Epic Entrepreneurs

Hosted by Bill Gilliland

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338

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Epic Entrepreneurs! What does it take to build a real and thriving business in today’s world? As entrepreneurs and business owners, we went into business to have more freedom of time and money. Yet, the path of growing a business isn’t always filled with sunshine and rainbows. In this chart-topping show, host Bill Gilliland; author of the best-selling book “The Coach Approach” leverages his decades of experience coaching proven entrepreneurs to make more money, grow the right teams, and find the freedom of EPIC Entrepreneurship.

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60 recent

October 21, 202650 min

Chris Powell Explains What It Takes To Build A 24 7 Restoration Business

A burst pipe does not wait for business hours, and neither does the person you trust to walk into your home and fix the damage. We sit down with Chris Powell of Pro Premier Restoration to unpack what water mitigation, mold remediation, and fire damage restoration look like in the real world, from the first panicked phone call to the last piece of equipment leaving the driveway. Chris explains why speed and documentation matter, how he keeps projects tight and safe, and what “working directly with the owner” actually means when the job is urgent and personal. Chris also gets honest about the entrepreneurial side: 100 plus hour weeks, learning marketing without a sales background, and the hard lesson of spending big on digital marketing that did not deliver. The turning point is relationship driven growth through BNI networking and trusted referral partners like plumbers, plus a service mindset that prioritises clear communication and doing right by people even when an insurance claim gets denied. If you care about local service business growth, reputation management, and referral marketing, this conversation is packed with practical insight. We also dig into hiring and leadership under pressure, including how Chris’s Georgia Army National Guard and law enforcement experience shaped his decision making, standards, and ethics in a 24 7 emergency business. He shares how he manages invoicing and receivables with QuickBooks, plans cash flow around slow insurance payments, and maps a path to multiple crews by 2030. If you are building a home services company or simply want to understand what restoration professionals do when disaster hits, you will leave with a clearer playbook and a stronger respect for the work. Contact Info: chris.powell@propremierrestoration.come Subscribe for more founder stories, share this with a business owner who needs it, and leave a review so more listeners can find Epic Entrepreneurs. High Retention - Short and Sweet Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/ All the best! Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

October 21, 202650 min

Alli & Whitney Balabanis, Vero Beach Dumpster Rentals

A dumpster rental company can look like the simplest business on the planet until you try to run one at full speed. We sit down with Alli Balabanis from Vero Beach Dumpster Rental to get honest about what it really takes to grow a roll-off dumpster business in Florida’s Treasure Coast: the equipment costs, commercial insurance, routing headaches, late-night “we need a dumpster tomorrow” calls, and the constant pressure to make the right move at the right time. Ali shares how he went from years of CDL Class A trucking into entrepreneurship, why he chose a local model instead of over-the-road work, and what surprised him most after launch. We talk about why contractor relationships drive repeat demand, why scaling often forces big decisions like hiring your first driver or investing in a second truck, and how decision fatigue can quietly become the biggest bottleneck. If you’re building a service business, you’ll also hear what’s working for lead generation right now, including Google Ads, local SEO, social media, vehicle wraps, and networking groups. The most powerful part of the conversation is the why. Ali explains how growth creates the ability to give back, from building future jobs to teaming up with nonprofits for free cleanouts that change lives, including major hoarder house situations. If you’re an entrepreneur who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure when to make the next jump, this one will meet you where you are and push you forward. Contact Info: aBalabanis7@gmail.com whitneyBalabanis@gmail.com Subscribe to Epic Entrepreneurs, share this with a business owner who’s in the grind, and leave a review with the biggest decision you’re facing right now. High Retention - Short and Sweet Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/ All the best! Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

October 19, 202648 min

A Former ICU Nurse Explains How To Lead With Compassion In Emergency Restoration with Chandler Lofgreen, DryTech Restoration

