Profiles in Prosperity

Would you like to receive a FREE Marketing package worth $150,000? Crystal Williams is a creative innovator. Working with Lemon Seed Marketing, Service Nation, and an amazing team of top vendor-partners, Crystal created The Great American Brand Story Contest. Ready to take your marketing to the next level? The Great American Brand Story Contest is your opportunity to transform your HVAC, plumbing, or electrical company into an unforgettable brand. The winner will get a package worth $150,000. Listen to get the details, and don't miss out!

Saffer Plumbing is a 4th generation, 80 year old plumbing company in Baltimore. Chris Saffer is the president. He and his team have achieved amazing growth. In this episode you'll hear: History of the company. Getting certifications. Try and try again. Working with family. The different colored trucks for cobranded with local charities: SPCA, ARC of Baltimore, Joseph Groh Foundation, Women's Shelters and more. What they have done to grow. Why he likes Service Nation Alliance. Pollution insurance. Not afraid to make mistakes. Advice for service contractors Books Chris recommends. Not just business books! Considerations for an exit strategy for a family business.

Joseph Garcia, Chief Technology Officer of LeadsNearby, discusses his company's role as a full-service digital marketing agency for service contractors, highlighting their focus on automation, AI integration, and client strategy. He reviews how their AI platform acts as a 24/7 smart assistant for contractors, handling various aspects of customer interaction and business operations. Joseph talks about their tools to evaluate market potential and growth. We also get Joseph's recommendations for contractors, three of his top business books, and relentless recruiting.

Would it be good if you could help your techs and service manager be more productive? If you could get 1 - 2 more service calls per week per tech, and reduce call backs... would that be good? Of course it would! Logan Marshall explains how Bluon is making huge productivity impacts in our industry. You need to hear this!

What do you have to do to improve your business? Learn from others! Attend industry events like... The Boston Summit. It's going to be a great event. Jim Hinshaw and Jazmine Colson tell us WHY successful contractors attend Service Nation events, and what you'll miss out on if you fail to come. BONUS: Jim's got some deals for you!

Four years later I get another chance to interview the amazing Lori Stickling! Lori and her husband Delayne own Covenant Plumbing in Bloomington, Illinois. Four years ago I interviewed Lori shortly after they joined Service Nation Alliance and were in the early stages of changing their business. So, what happened? I'm happy to report they've grown substantially. How did they do it? Listen and learn! Please note: the first interview with Lori is episode 70. It has a lot of the background information about Lori, Delayne, and Covenant Plumbing. In this episode you'll hear: How much Covenant grew Their significant changes to marketing How Covenant Plumbing finds great employees Business books that Lori recommends Rebranding The influential people in her life The advantage of being in great networks like Service Nation Alliance and The Rotary Advice The future for Covenant Plumbing

Brian Carpenter is the Vice President of Mark Carpenter Plumbing, Heating, and Air in Clovis, New Mexico. The combined statistical area they serve is less than 70,000 - and yet they're thriving and enjoying strong growth. How do they do it? Brian is a very smart guy with great experience. In this episode Brian talks about: How Brian Carpenter joined our industry as an adult, without trade experience About Mark Carpenter Plumbing, Heating, and Air Adding new vertical markets Changing the service mix Finding and keeping good people Considerations of geographical expansion The challenges of a small market The benefits of trade shows Advice

Bailey McCormick is the General Manager of Air Bros in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Her career has been one of tremendous personal and professional growth. She's taking her experience and knowledge to a new company and doing great things there. How did she do it? What are her secrets for success? What career advice does she have? In this episode you'll hear: The accidental way Bailey McCormick joined our industry Initial responsibilities and a decision to grow Selling the business and moving forward Rejuvenation and a new opportunity Joining Air Bros Goals for the new company Why Bailey McCormick attends tradeshows How to get the most from industry tradeshows and conferences Advice for a great career in residential service

The great Dave Rothacker makes his 10th appearance on our podcast to tell us about his picks for the top business books for 2024. Dave reads more business books in a year than anyone I know. He has tremendous insight into our industry and so his recommendations are perfect for all of us. Plus, Dave provides a useful technique for getting creative ideas and resolving issues.

