Toolbox for the Trades

Running a small business as a working mom is tough. Doing it alongside your spouse adds a whole other set of challenges. But a shared vision, defined roles, and consistent communication can help ensure a happy partnership - in the marriage and at work. Leslie Harpole , Owner of Champion Plumbing , talks with us about being a mom in the trades and how she and her husband, Brent, support each other as co-owners. Join us as we discuss: (1:59) Getting into the trades as a working mom (14:56) Challenges of partnering with a spouse in business (27:41) The LadyTitans and women in the trades today   Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Leslie Harpole  Champion Plumbing  LadyTitans Facebook  LadyTitans Youtube  Women in HVACR   You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Sustainability is a cornerstone of running a business. Lowering your carbon footprint is cheaper than you might think. Not only does a sustainable business model promote goodwill in your community, but it is also profitable and efficient. Dale Jackson , Owner of Jackson Services , tells us how his commercial HVAC business has generated positive buzz by embracing sustainable money-saving technology. Join us as we discuss: - (10:57) Benefits of a sustainable operating model - (19:32) The technology niche in new construction - (30:30) Why commercial HVAC is critical in the trades Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Dale Jackson  - Jackson Services  You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Employment expectations are not a one-way street in any industry. Managers must understand their employees’ needs, be it work-life balance or commute time. As trade businesses struggle to find and retain technicians, they must be willing to meet recruits where they are. Phillip Mize , CFO of Happy Hiller Plumbing, HVAC, & Electrical Services , told us how their training school, Total Tech , has helped them build a better - and motivated - workforce. Join us as we discuss: - (8:00) How Total Tech has helped Hiller with its rapid growth - (11:59) Walmart’s recruiting push for technicians - (21:56) Hiller’s connection to the US Army and preparing America’s Heroes for life after enlistment - (24:50) The high costs of employee turnover Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Happy Hiller Plumbing, HVAC, & Electrical Services Total Tech School You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

We want your feedback! Share your thoughts on today’s episode by taking this 10-second survey . In this episode, we’re taking to the phones and answering questions from you - our dear listeners! Tom Howard, VP of Customer Experience at ServiceTitan, and Eddie McFarlane, President of Haller Enterprises, join us for a roundtable discussion on training, inventory management, and business growth. Tom and Eddie share valuable insight on multiple challenges, from attracting new talent to confronting the scarcity mindset. Join us as we discuss: - (1:40) Recruiting young service techs and implementing training centers - (22:55) Rising material costs and warehouse inventory control - (47:32) Planning for sustainable business growth Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Haller Enterprises - Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely - Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller - On Marketing - Red Notice - Emotionally Agility - Bias Interrupted You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player. We want your feedback! Share your thoughts on today’s episode by taking this 10-second survey .Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

John Akhoian, CEO of Rooter Hero Plumbing, jumped into the trades as a teenager after his father passed away. But what started as a means of supporting his family has evolved into a multimillion-dollar plumbing and HVAC business atop the California market. John returns to the show to update us on his company’s progress post-COVID and talk about his new book, Temporarily Broken: The John Akhoian Story. Join us as we discuss: - (6:09) The strengths of a shared service business model - (16:35) How peer groups contribute to personal development - (28:28) Working with the team on the frontlines during COVID - (30:42) Why John decided to write his latest book Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Rooter Hero Plumbing - Temporarily Broken: The John Akhoian Story - Hero Talk You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

A lot of things in life come full circle, and today as we celebrate Toolbox for the Trades’ 100th episode, we’re bringing back one of our most impactful and well known guests. Ken Goodrich, CEO of Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing, was our first guest way back in April of 2020 and today he makes a triumphant return for the show’s 100th episode. 100 episodes is a lot of ground to cover, but there’s no shortage of insight from Ken to help you build your business.  Ken’s wisdom was so profound, my show’s producer was scribbling away notes on how to run his business better. Join us as we discuss: - How Ken pushed the envelope and built a $250M dollar company (11:13) - Recruitment pitches that work for today’s labor market (23:13) - Private equity and how it can help grow your business (37:04) - Ken’s advice on how to deal with investors at scale (52:58) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Ken Goodrich - Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing - The E-Myth HVAC Contractor You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

With a global recession looming, businesses and their customers are tightening their belt buckles. Heaters and toilets will always need fixing, but what does a shrinking economy mean for the bottom line in the trades? Collin Hathaway, Owner of Guardian Roofing and Founder and CEO of Flint Group, joins us to recount his experience with investing in the trades during the 2008 recession. He believes that, even in a slower market, opportunities exist to improve on your business. Of course, with economic uncertainty often comes financial stress; Collin shares his stance on self-care in an industry that often stigmatizes mental health. Join us as we discuss: - How Collin managed to keep his first business afloat in a recession (7:11) - What opportunities trade companies can seize in a down market (13:47) - Steps for securing a business ahead of a looming recession (20:45) - Collin’s take on stress and mental health in the workplace (30:45) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Collin Hathaway - Flint Group - Guardian Roofing & Gutters You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

With a dire need for technicians, trade businesses nationwide are scrambling to find help. Many companies are willing to teach raw recruits from scratch, but what does a culture of quality training look like? Al Levi, CEO of The 7-Power Contractor, has been consulting with small businesses on training and growth since the 80s. In 2017, he collaborated with Jason Kim, Owner and Service Manager of Zoom Drain - Long Island, and Ray the Plumber. Al and Jason share their experience with us and give the inside scoop on how you can incorporate a winning training program for techs. Join us as we discuss: - How the collaboration between Al and Jason’s people came about (4:38) - Al’s unique approach to staffing in the trades (13:14) - The culture adjustment that comes with implementing new training (23:25) - What results they’ve seen from their training program (34:00) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Ray the Plumber You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Rick Vazza, owner of John Padilla Plumbing Inc. in San Diego, made an unexpected leap from finance to plumbing in 2021. He shares insights on why he left a stable finance career to purchase a plumbing business, highlighting the challenges and benefits of that transition. Rick discusses the importance of fostering a positive team culture and effective communication in a new ownership role. He also emphasizes the value of keeping accounting in-house for small businesses, making a compelling case for innovation and growth in the trades.

Everyone is searching for the secret sauce for hit social media content. For Armando Ramos, owner of Plomero en Phoenix, one catchy jingle was just the right ingredient for his business. Jingle Stuck in your head? Spotify has you covered. In this episode, Armando shares how business at his dream plumbing company exploded after a 60-second TikTok went viral with over 50 million views. He also elaborates on how his social media presence has influenced recruiting and his reputation among other local trades. Join us as we discuss: - (6:14) Armando’s leap into starting his plumbing business - (13:20) Plomero en Phoenix being embraced by the Hispanic community - (15:21) The company’s jingle that went viral on TikTok - (21:25) How their TikTok account has translated into business success Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - TikTok Armando Ramos - Plomero en Phoenix - Jingle stuck in your head? Spotify has you covered You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!  Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.