

The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or Exit
The Boardroom Buzz
Boardroom Buzz is the straight-talk playbook for owners who built their service businesses from the crawlspace up and want to master the next move—whether that’s doubling down on growth or preparing for a life-changing exit.
Hosted by Jason & Jeremy Julio—“The Blue-Collar Twins” who turned a service-truck start-up into a multimillion-dollar success—and mentored by veteran deal-maker Paul Giannamore, the show turns boardroom finance into stories you’d swap over a tailgate. Expect 40-minute deep-dives that unwrap one real transaction and one valuation lever you can pull today, plus quick “Market Pulse” riffs that flag shifts every operator should watch.
If you’re a majority or significant-minority owner eyeing the $5 M–$100 M revenue range, tune in for gritty war stories, step-by-step tactics, and the confidence to choose your own endgame. New episodes every Thursday. Presented by POTOMAC M&A.
Hosted by Jason & Jeremy Julio—“The Blue-Collar Twins” who turned a service-truck start-up into a multimillion-dollar success—and mentored by veteran deal-maker Paul Giannamore, the show turns boardroom finance into stories you’d swap over a tailgate. Expect 40-minute deep-dives that unwrap one real transaction and one valuation lever you can pull today, plus quick “Market Pulse” riffs that flag shifts every operator should watch.
If you’re a majority or significant-minority owner eyeing the $5 M–$100 M revenue range, tune in for gritty war stories, step-by-step tactics, and the confidence to choose your own endgame. New episodes every Thursday. Presented by POTOMAC M&A.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 14, 2025 • 55min
Pest Pros, Peer Groups & People-First Growth: Maria Sorrentino’s Playbook
Maria Sorrentino started as a tech while studying social work and went on to build Pest Pros in Kalamazoo—plus Hive Nine and the “Lead People Manage Stuff” workshops. The Blue-Collar Twins dig into how she hires, pays, and develops people, why peer groups changed her trajectory, and the faith-driven mission that keeps her scaling without losing the heart of the business. It’s a field-tested blueprint for owners who believe culture and accountability win long term.
You’ll hear:
The “part-time is a lie” origin story and why pest control is a marketable, problem-solving trade.How she worked every role—tech to termite inspector to operator—and why being a people-first leader beats being a “bug nerd.”Comp & culture: the “altruism base” (paid non-billable hours), commission hygiene, and building a team that actually likes accountability.The Top-100 epiphany that expanded her vision—and how a 100-mile service radius actually works.Peer pressure, the good kind: inside “The Eagle’s Nest” where owners open P&Ls and leave with bruises (and breakthroughs).Why Hive Nine & “Lead People Manage Stuff” were built for leadership benches—not just owners.
Show links:
From Gym Teachers to Service Leaders: The Julio Twins' Story | Last Bite Mosquito, Viking Pest https://youtu.be/DAYxtzhswxs
From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore
www.potomaccompany.com
https://bluecollartwins.com
Produced by: www.verbell.ltd
Timestamps
00:00 – Cold open: “Pest control is a real marketable skill… it’s problem-solving.”
00:34 – Intros + how Maria connected with the Twins (Pest Cemetery days).
02:00 – Getting in: social work student → office → certified → field (and why “part-time” is a myth).
03:16 – Working every role: tech, termite inspections, then operator.
03:56 – “People person” vs. “bug nerds” at home—owning her lane.
04:31 – Starting Pest Pros (2018) with a home-inspector partner.
19:29 – The “altruism base”: paid non-billable hours that keep teams balanced.
20:22 – Paul Bello: from officiating her daughter’s wedding to training her techs.
22:08 – Vision unlock: seeing Top-100 peers and realizing what’s possible.
23:16 – Service map: running a 100-mile radius out of Kalamazoo.
25:46 – Boundaries, family, and why the business became a shared “fun thing.”
26:21 – Coaching bias: why Maria pushes revenue (and learned to respect margin).
31:24 – Hive Nine Consulting: events that develop teams, not just owners.
31:52 – “Lead People Manage Stuff”: the leadership workshop series.
32:45 – Community: why pest control attracts the “best-hearted” people.
33:04 – Her personal mission—and how faith guides the next bet.
