Everything They Don't Tell You

In this episode we sit down with Joseph Andrade, Vice President at GEM Plumbing in Lincoln, RI.   GEM Plumbing is a family business started in 1949 and, although Joe did go to college (albeit against his will), he ultimately ended up gravitating back to the trades anyway.   His passion for the trades, the people in them, and what they can teach the youth of the nation is unmatched. His definition...

In this episode we sit down with Mark Padgett, an account executive for XOi Technologies. Mark is a family man and an extreme advocate of the skilled trades. He started his career as an HVAC technician apprentice and then decided to pursue a degree in Theology. Ultimately he concluded that a career in the trades was what he wanted in life. He worked his way up through the ranks and explored many o...

In this episode we sit down with Anthony Pacheco of P1311 Partnerships. Anthony is a Healthcare & Insurance consultant for the #skilledtrades industry and we have been working together for about 4 years now. I finally get to talk to him about his background in the trades. Anthony grew up in a small town in Texas called Tom Beam, with a population of about 800 people and comes from a blue collar fa...

In this episode we talk to an absolute wealth of knowledge in Eddie McFarlane, VP of Learning and Development at Haller Enterprises. Hailing originally from Scotland, Eddie came to America when he was 21 years old and began his career on the line.  The kitchen line, as a chef. His next career was none other than a blue collar, salt of the earth, field technician. He worked his way through the rank...

In this episode we sit down with Eric Pressley. An air compressor technician at I&M Industrials, Inc. That's right folks, an air compressor technician is an actual thing.  Bet you didn't know that! Eric and I talk about the benefits of the trades and his journey through the military before turning wrenches.  Tune in to find out why this 25 year old tradesman does what he does and loves what he doe...

In this episode with sit down with HVAC_REFER_GUY Mike Mayberry (again) to talk a little bit about his message on social media and what the blue collar skilled trades means to the next generations.  Millennials and Generation Z are taking the reigns of the trades.  How do we market to them?  How do we attract them to the industry?  ANd how do we teach them?  Check out this can't-miss episode from...

In this episode I focus on something that I've only touched on in almost every podcast I've ever done.  What does failure mean?  How does it relate to success?  And, more importantly, how does that change when working with family? I'm not just talking about the skilled trades, HVAC, or Refrigeration here, I'm talking about a universal fundamental that you'll carry with you in every single aspect o...

In this episode, I call out the haters of the Blue is the New White podcast and book.  There's seems to be some people out there that believe I'm pushing the wrong people into the trades.  Problem, as I see it, is that we won't know who's right and who's wrong until these people actually pursue a career in the trades! #blueisthenewwhite #hvac #bluecollar

In this episode Jim and I talk about diversity in the trades.  Hopefully we don't get too much kickback from our listeners on this topic.  We discuss women & immigrants in the trades and what they mean to the future of the industry. The trades are male dominated, but they aren't biased. If you can solve problems and get the job done right, you can succeed in the trades.

In this episode, Jim & Josh discuss some of the statistics circling the trades and how it's going to impact the industry over the long term.  They focus mainly on HVAC in this episode, but the same theories can be applied to all sectors of the trades from refrigeration to restaurant maintenance to general contracting.  They also discuss the REAL problems they see, as well as where to start in turn...

In this episode we introduce our new Co-Host of the Perception Evolution Project, Jim Silveira.  You may remember Jim from the episode he was on last year.  He brings to the table, 45+ years experience in Food Service Equipment, HVAC, and Refrigeration.  He has worked in almost every area of service including technician, manager, business owner, and consultant.   We are proud to introduce him to t...

This week we sit down with Joseph Crawford, Branch Operations Manager for WCE to talk about his journey through the trades.  After high school he immediate got into heavy equipment repair and started his career aiding in hurricane relief in the Southeast. After that he came back to sunny Arizona to pursue being an auto mechanic.  He then wanted to get into management, then went back to work at a m...

This week we sit down with John Cahalan from XOi technologies. Coming up in a family with a background in manufacturing, John got his start in the small Florida town of Lakeland and began his professional career like so many others (almost). He was awarded a scholarship and attended University of Florida for Sports Management before ultimately deciding to pursue a career working with his hands. He...

