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What happens when you lose everything in 2008—and still choose to pay everyone back? Rob Stephenson rebuilt not just a business, but a reputation that now wins national NARI COTY awards.

Summary:

Rob Stephenson, founder of Stephenson Construction, shares how leaving engineering, moonlighting in rental units, and surviving the 2008 collapse shaped his disciplined, integrity-first approach to design-build. We unpack his early pivots from art and engineering, learning the trades out of necessity, brand lessons from Target, and how a move to Atlanta unlocked new opportunity. Rob breaks down practical pricing, cash flow, licensing, and client selection—plus a DIY cautionary tale involving a wet metal roof, no tie-off, and a painful lesson learned.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallBusinessSafari

💡 GOLD NUGGETS 

• How growing up in Philadelphia sparked his love for home projects
 • Art vs. engineering at Tuskegee — and the early career pivots that followed
 • Learning every trade through rental-unit trial by fire
 • Building the first spec home, licensing insights, and partnership lessons
 • The 2008 crash: overleverage, failure, and choosing integrity over shortcuts
 • Moving to Atlanta and how Target taught him branding discipline
 • Building a design-build team that wins national COTY awards
 • Story proof: why case studies beat sales pitches
 • Cash flow, pricing, and client fit — practical rules that keep you alive
 • Quickfire picks: E-Myth for Contractors, basements, and service pet peeves
• DIY disaster: the wet metal roof and the importance of safety tie-offs

🔗 Guest Links

• Website: https://www.stephensonconstructionllc.com

• NARI Directory: Search “Stephenson Construction” on NARI.org

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rsstephenson/

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• Instagram | @smallbusinesssafaripodcast
 • LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislalomia/
 • Website | https://chrislalomia.com

From the Zoo to Wild is a book for entrepreneurs passionate about home services, looking to move away from corporate jobs. Chris Lalomia, a former executive, shares his path, discoveries, and tools to succeed as a small business owner in home improvement retail. The book provides the mindset, habits, leadership style, and customer-oriented processes necessary to succeed as a small business owner in home services.