Here's something different. Normally we talk with HVAC and Plumbing companies and their supporting vendor-partners, but today we're talking with Nathan Nelson of Empire Fence. Empire Fence is a large, successful company serving the Residential, Residential New Construction, and Commercial markets. It's interesting and instructive to talk to people in similar but different industries; it's a wonderful learning and idea-generating opportunity. In this episode you'll find: How Empire Fence started in 1955, founded by Nathan Nelson's Grandfather How the need for a baseball glove started Nathan's career in the Fence Industry The amazing Grandfather / Grandson relationship that fueled Empire's growth Empire Fence's unique online quoting tool, and what that does for them Launching service contracts Finding good people Using Compensation Analysis to keep good people and operate in an atmosphere of transparency Marketing Future growth and expansion

Lou Hobaica more than just a successful contractor. He is an original thinker, a superb coach, a marketing genius, a master motivator, and a kind community philanthropist. If you're in the industry, it's possible you've heard the phrase “You'll lika Hobaica.” That's the tagline for Phoenix-based Hobaica Services, which has been in business since 1952. Lou Hobaica, is an industry icon, a Service Nation mentor and coach, and one of the smartest and best business leaders in our industry. In this episode, Lou Hobaica talks about the inception of Hobaica Services, growing the business with the 2nd generation, and the successful recent sale. You'll learn why Lou got into the Wine Cellar business, and how to manage a business with family. Lou also gives us 3 amazing ideas for contractors. Listen and learn from Lou Hobaica and you'll "lika Hobaica" too!

The old joke about advertising was that you know you're overspending by 50%, you just don't know which 50% to cut. Measures of opens and clicks are interesting, but they only give you some information. What you need is a tool that tells you specifically which ads are working, and be able to tie them directly to revenue. Enter Kevin LeSage and Searchlight. Kevin grew up in our industry, helping his Plumber Father as a kid, but after college worked in digital marketing and analytics. Then he returned to our industry to help is Dad and other Residential Service companies. Would you like to know which of your ad campaigns works best for you, and which ones are ineffective? Of course you would! Would you like to know how Searchlight does this? This is information you need to know!

Doug Jackson is the 31 year old General Manager of Jackson Services, a large, recently acquired residential services company. Doug was recently named to the elite 40 Under 40 group. He started in HVAC at a young age and by his mid 20's had done every job in the company. After becoming GM, he led the company to spectacular growth in just a few years. How did he do it? In this episode Doug talks with us about: Doug's career at Jackson Services Solving puzzles Growing from $4 to $23 million Growing techs Changing the hiring paradigm Developing a recruiting program The benefits of Service Nation Alliance His role post-acquisition Getting advice from Lou Hobaica and his Service Nation Advisory Board Why it's a disservice to yourself, your company, and your family to not be properly profitable.

David Heimer interviews Brandon Jacob and Matt Michel on stage at Service World Expo. Brandon and Matt are in the middle of a unique research project about the fears and emotions of selling your business; information people typically don't discuss, but you need to know. They've interviewed many business owners who sold businesses in a variety of industries. They discuss some of their findings and the upcoming book. The fear of selling The highs and lows of selling your business DIY versus professional support Who should be on your business sale team Worrying about employees Keeping the sale a secret and what to do if discovered What does the acquiring entity want? Post sale emotions Advice for business owners

Katy Higgins knows the pain of a failed partnership. After tremendous growth in a new HVAC company, she walked away from her partnership. She floundered for a while and then restarted powerfully, created a new company, and is experiencing a reaffirming growth. In this episode, Katy tells us about: Her start in the HVAC industry Winning the Western Regional Comfort Advisor contest 3 years in a row while being the only woman comfort advisor Rejecting a “roaming” sales rep job “Sometimes the only ship that doesn't sail is a partnership” Advice for women entrepreneurs The power of community Her website, and what makes it different Creating trust Team meetings

