Skyler Bell & Brayden Bell
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Skyler Bell is a 45-year-old owner of a drywall and construction material supply yard in Bryant, Arkansas. He is married with two children and grew up in central Utah, where he tried several trades before delivering drywall for a national supplier. Over 22 years, he worked in every position and at every level, hoping to advance into management; however, he was repeatedly told he needed more experience or a college degree.
After relocating to Central Arkansas and seeing a branch fail to meet customer needs due to poor management, he decided to start his own supply yard. Despite vendors, peers, and coworkers saying it would take millions to compete with national chains, Skyler launched Contractor Material Supply. Four years later, the company has grown to $5 million in annual revenue and holds a significant share of the market by showing up, communicating clearly, and doing the job the way customers want it done.
Brayden Bell was born on November 4, 2000, in American Fork, Utah, to Teresa and Skyler Bell. Growing up, he was very athletic and enjoyed basketball and various other sports. At age eight, he started cheerleading with his younger sister to learn tucks, flips, and other gymnastic skills. He grew to enjoy the sport and began competitive cheerleading, winning several regional and national championships.
At age nine, Brayden was diagnosed with Type 1 juvenile diabetes and had to learn to overcome the challenges associated with the condition.
In 2015, he moved from Utah to Arkansas and graduated from Benton High School in 2019. He began working for L&W Supply and earned his Class A CDL and NCCO certification before his 19th birthday. He worked for L&W Supply for several years before starting Contractor Material Supply with his father in 2022, where he continues to work today.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
- That two decades of hands-on experience can rival a college degree when building a construction supply business.
- How refusing to accept being told you are not ready can become the fuel for launching your own company.
- Why showing up when you say you will is a competitive advantage in drywall and construction material supply.
- That a customer-first approach can grow a new supply yard to $5 million in revenue within four years.
- How teaching employees to deliver materials as if they were the hanger or contractor builds lasting trust.
- Why taking pride in trucks, equipment, and jobsites sets a supplier apart from volume-focused competitors.
- That clear communication when problems arise is often more important than having a perfect delivery record.
- How a small independent supply yard can compete with national chains without millions in startup capital.
- Why hiring and keeping employees who do their best brings customer service and quality full circle.
- That being told no by vendors and peers can still result in a significant share of the market.
about the show
Blue Collar America is a cinematic business documentary series featuring the contractors, tradespeople, construction leaders, service business owners, and skilled operators who help build and maintain the real economy.
Each episode takes viewers inside the story behind the business, showing how hardworking founders turned skill, grit, leadership, and execution into companies that serve customers, employ teams, and support communities.
The series highlights professionals across construction, trades, contracting, repair, manufacturing, transportation, field services, and other blue-collar industries.
Blue Collar America goes beyond the finished job to show the pressure, problem-solving, sacrifice, and leadership required to operate in demanding industries where results matter every day.
For featured guests, the series provides a platform to share their journey, build authority, and give audiences a closer look at the people, values, and standards behind the work they do.
