The Box Full of Risk Every Developer Hands Their Contractor

When a developer hands you a $10 million project, they're not just handing you money — they're handing you a box full of risk and trusting you not to open it.

That's how Tarik Williams, President of TLW Construction, describes the job. Tarik's dad, Ted, founded TLW in the early 1980s building a project or two a year by hand. Tarik joined in 2002 ready to conquer the industry — and then the recession hit everything he touched. He calls it his Midas touch turning to dust, and it forced a complete rebuild of how TLW does business: less trade-show marketing, a lot more genuine care for every client, no matter how small.

We get into how that mindset shift, plus a five-year, all-in bet on construction management software, let TLW scale to over 30 employees and 20+ million square feet built across five states — with California next, even while everyone else is talking about leaving. Tarik also opens up about running a family business, and the one rule that keeps Thanksgiving dinner from turning into a board meeting.

If you've ever wondered what it actually takes for a developer to trust you with their business, this one's for you.

Key topics

• Building a construction company from paper ledgers to Procore — 00:31:20
• The recession and the "Midas touch" wake-up call — 00:18:32
• The $10 million box of risk — 00:25:24
• Family business boundaries — no politics, no religion, no business — 00:15:08
• Why TLW is expanding into California when everyone else is leaving — 00:38:36
• Taking on the industry's hardest, most complex builds — 00:46:39

Guest bio

Tarik Williams is President of TLW Construction, a commercial general contractor his father, Ted Williams, founded in the early 1980s. Tarik joined the company in 2002 after earning a Construction Management degree from ASU, and has helped grow TLW to over 30 employees and more than 20 million square feet of commercial projects built across five states — with a sixth, California, just added this week. TLW specializes in complex commercial builds, from multi-story storage facilities to tilt-up concrete and multifamily projects, and now operates under new ownership alongside three longtime partners following Ted's retirement.

Connect with Tarik

Website: https://tlwconstruction.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarik-williams-75ba6a4/

CONNECT WITH DALLON

Capitallyst Pro Website: https://capitallystpro.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dallon-schultz/

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Legal Disclaimer

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal, financial, tax, or business advice. Hosts and guests share personal experiences and opinions; individual results vary and nothing here is a guarantee of any outcome. Guests' views are their own and do not represent Capitallyst Pro. Consult your own qualified advisors before making business decisions.