42:49 – Inside “The Eagle’s Nest”: open books, hard feedback, real accountability.
52:05 – Superpower: being a connector—and a final invite to collaborate.
53:09 – Outro & CTA to Potomac and more resources.

Aug 9, 2025 • 1h 13min
Letters, Letting Go & “What’s Next”: Alina Stevens on Selling All Pro Pest Without Losing the Team
For three decades, Alina Stevens’ family business got “we want to buy you” letters almost daily—then in 2024, she finally said yes. In this candid conversation, Alina walks the Blue-Collar Twins through scaling All Pro Pest from ~25 to ~50 employees, choosing a buyer who kept the team (only one person left), and the emotional gear-shift from making every decision to consulting while the new owner hums along. It’s a masterclass in female leadership inside a family company, statewide routing without extra branches, and knowing when to let the kids “go to college.”
You’ll hear:
The moment “sell” went from never to now—and why employee continuity was the deal-breaker.How she modernized ops: true-mobile routing, GPS/cameras, and ditching IVR hell to stay customer-first.Lessons as a woman owner winning respect on job sites by knowing the craft cold.Why growth means you’re never “over the mountain,” and how to communicate for buy-in (not just talk).Life after close: the ego hit of “they don’t need me”… and the freedom to ask what’s next.
From Gym Teachers to Service Leaders: The Julio Twins' Story | Last Bite Mosquito, Viking Pest https://youtu.be/DAYxtzhswxs
From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore
www.potomaccompany.com
https://bluecollartwins.com
Produced by: www.verbell.ltd
Timestamps
00:00 – “We got buy-your-company letters almost daily for 30 years… then we finally sold.”
00:50 – Intros: Alina’s 2024 exit and the hard art of letting go
02:00 – “Never planned to be the bug girl”: Air Force pilot dreams → family firm roots (1971)
03:45 – Health crises, divorce, stepping in after raising kids—“somebody had to sail the ship”
05:10 – Change management 101: don’t flip everything at once (ask her how she knows)
06:45 – Choosing the buyer: keep the people, not just the book—only one employee didn’t continue
08:40 – Post-close role: retained as a 1-year consultant… but the newco barely needed her
10:10 – Scale at sale: ~50 employees, ~40 trucks; when she took over (~2015) it was ~25 staff
12:00 – Origin story: bank teller → office manager → marrying the boss (plus a $2/hr raise)
14:10 – Earning respect as a woman in a male-dominated niche: knowledge beats assumptions
18:30 – Statewide without branches: “true mobile” ops from home bases across Georgia
19:50 – From proprietary software (“Helper”) to mainstream + mobile; training older techs
22:30 – GPS & cameras: nightmare stories… and the crash video that saved a driver
26:00 – Phones & CX: VOIP, fewer prompts, always a human—because customer-first isn’t a menu tree
27:40 – “FITFO”: figuring it out through hiccups, turnover, and route remaps
30:20 – Leadership reality: 3 a.m. at the office, good people who stayed, and new opportunities under newco
33:00 – Comfort vs growth: the tag that says “AND NEXT” and a Mexico pest-control idea
34:45 – Mentors & marriage: productive conflict that made the business stronger
41:30 – Culture: family and team, where competition never outweighed belonging
44:50 – Communication = buy-in: expect 60–70% of your own intensity; tailor the message to the person
52:30 – Meeting Potomac and what “you’re the best” from an advisor really means

Jul 31, 2025 • 1h 27min
Hustle → Habit: Sam Gembel’s Blueprint for Turning Atlas Outdoor into Michigan’s Culture-First Landscape Machine
Flint-born mower jockey Sam Gembel went from nights-and-weekends side hustle to founding Atlas Outdoor—a 110-person, two-branch landscape + snow powerhouse now adding a million in revenue each year. In his first Boardroom Buzz appearance, Sam sits down with the Blue-Collar Twins to unpack:
Grass-Cutting Genesis – quitting high school, banging stripes, and learning his real job was “making crew leaders,” not mowing lawns.Rapid Ramp – $300 k ➜ $1 M ➜ $3 M in four seasons, then stalling at $5 M until a coach killed the “sell-more” dopamine loop.Pandemic Reset – why losing seven crew leaders on Day 1 of 2020 became the filter that left Atlas with A-players only.Culture Proof – six values, weekly L10s, and year-round salaries that drive a 93 % retention rate despite brutal Michigan winters.Significance over Success – turning deposits into payroll, mentoring operators through the Culture Proof podcast, and building opportunity “big enough for everyone’s dreams.”
