Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast

In Episode 54 of the Forge Contractor Alliance podcast, Kenton and Josh tackle a difficult question for small contractors: what happens when you invest years into training someone, only for that employee to eventually leave and start their own company?
The conversation digs into employee retention, trust, training, and the real investment that goes into developing people in a small trade business. When you're a small contractor, you're not simply filling positions. You're often taking someone with little experience and teaching them the trade, your systems, your standards, and eventually the business itself.
But what happens when that person becomes one of your most valuable employees and decides they want to run their own show?
Kenton and Josh talk openly about their own history, including how Josh originally trained Kenton in roofing before Kenton eventually went out on his own. They discuss the difference between competition and collaboration, the challenge of knowing how much to invest in an employee, and why highly capable employees can sometimes be the very people most likely to want their own business.
They also explore how employers can better understand an employee's goals, why getting people involved in the business can increase retention, the risks that come with sharing too much, and why business owners can't build their entire company around one or two key employees.
Ultimately, people change. Goals change. Seasons of life change. And sometimes a great employee leaving isn't something a business owner can completely prevent. The question is how you build a company that can handle it.
Forge Contractor Alliance is a podcast for contractors and business owners working through the real challenges of building, leading, and growing a trade business.
 
Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith Produced by Seth Steward Productions
Co produced by Kalen Wookey
Website https://forgealliance.ca/ Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance
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@Forge_CA

This episode covers a little bit of everything.
Josh and Kenton talk about what it really looks like to build a business, lead a team, and figure things out along the way. They get into communication, the challenges that come with growth, and the things they both know they could probably do better.
They also have a pretty honest conversation about money. Saving receipts, overspending, budgeting, and the realization that sometimes you need someone else in the business to help keep the numbers on track. They talk about bringing in a CFO and how having better financial systems can change the way you make decisions and look at ROI.
The conversation takes an interesting turn when they start talking about mentorship, age, and experience. Getting older doesn't automatically make someone a good mentor. They talk about the importance of self awareness, learning from experience, and actually being willing to help the next generation.
Then things get a little more primal.
A story about a paintball game leads into a conversation about the survival instinct and why people sometimes perform differently when they're uncomfortable or under pressure. They connect that idea back to working in the trades and how having everything too comfortable can sometimes take away some of the drive that pushes people forward.
They also talk roofing, including a historic 1934 Anglican church they worked on using Enviroshake. That leads into a bigger conversation about craftsmanship, quality, volume, and the differences between how roofing is approached in Europe compared to North America.
Josh and Kenton also get into architecture and product selection, especially when expensive materials like metal roofing are chosen without thinking through the engineering, safety requirements, and overall cost that come with them.
On the business side, they talk about where they're taking FORGE next. Instead of jumping straight into pushing long form podcast episodes, they're looking at a softer approach built around real conversations, short form videos, and content that can naturally build an audience across YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
There's also an update on the upcoming book, including the publishing process, advanced reader copies, endorsements, and recording the audiobook right in the podcast studio.
To wrap things up, they talk about the upcoming team retreat, the results from a recent home show, some frustration around follow up with potential customers, and a completely unexpected partnership opportunity that could lead to something much bigger.
It's a pretty honest episode about business, people, risk, growth, and figuring things out as you go.
Forge is where contractors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders come together to build stronger companies and become better leaders.
Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith
Produced by Seth Steward Productions
Co produced by Kalen Wookey
Website https://forgealliance.ca/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797
X https://x.com/forge_ca
@Forge_CA

What happens when you stop building a business just for yourself and start thinking about what you can build for the people around you?
In this episode, Chris and his partner sit down for a candid conversation about leadership, business, failure, and the evolution of what it means to build something that lasts.
They talk about the lessons learned through running Ridgeline, the importance of taking ownership when things go wrong, building the right team, and creating a culture where people can grow.
They also dive into Forge and the idea behind building a community that gives other business owners the support, experience, and opportunity to succeed. It’s a conversation about putting ego aside, learning from failure, and realizing that a successful business can be about a lot more than the bottom line.
Forge is where contractors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders come together to build stronger companies and become better leaders.
Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith
roduced by Seth Steward Productions
Co produced by Kalen Wookey Website https://forgealliance.ca/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797
X https://x.com/forge_ca
@Forge_CA

