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American Builders - Presented by TradeGuard
American Builders is the podcast where the backbone of the country—the contractors, tradesmen, and builders who actually make things—tell their stories.
Presented by TradeGuard, the AI-powered insurance agency built for the trades, the show goes deep with founders who are building America one project at a time. Each episode breaks down how real operators think: the grind of winning bids, managing crews, navigating risk, scaling a business, and everything in between. No fluff. No corporate jargon. Just the truth about what it takes to build something that lasts.
Whether you run a $2M shop or a $200M operation, this is where you’ll learn from the people who’ve already walked the path—what worked, what didn’t, and what the next generation of builders needs to know.
American Builders is for the entrepreneurs keeping America running. And we’re here to tell their stories.
American Builders - Presented by TradeGuard
From Marines to Maverick Exteriors - How this Vet Seller Financed His First Deal
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This episode, I sit down with Michael Blake, former Marine and Co-Owner of Maverick Exteriors, a roofing and exterior remodeling company. Michael went from military service to entrepreneurship, applying the same discipline and leadership principles he learned in the Marines to building and running a trades business.
In our conversation, we talk about what the Marines taught him about leadership, accountability, and mastering the basics—then how those lessons translated into managing crews, delivering quality work, and operating a real company. We also break down how Michael seller-financed his way into ownership, what he looked for in the deal, and the realities of buying a business without the traditional “big cash down” path.
Presented by TradeGuard, Insurance Built for the Trades: https://www.tradeguardins.com/