What happens when a construction company grows from a small operation to a national firm in just a few years? In this episode of the People-First Builders Podcast, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Angelica Connor, CEO of Stansell Construction, to discuss the leadership lessons behind scaling a people-focused company across more than 20 states.

Angelica shares how Stansell Construction evolved from a small Florida contractor with a single client into a nationally recognized, woman-owned general contracting firm serving major brands across the United States. Along the way, she learned firsthand that rapid growth can expose weaknesses in hiring, systems, and leadership—and that prioritizing quality people over sheer hiring volume is essential for sustainable success.

In this conversation, Angelica and Fletcher explore the realities of hypergrowth, the emotional challenges of leadership decisions, and the systems required to build a strong culture in a distributed workforce. From improving recruiting and onboarding to leveraging technology and intentional communication, Angelica explains how her team transformed their people strategy to support long-term growth.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why hiring for quality over quantity is critical during rapid growth

• How Stansell Construction scaled from a small team to 130+ employees across 20+ states

• The leadership challenges of letting go of the wrong hires

• How intentional recruiting, onboarding, and culture-building drive company performance

• Strategies for maintaining strong communication and culture in a remote workforce

If you're a leader in construction, engineering, or any growing organization, this episode offers practical insights on building a company where people, culture, and performance grow together.

What does it really take to scale a franchise organization without losing your culture?

In this episode of People-First Builders, Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Chris Bue to unpack the systems, leadership discipline, and people-first infrastructure required to drive high-performing franchise growth.

Chris shares the behind-the-scenes framework that allows franchise organizations to expand strategically — while maintaining operational excellence, accountability, and alignment across locations. From leadership development and performance standards to building scalable systems that empower teams, this conversation breaks down what sustainable growth actually looks like in practice.

You'll learn:

• The foundational systems required before scaling

• How to balance autonomy and accountability in franchise models

• Why culture must be operationalized — not just talked about

• The leadership mindset needed to grow without chaos

• How high-performing organizations align vision with execution

If you're a builder, operator, or leader looking to scale without sacrificing your people or standards, this episode delivers practical insight you can apply immediately.

In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Michael Feazel, Co-Founder and CEO of Roof Maxx, to explore how structured training, intentional leadership, and innovative business models are reshaping the roofing industry.

With decades of experience as a roofing contractor and industry thought leader, Michael shares his journey from climbing roofs in the 1980s to building one of the fastest-growing roofing service networks in the country. He explains how Roof Maxx created an entirely new category—roof rejuvenation—and how simplifying the work has opened the door to scalable teams, broader talent pools, and more sustainable careers in the trades.

The conversation dives deep into workforce challenges in construction, the importance of always recruiting, and why training and onboarding are not optional—but foundational—for long-term success. Michael also breaks down how systems, peer learning, and clear expectations help small operators grow beyond the one-man-band stage.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How structured training enables scalable roofing teams

• Why simplifying work expands access to talent in the trades

• Best practices for recruiting, onboarding, and retention

• Lessons from building a national dealer network and training platform

• How people-first leadership supports growth without sacrificing culture

This episode is a must-listen for roofing contractors, trade business owners, and construction leaders looking to build stronger teams, extend asset life for customers, and grow with intention.

🎧 Subscribe to People-First Builders for more conversations with leaders who build lasting businesses by investing in their people.

In this episode of the People-First Builders Podcast, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Chad Raymond, General Manager and Head of Sales at Henry Company, a subsidiary of Carlisle Weatherproofing Technologies. Chad brings a unique perspective from the supply-side of the construction industry, working daily with builders, contractors, architects, and developers across residential and light commercial markets.

Chad shares what he's seeing firsthand on the front lines of today's labor shortage—how skilled trade shortages are impacting project timelines, business growth, and quality, and why the challenge extends far beyond any single segment of the construction supply chain. Together, Fletcher and Chad explore why attracting younger talent to the trades has become one of the industry's most urgent priorities.

The conversation dives into:

• Why labor availability—not demand—is limiting growth in construction

• How builders are adapting to retain skilled trades and reduce work stoppages

• The real opportunity in skilled trades as a viable, high-earning alternative to traditional college paths

• The importance of career perseverance, long-term skill development, and "failing forward"

• Why construction, at its core, is still a people business—and always will be

Chad also reflects on his own career journey, sharing insights on leadership, discomfort as a catalyst for growth, and how serving customers well creates meaningful, mission-driven work.

