The Curious Builder
Episodes
#48 Morgan Molitor | Construction 2 Style | Mental Health, Boundaries, and Self-Care
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of the curious builder podcast features a conversation between host Mark D. Williams and his very first returning guest: Morgan Molitor. ...
#47 Meg Billings | Meg & Co Designer Homes | Lessons in Profitability
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Curious Builder Podcast, guest Meg Billings talks about her unconventional path to becoming a builder. After hiring someone to ...
#46 David Williams | David A Williams Construction | A Father and Son Talk Construction
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Curious Builder Podcast, a father-son duo swap stories from decades in the business. Mark talks with his dad David about the dr...
#45 Ville Kämäräinen | Puustelli Kitchens | Growing Sustainably
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode covers the history and expansion of Puustelli, a Finnish cabinetry company operating in the US. Founded in Finland in the 1920s, Puustell...
#44 Maud & Brian Duggan | Union Place | Home Systems & Interior Design
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Brian and Maud Duggan discuss running their interior design and home systems business Union Place in Excelsior, Minnesota for over 47 years. They talk...
#43 Arik Tendler | Cambria | The King of Quartz
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Arik Tendler, chief sales officer of Cambria shares his journey from Israel to California, and how he came to work in the quartz industry. Arik discus...
#42 Mike Gray & Greg Vose | Unfold Architecture | Effective Communication
01 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Gray and Greg Vose from Unfold Architecture join Mark to discuss their design process, how they work with builders and clients, and their appro...
#41 Dagan Koffler | Dagan Design & Construction | Self-performing
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dagan Koffler discusses his journey starting multiple construction and design companies in California, detailing the challenges of permitting and buil...
#40 Mike & Andrew LeJeune | Glass Art Design | Culture and Relationships
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mike and Andrew LeJeune discuss growing their family glass business, Glass Art Design, through culture, relationships, improving systems, and tre...
#39 Alex Lelchuk | Lelch | LIVE Event
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Lelchuk joins us for the second Live Curious Builder Podcast from his event venue The Lowlands in Saint Paul, MN. He shares his inspiring stor...
#38 Christine Marvin | Marvin Windows | Company & Community
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Christine Marvin discusses Marvin Windows' history starting with her great-grandfather moving to Warroad, Minnesota in 1904. She explains Marvin's pro...
#37 Ryan Jones | Stonegate Builders | Saying No
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan Jones joins Mark to discuss his passion for construction and breaks down the multi-faceted aspects that are involved in it's process. Ryan...
#36 Danielle Yegge & Joe Braun | Style & Structure | Educate the Homeowner
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Danielle Yegge and Joe Braun of Style and Structure discuss their marketing strategies on social media that have helped grow their brand, inclu...
#35 James Vagle | Housing First Minnesota | Modernizing Zoning Regulations
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Vagle, CEO of Housing First Minnesota, discusses the state's shortage of 60,000-90,000 housing units with builder Mark Williams. Vagle ex...
#34 Mark Ostrom | The Joy Collaborative | Crafting Joy
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Cursious Builder Mark Ostrom joins to discuss The Joy Collaborative. A nonprofit that designs therapeutic spaces for children w...
#33 Jordyn DiOrio | JDP Consult Co | The Reality of Scaling
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jordyn DiOrio discusses her journey starting a side hustle jewelry business that eventually led to venture capital funding and a partnership with Nord...
#32 Rich Hipp | Hipp Cabinetry | The Wood Butcher of Buffalo
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rich tells us his story of wanting to go to he marines, framing homes, learning the ropes of remodeling, working in a cabinet shop, a rustic reclaimed...
#31 Barak Steenlage | Anchor Builders | Quality & Integrity
08 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Barak Steenlage a custom home builder in Minnesota joins Mark to discuss the evolution of Anchor Builders. They discuss the challenges of custom hom...
#30 Desi Creswell | Desi Creswell | Reclaim your Spark
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Desi Creswell, an interior designer turned life and business coach, shares how experiencing a career burnout from trying to balance her new life as a ...
#29 Chad & Ryan Hanson | Sustainable 9 | Sustainable Home Building
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Chad & Ryan Hanson have loved architecture since they can remember. After establishing their start in real estate by flipping houses, they left their ...
#28 Ian Planchon | 515 Productions | Capturing your Story
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ian Planchon, half of the two person team of 515 Productions, discusses how he and his wife, Lynn got their start in the world of media, and how this ...
