Behind the Facade

por Behind the Facade

#10 - The Realities Of Running A Commercial Carpentry Business In Australian Construction - Ethan Chittick

In Episode 10 of Behind the Facade, Jake from Proline Group and Daniel from Complex Facade Install sit down with Ethan Chittick, Director of Commercial Carpentry, for a raw and honest conversation about what it really takes to build a high performance construction business from the ground up. This episode gets into the culture, mindset and daily discipline behind one of Melbourne's most respected commercial carpentry businesses. Ethan breaks down how he built a team that goes to war for the company, why the best installers don't always make the best leaders, and how a production line mentality on site is the difference between a job that hums and one that bleeds money. We also get into the 4am club and why physical discipline is the foundation of business performance, how to get on the shortlist of the best tier one builders in the country, the right client right job mentality, why staying hungry matters more when you're on the way up than when you get there, and what it really means to build something that lasts beyond the next job. If you work in construction, commercial carpentry, facades, cladding, project management, site management, subcontracting, trades, estimating, operations, or business ownership, this episode is a masterclass in what high performance actually looks like on the tools and in the boardroom. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome Ethan Chittick, the 4am club and why morning training sets up everything that follows 07:04 What a high performance day actually looks like for the director of a commercial carpentry business 12:55 Calendar discipline, being militant with your time and how the best operators structure their weeks 20:15 How Commercial Carpentry built a culture where the team competes with each other to perform 28:40 Production line mentality on site, one touch efficiency and how to make a job hum 40:18 Doors are the bread and butter and why process beats raw talent every time 47:07 Why promoting your best installer into leadership is often the biggest mistake you can make 52:00 The two metrics that tell you whether a job was actually successful 58:30 Right client right job, how to know which builders and scopes are worth your time 01:07:05 Why the best builders are the hardest to get in with and how to prove you belong there 01:12:30 Construction is chess not checkers, knowing the other subbies on your job before you price it 01:20:10 Staying hungry on the rise and why getting things is more fun than having them 01:25:58 Boys in a van to $150M, gratitude, goals and what the journey actually looks like ABOUT BEHIND THE FACADE Behind the Facade is a construction podcast hosted by Jake Gorry, Director of Proline Group, and Daniel from Complex Facade Install Pty Ltd. The podcast goes behind the scenes of the facade, cladding, glazing and construction industry, sharing real conversations about business, leadership, site work, project delivery, culture and the people building the industry from the ground up.

E10

19 ago 2026

1:31:59

#9 - How To Turn A Slow Period In Construction Into Your Biggest Competitive Advantage

In Episode 9 of Behind the Facade, Jake from Proline Group and Daniel from Complex Facade Install sit down for a wide ranging conversation about what it really takes to build a construction business that can withstand the pressure of a slow market without compromising on standards or pricing. This episode gets into one of the most important mindset shifts in construction right now. We break down why turning down work you could win is sometimes the smartest move in the business, how five years of internal data is now driving every tender decision, and why the businesses that hold their standards through the slow period are the ones that come out the other side ahead. We also get into the AI voice tool that's producing 35,000 words in a weekend, why preparation before a job starts is worth more than anything you do on the tools, the 4am club and why physical discipline and business discipline are the same thing, a live Q&A from the audience on finding mentors and managing cash, and the mindset behind studying your competition and picking them off one by one. If you work in construction, facades, cladding, glazing, fabrication, project management, site management, subcontracting, trades, estimating, operations, or business ownership, this episode is a raw and honest look at how the best businesses in the industry hold their nerve when the work dries up and come out the other side stronger for it. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro and Whispr Flow, the AI voice tool producing 35,000 words in a weekend 05:36 Business update, $22 million in tenders out in one week and how new software doubled output 10:50 Why a 14% strike rate on tenders is intentional and why winning every job is a warning sign 14:23 Why signing cheap work in a slow market sets you up to lose money before you start 22:13 How to price jobs correctly using your own data instead of guessing 25:31 Mount Hospital prep and why the work you do before boots are on the ground determines everything 32:55 Mentor sessions, what Danny, Luke Edmonds and Griffo each taught Daniel about building a business 38:12 If you can't look after yourself you can't look after a business and the discipline connection 39:53 The 4am club, 15 gym memberships, ice baths and why training your leaders together changes everything 43:23 Live Q&A: how to find a mentor when you didn't grow up around successful people 48:17 Model the rise not the outcome and why studying your competition is fuel for the fire 01:08:36 The supply system one of the team built overnight and why building beats buying every time 01:12:10 Only 50% of your working day is actually productive and here's what to do about it 01:22:47 Biggest wins and biggest mistakes of the month and what the standard you walk past says about you

