Logan sits down with Sean Beliveau and Cassidy Jones of Slate Creek Builders to break down how they've built an award-winning remodeling team in a small college town—without relying on job boards, recruiters, or desperation hires.

Based in Blacksburg, Virginia, Slate Creek Builders has grown to a 14-person team delivering multi-million-dollar remodels in a market of just 35,000 people. In this conversation, they unpack how community reputation, always-on recruiting, strong systems, and a clearly defined org chart allow them to attract talent before they ever need it.

If you're struggling to hire, retain great people, or build a culture that recruits for you, this episode offers a real-world playbook—especially for remodelers operating in smaller or tighter markets.

🎯 Timestamps:

00:00 — Why Slate Creek attracts talent without actively recruiting
03:00 — Building a high-end remodeling business in a small market
06:30 — How community reputation fuels growth and referrals
10:45 — The pressure (and upside) of working in a small town
14:00 — Why most of Slate Creek's hires come from personal networks
17:00 — Always recruiting—even when you're not hiring
20:45 — Hiring a "unicorn" without a job opening
23:15 — Using org charts to justify new roles
27:30 — How systems give confidence to hire ahead of demand
31:15 — Dividing leadership: vision vs. execution
34:30 — Protecting work-life balance as a core cultural value
38:00 — Learning from bad hires (and why desperation hires fail)
42:00 — Turning a questionable hire into a long-term win
46:30 — Separating emotion from estimating and pricing
50:30 — What Slate Creek looks for in cultural fit
55:00 — Hiring for skilled roles vs. training from scratch
59:30 — Why people stay once they join the team
01:02:30 — The benefits of building a business in a tight-knit community

If you want employees lining up before you post a job, systems that support confident growth, and a culture people genuinely want to be part of—this episode shows what that looks like in practice.

In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network Podcast, Logan sits down with Andrew Nuhfer, founder of AKN Interiors, to unpack how clear communication, structured systems, and expectation-setting fuel high-end remodeling growth.

Andrew shares how he's scaled AKN Interiors to over $3M annually while running 15–20 active projects—without sacrificing the client experience. From pre-construction planning and interior design collaboration to daily logs, scheduling, and post-project follow-ups, this episode breaks down what it actually looks like to run a modern, client-first remodeling operation.

If you're looking to reduce friction, avoid misaligned expectations, and build a repeatable communication process your team and clients can trust, this conversation is packed with real-world insight.

🎯 Timestamps:

00:00 — Andrew's background and why he started AKN Interiors
03:00 — Making the leap from employee to business owner
07:50 — Why planning and expectations matter more than craftsmanship alone
10:00 — Setting pricing expectations early (and why transparency wins)
14:00 — Using past projects to anchor budget conversations
17:20 — Integrating an interior designer into the remodel process
19:45 — Allowances, proposals, and preventing budget surprises
23:20 — Managing 15–20 projects at once without chaos
26:00 — How AKN uses JobTread for daily communication
28:30 — Daily logs, schedules, and keeping homeowners informed
31:10 — Hiring for communication skills, not just construction experience
34:40 — Getting subcontractors aligned with your systems
36:30 — Post-project follow-ups, warranties, and long-term trust
38:00 — Using JobTread as a sales tool before contracts are signed
42:00 — Lessons Andrew wishes he knew earlier about client experience
44:00 — Handling missed expectations and tough conversations honestly
48:30 — Treating remodeling as a partnership, not a transaction

If you want to build smoother projects, stronger reviews, and happier clients—this episode is a masterclass in what that looks like in practice.

In this episode, Logan sits down with AJ Ballantine to break down how Cornerstone Remodeling grew from $2M to $10M in five years—without hiring five times the people. The secret? A radically optimized design process, driven by empathy mapping, technology, and sales finesse.

AJ walks through the systems, tools, and scripts he used to cut his sales cycle, boost his close rate, and wow clients—all while keeping a high-touch, boutique feel. If you're a design-build remodeler struggling with lengthy sales processes, low perceived value, or slow growth, this episode is your blueprint for change.

Optimize, Don't Overhire
→ AJ's sales team used to close $3M/year—now they close at a $10M pace with the same team
→ The shift: 6–10 hours to build a high-impact "first pass" proposal that converts faster

Perceived Value > Just Deliverables
→ AJ's team builds proposals in Canva with floor plans, mood boards, and personalized designer quotes
→ Clients feel like they're already halfway through the project before competitors even send a bid

Use Tech to Speed Trust
→ Render's "Invite to Capture" feature lets homeowners scan their space remotely
→ Clients feel empowered, and your team gets measurements without stepping foot in the home

Empathy Mapping = Sales Gold
→ AJ's team mapped out client pain points like option overload and lack of clarity
→ Solutions like curated samples, mood boards, and visual timelines de-stress the process

Charge to Impress
→ Clients pay 1% upfront for a first pass proposal, then 5% more before design revisions
→ Conversion after that second payment? 100% (outside of rare exceptions)

• Render – 3D space scanning tool AJ co-developed

• Canva – Used for building visually stunning proposals

• Calendly – Streamlined consult scheduling

• JobTread – Estimating and construction management

• DocuSign – Seamless proposal signing + payments

• Loom – For walking clients through proposals remotely

• 00:00 – Why growing a business doesn't mean hiring more people

• 01:30 – AJ's background: design + build = natural fit

• 04:00 – How Render's space scanning changed the game

• 07:45 – How to ask clients to scan their space without losing trust

• 10:35 – Case study: A $75K bathroom turned $150K with the right process

• 13:00 – The power of the phone call as a pattern interrupt

• 15:30 – What goes in a "first pass" proposal and how it's delivered

• 20:00 – Using the Moscow Report to align budget and finishes

• 24:00 – Proposal design: how aesthetics drive perceived value

• 26:50 – Creating speed and momentum to outpace competitors

• 30:00 – Including designer mood boards and personal touches

• 35:00 – The metrics: 76% close rate, $1M–$2M months, 6–10 hours per proposal

• 39:00 – The second phase: formal measurements, structural confirmation

• 44:00 – No-surprises contract pricing explained

• 48:00 – Selection process: curated samples over option overload

• 51:00 – Designing for the busy, not the picky

• 54:00 – Solving for process friction: empathy + accountability

• 57:00 – The sales and marketing adjustments that made it all work

• 1:02:00 – Why everything is digital (except the printed permit plans)

• 1:05:00 – How AJ got team buy-in on massive change

• 1:11:00 – 40X and driving a culture of accountability

• 1:14:00 – Start with WHY if you want your new process to stick

"We used to spend $2,000 worth of effort on a proposal and hand over a spreadsheet. Now, we hand them a deliverable that looks like a million bucks—and they're halfway to signing."
— AJ Ballantine