Blue Collar StartUp

What happens when you take over a 45-year-old family business and discover that growing it means rebuilding almost everything? Daniella Devine, President & CEO of Peacock Floors, shares lessons on business succession, commercial flooring, cash flow, hiring, customer retention, business acquisitions, and using AI to streamline operations and grow a traditional trades business.

Learn more about Peacock Floors and connect with Daniella Devine at peacockfloors.com. 

0:00 Introduction and Life in the Trades

2:25 Meet Daniella Devine of Peacock Floors

3:02 Buying Businesses and Building Wealth Through Real Estate

5:21 The Family Flooring Business That Started in the 1960s

8:45 How a Flooring Shop Expanded Into Commercial Contracts

11:50 The Cash Flow Crisis That Nearly Sank the Business

14:16 The Hidden Costs of Buying an Established Business

17:33 How AI Search Helped Peacock Floors Get Found Online

20:44 The Customer Retention Lesson Behind a 45-Year Legacy

25:05 Building a Team and Learning to Delegate

28:42 Why Hiring the Right Salesperson Is So Difficult

30:21 The Financial Risks of Buying a Family Business

32:01 Selling Solutions Instead of Pushing Products

37:44 Organic Growth vs. Acquiring Other Businesses

43:23 Modernizing an Old-School Business With Technology

46:15 AI Dashboards, Automated Workflows, and Financial Visibility

48:10 Using AI to Analyze Bids and Improve Customer Service

53:34 Keeping the Human Element in an AI-Driven Business

55:15 Where to Find Daniella Devine and Peacock Floors

Want more Blue Collar StartUp?

Website: bluecollarstartup.io 

Facebook: facebook.com/bluecollarstartup 

Instagram: instagram.com/thebluecollarstartup 

#BlueCollarStartUp #BusinessAcquisition #ArtificialIntelligence #ContractorBusiness #Entrepreneurship

Dr. Michael Brophy, President of Hudson Valley Community College, joins Mike Nelson and Derek Foster on Blue Collar StartUp to discuss the skilled labor shortage, the future of trades education, workforce development, and the growing demand for technical skills across New York's Capital Region. From AI's impact on traditional careers to hands-on training, shorter certificate programs, and employer partnerships, discover how technical education is preparing workers for new opportunities in the trades.

Learn more about Hudson Valley Community College at hvcc.edu/index.html and explore its programs for students and working professionals.

0:00 Introducing Blue Collar StartUp and Hudson Valley Community College

2:17 Dr. Brophy's Career in Higher Education

4:44 The College's Programs and Capital Region Campuses

7:20 How Technical Education Has Changed

8:39 What Regional Employers Say the Workforce Needs

10:08 Why Students Need More Hands-On Trade Experiences

11:47 Why Employers Need More Than Technical Skills

14:01 The Skilled Labor Shortage and Career Opportunities

15:31 Meeting Demand for Skilled Workers Across the Region

17:07 The Capital Region's Growing Technology and Manufacturing Economy

18:38 Retraining Adults for New Careers

19:27 Shorter Training Programs and Employer Partnerships

22:08 Why Attitudes Toward the Trades Are Changing

24:13 The Business Opportunities Available in the Trades

25:28 How AI Is Changing Higher Education and Lifelong Learning

28:30 Why Skilled Trades Will Still Matter in an AI-Driven World

31:08 Connecting High School Students With Hands-On Training

33:55 How Local Employers Can Connect With Hudson Valley Students

37:51 Expanding Training Capacity and the Future of the College

40:23 Exploring Programs and Visiting Campus

Want more Blue Collar StartUp?

Website: bluecollarstartup.io 

Facebook: facebook.com/bluecollarstartup 

Instagram: instagram.com/thebluecollarstartup 

#BlueCollarStartUp #SkilledTrades #WorkforceDevelopment #HudsonValleyCommunityCollege #FutureOfWork

What does it take to turn a plumbing business into a thriving company? Pete and Alicia Green of Go Green Plumbing share how they grew from one service truck into a multimillion-dollar operation through financial discipline, business systems, leadership, and community investment. They also explain why knowing your break-even costs, separating salary from profit, and learning how to run a business are essential for long-term success in the trades.

Learn more about Pete and Alicia Green at gogreenplumb.com. 

0:00 Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp

2:06 Pete and Alicia’s Story and the Start of Go Green

3:26 Building a Business Roadmap Before Hiring

5:40 Pete’s Early Interest in the Trades

7:39 Failed Businesses, Visionaries, and Implementers

9:06 Learning Business Systems and Leadership

12:26 What Nexstar Offers Plumbing and HVAC Contractors

16:32 When Is a Contractor Ready for Business Coaching?

