In this episode of Owned and Operated, John Wilson sits down with Ismael Valdez, founder of NextGen and Nuva Thermostats, to unpack how he built one of the fastest-growing home service businesses in the country.

Valdez shares how he scaled NextGen from his garage to a $100M+ powerhouse with multiple locations, breaking down the exact strategies that fueled his growth. From high-ROI marketing plays to perfecting tech turnover processes and managing gross profit like a hawk, you’ll learn the playbook that took him from startup to industry leader.

For the first time, Valdez also dives into his latest venture: Nuva Thermostats — a game-changing tool for HVAC contractors that brands the thermostat with your logo, turning every home into a lead-gen engine.

This episode isn’t just about tactics. Valdez gets real about the personal sacrifices behind scaling to $100M, how to leverage social media for future growth, and what it takes to keep winning at the highest level.

If you’re serious about scaling your HVAC or home service business, this conversation is a must-listen.

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🎙️ Host:
 John Wilson 

🎙️ Guest:
 Ishmael Valdez (NextGen, Nuva Thermostats)

⏱ Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

01:21 Ismael Valdez's Journey with NextGen

11:06 Scaling and Business Strategies

26:47 Scaling Operations and Building an Executive Team

28:34 Effective Lead Generation Strategies

31:53 The Future of Marketing and Product Innovation

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John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

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