5 ago 2026

1:29:14

#8 - Australian Construction Has Run Out of Time to Ignore AI: It's Time To Catch Up

In Episode 8 of Behind the Facade, Jake from Proline Group and Daniel from Complex Facade Install sit down for a raw conversation about AI, data, systems, leadership, stepping away from the business, and what separates the construction businesses that are winning right now from the ones that are quietly falling behind. This episode dives into why most Australian construction businesses are years behind on the tools and systems that are already transforming the industry's best operators. Jake and Daniel break down how AI is being trained and embedded inside Proline Group, why data is the most underused asset in construction, and how measuring everything from labor hours to order patterns is changing the way decisions get made on site and in the office. They also get into what happens when a leader steps away from the business, why you can never skip the steps when building experience, how to capitalise on momentum when you've got it, and the performance review process they're using to develop the next generation of construction leaders. The conversation also covers internal awards, building software from scratch, leadership structure, the supporting cast behind every successful business, and why pen and paper still has to come before any software. If you work in construction, facades, cladding, glazing, fabrication, project management, site management, subcontracting, trades, estimating, operations, or business ownership, this episode gives a real look at how systems, data and leadership are separating the businesses that grow from the businesses that get left behind. Timestamps: 00:00 — Intro: The new war room and what's been happening 02:30 — Why stepping away from your business is one of the most valuable things a leader can do 07:23 — If your team can't function without you walking through the door, you've got a problem 13:53 — How Jake trained 35 people in how he personally uses AI and why the results have been baffling 17:21 — If you're not measuring it you're guessing — why data is the most underused asset in construction 19:34 — You can't skip steps — why experience is the one thing money can never buy 28:27 — The personality traits of the most naturally data driven people in construction 32:53 — Working in three degree conditions at Docklands — why leaders who haven't lived it can't judge the team 36:05 — The fortnightly AI award and the Built Not Bought award — how to drive innovation inside your business 43:44 — Cam's story — five roles before finding the one he was built for 01:06:20 — Performance reviews in construction — what they're really for and how to run them without it getting personal 01:14:17 — No one gets there alone — the supporting cast behind every successful construction business ABOUT BEHIND THE FACADE Behind the Facade is a construction podcast hosted by Jake Gorry, Director of Proline Group, and Daniel from Complex Facade Install Pty Ltd. The podcast goes behind the scenes of the facade, cladding, glazing and construction industry, sharing real conversations about business, leadership, site work, project delivery, culture and the people building the industry from the ground up.

15 jul 2026

1:17:57

#7 - Australia’s Construction Industry Is Too Slow For What’s Coming: The Cost Of Wasted Time