Stick around for Sam’s take on staying calm in chaos, why A-players force owners to level up, and how Shawshank Redemption explains entrepreneurial self-sabotage.
From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience
https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore
www.potomaccompany.com
https://bluecollartwins.com
Produced by: www.verbell.ltd
Timestamps (podcast.co-ready)
00:00 – Cold-open: “We self-sabotage the second life gets uncomfortable.” Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel …
00:35 – Intros: Sam’s Atlas Outdoor story & Culture Proof podcast debut Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel …
02:00 – High-school dropout to zero-turn crew leader; first taste of leadership Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel …
06:50 – Learning his real role: create crew leaders, not stripes Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel …
09:00 – Side-yard hustle becomes Atlas Outdoor; origin of the name & logo Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel …
13:30 – Year-one $300 k, Year-two $1 M; growth by Facebook & word-of-mouth Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel …
18:15 – Cash-flow cracks at $5 M: deposits as payroll and the first business coach Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel …
24:20 – Mentor Blake Crawford’s quiet $14 M shop and 22 % margins Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel …
30:10 – Hiring A-players vs. settling for Bs & Cs; institutionalized mindsets Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel …
38:30 – Pandemic purge: seven crew leaders quit; culture reset & surge ahead Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel …
41:00 – Year-round salaries for crew leaders; 93 % retention win Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel …
45:00 – Snow & ice division: 26 rigs, “air hurts your face” winters, profit center Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel …
50:00 – Vision + culture are the only non-delegables; calm-captain leadership model Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel …
54:30 – Next chapter: five Michigan hubs, million-a-year organic growth, significance over success Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel …
57:00 – Rapid-fire round: mantra under stress, lessons from Tommy Mello, habit for focus Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel …
1:00:00 – Outro, Potomac Masterclass CTA, and Sam’s invite to audit your own attachment rate

Jul 24, 2025 • 59min
From Pig-Farm Grit to Eagles’ Sidelines: Bill Hoffman’s 35-Year Journey Building Hoffman's Exterminating into a Top-100 Pest Firm
What began as a $4-an-hour summer gig at Western Pest has grown into Hoffman’s Exterminating, a six-branch powerhouse ranked among PCT’s Top 100—and CEO Bill Hoffman is still at the helm. Certified as an entomologist and PCQI, Bill joins the Blue-Collar Twins to unpack how pig-farm discipline, union-shop lessons, and a “coach-not-tech” mindset fueled steady, one-to-three-hires-per-year growth—and landed Hoffman’s as the official pest-control partner of the Philadelphia Eagles.
You’ll hear:
Door-Knock Origins – mortgaging sweat equity into a one-man startup while moonlighting at a deli and landscaping crew.Coach’s Playbook – shifting from “crawl-space hero” to head coach and writing SOPs that free his team to execute.Eagles & MLS Deals – the referral chain—from a mom-and-pop acquisition to MLS partner to NFL sidelines—that proves community karma pays.Culture Moat – 20-year employees earn lifetime health insurance; paid volunteer hours keep staff and community for life.Seasonality Hacks – 55 % commercial mix, exclusion division, and weather “audibles” that keep 70 techs busy through Northeast winters.Mission Beyond Margins – board seats at two Ronald McDonald Houses, sustainability work at Lincoln Financial Field, and why “quality over quantity” still drives every decision.
Stick around for Bill’s blunt advice on moving from technician mindset to $30 million CEO—and why the best companies know when to act big and when to act small.
From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience
https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore
www.potomaccompany.com
https://bluecollartwins.com
Produced by: www.verbell.ltd
Timestamps (podcast.co-ready)
00:00 – Cold-open: “A $30 M CEO is a coach, not a tech.”
