Have you ever felt like you had a "make you" or "break you" project?

We dive in with Victor Mezhvinsky, President and Founder of FORMA Construction, whose journey from emigrant roots to luxury builder is nothing short of inspiring -- Especially with one make or break project that defined his future.

Episode Summary: 

• Family Journey and High Expectations
• The Epiphany and Entrepreneurial Drive
• Navigating Challenges and Building Success
• The Project That Defined His Future 
• Craftsmanship and Company Culture
• Innovation and Growth Mindset

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EPISODE NOTES:

Family Journey and High Expectations:

• Victor shares his family's journey from the Soviet Union to the United States, highlighting the hardworking ethos instilled by his father.
• He reflects on the high-pressure environment at home and the expectations placed on him to succeed in conventional professions.

The Epiphany and Entrepreneurial Drive:

• The pivotal moment when he realized his true calling in construction, spurred by a desire to break away from societal norms.
• He discusses the risk-taking mindset that led him to venture into real estate and ultimately establish FORMA Construction.

Navigating Challenges and Building Success:

• Victor's early challenges, including securing a significant loan and navigating disagreements with his business partner.
• Importance of prioritizing quality over quantity, which set FORMA Construction apart in the industry.

Craftsmanship and Company Culture:

• Victor shares his obsession with craftsmanship and the company's commitment to excellence, driving a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
• FORMA's mission and values, emphasizing the importance of aligning the team with a shared vision.

Innovation and Growth Mindset:

• How Victor stays ahead of innovation and fostering a growth mindset among its employees.
• Insights into maintaining a balance between setting high expectations and providing validation and support to the team.
• Victor's favorite Vicism
  • “What got you here won’t get you there.”
  • “Just because I give you a recipe, it doesn’t make you a chef.”
  • “Good judgement comes from experience, good experience comes from bad judgement.”

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CONNECT WITH US:

👷‍♂️ Victor Mezhvinsky (Guest)

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Website

👷‍♂️ Matt (Co-Host)

• YouTube
• @mattbangswood on Instagram
• LinkedIn

👷‍♂️ Brek (Co-Host)

• LinkedIn
• Hammr.com
• @wearehammr on Instagram

On this episode we dive in with the legend, Ryan Smith (aka Roof Slayer), to discuss his journey of mastering framing and roof cutting, gaining knowledge, and embracing growth and mentorship.

Episode Summary: 

• Ryan's Journey and Expertise
• The Market for Hand-Cut Roofs
• Passing Down Knowledge and Challenges
• Embracing Education and Mentorship 

Ryan's Journey and Expertise:

• Ryan shares his journey into the construction industry, starting at 18 years old with a passion for carpentry.
• He discusses his role as the sole roof cutter for a custom framing company in Buffalo, New York, emphasizing the meticulous process of learning and mastering roof cutting techniques.

The Market for Hand-Cut Roofs:

• Learn about the niche market for hand-cut roofs and discuss the cost comparison between on-site cutting and pre-fabricated truss systems.
• Ryan sheds light on the challenges and advantages of hand-cut roofs, particularly in regions like Buffalo.

Passing Down Knowledge and Challenges:

• Ryan reflects on the lack of motivated individuals entering the trades and the changing work ethic among younger generations.
• The importance of passing down knowledge and strategies to ignite interest in the construction industry among the youth.

Embracing Education and Mentorship:

• The significance of sharing knowledge and experiences in a positive light to inspire future generations of construction professionals.
• His involvement in educational initiatives, including filming courses on Roof Cutting with MT Copeland, to contribute to the industry's growth.

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Follow our Podcast on Instagram @bredtobuildpodcast
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Connect with us...

👷‍♂️ Ryan Smith aka Roof Slayer (Guest)
Instagram

👷‍♂️ Matt (Co-Host)
YouTube
@mattbangswood on Instagram
LinkedIn

👷‍♂️ Brek (Co-Host)
LinkedIn
Hammr.com
@wearehammr on Instagram

On this episode we dive in with Herb Sargent, President and CEO of Sargent Corporation, known for their heavy civil construction work across seven states in the Northeast.

