Struggling to find good people or keep them? You’re not alone. In this follow-up episode, Ryan Englin sits down again with Michael Katz and David Katz of Trio Heating and Air to reveal the people-first strategies that helped them grow to $10M in just a few years.

This episode is a goldmine for blue collar leaders in construction and home services looking to attract, recruit, and retain top talent. Michael and David break down what it really takes to recruit A-players and why your office culture, branding, and onboarding process matter more than you think.

Whether you’re tired of hiring duds, facing constant turnover, or feel stuck in your recruiting process, this conversation is your roadmap to building a team that thrives.

Takeaways

• [2:00] Why you’re not attracting top performers and how to fix it.
• [3:30] The power of branding your workspace to appeal to A-players.
• [5:00] The critical mistake small businesses make when hiring top salespeople.
• [10:00] The long game: How David nurtured a top recruit for 3 years.
• [14:15] Tactical steps to make interviews less intimidating and more effective.
• [17:30] The onboarding experience that gets top talent earning on day one.
• [21:00] How Trio’s $3,000 employee referral system works and why it’s genius.
• [26:00] What to do when your HR team says your recruiting idea is crazy.
• [31:45] Why high performers leave and how to keep them loyal.
• [36:45] Tips to retain support staff like dispatchers and CSRs too.

Connect With Michael & David:

· Website: https://trioheatingandair.com/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-katz-20b751109/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-katz-999319b5/

Support Titans of the Trades:

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Can you succeed in the HVAC industry without any experience? Brothers Michael Katz and David Katz did just that; scaling their company, Trio Heating and Air, from zero to over $10 million in revenue in just two years. In today’s episode, these innovative entrepreneurs share their remarkable journey, highlighting key strategies that can supercharge your growth, profitability, and market presence.

Learn how embracing technology, strategic pricing, and relentless execution allowed them to attract A-players, outperform competitors, and dominate their market. Michael and David offer practical advice for overcoming common hurdles in construction and HVAC businesses, ensuring your company thrives even during challenging times.

This is an inspiring story of passion, persistence, and the power of learning from industry leaders. If you’re looking to elevate your construction business, don’t miss this transformative episode!

Key Takeaways

• 01:29 – How two brothers with no HVAC experience built a multi-million-dollar business in under two years.
• 03:42 – The critical importance of aligning visions within a family-run business.
• 06:33 – The unexpected beginnings: From sleeping in a van to selling air filters door-to-door.
• 08:57 – How attending industry conferences like Pantheon completely changed their business trajectory.
• 13:19 – The harsh reality behind rapid business growth—and how to manage it sustainably.
• 15:28 – Turning your lack of industry experience into your biggest competitive advantage.
• 23:42 – Why raising your prices can dramatically boost your profitability (and customer satisfaction).
• 28:21 – How to overcome pricing fears and dramatically increase your conversion rates.
• 32:27 – The secret behind attracting and retaining A-player talent in construction.
• 34:44 – Simple but powerful advice on how to replicate success: “Just copy and paste.”

Connect With Michael & David:

Website: https://trioheatingandair.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-katz-20b751109/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-katz-999319b5/

Support Titans of the Trades:

If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin talks with Josh Vitale, Founder of Project BUILT, about the unseen struggles facing the construction workforce.

Josh shares staggering statistics on mental health challenges, the alarming suicide and opioid rates in the trades, and how leaders can step up to make a difference. You’ll hear actionable ideas on fostering connection, healing families, and building workplaces where people thrive, not just survive.

If you’re a construction leader who cares about your team’s wellbeing and wants to build a healthier culture that drives productivity and loyalty, this episode is a must‑listen.

