Practical Insights: Matt DiBara’s Journey of Entrepreneurship and Balance

CONEXPO – CON/AGG Podcast: Construction Business Insights For Contractors

Taylor welcomes the truly amazing Matt DiBara, a fourth-generation mason and the founder of The Contractor Consultants to the podcast today. At just 31 years old, Matt has transformed the recruitment landscape for contractors, offering a fresh approach to an industry rich in tradition. With over 100 years of family history in the masonry business, Matt's story reflects a blend of dedication, innovation, and a commitment to blue-collar excellence. Together, he and Taylor delve into the complexities of running a family business, the value of preserving hands-on experience, and the crucial role of innovative recruitment strategies in the construction industry.

As they explore Matt's journey, the conversation highlights the importance of maintaining a generational legacy in the masonry sector while adapting to the evolving dynamics of a family-owned business. Matt discusses how his upbringing, deeply rooted in blue-collar values, influenced his approach to business and life, leading him to develop a recruitment model that connects skilled workers with great employers. The episode also touches on the significance of employee appreciation, the challenges of achieving work-life balance as an entrepreneur, and the strategies that enabled Matt to break into the high-profile Los Angeles market. As you will hear, Matt's story is a powerful reminder of the impact that innovation and a strong work ethic can have in the construction industry and beyond.

Topics:

• Generational Legacy: Upholding a 100-year family business, emphasizing hands-on experience, and addressing blue-collar work stigmas.
• Business Growth: Scaling through strategic geographic expansion and diversification of services.
• Innovative Recruitment: Transforming how skilled workers connect with employers in the construction industry.
• Employee Appreciation: Fostering a family-like culture and respecting employees to ensure loyalty.
• Work-Life Balance: Navigating the challenges of balancing entrepreneurship with family responsibilities.
• Market Expansion: Successfully entering the competitive Los Angeles market by seizing new opportunities.

Key Quotes:

"Treat customers like neighbors, you'll never make the wrong decision."

"We become your hiring partner, embedding our team within your company to find the right people."

"Hiring is such a hack; it's the biggest lever pull you can have in a business."

"People want to feel appreciated, and that often comes from the small, consistent gestures."

"I’d rather fail on the things I believe in than succeed on something I can’t stand behind."

"We were exponentially growing, but the big push to grow was always about doing right by our clients."

"Recognizing the breakout projects and obsessing over them helped build our network."

"The honest employee audit helps catch the little friction points before they become big problems."

As always, thank you to our good friends over at Komatsu for sponsoring this podcast: https://www.komatsu.com/

Links:

• Taylor White on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-white-9881a5170/?originalSubdomain=ca
• To see highlights from the 2023 show, go to: https://www.conexpoconagg.com/show-experience/show-highlights
• Komatsu: https://www.komatsu.com/
• Matt DiBara: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewdibara/
• The Contractor Consultants: https://thecontractorconsultants.com/