Mission Control Podcast

In this episode of the mission control podcast Mike sits down with Daniel Cherniske, Co-Founder of Roof Leopard, to discuss his journey from teaching prison aquaponics to building a high-growth roofing company in Western New York. Daniel shares how he pivoted from a niche consulting background to the roofing industry, where he and his partner Willie have focused on professionalizing the trade and...

In this episode of the Mission Control podcast, Mike sits down with David Carroll, founder of DOPE Marketing, to discuss the mental evolution of an entrepreneur. David reflects on his recent trip to Chicago and shares insights on the importance of self-awareness, giving oneself credit for personal growth, and shifting away from a "grinder" mentality toward a more balanced life. The conversation to...

In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with Kyle Weber, co-owner of Hometown Roofing Services, to discuss the business's rapid rise since its launch in October 2022. Kyle details his transition from a repair technician to a business owner, highlighting how a reputation for being "customer-facing" and maintaining personal relationships fueled his initial lead flow. The duo e...

In this episode of the  Mission Control Podcast, Mike interviews Bradley Dillon of Virginia-based Dillon Roofing, a company celebrating 30 years since its founding by Bradley's father. Bradley details his "earned, not given" journey from a decade-long laborer to partner, emphasizing his efforts to modernize the "old school" business through CRM systems, digital roof measurements, and social media...

In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with Aaron Christy to discuss the growth of Indy Roof & Restoration and the specific marketing strategies used to dominate the Indianapolis market. A major focus is placed on leveraging real estate agents as "power partners" to generate high-quality leads with a $0 cost per acquisition. Aaron also breaks down his Google review hacks, s...

In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with Chris Zimmerman, co-founder of Master Your Craft, where they "teach contractors how to fish" to proactively protect homeowners and advance the roofing industry. Chris shares his "long-sighted" philosophy on building a sustainable business, detailing how he pivoted his company from 90% storm restoration to 70% retail by prioritizin...

In this episode of the mission control podcast Mike sits down with Matt Grassmyer, the Director of Outside Sales at HailTrace, a weather consulting company specializing in severe weather forensics. Matt shares how roofing companies can master customer acquisition before, during, and after a storm. He explains that the biggest mistake roofers make is waiting for weather to hit before seeking new op...

In this episode, Mike sits down with Danny Shannon, who joins the show from Australia to share his incredible journey from the depths of addiction to 16 years of recovery. Danny's struggle began at age 14, leading to a daily heroin habit by 15 and nearly two decades of cycles involving incarceration and substance abuse. Throughout the conversation, Danny dives into the reality of early recovery an...

In this episode of the Mission Control podcast, Mike welcomes Jeffrey Teitelbaum, the owner of RST Roofing and Renovation based in Decatur, Georgia. Jeffrey shares the fascinating story of his career pivot from serving as an Atlanta police detective to working as an insurance adjuster, and finally launching his own roofing company in 2019 just months before the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on his ba...

In this episode of the Mission Control podcast, Mike Stearns welcomes George Schiano, the owner of Epic Exteriors in New Jersey. George shares the compelling story of launching his business six years ago, driven to start his own LLC the very night his previous employer announced a cut to his sales commissions. Starting with a hyper-focus on roofing, George explains how he organically expanded his...

In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike Stearns sits down with Pete McKendrick, the Product Strategy Lead at Roofr, to break down the shifting landscape of the roofing industry as it enters 2026. Reflecting on a "stormless" 2025 that saw many contractors struggling with a lack of weather-driven sales, Pete emphasizes the critical need for robust internal systems and business diversifi...

In this episode, Mike Stearns sits down with Andy Keys, Owner and CEO of FoxHaven Roofing Group for a raw conversation about what it truly takes to build an empire. Andy shares his incredible journey from battling addiction and living in his car to running massive roofing and metal supply companies.   They dive into the exact strategies fueling his growth—from why hiding your prices online is cost...

