This episode of American Builders features Janie Maldonado, the founder and CEO of GCS, a Texas-based commercial construction firm specializing in general contracting, construction management, facilities maintenance, and Job Order Contracting (JOC).

We discuss:
• The leap from employee to entrepreneur and the realities of betting on yourself
• Leading and building credibility as a woman in the construction industry
• What is really happening in the Texas construction market today
• The sales and marketing strategies that actually drive growth for contractors
• Operational bottlenecks, technology adoption, and the future of construction
• Scaling intentionally without sacrificing culture, quality, or execution
• Lessons learned on risk, leadership, and entrepreneurship

American Builders is presented by TradeGuard, the risk management platform built for contractors and trades businesses. TradeGuard helps contractors streamline subcontractor compliance, insurance verification, onboarding, and risk management in one place.

Learn more at https://tradeguardins.com/

This episode of American Builders features Ryan Powell, Founder of AIM Construction Partners.

We discuss Ryan's journey from JE Dunn to Oddo Development and ultimately launching his own construction company, the lessons he learned from both the GC and developer sides of the industry, and how he landed and executed a nearly $9 million design-build project in AIM's first year.

Ryan also shares insights on subcontractor relationships, operational excellence, networking, and what it really takes to build a successful construction business from the ground up.

American Builders is presented by TradeGuard, the insurance and compliance partner built for contractors. Learn more at https://tradeguardins.com/

This episode features Ryan Williams, Co-Founder & COO of DivvyShares.

DivvyShares acquires small trades and home service businesses and transitions them into employee-owned companies, creating long-term wealth opportunities for employees while preserving the legacy of the business owner.

In this episode, we discuss:

* What makes a trades business attractive for acquisition
* The biggest mistakes owners make before selling their company
* How employee ownership changes retention, culture, and incentives
* What buyers look for during due diligence
* The future of acquisitions in the trades industry

Learn more about DivvyShares: https://divvyshares.com/

Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/

This episode of American Builders features Thomas Stark, Founder of Stark Industrial.

Stark industrial is a commercial & industrial water treatment and maintenance provider, servicing some of the biggest buildings in the Kansas City Metro.

On this episode, we discuss:
- Going from corporate job to entrepreneurship
- The importance of mentorship
- The business model of water treatment companies
- Sales & marketing: what has worked, and what hasn't
- The future of Stark Industrial

Learn more about Stark Industrial: https://www.starkindustrial.net/

Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/

This week's episode of American Builders features Luke & Hunter Rahto of Roof Maxx KC.

Roof Maxx roof restoration and rejuvenation is a safe, easy, proven and affordable alternative to a complicated, expensive and life-disrupting asphalt roof replacement.

We discuss:
1. The process of starting a franchise
2. How the product is different from typical roof replacement
3. Lead generation
4. Door to door sales strategies
5. Overcoming sales objections

Learn more about Roof Maxx: https://roofmaxx.com/find-a-dealer/kansas/overland-park/

Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/

This episode of American Builders features Chris George III of Chris George Custom Homes.

We discuss:
- The founding story of Chris George Custom Homes
- Working with family
- Building for scale vs building custom
- The nuance of custom rural building projects
- Why its hard to be a community builder and a custom home builder at the same time
- The future of Chris George Custom Homes

Learn more about Chris George Custom Homes: https://www.chrisgeorgecustomhomes.com/

Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/

This episode of American Builders features Frank Pileggi, Founder of Pileggi Painting.

We discuss:
- Starting a painting business in his late 30s
- The important of picking the right partners
- Levers for growth
- How deliver a perfect product

Learn more about Pileggi Painting: https://pileggipainting.com/

Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/

This episode of American Builders features Luke Looney, Founder of Good Boy Coatings. We discuss:

- How to get started in the epoxy coatings business
- How Luke got his first start in the trades
- Contractors: Commercial vs residential focus
- Using social media to grow
- The importance of networking for contractors
- The future of Good Boy Coatings

Learn more about Good Boy Coatings here: https://www.goodboycoatings.com/

Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/