From First-Timer to Leadership: Why I l Love the Contractor Coalition Summit

Three years ago, I walked into a room full of strangers in Nashville—and immediately felt like I had found my people.

That moment at my first Contractor Coalition Summit was the spark. I sat in the front row, asked a thousand questions (literally), and soaked in every word. It wasn’t just about learning construction best practices or getting trustworthy advice—it was about finding a group of leaders that believed in collaboration over competition. And from that one weekend, everything changed. The Curious Builder podcast was born. The Curious Collective came to life. A network of friendships, building industry connections, and ideas took root—a solid foundation that hasn’t stopped growing!

Bringing Build Buzz to the Contactor Coalition Summit

Since then, I’ve been to Huntington Beach, Minneapolis, and Boston—with Omaha’s on deck. Each city and event has deepened my connection not just to the content, but to the community. And when the Coalition came to Minneapolis, I knew I wanted to do more. 

That’s where we launched Build Buzz, a live public interview series where I got to flip the script: as an attendee, I started interviewing the people leading the movement. We packed a room with 100 builders and had real, honest conversations with actionable insights—about business, industry standards, brand, experience in building, and why this work matters. It felt like the most natural extension of what I was already doing. And people loved it.

So we kept going. We brought Build Buzz to Boston, and we’ll be doing it again in Omaha. Along the way, I told Morgan and Brad, “If there’s ever a spot open on the leadership team, I want in.” Because this isn’t just a conference to me. It’s the engine behind some of the most transformational shifts in my businesses. From operations to branding, podcasting to partnerships, what I’ve learned at the Contractor Coalition has completely reshaped how I show up as a builder and business owner.

Joining the Contractor Coalition Summit Team

Joining the leadership team feels like a full-circle moment—but also just the beginning. I bring a slightly different lens to the table. I didn’t start out as a speaker or educator. I was an attendee, just like everyone else. And I think that perspective is powerful. It’s one thing to talk about systems and growth; it’s another to have first-hand knowledge of the experience and say, “Here’s what I implemented. Here’s how it changed my company. You can do it, too.”

That’s what makes the Contractor Coalition Summit different. It’s not just high-level concepts, business strategies, or inspiration from professional builders (though there’s plenty of that). It’s tangible. You walk away with documents you can plug into your business immediately—contracts, pre-construction agreements, marketing materials. You get access to a shared drive full of resources. You get speakers who will actually sit down and answer your questions with expert advice. No egos. No fluff. Just people who want to help each other get better.

Check out this blog for more info on our last CCS event in Boston!

Coming Up

This year in Omaha, we’re bringing something totally new to the table. We’re filming the event from a first-person perspective— POV video game style—so people can get a real feel for what it’s like to be there. And of course, I’ll be doing what I love most: talking to builders. Interviewing every attendee. Asking their “why.” Not just as a testimonial, but as a snapshot of who they are and what they’re building—literally and metaphorically. It's going to be an amazing time!

Join the Contractor Coalition Summit

At the end of the day, the coalition is about more than tools or templates. It’s about people and building community. It’s about the journey. It’s about standing in a room full of strangers and industry peers and realizing they’re not strangers at all. They’re your people. That's the key to longevity in this business!

Join us! Ask the questions. Sit in the front row. You never know where that one weekend might take you.