Your home floods at 2 a.m., a ceiling caves in after a storm, or you spot mold creeping behind drywall. That is when a restoration company stops being a “vendor” and becomes the calm voice you trust. We talk with Chandler Lofgreen, owner of DryTech Restoration, about how emergency response really works across Northern Arizona, from Prescott and Prescott Valley to Sedona and Flagstaff, and what “restoration done right” looks like when the stakes are personal. Chandler’s story is not the usual trades path. He went from earning a nursing license at Arizona State University and working as a pediatric ICU nurse at Phoenix Children’s Hospital to running a 24-hour emergency restoration operation. That experience shows up in how he leads: empathy first, clear communication, and fast action that keeps people grounded. We also get practical on the work itself, including mold remediation basics, water extraction and dry out strategy, fire cleanup, and even odor control with ozone machines when smoke or melted plastic lingers. We dig into the business side too: why insurance claims can be tricky, how deductibles and rate worries shape customer choices, and why documentation matters so much in restoration. Chandler also breaks down what drives consistent job flow, how Google Business Profile reviews can win big jobs, why property managers and plumbers are key referral partners, and what he would prioritise if calls doubled tomorrow. If you are a small business owner, you will recognise the themes: time management, hiring technicians you can trust, and building systems so every emergency does not escalate back to the owner. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a local business owner, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. What is the biggest bottleneck in your business right now? CONTACT INFO: chandlerlofgreen99@gmail.com High Retention - Short and Sweet Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/ All the best! Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

October 19, 202654 min

Curiosity Creates Ownership When You Lead with Stephanie Smith, Be Brave

Default mode is sneaky. One day your team feels aligned and energized, and the next day everyone is “busy” while priorities blur, meetings turn into checkboxes, and momentum quietly disappears. We sit down with Stephanie Smith, founder of Be Brave Group in Morgantown, West Virginia, to talk about a better way to lead: grow by design, not by default. We walk through how Stephanie’s background in software, government contracting, academia, and commercial leadership shaped her approach to leadership coaching and strategic facilitation. Her takeaway is clear: the real system is the people. When leaders create the right environment, the wisdom is already in the room. Stephanie explains why “curiosity creates ownership,” how intention changes the way you show up in meetings, and what it looks like to build trust so every voice can participate. You’ll also hear the practical side of building a business as a solopreneur: protecting time for family, leaning on an ecosystem of partners, and using simple operating rhythms like an end-of-day planning protocol and a daily focus block. If you’re feeling stuck, her “1% edge” advice is a reset you can apply today: small, consistent micro actions that compound into real progress. If you get value from this conversation, subscribe, share it with a leader who feels stretched thin, and leave a review. Then grab Stephanie’s free leader check-in at bebravegroup.com/design and tell us what you discovered. CONTACT INFO: steph@bebravegroup.com High Retention - Short and Sweet Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/ All the best! Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

October 8, 202642 min

What Happens When AI Can Answer Everything with TJ Clayton-Cornell, Modern Woodmen of America

If you have ever looked at entrepreneurship and thought, “I just want more freedom,” this conversation adds the missing warning label. We talk with TJ Clayton-Cornell of Modern Woodmen of America about what it feels like to leave the military’s guaranteed paycheck and step into a commission-based financial services career where discipline is the difference between growth and panic. He shares the moment it hit him that passing exams and having a website does not automatically earn trust with someone’s retirement plan, life insurance, or their kids’ college savings. We also dig into what makes Modern Woodmen stand out in the financial planning and insurance world. It is a fraternal organization and the nation’s largest not-for-profit insurance organization, which changes how it shows up in the community. TJ explains how consistent networking, monthly volunteer events, and a “talk to clients quarterly” service model creates real relationships in an industry where many people only hear from an advisor once a year. Along the way, TJ gets candid about leadership and boundaries: why you cannot want it more than your team does, why he started saying no to certain clients, and why AI will reshape financial services without replacing genuine human connection. If you are an entrepreneur feeling stuck, his time audit method is a practical reset you can run this week to find the leaks in your schedule. Subscribe for more honest founder stories, share this with a friend building a business, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you are applying next. CONTACT INFO: Tim.clayton-cornell@mwarep.org High Retention - Short and Sweet Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/ All the best! Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

