Toolbox for the Trades

Angie Snow and Chris Hunter, Principal Industry Advisors at ServiceTitan, share their expertise in industry trends and data-driven strategies. They dive into the latest Residential Contractor Report, revealing surprising insights about word-of-mouth referrals and emphasizing the value of data for making people-centric decisions. They also discuss the enduring significance of membership programs and how adapting to changes can drive business growth, providing actionable insights for contractors navigating today's challenges.

Siblings Khadija J. Head and Odari Head, Co-Owners of Head’s Plumbing Sales and Service, are proud to succeed their parents in running the oldest black-owned plumbing company in Atlanta, Georgia. So when the time came to kick off a rebrand for the third-generation business, they wanted to honor their family’s legacy while keeping an open mind. Khadija and Odari share their family’s story of resilience and talk about the lack of minority representation in an industry that is starving for talent.   Join us as we discuss: - (8:51) The burden of entrepreneurship and their company’s origin story - (17:40) Why they pride themselves as “the plumber’s plumbers” - (25:19) Making the bold decision to rebrand the family business logo - (33:08) How owners can attract more young people to the trades 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 by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

ServiceTitan is loaded with solutions for contractors’ pain points. But a common hurdle to maximizing its potential is these entrepreneurs are spending most of their day… well, trying to run a business. Time is money, and it takes time to learn everything the platform has to offer. But it takes a hell of a lot less time if you’ve got a ServiceTitan Professional Service Partner (PSP) helping you through it. ServiceTitan’s PSPs and Cofounders of Powerhouse Consulting Group, Jenny Benbrook and Pam Duffy, talk about how these certified partners can help you utilize ServiceTitan to the fullest.              Join us as we discuss: - (19:47) 3 types of contractors who need Professional Service Partners  - (27:00) What sets PSPs apart from other ServiceTitan consultants - (41:31) How PSPs can help you discover missed opportunities - (51:16) Key indicators that your data sets are broken Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:   - Society of Women Engineers (SWE) - ServiceTitan Professional Service Partners: Powerhouse Consulting Group - Nexstar Super Meeting 2023 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 by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

For many contractors experiencing growth, inventory management is often the elephant in the room. No one likes dealing with it, but as Jeremy Wickenhauser, Certified ServiceTitan Coach with Go Time Success Group, said, it’s an integral part of every technician’s workflow. We caught up with Jeremy at Pantheon 2023 so he could tell us how he and his fellow coaches are helping contractors and their teams implement ServiceTitan’s integrations smoother and faster. Jeremy also demystifies some common inventory issues and explains why part-hunting is one of the trades’ biggest money sinks.    Join us as we discuss: - (4:22) Why coaching is an important part of customer implementation - (11:41) How poor inventory management erodes trust in a business - (18:46) Advice for contractors considering a coaching collaboration Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - ServiceTitan Professional Service Partners 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 by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Brothers David and Michael Katz came to America in 2015 with only a killer work ethic and a dream. In July 2021, they figured they would try their hands at HVAC. Their hard work certainly paid off. In 2023, their business, TRIO Heating and Air Conditioning, will clear $10 million in revenue. David and Michael spared some of their time at Pantheon 2023 to talk about what they’ve learned about implementing new business processes, employee relations, and why environmental care is a staple of their brand. Join us as we discuss: - (6:24) Unpacking and implementing new practices from Pantheon  - (16:10) How an internal survey spurred a dramatic rebrand - (23:27) Why shop tours are worth every second of your time Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Home Service Millionaire by Tommy Mello 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 by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Everyone in the trades knows we’ve needed a spotlight on the need to grow the next generation of technicians, plumbers, and other vital services. That’s why Scott Caron is proud to be an analyst and technical advisor for the 7th Annual Elite Trades Championship Series. He thinks a nationally televised competition like the ETCS, where the finest in their fields compete for clout and cash, is just the shot in the arm our industries need.     In the second half of our conversation with Scott, we chatted about attracting younger workers into the trades through “edutainment,” school partnerships… and, of course, the 7th ETCS, which begins airing Fridays on CBS Sports starting December 8th.    Join us as we discuss: - (2:46) Designing balanced competitions with impartial outcomes  - (17:34) Why “edutainment” is vital to attracting new talent to the trades - (35:25) Educating people about niche trade opportunities - (51:22) Setting the table for Round One of the ETCS Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Elite Trades Championship Series - Scott Caron - When Hard Work Pays Off: The ServiceTitan HVAC National Championship 2022 with Mack Shwert 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 by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