This episode is another interview-style sit-down for my upcoming book Blue Is The New White. Carlo Rosauro, Facilities Manager for Chipotle Mexican Grill was gracious enough to sit down and share some insight on his experience with the trades, basic fundamentals of success, and why anyone would pursue a career in this industry. Watch and Listen to another success story from someone who has seen, f...

We sat down with Molly Walter of Axxon Services to talk about Females in Facilities. As our industry grows, so does the need for a more diverse group of employees. We had a blast talking with Molly and she made some really great points on where women can thrive in the facilities industry.  . . . Connect with us on Instagram!  WCE:  @windycityequipment Josh Zolin:  @joshzolin Jake Syreini:  @holler...

WCE's Director of Marketing Jake Syreini and Panda Express' Paul Doughty talk about what Panda looks for in a service vendor. The exchange of value and building a true partnership is mandatory. "In any business, everyone has to make a profit, but it has to be a win-win." -Paul . . . Connect with us on Instagram!  WCE:  @windycityequipment Josh Zolin:  @joshzolin Jake Syreini:  @holleratjake NEW PO...

WCE Executive Sales Manager James Hoffman sat down with Collier Foods' Danny Koontz to talk about relationships with vendors and setting expectations. We met Danny is the isles of RFMA 2018 in Austin, Texas and invited him to our booth for a chat!   ... . . . Connect with us on Instagram!  WCE:  @windycityequipment Josh Zolin:  @joshzolin Jake Syreini:  @holleratjake NEW PODCAST   #PEPTalks  by WC...

More of an interview-style podcast with Rich Malachy, CEO of Malachy Parts and Service, for my upcoming book "Blue is the New White" Debuting in May 2019. Learn about Rich and what he does on a daily basis, his thoughts on a college education, perception of the trades, and the opportunities that our industry. Ever wonder how much money can be made in HVAC? Refrigeration? Food Service Equipment? an...

The team from Eger Advantage stopped by our booth at the Restaurant Facility Management Association's annual conference in Austin, Texas to talk about why companies exhibit at trade shows. We also went into trade show strategies and some lessons they've learned in their 2-5 years attending the conference. This year Eger had a different objective: Looking to build relationships that have synergy an...

This weeks podcast is with Todd Sherrill of Bluon Energy ( https://www.bluonenergy.com/ ). Todd grew up in the trades and followed suit after high school...after fulfilling his full ride scholarship to rodeo school. Like so many kids during and after high school, Todd had no idea what he wanted to do the rest of his life, but he knew he wanted to be successful. He found a knack for HVAC and worked...

Micah Dyer loves his family, solving problems, and working in the skilled trades. In this episode, Josh and Micah go deep into the benefits of working in the trades. . . . Connect with us on Instagram!  WCE:  @windycityequipment Josh Zolin:  @joshzolin Jake Syreini:  @holleratjake NEW PODCAST   #PEPTalks  by WCE  #PerceptionEvolutionProject Sign Up for our Newsletter! tinyurl.com/wcenewsletter FRE...

Some people do it for the money, some do it for the fame, few do it to avenge the name of their great great ancestors. Such is the case with Brady Hale, who has found success in the trades after coming from a "white collar" job as a banker. He decided to shift gears, work with his hands, and move through the ranks in the commercial cooking equipment repair trade and now commercial HVAC/R. Everythi...

No matter what your definition of success is, it can be realized through what most consider to be blue collar work. The truth is that, with a little hard work and determination, a career in the trades can give you all the same things as a college education, and more. Whether you define success as time off, traveling, money, or just feeling accomplished at the end of every day, you can achieve it i...

Restaurants are extremely expensive to operate. In this episode, Josh and Jake discuss ways to look ahead to decrease costs. . . . Connect with us on Instagram!  WCE:  @windycityequipment Josh Zolin:  @joshzolin JakeSyreini:  @holleratjake NEW PODCAST   #PEPTalks  by WCE  #PerceptionEvolutionProject Sign Up for our Newsletter! tinyurl.com/wcenewsletter FREE ACCESS TO OUR PREMIUM TUTORIALS "CLICK B...

WCE CEO Josh Zolin sits down with Isaac Mensah to talk about his success in the trades and the opportunities he's taken advantage of since coming to America from West Africa. They discuss various topics such as the difference between college and trade school, the opportunities that exist within the trades, and the perception of the trades. Isaac is a perfect example of what it means to define succ...