The best systems aren't the ones that look complicated. They're the ones that make complicated work feel effortless.
In Episode 52, Josh and Kenton continue the conversation around building scalable businesses by exploring one idea that sits at the center of great leadership and operational excellence: simplicity.
Using examples from woodworking, contracting, and business operations, they discuss why the strongest companies aren't built on people constantly putting out fires. They're built on repeatable systems, focused work, and clear responsibilities.
Josh shares how Ridgeline is developing new standard operating procedures (SOPs) to simplify roles as the company grows. Rather than expecting team members to wear multiple hats all day, the goal is to create focused blocks of work where each person can concentrate on one responsibility at a time. From sales appointments to scheduling, production planning, and customer communication, every task has a place within a structured weekly rhythm designed to eliminate unnecessary distractions.
The conversation dives into the hidden cost of multitasking and constant interruptions. While some people can operate in chaos, both Josh and Kenton argue that most people perform at their highest level when they're able to protect their focus. They discuss why building simple systems isn't about making work easier, it's about making excellence repeatable. Whether it's planning production schedules a week in advance, reducing operational gaps, or creating better communication between departments, simplicity becomes the foundation for consistency.
They also tackle one of the more difficult leadership challenges: balancing work and family. As businesses grow and responsibilities increase, leaders have to find healthy boundaries that allow employees to prioritize both their careers and their families without sacrificing productivity. The discussion emphasizes creating company rhythms that support healthy home lives while still protecting the focused work that allows the business to thrive.
Episode 52 is a practical conversation for contractors, business owners, and leaders who want to build organizations that scale without becoming chaotic. Great businesses aren't built by adding complexity. They're built by simplifying it.
Forge is where contractors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders come together to build stronger companies and become better leaders.
Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith
Produced by Seth Steward Productions
Co produced by Kalen Wookey
Website ⁠https://forgealliance.ca/⁠
Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance⁠
Facebook ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797⁠
X https://x.com/forge_ca@Forge_CA

Every business owner dreams about growth, but growth has a way of exposing the weaknesses you didn't know were there. In Episode 51, Josh and Kenton discuss what it really means to build a company that can scale, inspired by Jim Collins' Good to Great and the lessons that have become especially relevant as Ridgeline Roofing and Gott Energy work through their merger.
The conversation centers around one of the book's most important principles: first who, then what. Before strategy, before vision, before expansion, the right people have to be in the right seats. Josh reflects on how rereading Good to Great years later has completely changed his perspective on leadership, accountability, and what it takes to become a Level 5 leader.
From there, they dive into the realities of leading a merger between two growing companies. While the opportunities are exciting, so are the challenges. Legal structures, shareholder decisions, operational systems, branding, and maintaining cash flow all compete for attention at the same time. Josh shares how difficult it can be balancing long-term vision with the day-to-day responsibility of keeping production moving during the busiest season of the year.
The episode also explores how AI is helping streamline operations by creating meaningful KPIs, improving scheduling efficiency, and building standard operating procedures that give teams more ownership while allowing leadership to focus on growth. Rather than simply filling a calendar, Josh explains why strategically scheduling crews, resources, and projects creates healthier businesses and stronger results.
Kenton brings the conversation back to leadership and culture, reminding listeners that as companies grow, communication between the office and the field becomes increasingly important. Larger organizations naturally gain efficiencies, but without intentional leadership they can also lose the connection that made them successful in the first place.
Whether you're running a contracting business, leading a growing team, or simply trying to become a better leader, Episode 51 is a practical discussion on scaling the right way by building strong people, simple systems, and a culture that can grow for years to come.
Forge is where contractors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders come together to build stronger companies and become better leaders.
Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith
Produced by Seth Steward Productions
Co produced by Kalen Wookey
Website https://forgealliance.ca/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797
X https://x.com/forge_ca@Forge_CA
 

Instead of teaching a framework or breaking down a business principle, we're inviting you into a real conversation that was happening behind the scenes. As Ridgeline Roofing & Solar and Gott Energy explore what a future together could look like, Josh and Joel sit down to work through the questions every growing company eventually faces.
How do you scale without losing focus? When does a great opportunity become a distraction? How do you structure leadership so people spend their time in their unique abilities instead of getting buried in day-to-day operations?
Throughout this episode, we unpack topics like mergers and acquisitions, executive team structure, delegation, recruiting top talent, organizational design, residential versus commercial markets, First Nations opportunities, and the importance of building systems that can truly scale. This isn't a polished success story. It's a transparent look at the messy, strategic conversations that happen before big decisions are made.
If you're building a company, leading a growing team, or wrestling with competing opportunities, this episode will give you an honest look at how experienced business leaders think through complexity before committing to a path forward.
Residential, commercial and industrial growth • Building companies that last Forge is where contractors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders come together to build stronger companies and become better leaders.
Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith
Produced by Seth Steward Productions
Co produced by Kalen Wookey
Website https://forgealliance.ca/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797
X https://x.com/forge_ca @Forge_CA

Hiring can grow your company, but hiring the wrong people can quietly destroy the culture you've worked so hard to build. Forge Contractor Alliance, Josh, Kenton, and the team share honest stories from years of building companies, making hiring mistakes, and learning what truly matters when bringing people into your organization.
From the dangers of hiring out of desperation to the importance of values, culture, working interviews, probation periods, and even knowing when it's time for someone to move on, this conversation dives deep into the realities every contractor faces. The crew discusses why urgent hiring almost always leads to long-term pain and why culture matters more than skill alone.
They share how a single bad hire can impact an entire team, the importance of clear job descriptions and expectations, and why working interviews and probation periods can help both employers and employees determine whether the fit is right. The conversation also explores the reality that some employees are meant for a season, and why handling those transitions well benefits everyone involved.
Throughout the episode, the team reflects on the balance between investing in people and maintaining healthy boundaries, building a company that people genuinely want to be part of, and the lessons learned from decades of mistakes, successes, and difficult conversations. Whether you're hiring your first employee or leading a growing team, this episode offers practical wisdom and candid experiences to help you build a stronger business and a healthier culture.
 
Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith
Produced by Seth Steward Productions
Co produced by Kalen Wookey
Website https://forgealliance.ca/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797
X https://x.com/forge_ca
@Forge_CA

Hiring is one of the hardest and most important responsibilities a business owner faces. In this episode of Forge, Josh, Joel, and the team dive into the realities of recruiting, hiring, and developing great people.
They discuss why experienced hires don't always work out, the value of hiring for character and culture over technical skill, and how building a strong team often starts with finding people who share your values.
The conversation explores everything from referrals and networking to AI-powered hiring tools, diversity in the workplace, and the challenges of scaling a company into new markets. Most importantly, they discuss why successful businesses are built on more than profit, they're built on people, community, and creating opportunities for others.
Whether you're hiring your first employee or building a team of fifty, this episode offers practical insights into finding the right people and creating a culture where they can thrive.
Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith
Produced by Seth Steward Productions
Co produced by Kalen Wookey
Website https://forgealliance.ca/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797
X https://x.com/forge_ca
@Forge_CA

Hiring is one of the hardest parts of building a business, especially in the trades. In this episode of Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast, the crew sits down for a real conversation around hiring, leadership, work ethic, and what it actually takes to build strong teams in small business contracting.
Kenton, Josh and Joel, on the Forge Alliance team dive into their personal experiences hiring in roofing, solar, and construction businesses under the $10M mark, where owners are often still directly involved in every interview, every hire, and every difficult people decision.
The conversation explores everything from identifying teachable employees, building company culture, handling seasonal workers, and why mindset matters more than resumes. They also unpack the tension many contractors feel with younger generations entering the workforce, while challenging the common narrative that “young people just don’t want to work.”
Instead, the episode focuses on leadership responsibility, mentorship, and the opportunity business owners have to shape young workers into future leaders through accountability, teamwork, and hard work.
This episode is packed with honest stories from the jobsite, lessons learned through years of hiring mistakes and successes, and practical insight for contractors trying to build teams that actually last. If you’re a contractor, business owner, foreman, or someone responsible for building culture inside a growing company, this conversation will hit home.
This is a real conversation for contractors, entrepreneurs, tradespeople, and business owners who want to build better companies, stronger teams, and healthier cultures over the long term.
No corporate scripts, no surface level business talk, just practical lessons, honest experiences, and perspectives forged through years of building businesses and leading people.
Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith
Produced by Seth Steward Productions
Co produced by Kalen Wookey
Website https://forgealliance.ca/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797
X https://x.com/forge_ca
@Forge_CA

Hiring people is easy. Hiring the right people is one of the hardest things a business owner will ever learn how to do.
In this episode of the Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast, the conversation goes deep into the realities of hiring, leadership, company culture, and the long term impact people have on a business.
The crew unpacks the difference between simply filling a role versus intentionally building a team, and why understanding yourself as a leader is often more important than understanding the resume sitting across the table.
The discussion explores how hiring changes as a company grows, from the early days of building a small tight knit crew, to scaling teams and attracting people who can complement weaknesses, strengthen culture, and help move a company forward long term. They talk openly about the lessons learned through failed hires, losing valuable employees, building trust, and the importance of aligning people with core values rather than just technical skill alone.
A major focus throughout the episode is the idea that businesses are built around people, not just systems. Whether it’s hiring apprentices, office staff, experienced tradespeople, or future leaders, the conversation highlights how personality, teachability, humility, work ethic, and culture fit often matter more than what’s written on paper. The crew also dives into how company reputation, social media presence, networking, and internal referrals all play a massive role in attracting quality people in today’s market.
There’s also an honest discussion around leadership growth itself. The episode touches on the reality that employees do not always stay forever, and how business owners need to learn to lead with an open hand while still creating environments people genuinely want to be part of. From mentorship and growth opportunities to creating clear expectations and defining company values, the conversation offers a grounded look into what building a strong team actually looks like behind the scenes.
This is a real conversation for contractors, entrepreneurs, tradespeople, and business owners who want to build better companies, stronger teams, and healthier cultures over the long term. No corporate scripts, no surface level business talk, just practical lessons, honest experiences, and perspectives forged through years of building businesses and leading people.
 
Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith
Produced by Seth Steward Productions Co produced by Kalen Wookey
Website https://forgealliance.ca/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/forgecontractoralliance
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575541841797
X https://x.com/forge_ca@Forge_CA