#27 Lance Anderson | Admit One | Home Tech Guru
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 fou...
#26 Ryan Lipchek | CBUSA | Buying Power
04 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan Lipchek visits Minneapolis to discuss bringing CBUSA to the local market. He shares how the purchasing group model benefits both builders and sup...
#25 Julia Miller | Yond Interiors | Pitching Interior Design
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Interior designer Julia Miller sits down with Mark D. Williams to discuss her career path from social work to owning her design firm, Yond Interiors...
#24 Rick & Amy Hendel | Hendel Homes | Building Relationships
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hendel Homes is a custom home-building company based in Minnesota. Rick and Amy Hendel share how they started their company, the importance of build...
#23 Daniel Felt | Kura Home Maintenance | Keeping it Clean
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kura Home Maintenance provides routine maintenance and cleaning services for homes in the Minneapolis metropolitan area. Owner Daniel Felt started the...
#22 Chris Anderson | Monthend | Financial Control for Builders
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Anderson of Monthend provides accounting and bookkeeping services tailored specifically for builders. They organize financial data into meaningf...
#21 Kate Grutzmacher | The Scout Guide Minneapolis | Sharing Stories
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kate Grutzmacher, the owner of The Scout Guide publication, joins Mark to discuss TSG (The Scout Guide) and how it supports small businesses in and ar...
#20 Kim Senn | Senn & Son | Know your Brand
24 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kim Senn joins the show to discuss her journey starting off working for creative agencies to owning her Ad firm. She shares her background and her pro...
#19 Kirsten & Ethan | Alma Homes | Designed around You
17 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Alma Homes founders, Kirsten and Ethan, are here to share how their custom home business has grown to its level of success, and the strategies they'r...
Bonus: Highlights from the interview with Michael and Danielle Gutelli
10 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 16.5 features highlights from the interview with Michael and Danielle Gutelli of Clark and Aldine.
#18 Jackson Schwartz | Hennepin Made | LIVE Event
10 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for our first LIVE audience event we hosted at the amazing showroom in Hennepin Made's glass factory. Jackson Schwartz the co-founder of Henne...
Clark and Aldine: The crossroads of fate, how two paths joined to create a powerhouse team of design and building
03 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Michael and Danielle Gutelli outline their branding and how each project has a naming strategy that makes them unique and special. A 2nd-grade teache...
Bonus: Highlights from the interview with Mike Schmillen of River City Tile and Stone
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 16.5 features highlights from the interview with Mike Schmillen of River City Tile and Stone
Rivercity Tile and Underlayment: A Pro's Pro when it comes to expert knowledge in tile and underlayments. Committed to being the experts for the builders and GC's they work with.
19 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Schmillen owns Rivercity Tile and Underlayment and explains in detail the amount of labor in building a shower and laying tile while balancing a...
Bonus: highlights from the interview with Matt Calvano of Adaptive
12 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 15.5 features highlights from the interview with Matt Calvano of Adaptive.
Adaptive: the innovation of a start-up company to tackle the difficult world of construction invoicing and accounting. Harder than Rocket Science accorinding to their space X coding founder!
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 o...
Bonus: highlights from the interview with Mercedes Austin, Founder and CEO of Mercury Mosaics
29 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 14.5 features highlights from the interview with Mercedes Austin, Founder and CEO of Mercury Mosaics.
Mercury Mosaics the Tile Bakery: Mercedes Austin takes us through the artistry in hand-crafted tile and how it comes to life through the "tile bakery"
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mercedes Austin takes us through her intentional crafting of tile by hand in a "tile bakery" located in Northeast Minneapolis. Mercury Mosaic's tile t...
Bonus: Highlights from the interview with Chase Hicks of Concrete Science
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 13.5 features highlights from the interview with Chase Hicks of Concrete Science
Chase Hicks of Concrete Science
08 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Interview with Chase Hicks of Concrete Science
Bonus: Highlights from the interview with Eric Robertson of NRD Landscape Design + Build
01 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 12.5 features highlights from the interview with Eric Robertson of NRD Landscape Design + Build
Eric Robertson of NRD Landscape design build puts his heart, humor and and skill into transforming your landscape. From Oceanography to your back yard, come for the skill, stay for the story.
24 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode, Eric shares his unique story of how he met, as well as his journey from studying Oceanography to starting his own landscape d...