David Heffner is the Director of Community Outreach for Winsupply of Indianapolis. Prior to that, David was a successful one-man plumbing company that was acquired. And before that he served in the US Marine Corps. David has a heart for service, is incredibly knowledgeable about our industry, and loves to teach and help others. His career, his introduction to plumbing, his experiences growing and then intentionally shrinking his company are fascinating and full of great lessons. In this episode you'll hear: How attempting to change a light bulb led to a plumbing career Providing great service to others What a Director of Community Outreach does Why WinSupply of Indianapolis is one of the top Winsupply locations Why and how to grow and then intentionally shrink a company The acquisition of a one-man plumbing company How to fail at retirement Cycling across Iowa (RAGBRAI) and Indiana (RAIN) Supporting the Marines and Veterans Service Above Self

Bryan Baer grew up in our industry, drafted into it by his father and stepfather. He grew to love the industry, and eventually, with his wife, started a residential services company. They enjoyed modest success, but Bryan was working too hard, wearing too many hats, and felt like something was missing. He met a remodeler, they became friends, joined forces, and created a new company. They joined Service Nation Alliance, and with the help of a great coach, Lou Hobaica, they're changing everything to pave the way to become a business empire. They're already growing at an amazing rate, but they're gunning for much, much more. Can friends be fifty-fifty business partners and aggressively grow a company? How do you merge companies, change the company name, the branding, the culture, and the marketing all at the same time and not go crazy? Listen and find out…

Jessica Young is the Operations Manager, and co-owner with her husband Doug, of Young Plumbing Services in South Carolina. Like many, Jessica entered the trades part-time to help her husband and then got sucked into a full-time job. Without a lot of business knowledge they struggled, but got growth and profitability after joining Service Nation Alliance. Jessica has become a knowledgeable, influential leader in the contracting world. She shares their inspiring story here, and gives us a preview of her upcoming presentation at Service World Expo.  In this episode you'll hear: The value of industry connections How incorrect pricing caused Jessica and Doug to attend Service World Expo Why they joined Service Nation, and what that's done for them Growing 30% per year Projecting the right company image How a degree in English pays off The important company culture at Young Plumbing Services Being a Service Nation Advisory Board Mentor and how that's like a Homeschooling Parent A preview of Jessica's speech at Service World Expo Why contractors should attend industry events Getting Women in The Trades

Isn't it fun to follow companies and people over time and find out what happened?  I've been able to interview many interesting people since I started this podcast in 2016.  In this episode we're going to catch up with four people that I interviewed in the past: The amazing Jason Henderson, who started and grew a company faster than anyone I know. Liz Friesen, who with her husband, Mark, is growing a solid plumbing company in Colorado. Richard Flournoy, who turned his company into a powerhouse, sold it, and is now venturing into a totally different industry. At the end, we'll wrap up with an incredible story: Brandi Szeker who was a marketing manager at Service Nation, known for her creative marketing videos, became a viral influencer, left our industry and became a best-selling author. It's a great story, and she has powerful advice for contractors. You'll enjoy and learn from their stories!

Isn't it fun to follow companies and people over time and find out what happened?  I've been able to interview many interesting people since I started this podcast in 2016.  In this episode we're going to catch up with four people that I interviewed in the past: The amazing Jason Henderson, who started and grew a company faster than anyone I know. Liz Friezen, who with her husband, Mark, is growing a solid plumbing company in Colorado. Richard Flournoy, who turned his company into a powerhouse, sold it, and is now venturing into a totally different industry. At the end, we'll wrap up with an incredible story: Brandi Szeker who was a marketing manager at Service Nation, known for her creative marketing videos, became a viral influencer, left our industry and became a best-selling author. It's a great story, and she has powerful advice for contractors. You'll enjoy and learn from their stories!

In this episode of Profiles in Prosperity, we sit down with Bill Henzler, President and Founder of Quality Degree, Inc., a leading multi-trade residential service company based in Royersford, Pennsylvania. Bill opens up about his experiences with Dyslexia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and how these conditions have influenced his approach to managing and growing his company. This discussion is particularly relevant, considering the high number of individuals in our industry who are also dyslexic or have ADHD. We deeply appreciate Bill's initiative to explore this important topic. Our conversation also covers: Bill's journey into the industry Innovative thinking Strategies for organizing with ADHD and Dyslexia The importance of collaborating with the right people - Diversifying into additional trades such as pest control, duct cleaning, handyman services, and remodeling Cross-marketing strategies across different trades A business model designed to support smaller contractors Practical advice for contractors Join us for an insightful and inspiring discussion with Bill Henzler on Profiles in Prosperity.

