Toolbox for the Trades

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 by 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 by 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 by 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 by 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 by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Most men and women in the trades prefer taking care of business in the field over burying their heads in a computer. My guest, Mike Marcil, Software Coach at Nexstar Network, is on a mission to help businesses maximize their software proficiencies so they can focus on what’s important - servicing their customers. As a veteran of the ServiceTitan OS since 2014, he knows a thing or two about getting the most out of your software’s potential. Join us as we discuss: - Mike’s journey from HVAC sales to trainer - His observations from Nexstar’s partnership with ServiceTitan - Why change in the industry is a good thing - Daily habits that augment your potential with ServiceTitan’s OS Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Mike Marcil - Nexstar Network Help ServiceTitan support St. Jude Children's Hospital when you submit a referral: https://refer.servicetitan.com/ 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 by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Some of the leading pioneers in the trades are people who want to be part of the solution to a problem that needs fixing. That’s why my guest, Lina Kurucz, Managing Partner at Plumbing Troopers, Inc., dove head-first into the plumbing business in 2015. She used her marketing background to kickstart a Florida plumbing firm that puts customer needs first. By leaning on her employees’ expertise, she’s helped set a new standard for trades in her area. Join us as we discuss: - Why Lina saw a need for starting a plumbing enterprise - The growing pains of a new business - Supporting employees, including mental health awareness - Investing in new technology that fulfills custom needs Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Lina Kurucz - Plumbing Troopers, Inc Help ServiceTitan support St. Jude Children's Hospital when you submit a referral: https://refer.servicetitan.com/ 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 by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How often are service techs confronted with customer leads that they don’t know how to handle? Kelcey Summers, President at Service Business Evolution (SBE), and Will Smith, VP of Coaching & Training at SBE, contend that the issue isn’t lack of know-how but the absence of training. By coaching technicians to work with customers to solve problems rather than push sales, Kelcey and Will believe that businesses will see positive returns on their bottom lines. Join us as we discuss: - Why the founder of SBE felt a need to aid technicians through coaching - How positive reinforcement management can empower technicians - The culture and ethics behind bridging the customer service gap - The dichotomy of problem-solving versus product sales Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Kelcey Summers - Will Smith Help ServiceTitan support St. Jude Children's Hospital when you submit a referral: https://refer.servicetitan.com/ 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 by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

For decades, the American trades have had a regrettable stigma of dirty jobs meant for the uneducated. My guest, Joshua Page, President of JP Electric and Son, Inc. in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, is on a mission to break down that barrier. Joshua wants to educate our youth and open their eyes to the real potential that awaits them in the trades. Join us as we discuss: - Joshua’s journey through the trades into electrical contracting - How he became a speaking advocate for the trades - Why the generational gap needs to be addressed - Using childrens’ books to educate future generations Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Joshua Page TedX Talk  - www.HusbandFatherEntrepreneur.com - www.JoshuaPage.pro Help ServiceTitan support St. Jude Children's Hospital when you submit a referral: https://refer.servicetitan.com/ Josh's book, "What Does Your Daddy Do?" - available later this year. 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 by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.