30 Years of Elevating Professionalism in the Construction Industry with Duane Johns of Alair Homes & The Builder Nuggets Podcast

Ted speaks with Michael Short, Sr. Director of Residential & Hospitality Marketing with Crestron Electronics. They explore Crestron's background and reputation as a leading automation company and  discuss the challenges of scheduling and dealing with technology issues in smart homes.. The conversation touches on the importance of educating design build professionals and staying on the cutting edge of technology. Michael shares his thoughts on Crestron's growth and expansion globally, as well as the future of smart homes - addressing the potential dark side of technology and the need for security. Listen in to hear how Crestron is thriving in a fast-paced technology industry. 

LINKS

Crestron at 50: 

https://www.crestron.com/News/Blog/September-2022/Crestron-at-50

Crestron Article

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2011/11/16/crestron-electronics-george-feldstein-manufacturing/

Behind the Scenes Video:

https://youtu.be/b7lTq0sbtTQ?si=9C2CdJ-S2FHFAG3I

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• 01:04 Introduction and technology in homes
• 05:22 Crestron's Background and Reputation
• 09:18 Educating Design Build Professionals
• 13:23 Staying on the Cutting Edge of Technology
• 16:30 Crestron's History and Growth
• 22:30 The Future of Crestron and Smart Homes
• 26:04 Addressing the Dark Side of Technology
• 40:05 Crestron's Growth and Innovation Mindset
• 30:20 Expanding Globally and Future Challenges
• 34:22 Thriving in a Fast-Paced Technology Industry
• 37:25 Meeting the Expectations of Influential Clients
• 39:30 The Fear of Failure
• 42:32 Differences Between American and British Customers
• 45:27 Staying Focused on the Vision and Mission

CONNECT WITH GUEST

Michael Short

• Website
• LinkedIn

KEY QUOTES FROM EPISODE

• And the good news is we've been doing this for 50 years. Crestron is a 50 year old company, so we have a huge amount of legacy and experience in innovating incredible control technology.
• You know, the owners of the biggest companies in the world, the innovators in, in this industry and outside this industry, the most famous people they have Crestron in their homes on their super yachts. These people don't sit still. These people expect the best experience. They expect the next thing. They expect everything to get better and improve.
• Of course, we have all that structure and strategic integration set up, but they don't close off and we don't close off to ideas, to conversations, to people wanting to push the boundaries and that open infrastructure, that open language, that open culture is something that he installs in us to do because us pushing the boundaries and pushing the conversations, that's how you grow and innovate in a company

Ted speaks with Micah Barker from Bioscapes Hawaii, who focuses on an environmentally friendly approach to landscaping in the luxury resort space. He emphasizes the importance of intelligent landscaping, which involves water conservation, proper plant selection, and placement. Micah explains the challenges of educating clients and the building community about the need for sustainable landscaping practices. He shares his vision for Bioscapes Hawaii and the importance of early adopters in promoting environmentally friendly landscaping. Micah also discusses the scalability of his concept and the potential for collaboration with similar companies. The conversation highlights the perseverance and innovation required to create sustainable solutions in the landscaping industry.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• 01:29 Appreciating the Landscape of Hawaii
• 02:03 Micah's Background and the Start of Bioscapes Hawaii
• 03:00 The Unique Biomes of Hawaii
• 04:23 Challenges and Opportunities of Landscaping in Hawaii
• 05:15 Intelligent Landscaping and Water Conservation
• 06:23 Building on Lava Fields and Environmental Impact
• 9:01 The Need for Education and Awareness with clients
• 12:13 Starting and the Vision for Bioscapes Hawaii
• 13:30 Early adopters
• 15:15 The Comparison to Other Environmental Movements
• 16:00 Similar companies but his business is unique
• 21:00 Intelligent Design and being an innovative entrepreneur
• 25:41 The Importance of Patience and Surfing Analogy
• 26:15 Conclusion and Appreciation

CONNECT WITH GUEST

Micah Barker

• Website
• LinkedIn

KEY QUOTES FROM EPISODE

• That was the purpose of the company was to deliver an intelligent model of developing along the coast that was not so destructive to the coastal ecosystem.
• Our plants, they grow better: less pest, less water, less problems.
• Our intelligent design is about doing things that are of place that are rooted in the place where they're being done.

