Construction Industry Leader
Eric Fortenberry
Founder & CEO of JobTread
Eric Fortenberry, Founder and CEO of JobTread, Named EY US Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 Southwest Award Winner
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About Eric Fortenberry
Eric Fortenberry is a passionate entrepreneur who founded JobTread, a construction estimating and project management software company, in 2019 after serving as CEO for a General Contracting company where he built the first version of JobTread to help streamline and remedy their broken processes. After successfully implementing the platform, the company grew from $5 to $8 million in sales and increased their gross profit by 43%.
JobTread has grown to help thousands of construction companies sell and manage billions of dollars in construction jobs. The company has earned national recognition for its rapid growth and industry impact, including ranking #6 on the 2025 Deloitte Technology Fast 500™ and #5 on the 2026 Inc. Regionals Southwest list of fastest-growing private companies. JobTread has also been rated as the #1 Construction Management Software and the #1 Construction Estimating Software by Software Advice and GetApp, and has received honors from Tech Titans, ProRemodeler, G2, and Capterra.
Eric was named EY US Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 Southwest Award Winner, 2024 Emerging Company CEO of the Year by Tech Titans, and has been named to Inc. Magazine’s 30 Under 30 List of the World’s Coolest Young Entrepreneurs under the age of 30. He has also received awards at the White House and United Nations after being named to the Empact 100 List showcasing the Best Companies Started and Run by Young Entrepreneurs. JobTread has been recognized multiple times as a Best Place to Work for its company culture, rapid growth, and innovative solutions.
Eric is an Eagle Scout and holds a BBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin and a Masters in Software Engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Education
- Master’s Software Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas
- Bachelor of Business Administration, The University of Texas at Austin - Red McCombs School of Business
Interests
Entrepreneurship, helping others build scalable businesses, traveling the world, playing poker, golfing, scuba diving, and spending time with family
Awards & Recognitions
Host of Builder Stories
Eric is the host of Builder Stories, the podcast where construction builders, remodelers, and contractors share their personal and business journeys. Listeners can learn from the stories of successful entrepreneurs who share how they got started, how they found success, and the lessons learned along the way.
Eric’s goal for the Builder Stories Podcast is to contribute education to the industry by sharing success stories that can help construction leaders learn and develop their businesses.
Learn moreBusiness Guides
Dive into practical insights, strategies, and lessons Eric has gathered over the years. Available for you to download and apply to your business today.
The Business Playbook for Construction Companies
The Business Playbook was developed from decades of real-world experience growing thriving companies, giving construction pros a proven framework to scale, lead, and build businesses that last.
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The Financial Playbook for Construction Companies
The Financial Playbook and Budget Template were built specifically for construction pros who want more control, clarity, and confidence in their numbers.
Learn MoreRecent Speaking Engagements
Watch some of Eric’s previous keynotes and podcasts.
Conferences and Events
Podcasts
Most Requested Speaking Topics
Eric can speak on a wide array of topics and can modify his presentations to match the needs of your audience.
- Business Management
- Entrepreneurship
- Customer Service
- Culture Building
- Systems & Processes
- Construction Estimating
- Construction Job Costing
- Construction Project Management
- Subcontractor Management
- Recruiting Talent
Invite Eric to speak at your next event or podcast
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