How do you lead a business through feast and famine—and keep people at the center?

In this episode of the What Juices You podcast, Merlin Bartel, President & CEO of the Epic Group of Companies, shares how a passion for empowering the “underdog” has guided his leadership from the very beginning.

What started in 2001 with a single roofing truck has grown into a diverse group of companies spanning construction, restoration, exteriors, and even software. Yet Merlin’s true fuel remains the same: creating opportunity, belonging, and resilience through people.

In this conversation with host Brady Wilson, Merlin reflects on:

• How a heart for the underdog shaped Epic’s inclusive culture, now home to staff from 20+ nations.
• Why lived values—not just words on a wall—build the kind of trust and culture that last decades.
• How Epic sustains energy in a feast-or-famine industry through diversification, innovation, and treating subcontractors as true partners.
• The story of launching and selling SumoQuote, and how it created life-changing opportunities for his team.
• Why servant leadership, succession planning, and vision for the future keep him energized today.

If you’re a leader who believes culture and resilience grow from putting people first, this conversation with Merlin Bartel will inspire you to think bigger and lead deeper.

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