Toolbox for the Trades

It’s a hard combination to both take advice and learn from experience, but that’s what these father and daughter owners have really taken to heart.   Hear our conversation with Chloe Davis and Ben Davis at Express Plumbing Heating & Air: Mentorship and deciding to work with your dad Why personal growth and people management are intertwined Best practices for designing process for people and systems    More information about Chloe and Ben and today’s topics: https://expressplumbingidaho.com/  https://monday.com/    Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!  To hear more tales from the trades, follow Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or anywhere you get podcasts.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What’s it like to manage a family of companies with your sisters? Tune in for their amazing story of company growth from one to 217 employees and their plans to double again this decade.  Hear our conversation with sisters Jessica (Howe) Groat, CFO; Jaime Howe, Plumbing Operations Manager; and Haley Howe, GM, Restoration and Flood — all at the Bill Howe Family of Companies: How the company began and why they joined the company Their unique specialities and career path within Bill Howe Advice for contractors Developing an aggressive growth plan   More information about Jessica, Jaime, Haley, and today’s topics: LinkedIn Profile: Jessica Groat LinkedIn Profile: Jaime Howe LinkedIn Profile: Haley Howe Company Website: https://www.billhowe.com/    To hear more tales from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or anywhere you get podcasts. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

If you want superhero technicians, you have to provide them with superhero tools like taking a picture of a data plate and immediately knowing the history of that unit.   Emerging technologies have enabled efficiencies and safety measures that technicians have never known before. But the best part: The tech eliminates the physical toll.  Hear our conversation with Aaron Salow, CEO of XOi Technologies:  Learning curves in business & an understanding of XOi Technologies Working w/ technicians to make their job more efficient Building tech & customer relationships What’s next for Aaron & advice to the listeners   More information about Aaron and today’s topics: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/c-aaron-salow-58420a8/ Company Website: https://xoi.io/  To hear more tales from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or anywhere you get podcasts. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Think about data as levers you can pull to optimize outcomes for your company. Put that way, it doesn’t sound quite so overwhelming to get started in data.  Hear our conversation with Tyson Freeman, Head of Contractor Advisory Services at ServiceTitan: Why contractors should care about data Company-wide data goals need employee buy-in How to get started in data reporting    More information about Tyson and today’s topics: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyson-freeman-30511084/   Company Website: https://www.servicetitan.com/   To hear more tales from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or anywhere you get podcasts.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Want to build an undeniable brand that speaks to the consumer? Well, have a seat on the couch because the brand therapist is in.   Hear our conversation with Dan Antonelli, President and Chief Creative Officer at KickCharge Creative: Why disruption matters in branding How a weak brand slows your business down How to build the foundation for a premium brand    More information about Dan and today’s topics: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danantonelli/  Company Website: https://www.kickcharge.com/  Branded, Not Blanded: https://www.kickcharge.com/tips-tools/our-books-2/  Purple Cow: https://geni.us/radixpurple   To hear more tales from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or anywhere you get podcasts. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

David Noseworthy, Vice President of Corporate Development at Friendly Home Services Group, has worked on both Bay Street and Wall Street but now his focus has turned back to the trades with a very specific goal in mind: unlocking latent potential in employees. Why, you ask? Because David and the Friendly Group believe by unlocking the latent potential of each employee, you unlock the potential of the entire company. Or as David puts it, you’re “doing well by doing good.” Join us as we discuss: The importance of unlocking latent potential in employees How mentorship can be mutually beneficial Qualities service shops should have if they aspire to be acquired by a private equity group Advice for companies looking to scale and grow their companies on their own The future of private equity   More information about David and today’s topics: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drnoseworthy/  Company Website: https://friendlygroup.com/   To hear more tales from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or anywhere you get podcasts. 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 by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, I interview Sean McGuire, Director of Innovative Technologies at Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) about what it’s like to work beside contractors working with advancements in technology.  A true tech detective for the trades, Sean encourages listeners to plan for the future, consider augmented reality, and much more. Join us as we discuss: - Top technology tips for contractors - Predictions for future trends  - The importance of continuous education  - Overcoming reluctance to change  - Data-driven predictive learning Check out these resources we mentioned: MCAA Annual Convention  MEP Conference  Trimble XR10   To hear more tales from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades onApple Podcasts,Spotify, our website, or anywhere you get podcasts. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Today’s guest joined ServiceTitan after running marketing for one of the biggest brands in the trades. If you want to learn how to take your marketing to the next level (and why it’s so important to do your math), you won’t want to miss this episode.  In this episode, I interview ServiceTitan’s own Sarah Ghirardo, Sr. Marketing Operations Manager, about her best wisdom for marketing in the trades.  Join us as we discuss: Changing consumers’ thoughts and behavior with branding Seasonal campaign tips and insights Marketing communities, mentorship, and agency relationships Making math a part of your marketing arsenal    Check out these resources we mentioned: Purple Cow by Seth Godin Lady Titans Community  Service Champions My Story Playlist on YouTube Ep. 82 w/ Cassie Pound   To hear more tales from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or anywhere you get podcasts. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Business leaders make all kinds of mistakes, but here’s a huge one: You look at your top line and think that makes you successful. In this episode, I speak with Mike Disney, CEO at CEO Warrior, and Mary Anglen, Senior Advisor at CEO Warrior, about the nine pillars needed to build a true foundation for success — and other common errors of leaders in the trades. Join us as we discuss: Why you need to hear the hurtful truth Building a foundation of predictable success Major mistakes regarding employees and promotion Mike’s and Mary’s favorite pillar: clarity Check out these resources we mentioned: The 9 Pillars That Will Scale Any Business  Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.  To hear more tales from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or anywhere you get podcasts.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

When you’re focused on creating five-star experiences for customers, you have to create five-star experiences for employees, too. Serving people as a core value extends to customers and employees both. Cassie Pound, Co Owner and Vice President at Quality Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, grew her HVAC company from 10 to nearly 50 employees by focusing equally on customer experience and employee experience. Join us as we discuss: - What it means to be family owned vs. locally owned - Creating a competitive employee experience - Working with your partner — and your children - Changing the narrative about trades to recruit women and young people To hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades onApple Podcasts,Spotify, our website, or anywhere you get podcasts. Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.