Kelsey Whittenberg (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-whittenberg-88095b75/) fell in love with being an electrician. She loves to understand how everything works and how to use both her technical expertise and tools to help solve problems in the field.She also posted videos on social media as a creative outlet while she was at job sites, and that quickly burgeoned into a great passion.As an industrial Electrician at Weifield Group Contracting (https://www.weifieldcontracting.com/), Kelsey provides professional electrical solutions across different industry sectors and also actively promotes her company on social media. She stops by to share her professional journey with us and talks about the challenges and opportunities she sees as a female technician. She also explains what motivated her to become active on social media and how her content has helped build a great community online.Join us as we discuss: [6:56]: Kelsey’s experience as a female technician[20:58] What inspired her to build a social media presence[34:30]: Advice to people who want to become influencers on social mediaCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Weifield Group Contracting (https://www.weifieldcontracting.com/)Thespicysparkykelsey (TikTok) (https://www.tiktok.com/@thespicysparkykelsey)ServiceTitan (https://www.servicetitan.com/)You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/toolbox-for-the-trades/id1503078938), on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/76wMZ1SJV4OAql9HzbnQ87?si=85dc59f7c6e244b2), or here (https://www.servicetitan.com/podcast).Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! (https://www.servicetitan.com/referrals)Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Sheena Palacios (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheena-palacios-217a32a9/) was truly built into the trades in every aspect since her father, brother, husband, and other family members are electricians by profession. For her, the trades are a passion and an opportunity for her to return that appreciation for something she didn’t have before.She is also a strong believer in data transformation and how data is a treasure trove that can be leveraged by teams to make impactful decisions. It also comes down to understanding, setting up, and streamlining your processes and workflows for greater success.As the owner and ServiceTitan Solutionist at NIFT Business Solutions (https://niftsp.com/), Sheena is on a mission to empower teams in the trades to make smart, data-driven decisions. She stops by to share her entrepreneurial journey with us and talks to us about how she found her niche in the trades.Join us as we discuss: 07:41: How to ensure a successful onboarding process20:56: Why IKEA's showroom is a perfect analogy for ServiceTitan workflows 24:09: Advice for customers struggling with their ServiceTitan accountsCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:NIFT Business Solutions (https://niftsp.com/)Connect With Sheena (https://niftsp.com/lets-connect-1)ServiceTitan (https://www.servicetitan.com/)You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/toolbox-for-the-trades/id1503078938), on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/76wMZ1SJV4OAql9HzbnQ87?si=85dc59f7c6e244b2), or here (https://www.servicetitan.com/podcast).Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! (https://www.servicetitan.com/referrals)Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jackie Sorensen (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-sorensen-746275a2/) knows a thing or two about working in a family business and dealing with gender stereotypes in the trades. She’s passionate about making the trades more attractive and accessible to young women and is actively involved in local activities within her community.As the President of Thorson Heating (https://www.thorsonheatinginc.com/), Jackie and her team endeavor to deliver exceptional heating and air conditioning services to customers in the Sioux Falls area. She stops by to share her entrepreneurial journey with us and talks about the challenges as well as opportunities running a family business. She also tells us how she promotes the HVAC profession to young women and provides some valuable advice for other female business owners.Join us as we discuss: [10:56]: Why Jackie decided to buy her family business[27:06]: How Jackie makes the trades more attractive for young women[38:27]: Jackie’s advice for other female business ownersCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Thorson Heating (https://www.thorsonheatinginc.com/)ServiceTitan (https://www.servicetitan.com/)You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/toolbox-for-the-trades/id1503078938), on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/76wMZ1SJV4OAql9HzbnQ87?si=85dc59f7c6e244b2), or here (https://www.servicetitan.com/podcast).Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! (https://www.servicetitan.com/referrals)Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Richard Lewis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardlewismemphis/) truly believes that building genuine connections with people in the trades is the key to long-term sustainable growth. His experience in the finance industry has also helped him to identify opportunities for growth across different sectors in the trades. He’s also enabled business owners to take a different approach to partnering with investors to grow their service business.As the Founder and CEO of Redwood Services (https://redwoodservices.com/), Richard is on a mission to build a robust ecosystem of partners in the trades across the United States that focuses on collaboration, operational excellence, and a people-first culture. He stops by to share his entrepreneurial journey with us. He highlights examples from his experience that motivated him to do things differently and explains why he believes in investing in partnerships.Join us as we discuss: 05:24: What makes Redwood different from other private equity firms12:00: Why Richard felt the partnership process could be done differently22:19: What an ideal investor partnership looks likeCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Redwood Services (https://redwoodservices.com/)ServiceMaster (https://www.servicemaster.com/)Rite Way (https://ritewayac.com/)ServiceTitan (https://www.servicetitan.com/)You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/toolbox-for-the-trades/id1503078938), on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/76wMZ1SJV4OAql9HzbnQ87?si=85dc59f7c6e244b2), or here (https://www.servicetitan.com/podcast). Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Ken Midgett (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenmidgett/) is extremely passionate about continuous learning and believes that training is a critical component to the long-term growth of businesses in the trades.As a professional plumbing service entrepreneur, Ken successfully ran two businesses and helped make the plumbing program at a high school in eastern Pennsylvania one of the most sought-after for students joining the workforce.As the Plumbing Market Director at Interplay Learning (https://www.interplaylearning.com/), Ken is on a mission to help service-based businesses build a robust training culture. He stops by to share his entrepreneurial journey with us. He also talks about the importance of investing in training so that it not only turns businesses into profit generators but also helps to build employee confidence and reduce turnover.Join us as we discuss: 05:26: How Ken got students interested in the plumbing program19:16: The importance of implementing a training culture22:09: Why leadership needs to be involved in training28:00: How organizations can incentivize employees with trainingCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Interplay Learning (https://www.interplaylearning.com/)Association for Career and Technical Education (CTE) (https://www.acteonline.org/)ServiceTitan (https://www.servicetitan.com/)You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/toolbox-for-the-trades/id1503078938), on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/76wMZ1SJV4OAql9HzbnQ87?si=85dc59f7c6e244b2), or here (https://www.servicetitan.com/podcast). Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! (https://www.servicetitan.com/referrals)Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Devynn Thompson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/devynn-thompson-34794b73/) entered the trades with her husband after he decided to establish his own plumbing business.They faced many challenges along the way and realized they had to learn from their mistakes and embrace constructive criticism from their employees.By connecting with people in the trades, going through training, having a coach who keeps them accountable, and learning how to delegate tasks, they managed to grow and transform their business into the success story it is today.As the Operations Manager of Thompson Family Plumbing & Drain (https://www.thompsonfamilyplumbing.com/), Devynn is on a mission to deliver professional plumbing services to customers in California and Arizona. She stops by to share her entrepreneurial journey with us and how she learned to become a better leader. Devynn also shares her thoughts on comparison anxiety and elaborates on the importance of adopting a thriving mindset.Join us as we discuss: 05:06: How Devynn went from apprentice to business owner17:00: How to address comparison anxiety31:46: Devynn’s delegation process35:28: The importance of having a thriving mindsetCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Thompson Family Plumbing & Drain (https://www.thompsonfamilyplumbing.com/)Nexstar Network (https://www.nexstarnetwork.com/)MasterClass (https://www.masterclass.com/)ServiceTitan (https://www.servicetitan.com/)You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/toolbox-for-the-trades/id1503078938), on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/76wMZ1SJV4OAql9HzbnQ87?si=85dc59f7c6e244b2), or here (https://www.servicetitan.com/podcast). Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! (https://www.servicetitan.com/referrals)Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Rebekah Hatcher (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-hatcher-06a09933/) entered the trades with her husband after he decided to set up his own business.They faced many adversities in the beginning as they tried to grow, and they even hit a plateau.They then decided to become an Aire Serv franchisee, and with the right training, systems, processes, and a lot of hard work, they managed to scale their business successfully.As the owner of Aire Serv of Aggieland (https://www.aireserv.com/aggieland/), Rebekah strives to deliver professional HVAC repair and maintenance services to homeowners and businesses in the Brazos Valley in Texas. She stops by to share her entrepreneurial journey with us, how becoming a franchisee has positively impacted her business, and some of her most memorable marketing campaigns.Join us as we discuss:[08:57] How becoming a franchisee impacted growth[15:34] How the internal culture has changed and a key takeaway[27:10] Rebekah’s most memorable and successful marketing campaignCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Aire Serv of Aggieland (https://www.aireserv.com/aggieland/)MarketingProfs (https://www.marketingprofs.com/)Canva (https://www.canva.com/)ServiceTitan (https://www.servicetitan.com/)You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/toolbox-for-the-trades/id1503078938), on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/76wMZ1SJV4OAql9HzbnQ87?si=85dc59f7c6e244b2), or here (https://www.servicetitan.com/podcast).Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! (https://www.servicetitan.com/referrals)Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Many family business owners eventually pass the leadership torch down to their children. Oftentimes, those transitions work out smoothly.But what about when they don’t?Mike Prencavage, Jr. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-prencavage-2a287618/), Owner of The Family Plumber (https://thefamilyplumber.com/), dreamed of taking the reins of the family business after college, but he had to “fight like hell” with his father to see his vision come true. Now, he’s leveraging technology and networking to elevate his family’s legacy for future generations.Mike gives us a candid look back at his tumultuous shift into his current ownership role and how he’s bringing a new-school mindset to old-school values.Join us as we discuss:[7:31] Navigating a rocky family business takeover  [23:25] How to show future generations value in trades businesses[40:10] Bridging innovation and new ideas with traditionCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (https://www.phccweb.org/)Nexstar Network (https://www.nexstarnetwork.com/)Interplay Learning (https://www.interplaylearning.com/)Contractor Magazine (https://www.contractormag.com/plumbing/plumbing-contractor/article/21279888/contractor-of-the-year-mike-prencavage-jrthe-genuine-article)You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/toolbox-for-the-trades/id1503078938), on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/76wMZ1SJV4OAql9HzbnQ87?si=85dc59f7c6e244b2), or here (https://www.servicetitan.com/podcast).Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! (https://www.servicetitan.com/referrals)Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Lance Bachmann (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lancebachmann/) had a tough childhood and had to work his way up.After spending several decades in advertising, he decided to start his own full-service digital marketing agency. He learned from his past mistakes, sold the business, shifted his mindset, and seized on different opportunities as he added different companies in the trades to his growing portfolio group.Over time, he not only became a great leader but also someone who had an innate talent to help companies scale and become incredibly profitable.As the owner of LB Capital Group (https://lbachmanncapital.com/), Lance is on a mission to change the roofing industry to make it more of a demand and retail business for greater success. He stops by to share his entrepreneurial journey with us, his take on technology, and what his golden business principles are.Join us as we discuss:[06:47] The “Why me?” versus the “Why not me?” mindset[10:44] How Lance decided he was going to change the roofing industry[16:27] Lance’s take on technology[18:41] Lance’s top golden business principlesCheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:LB Capital Group (https://lbachmanncapital.com/)Tommy Mello (https://homeserviceexpert.com/)Ismael Valdez (https://nexgenairandplumbing.com/ismael-valdez-owner/)1SEO (https://1seo.com/)ServiceTitan Masterminds (https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicetitanmastermind/) Facebook GroupYou can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/toolbox-for-the-trades/id1503078938), on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/76wMZ1SJV4OAql9HzbnQ87?si=85dc59f7c6e244b2), or here (https://www.servicetitan.com/podcast).Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! (https://www.servicetitan.com/referrals)Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Many companies in the trades may view acquisitions with trepidation, but they can also provide businesses with incredible growth opportunities. To achieve that growth, you need to start by building trust and having the right plan in place.Angela Miller (https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-miller-am/)knows that there’s always an opportunity that you don’t anticipate. Together with her team, Angela helps to ensure that transitions are smooth and “business as usual.”As the VP of Integrations at Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing (https://www.goettl.com/), Angela leverages her extensive experience to ensure that businesses that are acquired by her company are seamlessly integrated into their ecosystem. She stops by to share her professional journey with us, how she got into the trades, and what owners looking to sell their businesses or grow via acquisition should think about.Join us as we discuss:[08:05] Angela’s role and how her team is structured[19:14] Advice for businesses looking to grow via acquisitions[23:44] Angela’s most memorable acquisition [34:13] Theory vs. experience: The perks of an MBACheck out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing (https://www.goettl.com/)ServiceTitan (https://www.servicetitan.com/)You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/toolbox-for-the-trades/id1503078938), on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/76wMZ1SJV4OAql9HzbnQ87?si=85dc59f7c6e244b2), or here (https://www.servicetitan.com/podcast).Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here! (https://www.servicetitan.com/referrals)Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.