We sat down with Jarod Coffman of Coffman Construction for an episode of the Good Contractor podcast to talk about what working in the trades really looks like — from early mornings on-site to building a business with family.
His story reflects what doing good work looks like: showing up, making real connections, and building something that lasts — both in the world and in the people around you.
One of the most unexpected parts of Jarod’s story doesn’t start with lumber or layout lines. It starts with a phone call during the early days of the pandemic, and ends with a new member of the Coffman family.
The Sub Who Became a Brother-in-Law
In 2020, Jarod and his crew were framing a custom home in Colorado when the client reached out with a question: could his nephew, Landon, join the crew temporarily? He was a residential framer in California, but COVID restrictions had halted construction work there. With job sites shut down, Landon was out of work.
The answer was simple. “Yeah, that’s fine,” Jarod recalled. “We were already working — construction was considered essential in Colorado. So he came out to help build his uncle’s house with us.”
At the time, the Coffman crew was made up of tight-knit guys in their teens and early twenties. They lived together, worked together, and even skateboarded on their lunch breaks. Landon, who came from a more traditional crew, fit right in. “It was just like copy and paste,” Jarod said. “He showed up and was like — what? You guys are all my age? You live together and frame houses? This is awesome.”
They started hanging out on weekends. Then something even more unexpected happened.
Crew by Trade, Friends by Choice
“We invited him to hang out with us on a Friday night,” Jarod said. “And he met my sister.”
That was it. Landon and Jarod’s sister hit it off right away. Over the next couple of years, they stayed close — even after the temporary job turned into something permanent. Landon stayed in Colorado. He kept working with the team. And eventually, he married into the family.
From a short-term sub to a lifelong teammate — Landon became Jarod’s brother-in-law, both in name and in how they run the business together.
From Shutdowns to Second Chances
What started as a temporary fix turned into a long-term bond. And for Jarod, it’s just one example of how the trades bring people together in ways no one expects.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “If COVID doesn’t happen, he never leaves California. He never meets my sister. He’s not part of the crew. It all happened because of the job — and because of the people.”
These connections don’t come from networking events. They happen on the job site — working side by side, solving problems, lifting walls, and figuring it out together. It’s the kind of bond that comes from doing good work with people who care about it as much as you do.
Framing Walls, Filming Lessons
Now, Jarod and Landon run much of the day-to-day at Coffman Construction. They help lead a team of 10 – 15 employees, manage projects, and even handle hiring through the following they’ve built on Instagram and YouTube.
“We like building cool stuff, having fun doing it, and sharing it online,” Jarod said. “Eventually I’d like to open a school or some kind of academy where people can come learn.”
That kind of thinking — looking beyond the jobsite, toward something lasting — is what Do Good Work is all about. It’s not just about what you build. It’s about how you bring others into the work, how you treat the people you build with, and the relationships that form along the way.
Good Work Brings Good People Together
Jarod didn’t expect to meet a future business partner on that job. He definitely didn’t expect to gain a brother. But that’s what happens in the trades. You show up for the work, and you leave with something more — community, connection, and the satisfaction of doing good work alongside people who matter.
Because at the end of the day, the work is never just about the house. It’s about the people who build it — and the unexpected ways they change your life.
