Lance Anderson, CEO and founder of Admit One Home Systems, joins Mark to share his journey from IT to founding his own company. He discusses how he found his niche in custom home technologies, and how essential it ito empower himself and his team to work confidently and independently. With a focus on the luxury residential market, Lance and his team are hands on with essentially all aspects of technology in a home, including audio/video media rooms, security systems, lighting and more. They install seamless, easy to use technology for the homeowner to have full control of their needs and make their home fully customizable. Listen in to hear more of Lance's journey and how Admit One continues to benefit homeowners.

Ryan Lipchek visits Minneapolis to discuss bringing CB USA to the local market. He shares how the purchasing group model benefits both builders and suppliers through increased buying power and access to new customers. Lipchek also explains CB USA’s process for launching in a new city and developing critical mass among contractors.

Julia Miller gets into the other half of the world of design and explains why it is not just about the creative side. As a current designer for Yond Interiors, Julia shares what got her started in the interior design industry and what pushes her passion for her work. She shares an inside look of her business, with how many projects at a time she takes on, and how she finds the right clients for her. Pitching your product and service is a proven psychology, and Julia breaks down how she gets her vision across. She also discusses how to save money as a business owner, sourcing fixtures abroad, and most importantly, giving yourself permission to fail. Problem solving is part of the process, and Julia gives you the tools to do so in this episode.

Rick and Amy Hendel are the team behind Hendel Homes, they join Mark this week to share their story and how they got their start in the industry. As a married couple turned business partners, Amy and Rick discuss how they manage their business and personal relationship. They work to support each other and let us in their separate roles in the company. Emphasizing the importance of creating strong and reliable relationships, they share key team-building advice and how to create connections along your journey. They also delve into the technical aspects of business ownership, including how to deal with difficult clients and how to allocate your resources and time. It's all about planning and making intentional decisions. If you're looking to start a new business or grow an existing one, this episode is for you!

After helping his parents build their dream home, Daniel has since used his entrepeneural spirit and building knowledge to help others upkeep the safety and wellbeing of their own homes. With houses becoming more complex, people just don't know what they don't know. Daniel and his team are there to help the unseen factors making the air in our homes polluted, and helping to create a safe and comfortable living environment. Also diving into the ins and outs of his company, Daniel shares how he balances his work load with clients and the software he uses to stay on top of his business logistics. This episode has it all, so check it out!

Bookkeeping for Builders - Understanding construction accounting and utilizing technology to stay on top of your financial gain!

Kate is the owner of The Scout Guide, Minneapolis and is the president of Cities Management. Her philosophy can be summed up with "you don’t build a business, you empower people and people build the business”. We discuss the process of buying a marketing magazine (The Scout Guide) and turning on its true potential through brand awareness, social networking, and connecting people in local markets.

Kim Senn joins the show to discuss her journey starting working for creative agencies to owning her own ad firm. She shares her background and her process with clients, specifically how she gets to know a brand and what they stand for. Kim and Mark also chat about what gets them into a creative space, and how Inspiration doesn’t just come to you. It’s acting on an idea and trying it out. Kim helps her clients form their ideas into reality and tuning into this episode will help you do the same.

Let's Talk Media Strategy: Breaking down the interconnection of social media marketing and business growth, while staying true to your brand and not spreading yourself thin.

The Art of Glass Blowing and the story of a master-crafter turned business savant. Jackson Schwartz the co-founder of Hennepin Made expounds his thoughts, experiences, and stories in a way that relates to everyone in the pursuit of passion and business.

Michael and Danielle outline their unique branding and how each project has a naming strategy that makes them unique and special. A 2nd-grade teacher and a marketing and advertising guru left what they knew while having their first child to start a new business. 5 years and 10,000 hours of practicing their art form in the form of an informative blog transformed into a top-notch residential design and build team.

Matt is one of 3 Stanford grads that decided to create a start-up company. One was an investment guru, one was a rocket scientist (for Space X) and one was a super coder. Together they decided to tackle the hardest problem they could find on the biggest market in the US....Home Construction. Creating a software company that will live up to its names sake (Adaptive) Matt details out the nuances of tackling the complicated problems all business owners in construction face, how to manage all the different invoices, formats, draws, banks, suppliers, and trade partners that seem to change not only with every job but with every state! Matt and his team set out to save everybody time and money by addressing the inefficiencies and process organization that streamlines everything.

Mercedes Austin takes us through her intentional crafting of tiles by hand in a "tile bakery" located in Northeast Minneapolis. Mercury Mosaic's tiles tell a story, sharing the artistry of the handcrafted approach to a community-based industry and highlighting what sets her tiles apart. Starting off with mosaic art using tiles led her down a path of creating unique, one-of-a-kind tiles that delight those who see them. Playful, fun, and interesting, the bespoke nature of handcrafted tiles shows how even simple things can elevate a home and increase the joy within. Mercedes shares her experience of being an optimist while facing difficult situations such as downsizing and letting go of people she cares about to meet the financial challenges all business owners face.

Eric Robertson of NRD Landscape Design Build puts his heart, humor, and skill into transforming your landscape. From Oceanography to your backyard, come for the skill, stay for the story.

Steve dives into construction law and the intricacies of running a business while protecting yourself. A self-described "Dirt Lawyer", Steve shares in-depth scenarios that so many business owners face. Regardless of what business you own, these examples are very helpful in understanding how to navigate difficult situations! From his stories of "Crazed Homeowners" and trade partnerships that go astray, he's got many lessons for business owners to soak in. A lifelong pursuer of education and research, Steve has authored 2 books on our US History (Becoming George Washington and Becoming Benedict Arnold ), a passion he shares while even explaining how to write a book. You don't want to miss this episode of The Curious Builder!

Sarah shares her incredible family-centric story from salvaging scrap yard metals as a 1st grader to combating the "chain saw cowboys" with her expertise in sourcing the best barn wood in the Midwest. Sarah celebrates American history by salvaging our barn birthrights to provide them for modern homes. Manomin has put their barn wood everywhere from Punch Pizza and Caribou Coffee to Ralph Lauren in NYC to the modern homes near you. Sarah's depth of character is matched by her knowledge and commitment to creating a great brand and lasting business.

Anthony describes the journey of starting a wood flooring company that fit his family's needs due to his brother's injury. Anthony explains how their company's goal is to empower its people and grow through the company. Alpine uses personality/skill assessments to organize its company more effectively and put people in a position to succeed. We also cover the importance of managing moisture before, during, and after installation to keep the "wood art" looking and performing well for decades.

In episode 8, Kate Regan from The Sitting Room shares her journey and insights over her career helping clients achieve their goals and "trust the process". We talk about the emotions and dynamics involved with our clients and how Kate's phycology degree gets a lot of work! Operating a space with 10 other designers and promoting the family network that keeps them together and fulfilled.