As a New England native, Scott Caron, Owner of Caron Electric in Lexington, Massachusetts, grew up a fan of the local home improvement TV show This Old House. So when his sister called him about an opportunity with its spinoff, Ask This Old House, he jumped at the chance. Little did he know his on-air talents would take him to the 2023 Elite Trades Championship Series, airing on CBS Sports this December! In our exclusive interview, Scott tells us how his childhood fascination with tinkering grew into a media career in multiple trades-focused productions, including color commentator for the ETCS.    Join us as we discuss: - (3:18) How a love for hands-on projects blossomed into a trades career - (17:56) Mentorship and what to look for in good tech candidates - (28:53) Pivoting from fan to cast member on Ask This Old House - (40:03) Why it’s important to show up authentically, on and off-camera Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Elite Trades Championship Series  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 by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

When Spencer Tippetts, Director of Business Development at Rainforest Plumbing & Air, joined the family business in 2019 to help expand their residential unit, he knew they had opportunities for improvement. Employee turnover, mismanagement, and outdated processes were all pain points that were impacting their bottom line… not to mention the company’s culture. So Spencer got to work on helping his dad and brother turn things around with some tricks he learned from his corporate days. Spencer gives the inside scoop on bringing commercial and residential services together in a family business by building them around the customers they serve.   Join us as we discuss: - (6:58) Encouraging dissenting opinions during family “rumbles” - (12:46) The cashflow advantage to operating multiple services - (21:01) Scaling a new division with universal business practices - (27:32) The cultural impact of giving your employees a voice Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Let’s Rumble by Brene Brown  - Tony Robbins Results Coaching 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 by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Contractors across the country continue to struggle with putting technicians in their trucks. But Ryan Englin, CEO of Core Matters, believes those entrepreneurs don’t have a hiring problem. They have a retention problem. And it’s because too many employers focus on showmanship over substance in job postings and interviews. Drop in to hear Ryan dish out some hard-hitting truth about why owner-operators need to be more authentic in their recruitment processes if they want to hire better people faster. Join us as we discuss: - (5:07) The marketing issue behind recruitment and retention  - (10:31) How authenticity can make or break working relationships - (19:14) Intangibles you actually should be looking for in new candidates - (30:45) Proof of concept mistakes to avoid during interviews Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Talent Tackle Box  - PDP Global ProScan 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 by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

If you couldn’t make it to the incredible Pantheon 2023 conference in Orlando, then don’t worry — we’re bringing the party to your ears! We sat down with over a half dozen incredible men and women in the trades, who each gave us a little taste of their experience at this year’s event. From networking tips to new tech teasers, you won’t want to miss these insights from some of the finest minds in the industry. Join us as we sit down with: - (1:35) Mary Anglen, Executive Director at Lightfoot Mechanical Services  - (9:51) Rick Vines, Master Plumber at Vines Plumbing and Water Restoration  - (16:44) Lincoln Walpole, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Office Operations at Any Hour Services  - (23:41) Justin Tarr, President of Daffy Ducts  - (33:08) Aizik Zimmerman, CEO of J. Blanton Plumbing  - (41:18) David Brewster, Owner of Aqua Clear Water Systems, and Lydia Brewster, Warehouse and Marketing Manager at Aqua Clear Water Systems   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 by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.