19:10 Why Pete Committed to the Nexstar System

21:15 The Conversation That Inspired Pete to Start His Business

24:42 Starting With One Truck and Working Long Hours

25:17 Why Knowing Your Break-Even Cost Matters

27:00 Sacrifice, Salary, Profit, and Reinvesting in Growth

31:01 Go Green’s Early Revenue and Growth

34:07 Learning From Bad Reviews, Employees, and Mistakes

37:52 Finding the Right Roles and Supporting the Team

45:51 Go Green Community Promise and Giving Back

50:06 Advice for Future Tradespeople and Business Owners

Visit bluecollarstartup.io for more real stories and practical lessons from blue-collar business owners.

Facebook: facebook.com/bluecollarstartup 

Instagram: instagram.com/thebluecollarstartup 

#BlueCollarStartUp #PlumbingBusiness #BlueCollarBusiness #Entrepreneurship #SkilledTrades

Matt Fishbune, CEO of Duke's, joins Blue Collar StartUp to discuss how a specialized sewer root control company grew from its Syracuse, New York roots into a nationwide business through acquisitions, market expansion, skilled labor, leadership development, and a focus on its core business. Matt also shares lessons from Duke's growth, including how to evaluate new markets, build teams across multiple regions, develop future leaders, and why the trades should never be viewed as a fallback career.

Connect with Matt Fishbune and learn more about Duke's at dukes.com.

0:00 Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp

3:57 How Duke's Root Control got started in Syracuse

7:41 Turning a chemical product into a service business

10:54 Building a specialized blue-collar workforce

12:56 Matt's role and building Duke's for the next 40 years

15:05 Growth, acquisitions and entering new markets

18:13 Why Duke's invests in greenfield expansion

21:11 Learning from failed investments and "scar tissue"

22:53 How Duke's decides which markets to enter

24:05 Why local relationships matter in a national business

27:03 Building the infrastructure to manage nationwide growth

30:47 Creating a more effective organizational structure

32:42 Why leadership needs to get out in the field

35:05 The "Chief Reminding Officer" approach to leadership

38:00 Building Duke's Academy and developing leaders

39:50 Why onboarding can become overwhelming

42:18 When expanding into a new market can be a mistake

45:05 The "30-foot dunk" test for new business ideas

46:31 Why the trades are not a fallback option

48:04 Learning the trade and the business side

49:37 Where to learn more about Duke's

Want more Blue Collar StartUp?

Website: bluecollarstartup.io 

Facebook: facebook.com/bluecollarstartup 

Instagram: instagram.com/thebluecollarstartup 

#BlueCollarStartUp #BlueCollarBusiness #TradesBusiness #Entrepreneurship #SkilledTrades

Brianna Ford, Founder of All In Heating & Air, shares how she went from working inside multimillion-dollar HVAC companies to launching her own business from zero customers, building a database, generating leads through community involvement, and growing a recognizable local brand. She also breaks down restructuring a $40 million HVAC company that was losing $1 million a month, why businesses need to hire ahead of growth, and how she created processes and KPIs to build All In Heating & Air. 

Learn more about All In Heating & Air and connect with Brianna at callallin.com. 0:00 Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp

3:17 Meet Brianna Ford of All In Heating & Air

5:26 Growing an HVAC company from $3.5M to $28M

6:06 Restructuring a $40M company losing $1M a month

9:16 The power of nurturing your customer database

11:42 The three areas to fix a struggling business

14:13 Why Brianna decided to start her own HVAC company

16:38 Turning the All In dream into a real business

20:08 Building a marketing strategy without relying on Google

21:39 How Facebook groups generated $100K in leads

23:20 Jeremy's role in building the business

25:01 The first calls and first month of All In

27:15 Why you should hire before you feel ready

29:19 Creating KPIs when you don't have a database

32:28 Going from operations to sales and cold calling

33:57 Building business systems for future growth

35:59 What Brianna would do differently

37:35 Learning to network when nobody knows you

39:07 Why growth is uncomfortable

40:16 Brianna's advice: Take the leap of faith

Want more Blue Collar StartUp?

Website: bluecollarstartup.io

Facebook: facebook.com/bluecollarstartup

Instagram: instagram.com/thebluecollarstartup 

#BlueCollarStartUp #HVACBusiness #HVAC #TradesBusiness #Entrepreneurship

What does it take to build a memorable brand and consistent marketing strategy for a home service or contracting business? Crystal Williams, Co-Founder of Lemon Seed Marketing, shares practical advice on contractor branding, business naming, social media content, Google Business Profiles, mascots, and community engagement.