In Episode 7 of Behind the Facade, Jake from Proline Group and Daniel from Complex Facade Install Pty Ltd sit down for a raw conversation about time, speed, systems, leadership, automation, pressure, and what it really takes to run a fast moving construction business. This episode dives into the hidden cost of wasted time in construction. Jake and Daniel break down how small delays, poor planning, slow systems, unstructured leadership, and 15 minute gaps can compound across a project and destroy profit margin. They also talk about Proline Fab’s latest investment into automation, including new machinery, coil loading systems, AI driven wastage software, barcoding, offsite fabrication, and how better systems can help get product to site faster, reduce rework, support data centre projects, and create more value for builders and clients. The conversation also covers leadership routines, daily planning, pressure, decision making, productivity blocks, site management, hospital projects, tower projects, logistics, value management, pricing, meetings, team culture, and the mindset required to keep growing without losing control of the business. If you work in construction, facades, cladding, glazing, fabrication, project management, site management, subcontracting, trades, estimating, operations, or business ownership, this episode gives a real look at how speed, systems and leadership separate the businesses that grow from the businesses that get left behind. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro and morning training 01:19 - Business update and Proline Fab growth 03:23 - New machinery, automation and fabrication systems 05:23 - Why time compounds across construction projects 06:28 - Leadership schedules, productivity and 15 minute increments 10:00 - Using AI to remove emotion from business decisions 13:42 - Morning planning, daily structure and site leadership 18:59 - Productive blocks and keeping teams moving 21:19 - Flow is fast, and fast is money 25:00 - Site leaders, paperwork and staying close to the action 29:51 - Hospital projects, tower projects and different site challenges 35:00 - Logistics, loading, access and non conventional thinking 40:00 - Handling pressure and making decisions quickly 45:00 - Perspective, family, health and business stress 50:00 - The cost of success and doing the hard work early 55:00 - Pricing, value management and finding project efficiencies 01:00:00 - Meetings, value creation and not wasting time 01:04:00 - Project highlights and successful site culture 01:07:00 - Team, promotions, fundraising and leadership moments 01:10:00 - Built Not Brought award and recognising the team ABOUT BEHIND THE FACADE Behind the Facade is a construction podcast hosted by Jake Gorry, Director of Proline Group, and Daniel from Complex Facade Install Pty Ltd. The podcast goes behind the scenes of the facade, cladding, glazing and construction industry, sharing real conversations about business, leadership, site work, project delivery, culture and the people building the industry from the ground up.

17 jun 2026

1:12:09

#6 - Adam Hall: From Bankruptcy To Building a $100M Brand in Construction

In Episode 6 of Behind the Facade, Jake Gorry from Proline Group and Daniel from Complex Facade Install Pty Ltd sit down with their first ever guest, Adam Hall, Managing Director of AH Fencing. They have a raw conversation about the brutal realities of scaling a subcontractor business, nationwide expansion, trade cash flow, leadership, and what it really takes to survive the early years. This episode dives into the true story of how Adam and his business partner Matt built a multi-state company from scratch after a previous employer went bust. They share the massive wake-up call of losing $200,000 in year one, waking up to find the ATO had wiped their bank account to $0, and how they recovered to build a highly profitable nationwide operation. They also break down the transition from a gun tradie to a world-class leader, the power of organic growth versus acquisition, building custom ERP software using Claude, dealing with cultures of entitlement on site, and why you need a level of sustained delusion to back yourself in this industry. If you work in construction, fencing, project management, site management, subcontracting, fabrication, or business ownership, this episode is packed with hard-learned, practical insight from people living it every day. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: Welcoming first guest Adam Hall 01:08 - Organic growth vs interstate acquisition 02:24 - Building culture and setting standards across multiple states 08:14 - Leadership structures and fixing the site to office disconnect 14:31 - Extreme ownership, actionable core values and positive reinforcement 19:54 - Setting clear expectations and avoiding the entitlement loop 27:04 - The origin of AH Fencing: Two tradies with zero money 29:27 - Wiped to $0: Surviving the first year loss and the ATO wake-up call 35:17 - Trading tools for coaching and introducing commercial acumen 42:58 - Subbie metrics: Knowing your costs vs the danger of undercutting 53:50 - Why gun workers don't always make great business leaders 01:04:57 - Using AI to build custom tools and accelerating your path to $100M ABOUT BEHIND THE FACADE Behind the Facade is a construction podcast hosted by Jake Gorry, Director of Proline Group, and Daniel from Complex Facade Install Pty Ltd. The podcast goes behind the scenes of the facade, cladding, glazing and construction industry, sharing real conversations about business, leadership, site work, project delivery, culture and the people building the industry from the ground up.