How often do you get information and advice from a member of the Hall of Fame? Steve Miles joins us for a wide range of topics: Selling his company Is it a good idea to involve employees in a company sale? Working with Private Equity Current role post sale Recruiting – "kissing frogs" Great ideas for a digital billboard Artificial Intelligence Being a Service Nation Mentor and advisory boards The value of participating in industry events How Steve Miles learned from industry events, what to do Marketing Growing your business Learning from others Office and shop design Visiting other contractors

We welcome Eric Dutton back to the podcast. Eric is the founder, ex-owner, and ex-president of Dutton Plumbing, a large, wildly successful plumbing company. Eric is well known for his humor, but also for being a great leader and a very smart businessman. Eric's been on our podcast before. We learned about the creation and growth of Dutton Plumbing (episode 1), Five Business Rules (episode 39), Leadership in a Difficult Time (what Eric was doing with his company during COVID – episode 57). In this episode we catch up with Eric and find out what's happened with his company in the intervening 4 years. One big turning point: Eric sold his company and after managing the transition for more than a year, retired. Eric talks about the aspects of selling that aren't discussed a lot: the personal, emotional, and non-financial aspects: what it feels like, what you do after, what personal adjustments are needed. Eric also discusses his "Ericisms", his amazing retirement party, the grit required to be successful, his use of a Tony Robbins coach, losing his local fame, becoming anonymous, the value of excitement, and advice for business owners who need to plan for their exit. Eric Dutton is an incredibly smart guy, and a very savvy businessman. Don't miss this!

Jeremy Lowe has done just about everything in our industry: Service Technician, Sales, Installation, Management, General Manager, and for the last 20+ years has been on the Flat-Rate Pricing side of the industry with Calahan-Roach, Profit Rhino, and Service Fusion. Along the way he's amassed tremendous experience and great insight into our industry. I have a lot of respect for Jeremy for his dedication to helping contractors and making our industry better. In this episode Jeremy tells us about his career, the connection of Calahan-Roach, Profit Rhino, and Service Fusion, and gives us powerful advice for contractors. Jeremy's a great resource for you: listen and learn! Other items discussed: The Calahan-Roach database Working with NASA Planning for a business exit Knowing your numbers Leadership Developing a culture Jeremy's new podcast: Tips for the Trades

Chuck Worley is the owner, founder, and leader of Worley's Home Services in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area. Worley's Home Services is a full, whole home services company - HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Insulation, and Crawlspace Encapsulation. Worley's is a very successful company, but, as many know, the road to success can be very bumpy with difficult detours. Chuck's experienced all of that and it's a great story. Even better are his innovative ideas and inspirational contributions to his community, his team, and our industry. Who else do you know that has a Company Chaplain? There's a lot in this interview with Chuck, so we've split it into two episodes. In these episodes you'll lear about: How and Why Chuck got into HVAC. How a wrestling coach's intervention helped Chuck get into the Trades Chuck's reluctance and early success in Sales Building and losing a company. Declaring bankruptcy. Living in an RV down by the river. Paying back creditors. Having a Company Chaplain. Starting over with his son. Net Profit Tithing. Developing the secondary leadership team. Being a building science geek. Building organically and through acquisition. Character, Integrity, and Doing The Right Thing Employee Ten Commandments Imprinting your brand. Using EOS Papering the town The Radio Show Branding and Logo Tournament Moving from Sales to Marketing Personal growth Family in the business Moving billboards Being the face of Worley's The events Chuck attends How much Chuck spends on marketing Client appreciation parties Giving back to the community