Episode Summary: 

• Exploring Sargent Corporation
• Transition to Employee Ownership
• Investing in People and Development
• Utilizing Podcasting for Company Growth
• Future Outlook and Personal Reflections

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Exploring Sargent Corporation:

• Insights into Sargent Corporation's extensive operations and its evolution into a prominent player in heavy civil construction.
• Herb's brief college experience and the pivotal decision to return to the family business.

Transition to Employee Ownership:

• The journey of transitioning Sargent Corporation into an employee-owned business, emphasizing his commitment to building a legacy beyond familial succession.
• Dig into the significance of employee ownership and its impact on company culture and success.

Investing in People and Development:

• Emphasis on personnel development, retirement planning, and creating opportunities for employee growth.
• Sargent Construction Academy, designed to recruit, train, and empower individuals in the construction industry.

Utilizing Podcasting for Company Growth:

• Sargent's On-Track Podcast and its role in amplifying the company's mission of investing in people.
• Insights on the concept of "Momentum of the Flywheel" and its relevance to sustaining organizational success through continuous development and execution.

Future Outlook and Herb's Personal Reflections:

• Get a glimpse into the future plans and developments of Sargent Corporation, emphasizing a commitment to long-term vision and adaptability.
• Herb's personal journey and the pivotal moments where belief from others truly shaped his confidence and leadership approach.

Liking the podcast? 🎧

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Podcast Powered by Hammr 🔨
Hammr: Construction Payroll, HR & Operations — in one place

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-> Visit Hammr.com to Get Your Free Demo <- 

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Follow us on Social & Give us a Shout.
Follow our Podcast on Instagram @bredtobuildpodcast
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Connect with us...

👷‍♂️ Herb Sargent (Guest)
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube
Website

👷‍♂️ Matt (Co-Host)
YouTube
@mattbangswood on Instagram
LinkedIn

👷‍♂️ Brek (Co-Host)
LinkedIn
Hammr.com
@wearehammr on Instagram

College wasn't for Justin. His father was a builder and he found himself in Arizona building everything from kidney bean pools, shark tanks, and monster pools to keep the desert residents cool. 

On this episode we discuss more about: 

• What motivated him to specialize in pools 
• Lessons from another plumber in 2008 
• What qualities separate good builders from bad builders
• How to motivate your team and keep your team's morale high
• Training and retraining your team

Getting your systems in place isn't your strong suit?
Hammr has your back.
Time tracking, payroll, benefits and compliance — in one place.
The all-in-one platform built for Construction. 

-> Visit Hammr.com to Get Your Free Demo <- 

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Liking the podcast? Show us and our guests some support.
Subscribe to the podcast
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Follow us on Social & Give us a Shout.
Follow our Podcast on Instagram @bredtobuildpodcast
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Connect with us...

👷‍♂️ Justin Bowie (Guest)
Instagram
YouTube
Website

👷‍♂️ Matt (Co-Host)
YouTube
@mattbangswood on Instagram
LinkedIn

👷‍♂️ Brek (Co-Host)
LinkedIn
Hammr.com
@wearehammr on Instagram

7 Ways Sell On Value Not Price. We break down 7 topics in the episode and how it's worked for TJ Snowdon in his business. 

1. Communicate well. Communicate often. 
2. Be responsive. Take initiative. 
3. Get organized. Build systems. 
4. Show up. 
5. Be confident in your work. But don't be cocky.
6. Look the part. Be professional.
7. Make sure you're qualifying your client. Not just them qualifying you. 

Getting your systems in place isn't your strong suit?
Hammr has got your back. 
Time tracking, payroll, benefits and compliance — in one place.
The all-in-one platform built for Construction. 

