The Curious Builder

Latest Episodes:

#21 Kate Grutzmacher | The Scout Guide Minneapolis | Sharing Stories Jul 31, 2023

Show notes

Kate Grutzmacher, the owner of The Scout Guide publication, joins Mark to discuss TSG (The Scout Guide) and how it supports small businesses in and around the Minneapolis community. Kate explains how TSG works and how they select clients. She also shares stories about inspiring clients and discusses her day job as president of Cities Management, a property management company. Kate describes how she leads with empathy and a focus on empowering people. She finds fulfillment in helping clients grow and succeed.

Where to find the Guest: https://thescoutguide.com/minneapolis/editors/

Pella Northland https://www.pellabranch.com/minnesota/

Manomin Resawn Timbers https://mrtimbers.com/

Adaptive https://www.adaptive.build

The host of the Curious Builder Posdast is Mark D. Williams, the founder of Mark D. WIlliams Custom Homes Inc. They are an award-winning Twin Cities-based home builder, creating quality custom homes and remodels — one-of-a-kind dream homes of all styles and scopes. Whether you're looking to reimagine your current space or start fresh with a new construction, we build homes that reflect how you live your everyday life.

Connect with Mark D. Williams:

#20 Kim Senn | Senn & Son | Know your Brand Jul 24, 2023

Show notes

Kim Senn joins the show to discuss her journey starting off working for creative agencies to owning her Ad firm. She shares her background and her process with clients, specifically how she gets to know a brand and what it stands for. Kim and Mark also chat about what gets them into a creative space, and how Inspiration doesn't just come to you. It's acting on an idea and trying it out. Kim helps her clients form their ideas into reality and tuning into this episode will help you do the same.

Sponsors for the Episode:

Pella Northland https://www.pellabranch.com/minnesota/

Manomin Resawn Timbers https://mrtimbers.com/

Adaptive https://www.adaptive.build

Where to find the Guest: Website: https://www.sennandsons.com/

Instagram: @sennandsons

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlysenn/

Connect with Mark D. Williams:

#19 Kirsten & Ethan | Alma Homes | Designed around You Jul 17, 2023

Show notes

Alma Homes founders, Kirsten and Ethan, are here to share how their custom home business has grown to its level of success, and the strategies they're implementing to keep scaling up. Future architect turned designer and spreadsheet queen, Kirsten breaks down the analytics across their various platforms and why they especially focus on website traffic to retain traction. Attorney and framer, Ethan, has always loved the creation process and brings his business and building knowledge to the table. Together they bounce off each other's strengths and drive their brand forward. This is a must-listen for ambitious business owners looking to grow their company and brand sustainably.

Sponsors for the Episode:

Pella Northland https://www.pellabranch.com/minnesota/

Manomin Resawn Timbers https://mrtimbers.com/

Adaptive https://www.adaptive.build

Where to find the Guest: Website: https://almahomes.com/

Pinterest:www.pinterest.com/almahomes

Connect with Mark D. Williams:

Bonus: Highlights from the interview with Michael and Danielle Gutelli Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

Episode 16.5 features highlights from the interview with Michael and Danielle Gutelli of Clark and Aldine.

#18 Jackson Schwartz | Hennepin Made | LIVE Event Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

Join us for our first LIVE audience event we hosted at the amazing showroom in Hennepin Made's glass factory. Jackson Schwartz the co-founder of Hennepin Made expounds his thoughts, experiences, and stories in a way that relates to everyone in the pursuit of passion and business. A lively and attentive audience of 60 was in attendance for a deep dive into the pursuit of passion around blowing glass. Starting in Wisconsin to the travels for world-class learning in Canberra, Australia, and back again, Jackson shares his deep insights, business lessons, failures, success, and the mindset to NEVER stop improving your craft.

Sponsors for the Episode:

Pella Northland Website - https://www.pellabranch.com/minnesota/

Manomin Resawn Timbers https://mrtimbers.com/

Adaptive https://www.adaptive.build

Where to find the Guest:

Website: https://hennepinmade.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hennepinmade

The host of the Curious Builder Posdast is Mark D. Williams, the founder of Mark D. WIlliams Custom Homes Inc. They are an award-winning Twin Cities-based home builder, creating quality custom homes and remodels — one-of-a-kind dream homes of all styles and scopes. Whether you're looking to reimagine your current space or start fresh with new construction, we build homes that reflect how you live your everyday life.

Connect with Mark D. Williams:

Clark and Aldine: The crossroads of fate, how two paths joined to create a powerhouse team of design and building Jul 03, 2023

Show notes

Michael and Danielle Gutelli outline their branding and how each project has a naming strategy that makes them unique and special. A 2nd-grade teacher and a marketing and advertising guru, Michael and Danielle left what they knew to start a new business, while also having their first child. Five years and 10,000 hours of practicing their artform in the form of an informative blog transformed them into a top-notch residential design and build team. A serial entrepreneur, Micheal used his passion and love for owning his own story to take the leap into business. Danielle and Micheal explain why a professional has fee services. Why would building and remodelers struture a free framework instead of a charging for their expertise?

Bonus: Highlights from the interview with Mike Schmillen of River City Tile and Stone Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

Episode 16.5 features highlights from the interview with Mike Schmillen of River City Tile and Stone

Rivercity Tile and Underlayment: A Pro's Pro when it comes to expert knowledge in tile and underlayments. Committed to being the experts for the builders and GC's they work with. Jun 19, 2023

Show notes

Mike Schmillen owns Rivercity Tile and Underlayment and explains in detail the amount of labor in building a shower and laying tile while balancing a schedule given the setting time needed. They are experts in pouring underlayment of engineered concrete for other tile companies and builders. We walk through the different tile procelain products and the pros/cons of each install.

Discussion touches on education to high schoolers, the lack of exposure to the trade jobs and how we can help push that forward for our generation. Mike then shares his story of how he used his lumber sales background to expand the tile business he bought into and now owns. College may not be a path to owning a business and we talk a bit about Mike's experience in becoming a business owner. Asking for help is a key way to grow any business, along with commitment to your partnerships. Come for the knowledge, stay for the insight!

Bonus: highlights from the interview with Matt Calvano of Adaptive Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

Episode 15.5 features highlights from the interview with Matt Calvano of Adaptive.

Adaptive: the innovation of a start-up company to tackle the difficult world of construction invoicing and accounting. Harder than Rocket Science accorinding to their space X coding founder! Jun 05, 2023

Show notes

Matt is one of 3 Stanford grads that decided to create a start-up company. One was an investment guru, one was a rocket scientist (for Space X) and one was a super coder. Together they decided to tackle the hardest problem they could find on the biggest market in the US....Home Construction. Creating a software company that will live up to its namesake, (Adaptive) Matt details out the nuances of tackling the complicated problems all business owners in construction face such as how to manage all the different invoices, formats, draws, banks, suppliers, and trade partners that seem to change not only with every job but with every state! Matt and his team set out to save everybody time and money by addressing the inefficiencies and process organization that streamlines everything.

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