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Professional Builders Secrets

Professional Builders Secrets

Written by: Association of Professional Builders
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About this listen

Brought to you by the Association of Professional Builders (APB), the Professional Builders Secrets podcast is the #1 resource for builders operating a professional building company. Discover how you can generate more leads, sign more contracts and increase your margins while delivering a better experience for your clients. We interview professional builders across 5 countries, host industry authorities as special guests and break down proven strategies with the coaching team at the Association of Professional Builders. Enjoy new episodes every week.Association of Professional Builders Economics
Episodes
  • 222. How Builders Become Leaders With Andy Skarda
    Jan 22 2026

    Professional Builders Secrets brings you an insightful episode with Andy Skarda, Head Coach at APB. In this episode, Andy breaks down what leadership really means for building company owners, and why it’s the defining factor that separates builders who are stuck in chaos from those running calm, predictable, and scalable businesses.


    This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0


    INSIDE EPISODE 222 YOU WILL DISCOVER

    • The difference between fixing symptoms versus fixing systems
    • What stops builders from becoming effective leaders
    • How delegation, trust, and systems unlock time and growth
    • Why your business can never outperform your leadership
    • Practical steps to start leading intentionally instead of reactively
    • And much, much more.


    ABOUT ANDY SKARDA


    Head Coach at the Association of Professional Builders, Andy specialises in helping business owners in the building industry identify and implement the skills and systems they need to be successful, without needing to go back to school. Or more importantly, without going bust.


    Connect with Andy: linkedin.com/in/andy-skarda-92a6875/



    TIMELINE

    • 2:36 What leadership really means for builders
    • 6:11 Why most builders don’t set out to become leaders
    • 8:38 What well-led building companies actually look like
    • 16:43 Why delegation fails without systems
    • 20:32 Fixing broken systems instead of firefighting symptoms
    • 26:28 Why your business can never outperform your leadership



    LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE


    APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com


    APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/


    APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/


    APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders


    APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders

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    27 mins
  • 221. Managing Relationships With Nicole Scanlan
    Jan 15 2026

    Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with Nicole Scanlan, Partnerships Manager at APB. Throughout this episode, Nicole breaks down what it really takes to build, manage, and sustain strong business relationships over the long term. Drawing on her experience managing over 130 partners globally, Nicole shares practical, repeatable systems for building trust, reducing friction, and turning short-term transactions into long-term partnerships.


    This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0


    INSIDE EPISODE 221 YOU WILL DISCOVER

    • One powerful question that can transform every business interaction
    • Best practices for handling difficult conversations and misaligned expectations
    • How authenticity and transparency accelerate trust
    • The importance of long-term partnerships over short-term transactions
    • Simple habits that strengthen relationships
    • And much, much more.


    ABOUT NICOLE SCANLAN


    Nicole Scanlan is the Partnerships Manager at APB, connecting solution-driven brands with elite residential builders. With a background in events, software, and business development, she builds high-impact partnerships focused on long-term growth, trust, and meaningful engagement.


    Connect with Nicole: linkedin.com/in/nicole-scanlan-apb/



    TIMELINE

    • 3:04 Why every interaction in your business is a stakeholder relationship
    • 5:04 Common gaps builders face in communication and follow-up
    • 9:30 Why strong relationships are a powerful risk reducer
    • 13:00 Why rapport isn’t a “soft skill” you can build on the fly
    • 21:02 Simple habits that strengthen relationships and avoid the “sorry culture”
    • 28:59 How to handle difficult conversations and realign misaligned partnerships



    LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE


    APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com


    APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/


    APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/


    APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders


    APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders

    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • 220. Preparing For 2026 With Russ Stephens
    Jan 8 2026

    Professional Builders Secrets brings you an in-depth episode with Russ Stephens, Co-founder of APB. In this episode, Russ unpacks the three biggest challenges builders are facing worldwide as they head into 2026, breaks down why a lack of planning continues to hold builders back, and explains how mastering lead generation, profit, and systemisation can completely transform the performance of a building business.


    This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0


    INSIDE EPISODE 220 YOU WILL DISCOVER

    • The three biggest challenges builders face heading into 2026
    • Why planning is directly linked to higher margins and more profit
    • Why financial literacy is critical to sustainable growth
    • How construction slots create real scarcity without “selling”
    • How documenting processes can add millions to long-term personal wealth
    • And much more.


    ABOUT RUSS STEPHENS


    Co-founder of the Association of Professional Builders, Russ is a data analysis expert who has introduced data-driven decision making to the residential construction industry. Russ is also a proud member of the Forbes Business Development Council.


    Connect with Russ:linkedin.com/in/russstephens


    TIMELINE

    • 03:11 The three biggest problems builders face worldwide
    • 07:44 Why planning alone can dramatically increase profit
    • 09:15 How an org chart can buy back weeks of your time each year
    • 13:18 The real reason builders struggle to get quality leads
    • 22:38 How supply and demand impact margins
    • 34:18 Why systemisation is the key to scaling without burnout



    LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE


    APB Website:associationofprofessionalbuilders.com


    APB Rewards:associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/


    APB on Instagram:instagram.com/apbbuilders/


    APB on Facebook:facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders


    APB on YouTube:youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders

    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
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