Building the Future Podcast

Technology is more than just a buzzword – it is a force multiplier. It is a valuable asset that can improve your business or possibly drown you in unused data. In this episode, I sit down with Levi Smith from Franklin Building Supply to discuss the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities of technology. Levi shares how his team is using technology to improve their level of information, better utilize time, and maximize results.

Guest: Levi Smith

Quality, service, price, and relationship are the keys to success in sales, with relationships being the only component you have 100% control over. Tune in to “The Superforce Multiplier” with Randy Chaffee to learn from his 40-plus years of experience building relationships in the LBM industry and how he leveraged that to truly set himself apart from the competition. This episode with Randy & Brett defines why this industry is so amazing.

Guest: Randy Chaffee

In the business world we currently operate in, standard operating procedures have become anything but standard. Many of the processes and procedures have changed but the fundamentals are still the same. In this episode, Brett covers 4 of the largest operation pain points to get back to the basics of business as together we are building the future.

Check out these other episodes:

Have you been experiencing personnel issues with both recruiting and retaining employees? If so, you are not alone, as this is an issue throughout our industry and country. In this episode, Brett connects with Levi Smith of Franklin Building Supply to discuss how their organization of over 750 employees has insulated itself from many of these issues because of cultural and structural changes they made a few years ago.  

Guest: Levi Smith

Technology in our industry is no longer new, it is now! Is your business ready? The LBM industry has been late to the game, but new technology is now available to streamline project management and make every aspect of your day-to-day job duties more efficient. On Tech Talk, I meet with Jennifer Castenson from Buildxact to talk all about technology and how it's shaping our industry for the future.

Guest: Jennifer Castenson

In a male-dominated industry like the Construction industry, there is a place and need for women in the industry. In Ep 44: The House That She Built, I sit down with Natalie Miles to discuss her latest endeavor, The House That She Built. Tune in as we discuss the challenges and rewards she has faced as her and other women in the industry lay down the foundation to bring more women and youth to the construction and LBM industry.  

Guest: Natalie Miles  

Difficult conversations are going to happen in life, they can’t be avoided. The most difficult conversations are often the most important to have. Check out Ep 34: Talk The Talk to learn the framework on how to have more effective and less painful conversations. The better and more comfortable you become at having difficult conversations, the more you will see a positive improvement in your quality of relationships and life.

Host: Brett Thorne

It’s time for Round #2 of Cocktails with the Queens of the LBM. We have another great conversation and take a deep dive into the current industry as we solve all the LBM worlds problems…. Maybe not, but we have a great time and a lot of laughs along the way!

Guests: Thea Dudley, Rikka Brandon, & Dena Cordova-Jack

Team is not a universal term. A team can take many different shapes and styles. This holds true for a sales team as well. In “No ‘I’ in Sales Team”, Brett discusses a team that truly functions as a single unit and the advantages this provides for the team and organization.

2020 was a crazy year and especially in the housing market. Demand for new homes and remodeling projects skyrocketed, but the product supply was struggling to keep up. To truly understand what happened and the factors that contributed to the market environment we have today, Brett meets with Mischa Fisher, an economist with Angi, Inc, to go over the data and research to see how the pandemic, housing market, labor shortages, product shortages, and other factors affected the LBM market. Whether you’re a homeowner, professional, or entering the job force, check out “Remodeling is the New Black” to dive into 2020s market data and unravel the most unique time for our industry in 100 years.

Guest: Mischa Fisher

There are many different types of leaders and countless skills you can develop to become a great leader. In this episode, Brett examines one of the greatest leaders of the modern era, Mr. Jeff Bezos. Learn about the different leadership traits it takes to build a strong team and sustainable business, as well as, the benefits of developing a business model that is self-sufficient. 

Host: Brett Thorne

As the Lumber and Building Materials Industry continues to change and evolve, it is critical to know and understand the changes that are happening in the market. Tune in to this episode as I meet with Ken Clark, the Editor in Chief of HBS Dealer, to discuss the critical roles they play in informing the LBM industry of the everchanging business environment. 

For more information about Ken Clark and HBS Dealer: 

The LBM Industry is in the Perfect Storm, a condition unlike anything this industry has seen before. Demand is up, but Supply is down. So how do you find a balance? In Episode 33, we go over the historic background that set the stage for the current climate, recent events that magnified that climate, and lastly, how the market climate could be affected in the future.

In our industry, 2020 was a year of mergers and acquisitions. If you have ever thought about selling your business, now is the time. But more importantly, is your business ready for sale? In this episode, I meet with Ryan Brown of Next Level Essentials, and we discuss ways to prepare a business for sale, scaling high-growth businesses, jump-starting profitable growth, and much more. Ryan blueprints his process of achieving these goals by driving transformational change, leveraging profit opportunities, and putting structure to problem resolution.

The depth and opportunities for the art industry are vast and amazing.  In Episode 29, I connect with Martha Weidmann from Nine Dot Arts to find out how they are adding the beauty of art to the building materials industry and the passion, detail, and commitment involved. Tune in as we discover how they paint a vision, curate the project, acquire the unique pieces, and assemble the final project for perfect harmony.

