In this episode of the Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast, Kenton Friesen of Friesen Contracting and Josh Eisworth of Ridgeline Roofing and Solar sit down to unpack something every trades business struggles with but few truly dial in, training and recruiting. This is not a surface level conversation.

It is a real and honest look at what it actually takes to build a team from the ground up, especially in an industry where formal training systems are almost nonexistent and most people are expected to figure it out on the job.

They dig into the tension between productivity and development, the constant pull between getting the job done today and investing in someone who might make you ten times more efficient tomorrow.

Josh shares recent experiences intentionally pulling new hires out of the normal crew environment to train them one on one, allowing them to fail, slow things down, and actually learn the trade. It is inefficient in the short term. Jobs take longer, mistakes cost money, and production dips. But the payoff is clear. Guys become capable, confident, and productive far faster than the traditional shadow and carry material approach.

Kenton brings decades of experience into the conversation and reflects on what it means to train not just workers, but men. This goes beyond skill and into character, work ethic, and professionalism. Together, they explore why hiring experienced tradesmen often does not work the way you would expect, and why so many of the best long term team members are built from scratch. Culture, mindset, and attitude consistently outweigh experience, especially in a trade like roofing where standards vary widely from company to company.

The conversation also moves into recruiting, because you cannot talk about training without talking about who you are bringing in. From the unpredictability of hiring to improving vetting systems and rethinking where to find the right people, they break down what it means to increase your odds in an industry known for high turnover.

There is no perfect formula, and both Kenton and Josh admit they have been wrong many times when judging who would succeed and who would not. At its core, this episode is about playing the long game. It is about understanding that the fastest way to build a strong and reliable team often looks slower on the surface. It is about being willing to sacrifice short term output to multiply long term capacity.

And it is about recognizing that the real win in this business is not just the roofs you install, but the people you build along the way. If you are a contractor trying to grow, dealing with turnover, or looking to build a stronger and more capable crew, this conversation will challenge how you think about training, recruiting, and leadership.

Original theme music composed and performed by Ben Smith

Produced by Seth Steward Productions

Co produced by Kalen Wookey

Website https://forgealliance.ca/

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Welcome back to the Forge Contractor Alliance Podcast. Josh Eisworth from Ridgeline Roofing and Kenton from Kenton Friesen Contracting. Two contractors in the trenches every day, on the tools, in the books, working with crews, customers, and everything that comes with running a business. This podcast is just an extension of that, real conversations about what we’re actually dealing with.

In this episode, we get into communication, what it looks like inside a growing company, where it starts to break down, and how different teams handle it in completely different ways. From switching platforms and trying to integrate crews, to realizing not everyone communicates the same or even wants to, there’s a lot here that we’re actively working through.

We talk about repetition as a leader, setting clear expectations, and the balance between over communicating and not saying enough. There is also a big focus on conflict, when to avoid it, when to lean into it, and how to handle it without letting emotion take over. Because the reality is, most issues in business do not come from bad intent, they come from miscommunication.

We also touch on team dynamics, public versus private communication, and how the wrong message in the wrong setting can create bigger problems than it should. Plus a bit of real life context, spring in Northern BC, unpredictable weather, and how that chaos mirrors running a business this time of year. Like always, this is not theory. It is what we are dealing with right now, figuring it out as we go.

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

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In this episode of Forge, Kenton sits down with Chris Wiebe to unpack a side of business most contractors avoid the numbers.

From hard lessons in financial blind spots to the reality of growing too fast without control, this conversation digs into what actually drives a healthy company.

They break down the difference between revenue and real profit, why operational strength matters more than hustle, and how small mistakes in pricing or planning can quietly sink a business.

Chris brings a systems driven perspective from years of scaling companies, while Kenton shares real stories from the field including moments where the numbers did not lie, even when it hurt.

This episode is about more than spreadsheets. It is about thinking clearly, making better decisions, and building something that actually lasts. If you are running a business, planning to grow, or just trying to figure out where your money is really going this one matters.