00:50 – Pig-farm work ethic: discipline, sharpened blades, and early hustle
02:35 – South-Jersey roots & lifelong Eagles fandom
02:55 – How referrals turned a tiny list buy into MLS ➜ Philadelphia Eagles partnerships
05:05 – Acquisitions to “Acquired”: recap of Bill’s first Buzz appearance
07:00 – Buying a $500 K mosquito firm—and learning seasonal economics
09:15 – Northeast seasonality vs. commercial stabilizer (55 % mix)
10:00 – Accidental entry: summer helper at Western Pest, 17 years old
11:20 – Youngest branch manager at 25 in a union shop
14:00 – Culture shift at Western sparks Hoffman's launch (1990)
16:00 – Business plan > job plan: mapping the ladder out of the truck
18:45 – “Head-coach” pivot—training others, not turning wrenches
19:05 – Growth cadence: adding 1-3 people per year to 100 staff
23:00 – Weather “audibles”: rain days become training & commercial installs
25:25 – New exclusion division born from techs’ handyman passions
26:55 – Retention: 20-year techs earn free lifetime health insurance
28:55 – Paid volunteer hours & community pillars (Eagles Youth, Union Pitch, Ronald McDonald House)
31:50 – Board roles & the Shamrock Shake origin of Ronald McDonald House
34:40 – Giving-back philosophy: customers, employees, community love loop
36:50 – Backyard beekeeper, fisherman, grandfather—off-hours balance
40:50 – Advice to one-truck operators: vision first, hire for ambition
46:00 – National-account niche: regional independents vs. the “Big 4”
49:45 – Future of pest control: techs always safe, managers must shine
53:10 – Final coaching wisdom: right people, right seats, Good to Great mentality
55:00 – Book that changed his leadership: Good to Great
56:30 – Flower-shop surprise & new Victorian HQ “Cheerful Dragonfly”
58:00 – Outro & Private-Equity Masterclass CTA

Jul 17, 2025 • 54min
Systems Save the Day: David Mulcahy on Scaling O’Deer, Launching Ghost Scoopers & Leading Through Crisis
When a life-threatening brain injury sidelined his five-year-old son, David Mulcahy discovered whether the playbook he’d written for O’Deer South Shore & Cape Cod (natural deer, tick & mosquito control) could truly run without him. Spoiler: it did—and the EOS-driven machine now powers 26 spray rigs, year-round revenue and a fast-growing spinoff called Ghost Scoopers. David joins the Blue-Collar Twins to share how franchise systems, profit-share incentives and relentless KPI tracking kept the wheels turning while his family focused on recovery—and why recurring-service operators should fix their P&Ls before they chase the next shiny tactic.
You’ll hear:
Franchise Reality Check – leaving a multigenerational fuel-oil business to buy the second O’Deer franchise (2014).Door-Knock Data – hose-reel saturation vs. backpack mist blowers, and the all-natural edge in a regulation minefield.Stacking Seasons – adding deer control for winter cash flow and six-day scheduling that boosts capacity 16 %.People Math – commission plans that let top techs earn high-20s/hour, 50 % re-hire rates, and Slack-era training loops.Ghost Scoopers – turning a service-manager partnership into a profitable dog-waste brand (no franchise needed).Crisis Test – the 45-day hospital stretch that proved dashboards, one-page weeklies and empowered managers really work.Next Moves – $10 M infrastructure on a $5 M base, AI phone agents (“Charlie”), and job-description tightening before the leap.
