Contractors’ Stories Podcast

🎙️ Deanna Lucas on Building Authority, Getting Found Locally, and Winning in the Age of AI Search 🏗️ Deanna Lucas didn’t just wander into the building business. She grew up on a job site. 🧱 The daughter of a union coal miner, she spent her childhood on spec-home builds, crawling under houses to run ductwork, and playing king of the hill on the mortar sand pile. Those roots led to modular home bui...

Contractors' Stories 🎙️: Nathan Shafer — Building a Multi-Trade Business on Faith, Family & Values 🛠️❤️ In this episode, we sit down with Nathan Shafer of Shafer Heating, Cooling, Electrical, and Plumbing to talk about what it really takes to build a lasting home services company. Nathan shares how faith 🙏, family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦, and a clear set of company values shape everyday decisions at Shaf...

🎙️ From Immigrant Entrepreneur to HVAC Business Exit: The Teo Bogdan Story 🏠📈 On this episode of Contractors’ Stories Podcast, Jim Klauck sits down with Teo Bogdan, a Romanian immigrant who took a small HVAC company and transformed it into a more profitable, system-driven business—ultimately exiting the company in 2026. Teo shares his remarkable journey from engineering and real estate into the...

Contractors' Stories Podcast Episode: Kenneth Quirk — Lincoln Heating & Air 🔥❄️ In this episode, host Jim Klauck sits down with Kenneth Quirk, General Manager of Lincoln Heating & Air in Reno, Nevada, to trace the company's journey from a family business started in 1993 🏠 to a $10 million operation 📈 serving the greater Reno/Sparks area. Kenneth shares the highs and hard-won lessons beh...

🎧 New Episode: Turning Homeowner Frustration into a Multimillion-Dollar Success with Dominic Vella Ever wondered what happens when a homeowner gets so fed up with bad contractor experiences that they decide to fix the industry themselves? In this episode of Contractors' Stories, host Jim Klauck sits down with Dominic Vella, the visionary founder of Fantastic Fence in Sacramento. Dominic shares hi...

Join us on this riveting episode of Contractor Stories as Jim Klauck sits down with Lance Bachmann, a self-made millionaire who rose from a troubled childhood in the foster care system to become a successful entrepreneur and business leader. Lance shares his candid journey, detailing the adversities he faced and how they shaped his relentless drive to succeed. From his early years grappling with a...

🚀 Is Google Still King for Home-Service Leads in the Age of AI? On today’s episode, Jim Klauck sits down with Dennis Yu, renowned digital marketing expert, to tackle a question every contractor is asking: Does Google still dominate lead generation as AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini rise? Dennis breaks down why Google’s hardware, data, and ecosystem advantage continues to make it a powerho...

Join host Jim Klauck on the Contractors' Stories Podcast 🎧 as he sits down with Amanda Perkins from Endless Energy ⚡ in Marlborough, MA. Amanda shares her personal journey 🛤️ — weaving her life experiences into her role at Endless Energy. From overcoming challenges 💪 to helping homeowners create more efficient, comfortable spaces 🏡, Amanda’s story is inspiring, insightful, and packed with prac...

In this episode, Jim welcomes Michael E. Gerber, the renowned small business guru and author of the E-Myth series, to discuss his groundbreaking insights into small business success. With over 34 books to his name, Michael delves into the critical elements that can transform a struggling business into a thriving enterprise. Michael shares the inspiring story of Ken Goodrich, an HVAC contractor who...

In this captivating episode of Contractor Stories, host Jim Klauck sits down with Brian Davis of Dayco Systems to explore a unique journey from military service to becoming a key player in the HVAC and plumbing industries. Brian shares his experiences and the innovative approach Dayco takes to distinguish itself in a competitive market. Discover how Dayco Systems, based in Acworth, Georgia, builds...

Want to grow your HVAC business and actually make the phone ring? Discover how Direct Response Radio campaigns with Jim Klauck at Check A Pro deliver powerful results for home service contractors. In this episode, Jim breaks down the advantages of Direct Response Radio including: 🔥 How to target motivated homeowners 📞 Why radio drives calls, not just brand awareness 💡 Real-world results from HV...

In this episode of Contractor Stories, host Jim sits down with Kevin Lipps, the CEO of Lipps Electric, to delve into the exciting journey of transforming a family business into a thriving modern enterprise. Kevin shares insights about working alongside his brothers, the strategic shift towards residential services, and the pivotal role of cash flow and customer relationships. Kevin reveals the imp...

