This Is Concrete

Ashley Ingle is the Chief Executive Officer at Profit Matters, a company specializing in accounting and bookkeeping services. Using the powerful combination of skilled professionals and automated software tools, Profit Matters is on a mission to make a high-performing accounting department available to every business. Ashley is also a Partner at I Love Numbers, the President of Ashley Concrete, and a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). 

How can you avoid financial risk while making sure your business is always on the winning side? 

As a CPA with experience in the contracting space, Ashley Ingle has seen — and personally encountered — various financial mistakes. Now, she’s guiding owners to create more profitable, financially sound businesses. To avoid risk, Ashley says contractors need to look for jobs that are more profitable, bid the right margin, stop “buying work,” and document all procedures. 

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill talks with Ashley Ingle, Chief Executive Officer at Profit Matters, about the best strategies to manage your business’ finances. Ashley explains the common mistakes companies make, how the smartest contractors make money, and the real cost of bad bookkeeping. Stay tuned!

Clif Rawlings is the Technical Director at SASE Company, a contractor’s one-stop-shop for concrete polishing and preparation equipment. Clif is active in the ACI 310-0J committee for decorative concrete and the CPC technical committee. He also conducts the SASE University training seminars across the US and Canada.

Clif has been in the concrete polishing, natural stone, and terrazzo industry for over 25 years. Before joining SASE, he developed and instructed the HTC University training seminar for more than 10 years. Clif also held positions at Ameripolish and VIC International Corp. Additionally, he was a founding member and sat on the board of directors for the CPAA.

Clif Rawlings returns to dig into the specifics of diamond tooling best practices. This time, he’s tackling the big questions surrounding preparation and removal techniques. 

So, what are the top tools for surface preparation and coating removal? It all depends on the type of project. Whether you need to remove a thin glue or you’re dealing with a much larger problem slab, Clif breaks down all of the tooling options. He shares the details on each tool and guides you through their best use cases so that you can get your prep and removal projects done right the first time.

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill is joined by Clif Rawlings, Technical Director at SASE Company, to talk about the best prep and removal tools. Clif goes into detail on coating and glue removal, the specific tools you need for each project, and how to avoid damaging concrete floors. Plus, Clif shares how SASE Company is planning to expand its toolkits!

Matt Poppoff is the President of Poppoff Inc., a premier concrete contractor in the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1977, Poppoff Inc. has served clients in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and beyond, specializing in concrete flatwork and pumping, tilt-up construction, design, and consultation.

As an expert in the concrete industry, Matt’s work has been published in Concrete Contractor and Concrete Construction magazines. He’s involved in organizations including Allen Face Companies, the American Concrete Institute, and the American Society of Concrete Contractors.

How can you stay up to date on the changing trends and regulations within the concrete industry? What can you do to fulfill customer expectations and provide top-notch concrete finishes?

Matt Poppoff has been in the concrete industry for more than a decade, serving as a member of various associations and committees. He finds that involvement in these associations is an education on the latest tools and equipment — and it keeps him in the know. In addition to that, associations help leaders and foremen alike develop the knowledge necessary to bring accurate, consistent, and exceptional concrete work to customers. Want to learn more?

Listen to this episode of This is Concrete, where Chad Gill is in conversation with Matt Poppoff, the President of Poppoff Inc. Together, they discuss the importance of industry associations, how to understand customer expectations better, and how the pandemic has improved communication between contractors and clients. Plus, Matt goes into detail on the tools his company uses to get a consistent floor color and a smooth, even aggregate.

Clif Rawlings is the Technical Director at SASE Company, a contractor’s one-stop-shop for concrete polishing and preparation equipment. Clif is currently active in the ACI 310-0J committee for decorative concrete as well as the CPC technical committee. He also conducts the SASE University training seminars across the US and Canada. 

Clif has been in the concrete polishing, natural stone, and terrazzo industry for over 25 years. Before joining SASE, he developed and instructed the HTC University training seminar for over 10 years. Clif also held positions at Ameripolish and VIC International Corp. Additionally, he was a founding member and sat on the board of directors for the CPAA.

Many people are unaware of a growing movement in concrete polishing: diamond tooling. If done right, this process can cut or polish a concrete surface into a beautiful and durable finish. But what exactly is diamond tooling, and what are the best ways to go about this process?

