financial leadership:

🚀 Join the 1TEAM Network → https://www.1teamnetwork.com/

📈 Join Top Contractor School → https://topcontractorschool.com/

Welcome back to the Top Contractor School Podcast, where contractors come to grow stronger, scale smarter, and build businesses that last.

In this episode, Eric Guy sits down with John Somers, Vice President of Construction & Utility Sector at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), to unpack where the construction industry is heading—and what contractors need to do to stay ahead. From technology and workforce challenges to leadership, collaboration, and innovation, John shares insight from nearly two decades helping bridge the gap between manufacturers, contractors, and policymakers.

🔥 Inside this episode:

✅ How John went from small-town Wisconsin to leading one of construction's biggest associations

✅ The mission of AEM—and how it connects manufacturers, contractors, and regulators

✅ Key challenges contractors face today: workforce, rising costs, and efficiency

✅ Why data and technology are shaping the next era of construction

✅ Lessons from ConExpo and The Utility Expo—beyond just the machines

✅ How collaboration and education are driving industry innovation

✅ Why relationships and people remain the real foundation of construction

✅ Leadership insights: leading through relationships, not authority

✅ The #1 mistake contractors make when adopting new tech

✅ Why small and mid-size contractors still have massive influence in this industry

If you're serious about leading your business into the future, this conversation will help you see the bigger picture—and give you practical steps to adapt, innovate, and win.

👇 Join the community that helps you lead with clarity and confidence:

🚀 Join the 1TEAM Network → https://www.1teamnetwork.com/

📈 Join Top Contractor School → https://topcontractorschool.com/

Welcome back to the Top Contractor School Podcast, where contractors come to grow stronger, scale faster, and build businesses that last.

In this episode, Eric Guy sits down with Brian Hall, Territory Sales Manager and Asphalt Training Specialist for Leeboy, to unpack 25 years of insight into paving innovation, industry challenges, and the family-driven culture that's made Leeboy a trusted name for decades. From the evolution of paving equipment to the importance of continuous training and craftsmanship, Brian shares how contractors can stay ahead by focusing on quality, fundamentals, and people.

🔥 Inside this episode:

✅ Brian's 25-year journey at Leeboy and the family culture that drives the company

✅ How paving equipment has evolved—and what that means for today's contractors

✅ The importance of quality, reliability, and precision in asphalt equipment

✅ Why "downtime is not an option" and how Leeboy builds for real-world performance

✅ The biggest field challenges contractors face (and how training solves them)

✅ Why forgetting the basics is one of the industry's biggest mistakes

✅ How continuous training and community make contractors more successful

✅ The future of paving: ergonomics, autonomy & making asphalt great again

✅ Leeboy's partnership with TCS and the value it brings to members

✅ Brian's best advice for new contractors: stay humble, stay curious, and keep learning

If you're a contractor committed to mastering your craft, leading better crews, and building smarter with innovation and integrity—this episode is a must-listen.

👇 Join the network that helps you grow—personally and professionally: 🚀 Join the 1TEAM Network → https://www.1teamnetwork.com/ 📈 Join Top Contractor School → https://topcontractorschool.com/

Welcome back to the Top Contractor School Podcast, where contractors come to grow stronger, scale faster, and lead businesses that last.

In this episode, Eric Guy sits down with Nate Swink, owner of Swink Inc. out of Southern California, for a powerful and unfiltered conversation about leadership, discipline, and building a company that stands for something. From dropping out of high school to running a rapidly growing structural steel business, Nate's story is a masterclass in resilience, humility, and raising the standard for the trades.

🔥 Inside this episode:

✅ How Nate went from a 10th-grade dropout to leading a multimillion-dollar steel company

✅ What it's like to lead older, more experienced employees—and earn their respect

✅ How his faith, mentors, and family keep him grounded as a business owner

✅ The lessons learned from losing half a million dollars early in business

✅ Why communication, humility, and collaboration drive strong leadership

✅ The importance of teaching the right way and restoring pride in the trades

✅ How delegation, accountability, and standards can make or break your growth

✅ Why every contractor must learn their finances—and own their numbers

✅ How TCS and community help leaders stay sharp, focused, and supported

✅ Nate's advice for young contractors: enforce your standard and never stop learning

If you're a leader ready to raise the bar, build a stronger team, and take full ownership of your growth—this episode delivers the truth and tools to help you do it.

👇 Join the community that helps you grow in business and life:

🚀 Join the 1TEAM Network → https://www.1teamnetwork.com/

📈 Join Top Contractor School → https://topcontractorschool.com/

Welcome back to the Top Contractor School Podcast, where contractors come to lead stronger, scale faster, and build businesses that last.