In this episode of Contractor Stories, host Jim welcomes Glen Blavet from Halo Water Systems to discuss the booming industry of water treatment and its potential as a profit center for contractors. As the driving force behind Halo Water Systems, Glen shares insights into expanding business opportunities by offering top-notch water quality solutions. Learn how contractors can tap into the burgeonin...

In this episode of Contractors' Stories, host Jim Klauck speaks with Dustin Bower, a young and dynamic entrepreneur in the roofing and remodeling industry. Dustin shares his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a successful business owner with a focus on serving customers and building lasting relationships. He discusses his company's efficient processes, the importance of integrity in busine...

Join us in this captivating episode of Contractor Stories as we delve into the inspiring journey of Scott Klintworth, the driving force behind D3S Service, a thriving appliance repair business. Scott shares the unique challenges and triumphs of scaling his family-oriented company, which started from humble beginnings to become a nationwide service handling over $10 million in warranty and direct-t...

In this episode, my guest Ryan Chute from The Wizard of Ads delves into the intricate world of advertising, sharing key insights about the transformational power of brand messaging and effective marketing strategies. We explore the importance of building a long-lasting brand identity beyond mere lead generation, highlighting how empathy and competence are crucial elements for establishing trust wi...

Join us in this enlightening episode as Jake, the founder of Junk Rescue, shares his inspiring journey from college graduate to successful entrepreneur. Discover how he combined his marketing skills with a passion for hands-on work, ultimately creating a thriving junk removal business that not only declutters homes but also transforms lives. Listen as Jake discusses the therapeutic impact of remov...

Join us on this episode of Contractor Stories as we dive into the inspiring journey of Nathan Shafer, the driving force behind Shafer Heating and Cooling. Growing up in a family business founded by his father and grandfather, Nathan's path wasn't always clear-cut. Originally considering a career in medicine, he ultimately embraced his roots in the HVAC industry. Learn how this family business, whi...

Our host, Jim Klauck welcomes Jim Cosmos, his guest from Florida as they dive into the world of radio and its significant impact on the home service industry. Discover how the Blue Collar Wave and understanding your customer avatar can transform your business. Despite the digital craze, modern broadcasting holds untapped potential for service professionals, particularly those under 50 who may dism...

Join host Jim Klauck as he delves into the fascinating world of construction with his guest, Duncan Farrow, founder of Farrow Built from British Columbia, Canada. Discover how Duncan transitioned from a hands-on construction worker to a CEO who still loves to build. Listen as Duncan shares insights about creating unique structures like barns, shops, and equestrian buildings, and the challenges and...

Join Jim Klauck on Contractor Stories as he dives into the inspiring journey of Tim Fitzpatrick, the man behind Fitzpatrick Painting and Construction. Discover how Tim transitioned from a teenager unsure of his future to owning a $15 million business, focusing not just on growth, but also on values and trust. In this episode, Tim shares his early experiences in the painting industry, the evolution...

On today's episode, marketing expert, Marcus Sheridan returns to discuss significant shifts in the marketing landscape with Jim. Emphasizing the growing impact of AI, Marcus revisits his journey from founding River Pools during the financial crisis to becoming a marketing thought leader. He highlights the importance of addressing customer questions and concerns online, introducing the 'They Ask, Y...

In this episode of Contractor Stories, our host, Jim Klauck explores an unusual yet booming industry with his guest, Hoss Belyadi. Stepping away from traditional contractors, Jim delves into the world of dog grooming. Hoss, the founder of Kontota, shares his journey from an engineering career to launching a nationwide mobile dog grooming franchise. Discover the inspiration behind Kontota's unique...

In this episode of "Contractor Stories'," host Jim Klauck welcomes Tristan Wurzbach, the leading figure behind #1 Garage Door, to discuss his journey and insights into the garage door industry. Tristan shares his experiences of rebranding his business while maintaining its distinctive name, addressing challenges like social media hashtags, and the importance of having a memorable brand name. Trist...

Join us in this episode of Contractor Stories' as we explore the inspiring journey of Greg Schmitt, who transitioned from building large event sets to establishing a successful handyman business in San Diego during the COVID pandemic. Initially unfamiliar with the home service industry, Greg was driven by necessity to pivot his career, leading to remarkable success through word of mouth and digita...