The TRUTH About Third-Generation Business Success with Ruger Kerstiens | Construction MF'ers EP97 Artwork

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The TRUTH About Third-Generation Business Success with Ruger Kerstiens | Construction MF'ers EP97

March 20, 2025 • Mobilization Funding • Episode 97

What does it 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 take to keep a family business thriving for generations?

In this episode of The Construction MF’ers, Scott Peper sits down with Ruger Kerstiens, President of Kerstiens Companies, to break down the real challenges and wins of leading a third-generation construction and real estate business. From running concrete crews at 14 to learning hard lessons in real estate investments, Ruger's path has been anything but automatic. Now, he’s strategically growing the business, vertically integrating operations, and making bold moves to control costs and quality in a volatile market.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

🔹 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 – How years on job sites built the credibility and respect he needed to lead.

🔹 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 – The mindset shift that keeps the third generation from sinking the ship.

🔹 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 – Why acquiring an MEP business was a game-changer for controlling costs and schedules.

🔹 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 – How one bad deal taught him that reading the fine print can make or break an investment.

🔹 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 – The real earning potential in construction vs. white-collar careers.

🔹 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 – Why land costs, infrastructure challenges, and rising debt are reshaping development strategies—and how his company is staying ahead.

If you’re building a business, thinking about taking over a family operation, or just want to know what it really takes to grow in construction, this episode is packed with real-world insights.

🔗 Follow Ruger on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruger-kerstiens-cpm-870803131/

🔗 Follow Scott Peper on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-peper-9387288/

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