Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service

AI is not coming for your techs. It is coming for the busywork, the missed calls, and the guesswork that quietly eats your margin. In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett sits down with Chris Plunkett, a Tucson HVAC owner who has been in the trade since he was eight years old, to talk about what using AI in an HVAC business actually looks like day to day. They get into how Chris turned home inspections from a loss leader into one of his highest paying jobs, why his AI voice agent books calls so well that customers swear they were talking to a person, and the simple pay change that made after hours emergencies fair to his technicians again. If you run an HVAC, plumbing, or electrical company and you are tired of AI hype with nothing to show for it, this one is built for you. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Breezy, the AI voice agent Chris uses for his after hours and overflow calls. See how many calls you are missing at https://getbreezyapp.com and use code SBM for 500 dollars toward Breezy. CHAPTERS 0:00 – Why AI Won't Replace HVAC Techs 1:45 – Welcome to Service Business Mastery 2:37 – Fix Your Processes Before You Automate Anything 3:44 – Meet Chris Plunkett: From 8 Year Old Tech to HVAC Owner 7:33 – Where Chris Actually Uses AI in His HVAC Business 8:21 – Letter Grade Diagnostics Customers Understand 10:28 – The Real Way AI Is Changing the Trades 11:49 – Turning Home Inspections Into a High Ticket Profit Center 15:37 – Presenting Diagnostics So Customers Say Yes 18:04 – AI Voice Agents for After Hours and Overflow Calls 20:31 – The Call Nobody Could Tell Was AI 27:07 – Trigger Words and On Call Routing That Keep Owners Out of the Mix 29:41 – The Late Night Call Policy That Protects Your Techs 32:06 – Why Emergency Rate Beats After Hours Rate 35:02 – Nobody Wants to Work for YOU: Hiring the Next Generation 37:32 – Trade Culture, Mentorship, and Bringing Young Techs In 46:24 – Where to Find Chris and His Whiskey Side Hustle ABOUT SERVICE BUSINESS MASTERY Service Business Mastery is where home service owners come to run better, more profitable companies. Every week, Tersh Blissett and Josh Crouch talk through the real operations, technology, and leadership decisions behind growing an HVAC, plumbing, or electrical business, with the operators and experts actually doing the work. More episodes and resources: https://servicebusinessmastery.com/ https://linkin.bio/servicebusinessmasterypodcast THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY BREEZY

About 30 percent of inbound calls in home services go unanswered, and those are customers ready to book with whoever picks up first. Breezy puts AI agents on every call, books the job, and follows up instantly, so you wake up to booked jobs instead of missed calls.

See how many jobs you are losing right now at https://getbreezyapp.com and use code SBM for 500 dollars toward Breezy. UPFROG

Upfrog is the OG of pricing transparency online. They find hard to reach system replacement leads through paid ads, then nurture and book them into sold systems before your team even arrives.

Learn more: upfrog.com MARKET STORM

Market Storm works with home service companies across the country, using AI to catch early buyer intent and put your brand in front of homeowners before they ever search. So when they do search, your name already feels familiar.

Visit https://marketstorm.ai/ CALLRAIL

CallRail assigns a unique tracking number to each of your marketing efforts, so you know exactly which channels bring your best leads and which ones to cut.

Try it free at https://callrail.com/sbmpod. PHONETAP

Your calls hold the key to growing your business. PhoneTAP gives you instant AI analysis, real customer lifetime value, and tools to coach your team. Learn more: phonetap.ai/demo COMPANYCAM

Capture work, track job progress, and stay connected from the field to the office with photo documentation and AI tools that keep work moving. Start a free trial at: https://companycam.com/ CONNECT WITH OUR HOSTS AND GUEST Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/ Josh Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/ Chris Plunkett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-plunkett-11613385/ NEVER MISS AN EPISODE Subscribe on YouTube and follow Service Business Mastery on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If this one helped, share it with an owner who needs to hear it. #ServiceBusinessMastery #HVAC #AIinTheTrades #HomeServices #HVACBusiness

Most home service companies do not have a lead problem. They have a missed-call problem. In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Chris Nelson, Senior Manager of Vertical Marketing at CallRail, to talk about why home service leads disappear, how missed calls turn into lost revenue, and what contractors can do to better understand what is happening inside their call flow. This conversation is not just about answering the phone faster. It is about understanding where your leads come from, how they move through your business, and where good opportunities get lost before they ever turn into booked jobs. Chris breaks down how call tracking, call routing, CRM integrations, AI voice assistants, and conversation intelligence can help contractors see the real story behind their marketing spend and customer calls. They also discuss:

• Why missed calls are one of the most expensive leaks in a home service business

• How call routing helps contractors get the right calls to the right people

• Why attribution is harder now that homeowners use Google, social media, AI search, referrals, and other touchpoints before calling

• How AI voice assistants can support CSR teams with overflow, after-hours calls, and basic call handling

• Why call data and conversation intelligence help owners coach their teams and make smarter marketing decisions

If you are spending money on marketing but still missing calls, losing track of leads, or struggling to understand which channels are actually creating revenue, this episode will help you see why better call visibility matters. Timestamps 00:00 Pre-show conversations with Chris 04:11 Introducing Voice Assist for Contractors 06:40 Integrating AI in Job Interviews 12:48 Introducing ChatGPT integration with Call Rail 15:18 Understanding Data and Attribution 18:18 Troubleshooting marketing and spending issues 23:07 Boosting Average Repair Tickets 26:08 Managing customer service team 27:07 Managing Incoming Calls and Coverage 31:32 Training and fine-tuning voice assistants 35:12 Using AI for data analysis 37:54 Tracking summer special calls 41:08 Home renovation challenges 43:40 Offering product assistance Follow the Host and Guest Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/ Joshua Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/ Chris Nelson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-nelson-205588140/ CallRail: https://www.callrail.com/ Connect with Us

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmasterypodcast • Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast This episode is kindly powered by:

UpFrog: upfrog.com

MarketStorm is an AI-powered advertising platform. Results vary by market, budget, and campaign configuration: https://marketstorm.ai/

Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod

CompanyCam: https://companycam.com/

Breezy: Capture 25-30% more clients with Breezy AI Agents. Use code "SBM" to book a demo and get $500 on us: https://getbreezyapp.com/schedule-demo

PhoneTAP: Your calls hold the key to growing your business. PhoneTAP gives you instant AI analysis, real customer lifetime value, and tools to coach your team. Learn more: phonetap.ai/demo

Most contractors want more leads, more booked calls, and more revenue. But if your sales process is inconsistent, more leads will only expose the problem faster. In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Josh Martin, Director of Revenue Strategy at 3Four Labs, to talk about how service businesses can grow by building a stronger sales framework, improving technician coaching, and using AI-powered tools the right way. Josh explains why AI and automation are only useful when your company already knows what "good" looks like. If your technicians, comfort advisors, or salespeople do not have a clear framework, the software cannot magically make them better. It needs to understand the questions you want asked, the information you want collected, and the way your company expects customers to be served. The conversation also breaks down why recording field conversations should not be seen as "Big Brother," but as a coaching tool. Just like athletes watch game film, technicians and salespeople can use call and visit recordings to improve their communication, tone, positioning, and close rate. They also discuss:

• Why every growing company needs a repeatable sales framework

• How AI ride-along tools help coach technicians and salespeople

• Why technicians act differently when a manager is physically in the truck

• How recording customer conversations can help your team improve

• Why "sales" feels uncomfortable for many technicians

• The importance of teaching technical experts how to communicate value

• Why companies need clean data before they rely on AI

• How AI can create noise when it is used without a clear outcome

• Why automation must be monitored instead of set and forgotten

• How to avoid overwhelming your team when adopting new technology

• Why sales tools must be customized to your company's process

• How asking for the sale is often the missing step in the home

If you are trying to grow your service business, improve close rates, coach your team better, or make AI useful instead of confusing, this episode gives you a practical look at how sales process and technique create scalable growth. Timestamps 00:00 Clarifying platform's role and use case 05:22 Getting started in the industry 09:22 AI ride along software discussion 10:53 Optimizing service call efficiency 16:07 Watching sales recordings for improvement 18:37 Identifying AI-generated resumes 21:01 Efficiency with Technology Tools 24:08 Understanding mismatched business language 29:17 Demo: Claude's PowerPoint integration 31:10 Human oversight in automation 35:23 Challenges of Team Growth 39:35 Understanding customer communication skills 42:31 Introducing Execconnect tool 43:31 Explaining the 34 Labs name Follow the Host and Guest

Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/

Joshua Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/

Josh Martin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuadarrenmartin/

3Four Labs: htps://www.linkedin.com/company/3fourlabs/

Connect with Us

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmasterypodcast • Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast This episode is kindly powered by:

UpFrog: upfrog.com

MarketStorm is an AI-powered advertising platform. Results vary by market, budget, and campaign configuration: https://marketstorm.ai/

Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod

CompanyCam: https://companycam.com/

Breezy: Capture 25-30% more clients with Breezy AI Agents. Use code "SBM" to book a demo and get $500 on us: https://getbreezyapp.com/schedule-demo

PhoneTAP: Your calls hold the key to growing your business. PhoneTAP gives you instant AI analysis, real customer lifetime value, and tools to coach your team. Learn more: phonetap.ai/demo

Most contractors think they need more leads.

But what if the real problem is that you're already missing the jobs you paid to generate?

In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Shaun Ritchey from Breezy to talk about Moneyball for home services and how contractors can use AI, better data, and smarter systems to uncover the jobs hiding inside their existing business.

Just like Moneyball changed baseball by finding overlooked value in the data, this conversation shows how contractors can find overlooked revenue in missed calls, slow follow-up, poor booking processes, weak web conversion, and underused customer lists.

Shaun explains why the biggest opportunity is not always spending more money on marketing. Sometimes the fastest path to growth is fixing the leaks already inside your sales funnel.

They also discuss:

How Moneyball applies to home service businesses Why contractors often lose the most money during their busiest seasons How missed calls create major revenue leaks Why speed-to-lead can make or break a booked job How AI agents help contractors answer more calls and book more jobs Why AI should support CSRs, not replace them How web visitors and younger homeowners are changing the booking process Why low-value tune-ups can block high-value replacement opportunities How call tracking, transfer rules, and better data improve lead handling Why AI needs training, monitoring, and human oversight How contractors can use AI to analyze pricing, inventory, and operations Why bad data creates bad AI output

If you're spending more money on leads but still missing calls, losing web visitors, or struggling to understand where revenue is leaking, this episode will help you think differently about growth. Timestamps

00:00 Explaining the Moneyball strategy

05:29 Challenges of manual call analysis

08:10 Helping contractors book more jobs

11:00 A CRM for the trades industry

14:23 Integrating AI with CRM Tools

17:18 Discussing AI's role in customer service

20:14 Discussing AI's strengths and limitations

21:57 Issues with AI voice providers

27:40 Using CRM for cost analysis

31:42 Using call tracking for marketing

33:09 Overbooked with low-margin appointments

36:10 Using AI for Business Transparency

41:52 Evaluating Client Booking Efficiency

43:52 Recognizing trends in social media marketing

48:40 Updating and trusting sales data

51:31 Getting help with my project

54:00 Pricing strategy for offers

Follow the Host and Guest

Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/

Joshua Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/

Shaun Ritchey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-ritchey/

Breezy: https://getbreezyapp.com

Connect with Us

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmasterypodcast • Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast This episode is kindly powered by:

UpFrog: upfrog.com

MarketStorm is an AI-powered advertising platform. Results vary by market, budget, and campaign configuration: https://marketstorm.ai/

Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod

CompanyCam: https://companycam.com/

Breezy: Capture 25-30% more clients with Breezy AI Agents. Use code "SBM" to book a demo and get $500 on us: https://getbreezyapp.com/schedule-demo

PhoneTAP: Your calls hold the key to growing your business. PhoneTAP gives you instant AI analysis, real customer lifetime value, and tools to coach your team. Learn more: phonetap.ai/demo

Most service business owners are chasing the next lead source.

Google Ads. Facebook Ads. AI. SEO. Automation.

But sometimes the fastest way to grow is still the most old-school strategy in the book: getting out into your community, shaking hands, building trust, and making sure people remember your brand.

In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Chuck Worley, owner of Worley's Home Services, to talk about branding, networking, reputation, and the real-world grind behind building a service business people know, trust, and refer.

Chuck shares his journey from struggling in school to building a career in HVAC sales, starting and losing a business, rebuilding from bankruptcy, paying back debts he was no longer legally required to pay, and eventually growing Worley's Home Services into a $17 million company.

He also breaks down why branding is not just about a logo, why standing out matters, and how his orange and green jackets became a memorable part of his local brand.

