Cody Blake shares how setting meaningful goals and embracing discomfort helped him grow from a bowling mechanic into a confident deck-building professional. He discusses the value of a growth mindset, personal challenge, and continually pushing yourself to discover what you're capable of.

TL Decks founder Alex Larson shares how risk-taking, craftsmanship, and a passion for outdoor living shaped his career and the company he built. He also shares how embracing change has helped him grow as a contractor and why he’s excited about the innovations shaping the future of deck building.

Meet Mark Wille, The Author of You Can Too! The ABCs of Construction Tech, who discusses the benefits of introducing kids to the trades and building a new generation of builders.

We sit down with Tony McKlem of Hollywood Decks to talk about his journey, why shows like JLC Live matter, and the endless opportunities construction offers. From teaching in Spanish to sharing insights on distribution, sales, and the importance of simply being good people, Tony brings a fresh perspective.

Following a successful Fortress Evolution Master Class in Northern California, we chatted with Joe Frith of Mountain Decks about his background, and why steel deck framing is different.

At JLC, we talked with Tim McNamara of McNamara Contracting and founder of the Young Craftsman Foundation about getting more people into the trades.

Levi Tippetts from T.C. Decks sat down and talked with us about using steel deck framing for the first time, building award-winning decks, creating new tools for the jobsite and more.

Hear from Marshall and Jordan Smith of The Deck Supply as they share insights from the supply side of the business. We talk about the role showrooms play in helping contractors showcase products, plus other trends and changes shaping the industry … all from this longstanding, family-run Fortress® partner.

In this episode, we speak with a California Fire Safe Council expert about wildfire-ready construction, meeting code requirements, and how changing behaviors can drive stronger fire mitigation in our communities.

In this episode, we chat with Matt from “Working with Matt,” who’s built a massive social media following by sharing outdoor living tips, advice, and entertaining content. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment if you’re into creative ideas for your own outdoor space or one you are building!

In this episode, we introduce the purpose and future of the Outdurable Living® Show. The show will connect builders across regions and create a space to share ideas, challenges, and solutions. Learn how pros from across the country are using Fortress products to achieve Proven Performance and Smarter Solutions, while getting to know the people driving innovation in the industry.

Join a dynamic conversation with partner builders from the U.S. and Canada as they share insights on creativity, standing out from the competition, and building with premium framing and railing products backed by a limited lifetime warranty. Hear how this Alliance of builders collaborates, inspires each other, and explores what it takes to build projects that truly last.