Ted speaks with JD Miller an artist and gallery owner who owns Samuel Lynn Galleries with Phil Romano. Based in Dallas, JD now has galleries spread across the US, and talks with Ted about how he initially got his start and the direction he’s headed next.

From his start in the music business, his transition into radio, to his 3rd career in art - JD Miller shares his incredible story, including his belief that if you have a positive attitude good things will come your way.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• [2:35] JD’s background
• [4:07] When did you find a passion for art?
• [5:25]  Is art trainable or innate?
• [7:30] JD’s business partner: Macaroni Grill, Fudruckers, Heart Stents, and a leap of faith 
• [20:00] The gallery and finding David Yarrow
• [ 31:35] Life before making money with his art, and transitioning to art full time
• [37:18] Why aren’t galleries succeeding anymore?.
• [43:43] Clint Black and the worst weather Dallas has ever seen
• [46:45] Learning from mentors
• [49:00] The vision going forward and the law of attraction
• [53:34] Wrap up

CONNECT WITH GUEST

JD Miller

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

KEY QUOTES FROM EPISODE

• I've been really fortunate to work with some true geniuses in this business. And David Yarrow is the most he's not only a brilliant photographer, a brilliant artist, but he's the most brilliant branding and marketing person I've ever dealt with. 
• The other thing about David is he's one of these guys that he knows everybody, the most famous people in the world, wherever he is, he's just a magnet. 
• You know, it's changed so much. There are very few really brick and mortar galleries that are really, really doing well. You know, a lot of it's gone online and we're an exception. 

Ted speaks with Nik Sirna, owner of NVS Architects based in Montana. Nik recently relocated from Ohio to start his own architecture firm and has quickly built a customer base through his great work ethic and communication skills. 

Today Ted dives into the challenges of starting over, the importance of listening to the customer, and the ways technology is changing industry businesses. Listen in to hear how Nik is climbing the ladder of success and the mentality he uses to tackle problems as they arise.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• [1:15] How Nik and Ted met
• [4:10] How difficult is it to relocate your business and family?
• [9:05]  Is it hard to acclimate to a new style or design or craftsmanship?
• [11:35] Listening to the client
• [13:05] Architects can work anywhere
• [15:00] Designs based on location, Square footage is just a number
• [19:20] How tough was it to build up a firm with no clients? Getting your start.
• [25:45]What’s the difference between school and real life practicing architecture?
• [28:55] 3D modeling vs. real life
• [33:35] Budget realities and hard decisions
• [39:38] Exciting Projects
• [42:12] The power of word of mouth and building relationships
• [45:50] The process of landing a big project
• [48:45]  Mentorship and working hard matters
• [51:20] You have to learn to figure things out, and don’t take no for an answer
• [57:00] Wrap up

CONNECT WITH GUEST

Nik Sirna

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

KEY QUOTES FROM EPISODE

• We've found our lane for sure. We're always evolving, but we've definitely, we definitely have our niche and we've got our aesthetic, which has been nice and it's, it's again, been welcoming
• Sometimes some of the best projects are some of the smaller ones where you gotta be creative with space and you be articulate with some of the structural stuff and you can create some really dynamic stuff. So it doesn't all have to be these huge, the huge projects are great, but a lot of them, the ones that challenge us design wise, tend to be a little bit smaller and really make us think outside of the box a little bit from a plan standpoint and come up with some awesome solutions.
• I've been lucky enough to fall in line. I come from a big family of Italian entrepreneurs that they very successfully sold food, but more importantly, created an amazing culture and amazing business wrapped around people. I mean, they have staff that have been part of their team for 40 years because they believe in them, right? They set a path and their customer base, they love the family, they love the people, they love the experience, they love the communication. I've been able to take a lot of those key things.

Ted speaks with Chris Bouchard at BPWood in Penticton, British Columbia.  BPwood is a family run lumber company that specializes in being Nimble Innovators. 

