How This HVAC Owner Built a 5-Star Business From Scratch (With Zero Customers) | Jeremy Wolf

From Army Ranger to 120 Houses: The Real Cost of Scaling Fast with Jimmy Vreeland

Jimmy Vreeland is a West Point graduate, former Army Ranger, and full time real estate investor with a portfolio built through discipline, private money, and some hard lessons learned the expensive way. In this episode Jimmy walks through his journey from buying his first houses while deployed overseas to scaling to 120 properties and hitting a wall that forced him to rethink everything. He covers the four pillars of real estate wealth, who the ideal investor profile actually looks like, and why personal transformation is always at the center of business growth. Whether you're just getting into real estate or already scaling and feeling the cracks, Jimmy's story will give you both perspective and a practical framework to keep moving forward.

You're Not Starting Over. You're Starting From Experience

Ashley Burkeen is a serial entrepreneur with 12 years in general contracting, a regional Master Networks franchise, short-term rentals, a holistic skincare line, and a book to her name. In this episode she gets real about what it actually takes to build across multiple industries without losing yourself in the process. From networking and personal branding to failure, delegation, and self-awareness, Ashley brings a refreshingly honest perspective on entrepreneurship that goes way beyond hustle culture. If you're building something and feeling like you have to fit a mold that was never made for you, this one's worth your full attention.

Why Most Contractors Fail (And How to Break the Cycle) with Brandon Fuchs

Brandon Fuchs brings over 20 years of construction experience and $100 million in managed projects to this conversation. As the founder of the Elite Builder Society, he's on a mission to cut the contractor failure rate by tackling the root cause: fear and a lack of business fundamentals. In this episode we cover why so many skilled contractors stay stuck, how AI is transforming the front end of construction businesses, and what a real sales framework looks like when you lead with authority and confidence. Whether you're just starting out or trying to scale past a ceiling you can't explain, Brandon's perspective will challenge how you think about your business and yourself.

How This HVAC Owner Built a 5-Star Business From Scratch (With Zero Customers) | Jeremy Wolf

Most people use a pandemic as an excuse to wait. Jeremy Wolf used it to launch. In March 2020, with the world shutting down, he started Stay Cool Climate Control from scratch and turned it into one of the most recognized HVAC brands in St. Louis. In this episode, Jeremy breaks down how he built a standout brand in a crowded market, made the shift from technician to business owner, and learned to trust a team so the business could grow without him. If you own a service business or work in the trades, this one is worth your time. Book a FREE marketing audit for your business: https://buildauthority.com/contact-us/ Apply to be a guest on the podcast: https://buildauthority.com/learning-hub/contractor-marketing-podcast/

From Solo Contractor to $20M Goal: How to Scale a Deck Business in 2026

Most contractors stay stuck swinging a hammer for 90 hours a week because they never make the jump from operator to owner. Trant, a third-generation carpenter based in Nottingham, New Hampshire, almost did. Then his wife told him they were having a kid, and everything changed. In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, host Adam McChesney sits down with Trant to break down exactly how he went from solo contractor to building a custom deck and outdoor living company on track to hit $20M in annual revenue, and why niching down to decks (instead of being a master of all trades) was the single biggest unlock. What we cover: – Why niching down to decks streamlined his estimating, SOPs, and office operations – The mindset shift from contractor to business owner — and the audiobooks and mentors that drove it – How becoming a dad forced him to build a company that could run without him on every job site – The marketing stack that built the brand: vehicle wraps, Google Ads, Google Business Profile, and targeted neighborhood mailers – Why hiring a virtual assistant was one of the highest-ROI moves he made – His 5-year plan: $20M in revenue and a dedicated outdoor living design center – How to delegate the tasks outside your expertise so you can focus on growth 🔗 CONNECT:  Facebook  https://bit.ly/3td8Pdo Instagram  https://bit.ly/3HmCR3m LinkedIn  https://bit.ly/3hjU4jq ✉️ CONTACT: Email  adam@buildauthority.co Website  adammcchesney.com