The Kee To Growth

On this episode of the Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Matt Tyner, the CMO of Bone Dry Roofing, for an authentic conversation about the messy middle of home services marketing and sustainable business development. With 15 years in the trades spanning HVAC, plumbing, and now roofing, Matt brings a blend of hard-won experience and emotional intelligence to the discussion, unpack...

This episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast invites Laura Kelly, co-founder of Clover Growth Partners, to share her journey from Ireland to the U.S., the realities of entrepreneurship, and how building environments where people can thrive is truly the key to business growth. Host Jen McKee leads a raw, insightful conversation about the messy middle of scaling home service businesses—what happens beh...

Part two of our special New Year's series is here—just in time to embrace fresh energy and intention for 2026. On this episode of The Kee to Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee returns with the finale of our "Key to Growth" compilation, spotlighting more jaw-dropping insights from this year's most impactful guests. If you loved the first half, this second part dives even deeper, layering bold truths, p...

This special Christmas episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast brings you a reflective, gratitude-filled recap of the standout moments and growth wisdom shared by our guests throughout 2025. Host Jen McKee opens up the archives to spotlight the most powerful answers to our essential question: "What is the key to growth?" From personal stories to tactical marketing tips, this episode is a mosaic of in...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Ryan Redding for a rich, no-fluff conversation about the realities of sustainable business development in the home services world. As someone who's both grown and sold a marketing agency, Ryan shares the journey from heading Leveragy to merging with KickCharge Creative, and how that transition led him to launch his coachin...

In this episode of The Kee to Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Zac Garside, president of Prolific Brand Design and renowned email marketing specialist in the home services industry. Together, they unlock honest, actionable insights on why email marketing is often overlooked by contractors, and how revitalizing your approach to this "cockroach of marketing" can nurture relationships, b...

This week on The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Thaddeus Tondu, CEO and co-founder of On Purpose Media, to unpack the real behind-the-scenes journey of building a digital marketing agency from the ground up—right at the onset of the pandemic. Thaddeus shares how On Purpose Media weathered the unique challenges of launching in February 2020, navigating early wins and rapid cli...

In this value-packed episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with powerhouse guests Stephanie Postell (Anchor Heating & Air), Cindi McNew (Tuck and Howell), and Kerry Sweet (Streamline Services) to explore the transformative impact of showing up for your community—and your team. This conversation pulls back the curtain on what authentic community involvement looks like for b...

On this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Jay and Amanda Mahaffey, the powerhouse duo behind the transformation of Tuck and Howell, a legacy HVAC and plumbing company. This episode goes deep into what it really looks like to acquire a "stuck in the 80s" business, face negative numbers, and rebuild from the ground up with unwavering resilience, a modern marketing p...

Get ready to dive deep into authentic growth Join Jen McKee , founder of Kee Hart Marketing , as she hosts a special live episode of the Kee to Growth Podcast at Service World Expo 2025 , featuring Mike Venidis , Owner of Good Golly Garage Doors (Phoenix) and Chief Marketing Officer of Good Golly Garage Holdings . This conversation uncovers the messy middle of entrepreneurship—where strategy meets...

Growth in business rarely happens by accident—it's built on alignment, strategy, and a willingness to face the messy middle. In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Jonathan Banister, founder and CEO of Top Serve Digital, to talk about the reality of building—and rebuilding—a brand in the ever-evolving world of home services marketing. Jonathan shares his remark...

On this episode of The Kee to Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Frank Luersen, owner and general manager of Home Team Electric in Palm Springs, California. Frank takes us through the messy middle of building his business—starting in the grind of new construction, shifting to residential service, and the emotional and tactical pivots that saved the company during hard times. From learni...

On this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Mitch Smedley, founder of Smedley Plumbing in Kansas City and co-owner of a small business consulting agency, to peel back the layers on building a service-based brand that's both community-driven and memorable. Mitch shares his journey from two decades working in the plumbing industry to launching his own company in 2020—...

In this episode of The Kee to Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with powerhouse husband and wife duo Karen and JC Hite. Both are recognized as leading mentors in the home services and marketing agency space, but their reach extends far beyond just marketing—think business education, stable scaling, mindset, and true relational growth. Jen shares how Karen and JC have influenced her own entr...

In this insightful episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Mandeep Bhalla, founder and CEO of Grow Nearby and Grow Reviews, and host of the Bond for the Trades podcast. Together, they peel back the curtain on what's really working in home services marketing, exploring both the tried-and-true fundamentals and the emerging shifts that are reshaping digital marketing and b...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Jackie Sorensen—third-generation owner of an 80-year-old HVAC company and the powerhouse behind the "Jackie H Vaci" brand. Jackie opens up about her journey from fresh-out-of-school tech to owner, including what it was like to carry her family's legacy while making it her own. She and Jen discuss the very real challenges o...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Carol Longacre, Director of Affiliate Relations at Service Nation, for an insightful conversation that digs deep into the real world of business growth, leadership, and the power of connection in the trades. Carol shares the journey from building her own family remodeling company to supporting thousands of contractors thro...

On this episode of "The Kee To Growth Podcast," Jen McKee chats live from Orlando at the EGIA Epic conference with Dustin Van Orman, a cornerstone leader at Any Hour Services and a champion of service business growth and leadership in the trades. Dustin walks us through his unique trajectory from being an HVAC tech running service calls to overseeing game-changing company tours and leading mergers...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Chris Vance, Executive Marketing Coach at Certain Path. Chris shares not just his best practices for trades marketing, but also the real-life challenges and breakthroughs he's seen working closely with hundreds of contractors in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and roofing across the US and Canada. Jen and Chris dig into what i...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, Jen McKee sits down with Colleen Keyworth, one of the most well-known voices in the HVAC industry. As VP of Sales and Marketing at Online Access, Colleen brings a dynamic background rooted in a 65-year-old family business and has built her career championing women, building strong networks, and advancing the field of contractor marketing. Her story is...

In this episode of The Kee to Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Ryan Chute, partner at Wizard of Ads and a seasoned strategist in the home services industry. Jen and Ryan dive into the art and science behind building brands that not only get noticed but become unforgettable household names—brands that weave themselves into the culture and conversations of their communities. Ryan shares...

This week on the Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee welcomes Sarah Ghirardo—a dynamic force in home services marketing, content, and community-building—to unpack the evolving landscape of trades marketing, automation, and sustainable growth. Sarah's journey from Director of Marketing at a multimillion-dollar HVAC business to Director of Product Content at ServiceTitan, and co-host of the Tradem...

In this episode of The Kee to Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Mehdi Khachani, CEO and founder of Sunny Bliss, to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to scale in the home services industry. The episode kicks off with Mehdi's story of spinning a plumbing division out of his residential remodeling company and boldly rebranding and expanding the business in under a year. Jen an...

In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Chuck Worley for an inspiring, no-nonsense conversation about building a business rooted in personal branding, community, and character. Chuck shares his remarkable journey from growing up in a military town and struggling with school challenges, to breaking through industry stereotypes and scaling Whirley's from a small,...

In this episode of the Kee to Growth podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Jennifer Bagley, CEO of CI Web Group, for a fascinating deep dive into the rapidly evolving world of digital marketing, AI-enabled websites, and the ongoing digital transformation in the home services trades industry. Jennifer shares her journey from a background in global supply chain and enterprise systems to becoming a...