Toolbox for the Trades

John Conway, COO at Redwood Services in Memphis, shares his blueprint for de-seasonalizing your business for year-round stability and growth. Drawing on his experience as a former contractor and Nexstar coach, John details how to mitigate slow seasons by strategically adjusting marketing spend, adding complementary year-round trades (like plumbing), and aggressively nurturing your maintenance base. He also reveals the powerful 350:1 KPI for a healthy agreement base and explains how consistent training during slow times is critical for long-term people retention, which he calls the biggest growth challenge after conquering seasonality.Join us as we discuss: [4:44] A private equity firm that comes alongside your business as a partner[9:12] The biggest risk factors of owning a purely seasonal trades business[17:56] Benchmarking KPIs for a strong customer membership base[23:14] Why marketing needs to be top-of-mind for contractors year-roundCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Nexstar NetworkYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for 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 for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Contractors are drowning in tech clutter. Between AI tools and endless “must-have” software subscriptions, it’s easy to get lost chasing the next shiny object. In this episode, Powerhouse Consulting’s Jenny Benbrook and Pam Duffy join the show to share a five-step plan for cutting through the noise, eliminating redundant tools, and building a smart, scalable tech strategy that actually drives profit. From budgeting like a marketer to running a “Goldilocks check” on your tech, this conversation will help you stop chasing shiny objects and start getting ROI from the software you already own.Join us as we discuss: [5:24] The rise of tech FOMO and the problem with over-adoption[19:06] A five-step plan to technology strategy success[38:23] The importance of regularly evaluating your tech spendCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: ServiceTitanYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for 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 for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Taylor Anderson, Systems Development and Growth Manager at Sunline Landscapes, shares her journey from landscape professional to tech innovator. She discusses how curiosity and patience are key drivers of change within organizations. Taylor emphasizes the importance of identifying Aspire super users and leveraging data to enhance cross-departmental collaboration. She also highlights her role in teaching Aspire at universities, preparing the next generation for industry success, and underscores the need for adaptability and continuous improvement in processes.

Recording live at Pantheon, Kristen Deese, CFO at The Virtual CFO for the Trades, explains her fractional CFO strategy for helping trades business owners master their finances. Drawing on her experience selling her own home services business to private equity, Kristen discusses the crucial steps to ensure financial health, including properly departmentalizing financials and calculating gross profit margin. She shares the one "hot take" she would megaphone to the entire industry — why net profit trumps revenue — and details the KPIs she immediately zeroes in on when auditing a client's ServiceTitan to QuickBooks workflow.Join us as we discuss: [3:48] How a fractional CFO can help contractors with their financials and training[7:15] Common issues Kristen sees in the books of struggling businesses[14:30] Prepping companies for a private equity sale[18:03] How contractors should factor new tech into their financial planningCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:ServiceTitan AtlasFreedom Blueprint for Home Services with Justin DeeseContact Kristen at kristen@kristendeece.comYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for 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 for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Live from Pantheon, Chris Gist, Regional VP of the Gulf at Leap Service Partners, shares his incredible journey of rapid trades growth. Starting his plumbing company, Paradise Plumbing, in 2019, Chris quickly partnered with a mentor and executed an ambitious plan, selling the business in just three years to LEAP. He discusses the critical role of a distinctive brand and culture (including tiki hut vans and Hawaiian shirts) in attracting customers and private equity interest, the intense commitment required for doubling revenue annually, and how he uses ServiceTitan reports daily to manage gross profit margin in real time.Join us as we discuss: [6:11] Why private equity cares about your company’s culture and branding [11:48] Why higher marketing spend is the key to rapid growth[17:54] Chris’s go-to ServiceTitan reports for gauging a company’s fiscal healthCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:ServiceTitanYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for 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 for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Zachary Perge, VP of Distribution Strategy at HARDI, breaks down the critical HVAC profitability strategy for today's challenging “repair market.” He reveals key data points, including how financing adoption can increase average ticket prices by over $6,800. Zachary argues that the most resilient contractors are those who stop chasing pure volume and instead focus on controlling what they can control: identifying and duplicating their most profitable jobs, teams, and product lines. He also offers essential advice on how to successfully integrate financing into the sales process to turn repair opportunities into full replacement jobs.Join us as we discuss: [6:16] Numbers every contractor needs to understand to make better decisions[18:26] Why owners should focus on profitability over volume[28:45] Advice for contractors who want to integrate financing into their operationsCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Women in HVACRYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for 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 for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this packed episode of Toolbox for the Trades, Justin White, CEO of K&D Landscaping and host of the Trades Talk podcast, returns with a clear message for 2026: raise the bar or get left behind. He and host Amanda dive into the Commercial Landscape Industry Report and pull apart the biggest shifts shaping the year ahead, including client retention battles, pricing pressures, the tech surge sweeping the industry, the power of experimentation, and the generational handoff transforming the trades. Justin brings the receipts, sharing how K&D hit an 84 percent client retention slump, where hiring went sideways, and how his team fought their way back with sharper systems, smarter tech, and a renewed commitment to excellence. If you are ready to elevate your business and outpace the competition, this episode will light a fire under you.Join us as we discuss: [7:15] The 3 biggest reasons clients leave their landscaping partners[15:23] The biggest hiring mistake Justin made… twice[27:03] Why technology is a competitive edge, but only if you use it right[37:54] The 30-minute exercise that sparks innovationCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Aspire's 2026 Commercial Landscape Industry ReportTrades Talk podcastAspireElevateFans First by Jesse ColeYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for 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 for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Live from Pantheon, Scorpion CRO Jamie Adams dives into the biggest challenges and opportunities in trades digital marketing. Jamie explains why the rise in competition and advertising costs requires a more sophisticated, data-driven approach. He shares how the ServiceTitan and Scorpion partnership allows contractors to view their business through an e-commerce lens, tracking marketing spend all the way to revenue. Jamie also details new consumer trends, like impatience and the demand for information, and how ServiceTitan's Marketing Pro, combined with Scorpion's expertise, acts as a competitive weapon to generate massive ROI from existing customer data.Join us as we discuss: [4:31] Contractors’ biggest marketing challenges and AI’s influence on consumer trends[9:57] Taking the e-commerce approach to enhancing the customer experience[13:01] The competitive advantages of adding Scorpion to your Marketing Pro stackCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Marketing ProYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for 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 for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, Christina Criniti-Dear, Director of Operations at Zoom Drain and owner of two Florida franchises, shares how she went from answering phones to running the show. She explains why every great leader should start at the bottom, how empathy isn’t innate but learned through experience, and what it really takes to build a thriving franchise from the ground up. Christina opens up about the lessons that shaped her leadership style: from owning every mistake to leading with clarity and purpose. She also pulls back the curtain on the franchise model, showing how it gives entrepreneurs the freedom to build something of their own with a proven roadmap. Join us as we discuss: [6:38] How to learn empathy and communication as a young leader[14:27] The GROW values of a successful entrepreneur[21:36] What new franchisees struggle with most You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for 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 for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Tim Johnson, President of Tim Johnson Landscaping in Statesville, NC, shares his blueprint for sustainable business growth, detailing his company's journey from a childhood mowing operation to a multimillion-dollar enterprise. After a period of rapid expansion, Tim made the strategic decision to “pump the brakes” for two years to restructure. He discusses the critical importance of building a management team, defining core processes (like implementing EOS), and shifting from “order taker” to a more tactical sales focus. Tim also explains how leveraging technology has allowed the company to scale without dramatically increasing non-revenue-producing headcount.Join us as we discuss: [5:11] When Tim realized he needed a proper org chart for sustainable growth[10:23] Rebuilding momentum after a two-year pause in rapid growth to implement scalable systems[17:30] Leveraging tools like Aspire to build frameworks for problem-solving and data visibilityCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:AspireTraction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino WickmanYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for 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 for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.