In this episode, Eric Guy sits down with Brian Hess, founder of Top Contractor School and The Pavement Group, to talk about what it takes to thrive in uncertain times. From starting The Pavement Group in 2018 to building a 3,300+ member 1 Team Network, Brian shares the vision behind TCS, the challenges contractors face right now, and the systems, mindset, and community that help leaders win no matter the market.

🔥 Inside this episode:

✅ How Brian built The Pavement Group and launched TCS at the same time

✅ Why TCS was founded: helping contractors with sales, marketing, leadership & finance

✅ The vision: building better local contractors who can serve at a national level

✅ How to lead through uncertainty without letting emotions take over

✅ The importance of sales metrics: proposals, job size, close rates & margins

✅ Why growth requires discipline, consistency, and the right mindset

✅ The danger of "stability" and why leaders must always cast a vision for growth

✅ Leadership in Q4: communication, focus, and managing team emotions

✅ The role of mentorship, advisory boards, and community in spotting blind spots

✅ What's next for TCS: Dream Manager, EOS certification, PI hiring tools & more

If you're a contractor looking for a roadmap to lead through storms, scale your company, and stay ahead of the competition, this conversation with Brian will give you both clarity and confidence.

👇 Plug into the network that helps you grow—personally and professionally:

🚀 Join the 1TEAM Network → https://www.1teamnetwork.com/

📈 Join Top Contractor School → https://topcontractorschool.com/

Welcome back to the Top Contractor School Podcast, where contractors come to grow stronger, scale smarter, and build businesses that last. In this episode, Eric Guy sits down with Robert Wolfe, a veteran contractor with over five decades of experience, to talk about what it really takes to build a sustainable business and legacy in construction.

From growing up working alongside family to navigating market cycles, leading through faith, and staying coachable after decades in the industry, Robert shares timeless lessons every contractor can use.

🔥 Inside this episode:

✅ How Robert got his start in construction at 12 years old in Louisiana

✅ Why faith and tithing became the biggest turning point in his career

✅ Lessons from surviving multiple market downturns and pivots

✅ Why diversification protected his company from industry cycles

✅ The biggest challenges contractors face today: workforce shortages & education gaps

✅ Leadership insights: knowing your people, building trust, and balancing accountability with freedom

✅ Why asking for help and creating collaborative teams is a strength, not a weakness

✅ The role of continuous learning and technology—especially AI—in the future of construction

✅ Why trades remain a massive opportunity for young leaders

✅ Practical advice for new TCS members: stay engaged, keep showing up, and leverage the community

If you're a contractor looking for perspective from someone who's been through it all—booms, busts, and everything in between—this conversation will encourage you to keep building with faith, persistence, and vision.

👇 Join the community that will help you grow in business and life:

🚀 Join the 1TEAM Network → https://www.1teamnetwork.com/

📈 Join Top Contractor School → https://topcontractorschool.com/

Welcome back to the Top Contractor School Podcast, where elite contractors learn how to lead stronger, scale faster, and build businesses that last.

In this episode, Eric Guy sits down with Jeff Hancher—leadership coach, speaker, author of Firm Feedback in a Fragile World—to talk about what it really takes to lead people well in today's challenging environment. From growing up in poverty to earning 12 promotions in 24 years at a Fortune 500 company, Jeff shares how leadership, mentorship, and culture transformed his life—and how contractors can use those same principles to build unstoppable teams.

🔥 Inside this episode:

✅ Jeff's journey from truck driver to executive leader to entrepreneur

✅ How tough love and mentorship shaped his leadership legacy

✅ Why giving firm feedback is essential in today's fragile workplace culture

✅ The biggest fears leaders face—and how to overcome them (FER: Fallout, Emotion, Amateur, Retaliation)

✅ Why culture is built one employee at a time—not through slogans

✅ How to coach people up or coach them out without destroying morale

✅ The importance of vulnerability and accountability in leadership

✅ Why contractors can't afford to compromise on culture, even during busy season

✅ Leadership at home: balancing work, family, and legacy

✅ Why service is the ultimate differentiator in contracting—and how to deliver it at a 10/10 level

If you've ever struggled with holding people accountable, building culture, or leading through tough conversations, this episode will give you the framework and confidence to step up as the leader your team deserves.

👇 Join a network that helps you lead with confidence and clarity:

🚀 Join the 1TEAM Network → https://www.1teamnetwork.com/

📈 Join Top Contractor School → https://topcontractorschool.com/