The Mobilization Mindset

In this episode of The Mobilization Mindset, Scott Peper sits down with Meli Figueras, CEO of Coastal Painting & Concrete Restoration, for a candid, real-world conversation about leadership, cash flow, and what it truly takes to operate and scale a construction business. Meli shares her unexpected path into construction, bringing a corporate leadership background into an industry where execution, trust, and cash discipline matter more than titles or resumes. What followed was a fast education in job sites, schedules, retainage, payroll pressure, and the human reality behind every dollar spent before a dollar is ever collected. Together, Scott and Meli unpack the challenges contractors face every day, including: • Why construction cash flow works differently than most businesses and why jobs that look profitable on paper can still strain a company • The responsibility behind payroll and why protecting your team financially must come first • Lessons learned moving from corporate leadership into the field and onto active job sites • How misalignment between accounting and project management quietly creates cash problems • When walking away from a job is the smartest decision a leader can make • Why performance, trust, and consistency matter more than credentials in construction • The mindset shift required to grow responsibly without putting the business or people at risk This episode offers a grounded look at construction leadership, from balancing relationships with general contractors to staying close to the field and building a culture rooted in accountability, communication, and financial discipline. Meli's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melifigueres/ Meli's Website: https://www.coastalpaintingfl.com/ Learn more: https://mobilizationfunding.com/ Subscribe to the Mobilization Minute newsletter: https://mobilizationfunding.com/newsletter-subscriptions/