Chuck Worley is the owner, founder, and leader of Worley's Home Services in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area. Worley's Home Services is a full, whole home services company - HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Insulation, and Crawlspace Encapsulation. Worley's is a very successful company, but, as many know, the road to success can be very bumpy with difficult detours. Chuck's experienced all of that and it's a great story. Even better are his innovative ideas and inspirational contributions to his community, his team, and our industry. Who else do you know that has a Company Chaplain? There's a lot in this interview with Chuck, so we've split it into two episodes. In these episodes you'll lear about: How and Why Chuck got into HVAC. How a wrestling coach's intervention helped Chuck get into the Trades Chuck's reluctance and early success in Sales Building and losing a company. Declaring bankruptcy. Living in an RV down by the river. Paying back creditors. Having a Company Chaplain. Starting over with his son. Net Profit Tithing. Developing the secondary leadership team. Being a building science geek. Building organically and through acquisition. Character, Integrity, and Doing The Right Thing Employee Ten Commandments Imprinting your brand. Using EOS Papering the town The Radio Show Branding and Logo Tournament Moving from Sales to Marketing Personal growth Family in the business Moving billboards Being the face of Worley's The events Chuck attends How much Chuck spends on marketing Client appreciation parties Giving back to the community

Ryan StMichel is the owner of Grove Mechanical in Crookston Minnesota. Grove Mechanical was founded in 1978 by Ryan's Grandfather and Ryan purchased the company from his uncle. Ryan created a unique consultative, no-pressure, sales process that results in high-quality, high-value systems installations, delighted customers, and a very high close rate. How does he do it? Listen and learn! Other interesting items discussed: Building relationships with customers: Finding points of commonality and ice-breaking. Sales room set up. Scheduling for maximum customer availability. Offering options. Indoor air quality. Why Ryan StMichel joined Service Nation and what that did for him and Grove Mechanical. THANK YOU AND REQUEST FROM DAVID: First, thanks for listening and thank you for your support! If this has provided any value to you, would you please give us a good rating on whatever podcast app you use? Also… we're always looking for great interviewees and topics. If you have an idea for us, know someone who should be interviewed, or if you would like to be interviewed, DON'T BE MODEST, just shoot an email to PIP@NewMediaEmpire.com. Thanks again!

Ryan StMichel is the owner of Grove Mechanical in Crookston Minnesota. Grove Mechanical was founded in 1978 by Ryan's Grandfather and Ryan purchased the company from his uncle. Ryan created a unique consultative, no-pressure, sales process that results in high-quality, high-value systems installations, delighted customers, and a very high close rate. How does he do it? Listen and learn! Other interesting items discussed: Building relationships with customers: Finding points of commonality and ice-breaking. Sales room set up. Scheduling for maximum customer availability. Offering options. Indoor air quality. Why Ryan StMichel joined Service Nation and what that did for him and Grove Mechanical. THANK YOU AND REQUEST FROM DAVID: First, thanks for listening and thank you for your support! If this has provided any value to you, would you please give us a good rating on whatever podcast app you use? Also… we're always looking for great interviewees and topics. If you have an idea for us, know someone who should be interviewed, or if you would like to be interviewed, DON'T BE MODEST, just shoot an email to PIP@NewMediaEmpire.com. Thanks again!

Stephanie Postell is the Chief Operating Officer and owner (with her husband, David) of Anchor Heating and Air. Stephanie has enjoyed a diverse career prior to joining the HVAC industry. She started off as a Kindergarten teacher, owned and worked in different businesses before working for an HVAC company and eventually starting her own HVAC business. Stephanie has a wealth of experience, and vast expertise in operations. We talk with her about her background, her experiences in different HVAC companies, acquisitions, finding and keeping great people, managing a company with your spouse, her presentation at the upcoming Service Nation Summit in Reno, what people don't know about implementing processes and procedures that they should, and her philosophy for making a great company. You can learn a lot from Stephanie Postell! If you want to hear more from her, attend the Service Nation Summit in Reno, Nevada, April 16-18 2024. Register at https://web.cvent.com/event/492c6ebd-1e1b-4ee2-9dfd-114720d2a5d2/regProcessStep1:ad7993b6-9676-4275-b566-a8c5aeacc191

A blessed accident caused Mike Chastain to need a job at a very young age. So he went from 9th grade right into plumbing. After gaining valuable experience in new construction plumbing, the new housing market collapse caused him to make another change and start his own business with his wife, Katie. The ups and downs of business ownership caused them to learn a lot and grow. We'll hear about: The blessing of family in the business Starter coaches The roller coaster of business Why Mike joined Service Nation Alliance, and what that's doing for him and Absolute Plumbing Firing a CSR and gaining $15K in weekly revenue as a result The "coloring books and crayons" method for systems and processes Unexpected help from a competitor Immediate challenges to growth The five year plan Advice for young people entering the trades.