-> Visit Hammr.com to Get Your Free Demo <- 

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Liking the podcast? Show us and our guests some support.
Subscribe to the podcast
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Follow us on Social & Give us a Shout.
Follow our Podcast on Instagram @bredtobuildpodcast
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👷‍♂️ TJ Snowdon (Guest)
Snowdon Construction on Instagram
Website
Previous Episode w/ TJ Snowdon: 
Ep. 2 Building Camaraderie 

👷‍♂️ Matt (Co-Host)
YouTube
@mattbangswood on Instagram
LinkedIn

👷‍♂️ Brek (Co-Host)
LinkedIn
Hammr.com
@wearehammr on Instagram

American Pavement started with humble beginnings. It is a family-run business that prides itself on hard work, branding, and elevating the paving industry. In this episode, we chat with Matt Stanley, one of the four sons, about the family's history and the vision behind starting and growing the well-respected movement, Raised On Blacktop.

In this episode we dig into: 

• Story behind American Pavement
• Growing up in a construction family 
• Family dynamics (roles & responsibilities)
• Founding story of Raised On Blacktop
• Growing the paving community 

Podcast Powered by Hammr
The all-in-one platform built for Construction. 
Top contractors use Hammr for time tracking, payroll, benefits and compliance — in one place.

-> Visit Hammr.com to Get Your Free Demo <- 

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Liking the podcast? Show us and our guests some support.
Subscribe to the podcast
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Follow us on Social & Give us a Shout.
Follow our Podcast on Instagram @bredtobuildpodcast
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👷‍♂️ Matt Stanley (Guest)
American Pavement on Instagram
Raised On Blacktop on Instagram
Matt Stanley on Instagram
Matt Stanley on LinkedIn

👷‍♂️ Matt (Co-Host)
YouTube
@mattbangswood on Instagram
LinkedIn

👷‍♂️ Brek (Co-Host)
LinkedIn
Hammr.com
@wearehammr on Instagram

We did something new. We brought on a listener to share how the podcast has positively impacted them. Here are some things Lucas said during this episode:

• "Yes, recommend 10/10. Listen to the podcast. Take in as much content as you can. It has been phenomenal."
• "Taking those points from the podcast and like morphing it into... what can this do for me? And it's just been compounding."
• "They should listen to it because the content is there. Look beyond the conversation, and picture in your mind, like, how can I put that into play? And, what can I do to morph that idea into my business and into my brand?" 

Lucas Comstock originally posted on Brek's LinkedIn (this post) and shared how the podcast has been a game changer for him and his business. We decided to bring him on here to share knowledge he's gained and the improvements being made in his life. 

Some key topics:

• Bred To Build was the first to come up when he searched "construction" in Apple Podcasts
• 3 episodes have been game changers for him (Episode 27, 31, 32)
• The podcast content is top-notch but make sure you actually apply it so you can lean

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Subscribe to the podcast
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We wouldn't be here without your support

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👷‍♂️ Lucas Comstock (Guest)
LinkedIn

Instagram

👷‍♂️ Matt (Co-Host)
YouTube
Instagram @mattbangswood

👷‍♂️ Brek (Co-Host)
LinkedIn
Hammr.com
Instagram @wearehammr

Tune in to hear from Schannon Yodice & Chris Ortega on how they build the That Tile Chick brand. In this episode you'll hear: 

• Changing careers 
• Starting a new life and business in a brand new city 
• Using social media to grow their tile installation business & That Tile Chick
• Overcoming the struggles of being a woman in a male-dominated industry 
• And their aspirations on where they want to take their brand next 

Podcast Powered by Hammr 
Hammr is the first all-in-one platform specifically built for contractors to track time, run payroll, job cost, and manage HR without the back-office complexity. Trusted by top contractors.

