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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9201 Spectrum Center Blvd., Suite 110 • San Diego, CA 92123

lori@biasandiego.org

shannon@biasandiego.org

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.

With over 20 years of electrical experience, Steven C. Poston Electrical is San Diego’s premier choice of electrician. Our multitude of satisfied, repeat clients speaks volumes about the quality of our work. They include the San Diego County sheriff’s department, the Coronado police department, and the Bonita Sunnyside branch library and museum. We offer an economical, budget savvy pricing structure without sacrificing quality.

I am your neighborhood electrician where fair pricing is standard and we do not gouge your checkbook. No job is too big or too small and we completely understand electrical work is a foreign language to most. We offer comprehensive explanations and quotes and stand by our low price and quality claims. Feel free to call me, Steve, for a free quote or to set up service today!

At Steven C. Poston Electrical in San Diego, California, our journey of twenty years resonates with a steadfast dedication to quality and safety in the field of electrical work. Our team of licensed professionals has consistently demonstrated proficiency in a diverse range of services, contributing to the enhancement of numerous homes.

Our dedication to achieving excellence is displayed through our precise methods of conducting electrical upgrades, installing lighting fixtures, and providing specialized services such as solar installation and remodeling. We prioritize effective communication with our clients, guaranteeing their satisfaction through careful attention. Our pricing system is transparent, reflecting our principle of being trustworthy and dependable.

As we continue to forge ahead, we remain devoted to upholding our reputation for professional excellence, ensuring that every project we undertake is a testament to our enduring commitment to exceptional electrical solutions.

I started plumbing in the oil fields back in 1982. Building the oil derricks then running raw crude oil lines to the manifolds that directed the oil to the refineries.
With my mechanical Engineering education, I've been fortunate enough to direct my skills and talents to the specialized fields that we as a company currently enjoy.
I helped prototype the Seesnake sewer camera which is still the leading sewer camera in our industry. We did that way back in the early 90's when the City of Del Mar was replacing all of their water and sewer lines.
Most of our Plumbing vans are our own design.
We had to develop our own software to handle our type of work and the needs of our customers. Cool stuff!

Specialties: Anything and everything Plumbing and then some. Just ask our customers.

Master Plumbers: Fast, Efficient, and Innovative Service

Boasting over 23 years of experience in the plumbing and leak detection domain, Mike Logsdon founded Master Plumbing and Leak Detection with a vision: to redefine customer service by offering rapid and intelligent solutions.

Leveraging advanced technologies and harnessing the skills of seasoned plumbers, we consistently present our clients with superior, time-saving solutions. From deploying Perma Liner to address drain issues without causing disturbances to large gatherings, to utilizing fiberoptic borescopes for pinpoint issue detection without unnecessary damage, or employing our signature “Master Blaster” to swiftly unclog industrial drains – we pride ourselves on offering efficient, cost-effective options.

Our plumbers in Temecula are further empowered by state-of-the-art vehicles, each designed to expedite service delivery. Many professionals are eager to join our team, enticed by the top-tier equipment and vehicles we use. This commitment to quality ensures our Temecula team always provides premium service, aiming to resolve issues on our initial visit.

Dedication to transparency drives us to provide comprehensive documentation of our services. Given our extensive collaborations with insurance agencies and commercial entities, we are adept at generating meticulous reports outlining the nature of issues, their locations, and the precise measures taken to rectify them, often complemented by illustrative diagrams.

Licensed, bonded, and insured, Master Plumbing stands as a beacon of trust and professionalism. For further details on our plumbing offerings in Temecula or to request a complimentary estimate, please connect with us online or dial 877-504-6753.

(858) 271-0880

8726 Production Avenue

San Diego, CA 92121

(951) 382-5359

42225 Remington Avenue

Temecula, CA 92590

***free no obligation assessments

Whether your home has been a victim of a plumbing leak, flood or a roofing fiasco, and you find yourself lost or overwhelmed and don’t know who to turn to, don’t fret the Medics will be there to the rescue. Consider us your homes first responder, except we will be there for you from the beginning to the end, holding your hand throughout the whole process.

call us

(888) 379-6339

Message Us

contact@dryoutmedics.com

message us online

Whether your home has been a victim of a plumbing leak, flood or a roofing fiasco, and you find yourself lost or overwhelmed and don’t know who to turn to, don’t fret the Medics will be there to the rescue. Consider us your homes first responder, except we will be there for you from the beginning to the end, holding your hand throughout the whole process. The “Dry-Out Medics” are here for San Diego residents whenever they’re facing an emergency flood or water damage situation to their homes. Our IICRC certified technicians are on stand-by, ready to be dispatched for a no cost assessment within the hour of receiving the distress call. From natural disasters to broken pipes inside the home, water damage can affect the structural integrity of the home and the residents health if not contained, removed and dried out in a timely manner in accordance with the IICRC Ansi 500 dry standard. That is why we are considered an emergency service, and covered by homeowners insurance.

October 15, 2024
By Staff Writer, PHCC-National Association

https://www.phccweb.org/news/sarah-wood-of-california-honored-with-phccs-hvac-contractor-of-the-year-award/

" With a commitment to quality, innovation, and superior customer service, Sarah Wood received the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association’s (PHCC’s) 2024 HVAC Contractor of the Year Award. Wood, owner of Allegiance Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., in Santee, California, was honored this week at PHCC’s annual conference – PHCC CONNECT 2024 – in Birmingham, Alabama. PHCC Corporate Partner Rheem sponsored the award, which recognizes excellence in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning profession. "

Allegiance Heating & Air Conditioning Inc was founded in 1984 by James Rotter. James was committed to providing his loyal clients with fast, high-quality HVAC services. In 2009, Sarah took over the family business after her father, James Rotter, suddenly passed away. Since then, Sarah has worked hard to expand the business and client base while remaining dedicated to the loyal customers that Allegiance has been servicing since the beginning.

Allegiance Heating & Air Conditioning Inc is a full-service HVAC specialist. We install, repair and maintain your equipment, to keep your home or office healthy and comfortable year-round. Based in Santee CA, Allegiance Heating & Air Conditioning Inc has been women owned and operated since 2009. Allegiance PLEDGES valuable solutions and competitive pricing for all your residential, multi-family and commercial HVAC needs.

Address

8733 N Magnolia Ave #204
Santee, CA 92071

Phone

619-760-2939

Email

marketing@allegiancehvacsd.com

https://absoluteductandchimney.com/

Get In Touch

• Address: 8733 N Magnolia Ave, Suite 203 Santee, CA 92071
• Email: absolutedcc@gmail.com
• Phone: (619) 768-6394
• Contractor's License: #1074421

Absolute Duct and Chimney is a family-owned and operated business.

Since its establishment in 2015, Absolute Duct & Chimney Cleaning has earned over 1,000 five-star reviews on Yelp, Google, and Facebook combined! Absolute’s growing team proudly offers Air Duct Cleaning, Chimney Cleaning, Dryer Vent Cleaning, and Home Sanitization throughout San Diego County with a high standard of ethics and professionalism. As a company, Absolute strives to improve daily and find more ways to serve an influential role within its community.

Absolute Duct & Chimney Cleaning helps homes and businesses in San Diego prevent fire hazards, improve air quality, and feel safer and more comfortable in your property.