October 7, 202658 min

Stop Hiring “Honda Price” Builders For A Mercedes Home with Greg Palmer, Built Up Homes

The fastest way to ruin a custom home build isn’t bad taste or a missed detail, it’s broken communication. We’re joined by Greg Palmer of Built Up Homes, a Greenville, South Carolina custom home builder and remodel contractor who’s seen the difference firsthand, from production neighborhoods to high-touch custom projects where the relationship matters as much as the framing. We talk about what clients actually reward: clear updates, calm problem-solving, and the kind of professional trust that makes referrals inevitable. Greg explains why homeowners should choose a builder early, before the bid spreadsheet takes over, and how that decision can save months of churn as plans evolve. We also dig into real-world construction pressures like labor shortages, supply chain delays, and fluctuating material costs, including why allowances and cost-plus estimating became common during the worst volatility. Greg gets candid about the feast-or-famine cycle many small businesses face, how interest rates can slow the pipeline, and why he’s building multiple marketing streams instead of relying only on word of mouth and architect referrals. You’ll also hear his plan to expand into commercial construction with a separate commercial license, plus two hard-earned lessons every entrepreneur can use: price your work like a pro and listen to your internal red-flag meter before you say yes to the wrong client. If you care about custom home building, home remodeling, contractor communication, or practical small business growth, hit subscribe, share this with a friend who’s planning a build, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. CONTACT INFO: greg@builtuphomes.com High Retention - Short and Sweet Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/ All the best! Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

October 6, 202643 min

Honest Estimates Beat Hard Sales Every Time with Alex Savely, Ridge Roofing

A roofing business can look simple from the outside, but the moment you try to scale it, everything gets real fast: crews, margins, weather delays, homeowner expectations, and the never-ending question of how hands-on an owner can stay. We talk with Alex Savely, co-owner of Ridge Roofing in Western North Carolina, about building a company that grows on referrals and repeat trust instead of pressure sales. Alex shares how hurricane-season roofing in South Louisiana shaped his view of “local and here to stay,” then how he and his wife took the leap in 2018 as newcomers to the mountains. We get into the practical strategy behind their service mix, including why metal roofing and standing seam projects became a smart play for winter months, and how relationships with custom home builders helped Ridge Roofing step into high-end designer roofs without abandoning everyday repairs that homeowners still need. We also dig into the operator side: direct owner involvement as a competitive advantage, the current constraint around project management capacity, and what breaks first if demand suddenly doubles. Alex breaks down where leads really come from today (referrals, Google, Angie, and surprisingly ChatGPT), plus how they use AccuLynx CRM and spreadsheets to track profitability and warranty work. We wrap with candid advice for small business owners facing tough staffing decisions and a look at Ridge Roofing’s next growth move into residential siding. If you care about small business growth, trades entrepreneurship, residential roofing, and what trust looks like in the real world, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a business owner friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. CONTACT INFO: alex.savely@ridge-roofing.com High Retention - Short and Sweet Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/ All the best! Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

October 6, 202643 min

How A Creative Agency Scales Without Losing The Story with Anthony Sparks, Sparks Media Agency

A lot of companies think their marketing problem is “we need a video.” We see it differently, and Anthony Sparks from Sparks Media Agency explains exactly why. From Morgantown, West Virginia, Anthony has spent 12 years building a creative agency that blends storytelling and strategy across video production, website builds, rebrands, and ad placement on Meta, YouTube pre-roll, and streaming TV. The result is work that looks great, but also moves people to act. We talk about the evolution from a one-man band chasing cool projects to an agency with clarity, systems, and a team that can deliver a consistent client experience. Anthony shares how COVID created a rare “great pause” that forced a mindset shift into true ownership: hiring, building work culture, defining repeatable processes, and learning how to stop the founder from becoming the bottleneck. If you run a service business, this is a real-world look at scaling without losing your standards. Anthony also breaks down the discovery-driven approach that builds trust before a client even walks in the door, plus the behind-the-scenes stories that shaped the agency including filming heart surgeries for a major medical device conference and turning around an underground coal mine project on a tight deadline. We wrap with a simple, memorable piece of advice for overwhelmed entrepreneurs: don’t change your stance, make small tweaks and stay consistent. Subscribe for more conversations with builders and operators, share this with a founder who needs a reset, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. What’s the small tweak you’re going to make this week? CONTACT INFO: anthony@sparksmediaagency.com High Retention - Short and Sweet Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/ All the best! Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