Today Ted unravels the greenwashing of composite materials vs. new wood products. While most consumers and builders are looking for durable outdoor materials like red cedar, BPWood has been revolutionizing the global lumber supply chain by introducing a new product called ThermoWood. This thermally modified wood is more sustainable and cheaper than other alternatives and today you’ll hear where it comes from, how it’s made, and all the different ways it can be used to change the industry.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• [2:12] How extreme sports translates to the family business
• [6:28] Why did you join the family business?
• [9:00] What’s the difference between regional woods?
• [10:45] Hardwood vs. softwoods and sustainability
• [14:45] Thermally Modified Wood: what is it and how is it made?
• [18:50] Reclaimed lumber and its durability
• [21:20] What’s your biggest challenge? Education?
• [24:20]What’s the application of it?
• [28:10] Thermowood is great for harsh climates
• [29:00] What makes BPWood stand out from the competition?
• [30:45] Do woods cycle, not just in popularity but in supply?
• [33:25] The stories wood can tell
• [34:30] BPWood products
• [37:00]  What changes have been made in the company over the years?
• [40:05] Where do you see BPWood 5 years from now?
• [40:55] What markets do you excel in?
• [42:42] What’s the price point?
• [43:45] Is there pressure on the composite industry?
• [47:05] Current projects

CONNECT WITH GUEST

Chris Bouchard

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

KEY QUOTES FROM EPISODE

• Thermo Wood is a, well the thermal modification of wood is a process that has been studied in Europe from the early 1900s and the whole idea is to use heat and water to take a piece of traditionally non-durable wood and make it durable. Europeans don't grow, they don't have Western Red Cedar. Western Red Cedar is naturally known as the most naturally resistant or durable wood for exterior cladding and fencing and railing and decking and things like that. So the Europeans had to come up with a solution to take the material that they can grow in their forests and make durable wood products.
• I think the vision for the company is to get a little bit deeper into markets that we've historically done good business in. We built the company on being a very wide company, and that's got us a long way. We understand the world. We know how things move around the world. We have a very global understanding of softwood. And my focus for the company is to see us dig a little deeper into those individual lanes. And just increase business that way. I believe you can only be so good at a lot of things and you can become masters at a few things that will make you stickier in the marketplace.
• The broader message for all of these home building groups is that wood is good. Wood has a better carbon footprint and a more sustainable story than any hardy board ever created, than any composite deck ever created. We need to reintroduce wood as being good. That's my message to the whole industry, not just the high end home guys.

Ted speaks with  Erik Peterson, President of PHX Architecture in Scottsdale, Arizona. Erik’s career working on bespoke properties has given him an incredible amount of stories to tell and knowledge to impart. 

Today, Ted explores the history of these properties and the indelible mark left by Erik and his firm as they renovate and recreate their purpose in the modern world. Listen in to hear the remarkable  story of a kid from Chicago who made it big through perseverance, determination, and grit.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• [1:30] Erik, Frank Lloyd Wright and The Arizona Biltmore
• [14:05] How do you take an iconic property and update it without losing the essence?
• [16:50] How do you recover from doing a restoration and move on?
• [20:15] How do you feel about your iconic projects being renovated in the future?
• [22:20] Persistence pays off, success doesn’t happen overnight
• [24:27] How to build a special moment
• [27:34] How do you guide young people?
• [31:35] How does traveling affect your craft?
• [34:45] Leaving an impression, but letting go of control
• [37:15] Just a kid from Chicago
• [39:30] Getting young people involved in the industry and transitioning to AI
• [45:22] What’s different about what clients ask for now as opposed to 15 years ago?
• [48:20] Current projects
• [51:25]  What are you most proud of?

CONNECT WITH GUEST

Erik Peterson

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Youtube
• LinkedIn

KEY QUOTES FROM EPISODE

• Yeah, 1929 is when the Biltmore started. Now, it was later in the 30s that Wright decided the depression hits, he's got no work. He had been out here helping Albert Chase MacArthur, they were the developers of the Biltmore. The market crashed. He knew that Wright was in trouble. Wright didn't have work. He was kicked out of Taliesin in Wisconsin because his ex-wife got it repossessed. He was living with his new mistress in La Jolla. And Chase McArthur, who used to work with him back in Chicago, calls him up and says, hey, me and my brothers are doing this hotel. I know you need money.
• When I first was started and we were working at Taliesin, we went to California and we got to visit with an original owner that hired Frank Lloyd Wright to design the house. She was still in the house and she was a dancer and she had hired Frank Lloyd Wright and she said, design me a house that I feel like dancing in every single day. So here she was in her 90s, she could barely walk and she said, but I will tell you this,I still dance in this house every single day. And it just like sent those goosebumps up my spine. And I said, that's what I want. I want to be that. I wanna do that for somebody. And that's what keeps me going.
• Yeah, you know you want we as architects always want control but that's the thing that happens you're done You give it to them and you walk away and make they can do whatever they want with it. 

