S1E26 | I Never Applied for a Promotion—Now I Own the Company

S1E26 | I Never Applied for a Promotion—Now I Own the Company

What does it take to go from operating heavy equipment to owning the company? Steven A. Koch II never chased promotions. He started at PSC Construction as a heavy equipment operator and earned new opportunities by consistently creating value, helping the people around him, and doing great work every day. Years later, he purchased the very company where he started and now serves as its President and Chief Executive Officer. In this episode of Builders, Makers, Doers, Elliot Bassett sits down with Steven to discuss leadership, business ownership, company culture, workforce development, and what it really takes to build a construction company that people are proud to be part of. Whether you're leading a crew, growing a construction business, or thinking about buying a company someday, this conversation offers practical lessons from someone who's lived every step of the journey. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN * Why earning trust creates more opportunities than chasing promotions. * How Steven went from heavy equipment operator to business owner and CEO. * Why surrounding yourself with the right advisors is essential when buying a business. * Why the best compliment an employee can give an owner is bringing their friends and family to work with them. * Why teaching, communication, and trust are the foundation of effective leadership. ABOUT THE GUEST Steven A. Koch II is the President and Chief Executive Officer of PSC Construction, Inc., a Nebraska-based heavy civil contractor specializing in site preparation, underground utilities, excavation, and industrial construction throughout the Midwest. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-a-koch-ii-67b95916/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-a-koch-ii-67b95916/] Website https://psccompanies.com/ [https://psccompanies.com/] WATCH MORE BUILDERS, MAKERS, DOERS ▶ Subscribe to Builders, Makers, Doers for more conversations with operators, builders, business owners, and industry leaders. STAY CONNECTED AND FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT Builders, Makers, Doers on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellerbrock-norris/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellerbrock-norris/] Website https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/ [https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/] CONNECT WITH THE HOST Elliot Bassett President & Partner, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-bassett-aip-cpcu-84499515/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-bassett-aip-cpcu-84499515/] CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome and introduction 00:01 Steven's background in construction 00:05 From heavy equipment operator to leadership 00:08 Learning to lead people instead of equipment 00:12 Running operations at PSC Construction 00:14 Buying the company 00:20 Growing the Business 00:21 Building a people-first culture 00:23 Developing future leaders 00:25 A memorable construction project 00:27 The biggest challenges in construction 00:29 Why Steven loves the construction industry 00:30 The future of the skilled trades 00:32 Closing thoughts We often talk about the 10 impact areas of risk within a business. Now, you can join us for a FREE Resiliency Audit. In 30 minutes, we'll comb through your business, find where you may be at risk, and deliver a detailed plan on how to address the issues. Time to stop being reactive – and commit to being proactive. Schedule your audit today.  [https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency] You clearly like learning how other businesses are building resiliency. From the people the hire to their safety practices, risk management strategies, exit planning and more. Now, you can do a deep dive on YOUR business – for free. We'll dive into your business and deliver a detailed report that shows you actionable next steps and potential cost long-term savings. Sign up today at www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency [https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency].