Learn more about Crystal Williams and Lemon Seed Marketing at lemonseedmarketing.com. 

0:00 Intro & Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp

1:49 Meet Crystal Williams & Lemon Seed Marketing

2:11 Growing Up in the Trades

3:58 From Side Hustle to Fractional Marketing

5:58 What a Fractional Marketing Team Actually Does

7:07 Why Brand Consistency Matters for Contractors

9:20 How Should Contractors Name Their Business?

10:21 The Biggest Business Naming Mistake Contractors Make

12:30 Creating a Unique, Memorable Business Name

14:17 Why Most Contractor Names Are Too Similar

15:15 The Story Behind Spot On Pest Control

17:19 How Lemon Seed Marketing Got Its Name

19:24 Why Mascots Can Build Brand Recognition

22:38 Do Mascots Work Beyond the Trades?

25:33 Is There a Marketing Silver Bullet?

27:19 Why Content Is King for Contractors

29:55 The Google Business Profile Mistake Contractors Make

37:55 Community Engagement & Building a Referral Engine

40:10 Turning Community Causes Into Marketing Opportunities

43:45 How to Get Started With Lemon Seed Marketing

Want more Blue Collar StartUp?

Website: bluecollarstartup.io

Facebook: facebook.com/bluecollarstartup

Instagram: instagram.com/thebluecollarstartup

#ContractorMarketing #HomeServiceBusiness #ContractorBranding #SmallBusinessMarketing #BlueCollarStartUp

Stephanie Postell, Owner and COO of Anchor Heating and Air Conditioning, joins Blue Collar StartUp to share how she and her husband built an $8 million HVAC company from just $2,000 after losing the previous $5 million business they helped build. She also explains how HVAC contractors can grow by charging appropriately, understanding their numbers, building a strong brand, investing in great employees, and creating processes that support rapid growth. 

Learn more about Stephanie and Anchor Heating and Air Conditioning at anchorheatingandair.com. 

0:00 Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp

2:55 Introducing Stephanie Postell of Anchor Heating and Air

3:39 Building an $8 million HVAC company in five years

4:51 Starting from zero instead of buying an existing business

5:58 Getting fired and facing an uncertain future

7:21 Finding an investor and deciding to start from scratch

8:09 Launching a new company just before COVID

8:46 Growing from $0 to $5 million in 20 months

11:29 Starting Anchor Heating and Air with just $2,000

13:15 Reinvesting the first HVAC job into the next opportunity

16:02 Why there is no secret sauce to business growth

17:01 Educating HVAC customers instead of high-pressure selling

19:20 Why contractors must charge what their work is worth

22:00 How underpricing is hurting the HVAC industry

26:27 The risks of relying too heavily on AI and ChatGPT

31:00 Building a powerful brand and telling a business story

35:02 Free marketing strategies using Facebook community groups

40:39 Helping launch another HVAC company past $1 million

43:16 How to scale quickly by charging enough and hiring great people

48:29 Investing in employees and building a company people love

53:07 Where to find Stephanie and Anchor Heating and Air

53:35 Closing thanks to listeners and Blue Collar StartUp sponsors

Want more Blue Collar StartUp?

Website: bluecollarstartup.io

Facebook: facebook.com/bluecollarstartup

Instagram: instagram.com/thebluecollarstartup

 #HVACBusiness #BlueCollarBusiness #TradesBusiness #SmallBusinessGrowth #HVAC

Paul Redman, President of Contractor Commerce, joins Blue Collar StartUp to discuss how AI, online shopping, transparent pricing, and changing homeowner expectations are reshaping the trades. He also breaks down common technology mistakes, the importance of speed to lead, and hiring the right people to create a business that can grow without becoming dependent on its owner.

Learn more about Paul Redman and Contractor Commerce at contractorcommerce.com.

0:00 Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp & Meet Paul Redman

1:26 The Family HVAC Business Behind Contractor Commerce

3:14 From HVAC Contractor to E-Commerce Business

4:11 Why Contractor Commerce Launched in 2018

5:54 How Technology Changed the Contractor Business

7:45 Paul’s Journey Into the Trades

10:09 Leading a Growing Team of 50+

13:40 The Compounding Effect of Doing the Right Thing

16:00 How Homeowners’ Buying Habits Have Changed

18:25 How Contractors Can Win in AI Search

20:22 Why Contractors Should Put Pricing Online

23:41 What Younger Homeowners Expect

25:39 Why Contractors Need to Organize Their Data

27:59 Common Technology Mistakes Contractors Make

31:14 Brand, Speed to Lead, Conversion & Cash Flow

34:09 Building a Business That Creates Freedom

36:49 The Importance of Hunger in New Hires

41:18 The Future of Digital Sales for Contractors

Want more Blue Collar StartUp? 