Look at this: it's a two-for-one podcast episode! Allan Ferguson, host of the Pipeline to Profitability Podcast interviews David Heimer and David Heimer, host of Profiles in Prosperity, interviews Allan Ferguson. Join Allan Ferguson, your host on Pipeline to Profitability, as he engages in a riveting conversation with celebrated entrepreneur David Heimer, founder and retired COO of Service Nation, Inc. This enlightening episode goes beyond tracing David's illustrious professional journey, touching upon his substantial contributions to the industry, and delving into personal anecdotes from their intertwined careers. Listen in to gain insights into David's philosophy on the irreplaceable role of relationships in business, which he breaks down into five essential types: with contractors, vendor partners, coaches, community connections, and within the company itself. These relationships form the backbone of business growth, playing a pivotal role in building successful teams and fostering a conducive business culture. As you tune into this rich discourse, explore the significance of networking with direct competitors and leveraging the vast resources of the internet to your advantage. Alan and David's shared experiences highlight how friendly competition can be a catalyst for business expansion, introducing surprising growth opportunities. Learn from Alan's insightful advice on scaling up your business, particularly a plumbing and HVAC business, derived from his experience navigating diverse markets. His forays into innovative e-training provide a unique learning opportunity for budding contractors. Further, David's wisdom offers a refreshing perspective on embracing retirement, underscoring the importance of leading a fulfilling life beyond the scope of business. He also touches upon strategies such as the innovative concept of call-by-call management, and the transformative power of mentorship and leadership. Contact David Heimer about the Profiles In Prosperity podcast at PIP@NewMediaEmpire.com Get Allan Ferguson's eBook "Five Steps to 10X Your Income" at https://www.servicesuccessacademy.com/ebook

Gina and Philip Ferrara are the founders, owners, and hands-on leaders of LibertyAir providing HVAC services in Gainsville, Florida. They are married to each other, and have children together. Like many owners they've had their share of struggles as they built a successful and strong business, including getting fired by their business coach, the late, great Ron Smith. But they came back! Their business is still growing and it's very successful. They've won numerous awards! Philip branched off into software and has a creative, innovative offering for the HVAC industry. In this episode you'll hear: Why and how Gina and Philip relocated to Gainsville and started LibertyAir. Their business backgrounds and experience. How they divide their responsibilities in the business. Key success factors for their growth. How and why Philip was fired by Ron Smith, and how that helped him change and grow. The formation, functions, and benefits of DartBid - Philip Ferrara's new software system. Great advice for owners and managers.

Joe Strittmatter is the founder of Strittmatter Plumbing, Heating, and AC in Denton Texas. In episode 38 "Growing a Multi-Trade Powerhouse" we interviewed Joe and learned about his start in our industry and the grow of his company. In this episode we learn about what's happened since. In short, Joe continued to grow his company, sold to a private equity company, ended up running both Strittmatter AND Frymire, and, at the time of this recording, was just leaving the private equity company. Also in this episode you'll learn: Why Joe Strittmatter sold to private equity. Why Joe Strittmatter decided to stay and work with private equity. What Joe Strittmatter learned from his time working with private equity. The issues of due diligence during a company sale. Running multiple companies simultaneously. What it feels like to sell your company, and the right way to think about it. Creating growth for others. The things that were the catalysts for Joe Strittmatter's business growth. What Joe will present at the International Roundtables. Having the three-legged stool for revenue, adding a fourth. What Joe Strittmatter is planning for his future. Don't miss out! Attend the 2024 Service Nation Summits (where you-ll get to meet Joe Strittmatter and hear him speak): Eastern Summit, February 27 - 29, 2024 https://cvent.me/eYm7MG Western Summit, April 16 - 18, 2024 https://cvent.me/0O07r1