Bonus: Highlights from the interview with Steve Yoch of Felhaber Larson
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 11.5 features highlights from the interview with Steve Yoch of Felhaber Larson
The Dirt Lawyer: Perspectives on starting a construction company, protecting your assets, dealing with "Crazed Homeowners," creating boundaries, and writing books
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Yoch of Felhaber Larson expounds upon construction law and the intricacies of starting a business while protecting yourself while running a bus...
Bonus: Highlights from the interview with Sarah Londerville of Manomin Resawn Timber
03 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 10.5 features highlights from the interview with Sarah Londerville of Manomin Resawn Timber
Sarah Londerville: Reclaiming American history one Barnwood beam at a time. From scrap-yard metal scrounger to fighting chain-saw cowboys, Sarah's tales will make you believe in the American spirit of entrepreneurship!
27 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah shares her incredible family-centric story from salvaging scrap yard metals as a 1st grader to combating the "chainsaw cowboys" with her experti...
Bonus: Highlights from the interview with Anthony Janckila of Alpine Hardwood
20 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 9.5 features highlights from the interview with Anthony Jancila of Alpine Hardwood
Anthony Janckila: The wood wizards at Alpine Hardwood explain how wood floor is art and promoting employee growth within the company
13 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Anthony describes the journey of starting a wood floor company that fit the family needs due to his brother's injury. Anthony explains how the goal o...
Bonus: Highlights from the interview with Kate Regan, Owner and Principle Designer at The Sitting Room
06 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 8.5 features highlights from the interview with Kate Regan of The Sitting Room.
Kate Regan: Into the world of a high end boutique design firm (The Sitting Room) and why getting clients to "trust the process" is so important to a successful design outcome
27 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 8, Kate Regan from The Sitting Room shares her journey and insights over her career helping clients acheive their goals and "trust the pro...
Bonus: Highlights form the interview with Morgan Molitor, the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Construction2Style
20 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 7.5 features highlights from the interview with Morgan Molitor, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Construction2Style
Morgan Molitor: How your Vibe attracts your Tribe and the celebration of collaboration over competition
13 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Morgan Molitor, the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Construction2Style, explains that, while dating, she and her future husband started a busines...
Bonus: Highlights from the interview with Mark Scherer, Chief Operating Officer of Scherer Bros. Lumber Co.
06 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 6.5 highlights the conversation with Mark Scherer, COO of Scherer Bros. Lumber Co.
Mark Scherer: Navigating a family owned business, promoting values and culture while navigating the volatile market of lumber
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mark shares his experiences in operating a 3rd generation family-owned business that has prioritized its people while promoting the culture and value...
Bonus: Highlights from the interview with Brad Leavitt of the AFT Construction Podcast
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 5.5 highlights the conversation with Brad Leavitt of AFT Construction, the Contractor Coalition Summit, and the AFT Construction Podcast.
Brad Leavitt : identify your ideal client, Building a team and celebrating others
16 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 5 with Brad Leavitt we discussed building a team and targeting your ideal client while also watching out for red flags. Brad shares his ins...
Bonus: Highlights from the interview with David Zweber
08 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 4.5
David Charlez Design: Behind the scenes of starting a design firm and the nuances of different architecture design paths
02 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Expanding on the nuances of architecture paths: Architects, Designers, Draftsman and more. David details the differences between the disciplines in dr...
Bonus: Highlights from the interview with Bridget Chirigos
26 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 3.5
Bonus: Highlights from the interview with Katie and Jesse of JKath Design Build + Reinvent
26 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 2.5
Bonus: Highlights from the interview with Ed Engelbrecht and Peter Martin of Pella Windows and Doors
26 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Curious Builder Episode 1.5
Chirigos Designs: Take a trip from NYC-Austin-MSP and learn how to re-invent yourself with Bridget Chirigos
15 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Take a colorful journey from the streets of fashion to the spurs of Texas and ending up in the land of 10,000 lakes! We explore the different design, ...
J/Kath Design Build + Reinvent: Owning a cabinet shop within their remodel platform. Launching E-commerce vanity lines and more with Jesse and Katie Kath
15 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Details on owning and operating a custom cabinet shop and how it was almost shut down and sold for part before its stunning turn around. Now launchin...
Pella Northland: Two paths to ownership and business tips from owner Ed Engelbrecht and Peter Martin
15 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Two ownerships different paths to owning Pella Northland together. Ed cut his teeth at Pella corporate and Peter was with the Twins and Cambria growin...
Episode Zero
05 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Host Mark Williams takes a moment to lay out his plan for The Curious Builder podcast.