They also discuss:

How Chuck went from HVAC technician to top-performing comfort advisor Why sales changed his life and gave him a path forward The painful lessons from bankruptcy and rebuilding from zero Why reputation matters more than almost anything in business How Chuck used networking to grow his company without relying only on digital marketing Why your brand needs to be memorable, even if people think it looks ridiculous How local chambers, BNI groups, and business events can generate real relationships Why referrals still matter in a world obsessed with AI and ads How Chuck used small acquisitions and owner financing to grow Why being the "power connector" in your market can create long-term growth How service business owners can start networking even if they feel uncomfortable

If you are a service business owner who wants to build a brand people remember, generate more referrals, and grow through real relationships, this episode is a practical, no-BS playbook.

Timestamps 00:00 Old-school networking advice 03:36 Challenges with AI voice calls 08:48 Struggling through high school 11:48 Quitting shipyard job for family 13:32 Quitting jobs due to drug use 18:42 Friend's Offer During Divorce 22:18 Early business struggles and trust 25:11 Growing HVAC Business from Dorm Room 27:03 CallRail for tracking marketing calls 30:37 Networking as an Introvert 32:51 Growing the sales team 36:55 Personal branding and first impressions 41:10 Joining a Chamber of Commerce 45:13 Networking and local referrals 48:41 Networking with industry professionals 52:26 Overcoming networking anxiety 52:58 Networking event experience 56:57 Importance of referrals and relationships 59:38 Wrapping up and subscribing encouragement Follow the Host and Guest Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/ Joshua Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/ Chuck Worley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckworley757/

Connect with Us • LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmasterypodcast • Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast

This episode is kindly powered by:

UpFrog: upfrog.com

MarketStorm is an AI-powered advertising platform. Results vary by market, budget, and campaign configuration: https://marketstorm.ai/

Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod

CompanyCam: https://companycam.com/

Breezy: Capture 25-30% more clients with Breezy AI Agents. Use code "SBM" to book a demo and get $500 on us: https://getbreezyapp.com/schedule-demo

PhoneTAP: Your calls hold the key to growing your business. PhoneTAP gives you instant AI analysis, real customer lifetime value, and tools to coach your team. Learn more: phonetap.ai/demo

Most contractors think branding is about logos, colors, and marketing.

It's not.

The strongest brands in the trades do something much more powerful: they attract great employees, create loyal customers, and make growth easier.

In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Levi Torres, founder of High 5 Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric, to discuss how consistent branding became the foundation for one of Colorado's fastest-growing home service companies.

What started as a simple idea—a high five at the end of every service call—evolved into a recognizable brand that helps attract top talent, improve retention, and create a culture employees are proud to be part of.

Levi shares how High 5 uses social media, training systems, operational consistency, and employee development to build a company that technicians actively want to join.

They discuss:

• Why branding is a recruiting tool, not just a marketing tool • How company culture influences hiring success • The power of consistency in building trust • Why social media has become a recruiting engine • Creating clear career paths for technicians • Building training systems that support growth • How documentation makes scaling easier • Expanding into HVAC and electrical without losing culture • The role of AI in coaching and employee development • Why employee experience directly impacts customer experience

If you're struggling to hire quality people, improve retention, or scale your service business, this episode will show you how a strong brand can solve more problems than you think.

Timestamps

00:00 Building a Social Media Presence 06:12 Naming the plumbing business 08:06 Starting to focus on plumbing 10:54 Importance of personal growth in business 14:23 Adapting Branding During Covid 18:02 Switching to social media strategy 20:02 Social media's role in recruiting 23:38 Training technicians to show passion 26:50 Building a Trusting Work Culture 30:15 Employee system review meetings 35:14 Setting up HVAC systems 38:10 Following systems for success 41:22 Customer acquisition strategies and shifts 44:01 Rotating manager-led training sessions 47:49 Utilizing AI for company growth 49:52 Experience with automatic recording systems 54:37 Understanding team roles and strengths 56:42 Balancing revenue and company culture

Follow the Host and Guest

Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/ Joshua Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/ Levi Torres: https://www.linkedin.com/in/levi-torres-9b4b97103/ Connect with Us

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmasterypodcast • Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast This episode is kindly powered by:

UpFrog: upfrog.com

MarketStorm is an AI-powered advertising platform. Results vary by market, budget, and campaign configuration: https://marketstorm.ai/

Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod

CompanyCam: https://companycam.com/

Breezy: Capture 25-30% more clients with Breezy AI Agents. Use code 'SBM' to book a demo and get $500 on us: https://getbreezyapp.com/schedule-demo