Dave Rothacker joins us again to review his top business books from 2023. Of all the books Dave read in 2023, these are the ones you can't afford to overlook. Dave reviews the books, explains why they are the best of 2023, and provides insight about maximizing value from your reading. To contact Dave directly, email him at Dave@GoTimeSuccessGroup.com

Renee and Travis Lucas are the owners of LCS Heating and Cooling in Indianapolis, Indiana. Renee was recently named Woman of the Year. Renee is not just a great owner with an incredible track record, she is also a Service Nation Premier Coach, a person who cheerfully helps others, and works to make our industry stronger and better. Her award is clearly very well-deserved! Renee discusses: Her surprise and happiness at being named Woman of the Year. Recent developments at LCS. A new building for LCS. Growth challenges. Attracting and keeping women in the trades. Being a Service Nation Premier Coach. Renee and Travis' best vacation. Books that Renee recommends. Coaching insights: How to prepare for coaching, what you need in coaching, why you need coaching. How Renee finds time to read and invest in herself. Background information about Renee Lucas, Travis Lucas, and LCS Heating and Cooling can be found in this podcast, Profiles In Prosperity, episode 82 "Renee's Rules".

Doug Wyatt brings an impressive level of energy and commitment to everything he does. That is demonstrated in his entrepreneurial endeavors, his personal and professional growth, and most recently in the development of Synergy Learning Systems. In this fascinating episode you will learn about: How Doug Wyatt's childhood of rural poverty fueled his ambition, work ethic, and values. His early entrepreneurial success in the world of pizza coupons. Doug's early and continuing commitment to personal growth and what that did for him. How to find time for personal development. The unexpected way Doug entered the HVAC Residential Service industry. The way Doug grew a company with no systems and processes to Lennox Partner of the Year in only 14 months. A great quote, "we overestimate what we can do in one day, but underestimate what we can do in a year" and what that means for you. Why Doug Wyatt is strategically incompetent, and why you should be strategically incompetent too. Can you afford to cut training in an economic downturn? The new learning paradigm from Synergy Learning Systems, measuring the personal growth of team members and what that can do for your company. How much training should you provide your team? Book recommendations. And more.... You will leave this podcast episode motivated and with ideas to do more for your company, your family, your team, and yourself.

Tom Piscitelli is a thought leader and top trainer in our industry, providing training for technicians, salespeople, dispatchers, CSRs, and business owners who provide HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical Service. Tom's training is thoughtful, thorough, ethical, and extremely effective. In addition to training, Tom is an accomplished and respected author, speaker, and consultant. In this episode you'll hear from Tom and learn: How Tom Piscitelli got into our industry, grew his career, and ultimately decided to strike out on his own. How T.R.U.S.T Training and Consulting was formed and the services they provide now. Advice for Installers Advice for Service Technicians Advice for Office Team (dispatchers, CSRs, back office) Advice for Sales (comfort consultant, comfort advisor, project manager) Advice for the business owner Sales driven versus operations driven companies. Tom's training programs. How online training can help your team. How to contact Tom and T.R.U.S.T Training and Consulting.

Kim and Buford Martin had been in the HVAC industry, not as contractors, before they started Martin's Heating and Cooling in Fort Smith, Arkansas. They went through the struggles of starting and growing a Home Service Business before joining Service Nation Alliance and then building tremendous growth and profitability. Eventually they sold the business and are now Service Nation Premier coaches where they share their accumulated experience and wisdom. In this episode, Kim and Buford tell the story of their formative years, what they learned, how they grew, the process of selling their business, and they provide powerful advice for contractors. You need to listen to this: there's so much great information! A few highlights: How they started Martin's Heating and Cooling Their reluctance to offer financing, and what happened when they offered financing Strategy and practice of offering financing Back-office changes that helped them grow Why they joined Service Nation Alliance, and the benefits they experienced The process of selling their business Using a third party to consult with during the sale of the business What happens in the business audit The emotional impact of selling your business Involving employees in the sale of the business The transition period Their experience as coaches and the type of coaching they do The fear of "knowing your numbers" Why they enjoy coaching Advice for contractors (don't miss this!) Contact information for Kim and Buford

