From Field to Founder: How Sal Hernandez Scaled, Exited, and Now Coaches the Next Generation of Builders

In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Sal Hernandez — a veteran, serial entrepreneur, and former owner of a successful design-build firm. From humble beginnings mowing lawns with his father to scaling a full-service construction company with multiple licenses, Sal shares how he went from technician to strategic leader — ultimately exiting the business to focus on coaching and supporting fellow veterans.

You’ll hear how Sal built a thriving business from the ground up, developed systems that enabled him to delegate and grow, and how he navigated the tricky process of finding, hiring, and retaining quality field talent — spoiler alert: Craigslist still works.

We dig into:
🔹 Why systems and processes are key to growth in the trades
🔹 How Sal leveraged subcontractors to scale without compromising quality
🔹 His grassroots hiring strategy (including bilingual outreach) that cut through the noise
🔹 The importance of vet-to-vet leadership and his work with the Capital Region Veterans Chamber of Commerce

Whether you're a contractor looking to scale or a builder aiming to transition into leadership, this episode is packed with practical insight, real talk, and powerful lessons from someone who's lived it.

🎧 Tune in to learn how to grow smart — and build a legacy that lasts.

In this episode of People First Builders, Fletcher Wimbush sits down with Sam Rockaway, Head of Sales at REDCOM Design & Construction, to unpack his remarkable journey from construction outsider to B2B sales powerhouse in the design-build space.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

• How Sam turned a relationship-first mindset into an $8M average deal size

• The unusual way he was recruited—then left in charge when the owner moved to Italy!

• The strategies REDCOM used to scale from $25M to $70M in revenue

• Why coaches and culture were critical during rapid growth

• How REDCOM hires top talent through values-based interviews and DISC assessments

• How “fishing trips” and personal follow-ups helped Sam build a network that closed millions in deals

• Why saying no to the wrong projects became one of their most powerful growth strategies

From sales process design to culture-building and flexible work models, Sam offers a blueprint for growth that’s as much about people and purpose as it is about metrics and margins.

👷‍♂️ Ideal for leaders in construction, sales professionals, and founders scaling project-based businesses.

From Farm Life to Design-Build Leadership: Lance Cayko’s People-First Journey

What happens when a poor farm kid from North Dakota trades irrigation lines for blueprints? You get Lance Cayko, co-founder of F9 Productions—a thriving design-build architecture firm in Colorado—and one of the most intentional leaders I’ve met.

In this episode of People First Builders, Lance shares how a summer job with a general contractor sparked a lifelong passion, how mentorship shaped his entrepreneurial mindset, and why putting people first is the key to his firm's success.

We talk:
✅ Building teams through mentorship and teaching
✅ Cultivating leadership in young architects
✅ Creating true work-life harmony (not just lip service)
✅ Inspiring future builders through purpose and culture

This isn’t just a story about architecture—it’s about legacy, leadership, and building something bigger than yourself.

🎧 Catch the full episode and get inspired by a truly people-first approach to business.

In this episode of the People-First Builders podcast, Fletcher Wimbush interviews the CEO of Core Matters, Ryan Englin. Ryan shares his journey from running a marketing company to specializing in recruiting for trades like HVAC, plumbing, and construction.

He highlights the high turnover rates and the inefficiencies of traditional staffing agencies. Ryan discusses the importance of creating a sustainable hiring process, improving company culture, and aligning employee goals with organizational objectives.

Check out Ryan's work HERE.

Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In the inaugural episode of the People-First Builders podcast, Josh Elledge of UpMyInfluence interviews the creator and host of the show, Fletcher Wimbush. Fletcher is the owner and CEO of Discovered.ai, Wimbush & Associates, Inc., and Integrity First.

Fletcher addresses the significant talent shortages and shares strategies for effective hiring and retention. Drawing from his extensive experience, he introduced Discovered, a recruitment automation AI platform designed to streamline hiring processes. Fletcher emphasizes the financial impact of poor hiring decisions and the importance of retaining talent. The episode aims to inspire construction leaders with practical insights and invites listeners to share their success stories in people leadership.

Check out Fletcher's work HERE.

Connect with Fletcher on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode, Damien joins Fletcher in discussing the new norms that have stemmed from the pandemic such as remote work, the rise of international workers in the software development field, and how to identify and include these new set of workers into the company and its culture.

Fletcher Wimbush brings on Julie Kratz from Next Pivot Point to discuss diversity in the workplace and how important representation has become in both society and our workforce.

Next Pivot Point

Linkedin

Facebook

Twitter