There’s a reason why your competitors are struggling to keep people and why some trade businesses seem to attract talent like a magnet. It’s not luck. It’s not just pay. It’s something deeper.
In this special 100th episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin reveals the CHOICE Framework, the foundation for building a workplace people don’t want to leave. This isn’t theory. It’s based on 99 past interviews with leaders who are making it happen every day in the field.
So What is CHOICE?
Each letter in CHOICE represents one of the six key traits of companies that dominate hiring and retention:
C – Clear Vision, Values, and Purpose
Most companies talk culture, but few define it. Ryan shares insights from Adam Witty and Jim Bush on how clarity drives alignment and attraction. Learn why you need a value scorecard and how to use it.
H – High-Trust Leadership
Micromanagement kills trust. Episode 77 guest Matt Ebert built a $3B company by empowering his people. Chad Prinkey reminds us: teams don’t follow orders, they follow leaders they trust.
O – Opportunity for Growth
The apprenticeship model made the trades great. It’s time to bring it back. Jennifer Wilkerson and Richard Hart both preach this: career paths retain people. Do you have one? More importantly, do your employees know it exists?
I – Industry-Leading Growth and Reputation
Your company’s story matters. As Josh Zolin said, the trades don’t have a hiring problem, they have a storytelling problem. Roger Wakefield’s social media approach proves reputation builds recruitment.
C – Competitive Pay and Stability
It’s not just about top-dollar wages. It’s about consistent opportunity. ESOPs and profit sharing, like those used by Erickson-Hall and Petticoat-Schmitt, create real buy-in and real retention.
E – Engaged Workforce
Respect. Recognition. Purpose. These matter more than pizza parties and gift cards. Levi Torres and Don Magruder show how culture-driven engagement reduces turnover and boosts productivity.
Want to go deeper? This episode is just the beginning. Ryan is rolling out solo episodes diving into each CHOICE element with tactics, tools, and templates that will take your company to the next level.
This framework has already helped countless companies shift from constant turnover to high-performing teams.
Ready to find out which of the CHOICE pillars your company needs to work on first?
Tune in now and be the employer your people are proud to represent.
Highlighted Episodes
- Episode 1: Adam Witty, CEO of Forbes Books, “3 Fallacies That Hold Back Your Recruiting Efforts”
- Episode 73: Jim Bush, CEO of Weather Shield Roofing Systems, “12 Laws of a Great Workplace”
- Episode 77: Matt Ebert, CEO of Crash Champions, “Building an Empire: From 8 to Nearly 650 Locations”
- Episode 87: Chad Prinkey, Founder and CEO of Well Built Construction Consulting, “Overcoming the Valley of Death in Business”
- Episode 60: Richard Hart, Founder of Hart’s Plumbing and Heating, “The Power of an Apprentice Academy”
- Episode 16: Jennifer Wilkerson, VP of Innovations and Advancements at NCCER , “Overcoming the Labor Shortage”
- Episode 17: Josh Zolin, CEO of Windy City Equipment Service, “Attracting The Next Generation With A Better Story”
- Episode 93: Roger Wakefield, Founder of RogerWakefield.com, “The Journey of a Blue Collar Influencer”
- Episode 94: Mat Gates, President of Erickson-Hall Construction, “From Employee to Owner: The ESOP Journey”
- Episode 21: Ryan Schmitt, CEO of Petticoat-Schmitt, “Petticoat-Schmitt Client Case Study”
- Episode 62: Levi Torres, President of High 5 Plumbing, “The Best Way to Grow Your Team”
- Episode 85: Don Magruder, CEO at RoMac Building Supply, “Tackling the Labor Crisis in Construction”
Connect With Ryan
Website: https://corematters.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanenglin/
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