In this episode of the Mission Control podcast, Mike Stearns interviews Pancho Serrano, founder of Roofers Going Digital, about his journey from a corporate BMW role in Mexico to the U.S. roofing industry. Pancho details his transition into commercial roofing sales and the eventual launch of his agency, which focuses on a "three-pillar" LinkedIn strategy involving organic content, Sales Navigator...

In this special episode of the Mission Control podcast, Mike sits down with Sheldon Murphy, the owner & CEO at TSM Roofing in Phoenix, Arizona, and Raymond Wendell Little, the former owner and founder of Perimeter Roofing in Atlanta, Georgia. The trio explores the challenges of recruiting top-tier sales talent, comparing Sheldon's preference for stable, family-oriented producers with Raymond's suc...

In this episode of the Mission Control podcast, host Mike sits down with Michael Gogan, Vice President of Sales at Alivo, to explore the rapidly shifting landscape of the roofing and home services industry. As modern roofing contractors face a "microwave mentality" where consumers demand instant confirmation, Gogan explains how Alivo's AI agents, Lily and Evan, solve the critical problem of unansw...

In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with Sheldon Murphy, the founder of TSM Roofing in Arizona. They explore the operational realities of scaling a business, specifically how to navigate the chaotic "waterboarding" phase of growth by establishing organizational clarity and defining non-negotiable roles for 2026. The duo also dives into a recent crisis where TSM Roofing w...

In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with David Carroll — Founder of DOPE Marketing and one of the most radically self-aware entrepreneurs in the contractor space. David's story is nothing short of wild. From spending ages 21 to 25 in prison, to rebuilding his life from scratch, to becoming a leader, father, and business owner with a completely different outlook on discip...

In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with Larry Landwher, owner of Grand View Roofing & Exteriors in New Jersey. Larry shares his journey from working long hours as a subcontractor to running a growing roofing and exteriors company — and the mental toll that came with it. They dive into what it takes to transition from sub-work to full ownership, how to stay clear-headed...

In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with Adam Fedale, CEO of G. Fedale Roofing & Siding, a family-run company based in Wilmington, Delaware with multiple locations across the East Coast. Adam shares the story of building and scaling a business with his brothers, the challenges and rewards of mixing family with entrepreneurship, and why clear expectations and accountabili...

In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with Austin Fricker, Owner and CEO of A. Fricker Roofing & Waterproofing out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Austin shares how he's built one of the most respected roofing companies in his market — through culture, leadership, and a deep understanding of the numbers that actually drive a business forward. From managing chaos after major storms to...

On this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with Brock McClelland, owner of McClelland's Contracting & Roofing in Pittsburgh, PA, to talk about what it really takes to build a company that lasts. From raising the bar in an oversaturated roofing market to keeping 30+ employees aligned under one vision, Brock opens up about the grind, the lessons, and the non-negotiables that have...

In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with Brock McClelland, Owner of McClelland Contracting & Roofing in Pittsburgh. Brock's story is one of resilience, redemption, and relentless drive. He opens up about his journey overcoming addiction, the moments that forced him to change, and how discipline—not just motivation—helped him rebuild his life into the man, father, and bus...

In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with Nick Peret, founder of Better Boss, to talk about how AI and automation are reshaping the roofing industry. Nick shares his journey from running a lead generation company to building Better Boss and concepting tools like Roof GPT that help contractors save time, increase close rates, and eliminate the stress of endless follow-ups....

In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Nathan Tebedo returns for Part 2 to break down the 6 stages of growth that every contractor business goes through — from scrappy startup to major exit. If you're stuck as a solopreneur, buried in the chaos of friends-and-family hires, or hitting a ceiling trying to scale, Nathan lays out the path forward. He and Mike get brutally honest about leaders...

David Hoisington and Scott Schuler from Complete Roofing Systems in Pennsylvania join Mike to talk about building a powerhouse roofing company with heart. David, the co-owner, opens up about the highs and hard lessons from scaling past $11 million, while Scott, the marketing director, shares how he's created real impact by staying in sync with the sales team and prioritizing authenticity over AI f...