PhoneTAP: Your calls hold the key to growing your business. PhoneTAP gives you instant AI analysis, real customer lifetime value, and tools to coach your team. Learn more: phonetap.ai/demo

Most home service companies don't have a lead problem. They have a follow-up problem. In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Kevin Wu, founder of Leaping AI, to discuss how AI voice agents and automation are helping home service businesses solve some of their biggest call center challenges. From missed calls and slow follow-up times to after-hours booking and lead nurturing, Kevin shares how AI is being used as a practical tool to support customer service teams, improve speed-to-lead, and create better customer experiences without replacing people. The conversation also explores the future of AI-powered call centers, how contractors can automate repetitive tasks, and why business owners should focus on using AI to eliminate bottlenecks instead of simply cutting payroll. What You Will Learn in This Episode

• Why speed-to-lead is still one of the biggest challenges in home services

• How AI voice agents help capture missed opportunities

• The difference between replacing employees and supporting employees

• Why call centers struggle with consistency and process adherence

• How AI can improve appointment scheduling and follow-up

• The role of AI in call monitoring and quality control

• Why data quality inside your CRM matters more than ever

• How AI can help clean and organize customer databases

• The future of automated outbound campaigns

• The risks of AI abuse and spam calling

• How responsible AI adoption can improve customer experience

• Why contractors should start experimenting with AI today

If you're looking for ways to improve call handling, increase booked appointments, and build a more efficient service business, this episode is packed with practical insights. Timestamps 00:00 Challenges with contractor responsiveness 03:11 Kevin introduces himself 08:58 Kids' interest in trade careers 09:45 Issues with Customer Support Responsiveness 14:00 AI improving call center efficiency 18:33 Solving data analysis with AI 20:55 Improving business metrics accuracy 25:37 Implementing EOS for business owners 29:31 Focusing on business priorities 32:00 AI for persistent customer follow-up 35:27 Responsible AI use in marketing 39:33 Data export issues in QuickBooks 40:45 Using AI to clean CRM data 43:35 Trying something new for 30 minutes Follow the Host and Guest

Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/ Joshua Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/ Kevin Wu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-wu-452a6393/ Connect with Us

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmasterypodcast • Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast This episode is kindly powered by:

UpFrog: upfrog.com

MarketStorm is an AI-powered advertising platform. Results vary by market, budget, and campaign configuration: https://marketstorm.ai/

Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod

CompanyCam: https://companycam.com/

Breezy: Capture 25-30% more clients with Breezy AI Agents. Use code 'SBM' to book a demo and get $500 on us: https://getbreezyapp.com/schedule-demo

PhoneTAP: Your calls hold the key to growing your business. PhoneTAP gives you instant AI analysis, real customer lifetime value, and tools to coach your team. Learn more: phonetap.ai/demo

Most contractors don't have a recruiting problem. They have a recruiting system problem. In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Paul Sanneman, founder of Contractor Staffing Source, to discuss how top home service companies are using systems, assessments, and AI-powered recruiting tools to consistently find better employees. After helping more than 2,000 contractors and recruiting over 2,500 successful hires, Paul shares the biggest recruiting mistakes contractors make and why most hiring challenges are self-inflicted. The conversation dives into the mindset shifts required to build a winning team, the importance of recruiting year-round, and how technology can help contractors identify better candidates before they ever schedule an interview. If you're struggling to attract, evaluate, or retain quality employees, this episode provides a practical framework for building a repeatable recruiting machine. What You Will Learn in This Episode

• Why recruiting should never stop • The biggest hiring mistakes contractors make • How applicant tracking systems streamline recruiting • Why speed-to-lead matters for hiring • How assessments reduce bad hires • Why personality and integrity are often more important than experience • The benefits of hiring outside the construction industry • How AI can improve recruiting processes • Why hiring slow and firing fast protects your culture • The true cost of keeping B players on your team • How recruiting impacts long-term business growth • Why private equity companies are winning the hiring game Timestamps

00:00 Job applicant assessment process

05:03 Challenges in hiring decisions

07:21 Comparing coordinators to wedding planners

11:35 Using content to attract talent

13:38 Promoting job openings effectively

18:14 Asking ethical interview questions

21:54 Using call tracking for marketing

25:26 Managing job application process

28:44 Keeping a team member too long

29:39 Avoiding painful firing decisions

34:46 Importance of business skills Follow the Host and Guest

Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/ Joshua Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/ Paul Sanneman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-sanneman Connect with Us

