Tony started in construction as a teenage union laborer. Less than a decade ago he launched BIG Construction, and today his company is tracking toward nine figures in annual revenue.

In this powerful episode, Tony Iannessa, Founder and CEO of BIG Construction, joins host Ryan Englin to break down how blue collar leaders can create a legacy business and help solve the trades labor crisis for good.

Tony shares his journey from jobsite to executive suite, why construction doesn’t have a hiring problem (it has a marketing problem), and how leaders can make bold moves that attract the next generation of top performers.

Whether you’re a general contractor, construction executive, or trades business owner looking to grow, this episode is packed with vision and real tactics. It’s a masterclass on building culture, brand, and people in the construction world.

Key Takeaways

• [00:54] Tony’s roots: from laborer at 18 to leading a construction company.
• [03:00] BIG Construction’s growth to $100M+ in under 10 years.
• [05:20] Bridging the office-field divide: why empathy and exposure matter.
• [10:43] Why parents (not kids) are the real decision-makers for trade careers.
• [12:21] From Legos to labor: turning childhood curiosity into careers.
• [14:26] Google, NVIDIA & the trades: tech giants are waking up.
• [15:45] Does “Dirty Jobs” branding hurt the industry’s image?
• [18:28] From logic to emotion: why trades need better storytelling.

Connect With Tony:

Website: https://www.buildbig.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-iannessa-018b994/

Support Titans of the Trades:

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AI is already reshaping construction, and it’s moving faster than most contractors think. In this episode, Ryan sits down with Fred Voccola, CEO of Simpro, and author of The Coming Disruption. They talk about what “AI-first” means for commercial contractors, and why “slow and steady” change management can put your company behind for good.

Fred breaks down how AI can plug profit leaks across dozens of everyday processes, from scheduling to job prep to notes to collections. You will also hear how AI can improve the technician experience, reduce turnover, and help owners lead better because they are not stuck in spreadsheets all day.

If you run a construction or specialty trades business, this episode will challenge your thinking, and it will give you a clearer picture of what to do next.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why AI is not replacing the trades, but it is changing how trade companies operate.
• How “AI-first” can raise margins by reducing process leakage across the business.
• What extreme change management looks like, and why you may not get a second chance.
• How AI tools can help you retain techs by improving communication, training, and job fit.
• Why leadership and communication become even more valuable in an AI-driven construction company.

Takeaways

• 00:00 — Why AI is already impacting construction, and why ignoring it is a risky bet.
• 03:27 — Fred’s claim: AI may be the biggest productivity leap in human history, and it is accelerating fast.
• 05:37 — The key difference between AI and past innovations like electricity: you can use AI immediately, and at scale.
• 09:05 — “AI won’t hurt the trades” is incomplete, because it will reshape the office and the field workflows.
• 10:58 — The trades run on thin margins, and Fred explains how process “leakage” keeps many contractors stuck around 6%.
• 12:44 — How AI can help get the right tech to the right job, with the right parts, and the right info.
• 16:01 — Why leadership and communication matter more in an AI-first construction business.
• 22:21 — The SEO and content example: fewer people can produce far more output, but only if quality control stays strong.
• 24:59 — “Garbage in, garbage out” means your team must learn how to give AI better inputs.
• 39:10 — Extreme change management: a nine-month head start with AI can become an uncatchable lead for competitors.

Connect With Fred:

Website: https://www.simprogroup.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fred-voccola/

Support Titans of the Trades:

If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

If you’ve ever been burned by hiring a “sales superstar” who fizzled out fast, this episode is for you. Ryan Englin sits down with Brian Hurd, SVP at Cardinal Financial, to uncover the secrets to hiring and motivating top-tier salespeople in the construction and building industries.

Brian shares his journey from swinging a hammer to scaling national sales teams, and how that unique background gives him a sharp edge in knowing what makes salespeople tick. You’ll learn how to spot the hungry go-getters, what comp plans actually motivate top producers, and why investing in personal development can be the key to retention in a high-turnover world.

Oh, and if you think the labor shortage is your biggest hiring problem? Think again. This one goes deep into the housing market’s impact on your workforce and why fixing the affordable housing crisis may be part of your long-term hiring solution.

Episode Takeaways:

• [00:52] Brian’s background growing up in the trades and how it shaped his sales leadership style.
• [02:39] How a global pandemic changed the game for worker expectations and why that matters now more than ever.
• [04:50] Identifying go-getter sales talent and building comp plans that attract them.
• [06:36] Why top salespeople all want different things, and how to coach each type effectively.
• [08:12] The one thing today’s workforce values more than money (and most employers ignore it).
• [09:42] Why your existing team needs training more than you need to hire someone new.
• [16:12] Understanding your team’s financial stress.
• [21:23] How the housing crisis is impacting workforce stability, especially under $30/hr.
• [24:31] Breaking the stigma of manufactured housing and helping your workforce build wealth.
• [28:00] Real talk: Do you know your employees’ 5-year personal goals?

Connect With Brian:

Website: https://www.cardinalfinancial.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-hurd-a0892a83/

Support Titans of the Trades:

If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.