In this episode of the Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast, Kenton Friesen of Friesen Contracting and Josh Eisworth of Ridgeline Roofing and Solar sit down to unpack something every trades business struggles with but few truly dial in, training and recruiting. This is not a surface level conversation.

It is a real and honest look at what it actually takes to build a team from the ground up, especially in an industry where formal training systems are almost nonexistent and most people are expected to figure it out on the job.

They dig into the tension between productivity and development, the constant pull between getting the job done today and investing in someone who might make you ten times more efficient tomorrow.

Josh shares recent experiences intentionally pulling new hires out of the normal crew environment to train them one on one, allowing them to fail, slow things down, and actually learn the trade. It is inefficient in the short term. Jobs take longer, mistakes cost money, and production dips. But the payoff is clear. Guys become capable, confident, and productive far faster than the traditional shadow and carry material approach.

Kenton brings decades of experience into the conversation and reflects on what it means to train not just workers, but men. This goes beyond skill and into character, work ethic, and professionalism. Together, they explore why hiring experienced tradesmen often does not work the way you would expect, and why so many of the best long term team members are built from scratch. Culture, mindset, and attitude consistently outweigh experience, especially in a trade like roofing where standards vary widely from company to company.

The conversation also moves into recruiting, because you cannot talk about training without talking about who you are bringing in. From the unpredictability of hiring to improving vetting systems and rethinking where to find the right people, they break down what it means to increase your odds in an industry known for high turnover.

There is no perfect formula, and both Kenton and Josh admit they have been wrong many times when judging who would succeed and who would not. At its core, this episode is about playing the long game. It is about understanding that the fastest way to build a strong and reliable team often looks slower on the surface. It is about being willing to sacrifice short term output to multiply long term capacity.

And it is about recognizing that the real win in this business is not just the roofs you install, but the people you build along the way. If you are a contractor trying to grow, dealing with turnover, or looking to build a stronger and more capable crew, this conversation will challenge how you think about training, recruiting, and leadership.

Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith

Produced by Seth Steward Productions

Co produced by Kalen Wookey

Website https://forgealliance.ca/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797

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@Forge_CA

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Welcome back to the Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast. Josh Eisworth from Ridgeline Roofing and Kenton from Kenton Friesen Contracting. Two contractors in the trenches every day, on the tools, in the books, working with crews, customers, and everything that comes with running a business. This podcast is just an extension of that, real conversations about what we’re actually dealing with.

In this episode, we get into communication, what it looks like inside a growing company, where it starts to break down, and how different teams handle it in completely different ways. From switching platforms and trying to integrate crews, to realizing not everyone communicates the same or even wants to, there’s a lot here that we’re actively working through.

We talk about repetition as a leader, setting clear expectations, and the balance between over communicating and not saying enough. There is also a big focus on conflict, when to avoid it, when to lean into it, and how to handle it without letting emotion take over. Because the reality is, most issues in business do not come from bad intent, they come from miscommunication.

We also touch on team dynamics, public versus private communication, and how the wrong message in the wrong setting can create bigger problems than it should. Plus a bit of real life context, spring in Northern BC, unpredictable weather, and how that chaos mirrors running a business this time of year. Like always, this is not theory. It is what we are dealing with right now, figuring it out as we go.

Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith

Produced by Seth Steward Productions

Co produced by Kalen Wookey

Website https://forgealliance.ca/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797

X https://x.com/forge_ca

@Forge_CA

In this episode of Forge, Kenton sits down with Chris Wiebe to unpack a side of business most contractors avoid the numbers.

From hard lessons in financial blind spots to the reality of growing too fast without control, this conversation digs into what actually drives a healthy company.

They break down the difference between revenue and real profit, why operational strength matters more than hustle, and how small mistakes in pricing or planning can quietly sink a business.

Chris brings a systems driven perspective from years of scaling companies, while Kenton shares real stories from the field including moments where the numbers did not lie, even when it hurt.

This episode is about more than spreadsheets. It is about thinking clearly, making better decisions, and building something that actually lasts. If you are running a business, planning to grow, or just trying to figure out where your money is really going this one matters.

Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith

Produced by Seth Steward Productions

Co produced by Kalen Wookey

Website https://forgealliance.ca/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797

X https://x.com/forge_ca