S1E25 | A Safety Program on Paper Is Worse Than None feat. Jesse Phillips

Most contractors think safety problems happen because they don't have enough policies. Jesse Phillips sees a different problem. The companies that struggle most often aren't missing safety programs. They have safety programs nobody follows. In this episode of Builders, Makers, Doers, Elliot Bassett sits down with Jesse Phillips, Director of Safety at Ellerbrock-Norris, to discuss what actually creates safer jobsites, stronger accountability, and better business outcomes. The conversation goes beyond OSHA, PPE, and compliance requirements and gets to the real issue: operational discipline. If your company has policies on paper but struggles with execution in the field, this episode will hit close to home. IN THIS EPISODE * Why paperwork creates false confidence * The leadership mistake most safety programs make * What data centers are forcing contractors to learn * Why experienced crews become the highest-risk crews * The hidden cost behind preventable incidents * The accountability gap hiding inside most safety programs WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR  * Contractors * Construction company owners * Trade business operators * Project managers * Field leaders * Safety professionals * Operations leaders GUEST INFORMATION Jesse Phillips, CHST Director of Safety Ellerbrock-Norris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-phillips-chst-755672265/  Website: https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/ ▶ Watch the full episode and subscribe to Builders, Makers, Doers for more conversations with operators, builders, and business owners. Stay Connected & Follow the Movement Follow Builders, Makers, Doers on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellerbrock-norris/ Grab a copy of Andy Bassett’s book https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/book CONNECT WITH THE HOSTS Andy Bassett CEO, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-bassett-cpcu-cic-7711853/  Elliot Bassett President and Partner, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-bassett-aip-cpcu-84499515/  https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/  CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Jesse Phillips and Safety Leadership 01:34 How Construction Safety Has Changed 02:32 Why Safety Programs Fail Without Enforcement 04:14 The Data Center Effect on Construction Safety 07:22 Documentation Doesn't Create Accountability 11:07 What Jesse Looks For on Every Jobsite 13:00 The Real Danger of Complacency 14:05 Why Corrective Actions Matter 17:11 Safety Culture Takes Time to Build 20:18 What Contractors Get Wrong About OSHA 27:40 The Wildest Safety Stories Jesse Has Seen 30:16 Final Lessons for Contractors We often talk about the 10 impact areas of risk within a business. Now, you can join us for a FREE Resiliency Audit. In 30 minutes, we'll comb through your business, find where you may be at risk, and deliver a detailed plan on how to address the issues. Time to stop being reactive – and commit to being proactive. Schedule your audit today.  [https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency] You clearly like learning how other businesses are building resiliency. From the people the hire to their safety practices, risk management strategies, exit planning and more. Now, you can do a deep dive on YOUR business – for free. We'll dive into your business and deliver a detailed report that shows you actionable next steps and potential cost long-term savings. Sign up today at www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency [https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency].

