The Blue Collar Trades Show

Summary In this episode, Sam shares his unconventional journey from growing up in Morocco to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the event and coffee industry. He discusses risk-taking, the importance of adaptability, and lessons learned from starting multiple ventures. In this episode, Sam Eitzen shares the inspiring journey of how his company pivoted during the pandemic, leveraging AI and inno...

Summary Todd Shillington, known as the one hour contractor, shares insights on transforming blue-collar trades into scalable, sellable businesses. He discusses strategies for marketing, systematizing operations, and building a business that runs without the owner, emphasizing the importance of reviews, branding, and delegation. Key Topics Transitioning from technician to CEO Importance of reviews...

Summary In this episode, Troy, Jim, Marissa, Aaron, and Leonard discuss franchising, private equity, entrepreneurship, and the blue-collar job market, sharing insights and experiences to help aspiring entrepreneurs understand the opportunities and challenges in these fields. Key Topics Franchise system advantages and disadvantages Private equity investment in home services Building and selling fra...

Summary In this episode, Steve Buors shares his journey from accounting to digital marketing, focusing on how small businesses and franchise systems can leverage local SEO, Google Business Profiles, and AI tools to grow and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Key Topics Steve Buors' career transition from accounting to marketing Importance of Google Business Profile optimizat...

Summary Janal Reid shares her inspiring journey from Detroit to becoming a successful HVAC business owner in Dallas, Texas. She discusses the importance of community, customer service, and strategic growth in building a lasting business. Janal shares her insights on building a strong company culture, empowering women in trades, and balancing family and entrepreneurship. Discover practical strategi...

Summary In this episode, Adam Skorstad shares his extensive experience in the trades industry, from technical roles to leadership and coaching. He discusses the importance of systems, leadership development, and strategic growth for contractors aiming to scale their businesses successfully. Key Topics Adam Skorstad's background and journey in the trades industry Importance of systems and processes...

In this episode of The Blue Collar Trades Show, Troy Latuff, Chad and Jim sit down with Ben Hansen, known as the Profit Doctor, to talk about what really drives profitability in a blue collar business. Ben shares practical insights on identifying and patching profit leaks, understanding the numbers behind your business, tracking project profitability, and making smarter decisions about the custome...

In this episode, Matt Fishbune, CEO of Duke’s, shares his journey from sports to underground infrastructure, the importance of character in hiring, and the fascinating world of trenchless sewer repair. Discover how innovative techniques are transforming city maintenance, what it takes to build a successful business in this niche industry, and how AI, sensors, drones, and other emerging technologie...

Jamie Gerdsen, founder of G5 Ventures, shares his path from third-generation HVAC roots to sales leadership, business ownership, private equity, and building his next chapter with G5 Ventures. We dig into what actually drives growth in the trades: hiring, lead flow, culture, cash flow, and putting people first. Jamie also breaks down why great sales still comes back to trust and follow-up, what ow...

In this episode of the Blue Collar Trades Show, Troy, Jim, Marissa, and Jason Luo, CEO of Newo AI, explore how AI is changing customer communication for home service businesses. Jason shares how Newo AI helps HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and other service companies answer inbound calls, follow up with leads, and manage customer conversations using human-like voice AI. The group discusses the cost o...

In this episode, Chris Buttenham, co-founder of REINS, shares his entrepreneurial journey from growing up in a blue collar family in small-town Canada to building and exiting successful businesses. Chris dives into the realities of entrepreneurship, the mindset required to succeed, and the massive opportunities emerging as baby boomer business owners prepare to retire. Whether you're an aspiring e...

Jenny Benbrook joins The Blue Collar Trade Show to unpack one of the biggest money pits in the contracting industry: software that gets bought but never gets used right. From her journey through the skilled trades industry to co-founding Powerhouse Consulting Group, one of the first consulting firms built to help contractors get real value out of platforms like ServiceTitan, Jenny breaks down why...