Clif Rawlings has the answers. According to Clif, many of your diamond tooling decisions should be made based on your unique project. From types of diamonds and bonds to tools and metals, Clif details the whole process to help you discover the best practices for diamond tooling. 

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill sits down with Clif Rawlings, Technical Director at SASE Company, to get all of the details on diamond tooling. Clif shares how you can find the right bond for your project, choose the right metals, and use the Mohs test to help you along the way. He also discusses common misunderstandings of the process and how you can educate employees and clients on the diamond tooling method.

Mike Tuccelli is the Southeast Regional Director for Metzger/McGuire, a company that has led the development of concrete floor joint protection systems for more than 45 years. In his role, Mike’s primary responsibilities include educating and training contractors and facility maintenance professionals on proper joint filling and repair methods, troubleshooting, and industrial floor inspections. 

Before joining the team at Metzger/McGuire, Mike spent nearly 30 years working for S&S Concrete, where he eventually took over the specialty contracting division. Mike is also a member of the American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC) and the American Concrete Institute (ACI).

Is your warehouse noticing concrete curling, shifting, or insufficient support in high traffic areas? If so, you need to find a solution fast so that you don’t lose materials or stock due to unstable floors. But where do you begin?

Mike Tuccelli is here to share everything you need to know about slab stabilization. At his company, Mike receives countless calls about joints coming apart or not functioning correctly. When you notice the same thing on your property, what can you do about it? Mike and the team at Metzger/McGuire analyze and measure a specific situation, determine if a floor is stable, and bring in support using high-density foam. What else goes into their stabilization procedure?

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill sits down with Mike Tuccelli, Southeast Regional Director for Metzger/McGuire, to talk about the process of slab stabilization. Mike breaks down the slab stabilization system, shares the #1 failures crews make in joint repair and stabilization, and talks about implementing solutions before any damage is done. Stay tuned!

Chad Gill is the Founder and CEO of Concreate, a custom concrete flooring company that delivers polishing, staining, and more for both commercial and residential projects. The team at Concreate helps designers, architects, tradesmen, business owners, and homeowners transform plain concrete surfaces into clean, distinctive, and enduring masterpieces.

Before starting Concreate over a decade ago, Chad worked as a robotics and tooling design engineer. Outside of the office, he serves as the President of the Concrete Polishing Association of America and enjoys spending time with his wife and four children.

From business owners and concrete experts to global speakers and EOS leaders, Chad Gill has connected with a diverse group of people throughout the past year. What did he learn from these influential guests?

There are still aspects of his business that Chad is working on, but getting advice from the experts helped propel him forward. His main takeaway heading into 2022? If you can do the small things right, then big things happen.

In this episode of This is Concrete, host Chad Gill sits down with Rise25 Co-founder, John Corcoran, to take a look back at the lessons learned from his guests throughout the year. Chad shares what each guest taught him, how the podcast helped him work on his business, and the launch of his new podcast, Get the Intel. You don’t want to miss this year in review!

Billy Harper is the Senior Vice President and Regional Market Executive for Touchstone Bank. Previously, Billy was the Vice President of Middle Market Commercial Banking at SunTrust Bank, where he worked with company revenues ranging from $20 million to $250 million. He’s also held roles at BB&T Capital Markets, Trinity Capital, and Stern’s Printing and Engraving Co. Billy earned his BA from Hampden-Sydney College and his MBA from William & Mary.

Matt Riffe is a certified public accountant and Chief Financial Officer at Eagle Fire, a company that offers fire protection inspection, testing, system design, and installation services. As the CFO, Matt is responsible for providing strategic leadership and establishing long-term goals, strategies, plans, and policies. Matt received his BS from Virginia Commonwealth University and his MA from Liberty University. He’s a Certified Organized Professional through Dale Carnegie Digital. 

There are certain relationships every business owner or manager needs to have — and this includes a partnership with a banker or financial officer. Why are these relationships so important, and how can you use them to your advantage?

In a world where technology offers plenty of ease, it can be tempting to keep all of your transactions digital. But what if you find yourself in a tough financial situation and need some extra help? Forming a strong bond with a banker and bringing a financial expert to your team allows you to have the resources on hand when you need them most. Building these relationships early can also help you increase cash flow, improve the working capital, and navigate future growth.