Key Takeaways with Time Stamps

• [02:21] Shocking stats on suicide and opioid addiction in construction.
• [03:53] Why a lack of connection fuels despair in the trades.
• [06:57] What real suffering looks like for many mid‑level construction workers.
• [09:55] How leaders can model vulnerability to support their teams.
• [10:59] The hidden impact of toxic bosses on jobsite mental health.
• [12:27] Boundary setting and personal resilience when facing toxic leadership.
• [17:38] Balancing project metrics with emotional health and safety.
• [22:46] How to get involved with Project BUILT and Construction Suicide Prevention Week.

Connect With Josh:

Website: https://getbuilt.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-vitale-vitalchemy/

Support Titans of the Trades:

If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

Is your construction or service business drowning in software solutions that promised efficiency but delivered overwhelm? Jenny Benbrook, CEO and Founder of Powerhouse Consulting Group, joins the podcast to reveal how to finally make your technology work for you, not against you.

In this powerful conversation, Jenny shares insider insights on overcoming common pitfalls contractors face when adopting field service management (FSM) software like ServiceTitan. Learn why your software implementations fail, how to leverage AI effectively, and practical strategies to streamline your operations, boost team productivity, and dramatically enhance your profitability.

Whether you’re tech-savvy or resistant to change, Jenny’s straightforward advice can revolutionize how your construction business operates and thrives.

Key Takeaways

• 01:25 – Why most software implementations in construction overwhelm instead of streamline.
• 02:47 – The truth behind why your FSM software isn’t the “Holy Grail” you expected.
• 04:44 – Overcoming the two biggest mindset shifts contractors need for successful software adoption.
• 06:51 – The secret behind Powerhouse Consulting’s approach to relieving software overwhelm.
• 09:52 – A surprising way to automate accounts receivable and free up 15 hours a week.
• 13:35 – Why mastering technology is essential for legacy building or selling your construction business.
• 18:58 – Avoiding costly redundancies: How to stop buying software you don’t need.
• 23:00 – The crucial mistake contractors make in managing complex tasks like inventory.
• 24:40 – How AI will reshape the trades and how your business can lead instead of lag.
• 27:16 – AI is a tool to enhance your team, not replace it.

Connect With Jenny:

Website: https://mypowerhouse.group/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennybenbrook/

Support Titans of the Trades:

If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

Are office inefficiencies holding back your construction or service business? Today’s guest, Lynn Wise from Contractor In Charge, reveals why most contractors lose valuable leads and struggle with productivity. From understanding the true cost of mismanaged phone calls to strategically using AI for your front-office tasks, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to streamline your operations.

Lynn leverages over 50 years of experience in the trades, offering expert insights on optimizing your office roles, reducing chaos, and boosting profitability. If you’re looking to eliminate the frustration of missed opportunities and overwhelmed staff, this conversation is a must-listen!

Key Takeaways

• 01:18 – Lynn’s journey from dispatcher to CEO and how she built Contractor In Charge.
• 03:50 – The real reason contractors lose leads despite spending money on marketing.
• 05:28 – Why combining multiple roles into one job is damaging your productivity.
• 07:09 – Only 28% of your incoming calls are bookable. Here’s why.
• 09:34 – How AI can drastically improve call handling without replacing humans.
• 12:08 – Using AI effectively to handle the 72% of non-bookable calls.
• 15:13 – Why your current approach to staffing might be driving great employees away.
• 20:07 – The hidden impact of poor planning on your business’ bottom line.
• 23:53 – Two essential skills every successful contractor must master (and how most fail).
• 27:27 – A simple strategy to instantly boost your customer loyalty through service calls.

Connect With Lynn:

Website: https://contractorincharge.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnwise/

Support Titans of the Trades:

If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

Michael Carey Jr., President of Carey Electric, shares his journey from high school apprentice to owner of a thriving design-build electrical firm.

In this episode, Michael and Ryan explore how technology, standardization, and a commitment to education are reshaping construction jobs for the next generation. Learn why Carey Electric’s approach to training and design-build projects sets them apart in a competitive industry.

Whether you’re a construction business owner, manager, or technician, you’ll walk away inspired and informed on how to lead with vision and purpose.