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmasterypodcast • Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast This episode is kindly powered by:

UpFrog: upfrog.com

MarketStorm is an AI-powered advertising platform. Results vary by market, budget, and campaign configuration: https://marketstorm.ai/

Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod

CompanyCam: https://companycam.com/

Breezy: Capture 25-30% more clients with Breezy AI Agents. Use code 'SBM' to book a demo and get $500 on us: https://getbreezyapp.com/schedule-demo

PhoneTAP: Your calls hold the key to growing your business. PhoneTAP gives you instant AI analysis, real customer lifetime value, and tools to coach your team. Learn more: phonetap.ai/demo

Most contractors walk past air curtains every day without realizing how much money they can save commercial buildings.

In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Curtis Rosol from Mars Air Systems to break down how air curtains work and why they've become a powerful solution for energy savings, indoor air quality, and insect control in commercial spaces.

From convenience stores and restaurants to cold storage facilities and warehouses, Curtis explains how air curtains create an invisible barrier that keeps conditioned air inside while preventing heat, humidity, dust, smoke, and flying insects from entering the building.

They also discuss:

• How air curtains reduce HVAC energy loss

• Why electrification will make energy savings even more valuable

• How air curtains help solve cold storage and freezer issues

• The difference between strip curtains and air curtains

• Why insects and contaminants enter buildings through open doors

• How air curtains improve indoor air quality

• The ROI contractors can present to commercial customers

• Why these systems are becoming more important in high-traffic buildings

• Simple installation opportunities for HVAC contractors

• Residential applications for luxury outdoor living spaces

If you work in light commercial HVAC or want to offer energy-saving upgrades to your customers, this episode is packed with practical opportunities. Timestamps

00:00 Energy efficiency in buildings

05:54 Energy savings with protected openings

07:08 Impact of Electric Demand on Costs

12:24 Using air curtains for patios

13:11 Using CallRail for Marketing

16:29 How air curtains work

19:43 Installing above-door units

22:54 Episode wrap-up and closing remarks

Follow the Host and Guest

Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/ Joshua Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/ Curtis Rosol: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtisrosol/ Connect with Us

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmasterypodcast • Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast This episode is kindly powered by:

UpFrog: upfrog.com

MarketStorm is an AI-powered advertising platform. Results vary by market, budget, and campaign configuration: https://marketstorm.ai/

Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod

CompanyCam: https://companycam.com/

Breezy: Capture 25-30% more clients with Breezy AI Agents. Use code 'SBM' to book a demo and get $500 on us: https://getbreezyapp.com/schedule-demo

PhoneTAP: Your calls hold the key to growing your business. PhoneTAP gives you instant AI analysis, real customer lifetime value, and tools to coach your team. Learn more: phonetap.ai/demo

The skilled labor shortage isn't just a hiring problem. It's a perception problem. In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Ruchir Shah, founder of SkillCat, to discuss why home service companies are struggling to attract and retain skilled workers and what the industry can do about it. Ruchir shares how his background in workforce training led him to build SkillCat, an online trade training platform helping people transition into HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and appliance repair careers. If your company struggles with hiring, retention, or technician development, this episode offers a practical look at how the future workforce is changing. What You Will Learn in This Episode

• Why the trades are becoming more attractive to younger generations

• How white-collar workers are now transitioning into skilled trades

• The real reason people are leaving traditional office jobs

• Why many technicians feel more fulfilled than corporate workers

• The growing impact of AI on career choices

• Why training accessibility is critical for the future of the trades

• How online trade training and certifications are changing recruiting

• Why mechanical aptitude matters more than experience

• The role gamification and microlearning play in technician development

• How companies can build better apprenticeship and training programs

Timestamps

00:00 Expanding online trade certifications

04:52 Starting SkillCat to help reskill

06:26 Job security concerns in Savannah

09:43 Switching to a paid model

15:01 Relying on social media sharing

17:05 Emphasizing the importance of networking

20:08 Trades job satisfaction and benefits

22:55 The value of trade jobs

25:58 Returning to familiar industries

31:27 Building trade school courses

32:59 Designing bite-sized, interactive courses

Follow the Host and Guest

Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/ Joshua Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/ Ruchir Shah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruchir-shah/ SkillCat: https://www.skillcatapp.com Connect with Us

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