This episode is a must-listen for builders, suppliers, and leaders who care deeply about developing people, strengthening the workforce, and building a more sustainable future for the construction industry.

🎧 Tune in to hear how making the trades more attractive starts with leadership, planning, and putting people first.

In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Scott Menard, President & Chief Operating Officer of Homes Built For America, to discuss how strong leadership, accountability, and purpose-driven culture shape successful construction organizations.

Scott shares his perspective on leading teams in the residential construction space, the importance of operational excellence, and how aligning people, process, and mission creates long-term stability and growth. Drawing from his experience overseeing large-scale operations, he offers practical insights into building trust, developing leaders, and sustaining performance in a demanding industry.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What people-first leadership looks like in residential construction

• How operational discipline supports team success and scalability

• The role of accountability and clarity in building strong cultures

• Lessons learned from leading through growth and complexity

This conversation is a must-listen for construction executives, operations leaders, and business owners who want to build resilient teams and organizations that last.

🎧 Subscribe to People-First Builders for more conversations with leaders who build lasting success by investing in their people.

In this powerful episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Chad Abernethy, CEO of Abernethy Contracting, for one of the most honest conversations we've had about leadership, burnout, culture, and what it really takes to transform a construction company from the inside out.

Chad opens up about:
• Leaving his family's business after burnout and how it reshaped everything he believed about leadership
• Scaling a civil contracting company from 0 to $45M — and the personal cost behind the growth
• How a merger forced a complete culture reset
• Building a people-first organization in an industry not known for warm fuzzies
• Why accountability, vulnerability, and transparency must be non-negotiable for leaders
• The measurable impact of shifting from "bid-build-bill" to "develop people first"

Whether you're a construction leader, a builder of people, or someone navigating the challenges of company growth, Chad's story offers a blueprint for real, sustainable culture change.

What happens when a small crew of "hippie carpenters" grows into a nationally admired, employee-owned company that changes lives, families, and communities? In this inspiring episode, Fletcher sits down with John Abrams, founder of Abrams+Angell, formerly of South Mountain Company, who spent 50+ years proving that business can be both profitable and profoundly people-centered.

John shares how he transitioned his company into a worker cooperative long before employee ownership was common, how that decision transformed culture, turnover, customers, and leadership—and why he believes employee ownership is the path to a more equitable future.

From open-book business practices to "subsidized housing for the rich," near-collapse during the 2008 recession, and rebuilding with shared sacrifice, John's story is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership.

Guest Takeaways:

• How employee ownership unlocks deep commitment and long-term retention

• Why culture, transparency, and shared responsibility attract ideal clients

• What truly differentiates co-ops, ESOPs, and employee ownership trusts

• How founders can create lasting impact and a strong succession plan

• Why building with kindness, humanity, and collaboration changes communities

A must-listen for leaders who want to build something that outlives them.

In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Jim Robinson, President & CEO of CGP Maintenance & Construction Services, leadership coach, and soon-to-be author of Lead With Empathy (co-written with Chris Voss).

With 40 years in business, Jim has grown CGP into a people-first organization known for unmatched employee loyalty, multi-decade tenure, and an education-driven culture. His approach is simple but rare in the trades: grow the person first — and performance will follow.

• How leading with empathy builds long-term loyalty
Jim shares how early experiences serving others shaped his leadership philosophy and taught him to meet people where they are — whether they want slow growth or rapid acceleration.

• Why CGP trains not just employees, but their spouses
You'll hear how CGP discovered that growing an employee too quickly without involving their partner created conflict at home — and how including significant others in conferences and education transformed entire families.

• The power of structured education and the "law of anticipation"
Jim explains CGP's multi-year training journey, weekly assessments, and how always giving employees something to look forward to keeps them engaged, hungry, and committed.

• Why hiring for character beats hiring for skill
CGP hires tradespeople based on empathy, urgency, energy, and values — not technical ability — because skills can be taught, but character can't.

• How CGP fills leadership roles exclusively from within
You'll learn why Jim avoids hiring competitors' employees, why the company never rehires people who leave, and how internal promotion protects culture.

• CGP's lightning-fast "application to offer in 8 hours" process
Jim breaks down how they evaluate values alignment, involve supervisors immediately, and create a high-urgency experience that mirrors what's expected on the job.

• How CGP runs 24/7 operations with cross-trained teams
Hear how they prepare people for multi-disciplinary work across nights, days, and three construction shifts — and why it creates pride, mastery, and team connection.