From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience
https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore
www.potomaccompany.com
https://bluecollartwins.com
Produced by: www.verbell.ltd
Timestamps (podcast.co-ready)
00:00 – Cold-open: subdural hematoma, emergency brain surgery & a leadership gut-check
00:58 – Show intro: twin hosts frame David’s dual businesses (O’Deer + Ghost Scoopers)
02:56 – Leaving a family fuel-oil company after dad says “no ownership path”
04:53 – Why O’Deer’s hose-and-reel model beats backpack mist blowers for drift & season length
07:00 – Buying full control of South Shore territory; early cash-flow stretch moves
11:00 – Systems vs. hope: falling in love with P&Ls and annual budgeting
13:30 – Six-day routes, 26 trucks, 24 techs: capacity math & burnout prevention
18:15 – Commission structure: base + production %, monthly stretch bonus, low respray requirements
24:20 – Quality-assurance ride-alongs & Slack video feedback loops
27:00 – Son Wyatt’s accident (Jan 2023): 250 ml bleed, 45-day inpatient rehab
30:10 – General manager runs ops on one-page weekly reports; family splits hospital shifts
33:00 – Coaching & masterminds: why recurring-revenue founders must know unit economics first
36:40 – Launching Ghost Scoopers with GM Zach; positioning it as a training-ground equity play
41:00 – Insurance, cameras & the van-driver age dilemma
48:00 – AI agent “Charlie” starts reactivating lapsed customers via calls & SMS
50:00 – Wrap-up: present leadership, future $10 M vision, and living core values after crisis
52:00 – Outro & Private-Equity Masterclass CTA

Jul 10, 2025 • 41min
The Rebuild Mindset: Brandon Kraupp on Turning Setbacks into a Multi-State Service Machine
After losing his first fortune to a Ponzi scheme in his late twenties, Brandon Kraupp didn’t lick his wounds—he grabbed a clipboard. Today, his Utah-based Romex Pest Control spans four states, fields nearly two hundred teammates, and runs on an EOS-powered culture that blends door-knock grit with relentless data-tracking. Brandon sits down with the Blue-Collar Twins to share how maxed-out 0 % credit cards and a “just make more tomorrow” mindset turned a single truck into a regional platform. You’ll hear:
FBI Wake-Up Call – why losing everything crystallized a fearless approach to risk and growth.Door-Knock Science – mastering 55-plus communities and turning authenticity into daily deals.Data over Drama – using market analytics, WiseTack financing, and EOS scorecards to steer every expansion.Culture Moat – six core values, weekly L10s, and therapist-mediated exec meetings that keep 180 people rowing.Next Moves – an aggressive Texas build-out, acquisition targets on the Gulf Coast, and AI sliding into every SOP.
Stick around for Brandon’s take on “stealth-wealth” margins and a quick CTA to Paul Giannamore’s Private-Equity Masterclass playlist—then audit the numbers that actually move your own scoreboard.
From PE Teachers to Pest-Control Owners: The Julio Twins’ POTOMAC Experience
https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore
www.potomaccompany.com
https://bluecollartwins.com
Produced by: www.verbell.ltd
Timestamps (podcast.co-ready)
00:00 – Cold-open: Brandon on San Antonio’s $2 M sprint and ignoring competitors
00:35 – Meet-cute in Denver: Twins recap how Romex hit the Buzz radar
02:00 – Idaho & Utah roots ➜ NC lake life and snowboard obsession
04:00 – Pre-dental student to Yamaha finance wiz; first taste of sales
05:55 – Buying the dealership at 23 amid the 2008 crash
07:50 – The $50 K zero-percent credit-card gamble (dad said “pound sand”)
10:30 – #1 Yamaha dealer award, Hawaii trip & seven-figure exit at 27
12:45 – Houseboat “retirement” on Lake Powell—then the FBI phone call
15:30 – Ponzi fallout: losing everything, choosing bounce-back over bitterness
18:15 – Digital-marketing lessons he’d use to 10x a dealership today
21:30 – Door-to-door debut with Alterra; launching Romex during senior year of college
24:00 – Early offices, small acquisitions & meeting sales phenom JJ
27:00 – High close-rate playbook: 55-plus communities and 10-deal days
30:00 – Golden-Door sellers, mindset of elite reps, and JJ’s natural talent
32:45 – Romex footprint: TX, OK, LA, MS—why every growth dollar points to Texas
34:50 – Data-driven market picks; San Antonio case study
35:35 – Revenue targets: $50 M by 2027, PCT Top-40 climb, margin focus
38:00 – Personal goals: lake-house life, golf bets & the women’s-attire wager
39:55 – Twins invite Brandon to Potomac 100 mastermind in Puerto Rico
40:30 – Dylan Seals outro & Masterclass CTA

Jul 3, 2025 • 47min
The Beehive Blueprint: Jason Carpenter’s 3,000-Page SOP, Million-Door Data Engine & Golf-Course Deal Flow
From mortgaging his house for a used “bug truck” to commanding Ohio’s slickest 10,000-sq-ft “Beehive” HQ, Jason Carpenter has turned Environmental Pest Management into the Midwest’s apartment-pest juggernaut—servicing 1 million+ units with a patented data platform (“Pest Genius”) and a 3,000-page digital playbook that lets the business run while he’s on the back nine. Sit in with the Blue-Collar Twins as Jason lays out:
Door-Knock Origins → $350 K Contract – how a single 50-unit bed-bug job snowballed into a $300 K+ recurring deal and rewired his focus from homes to high-density housing.Pest Genius – the in-house software (and patent) that tracks every unit, photo, KPI and health-department audit across millions of square feet.EOS + Family Power – wife Karen (COO), son Brandon (VP) and daughter Kayla (content chief) running weekly scorecard L10s while Jason stays out of the office—unless he’s eaten or played 18.Net over Vanity – why a Franco Giannamore valuation wake-up call pushed margins from “meh” to mission-critical and reset his eight-year, $20 M/20 % BHAG.Golf, Barter & Brand – converting country-club barters into 100+ clients and why density beats door-to-door for long-term wealth.Exit Options – succession plans, EBITDA realities and the number that makes walking off the course worth it.