Key Takeaways with Timestamps

• 00:34 Michael’s origin story: family business roots and early exposure to the trades.
• 02:15 How the construction labor landscape has changed over the last 40 years.
• 04:05 What design-build means and why Carey Electric uses this approach.
• 05:48 The value of being a partner, not just a subcontractor, on large projects.
• 07:10 How systematizing processes boosts technician productivity and morale.
• 12:50 How Carey Electric is reaching future tradespeople at schools and fairs.
• 18:52 Why training can’t stop after apprenticeship. Continuous growth matters.
• 19:58 Where to find Michael and learn more about Carey Electric’s impact.

Connect With Michael:

Website: https://www.careyelectricinc.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-carey-jr-221163107/

Support Titans of the Trades:

If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

In this episode of Titans of the Trades, Ryan Englin sits down with Danielle Putnam, President of The New Flat Rate, to break down how construction and home service contractors can boost revenue and retention by doing less. That’s right. Less.

Danielle shares how giving technicians the power of choice through menu pricing not only increases average tickets but also reduces burnout, improves customer satisfaction, and builds stronger businesses. From ride-alongs to real-world coaching and a peer group called Freedom Builders University, Danielle reveals how her team is reshaping the trades, one call at a time.

If you’re tired of running your techs ragged and still not seeing the profits, this episode is your roadmap to smarter growth.

10 Key Takeaways with Timestamps:

• [01:00] Why menu pricing keeps families together and techs sane.
• [02:00] How technicians can triple impact with fewer calls per day.
• [03:15] The “Power of the Menu” explained with cheeseburgers.
• [06:45] Freedom Builders University and how it works.
• [08:40] What contractors learn from on-site peer group visits.
• [10:27] Why owners don’t want to be trainers, and shouldn’t have to be.
• [12:54] Don’t hire unicorns. Hire real people and give them tools.
• [18:08] The mindset shift that defines successful contractors today.
• [21:20] Why lack of follow-up is killing your construction business.
• [24:08] Danielle’s top tools for automating your way to freedom.

Connect With Danielle:

Website: https://thenewflatrate.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellekoop/

Support Titans of the Trades:

If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

What if recruiting for your construction business was as strategic as landing your next big client? In this episode of Titans of the Trades, host Ryan Englin sits down with seasoned business coach John Nieuwenburg of W5 Coaching. Together, they dive into one of the most overlooked but critical strategies in blue collar leadership: treating recruiting like marketing.

John brings two decades of coaching experience, much of it with contractors and tradespeople, and delivers hard-hitting insights on how mindset, culture, and transformational leadership are the true game-changers in solving the trades’ labor crisis.

From building a bench to exiting your business on your terms, this conversation is packed with real talk and practical strategies construction leaders can’t afford to miss.

Episode Takeaways with Timestamps

• [02:24] The Real Definition of Coaching. John breaks down why coaching isn’t about giving advice but helping you own your solutions.
• [03:30] What W5 Really Means. Learn how the Socratic method shapes John’s coaching model.
• [05:49] Business Coaching is Personal Coaching. The deeper issues behind business problems (hint: it’s not the spreadsheet).
• [07:15] Recruiting Like You Sell. Why you must treat recruiting with the same urgency as sales.
• [08:35] Build a Bench Before You Need It. John’s retail story shows how to always be recruiting the right way.
• [11:04] Job Ads That Actually Work. A better way to write job postings that speak to real human pain points.
• [14:26] Transformational vs. Transactional Coaching. How to get the culture you deserve, not just the one you tolerate.
• [18:07] Leverage in Hiring. Why the person with more options always wins, and how to make sure it’s you.
• [20:16] Building a Self-Managing Business. What’s your business worth if you step away for 3 months?
• [25:48] Identity After the Exit. Why selling your business is as emotional as it is financial.

Connect With John:

Website: https://w5coaching.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-coach-canada/

Support Titans of the Trades:

If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.