Glorified Carpenter

Zane Ellis is a Project Manager at F.E. Trainer out of Knoxville, TN—and more famously, a co-host of the LevelHeads Podcast.
This industry… the clients, the pressure, chasing money, job security—the list goes on and on. It can be a killer. Zane opens up about how it almost killed him.
Even after being told to step away from the industry, he came back. This conversation dives into how having the right support system—and everyone operating in their own lane—can completely change how enjoyable this work can be.
Zane shares his start, his journey through the trades, and ultimately what forced a “pause” in his career.
Hope you enjoy.

Learn more about Ep. 30 Guest:
@zane_fetrainer
Fetconstruction.com
@levelheads_pod

Project Manager
Project size: $1mil - $6mil builds
Projects per year: Zane Manages 3-4 projects at the same time
Employees: Site Supervisor is on-site running 1-2 projects

🎥 YouTube Series: #RoadTrip
Video Series —walking sites and talking shop— EARLY 2026
Find my YouTube channel: @heresjohnnyh
*link is in bio

Listen • Subscribe • Watch• REVIEW
@apple
@spotify
@youtube

Sponsors:
www.durationmillwork.com
 @durationmouldingandmillwork 
www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com
@hdpocketdoors

What a YEAR!!
Couldn’t think of (2) better guys and builders to recap 2025. Jason & Mike join me in discussing all topics

We discuss everything AI, bringing trades in-house, markets, slow or on the rise, ADU’s, BuildShow, Golf, health and everything in-between.

Hope you enjoy the conversation.

Learn more about Ep. 29 Guests:
@artisansignaturehomes
@greenside_design_build

🎥 YouTube Series: #RoadTrip
Video Series —walking sites and talking shop— EARLY 2026
Find my YouTube channel: @heresjohnnyh
*link is in bio

Listen • Subscribe • Watch• REVIEW
@apple
@spotify
@youtube

Sponsors:
www.shubee.com
@shubeeshoecovers
For all your floor surface protection & beyond.

www.durationmillwork.com
 @durationmouldingandmillwork 
A 100 yr product w/ the most authentic profiles on the market

www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com
@hdpocketdoors
To solve all your pocket door hardware needs.

Local Sponsor:
www.hiresmooth.com Anything spray-foam!
@HireSmooth

Meet Russ Barstow. Remember the name—because you’ll definitely remember the story.
I don’t use the term “self-made” loosely. Very few people earn that label in my book, and Russ is one of them.
Russ spent years searching for purpose. He found it in the mountains, through hiking. Construction, at first, was simply a way to make a living—to subsidize that purpose. But like most of us, it only takes a couple of meaningful projects and a few incredible clients to pull you all the way in.
Changing people’s lives through the homes we build is a drug in itself.
What I love most about this story is that Barstow is a true husband-and-wife team. Russ and Sue set boundaries between work and life. They set goals together—years out. They check in with each other. Their personal finish line aligns with their clients’ finish line. No shortcuts. No favorites.
Because without their personal happiness and success, there is no Barstow. And without that, there is no construction.
I love Russ and Sue’s priorities and their approach to life and business.
I hope you enjoy their story as much as I did.

Learn more about Ep. 28 Guest:
@barstowconstruction
www.barstowconstruction.com

Project size:
* Customs: $2.5-5,000,000
* Renovations range: $100,000 to $500,000
* Additions approaching 1,000,000 depending on the home.
Projects per year. 3 to 6 including new construction some commercial end renovations/ additions.
Yearly revenue - $600-850,000 best estimate. Depends on the year for sure.
Employees - Just Sue and Russ and a long term site cleanup guy who is awesome.

🎥 YouTube Series:
#RoadTrip
Video Series —walking sites and talking shop— EARLY 2026

Find my YouTube channel: @heresjohnnyh
*link is in bio

Listen • Subscribe • Watch• REVIEW
@apple
@spotify
@youtube

Sponsors:
www.durationmillwork.com
 @durationmouldingandmillwork 
www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com
@hdpocketdoors

Local Sponsor:
www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs!
@HireSmooth

Black Boots Builders is a hidden gem in Pittsburgh, PA. I’m grateful I had the chance to spend three days with David—meeting him, his crew, and walking his job sites. He didn’t disappoint. His story, his execution, his team, and even Pittsburgh itself—I loved all of it.
Dave has an incredible story, and we dig into how it all started, focusing on the small moments that had the biggest impact on his growth, timelines, and execution. He’s built some amazing projects, but the most impressive thing he’s built is his team—and he’d agree.
Black Boots is a near 50/50 mix of management and hands-on carpentry, and it’s the perfect recipe for the highly technical projects they’re bringing to life.
This is Dave’s story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

🎥 YouTube Series: #RoadTrip
Video from the weekend—walking sites and talking shop—drops for the holidays.
Find my YouTube channel: @heresjohnnyh

Project size: $500K - $20Million +
Project per year: 4-6 projects per year
Yearly Revenue: $8million to $10million
Employees: 12

Learn more about Ep. 26 Guest:
@blackbootsbuilders
Blackbootbuilds.com

Listen • Subscribe • Watch• REVIEW
@apple
@spotify
@youtube

Sponsors:
www.durationmillwork.com
 @durationmouldingandmillwork 
www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com
@hdpocketdoors

Local Sponsor:
www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs!
@HireSmooth

Stan Romanek is the kind of contractor you’d want running your own home renovation or addition — someone who values the craft, enjoys being in the mix every day with his bags on, and leads by example with his two-man crew.
Stan’s true to his word and consistently overdelivers. We get into how he stays so dialed in on his numbers for fixed-price work and schedule durations — especially since most of his projects involve homeowners living in the house during construction.
He’s also been smart about keeping his scopes tight and his crew size manageable. And here’s the kicker — Stan paid off his house last year. That kind of discipline, drive, and focus is rare in this business.
Hope you enjoy this conversation with Stan Romanek!

Project size: varies between $3k- $400,000.
Projects per year: 20-30
Revenue between 750-950
Employees: 2

Learn more about Ep. 26 Guest:
@levelhomeimprovement
Levelhomeimprovements.com

Listen • Subscribe • Watch• REVIEW
@apple
@spotify
@youtube

Sponsors:
www.durationmillwork.com
 @durationmouldingandmillwork 
www.heavydutypocketdoorframes.com
@hdpocketdoors

Local Sponsor:
www.hiresmooth.com for all your spray foam needs!
@HireSmooth