Stick around for Jason’s candid take on therapy-backed leadership, mastermind ROI, and why every technician needs to read their P&L. Buzz EP 209 Jason Carpe…
From PE Teachers to Pest-Control Owners: The Julio Twins’ POTOMAC Experience
https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore
www.potomaccompany.com
https://bluecollartwins.com
Produced by: www.verbell.ltd
Timestamps (podcast.co-ready)
00:00 – Cold-open: Jason on the 3,000-page playbook & “letting the business run itself”
00:35 – Intro at the Beehive; Twins recap Jason’s mortgage-and-a-truck origin story
02:00 – Westerville roots, single-mom hustle & senior-year couch-surfing with Chip
05:55 – Sales chops: from shoe store to car lot to bartending—and gambling pool halls
08:00 – Meet-cute with pest control: father-in-law’s family firm, $50 K salary, first kids
11:00 – Basement startup (2003), door-knocking for residential accounts
12:45 – 2006 pivot: $40 K bed-bug job uncovers $300 K apartment contract
16:00 – Deciding to own the apartment niche; first million-door vision set
18:15 – Building Pest Genius—tracking every unit, photo & treatment across states
22:40 – Patent filed; integrations with PEStack & Outlook; “differentiator” explained
25:30 – Family dynamics: Karen (COO), Brandon (VP), Kayla (social) & twin grand-babies
28:45 – Therapist-mediated exec meetings; Jason allowed in office only after golf or lunch
30:10 – Chasing the PCT Top 100 & Ohio #1 goals; revenue vs. EBITDA reality check
33:00 – Franco’s valuation shock → margin overhaul; net focus pays off
36:00 – Weekly exec L10 cadence; bonus plan ignites management team
38:30 – Golf-course barters to close clients; 220 rounds logged last season
40:00 – Roadmap: $20 M at 20 % by age 62, new HQ, platform density > door crews
42:50 – Advice to solo operators: “embrace small, learn, keep going”
45:00 – Potomac 100 mastermind tease & Puerto Rico invitation
46:30 – Outro & Private-Equity Masterclass CTA

Jun 26, 2025 • 1h 8min
Scaling Spidexx: Coleman Spaulding’s Door-Knock Grit, Nine Acquisitions & the Next Chapter After Proactive
Coleman Spaulding cut his teeth knocking doors for Safeguard in 2005, parlayed that experience into Proactive Pest Management in suburban Chicago, and—after a decade of steady growth—launched Spidexx Pest Control in 2016 with a bigger vision: blend door-to-door horsepower, bolt-on buys, and EOS culture to build a multistate platform. Fresh off selling Proactive this spring, Coleman joins the Blue-Collar Twins to unpack the playbook behind nine tuck-ins, 65-person teams, and why he’s doubling down on Spidexx with a new HQ and more acquisitions on deck.
