PROCO360 | Best Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

“We’re building homes in about 9 days at 20 stations, so every house stays at a station about 4 hours.”

Charlie Chupp, Founder and CEO, Fading West

This is the second recent episode about a Colorado company building alternatives to traditional single-family homes (see also Studio Shed – Still Leading the ADU Industry).  It’s because the lack of attainable housing is such an important issue and Colorado companies are addressing it with innovation and value.  This episode with Charlie Chupp of Fading West describes the problems and challenges, and how applying Charlie’s LEAN manufacturing background is effectively driving a fast-evolving industry.  I was fascinated by some surprises about workforce in this episode!

“I EXPLAIN TO CUSTOMERS HOW I WORK, AND THEY TRUST ME.”

Fernando Ledezma, Ledezma Concrete

This episode is out of my comfort zone – and refreshingly so.  Generally, I’m with high-flying entrepreneurs leading business that have raised tens of millions of dollars and are pursuing hockey stick growth.  Tia and Fernando Ledezma charmed me when they replaced a sidewalk at my house.  They reminded me of my great grandparents who came to the United States with a trade (tailors) and having to learn the language, assimilate, and make their own way.  Ledezma Concrete is a wonderful story of initiative, risk taking and hard work.

“Community engagement is really looking to the future… what do I want my city and community to be and how can I help that happen?”

Rob Cohen, Chairman and CEO, IMA Financial

“It’s fun to be in a business where you have to decide where to pursue the opportunity.”  

Jeremy Nova, co-Founder, Studio Shed 

 

Jeremy was my guest via Zoom during the pandemic.  Sometimes it’s fun to circle back with a prior guest to see how they’ve evolved – either the leader (see this focus in the episode “Starting from Skratch, Maturing as CEO” with Ian MacGregor of Skratch Labs), or the business and market as is the case this time.  I was eager to explore this because after Studio Shed was an early innovator in its space, it was followed by large and notable companies like Tuff Shed and Home Depot that evolved their product lines to compete with Studio Shed.    

“When we started out we weren’t thinking big picture – we were just excited to offer something we were passionate about.”

Jane Barden, co-Founder, Farm to Summit

“We deploy data and technology to find pockets of opportunity we call Superfans.”

Greg Sobiech, Founder & CEO, DELVE

“THE STATE OF COLORADO INCENTIVIZED ME TO MOVE HERE FROM AUSTIN, AND THAT WAS THE VERY BEST DECISION I’VE MADE IN THE HISTORY OF THE COMPANY.”

Jonathan Ballesteros, Geyser Systems

“In that year (Covid) we turned down Ellen Oprah and Martha Stewart… because we were so committed to our direct customer.”

Jeff Eldridge, Liberty Puzzles

“My #1 job is to run this great company… and (create a brand) that helps me get this message out there that there’s a different way to lead a company.”

Kerry Siggins, CEO of StoneAge… Author and Speaker

I’ve been skeptical and bewildered as I’ve watched Kerry Siggins mature as the CEO of StoneAge while simultaneously leaning in to becoming an author and speaker on leadership.  My skepticism comes from wondering how one can seemingly focus on two careers simultaneously and do them both WELL.  A deeper question in my mind was how those she leads feel about their CEO directing so much energy at things not specific to running their company.  I was amazed at how Kerry took these questions head on, and that her answers made sense to me on several levels.

 

“This is a once in a generation paradigm shift in computing performance… We’re all jockeying to one of the 3-5 winners at the end of the day.”

Rob Hays, President & CEO, Atom Computing