Ted speaks with realtor Win Peniston about Build Magazine’s last year. 2023 was a year of growth, expansion, and learning. 

Today, Ted tackles his own background, his thoughts on the building industry and the economy, and the life lessons he’s learned while building a successful company. Join us for the first Year in Review as we look towards 2024. 

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• [1:30] What was meant to be special for 2023 and did you achieve it?
• [5:00] Where was your growth? Turning negatives into positives
• [8:53] The challenges of building a company
• [11:30] What was the most innovative things you saw this year?
• [17:45] Innovation based on location
• [26:50] Which markets does Build Magazine serve and what do growth plans look like?
• [32:00] What’s on your mind? Economy, the next generation, etc.
• [39:50] What’s your prognosis for the building industry in 2024?
• [41:45] Wrap up

CONNECT WITH GUEST

Ted Bainbridge

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Youtube
• LinkedIn

KEY QUOTES FROM EPISODE

• The technology in home building is always important and it's also always important to think about the realities of the house over time as it relates to technology because so much is behind the walls that you almost have to really think about getting it right the first time. 
• I think it's an exciting time to be in business, but it's also a very challenging time. But the challenge makes you, it keeps you engaged, it keeps you healthy, it keeps you functioning, it keeps your brain thinking
• It’s getting more people to understand that trades are a great way to live a life, to have a career. It is, especially, if you're dealing at this tier of people. You'll never know what a recession is, you'll never have a bad time because those people, even in bad times, they've always got money and now they think that they can get better deals on real estate. And they've got the liquidity to be able to pull that off.

Episode Notes 

Ted speaks with Allison Paladino and Zita Rudd with Paladino | Rudd Interior Designs in Palm Beach, Florida. Through the 2008 recession to the present, these two have stuck together and today Paladino | Rudd is featured in luxury magazines across the country and designs collections for leading manufacturers all over.

Today, Ted dives into how this business started, how the partnership thrived, and where Allison and Zita are headed next. Listen in as he plots their trajectory and reveals the systems and processes that have helped them rise to the top.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• [1:45] How Paladino | Rudd came to be
• [2:55] Waiting to become partner and the career of an interior designer
• [4:08] The importance of To Do lists  and paying it forward
• [11:50] What do you learn from failure?
• [15:30] The responsibility to be a role model for employees
• [18:15] 3 decades in Palm Beach and the evolution of a place
• [23:45] Coaching to stay calm in chaos
• [26:25] How to stay relevant and foster your employees
• [32:15] What do two talented interior designers have in their own homes?
• [35:00] Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
• [37:15] Giving creative importance to client’s desires
• [38:35] New clients vs. repeat clients
• [42:15] Raise your price to meet your quality
• [45:55] Managing varying business interests
• [48:30] Transitioning to retirement
• [ 50:05] What are you most proud of?

CONNECT WITH GUEST

Allison Paladino and Zita Rudd

• Website
• Instagram

KEY QUOTES FROM EPISODE

• Some designers, it's almost like a conveyor belt. You see designs and you see things repeated. And we go over and beyond. And I think, I don't know, we just love what we do. And we want everything to be unique. And we want to create fantastic things for clients
• It's so important. We're all so busy going a million miles an hour, that it's really important to make sure your staff is happy. 
• Every project's different. We don't ever want our projects to be recognizable - to say, oh, that's Paladina Rudd. I think you're doing your client a real disservice if someone can spot your work. 

Episode Notes 

Ted speaks with Nida Risto, founder of Nida Risto Interiors, a Wyoming-based interior design firm on her collaborative design process and her path from Albania to America. Nida shares her process in sourcing materials for clients and how her personal approach can lead to shipping an antique chandelier across oceans. In a wide-ranging conversation, Ted & Nida discuss how failure is always informative, the American Dream and the rise of misinformation. 