S1E24 | The Real Construction Labor Problem Nobody Wants to Fix feat. Bo Jones

Most business owners already know hiring is difficult. What fewer people realize is how deep the skilled labor pipeline problem actually goes. In this episode of Builders, Makers, Doers, Andy and Elliot Bassett sit down with Bo Jones — Founder and CEO of Tru-Built Construction and founder of CareerPathway.com — to talk about the future of the trades, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and why students are disconnected from real career opportunities long before graduation. Bo shares how Tru-Built Construction grew from small remodeling jobs during college into large commercial and multifamily projects, what surviving the 2008 housing crash taught him, and why he built CareerPathway.com after seeing firsthand how broken the workforce connection gap had become. This episode covers: * Why the skilled trades labor shortage keeps getting worse * The reality of entrepreneurship during economic downturns * Why students are struggling to find career direction * How AI may shift interest back toward blue-collar industries * What construction companies are facing with labor and permitting today Guest Information: Bo Jones Founder / CEO, Tru-Built Construction and CareerPathway.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bo-jones/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bo-jones/] Websites: https://tru-built.net/ [https://tru-built.net/]https://www.careerpathway.com/ [https://www.careerpathway.com/] ▶ Watch the full episode and subscribe to Builders, Makers, Doers for more conversations with operators, builders, and business owners. Stay Connected & Follow the Movement Follow Builders, Makers, Doers on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/ellerbrock-norris/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellerbrock-norris/]  Grab a copy of Andy Bassett’s book https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/book [https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/book]  Connect with the Hosts: Andy Bassett CEO, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-bassett-cpcu/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-bassett-cpcu-cic-7711853/]  Elliot Bassett President and Partner, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-bassett-aip-cpcu/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-bassett-aip-cpcu-84499515/]  🌐 https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFU0TU1JZ0lEb1ZVUjQwSUlQaW5NYzB3aDJxd3xBQ3Jtc0trSzZNT0J4RHR1Y3FPbHNlM3djTnNucTBrRGh6ckxqSWtPOTltQmhFaFNrVERkcFlRdGxsSkZycTBTYkhiOU43RHlsY2h3ZWROeXJGZ1VhWHpvc0p5UTRqSm1qWmtRNTFWRlBjRTlsaVFWTGtDSENUbw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ellerbrock-norris.com%2F&v=sDPp2SSWJiAhttps://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/ [https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/]  Chapters 00:00 INTRODUCTION 00:01 HOW TRU-BUILT CONSTRUCTION STARTED 00:02 FROM COLLEGE SIDE JOBS TO COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION 00:04 BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR BY ACCIDENT 00:06 SURVIVING THE 2008 HOUSING CRASH 00:07 WHY THE TRADES LABOR SHORTAGE IS GETTING WORSE 00:10 THE REALITY OF BUSINESS OWNERSHIP 00:14 WHY CAREERPATHWAY.COM WAS CREATED 00:17 BUILDING A CAREER DISCOVERY PLATFORM 00:20 CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH REAL OPPORTUNITIES 00:24 AI AND THE FUTURE OF SKILLED TRADES 00:27 GROWING CAREERPATHWAY.COM ACROSS THE COUNTRY 00:32 CONSTRUCTION GROWTH, HOUSING, AND PERMITTING 00:36 WHY THE TRADES ARE LOSING YOUNG PEOPLE We often talk about the 10 impact areas of risk within a business. Now, you can join us for a FREE Resiliency Audit. In 30 minutes, we'll comb through your business, find where you may be at risk, and deliver a detailed plan on how to address the issues. Time to stop being reactive – and commit to being proactive. Schedule your audit today.  [https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency] You clearly like learning how other businesses are building resiliency. From the people the hire to their safety practices, risk management strategies, exit planning and more. Now, you can do a deep dive on YOUR business – for free. We'll dive into your business and deliver a detailed report that shows you actionable next steps and potential cost long-term savings. Sign up today at www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency [https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency].

S1E23 | Why Profit Has to Come First in a Trades Business with Mike Michalowicz

Most business owners were taught the same formula: Revenue minus expenses equals profit. Mike Michalowicz believes that formula is one of the biggest reasons entrepreneurs stay stuck financially. In this episode of Builders, Makers, Doers, Andy Bassett and Elliot Bassett sit down with Mike Michalowicz to talk about profit protection, owner psychology, operational discipline, and why so many businesses work hard without actually building financial resiliency. This conversation matters because a lot of trades businesses are generating revenue while still operating too close to the edge. Mike explains why profit cannot be treated as whatever is left over, and how taking profit first forces owners to confront pricing problems, overspending, weak marketing, and operational inefficiencies before they become bigger risks. In this episode: * Why “Revenue - Expenses = Profit” creates behavioral problems for owners * How Profit First exposes what is actually broken inside a business * Why ordinary trades businesses often have the biggest opportunity to stand out * What ambitious employees are really looking for from leadership * How customer experience can outperform expensive marketing Guest: Mike Michalowicz Co-Founder, Entrepreneur https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemichalowicz/ https://mikemichalowicz.com/ ▶ Subscribe for more conversations with builders, makers, and doers solving real business problems in construction, manufacturing, and the skilled trades. Stay Connected & Follow the Movement • Follow Builders, Makers, Doers on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellerbrock-norris/ • Grab a copy of Andy Bassett’s book https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/book Connect with the Hosts Andy Bassett CEO, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-bassett-cpcu-cic-7711853/ Elliot Bassett President and Partner, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-bassett-aip-cpcu-84499515/ 🌐 https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/ Chapters: 00:00 — Why So Many Entrepreneurs Stay Financially Stuck 02:35 — The Problem With the Traditional Profit Formula 04:05 — Profit First Exposes What’s Actually Broken 07:30 — Can Profit First Still Support Growth? 10:40 — Why Employees Do Not Care About Your Revenue Goal 16:35 — Open Books and Quarterly Profit Distributions 18:30 — The Truth About Ambitious Employees 22:00 — The HVAC Company That Replaced Ads With Experience 24:00 — Why Ordinary Businesses Have the Biggest Opportunity We often talk about the 10 impact areas of risk within a business. Now, you can join us for a FREE Resiliency Audit. In 30 minutes, we'll comb through your business, find where you may be at risk, and deliver a detailed plan on how to address the issues. Time to stop being reactive – and commit to being proactive. Schedule your audit today.  [https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency] You clearly like learning how other businesses are building resiliency. From the people the hire to their safety practices, risk management strategies, exit planning and more. Now, you can do a deep dive on YOUR business – for free. We'll dive into your business and deliver a detailed report that shows you actionable next steps and potential cost long-term savings. Sign up today at www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency [https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency].