You’ll hear:
Door-Knock Roots – Virginia Beach summers that turned 20 straight “no’s” into $10 k days.Proactive Era – bootstrapping 2 000 recurring customers without sales reps.Partnership & Family – why co-founder Ryan upped Coleman’s stake to 40 %, and how brother Taylor makes the trio click.Launch of Spidexx – starting in Des Moines with 380 accounts and grinding through the chaotic first year (yes, those two X’s are intentional).Nine Small Acquisitions – buying 700–1 100-account firms, wiring funds fast, and knowing when to walk away.Door vs. Deal – retention math, capital intensity, and reading the “gut flags” before you sign.Selling Proactive – 60-day process with Potomac M&A, no earn-out, and lessons from the other side of the table.Future Vision – new headquarters, keeping culture tight across nine markets, and invitations to join the ride.
From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience
https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore
www.potomaccompany.com
https://bluecollartwins.com
Produced by: www.verbell.ltd
Timestamps (podcast.co-ready)
00:00 – Cold-open: the power of someone believing in you
00:35 – Jason & Jeremy introduce Coleman and his recent Proactive exit
02:00 – First company: Proactive Pest Management launched 2013 in Chicago suburbs
05:55 – Door-knock backstory: Safeguard summers, Brent & Alan Draper connections
11:00 – Partner Ryan bumps Coleman from 10 % to 40 %—“gratitude moment”
13:30 – Proactive’s first year: 700 accounts, one summer team, slow-and-steady growth
16:00 – Why Spidexx was born in 2016 (Des Moines start, two X’s in the name)
19:10 – Chaos tolerance & economics of today’s door-to-door sales teams
24:00 – First tuck-in: buying 1 100 accounts, paying cash, rebranding vs. retaining
30:00 – Potomac relationship, quality-of-earnings, and Proactive sale closing in 60 days
33:30 – Door-to-door customers vs. acquired books—18-month retention rule of thumb
40:00 – Advice to the one-truck operator: “embrace small, learn, keep going”
47:00 – Working with brother Taylor and why family equity is a superpower
53:00 – New Spidexx headquarters coming 2026; podcast invitation for live show there
57:00 – Potomac 100 mastermind rumor & golf talk; wrapping with culture chat
1:00:00 – Outro and Private-Equity Masterclass CTA

Jun 19, 2025 • 1h
From High-School Dropout to $12 M Pest-Control Powerhouse: Jared LaJaunie’s 18-Year Climb on the Gulf Coast
Louisiana native Jared LaJaunie went from quitting school at 17 to leading 65-plus employees, 72 trucks, and four branches of LaJaunie’s Pest Control—now tracking $12 million in annual revenue. In this candid sit-down with the Blue-Collar Twins, Jared breaks down the sales grit he learned at Orkin, the mindset shift that doubled his vision, and the family-run EOS machine that keeps it all humming.Buzz EP 207 Jared L MAS…
You’ll hear:
Door-Knock Roots – joining Orkin’s late-’90s “Splat” crew and turning 20 straight “no’s” into $10 k days.18-Year Overnight Success – nine years to hit $1 M, then a rocket to $12 M by combining EOS with acquisitions like Skeeter Force.Finance Hacks That Sell – why Wise Tack 0 % financing closes termite & wildlife jobs that competitors lose.Culture as a Moat – six-value framework, extreme ownership, and weekly L10s that hold 65 teammates accountable.Family Integration – wife Skye as certified EOS Integrator, sons learning P&Ls before swapping sprayers for spreadsheets.Mastermind Leverage – how groups with Luke Lewis & Maria Sorrentino expanded his vision—and spawned the new Eagles Nest peer network.Future Playbook – doubling again via Gulf-Coast acquisitions, 40 % Poop-Scoop margins on his radar, and grooming the next-gen CEO.
Stick around to catch Jared’s take on “profit over vanity” and an impromptu debate on the emerging pet-waste gold-rush.
