#117 The Accidental Founder Who Went From Credit Card Payroll to an 80-Person Team With Sean Rice Artwork

Crushing It In Construction

Crushing It In Construction is a weekly podcast created to give people in the construction industry a resource where they can learn tips and tactics on how to improve their business, improve their career and keep up to date on everything happening in the world of construction. We cover a wide range of tips from marketing construction, technology, succession planning, recruiting, culture and much much more. Whether you're in heavy civil, mining, engineering, building, landscaping or plumbing our guests share tips and tactics that are actionable and insightful.

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Crushing It In Construction

#117 The Accidental Founder Who Went From Credit Card Payroll to an 80-Person Team With Sean Rice

September 10, 2025 • Jordan Skinner

Welcome back to the Crushing It In Construction Podcast!

This week, we're sitting down with Sean Rice from Proterra Group - an accidental founder who never set out to run an 80-person business.

Starting with a single 6-month contract and a personal credit card used to cover his first payroll, Sean has navigated market crashes, painful downsizing, and the complexities of bringing in - and later buying out - business partners.

Sharing how he built a business serving 45+ local councils without a master plan, this episode is a deep dive into resilient leadership, strategic pivots, and why sometimes the best businesses are built by accident.

For anyone who’s ever bootstrapped, bet on themselves, or wondered how to lead a team through tough times - this one’s for you.

Let's get started.

Connect with Sean Rice:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/s-rice/

Website:https://www.proterragroup.com.au/

Connect with Jordan Skinner:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanaskinner/

Website: https://moonshotmedia.com.au/

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