Can't Stop the Growth

Is your leadership helping your team grow—or holding them back? In this powerful conversation, Chad Peterman sits down with Andrew Hasty to unpack the first 10 irrefutable laws of leadership through the lens of real-world HVAC and home service business challenges. From overcoming limiting beliefs to building a people-first culture, this episode is a masterclass in self-awareness, leadership development, and scaling trades companies the right way. Perfect for service business owners and leaders who want to: Improve HVAC leadership skills Create a culture of continuous growth Scale their home service business with intention Coach frontline teams to higher performance Balance vision and daily accountability Discover how to lead through ambiguity, earn team respect, and coach in real time—all while staying grounded in long-term business growth. 🔧 Subscribe to Can't Stop the Growth for more episodes on HVAC leadership, home service business growth, and building strong cultures in the trades. Additional Resources: Andrew on LinkedIn Book: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell Join The ARENA - a CSTG Community (powered by our media partner, PeopleForward Network) Chad on LinkedIn Chad Peterman | CEO | Author Peterman Brothers Website Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Leadership Limits Business Growth When Development Stops Empowerment Drives a People-First Culture in the Trades Small Daily Improvements Fuel Home Service Business Growth Respect Is Earned Through Action, Not Authority Leadership Intuition Is Built Through Repetition and Curiosity

Karen Balko, co-owner of Vector Services, discusses her journey from financial struggles to scaling a $6.7 million HVAC and electrical company in the Twin Cities. She emphasizes the power of servant leadership, sharing how answering customer calls at 2 AM has built trust. Karen highlights the importance of a strong brand and company culture in attracting talent. The couple's insights on navigating growth, personal anecdotes, and the humor in their challenges offer invaluable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs in the home services industry.

In this conversation, Dr. Kevin Berkopes, CEO and Cofounder of MathTrack, delves into the world of learning organizations. He emphasizes that mistakes are essential for growth and should be integrated into feedback loops. Dr. Berkopes advocates for real education that champions understanding the 'why' over merely teaching the 'how.' He draws parallels between storytelling and organizational culture, highlighting how leadership rooted in vulnerability and empathy nurtures loyalty and innovation. It's a pivotal discussion for today's evolving workforce!

AI Trade Talk is the newest series on Can't Stop the Growth, created for home service business owners who want to lead at the edge of innovation. Hosted by Brad Scruggs, founder of ZyraTalk, this series highlights the tools, trends, and transformations that are reshaping how HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies grow. The series kicks off with industry powerhouse Katie Donovan, CEO of Camp Digital. and host of the Around the CAMPfire series. In this episode, Katie breaks down how AI and data-driven digital marketing are changing the game—from smarter ad strategies and real-time call board tracking to AI phone answering that saves lost revenue. Subscribe to Can't Stop the Growth to follow this powerful series built for future-focused leaders in the trades. Growth is changing, and this is where to stay ahead of it. Additional Resources: Connect with Katie Donovan on LinkedIn Learn More About CAMP Digital Connect with Brad on LinkedIn Ready to Chat Smarter? Grab Your Free ZyraTalk Demo! Learn more about Zyratalk Join The ARENA - a CSTG Community (powered by our media partner, PeopleForward Network) Chad on LinkedIn Peterman Brothers Website Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Why trades businesses need to stop chasing impressions and start tracking call board data How dynamic, real-time offers are boosting conversion rates Where AI is making the biggest impact—on the phone, on the site, and on the bottom line What every owner should know about tapping into Bing, Reddit, and evolving search trends The shift from customer acquisition to customer retention—and why it matters more than ever

Most home service businesses are losing money in the one place they least expect it—their call center. Brigham Dickinson reveals how industry leaders like Tommy Mello use proven CSR training strategies to hit 90%+ booking rates and generate millions without spending more on leads. Learn how to turn your CSR team into a leadership pipeline, create a culture that drives results, and transform your call center into the most profitable department in your business. Hosted by Chad Peterman on Can't Stop the Growth—a podcast built for leaders in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and other home service industries who want to lead better, grow faster, and build lasting impact through people-first leadership and proven business strategies. Want the Happy Call Script mentioned in the episode? Text the word HAPPY to 385-247-3714 to get it now. Additional Resources: Brigham on LinkedIn Power Selling Pros Website Join The ARENA - a CSTG Community! Chad on LinkedIn Chad Peterman | CEO | Author Peterman Brothers Website Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Your call center has untapped profit potential. When properly trained, CSRs can dramatically boost booking rates and drive top-line revenue. Hitting 90% booking rate on bookable calls should be the standard. Every percentage point below that is costing real dollars. Your CSR team can be a leadership pipeline. With the right culture and coaching, the call center becomes a place where future leaders emerge. Flat compensation beats percentage-based incentives. A clear, daily dollar amount per membership or upsell keeps CSRs motivated and focused. AI has value, but it can't replace human connection. Use it for support, but don't let it take over the customer experience unless you want to risk sameness.