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

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In this episode of the Forge Contractor Podcast, Kenton sits down with Joel for a real and practical conversation about people pleasing. What it is, where it comes from, and how it slowly starts running your life if you’re not careful.

What starts as a strength, being perceptive, caring about people, wanting to do a great job, can quietly turn into a burden. The hard truth is that a lot of us aren’t reacting to reality.

We’re reacting to what we think people might be thinking about us. And those imagined expectations begin to shape everything. Your schedule, your pricing, your stress, even how you show up at home.

One of the biggest shifts talked about in this episode is realizing how much pressure is self-created. Not by customers, not by employees, but by the words we say and the commitments we make too quickly. When you slow down, ask better questions, and stop boxing yourself in, things start to change.

There’s more margin, more clarity, and honestly just more peace. But this goes deeper than business. This is internal work. There’s a discipline required to stop letting your mind run wild with scenarios that aren’t even real. To catch yourself before you spiral. To accept that not everyone is going to think well of you, and that’s okay. That might be the hardest part for a lot of people listening. The conversation also gets really practical.

Talking through quoting jobs, setting timelines, dealing with demanding customers, and learning to pause before you commit. Simple shifts, but they carry a lot of weight. A big takeaway from this one is how much your words matter. What you say sets expectations. And a lot of the stress we carry is tied directly to things we didn’t have to promise in the first place. At the end of the day, this isn’t about becoming someone who doesn’t care. It’s about caring in a healthier way.

Serving people well without being controlled by them. It’s not an overnight fix. But it is a direction. If you’ve ever felt that constant pressure to keep everyone happy, this conversation will feel familiar. And it might just help you start putting some of that weight down.

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

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In this episode, Josh and Kenton sit down for a real, unfiltered conversation about something a lot of contractors think they understand, but most have never actually worked through what makes a business truly saleable.

Speaking from their experience in Prince George, they unpack the gap between what owners believe they’ve built and what someone would actually pay for. The conversation quickly gets honest. Most small businesses are not really businesses, they are jobs built around one person. The relationships, the reputation, the decision making all sit with the owner.

When that person steps away, there is often very little left. It is a tough realization, but one that almost every trades business owner will face at some point. They dig into the difference between building something around yourself versus building something that can stand on its own.

A lot of companies have strong revenue and years of history, but without systems, structure, and a team that can operate without the owner, that value does not transfer. Buyers are not just looking at numbers, they are asking what happens when you are gone.

Throughout the episode, they share real stories from their own market. Companies that shut down after decades. Others that were handed off and quickly fell apart. And a few that made it work through intentional succession, strong teams, and the right people stepping in. The common thread is simple. If you are not planning for an exit, you are likely planning to close, whether you realize it or not. They also touch on the bigger picture.

There are more business owners than ever approaching retirement, and at the same time the world feels uncertain. Markets are shifting, economies are unpredictable, and there are more sellers than buyers in many industries. It raises an important question. If you wanted to sell tomorrow, would your business actually be ready.

This episode is not about theory. It is about reality and hard conversations. Whether you plan to sell, pass it on, or just run your company for as long as you can, this is a look at what you are really building and what will be left when you step away.

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

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In this episode of Forge, Josh and Kenton explore what it really looks like to build a business around the work you actually love. As the demands of leadership grow, so does the pressure to fit into a predefined version of what a CEO “should” be. But the reality is far less rigid.

For many builders and entrepreneurs, the path forward isn’t about stepping away from the work that brings energy and clarity, it’s about learning how to structure your time so you can stay in it.

The conversation unpacks the tension between productivity and burnout, and how easily leaders can find themselves stuck in roles that drain them rather than drive them.

Josh shares his evolving approach to designing a weekly rhythm that allows him to stay on the tools, lead his team, and still carve out space for high-level thinking.