3 jun 2026

1:28:24

#5 - Australia's Construction Industry Is About To Explode: Nobody Is Ready

In Episode 5 of Behind the Facade, Jake Gorry from Proline Group and Daniel from Complex Facade Install Pty Ltd sit down for a raw conversation about business growth, leadership, fabrication, work ethic, mentorship, and what is coming next for the construction industry. This episode dives into the real day to day of running fast moving facade and construction businesses. Jake and Daniel break down their early morning routines, how they structure their days, how Proline’s in house fabrication division has changed the business, and why the next 12 to 24 months could be a massive period for construction. They also talk about the importance of saying no to the wrong jobs, choosing the right clients, building strong teams, bringing pride back into the craft, and why mentorship needs to become a bigger part of the industry again. If you work in construction, facades, cladding, fabrication, project management, site management, subcontracting, or business ownership, this episode is packed with practical insight from two people living it every day. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro and Episode 5 01:22 - Why structured conversations matter 03:10 - Recording meetings, notes, AI and action items 04:31 - Tracking time, structure and productivity 07:03 - Why routine matters in work, business and life 08:53 - Daniel’s daily routine in season 15:02 - Jake’s daily routine and Proline Fab operations 20:39 - Building practical systems inside the fabrication shop 25:03 - How Proline Fab changed the business 34:23 - Why construction is about to get extremely busy 38:23 - Being selective with work and knowing when to say no 52:20 - Finding the missing link inside the business 54:54 - The handwritten resume story 01:01:43 - Mentorship, pride in the craft and quality workmanship 01:10:21 - Project highlights, biggest wins, pressures and shout outs ABOUT BEHIND THE FACADE Behind the Facade is a construction podcast hosted by Jake Gorry, Director of Proline Group, and Daniel from Complex Facade Install Pty Ltd. The podcast goes behind the scenes of the facade, cladding, glazing and construction industry, sharing real conversations about business, leadership, site work, project delivery, culture and the people building the industry from the ground up. FOLLOW THE PODCAST Subscribe for more conversations from inside the construction industry. Follow Jake Gorry and Proline Group Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-gorry-87b30628b/ Company LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/proline-aus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prolinegroupau/ Follow Daniel Alizzi and Complex Facade Install Pty Ltd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/complex-facade-install/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complexfacadeinstallptyltd/ #BehindTheFacade #ConstructionPodcast #FacadeIndustry #Cladding #ConstructionAustralia #MelbourneConstruction #ProlineGroup #ComplexFacadeInstall #ConstructionBusiness #ProjectManagement #Fabrication #ConstructionLeadership

20 may 2026

1:21:03

#4 - The Ugly Truth About Relationships In Construction (And Why Most People Get It Wrong)

Jake and Daniel are back for Episode 4. The conversation gets real about one of the most misunderstood parts of the construction industry: relationships. Are they just cliques and back-scratching, or is there something more to it? The boys break down how work is really won, what separates the subbies who keep getting the call from the ones who don't, and why delivering a job matters infinitely more than just knowing the right people. Along the way they get into cutting edge fabrication technology that's threatening to make offshore manufacturing obsolete, the debate around work weeks and RDOs, apprenticeship culture, modular prefab, and what overcommunicating on site actually looks like in practice.