In this episode, Spencer from Bradford White shares a deep dive into the evolution of water heaters, industry regulations, and innovative technologies shaping the future. Whether you're a trades professional or just curious about how these appliances impact energy efficiency and safety, this conversation covers it all. In this episode: Spencer discusses Bradford White’s rich history dating back to...

Dan Clapper of Interplay Learning joins The Blue Collar Trades Show to break down one of the most misunderstood ideas in the trades  the gap between experience and competency. A tech with ten years on the job isn't automatically better than one with two; what separates them is training, consistency, and the right learning modality. Dan walks through his own path from early exposure to the trades i...

Sales consultant Neil Glatt joins The Blue Collar Trade Show to unpack why so many tradespeople struggle on the sales side of their business — and why it almost never has anything to do with product knowledge. After a long career in B2B sales, Neil transitioned into consulting specifically for trades companies, and he's spent years studying what separates top closers from the techs who choke on th...

Longtime industry friend Ron Crabtree joins The Blue Collar Trade Show for an honest conversation about what separates great HVAC service businesses from struggling ones. Ron walks through his path from young technician to seasoned general manager and breaks down why sales is now a non-negotiable skill, how to hire and train techs who can actually communicate with homeowners, and why club membersh...

Heather Ripley of Ripley PR  breaks down how skilled trades and home service businesses can use public relations to build credibility, attract clients, and stand out in a crowded market. Expect actionable strategies, current trends, and media engagement tips built specifically for contractors and franchise owners — not corporate PR theory. If you're a tradesperson or franchise owner who thinks PR...

Shelby Anderson of Service Forge sits down with The Blue Collar Trade Show to break down one of the most misunderstood parts of running a contracting business — the call center. This conversation covers why so many contractors resist outsourcing their phones, how Service Forge keeps customer experience human at scale, and what it actually takes to run a call center team that treats every caller li...

Jake Wattenbarger, President and General Manager of Smith & Oby (a Foundral company), walks through his unconventional path from military service into leading one of the Midwest's most respected mechanical contracting companies. This conversation covers the 125+ year history of Smith & Oby, the real challenges of finding and keeping skilled tradespeople, and the cultural shifts reshaping t...

Dave Borowski has spent 20+ years in HVAC — from trade school to running a multimillion-dollar operation to consulting for companies across the industry. In this episode, he breaks down what separates thriving HVAC businesses from struggling ones, why most technicians are leaving money on the table, and how private equity is quietly reshaping the trades landscape for better and worse. From duct de...

This episode digs into two of the most important conversations happening in the trades right now: how safety culture has evolved over the decades, and what it actually takes to build a lasting career in blue-collar work. The conversation opens with an honest look at how the value placed on human life in workplace environments has changed — from compliance-driven rule enforcement to a culture roote...

In this episode, we sit down with Juli Blake to talk about what it actually takes to rise through the ranks as a woman in the trades — from her early career and upbringing, to overcoming gender bias, to building a leadership style that gets real results. Where Work Ethic Comes From Juli gets into how her upbringing shaped the way she approaches work — and why she thinks that foundation is somethin...

In this episode, we dive deep with Steve on what it actually takes to build a lasting recruiting business, why letting go is the hardest (and most important) move a founder can make, and why great recruiters will never be replaced by technology. What This Episode Covers: Steve's background and how he got into recruiting How the family business was built — and evolved over time The BLT party story...

Our Guest Sandra Brown shares her journey from welding and boilermaking to millwrighting — the challenges, risks, rewards, and the unique perspective women bring to the trades. Sandra makes a compelling case for why more women should seriously consider a career in skilled trades, and she does it with honesty, humor, and zero sugarcoating. We cover the technical side of welding different materials,...

What's it really like being married to a blue-collar worker? This episode explores the unique dynamics of relationships with tradespeople—the support required at home, balancing demanding work schedules with family life, the pride and provider mindset that drives blue-collar workers, and why many people find trades workers attractive partners. We also discuss blue-collar tools and safety, the inve...