CJ Neilsen - CNC Electric

In this episode, we sit down with CJ Nielsen, owner of CNC Electric and a Build Show contributor, to dive deep into the realities of running a high-end electrical contracting business in today’s custom home market. CJ shares his journey from starting in the trades at 17 to building a respected boutique electrical company in Northern California. We get into everything—from wildfire rebuild booms and scaling a subcontracting business, to hiring and training the right people, and why attitude often beats experience in the trades. We also unpack the real challenges behind custom home construction: Why early collaboration between builders and trades is critical The growing complexity of lighting design, controls, and smart home integration The fine line between craftsmanship and running a profitable business And the constant balancing act of staying busy without overcommitting CJ brings a candid, boots-on-the-ground perspective about what it actually takes to deliver high-quality work while navigating schedules, demanding clients, and evolving technology like Lutron lighting systems. If you're a builder, subcontractor, or anyone serious about high-performance homes, this episode is packed with real-world insight, lessons learned the hard way, and a few strong opinions on how to do it right. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Levelheads episode without some laughs—stick around for the rapid-fire “This or That” segment at the end.