7 may 2026

1:17:42

#3 - The Truth About Family In Business: Standards, Loyalty & The Long Game

Explícito

Family in business is one of the most rewarding things you can do. It's also one of the hardest. In Episode 3 of Behind The Facade, Jake and Daniel get into what it really takes to run a construction business with family involved, including the standards you have to set, the conversations nobody warns you about, and why getting it right can become your greatest competitive advantage. This episode covers the full reality of running and scaling a construction business right now. From tracking job data weekly versus monthly, to building leaders from within versus buying them in, to what it actually means to stop being a busy idiot and start making decisions that move the needle. This is one of the most honest conversations we've had on the show. Jake Gorry is the Director of Proline, one of Melbourne's leading facade and cladding companies, delivering some of the most technically demanding projects in Victoria. Daniel Alizzi is the Operations Manager of Complex Facade Install, bringing decades of hands-on experience across some of Australia's most iconic builds. Together they cover: ◼️ Why hiring family can be your greatest asset or your biggest mistake ◼️ The non-negotiable standards that keep family and business relationships intact ◼️ Why leaders should always be built from within and when to buy them in ◼️ How weekly data tracking transformed the way they run their businesses ◼️ The difference between being busy and being productive ◼️ Why the standard you set on day one is the standard you're stuck with ◼️ What best for the business really means when it's personal Timestamps 0:00 Introduction & Episode Kick Off 3:00 March Recap: Hitting 1000 Panels & Topping Out 100 Franklin 19:00 Pre-Planning & Front End Investment 25:00 Building A Coordination Team That Works 51:00 The Six Week Focus Block System 1:03:00 The Weekly Tracking System & Live Job Data 1:16:00 Building Leaders From Within vs Buying Them In 1:21:00 Family In Business 1:26:00 The Standards That Keep It All Together 1:31:00 When Family Becomes Your Greatest Asset 1:34:00 Rapid Fire & What's Next

22 abr 2026

1:36:50

#2 - Construction Is Changing: The Warning Signs Every Leader Is Ignoring

Explícito

Welcome back to Behind The Facade. What does it actually take to perform when the pressure is at its highest? In this episode, Jake and Daniel come back fresh off one of the most complex facade installs they've ever attempted. 9,700 kilo concrete panels, crane crews, last-minute engineering changes, and a plan that had to be torn up on site. This conversation explores what it really looks like when the job is hard, the stakes are high, and you have to adapt in real time. But beyond the job site, this episode goes deep on the things that actually build great companies. Culture, leadership, work ethic, and what it means to develop people who want to stay for the long haul. Jake opens up about writing a leadership book for his team and why putting it on paper changed the way he leads. Daniel breaks down the lessons from a month that tested everything. Most people see the finished buildings. Very few understand the decisions, sacrifices, and hard lessons required to build them. This episode is a raw look at what it takes to operate at the highest level in one of the toughest industries there is. Welcome back to Behind The Facade. Timestamps 0:00 — Introduction 4:02 — What The Last Two Weeks Really Looked Like 7:00 — The Response To Episode One 10:46 — Inside The Melton Hospital Project 18:53 — How To Actually Run A Job Site 27:30 — The People Behind The Business 1:04:41 — Writing A Leadership Playbook For Your Team 1:17:50 — The Billy Story Topics discussed: Construction industry Running a construction business Leadership and team culture Developing people in the trades Work ethic and attitude Performing under pressure Facade and cladding industry Building systems and processes Leadership development in construction

24 mar 2026

1:44:44

#1 - The Reality of the Construction Industry: Apprentices, AI and the Future of Construction

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Welcome to the first episode of Behind The Facade. What does it actually take to build and run a construction business? In this episode, Jake and Daniel talk about what life really looks like behind the construction industry. From 3:20am alarms and morning boxing sessions to running demanding businesses and raising families, this conversation explores the habits, discipline, and mindset required to operate in one of the toughest industries there is. Most people see the finished buildings. Very few see the pressure, decisions, and sacrifice required to build them. This episode dives into the real routines, lessons, and challenges that shape the people behind the projects. If you’re interested in construction, entrepreneurship, leadership, discipline, or business, this conversation gives a raw look into the reality behind it all. Welcome to Behind The Facade. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 15:54 Why Facades? 36:01 The First Opportunities 59:48 Hard Conversations 1:03:01 Marketing, AI, Apprentices Topics discussed: Construction industry Running a construction business Entrepreneurship and leadership Building a team and managing pressure Discipline, routine, and early mornings Opportunities in the construction industry Marketing and AI in construction The future of apprenticeships

13 mar 2026

1:28:10