OptiRTC CEO David Rubinstein joins PrimePod to unpack how a late-adopter industry is embracing digital water—from retrofitting stormwater ponds with IoT sensors + actuated valves to forecast-based, pre-event drawdowns that cut flooding, protect habitats, and save cities money. We cover Opti’s pivot from services to platform, the culture and mindfulness practices that power execution, and why people + process + tech (in that order) wins.

In this episode:

• What “smart stormwater” really is—and how CMAC prevents overflows

• Retrofitting vs. new build: why two smart ponds can replace a $2M pond

• Real outcomes: 70k+ storms managed across 20 states; neighborhoods spared in hurricanes; NYC rooftop farm fed by captured rain

• The new Stormwater Engineers’ Workbench and partner go-to-market (e.g., Oldcastle)

• Tech stack hints (Azure, modernized edge, Blazor) without the jargon

• Culture > everything: curiosity rituals, psychological safety, hiring for fit, Vistage peer networks

• Founder takeaways: under-promise/over-deliver, remove priorities (don’t just add), and lead with integrity

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Sponsored by Prime AI Partners — Streamline ops and grow revenue with AI automations. DM “growth.”

North Bay builder Eddie Blakely, owner of Chelu Construction, joins PrimePod to share how a hands-on upbringing in the trades, hard lessons in real estate, and a tech-forward toolkit shaped a client-first construction company delivering consistent results across residential and commercial projects.

We dig into:

• Early lessons (rentals, a nightmare tenant story) that sparked the business

• Values that scale: integrity, transparency, and telling clients the truth

• Team structure (PMs → foremen → crews) and clear up/down communication

• Smart equipment strategy: owning what speeds the critical path

• Lightweight tech stack that works (Connecteam, HubSpot, Jira, QuickBooks) and driving adoption

• Competing with lower bids without lowering standards—and when to walk away

• Advice for tradespeople going owner-operator: mentors, niche, and taking calculated risks

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Sponsored by Prime AI Partners. Want AI to streamline ops and grow revenue? DM “growth."

Founder Garrett Rozendaal of 5-2 Fence & Dirt joins PrimePod to share how he took a side hustle in a barn with 1950s machines and built a fast-growing fence, excavation, and landscape operation in Northern Arizona—doubling revenue year over year while keeping prices fair and quality high.

We dig into:

• Entrepreneur roots, word-of-mouth growth, and why social beat paid ads

• Running lean: used trucks vs. new machines (with service plans) and what the numbers say

• The hiring leap: paying premium operators and how that attracted A-players

• Systems that actually help: QuickBooks Online, BusyBusy, GPS timecards

• The 3:30 a.m. routine, 75+ hour weeks, and getting off the treadmill

• Hard lessons on reputation, integrity, and consistency—and how to rebuild

Takeaway: Consistency + integrity + fair pricing can scale a construction business faster than shiny tools ever will.

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Sponsored by Prime AI Partners — We help construction and home-service businesses streamline ops and grow revenue with AI automations. DM me “growth” to learn more.