-> Visit Hammr.com to Get Your Free Demo <- 

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Liking the podcast? Show us and our guests some support.
Subscribe to the podcast
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We wouldn't be here without your support

Follow us on Social & Give us a Shout.
Follow our Podcast on Instagram @bredtobuildpodcast
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👷‍♂️ That Tile Chick (Guest)
Instagram @thattilechick

Website thattilechick.com

Facebook
YouTube
TikTok

👷‍♂️ Matt (Co-Host)
YouTube
Instagram @mattbangswood

👷‍♂️ Brek (Co-Host)
LinkedIn
Hammr.com
Instagram @wearehammr

In this episode, we dig into some powerful topics including: 

• Recovery and becoming the best version of yourself (a true transformation story)
• The importance of second chances and being a second chance employer
• Leadership advice for building culture and empowering employees
• And Keith's experience of completing a 100 mile ultra marathon

1) Keith shares his wild and inspiring story of recovery and turning his life around. He discussing his struggles with addiction and the process of rebuilding his life.

2) Keith digs deeper into the topic of second chances, sharing about his experience as a second chance employer and his observations about those seeking a second chance. We talk about the importance of second chances and the support systems he has in place to help employees build better futures. 

3) We gain insights on building culture, addressing mental health and addiction in the workplace, and dealing with disagreements. We also touch on the importance of empowering employees to become independent thinkers.

4) We hear about his experience of completing a 100 mile ultra marathon, including the mental and physical challenges faced and how he dealt with the discomfort. If you like chasing your potential, you'll appreciate hearing about the 40% rule.

If you enjoy this episode or learn something new, please drop us an awesome 5-star review on Apple Podcasts.

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Subscribe & write an awesome review. We wouldn't be here without your support.

Follow us on Social & Give us a Shout. 

• Our Podcast on Instagram @bredtobuildpodcast
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👷‍♂️ Keith Callaway Jr (Guest)
LinkedIn
Instagram @keithcallawayjr
Instagram @kandlindustries

👷‍♂️ Matt (Co-Host)
YouTube
Instagram @mattbangswood

👷‍♂️ Brek (Co-Host)
LinkedIn
Hammr.com
Instagram @wearehammr

In construction, your people make or break you. This is a no-BS episode...

Tune in to learn more about how to:

• Solve your people problems
• Get the field and office/HR to work together
• Stop losing money on jobs
• Run a kickass meeting

Eric Anderton (aka Construction Genius) joins us on the podcast. He's a trusted leadership advisor, executive mentor and expert meeting facilitator for construction companies that range in revenue from $10 million - $1 billion...he knows his stuff. 

If you enjoy this episode or learn something new, please drop us an awesome 5-star review on Apple Podcasts.

"Talented people are your best asset no matter what the economy is doing."

Eric's recently launched book -- Construction Genius: Effective, Hands-On, Practical, Simple, No-BS Leadership, Strategy, Sales, and Marketing Advice for Construction Companies

Get the book on Amazon

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Liking the podcast?
Subscribe & write an awesome review. We wouldn't be here without your support.

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👷‍♂️ Eric Anderton (Guest)
Website
LinkedIn
Podcast
Get his book!

👷‍♂️ Matt (Co-Host)
YouTube
Instagram @mattbangswood

👷‍♂️ Brek (Co-Host)
LinkedIn
Hammr.com
Instagram @wearehammr

Like war stories? You'll enjoy this episode. Taking over a business went south for this twenty-something year old builder. $400,000 in the red. Tune in to hear how this builder fought his way back to building a multi-million dollar business within 4 years.

In this episode you hear us talk about:
* Hire a lawyer and get your contracts squared away
* Hiring and firing
* Setting goals for yourself is a must

And a lot more. Tune in.

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Liking the podcast?
Subscribe & write an awesome review. We wouldn't be here without your support!

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Podcast Powered by Hammr

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👷‍♂️ Cameron Creamer (Guest)
Website
Instagram

👷‍♂️ Matt (Co-Host)
His YouTube
His Instagram

👷‍♂️ Brek (Co-Host)
His LinkedIn
Web: Hammr.com
Hammr on Instagram