🎙️ Get ready for part 2 of Chris and Chad's episode with Scott Man! They're unpacking what it really means to connect with your team. From battlefield wisdom to business wins, they dive into the power of seeing the "pictures in people's heads," being an empathetic witness, and leading with trust. If you're serious about people-first leadership, this one hits different! Additional Resources: Listen to the original episode! Learn more about To the Point Join The ARENA - a CSTG Community! Connect with Chris on LinkedIn Chad on LinkedIn Chad Peterman | CEO | Author Peterman Brothers Website Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Empathetic witnessing builds deep, lasting trust between leaders and teams. Influence begins with understanding your people's pain and goals. Today's leadership challenge lies in overcoming distraction, disengagement, disconnection, and distrust. Frontline perspectives provide critical insight leaders must actively seek. Storytelling is a powerful tool for influence—especially when it's real and vulnerable.

Stop missing the calls that fill your board. In this episode of Can't Stop the Growth, Chad Peterman is joined by Brad Scruggs, President and CMO of ZyraTalk, to talk about a simple but powerful idea: when you stop missing calls, you stop losing jobs. Brad breaks down how HVAC and plumbing businesses are using AI-powered customer service representatives (CSRs) to capture more leads, reduce missed calls, and grow without hiring more people. Whether it's after-hours coverage, overflow, or lead aggregator response times—AI is helping high-growth companies optimize their call centers and maximize every opportunity. This episode is packed with tactical insights for leaders serious about growing their home service business. If you're focused on building a culture of excellence, booking more jobs, and staying ahead of the curve—this conversation is for you. Watch now to see how top operators are filling the board faster, without relying on more ads or more staff. Additional Resources: Brad on LinkedIn Learn more about ZyraTalk Join The ARENA - a CSTG Community! Chad on LinkedIn Chad Peterman | CEO | Author Peterman Brothers Website Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Most service businesses miss 15–35% of their inbound calls. That's real money walking away. AI-powered CSRs can respond instantly—nights, weekends, and during peak hours. Use AI to handle simple requests and free up live reps for high-value leads. Integration is simple, with many teams live within two weeks. Real-time data allows for continuous CSR coaching and improved conversion rates. Speed-to-lead with aggregators like Angi, Thumbtack, and Modernize is crucial—AI helps you get there faster. Many companies use AI as overflow backup, while others have made it their front line. Growth doesn't have to mean more leads—it starts with booking the ones you already have.

Scott Mann, a retired U.S. Army Green Beret, author, and TEDx speaker, shares profound insights on leadership, trust, and human connection drawn from his military experiences. He discusses how trust is built over time and not just in chaos, emphasizing the need for strong local execution. Mann highlights the importance of vulnerability and storytelling as leadership tools, and draws parallels between military and business environments. His take on asking better questions to foster relationships is both refreshing and practical.

Andrew Hasty takes listeners on a fascinating journey from World War II bombers to modern leadership insights. He highlights the dangers of survivorship bias, urging leaders to look beyond visible successes. The discussion emphasizes the importance of recognizing intangible qualities like resilience and grit in team members. By acknowledging these often-overlooked attributes, leaders can cultivate a stronger team culture and identify future leaders who may otherwise be missed in a numbers-driven approach.

Michelle Micheletti went from painting walls with her grandpa to leading marketing across multiple home service brands 💪—and she's got the stories (and lessons) to prove it. In this episode, she joins Katie Donovan for a convo full of laughs, real talk, and big takeaways. From snow cone stands 🍧 to SEO fails and AI experiments, Michelle keeps it real about what it takes to lead with heart, data, and a whole lot of grit. Additional Resources: Connect with Katie Donovan Follow Camp Digital on LinkedIn Learn more about Camp Digital Join The ARENA - a CSTG Community! Chad on LinkedIn Chad Peterman | CEO | Author Peterman Brothers Website More on PeopleForward Network Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Key Takeaways: Local branding is essential, especially in a PE-backed environment Community involvement not only feels good—it boosts SEO and earns trust CRO and SEO are non-negotiables when launching a website Data-driven marketing enables agile, informed decision-making Strong vendor partnerships are critical for innovation and growth Testing is essential, and failure is part of the learning process