October 5, 202648 min

Preventative Turf Care Beats Chasing Weeds Every Spring with Yoel Clark, Pittsburgh Turf & Fertilizing

A truly great lawn isn’t a single product, it’s a system. We talk with Yoel Clark from Pittsburgh Turf and Fertilizing about what’s really happening under your grass, why the NPK numbers on a fertilizer bag matter, and how timing and balance can make the difference between a quick green-up and lasting turf health. If you’ve ever wondered why weeds keep coming back or why your lawn looks great in spring and falls apart in summer, this conversation connects the dots in plain language. We also get into what it’s like to build a lawn healthcare business in Pittsburgh, where weather can flip the plan overnight. Yoel explains how late springs shift pre-emergent strategy, why certain chemistries become risky as temperatures rise, and how a professional adjusts routes and applications without sacrificing results. Along the way we cover the core six-step lawn care program, plus services like lime treatments for pH issues, grub control, fungal treatments during muggy summers, aeration, and overseeding when the season turns. Then we go behind the scenes on growth: the fear of asking for referrals, the need for a real sales and marketing funnel, when it makes sense to hire the first employee, and how equipment and storage space can quietly limit scale. Yoel also shares what sets a local, family-run operator apart from big lawn care franchises, and what new pest control options he’s excited to offer next. If you enjoy practical lawn care advice mixed with honest small business lessons, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more local entrepreneurs can find the show. CONTACT INFO: info@pghturfandfert.com https://pghturfandfert.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pghturfandfert High Retention - Short and Sweet Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/ All the best! Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/

October 1, 202639 min

A Great Home Design Happens Long Before Delivery Day with Caitlin Madia, Remarkable Interior

A remodel can look gorgeous on Pinterest and still feel wrong the minute you move back in. We talk with Caitlin Madia, founder of Remarkable Interiors in Morgantown, West Virginia, about what actually makes a home come together and why “just picking colours” is rarely the real problem. Caitlin breaks down full-service interior design from concept to completion, including furnishings, remodels, and new builds, and she explains why homeowners often feel overwhelmed right when the spending gets serious. We get honest about the parts most people never see: the space planning hours, the trade coordination, the backorders, the last-minute swaps, and the small problems that can turn into expensive regrets. Caitlin shares how she acts as a client advocate across contractors, vendors, and big-box options, keeping the project aligned with what the homeowner wants to live with for years. If you have ever second-guessed a tile choice, a lighting plan, or a layout, this conversation will feel painfully familiar in the best way. We also zoom out to the business side of interior design and entrepreneurship in 2026: nonstop price changes, rising freight and labor costs, and the pressure to grow without losing quality. Caitlin talks about hiring, using a business coach, building documented systems and processes, and what “growing the right way” looks like as she works toward a future flagship showroom. She even shares what she looks for when hiring a designer, and why drive and sales ability can matter as much as technical skills. If you enjoy real stories about small business growth, leadership, and building a home that supports your life, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend planning a remodel, and leave a review with the biggest decision you are trying to make in your space. CONTACT INFO: caitlin@remarkableid.com High Retention - Short and Sweet Thanks for Listening. You may contact me or our team at https://billgilliland.biz/ All the best! Bill Please hit the subscribe button, leave us a 5 star review, and share this podcast. You can reach me at williamgilliland@actioncoach.com or at https://billgilliland.biz/