Out of the Hourglass

Hosted by Nolan Consulting Group

Business Management EntrepreneurshipInterviews guests

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282

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Out of the Hourglass, presented by Nolan Consulting Group, is here to help Small Business Owners and Contractors alike visualize their goals, develop their team & build sustainable growth. You'll hear from our panel of NCG Coaches on a variety of topics, guest speakers from top industry resources, Business Owners sharing best practices and a focus on strategies across sales, marketing, business planning, human resources and more. We're here to take you "out of the hourglass" and reach YOUR Summit.

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60 recent

June 10, 202641 min

Ep. 276: Real Talk on Safety – Perspectives from Five Trades Leaders

June is National Safety Month and this episode is our way of honoring it. We gathered five leaders from NCG's Safety Peer Group, each representing a different role and a different corner of the trades, and asked them what safety really looks like inside their businesses. What you'll hear isn't theory, it's hard-won experience, honest conversation, and a few stories that will stick with you. If you're a business owner thinking about where safety fits in your company, we think this one’s for you. Thank you to the following contributors for sharing their voice on this episode: Rumel Perez, Safety Manager at Alpine Painting & Sandblasting Hernan Jimenez, Safety Manager at Nolan PaintingVicente Verduzco, Director of Operations at MB Jessee Raul Marino, Production Manager at MB Jessee Chris Barnett, Safety Coordinator at Apap Painting & RenovationsJazmin Gonzalez, Project Coordinator at All Covered Painting

May 27, 202644 min

Ep. 275: Automate First – An Honest Take on AI, Zapier, and Smarter Systems with Lindsey Mueller of Sound Painting Solutions

Automation doesn't have to start with AI, it starts with a process you're fed up with. Lindsey Mueller, co-owner of Sound Painting Solutions in Seattle, has been building Zapier workflows for over a decade, and her approach is refreshingly practical: find what wastes time or creates errors, then eliminate it. In this episode, Lindsey walks through her automation-first mindset, how she uses AI as a coding and brainstorming tool without handing over the wheel, and what she'd tell any trades business owner ready to start simplifying their operations

May 20, 202652 min

Ep. 274: The New Spectrum – Hiring the Right Leaders and Learning to Let Go with Rich Lauretta

Rich Lauretta has been building Spectrum Painting in Northern New Jersey since 1989 and recently made the boldest move of his career: hiring a Director of Operations, HR Manager, and Field Supervisor all at once to push the business toward a $10 million goal. In this episode, Rich gets candid about what it really takes to hire senior leaders, lead them effectively, and finally get out of the day-to-day. Honest, practical, and packed with insight for any owner ready to scale.

May 13, 202654 min

Ep. 273: The Team That Wanted to Free Him: Pete Grandin on Building a Management Team That Transformed GrandScapes

Pete Grandin has spent over 40 years building GrandScapes into one of Rhode Island's premier landscaping companies — and the last few years have looked completely different. In this episode, Pete breaks down how building a structured management team transformed not just his business, but his day-to-day life. From delegating his maintenance division to empowering a team that now holds its own weekly meetings without him, Pete's story is a blueprint for what's possible when you invest in the right people. If you're a trades owner still carrying everything yourself, this one is worth your time.

May 6, 202659 min

Ep. 272: Working Genius in Action — Hiring, Retention, and Leadership | with Alysa Medina of Painters USA

What if you could understand how someone approaches their work before you ever put them in a seat - and use that understanding to build stronger teams, reduce turnover, and make your toughest conversations more productive? Alysa Medina, Senior VP of People Operations at Painters USA, has done exactly that using the Working Genius framework. Today she walks us through how she's integrated it into hiring, onboarding, coaching, and daily leadership… and the remarkable results that followed, including dropping field turnover from 70% to 30–35%To learn more about Working Genius from Patrick Lencioni & The Table Group, visit https://www.workinggenius.com/

April 29, 202658 min

Ep. 271: Hire for Potential – Introducing the POP™ Assessment with Jane Allen and Mark Repkin

Most hiring decisions are made on gut feel and most bad hires reveal themselves long after the interview is over. In this episode, we sit down with Jane Allen, owner of Smart Work Assessments, and Mark Repkin, NCG Sales Coach and Principal of Unicorn Sales Advisory, to introduce the POP™ (Predictor of Potential) Assessment a science-backed tool that Nolan Consulting Group is now certified to offer clients across sales, management, and key roles throughout a trades business. Jane and Mark break down what the assessment actually measures, how it differs from tools like DISC and Myers-Briggs, and how it can transform not just a single hire, but your entire hiring process. We're also sharing details on our upcoming May 20th workshop, designed to help NCG clients benchmark their current team and build a smarter foundation for future hiring.

April 22, 202643 min

Ep. 270: Business is Messy – Finding, Hiring, and Keeping Your Number Two

Finding and keeping a strong "number two" is one of the most important — and most difficult — hires a trades business owner will ever make. In this episode of Business is Messy, Brian and Colin make the case that the best candidate probably isn't coming from your industry — and break down exactly where to look, how to bring them on, and how to lead them once they're in the door. From outcome-based compensation and reference checks to one-on-ones and the tough conversations most leaders avoid, this episode covers the full picture. If you've been putting off this hire — or struggling to make it stick — this one's for you.Today’s Podcast is brought to you by Painter Marketing Pros

April 15, 202644 min

Ep. 269: The Leap and the Plan – How Watson & Sons Turned Pressure Into Progress

What does it take to go from a 5-person local plumbing company to a multi-location operation serving six counties - as an unknown in a brand new market? John Moskola, co-owner of Watson & Sons Plumbing, joins us to share the real story: the financial pressure, the contingency planning, the marketing investments that took months to pay off, and the coaching relationship that helped him see around corners. From a single keyword change that dramatically shifted their search visibility, to a new trenchless lining service opening doors with realtors and homeowners alike, John's story is a masterclass in trusting the process when the results aren't there yet. If you're a trades owner sitting on a growth decision and not sure if the timing is right, this one is for you.Today’s Podcast is brought to you by Hirebus

April 8, 202658 min

Ep. 268: The Outside Perspective – What Level 2 Safety Certification Really Looks Like with Darren Lottes & Mason Mimnaugh

Safety programs don't protect your people - safety culture does. And there's a big difference between having policies on paper and actually living them on the job site. In this episode, Darren Lottes, National Safety Manager at Painters USA, and Mason Mimnaugh, Risk Management Consultant at Acrisure, walk us through what it really takes to achieve Summit Safety Level 2 certification, including the on-site verification process that separates companies that have a safety program from companies that are actively living one. From leveraging outside resources to connecting safety metrics to business growth, this conversation is a roadmap for any trades leader ready to take their safety culture to the next level.To connect with Mason Mimnaugh and learn more about Acrisure’s Risk Management Resources: MMimnaugh@acrisure.comToday’s Podcast is brought to you by The Sherwin Williams Company

March 25, 202654 min

Ep. 267: Your Brand Story – Video, Content & the Marketing Mindset That Changes Everything

Your brand story is one of the most powerful tools you have, but most businesses don't know how to tell it. In this episode, Molly sits down with Dennis Williams, co-founder & Partner of 3 Bridges Consulting and former broadcast journalist, to explore what it really means to define and elevate your brand in a crowded market. Dennis makes the case that every trades business should think like a media company, and breaks down the real cost of high-quality video and why AI-driven search is changing where your content needs to live. Practical, honest, and packed with perspective from someone who has built brands from the ground up.