Lisa McCarthy is the brilliant Founding Partner and Chief Strategy Officer of Out of the Box Technology. She has built a company with incredibly valuable services for contractors. Her expertise and experiences with residential service companies (and many other industries) gives her insight shared by very few. A few highlights from our conversation: How and why Lisa started working directly with clients and entered the HVAC and Plumbing industries The services Out of the Box Technology provides, and why they're important What contractors overlook in their financial systems, but shouldn't Good practices for avoiding fraud Sad tales of fraud we can learn from How to help your bookkeeper and accountant be better

He's back! The inimitable Ed O'Connell returns to Profiles In Prosperity to give a report on Service World Expo, the leading residential service expo.  Ed reports on: Why he goes to Service World Expo every year. Implementation of ideas from Service World Expo, and return on investment What he learned The keynote that impressed Ed the most Information sharing The amazing Service World Expo parties Fundraising for the Joseph Groh Foundation Why some contractors fail to attend Ed's FREE step-by-step process for growth And a digression into off-road biking and weight watchers

Jim Hinshaw has vast and impressive experience in Residential Service. In this episode of Profiles in Prosperity, Jim focuses on what we need to be doing differently in sales right now. Story telling in the sales process to engage customers Emotion and logic The six categories of emotions in sales with examples Fear Greed Jealousy Altruism Shame Pride How to find great salespeople In addition to being a great consultant, Jim is an author, and he gives us a brief review of his books: Lessons Learned The Good Stuff Amazing Stories, which includes a story of how Jim's son saved two lives in five minutes.

Krueger Heating, Air Conditioning, Geothermal is a great example of a successful family-owned company with organic, controlled growth. Rory Krueger, president, founder, and owner is a Service Nation Mentor with tremendous and experience in this industry.  Krueger has a substantial Geothermal division. Rory discusses his company history and growth, gives advice for advisory board members, and provides insight into Geothermal.

Need some inspiration and motivation? George Blitch is building a rapidly-growing HVAC company, rebranding, and creating a great future for his team and his young (and also growing!) family. In this episode you'll hear: • The rebranding process • How George started his business • Why he rebranded • How he accessed mentors that made a difference • Advice for growth and integrity If you are in residential service (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, etc) and want to stay on top of your game and grow, you don't want to miss this.

Roy White is the owner and leader of Fixed Right and Guaranteed. Roy shares his journey to success, provides sage advice, describes their unique recruiting, and talks about how his business purpose has changed.

Could remote back office support boost your business? There are many who successfully use this model. Michelle Myers, founder of Pink Callers, explains the services and benefits they provide. This is information you need to know!

Andy Hobaica is one of the top HVAC Comfort Advisors in our industry. Why is he so successful? What does he do that most don't? This episode will leave you inspired and motivated. You'll want to share it with your team!

Today we're talking with Ron Strelke, owner of Force Home Services in the DFW area, and a Service Nation Advisory Board Mentor.  We learn about Ron's unusual entrance into our industry, the death of two cherished co-workers, his personal and professional growth, and the resulting culture of serving others.

If you're in Residential Service you need to know about iHeartMedia and their powerful turn-key combination of massive high-quality data, dynamically inserted ads, and a creative production team that understands our industry,  all delivered to your target market via a platform-agnostic system. Bonus: you will also find out if Lisa Converse is related to the great Converse shoe company.

Chris Michel has a vast and impressive background in our industry, and he's Service Nation's new Training Director.  He's also an author of a wonderful book. Chris talks with us about his industry experience, why he wrote his book, and gives us 3 keys for contractor success.

Tucker Yarbrough is the CFO of Yarbrough and Sons. Tucker is the 2nd generation in the business founded by his parents. Tucker, his brothers, and his parents are all in the business, the business is thriving and experiencing tremendous growth. How do they do it? How do they grow and still maintain the family relationships?  Also, Tucker gives us his rules for business.

Steve Simmons, owner and founder of Air Comfort Heating and Cooling out of Nebraska, returns to catch us up on his last five years, tell us about his innovative recruiting program, and tell us the most important piece of advice he would give his younger self.