15+ Year Construction Veteran Goes All in On His Own Business

From Electrician to Solar Entrepreneur: Building Vegas Family Solar with Peter Ponce De Leon

Episode 20 of American Builders features Peter Ponce De Leon, Founder of Vegas Family Solar. Peter shares how he went from working as an electrician, to a career in finance, and ultimately back into the trades to build one of Las Vegas' growing solar companies. We dive into what it really takes to build a successful solar installation business, the partnerships that drive growth, and where the residential solar market is headed over the next decade. We discuss: Peter's journey from electrician to entrepreneur How contractors can add solar as a service offering Licensing, insurance, and certifications required to install solar Common operational challenges when launching a solar business Building partnerships with roofers, general contractors, manufacturers, and distributors When solar makes sense for homeowners, and when it doesn't AI, energy demand, and the future of the electric grid The economics and margins behind residential solar projects Financing, leasing, and how solar companies get paid Marketing strategies, referrals, and generating consistent leads Which geographic markets are best suited for solar Lessons learned after eight years of building Vegas Family Solar Learn more about Vegas Family Solar: https://vegasfamilysolar.com/ Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/

This Woman-Owned General Contractor Is Dominating the Texas Market

This episode of American Builders features Janie Maldonado, the founder and CEO of GCS, a Texas-based commercial construction firm specializing in general contracting, construction management, facilities maintenance, and Job Order Contracting (JOC). We discuss: • The leap from employee to entrepreneur and the realities of betting on yourself • Leading and building credibility as a woman in the construction industry • What is really happening in the Texas construction market today • The sales and marketing strategies that actually drive growth for contractors • Operational bottlenecks, technology adoption, and the future of construction • Scaling intentionally without sacrificing culture, quality, or execution • Lessons learned on risk, leadership, and entrepreneurship American Builders is presented by TradeGuard, the risk management platform built for contractors and trades businesses. TradeGuard helps contractors streamline subcontractor compliance, insurance verification, onboarding, and risk management in one place. Learn more at https://tradeguardins.com/

15+ Year Construction Veteran Goes All in On His Own Business

This episode of American Builders features Ryan Powell, Founder of AIM Construction Partners. We discuss Ryan's journey from JE Dunn to Oddo Development and ultimately launching his own construction company, the lessons he learned from both the GC and developer sides of the industry, and how he landed and executed a nearly $9 million design-build project in AIM's first year.  Ryan also shares insights on subcontractor relationships, operational excellence, networking, and what it really takes to build a successful construction business from the ground up. American Builders is presented by TradeGuard, the insurance and compliance partner built for contractors. Learn more at https://tradeguardins.com/

The Future of Trades Business Acquisitions with Ryan Williams of DivvyShares

This episode features Ryan Williams, Co-Founder & COO of DivvyShares. DivvyShares acquires small trades and home service businesses and transitions them into employee-owned companies, creating long-term wealth opportunities for employees while preserving the legacy of the business owner. In this episode, we discuss: * What makes a trades business attractive for acquisition * The biggest mistakes owners make before selling their company * How employee ownership changes retention, culture, and incentives * What buyers look for during due diligence * The future of acquisitions in the trades industry Learn more about DivvyShares: https://divvyshares.com/ Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/

From Engineer to Entrepreneur: The All-In Bet That Paid Off

This episode of American Builders features Thomas Stark, Founder of Stark Industrial.  Stark industrial is a commercial & industrial water treatment and maintenance provider, servicing some of the biggest buildings in the Kansas City Metro.  On this episode, we discuss: - Going from corporate job to entrepreneurship - The importance of mentorship - The business model of water treatment companies  - Sales & marketing: what has worked, and what hasn't  - The future of Stark Industrial Learn more about Stark Industrial: https://www.starkindustrial.net/ Presented by TradeGuard: https://tradeguardins.com/