For more information about Martha Weidmann and Nine Dot Arts:

Product shortages have become the new norm in our current and future market conditions. Despite the challenges, shortages can be handled with positive effects both short term and long term. If you or your company do not have a plan to overcome product shortage challenges, then this episode is for you. Sit down with Brett & Tom as they provide you with steps and strategies for handling product shortages to navigate these unprecedented times and position yourself for a productive future.

To learn more about Tom Zimmerman or Shift Sales Training & Consulting:

As we wrap up the this crazy year, I wanted to reflect back on the year and forecast what the future might hold for this industry. I meet with Danushka Nanayakkara of the National Association of Home Builders to discuss the impacts of 2020 to the housing market and how that will shape our industry moving forward.

For more information about Danushka Nanayakkara or the National Association of Home Builders:

Though slow to adapt, technology plays a major role in construction industry. On this episode, Kendall Jones from ConstructConnect and I discuss what construction technology is, how it's used and why it's important. Like it or not, technology is the future of building as we are building the future.

In this industry, products come and products go. We must take time to celebrate and honor those that are passing the test of time and streamlining the way we do business. Jeff Tweten with Lumber Buddy and Work Safe, Work Smart knows a few thing about efficiency and optimization. He shares with us the importance and knowledge of how to utilize programs to operate at a maximum level.

Here are the books mentioned in this episode:

2 Second Lean
by Paul Akers

I Quit But Forgot To Tell You
by Terri Kabachnick

The Speed of Trust
by Stephen Covey

For more info on Jeff,

If you want the very best company culture, then you have to learn from the very best. In this episode, Ken and I go deeper into world-class company culture meaning, and develop a playbook on how to achieve it. If you're in the pursuit of excellence, this episode is for you.

For more information on Ken:

In order to grow and strengthen, we must find ways to be more efficient and effective. Technology can be a useful tool in doing this, and MaterialsXchange is offering technology that may optimize and streamline your business. In this episode, we put them under the microscope to bring the listener the data to understand what they offer to our great industry.

Want to connect with MaterialsXchange? You can find them at:

In this episode with Ruth Kellick-Grubbs, we discuss operation efficiencies and why they are so important. We further discuss the pitfalls of inefficiencies and how to identify them and correct course. If you seek to optimize and maximize your business, operation efficiencies is your starting line.

For more information, visit the following links.

The re-roaring 20's have begun and are living up to the name to say the least. Just past the halfway mark of 2020, the world and our country has tilted a direction unfamiliar to most.

In this episode, I connect with dealers from different regions of the country to hear about their markets and how their businesses are adapting to the this rapidly changing economy.

For more information on the guests:

The re-roaring 20's have begun and are living up to the name to say the least. Just past the halfway mark of 2020, the world and our country has tilted a direction unfamiliar to most.

In this episode, I connect with dealers from different regions of the country to hear about their markets and how their businesses are adapting to the this rapidly changing economy.

For more information on my guests, you can find them at:

It is more important now than ever for our industries voice to be heard. Walter Foxworth and I discuss legislative advocacy and why it is so important. If we want changes in building the future, they have to be made by us.

For more information of Walter Foxworth and Foxworth-Galbraith Lumber:

Failure to plan is the same as planning to fail. Often times when new products are launched there is no plan of going to market and this is the reason that every year there are new products that never get off the ground level and fail. In this episode Tom Zimmerman of Shift STC and I outline a strategy to successfully launch new products.

On this episode with Rick Davis, we talk about personal development and growth. Rick shares his success stories and how you can use his information and experience to achieve your goals. If you want to find out more about Rick, check out episode #6.

One of the key components of building the future of our industry is bringing new people into our industry. We must also educate them on the opportunities and give them the tools & skills necessary to succeed.  As an industry we all have to do this because nobody else is going to.

Sales are worthless if you never get paid for them.  This reason alone is why collections are so important but collections are only one piece of the credit management puzzle.  Thea Dudley, The Credit Overlord, joins me to define credit management and confirm why it is so critical to any business or organization, not to mention how fun it can be just like our conversation.

The COVID-19 virus has put the world at a tilt and has etched 2020 into the pages of history.  As America is reopening for business, the direction of the economy has undergone many shifts and is still looking for solid stable ground to progress. Craig Webb and I analyze the conditions and outline some of the potential opportunities for this market.

If your #1 assets are your employees, then your recruiting and hiring process needs to be on the same level.  If it's not, Building Gurus and the Building The Future Podcast are here to help. And if that's not enough, Rikka Brandon will find your next needle!

For more information on Rikka...

When you're in the trenches, it's often difficult to see the entire field.  Craig Webb came to this industry over a decade ago as a professional journalist and has been giving a construction commentary that starts from the outside looking in.

Simpson Strong-Tie has been an anchor to the professional of the building materials industry for over 60 years. They have been innovative in their production and manufacturing that has been building safer, stronger structures both commercial and residential.  They are now shifting their innovation and technology to the DIY market making projects doable for almost everyone. In this episode we discuss how Simpson Strong-Tie is bridging the gap and putting the power in the hands of the weekend warrior.

If you want the very best company culture, then you have to learn from the very best.  In this episode, Ken Wilbanks gives a profound definition of world-class company culture and a playbook of how to achieve it. If you're in the pursuit of excellence, this episode is for you.