Despite her highly successful design career, Nida never forgets how far she’s come and her lived experience of the fragility of peace. Today, Ted does a deep dive into Nida’s eclectic world of interior design as she draws from both her European and American roots.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• [2:00] The American Dream & Nida’s path to the U.S. 
• [15:30] What is Nida’s process when beginning a project?
• [17:20] Drawing  from a European background & being an “eclectic”  
• [20:00] How does your process change when joining  an “orphaned” project?
• [22:50] Building trust with clients who’ve been burned by previous designers
• [28:30] The consequences of buying houses site-unseen
• [29:50] An idyllic life vs the life we narrowly avoided
• [33:30] America’s multiculturalism & putting in the work
• [35:50] What are the coolest projects you’ve worked on?
• [39:50] Sourcing furniture & a very special chandelier 
• [42:50] How important is the story of the objects you source for your clients?
• [44:40] The importance of the work of Interior Designers
• [46:10] What is one of your biggest failures & how did you overcome it?
• [48:50] Risk & failure in America vs Albania
• [55:40] Repair in a post-communist Albania & the fragility of peace  
• [57:45] Do you get nervous with what’s going on here in America?
• [1:00] Green energy & misinformation
• [ 1:03:20] Is it tough to design your own house?
• [1:05:10] Marriage & compromise

CONNECT WITH GUEST

Nida Risto

• Website
• LinkedIn

KEY QUOTES FROM EPISODE

• This is a country that was made of immigrants. And people always say, well, the American dream is dead. And I'm like, it's not. It might not be as what it used to be back in the 80s, but it's still there and we can still work to make it even better for everyone. But you do have to put in the work.
• You're trying to get as much business as you can to build your business. You're more in starvation mode. And then you realize in the long run that even though I had revenue, was it worth it in the long run? Was it worth the headaches? And quite frankly, towards the end, it's never worth it. 
• For an immigrant to take risks is very different from someone that was born and raised here to take risks. If I fail, I fail and that's it. And I'm probably going to have to start over from scratch. And it puts a lot of pressure on you, but it also puts a lot of responsibility for you to take very calculated risks.
• When you hire a team of professionals, let them do their job. Because they have the experience and know how things work. Don't try and micromanage. Don't try and tell your builder and architect and designer what to do. Listen to their advice because they know they have done this so many times.

Today Ted speaks with Vincent Ambrose, Chief Commercial Officer of FranklinWH, a research-driven company focused on next-generation residential energy management and storage solutions. Vincent shares what energy independence can look like, what it should cost, and how it works.

As a leading innovator in the renewable energy sector, FranklinWH is uniquely positioned to provide solutions across North America for homeowners and homebuilders looking to be more self-sufficient or off-grid. Today, Ted dives into the specifics surrounding this ever-evolving technology and helps break down what can often seem difficult to understand. 

TOPICS DISCUSSED

• [2:10] Born in California, headquartered in Canada
• [2:50] Do geography and climate play a big role in solar adoption?
• [4:40] What is the biggest challenge in the industry?
• [5:50] Should we go all renewable, or is there a balance?
• [8:05] Will a solar grid supply everything we need?
• [8:30] What’s stopping that from happening?
• [9:35] Energy intensive industries will have to transition
• [11:30] Consumer education is the biggest roadblock
• [12:30] How did Vincent get into the renewable industry?
• [15:15] Juggling a business so affected by policy and opinion
• [17:30] What a transition into renewable look like?
• [20:00] What are the questions homeowners should ask about having a battery backup to your house?
• [23:20] All about the technology
• [25:30] Battery replacement and disposal
• [29:05] The ins and outs of batteries on projects
• [33:00] What is the limiting factor for homeowners?
• [35:25] What’s the business model?
• [38:45] Cool projects
• [41:45] Energy independence from weather and climate
• [45:00] How to manage the smartest people in the industry
• [46:45] Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
• [48:00] Hybrid cars and early adoption

CONNECT WITH GUEST

Vincent Ambrose

• Website
• LinkedIn

KEY QUOTES FROM EPISODE

• So the actual distance to the sun really doesn't come into play. It's actually the irradiance that the area receives on an annual basis is kind of how the industry works off of. And there are specific maps. So, for instance, Phoenix, which is way higher than the equator, right, is going to get way more sun than, let's say, Panama City, right? And that's more of a function of cloud cover and moisture in the air than it is, you know, anything else.
• There are some industries that are so energy intensive that solar wind and battery don't make sense as their own unit, but they can very easily create that energy that can be used. 
• Everybody resists change, right? That's kind of human nature. And we need to learn how to embrace change. For some reason, our industry has gotten a little bit more politicized, so that change seems to be a little bit more controversial. Nobody was screaming and yelling when we went from 2G to 3G, and 3G to 4G.