How leading home services companies grow without losing culture
Jason Trace shares lessons from running Cool Today Orlando
Growth, talent, AI, and innovation in HVAC and the trades

Episode Summary
In this episode of Sparking the Fuse, Chris Cook talks with Jason Trace, General Manager of Cool Today Orlando, about what it takes to operate and scale a modern home services business. Jason shares how leadership, culture, and operational discipline show up in HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services.

They cover staffing shortages, rising customer expectations, and how technology and AI are improving dispatching and efficiency. Jason also explains private equity-backed models versus smaller “mom and pop” operators, and why process and culture matter more as companies grow. The episode closes with refrigerant transitions and what they mean for service teams and customers.

Key Takeaways

• General managers must drive results across people, process, and performance
• Culture is essential for long-term customer and employee relationships
• Doing the right thing supports sustainable growth
• Clear communication is critical to daily operations
• Structured sales processes improve customer experience
• AI is increasing efficiency in dispatching and operations
• Talent retention depends heavily on leadership and culture
• Customer experience should guide decision-making
• Staffing challenges can restrict growth
• Refrigerant changes are impacting the HVAC industry
  

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Jason Trace and Cool Today Orlando
02:41 Daily Operations and Responsibilities of a General Manager
05:34 Understanding the Structure of Cool Today Orlando
07:52 Sales Process and Customer Engagement
08:47 Industry Trends and Challenges
11:06 Attracting and Retaining Talent in the Trades
12:21 Current Successes and Team Dynamics
14:30 Fleet Management and Safety Responsibilities
15:58 Growth Challenges and Capacity Management
16:52 Exploring Growth Opportunities
18:14 Future Goals and Growth Projections
19:48 Differences in Business Models: Private Equity vs. Mom and Pop
21:58 Addressing Major Headaches in the Business
26:32 Conclusion and Contact Information

Keywords
Jason Trace, Cool Today Orlando, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, customer service, team culture, industry trends, talent retention, business growth

🔗 Connect With Chris
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scalewithchris/
Work With Five Fuse: https://www.fivefuse.com/

🔗 Connect With Today’s Guest
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-trace-b1503419/
Website: https://www.cooltoday.com/

🎧 Listen on Other Platforms
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5rgYjB8RxYKfgvOf1PrNFv?si=0dd85415f6174756
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparking-the-fuse/id1857737431

📸 Socials
Five Fuse LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/five-fuse/