No. 30: Mark Franzoso and Mark Sackerson, Franzoso Contracting
Mark Franzoso, founder and CEO of Franzoso Contracting, and Mark Sackerson, sales manager for Franzoso Contracting, join Patrick O’Toole and Tim Musch, hosts of Talking TOP 500, for an interesting conversation about their company and time in the industry. Franzoso is a long-time business owner, having founded Franzoso Contracting in 1980. According to the company’s most recent appearance on the Qualified Remodeler TOP 500 list, the firm completed 1,408 jobs on $16.4 million in revenue in 2023, giving it a ranking of No. 166. Franzoso was also a member of Owens Corning Platinum Advisory Board, and his company also won three awards at the most recent Owens Corning conference in Orlando. FAST Remodeler Live, Qualified Remodeler’s upcoming technology conference for home improvement pros, will take place May 20 and 21 at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor. Having the right tech stack is hugely important to success in this industry and it only gets more important with each passing day. The conference is a blend of big-picture explanation along with dozens of ground-level technology hacks that can all be meaningful to business. To see the agenda and list of speakers and to register go to www.fastremodelerlive.com. Use the code 500pod for a reduction in the price of your tickets. Patrick O’Toole is chief of content and co-owner of SOLA Group Inc., parent company of Qualified Remodeler, and Tim Musch, a member of the home improvement hall of fame is with Paradigm Vendo.
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NO. 29: Brian Elias, CEO and Founder, ReFloor
This episode of “Talking TOP 500” features Brian Elias, Co-CEO of Refloor, and former CEO of 1-800-Hansons. We'll see you at Fast Remodeler Live in May! Click here for your $95 ticket!
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No. 28: Kyle Powers, Apex Energy Solutions
Tim and Pat sit down Kyle Powers, brand leader for Apex Energy, part of Great Day Home Improvements, one of the largest companies on the Qualified Remodeler TOP 500 list. Kyle has impressive experience for a young home improvement professional. He has previously worked for: Mad City, AHT Windows, Tundraland, Tony Hoty Training & Consulting, Jacuzzi Bath Remodel, and Apex Energy Solutions. He will also be a featured speaker at the fourth annual technology for remodeling and home improvement professionals, FAST Remodeler Live, to be held at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor, May 20-21, 2025. Want to view the full roster of speakers and register? Go to www.fastremodelerlive.com.
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No. 27: Ryan Shutt, CEO of Southwest Exteriors
This episode of “Talking TOP 500” features Ryan Shutt, CEO of Southwest Exteriors, an exterior remodeling company based in San Antonio. This year, Southwest is approaching $20 million in revenue. The company’s website features a pricing calculator, which appears to go against aspects of sales orthodoxy, but the results speak for themselves. Shutt was a speaker at 2024’s TOP 500 LIVE conference in Las Vegas, where he presented on Southwest’s reboot of its marketing, sales, and customer service. To watch a clip from Shutt’s presentation, visit Qualified Remodeler’s YouTube channel. He also sat on the CEO Panel Discussion with Audience Questions and Answers. In this episode, Shutt tells the story of how he made Southwest into what it is today.
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No. 26: Asher Raphael, Co-CEO Power Home Remodeling
Enjoy this special episode of "Talking TOP 500". It's an interview with Power Home Remodeling's Co-CEO Asher Raphael, from this year's TOP 500 LIVE conference in Las Vegas. Upon joining Power as a recent graduate of American University, Raphael did not plan on staying long. But he and his Co-CEO Cory Schiller, saw an opportunity. They set out to create a scalable business model capable of attracting the best and brightest people. The company went from being $8 million revenue in 2004 to $1.24 billion today. Raphael tells the story of Power in this special episode. About the Talking TOP 500 Podcast and your Hosts The Talking TOP 500 podcast takes its name from Qualified Remodeler’s annual ranking of the largest remodeling and home improvement companies. It features interviews with leading remodelers from around the United States and focuses on all aspects of growing and succeeding in home improvement and remodeling. Qualified Remodeler co-owner and publisher Patrick O’Toole as well as industry veteran Tim Musch, recently named a Legend of the Home Improvement industry serve as hosts of the podcast. Qualified Remodeler is a leading business-to-business media brand serving remodelers since 1975. To learn more and subscribe go to www.QualifiedRemodeler.com/subscribe. Patrick L. O’Toole has been and editor in the residential construction space since 1996. Presently, he is EVP and owner of SOLA Group Inc., a holding company for Qualified Remodeler and Kitchen & Bath Design News magazines. With SOLA, he serves as Group Editorial Director for the company and as publisher of Qualified Remodeler. Prior to joining SOLA Group, Mr. O’Toole served as Editorial Director and Publisher of Professional Builder and Professional Remodeler magazines. From 2003 to 2010, he was editor of Qualified Remodeler. Mr. O’Toole began his career in journalism as a Newsman with the Associated Press in Chicago. He holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia College and B.A. from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Tim Musch has spent the last 30 years developing and refining technology solutions for contractors in the industry. Prior to that, he spent 15 years gaining experience in a family-owned remodeling company in Central Wisconsin. Tim regularly speaks with industry groups to build the case for the benefits of systemizing local, independent businesses. In 2022, Tim joined the elite group of industry veterans and was inducted into “The Legends of the Home Improvement Industry”. Currently, Tim is a Business Development Specialist for Paradigm, LLC, which is transforming the way that residential construction business is done across the globe with solutions such as their digital selling tool, Paradigm Vendo. QR
This series puts a spotlight on the business of home improvement and professional home remodeling. Presented by QUALIFIED REMODELER magazine, "Talking TOP 500" is a series of conversations with owners and managers of firms on the magazine's annual list of the largest 500 remodelers and home improvement pros. Every aspect of sales leadership, marketing and running a profitable business is on the table. Hosted by Patrick O'Toole and Tim Musch.
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