In this episode of The Summit Podcast, host Bob Turner sits down with Joe Spak, owner of First Coast Renovations, to unpack what it really takes to scale a remodeling business with professionalism, profit, and purpose. Joe shares his journey from Connecticut to Florida, how COVID forced him to go all-in on contracting, and how he grew from a one-man operation into a structured team with project managers, designers, and field crews—while targeting $1.5M+ in annual revenue. This is an honest conversation about: The rollercoaster of lead flow Why “busy” doesn’t mean profitable How small scope misses quietly kill margins The leadership shift from tradesman to CEO Why professionalism is still a massive competitive edge in construction Joe also opens up about fatherhood, fitness, licensing challenges, and what “Joe 2.0” looks like heading into 2026. If you’re a contractor, remodeler, or trades business owner trying to grow without losing your life in the process—this episode is for you.
👇 Watch, listen, and drop a comment with your biggest takeaway.
00:00 – Welcome to The Summit Podcast
01:00 – Joe’s path from corporate life to contracting
03:00 – How fast growth really happens (and stalls)
04:30 – Florida remodeling realities & heat lessons
06:40 – Why the owner must stop “running trash”
07:30 – The hidden profit leak: scope gaps & job costing
09:30 – Change orders, discomfort, and giving money away
10:45 – Revenue vs net profit (the real scoreboard)
12:30 – Family, balance, concerts, and life outside work
13:30 – Scaling to $1.5M without adding employees
14:00 – Licensing challenges & long-term positioning
16:30 – Why community matters for entrepreneurs
18:30 – Fitness, discipline, and staying sharp
19:30 – Joe’s EDGE: professionalism as a weapon
21:00 – Fatherhood, legacy, and what really matters
22:00 – Final reflections & Joe 2.0 vision
🎯 Key Takeaways Growth without systems creates chaos Net profit matters more than top-line revenue Small scope misses quietly destroy margins Professionalism still separates winners in construction Community replaces isolation for business owners Leadership means doing what only you can do What’s ONE thing you need to stop doing in your business so you can grow?
construction business podcast remodeling business growth contractor leadership scaling a remodeling business construction profit margins job costing for contractors change orders construction contractor mindset from tradesman to CEO home remodeling business construction entrepreneurship Bob Turner podcast Joe Spak First Coast Renovations Rozenberg Group coaching
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