S1E22 | Why Aaron Gunderson Is Buying Trades Businesses Instead of Tech Companies

Most trades businesses are still built around a few key people. The owner knows everything. The foreman keeps jobs moving. The systems live in someone’s head. And eventually growth starts creating pressure instead of freedom. That’s a big reason Aaron Gunderson started buying trades businesses. Aaron is the CEO of Bison, a company that acquires and operates businesses across landscaping, roofing, irrigation, and other trades-related industries. In this conversation, he breaks down what actually makes a trades company valuable, why keeping good people matters more than perfect systems, and where many operators quietly get stuck as they grow. This episode matters because a lot of trades businesses are running into the same challenges: Scaling without structure. Keeping key employees. Building systems while still running jobs every day. Trying to grow without losing what made the business work in the first place. In this episode, you’ll learn: What Aaron Gunderson looks for when evaluating trades businesses for acquisition Why key employees are often more valuable than equipment or assets How growing companies create opportunities that keep strong people from leaving Why many trades companies struggle with systems, marketing, and operational structure Practical ways AI is already helping operators improve efficiency and decision-making If you own, lead, or are trying to grow a construction, landscaping, roofing, or specialty trades business, this conversation will feel practical, familiar, and immediately relevant. ▶ Watch the full episode and subscribe to Builders, Makers, Doers for more conversations with operators, builders, and business owners. Stay Connected & Follow the Movement • Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts • Follow Builders, Makers, Doers on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/ellerbrock-norris/ • Grab a copy of Andy Bassett’s book https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/book Connect with the Hosts Andy Bassett CEO, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-bassett-cpcu-cic-7711853/ Elliot Bassett President and Partner, Ellerbrock-Norris https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-bassett-aip-cpcu-84499515/ 🌐 https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/ CHAPTERS 00:00 – Why Aaron Gunderson buys businesses 02:10 – From rental properties to acquisitions 05:00 – Why Bison focused on trades companies 08:15 – What makes a trades business valuable 11:00 – How acquisitions are evaluated 14:05 – The challenge of keeping key people 19:10 – Biggest problems in the trades today 21:25 – Why employees leave to start competitors 26:00 – Marketing and AI for trades businesses 29:15 – Using AI to improve operations 31:00 – Building companies that scale long term 34:10 – Leadership, communication, and growth We often talk about the 10 impact areas of risk within a business. Now, you can join us for a FREE Resiliency Audit. In 30 minutes, we'll comb through your business, find where you may be at risk, and deliver a detailed plan on how to address the issues. Time to stop being reactive – and commit to being proactive. Schedule your audit today.  [https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency] You clearly like learning how other businesses are building resiliency. From the people the hire to their safety practices, risk management strategies, exit planning and more. Now, you can do a deep dive on YOUR business – for free. We'll dive into your business and deliver a detailed report that shows you actionable next steps and potential cost long-term savings. Sign up today at www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency [https://www.ellerbrock-norris.com/resiliency].