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill is joined by Billy Harper, Senior Vice President and Regional Market Executive for Touchstone Bank, and Matt Riffe, Chief Financial Officer of Eagle Fire, to talk about the benefits of forming financial relationships. Together, they discuss the information you should be sharing with a banker, how to negotiate with vendors, important KPIs, and the significance of building trust with your financial mentors.

Ryan Henry is an entrepreneur, speaker, and Certified EOS Implementer with EOS Worldwide. As a Certified EOS Implementer, Ryan helps develop high-performance leadership teams for growth-oriented businesses. Before joining EOS, Ryan was the Owner of Kincaid Henry, a construction management and real estate development firm as well as a Sergeant in the US Marine Corps. Ryan received his bachelor’s degree in management and organizational development from Spring Arbor University and graduated from the Vineyard Leadership Institute, where he excelled in team building, vision and planning, theology, and leadership. 

Do you feel like a change is necessary for your business, but you’re not sure where to start? 

It can be difficult for entrepreneurs and business owners to admit that something in their company needs to change. However, progress begins when you’re honest with yourself. If your business is hitting a ceiling, you don’t need to sit by and tolerate it; ask for help and start leading the company towards exponential growth. 

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill talks with Ryan Henry, Certified EOS Implementer with EOS Worldwide, about how he’s guiding visionaries to develop and achieve their business goals. Ryan shares his backstory of discovering EOS and transforming his business, the recipe for a life-changing breakthrough, and how he’s helped business owners rekindle their passion for leading a team. You don’t want to miss it!

Marcus Sheridan is a highly sought-after global speaker and consultant in the digital sales and marketing industries. Offering his services through Marcus Sheridan International, he has been named a “Web Marketing Guru” by The New York Times and was listed in Forbes as one of 20 “Speakers You Don’t Want to Miss.” In addition to his work as a keynote speaker, Marcus is also the Author of the books They Ask, You Answer and The Visual Sale.

Marcus is the Founder and former President of The Sales Lion, a marketing and sales consulting firm, and the Owner and Partner of both River Pools and IMPACT. While he is passionate about these roles, Marcus loves his role as a father and husband even more. He enjoys spending time with his wife and their four children, boating, and fishing.

How can you become a trusted business that consumers always turn to? What can you do to draw in the right customers and stand out from your competitors?

Marcus Sheridan says that you need to show more, tell more, and sell differently. If customers are turning towards other businesses as a cheaper option, show them why your business is better. Whether that’s through videos, articles, or any other creative medium, you have to effectively communicate your company’s value in order to attract the right people.

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill is joined by global keynote speaker and author, Marcus Sheridan, to talk about becoming a trusted business within your industry. Marcus details the importance of answering consumer questions, the steps to get you and your customer on the same page, and why you should be open and honest about all aspects of your company. Stay tuned!

Verne Harnish is the Founder and CEO of Scaling Up, a global executive education and coaching company with over 180 partners on six continents. Verne chairs the annual ScaleUp Summits and serves on several boards, including Chair of The Riordan Clinic, Co-founder and Chair of Geoversity, and Board Member of the Million Dollar Women community.

Verne is the Founder of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), a peer-to-peer network for entrepreneurs with over 14,000 members worldwide. He is also a keynote speaker and the author of multiple best-sellers, including Mastering the Rockefeller Habits and Scaling Up — which has been translated into 23 languages and won eight major international book awards.

Why is compensation so hard to get right?

According to Verne Harnish, compensation can be tricky because you deal with people who all have different ideas and expectations. If you want to improve your compensation system, you need to think outside of the traditional methods. Verne suggests gamifying your compensation plan to motivate employees — because everyone wants to win. In addition to this, owners need to build trust and be transparent with their team, helping them achieve personal wins along the way. When you align these strategies with your compensation system, your business will reap the benefits. 

In this episode of This is Concrete, Chad Gill joins Verne Harnish, the Founder and CEO of Scaling Up, to talk about transforming your compensation plan. Verne shares tactics from his book, Scaling Up Compensation, techniques to motivate employees and incentivize customers, and examples of companies who have successfully revolutionized their compensation methods. Stay tuned!