Throughout the episode, they dig into the importance of understanding your own wiring as a leader. From how you process ideas, to where you find clarity, to what actually makes you effective day to day, the conversation highlights how self-awareness plays a critical role in long-term success.

They also reflect on how forcing yourself into roles that don’t fit can create unnecessary stress, while leaning into your strengths can dramatically increase both output and satisfaction.

At its core, this episode is about rejecting one-size-fits-all leadership advice and instead building a rhythm that aligns with your strengths, your season, and your responsibilities. It’s a conversation about freedom, ownership, and the ongoing process of figuring out what actually works.

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

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In this follow-up episode of Forge, Josh and Kenton continue the conversation about failure, resilience, and the long road of learning that comes with building a business.

After reflecting on the collapse of Kenton’s early real estate momentum in the previous episode, the discussion turns toward what came after.

The years that followed were not defined by a single event, but by the slower and often more difficult process of rebuilding confidence, culture, and leadership from the inside out.

Kenton shares how the internal impact of that season lingered longer than the external circumstances. Even as the company continued to operate and grow from the outside, the weight of that earlier failure shaped the way he made decisions, interacted with his team, and carried the responsibility of leadership.

Josh and Kenton explore how pride, fear, and lost confidence can quietly isolate leaders at the very moment when they need their people the most. They discuss the surprising reality that many team members are often willing to rally around a struggling leader, but only if they’re allowed into the process.

The conversation also turns toward the nature of risk. Entrepreneurs often celebrate bold moves and big swings, but fewer people talk openly about the emotional resilience required when those swings miss. Kenton reflects on how early success created a sense of certainty that later setbacks challenged, forcing him to develop a deeper understanding of resilience and self-awareness.

Throughout the episode, the discussion moves beyond business tactics and into the mindset required to continue moving forward. Josh and Kenton talk about the difference between regret and bitterness, why honest post-mortems matter, and how leaders can learn to separate criticism of their role from criticism of their identity.

They also reflect on the importance of creating environments where others can take risks without fear of catastrophic failure, whether in business, leadership, or even parenting.

This episode is ultimately about growth through adversity, and the quiet maturity that develops when leaders learn to analyze failure without being defined by it.

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

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In this episode of Forge, Josh and Kenton dive into a deeply personal story from Kenton’s early years in business. In his twenties, Kenton was heavily involved in real estate investing, building momentum with multiple properties, partnerships, and ambitious development projects.

It was a time marked by optimism, energy, and the feeling that anything was possible. Deals were working, banks were lending, and every step forward seemed to open another opportunity.

But life has a way of testing even the most confident seasons.

Within a short period of time, several major events collided. A large development project in northern Alberta fell apart at the last moment. Seven rental units over half of his portfolio, suddenly became vacant at the same time.

At home, Kenton and his wife were navigating the emotional weight of losing two grandparents within weeks of each other while also expecting their first child. What had once felt like unstoppable momentum quickly turned into overwhelming pressure.

Faced with that perfect storm, panic set in. Instead of leaning on his partners and the relationships he had built, Kenton made decisions in isolation, fire-selling properties and stepping away from opportunities that, in hindsight, could have changed the trajectory of his life.

The lesson wasn’t just about business strategy. It was about pride, communication, and the weight leaders sometimes place on their own shoulders.

Throughout the conversation, Josh and Kenton reflect on the tension many entrepreneurs experience: the instinct to shoulder responsibility alone versus the humility required to ask for help. They explore how assumptions about what others are willing or able to do can quietly shape the decisions we make in moments of stress.

They also discuss how failure affects different personalities. For someone used to succeeding, a major setback can cut deeper and take longer to recover from. The optimism and confidence that fuel early success can also make failure feel like a defining moment rather than simply part of the journey.

This episode is not about dwelling on the past, but about understanding how pivotal moments shape the way we lead, take risks, and build trust moving forward. It’s a conversation about leadership under pressure, the importance of honest dialogue with partners, and the long process of rebuilding confidence after a major setback.

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

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