In this episode of People-First Builders, host Fletcher Wimbush welcomes Brian Keller, CEO of Quest Building Corporation, a Wisconsin-based commercial contracting firm that’s redefining what it means to grow a people-first construction business. Starting with four partners framing homes in 1998, Brian has spent the past 25 years scaling Quest into a 300-plus-person company that provides labor and materials for framing, trim, flooring, and countertops across Southern Wisconsin.

Brian shares the behind-the-scenes story of how he transitioned from being a hands-on carpenter to a visionary CEO focused on servant leadership, talent development, and culture-driven growth. He discusses how hitting a wall in the company's expansion led to a complete rethinking of his leadership style, eventually leading to the development of in-house coaching and leadership training programs that now shape the next generation of leaders at Quest.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Brian dives into:

How Quest integrates recruiting, training, and coaching into every level of the business
What it means to practice servant leadership in a trade-dominated industry
The power of writing an employee persona to define company culture and hire the right people
His "Build Program," an educational initiative designed to help trade business owners grow scalable, sustainable companies
Tactical changes in recruiting strategy, including high school outreach, referral-driven hiring, and even in-house headhunting
How the team developed a simple framework for defining roles through the "one-question" model
Why he believes there’s someone out there who loves every task—your job is to find them

Whether you’re a contractor, tradesperson, or business owner struggling to scale or attract top talent, this episode offers a roadmap for transforming your organization by investing in your people. Brian’s story is a masterclass in letting go, leading with purpose, and building a business that lasts through values, not just volume.