From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience
https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore
www.potomaccompany.com
https://bluecollartwins.com
Produced by: www.verbell.ltd
Timestamps (podcast.co-ready)
00:00 – Cold-open: Jared on culture and integrity
00:35 – Intro & Louisiana roots
01:15 – High-school dropout, early hustle, marriage at 18
02:50 – Joining Orkin as a $10/hr termite tech
05:55 – Door-knock “Splat” team lessons & mindset shift
08:05 – Branch-manager years, then running a $3 M independent firm
11:00 – Launching LaJaunie’s on Jan 1 2008
13:30 – Solo-op to first admin hire; seven trucks by Year 3
18:15 – Self-financing termite jobs; switching to Wise Tack 0 % plans
24:20 – Nine years to $1 M; doubling vision with mastermind help
28:30 – BHAG: Gulf-Coast expansion & doubling again by 2025
29:50 – Acquiring Skeeter Force; lessons in mosquito markets
32:45 – Family salvage-yard backstory & entrepreneurial DNA
33:25 – Today: 65 staff, 72 trucks, $12 M top-line
36:40 – Running EOS—Jared as Visionary, Skye as Integrator
38:00 – Conferences, Ascension Leadership, and constant up-skilling
42:00 – Side ventures (Stereopure, CAT 4) and why poop-scooping tempts him
45:55 – Differentiator: living the core values every day
48:00 – Eagles Nest mastermind launch with Skye & Maria Serraino
50:05 – Main Street Mogul podcast and giving back
52:45 – Rough Stuff reveal: twins’ own pet-waste startup
54:00 – Wrap-up & Puerto Rico invite
59:00 – Outro & Masterclass CTA

Jun 12, 2025 • 52min
In PS3 We Trust: Paul Sansone Jr. on Sub-Prime Innovation, TikTok Car Sales & the 100-Year Dealer Legacy
Third-generation dealer Paul “PS3” Sansone III joins the Blue-Collar Twins to share how Sansone Jr’s Auto Group balances 67 years of family tradition with social-media hustle, deep-subprime financing, and a brand-new Keyport Kia store. From rent-to-own experiments that became New Jersey Auto Lending to “Motivational Mondays” that fire up 25 salespeople, Paul explains the systems—and the mindset—that keep customers, staff, and community in his corner. Buzz EP 206 Paul Sanson…
You’ll hear:
Subprime Mastery – why PS3 built an in-house “lease-here, pay-here” bank that boosts FICO scores by 140 pts on average.EZ Referral & TikTok Lives – turning marathon streams and a debit-card referral app into steady showroom traffic.Rent-to-Own Origins – the 2008 light-bulb moment that reshaped the family’s finance model.Keyport Kia Dream – taking an 11-year college project from paper to grand-opening on June 9th.Motivational Mondays – money-green pants, weekly goal-setting, and the “trust the process” mantra.Giving Back – 400-meal Basket Brigade, Hope-for-a-Ride car giveaways, and why single moms stay top of mind.Next-Gen Vision – ten rooftops, nationwide DMS software, and keeping the Sansone name alive for 100 years.
From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience
https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore
www.potomaccompany.com
https://bluecollartwins.com
Produced by: www.verbell.ltd
Timestamps (podcast.co-ready)
00:00 – Cold-open: beach-club memories and the “hot lifeguard” origin story
00:50 – Lifelong car passion & selling hot dogs at the dealership as a kid
03:35 – Sansone family tree: 67 years, three generations, five rooftops
05:55 – Breaking the “snaky car-sales” stereotype with relationship selling
07:00 – Daily training: every up is a coaching moment
08:35 – Presidents-Award Kia store & handing the desk to a new GM
11:00 – Rent-to-Own concept after the 2008 crash
12:45 – Birth of New Jersey Auto Lending: turning renters into owners
14:40 – Hope-for-a-Ride car giveaways to single moms
16:55 – Inside the lease-here, pay-here model and 75 % repeat business
19:10 – Building the Keyport Kia project first dreamed up in college
22:30 – Dealer-Controlled Solutions: exporting their DMS & finance playbook
25:20 – COVID’s inventory roller-coaster—down to four cars on the lot
29:20 – Basket Brigade: 400 Thanksgiving meals in Neptune
30:35 – Motivational Monday videos & money-green-pants culture
33:00 – Social media plans with a full-time content team
35:25 – AI’s future role in lead follow-up and CRM speed
38:00 – Family dynamics: clear lanes for dad, brother Michael, and cousin Steven
41:00 – Driving the 2025 Kia Telluride vs. a Range Rover—value breakdown
43:40 – Keyport Kia soft opening June 9 and summer car-giveaway promo
47:00 – Final advice: love your employees, community, and customers—success follows
50:00 – Outro and Masterclass CTA