In this insightful episode of The Trades Podcast, we sit down with Sara Graves, Chief Editor of Deck Specialist, the premier trade publication spotlighting innovation, craftsmanship, and community in the decking and outdoor living industry.

Sara opens up about her editorial journey, the evolution of deck design, and the role Deck Specialist plays in elevating the voice of trades professionals. From the latest material trends to the stories that fuel the passion behind the build, Sara offers a behind-the-scenes look at what makes the decking industry tick.

The editorial mission behind Deck Specialist and how it supports the decking trades

Emerging trends in outdoor living spaces and what pros should keep an eye on

Challenges and opportunities for builders in 2025

How storytelling and editorial exposure can elevate tradespeople and their businesses

Why community and craftsmanship are more vital than ever in the construction world

Sara Graves is the Chief Editor of Deck Specialist magazine, a niche publication dedicated to the professionals who design, build, and innovate in the world of outdoor living. With a career rooted in journalism and trade media, Sara brings a thoughtful, industry-connected perspective to every feature she curates.

Visit Deck Specialist Magazine

Connect with Sara and read her editorials: Sara Graves’ Author Page

Explore more interviews and insights at TheTradesPodcast.com

All great projects, like your home, begin with a conversation. For four generations, we’ve been building and remodeling homes for San Diego homeowners.

We will guide you every step along the way, offering you options, and then making decisions together. You’ll know what you’re getting, how much it will cost, and the steps it will take. And if something changes, we’ll let you know beforehand.

By the time we’re done working together, you’ll feel like family too.

In this heartwarming and insightful episode, we sit down with the incredible family duo at the helm of Murray Lampert, a four-generation design-build remodeling firm based in San Diego. Gregg Cantor, a seasoned industry expert and CEO, teams up with his daughter Rachel Cantor, Director of Client Services, to share how they're blending tradition with innovation in the trades.

Together, they reveal the secrets to sustaining a successful family business, how they maintain strong relationships with clients, and why staying grounded in values is the key to long-term success.

The origin and evolution of Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel

How Rachel is reshaping client experience and digital presence

Gregg’s lessons from decades in the remodeling industry

The power—and challenges—of working with family

Tips for navigating generational leadership transitions

How community engagement fuels business growth

Trade professionals and contractors

Family business owners

Entrepreneurs looking to build a lasting legacy

Anyone curious about the human side of the homebuilding world

🔗 MurrayLampert.com
📸 Instagram: @murraylampertdesign
💼 LinkedIn: Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel

TheTradesPodcast.com – Your go-to source for real conversations in the world of trades, construction, and entrepreneurship.

https://biasandiego.org/

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The Building Industry Association of San Diego envisions a region where every San Diegan can afford a quality home in vibrant communities that include good schools, clean parks, mobility, including walking and biking paths, sustainability, shops, restaurants and more.

Who we are

As San Diego’s leading voice of residential development for more than 85 years, the BIA is an inclusive member-driven non-profit advocating for housing at all levels and the people and families who need a place to call home. We support pro-housing policies, quality jobs, and strong communities. We enthusiastically support our members, who create good quality jobs, employing thousands of hard-working builders, architects, engineers, designers, drywall professionals, framers, equipment operators and others.

Core values

• We believe new housing is essential to economic viability (including job creation.
• We believe responsible growth is essential to sustained economic vitality.
• We support initiatives that provide the broadest access to middle income housing and other types of housing the market desires.
• We defend tenaciously property owners’ rights.