Website: bluecollarstartup.io 

Facebook: facebook.com/bluecollarstartup

Instagram: instagram.com/thebluecollarstartup

#BlueCollarStartUp #ContractorBusiness #HomeServices #AIForBusiness #ContractorCommerce

Andrea Palacio is an AI Business Strategist and founder of Crewless who helps business owners automate repetitive work, streamline operations, and use AI to get their time back. After buying a struggling landscaping company, Andrea used AI automation for phone calls, lead follow-up, payments, scheduling, customer service, proposals, marketing, and other business operations—and ultimately rebuilt the company while creating a new business around AI automation. 

Learn more about Andrea Palacio at andreapalacio.ai. 

0:00 Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp & Meet Andrea Palacio

2:08 What Andrea Does as an AI Business Strategist

3:12 From E-Commerce Entrepreneur to Landscaping Business Owner

3:56 The Landscaping Acquisition Goes Wrong

4:33 Revenue Falls From $70K to $40K a Month

5:35 Fighting Back With Google Ads and Automation

6:19 Why Andrea Chose Automation Over Selling the Business

8:07 Going From Freedom to Extreme Business Stress

11:25 Another Leadership Crisis Forces Andrea to Level Up

13:15 Rebuilding the Landscaping Business With AI

15:03 Building an AI Receptionist to Capture Leads

17:19 Do Customers Actually Want to Talk to AI?

21:27 Using AI to Automate Collections and Get Paid

23:10 AI Scheduling, Content Creation and Business Operations

28:50 Turning AI Consulting Into a Scalable Business

31:18 Claude Code, AI Agents and Building Business Systems

35:30 Why Business Owners Struggle to Adopt AI

40:43 AI, Leadership, Delegation and Getting Your Time Back

47:05 Why You Can't Grow Without Delegating

50:42 “New Levels, New Devils” and the Entrepreneurial Journey

52:04 How to Connect With Andrea Palacio

Want more Blue Collar StartUp?

Website: bluecollarstartup.io 

Facebook: facebook.com/bluecollarstartup

Instagram: instagram.com/thebluecollarstartup/ 

#AIForBusiness #AIAutomation #SmallBusiness #LandscapingBusiness #BlueCollarStartUp

What does the future of manufacturing and the skilled trades workforce look like in New York’s Capital Region? In Episode 138 of Blue Collar StartUp, Mike Nelson and Derek Foster talk with Don Wiesenforth and Matt Grattan of the Center for Economic Growth (CEG) about manufacturing careers, registered apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeship programs, workforce development, automation, AI, and the growing demand for skilled workers. They also explain how CEG helps manufacturers grow, connect with talent, access training and incentives, and navigate resources available to small and mid-sized manufacturing businesses.

Learn more about Don, Matt, and the Center for Economic Growth at ceg.org.

0:00 Blue Collar StartUp Intro & Hosts Catch Up

1:53 Introducing Don Wiesenforth & Matt Grattan from CEG

2:22 What the Center for Economic Growth Does

5:02 The Growing Demand for Blue Collar Talent

8:31 Why the Capital Region Has So Many Manufacturers

10:22 How CEG Supports Manufacturers & Workforce Development

11:35 Getting More Women Into Manufacturing

12:45 Pre-Apprenticeship Programs & Direct Entry

13:12 The New Regional OnRamp Manufacturing Center

16:14 What Manufacturing Apprenticeships Actually Look Like

18:36 How Apprenticeships Can Lead to College Degrees

20:42 The "Earn While You Learn" Model

25:13 The Massive Demand for Manufacturing Workers

28:48 Getting Middle School Students Interested in Manufacturing

30:35 How Automation & AI Are Changing Manufacturing Jobs

37:49 CEG's Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)

43:2 What Employers Really Want From Workers

45:32 The New Generation of Workers & Work-Life Balance

47:23 Why Economic Development Is About More Than Big Companies

50:11 How Manufacturers Can Connect With CEG

Want more Blue Collar StartUp?

Website: bluecollarstartup.io

Facebook: facebook.com/bluecollarstartup

Instagram: instagram.com/thebluecollarstartup/ 

#BlueCollarStartUp #SkilledTrades #Manufacturing #WorkforceDevelopment #Apprenticeships