The Kee To Growth

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee welcomes Kerry Sweet, founder of Learn2Connect. Kerry brings over 20 years of corporate marketing experience before joining her family's home services business, Streamline Services. She shares her journey of moving from the structured world of corporate marketing to the fast-paced, hands-on environment of a small business, and eventually...

Unlock data-driven growth on this episode of the Kee to Growth Podcast as Jen McKee welcomes Jennifer Johns of Elevate Marketing Research for a refreshingly candid look at marketing in the home services industry. The conversation dives deep into why understanding the homeowner's mindset is the make-or-break factor for every company competing in this crowded landscape. Jennifer shares how Elevate M...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee welcomes Westie Magnuson, co-founder of HireAligned, for a deep dive into the realities of hiring, recruitment, and culture-building in the home services trades. The conversation explores the practical side of scaling a team as you grow your leads, drawing on Westie's extensive experience with plumbing and HVAC companies and his journey...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Stephanie Allen, co-founder of Airworks, Fuel, and Just Start AI. Stephanie shares her journey of building a personal brand while leading a family-run HVAC and plumbing company in Southern California. The discussion dives into the reality behind scaling a service-based business, including the ongoing process of continuous...

On this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, Jen McKee sits down with Megan Ohlmann of Action Air Plumbing and Septic in Lubbock, Texas. Megan shares her journey shifting from higher education to running a family-owned trades business alongside her husband. The conversation focused on the challenges and opportunities of forming a new entity after decades in the industry, and how stepping into int...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Theresa Girardi, a marketing expert at a local home service company in Madison, Wisconsin. The conversation dives into the evolution of All Comfort Services, a company with over 50 years in the trades, and how Theresa's approach to marketing has been shaped by extensive experience, intentional boundaries, and ongoing learn...

On this episode of the Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Samantha Houchin, co-owner of The Weather Changers, an HVAC company in Denver, Colorado. Samantha shares her journey of launching a family business from scratch alongside her husband Chris, reflecting on the realities of entrepreneurship far beyond the glossy surface. From humble beginnings that involved passing out homema...

In this episode of The Kee to Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Patrick Lange, founder of Business Modification Group. Patrick shares his insider perspective on the sale and acquisition of HVAC and plumbing companies across the country. The conversation dives into the real stories behind business transitions, exploring what it truly takes to grow, scale, and eventually exit a service-b...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, Jen McKee welcomes back repeat guest Josh Crouch from Relentless Digital for an insightful conversation on the ever-evolving landscape of marketing for home service businesses. From the very first moments, the conversation focuses on the intersection of search, AI, and reputation management, especially following the recent partnership between Yelp and...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Crystal Williams, Co-founder and Strategist at Lemon Seed Marketing, to dive deep into marketing mindset, branding, community involvement, and the evolving role of AI in business growth. The conversation kicks off with Crystal sharing her transition from scaling her family's HVAC and plumbing company to building Lemon Seed...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee welcomes Meghan Jones, VP of Business Development at El Toro. The conversation dives into the unique world of home services marketing and how companies can get their brand in front of the right homeowners with precision. Meghan shares how her company's patented IP targeting allows businesses to deliver digital ads directly to specific ho...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Al Levi to deep dive into the intersection of sustainable business growth, marketing, and self-leadership in the trades. The conversation focused on moving beyond the surface-level tactics and uncovering what truly sets apart companies that create generational wealth and lasting impact. Al shares his journey from operating...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Ryan Englin, founder of Core Matters, host of the Titans of the Trades podcast, and author of "Hire Better People Faster." The conversation dives deep into the intersection of marketing, recruiting, and leadership for service-based businesses, especially those in the trades. The discussion opens with Ryan's personal journe...

On this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Tiffany Mitchell, co-founder and owner of Half Moon Plumbing and Electric, to unravel the story behind the company's explosive growth and the branding that set it apart in the Tulsa, Oklahoma market. The conversation opens with a playful but powerful moment about shoes—how even the smallest choices, like footwear, can rein...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Cory Hutcherson to unpack the often-overlooked growth potential found in your contact center. The conversation focused on Cory's unique background in the trades—shaped by growing up around his father, a transformative figure in the HVAC industry, and learning the ropes of authentic customer experience from an early age. Co...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Sharissa Martinez of Mr. Sparky San Antonio to talk about the real journey of growth inside a family-owned trades business. The conversation focused on what it means to evolve from new construction electrical work to a residential service operation, and how that shift created opportunities for the next generation. Sharissa...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, Jen McKee sits down with author and leadership advisor David Mead for an honest, insightful conversation about building sustainable business growth far beyond traditional marketing tactics. They dig into the messy middle of entrepreneurship, highlighting the real moments of struggle and alignment that ultimately shape a company's brand and results. The...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee welcomes Marc de Schweinitz, the CMO at A Plus Garage Doors, for an inside look at marketing in the home services industry. Marc shares his journey from working in advertising at Google to leading marketing efforts at one of the largest woman-led garage door companies in the US. Together, they dive into what it really takes to grow a ser...

In this episode of the Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with CJ Todd, founder and CEO of Kreadiv—a company focused on bridging the trust gap between vendors, contractors, and their audiences within the home services industry. Jen kicks off the conversation exploring the origin of the company's name, which is the phonetic spelling of "creative" and designed to stand out in a crowded...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with service industry leader and sales expert Andy Hobaica for a lively, real-world conversation on sustainable business development in the trades. Andy, a third-generation member of his family's company, shares insights from a lifetime in HVAC and home services, opening up about the evolution from repair-focused operations to...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee welcomes Marko Sipila, founder of HVAC Quote AI, to unpack how online pricing tools are changing the game for contractors who want to stay relevant in today's Google and AI-driven landscape. Together, they dig into the deep shift happening as search engines like Google and AI assistants like Gemini increasingly prioritize direct answers...

In this episode of the Kee to Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee welcomes Everett Lippel, a seasoned HVAC industry leader, content creator, and podcast host. Jen and Everett dig into what's really working right now for home service businesses amid a shifting marketing landscape and increased competition from larger private equity groups. Everett brings seventeen years of hands-on experience as a top-p...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee welcomes Bill Rossell, CEO of LB Capital and the Build It to Sell It movement. Bill shares his journey from a seasoned digital marketer to leading multiple roofing companies across the nation, offering a unique perspective on what it takes to build, scale, and ultimately sell (or simply strengthen) a trades business. The conversation cut...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Jarod Smith, founder of Clogbusters Drain Cleaning Repair in Des Moines, Iowa. Jarod shares his unconventional journey from launching his first plumbing company at just 18, to completely shifting his business model and culture within the drain cleaning industry. Listeners get an inside look at how he challenged industry no...

In this episode of the Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee welcomes Paul Olsen, chief innovator at So Good Team and a seasoned entrepreneur in the trades. Paul shares his journey from plumbing apprentice and pump truck driver to CEO of multimillion-dollar companies, and how his transition from Koala Cooling led to the birth of So Good Team. The conversation digs into the evolution of marketing f...