Builders, Budgets, and Beers

Your Tech Stack Needs To Start With Strategy with Dustin Stephens

Reece sits down with Dustin Stephens, CEO of Alliance Solutions Group, to talk about why contractors cannot treat AI like a shortcut around broken systems. As labor gets tighter and construction businesses get more complex, the companies that understand their tech stack, data, and back office will be in a better position to compete. Dustin shares what he is seeing across construction ERP, cloud accounting, project management, preconstruction, AP workflows, and AI adoption. The big takeaway: start with the business problem, understand the process, then use technology to make the work faster, clearer, and more human. https://www.alliancesg.com [https://www.alliancesg.com] email: dstephens@alliance-sg.com Show Notes: 00:48 Meet Dustin 02:23 Field To Tech 06:21 Innovation Pressure 09:20 Where Contractors Invest 11:38 Building The Stack 13:12 Cloud Resistance 16:22 Operational Tools 17:39 Where To Start 21:36 Strategic Operations 24:26 Back Office Triggers 27:55 Faster Business Insight 30:39 AI And Critical Thinking 37:02 Contractor Advice Find Our Hosts: Reece Barnes [https://www.linkedin.com/in/reece-barnes-aa84b884/] Matt Calvano [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcalvano/] Podcast   [https://www.motifmedia.com/post/case-study-modern-craftsman-podcast]Produced By: Motif Media [https://www.motifmedia.com/]

How AI Speeds Up Profitable Bids with Deepti Yenireddy

Reece sits down with Deepti Yenireddy, founder and CEO of Boon AI, to talk about the real business case for AI in estimating: tighter bid timelines, thin margins, and why speed matters when builders are chasing more work. They get into how Boone handles preconstruction from plan review to takeoff, why specialized AI beats generic tools in construction, and why the best estimators are becoming better reviewers and decision-makers, not obsolete. If you want to understand where AI actually helps builders today and how to stay competitive without buying the hype, this episode gives you a practical place to start. https://www.getboon.ai [https://www.getboon.ai] Show Notes: 00:45 Meet Deepti 02:35 Physical World Data 05:03 Boone Workflow 07:37 GC vs Trades 09:30 Data And Benchmarks 14:27 Estimating Bottlenecks 18:54 AI And Jobs 28:54 Estimator Skill Shift 31:42 Why Trust Lags 35:47 AI Partners 39:12 Keep Learning Find Our Hosts: Reece Barnes [https://www.linkedin.com/in/reece-barnes-aa84b884/] Matt Calvano [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcalvano/] Podcast   [https://www.motifmedia.com/post/case-study-modern-craftsman-podcast]Produced By: Motif Media [https://www.motifmedia.com/]

Why Contractors Need Better Accounting with Chris Murphy

Reece sits down with Chris Murphy of Breakaway CAAS to talk about why so many contractors struggle with bookkeeping, payroll, and job costing, and what better financial systems can unlock for a growing business. It matters because weak accounting processes do not just create messy books, they create bad decisions, wasted time, and unnecessary risk for builders. They go over the warning signs of broken back office workflows, why day to day tracking matters more than only thinking about taxes, and how construction specific tools can reduce duplicate work and clean up reporting. Chris also shares a brutal real world payroll example and explains what builders should look for if they know their current process is holding them back. https://www.breakawaycaas.com [https://www.breakawaycaas.com] https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-j-murphy-cpa-498547123 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-j-murphy-cpa-498547123] Show Notes: 00:00 Show Intro 00:44 Meet Chris 02:59 Why Construction 05:55 The Opportunity 07:24 Wrong People 16:24 Taxes Vs Tracking 20:56 Discovery Questions 22:26 Worst Payroll Process 30:03 Best Software Stack 46:49 Signs You Need Help 47:56 Where To Find Chris Find Our Hosts: Reece Barnes [https://www.linkedin.com/in/reece-barnes-aa84b884/] Matt Calvano [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcalvano/] Podcast   [https://www.motifmedia.com/post/case-study-modern-craftsman-podcast]Produced By: Motif Media [https://www.motifmedia.com/]

How Builders Can Raise The Standard with Andrea and Brian Seymour of Springdale Custom Builders

Reece sits down with Andrea and Brian Seymour of Springdale Custom Builders to talk about the systems, pricing discipline, and process thinking it takes to build a company that is actually worth something. For builders, this matters because bad estimating, weak operations, and owner dependence can quietly kill profit long before the work dries up. They go over why the old three-bid mindset creates bad relationships, how Springdale qualifies clients and estimates more accurately, and what retained earnings and real financial visibility make possible. They also unpack the bigger play here: building repeatable systems, hiring the right people, and creating a business that can scale, sell, or survive without the owner pushing every button. https://springdalecharlotte.com [https://springdalecharlotte.com] Show Notes: 00:00 Show Intro 00:54 Meet Springdale 02:09 Starting On Honeymoon 05:09 Fixing The Bid Process 08:49 Sell As Advisor 10:07 Their Sales Process 15:12 Pivoting Project Types 17:03 Knowing Your Numbers 21:16 Lessons And Grit 26:12 Software For Builders 33:48 Build To Exit 37:27 Hiring The Right People 40:29 Peers Over Competitors Find Our Hosts: Reece Barnes [https://www.linkedin.com/in/reece-barnes-aa84b884/] Matt Calvano [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcalvano/] Podcast   [https://www.motifmedia.com/post/case-study-modern-craftsman-podcast]Produced By: Motif Media [https://www.motifmedia.com/]

Don’t Let Weak Process Stop Your Growth with Archibald McLellan

Reece sits down with Archibald McLellan of CBIS to talk about why weak process can quietly hold a construction business back long before the owner realizes it. For builders trying to grow without losing control, this episode gets into why better systems, cleaner numbers, and stronger communication matter more than ever. Arch shares the hard lesson of losing leverage on a project because the paperwork, documentation, and financial visibility were not where they needed to be. Reece and Arch also break down job costing, cash flow planning, transparent communication, and why knowing your numbers early is what keeps growth from turning into chaos. https://construction-integrators.com [https://construction-integrators.com] Show Notes: 00:00 Show Intro 00:42 Meet Arch 04:05 From Marines To Construction 08:05 Private Equity Lessons 11:42 Proving His Value 16:00 Starting CBIS 18:21 Early Hard Lessons 22:02 Why Pain Matters 23:55 Strategic Partnerships 34:50 Process Starts With Numbers 41:17 Transparent Communication 43:55 Closing Thoughts Find Our Hosts: Reece Barnes [https://www.linkedin.com/in/reece-barnes-aa84b884/] Matt Calvano [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattcalvano/] Podcast   [https://www.motifmedia.com/post/case-study-modern-craftsman-podcast]Produced By: Motif Media [https://www.motifmedia.com/]