a dedicated team member whose sole job is to manage communications with clients—ensuring updates, responses, and clarity, while allowing the supervisors and trades to focus on the build itself. Relationships with suppliers and trades are just as critical—and not without their own challenges. During the height of COVID, Ryan saw firsthand how long-standing loyalties were tested. With trades and suppliers raising prices dramatically while builders were locked into fixed contracts, it led to some painful moments. “I lost a lot of respect for people I’d given work to for 10 years,” he says bluntly. But the experience also helped Ryan rebuild with those who stayed loyal and foster new partnerships with others who shared his values. Today, that commitment is celebrated with an annual trade and supplier event that brings together over 200 people for a barbecue, beers, and prize giveaways—including holidays— as a thank-you for their ongoing support. As for industry awards? Ryan is direct in his views. He’s not interested. “I’ve always believed it’s a bit of a scam,” he says. “The same people win the same awards over and over. How do you really judge one house from another?” However, the certification he does take pride in is his achievement as the first builder worldwide to reach Level 10 with the Association of Professional Builders—a coaching platform for builders operating in Australia, the US, Canada, and New Zealand. That milestone earned him the title of Certified Professional Builder, something that carries genuine weight because it was achieved through meeting strict operational and performance criteria, not through popularity contests. AUGUST 2025
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