In this episode of The Leading HVAC Podcast, Josh Biggers, general manager and co-owner of All Temp Heating and Cooling, shares the real-life challenges of transitioning from the field into full-time leadership. From running calls to running the company, Josh opens up about the mental shift it takes to lead well, manage stress, and step back to let your team shine.

He also unpacks what it’s like to co-lead a family business, how responsibilities are divided up, and why communication is the secret to making any leadership team work. If you’re growing a team, stepping into leadership, or trying to let go of the tools, this episode will speak directly to you.

Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Leadership Means Letting Go (Even When It’s Hard)
Josh is stepping out of the field in 2026, and it’s not easy. But real growth requires trusting your team, resisting the urge to “just do it yourself,” and coaching others to win.

2️⃣ Hire for Character, Not Just Skill
You can teach someone HVAC, but you can’t teach them to care. Josh’s 2026 hiring strategy is all about gut instincts, culture fit, and finding people who want to grow with the team.

3️⃣ Don’t Do It Alone. Find a Who, Not Just a How
Coaching has helped Josh and his team install better processes, improve average tickets, and develop as leaders. When you stop trying to figure it all out alone, everything gets lighter and better.

Follow us on Social: ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠

Learn more about SBE at ⁠⁠sbeodyssey.com

In part two of The Leading HVAC Podcast with Crystal Williams from Lemon Seed Marketing, we go even deeper into real-world HVAC marketing strategy. If you’ve ever asked: “How much should I spend?”, “Where do I put my money?”, or “Why isn’t my marketing working?”- this is your playbook. Crystal shares the biggest mistakes contractors make, how to market with (almost) no budget, and why social media, SEO, and community marketing matter more than you think.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to stretch your budget in a slow season, Crystal brings the mindset, methods, and practical steps to help HVAC leaders build their brand—and drive real results.Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Start with Grit Before You Have a Budget
You don’t need a huge spend to make progress. Knock on doors, get out in the community, post real photos on your website, and stop relying on stock images. Hustle fills in the gaps when money is tight.

2️⃣ Know the Three Buckets, and What Goes in Each
Every dollar you spend should fall into one of three marketing buckets:
• Branding - long-term visibility (radio, community events, social)
• Call to Action - lead drivers (PPC, LSA, direct mail offers)
• Cultivation - staying top of mind (email/text campaigns, rehash strategies)

3️⃣ Measure What Matters, Not Just What’s Easy
The best KPIs aren’t always lead volume. They’re new customer acquisition, return on ad spend, and channel performance over time. Crystal’s rule? If you’re not getting at least 8-10x revenue on your spend, it’s time to evaluate your strategy.

Follow us on Social: ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠YouTube⁠

Learn more about SBE at ⁠sbeodyssey.com

In this episode of The Leading HVAC Podcast, we sit down with Crystal Williams of Lemon Seed Marketing — a marketing strategist who grew her family’s HVAC company from a small local shop into a thriving, community-rooted brand.

Crystal breaks down what most contractors get wrong about marketing, how to build long-term growth with a clear strategy, and the real reason branding, relationships, and tracking matter more than a quick lead hit.

If you’ve ever wondered why your marketing spend isn’t giving you the results you want — or how to plan smarter, not just spend more — this episode is a must-listen.

Key Takeaways:

1. Don’t Chase Leads — Build Relationships: Most contractors think marketing is ads, websites, and lead generation. Crystal explains why the strongest companies build community trust first. Sponsorships, local events, mascots, and brand touchpoints keep you top-of-mind for years — not just for one job.
2. Strategy Beats Tactics Every Time: Throwing money at ads won’t work without a plan. Crystal’s “Three Buckets” framework — Branding, Call to Action, and Cultivation — helps you place every dollar with clear expectations. Know your end goal, your messaging, and your tracking numbers.
3. Play the Long Game — But Track Everything: True growth comes from consistency, operational excellence, and knowing your numbers. Don’t cut marketing when it “seems slow.” Use data to pivot, measure, and prove what’s really working. When done right, all your pieces add up: Two plus two equals five.

Follow us on Social: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Learn more about SBE at sbeodyssey.com

In this episode of The Leading HVAC Podcast, Kymone sits down with serial entrepreneur and Nuve founder Ismael Valdez to explore the biggest problem facing most HVAC contractors—poor customer retention—and how to fix it. Ismael shares how he scaled NextGen Air from zero to $108M in just seven years, why most companies spend too much on marketing, and how his newest venture, Nuve, is helping contractors retain more customers with one small change. If you want to stop burning through leads and start building long-term profit, this episode is a must.Key Takeaways:

• Retention Is the Real Growth Strategy: Most HVAC companies are obsessed with chasing new leads. But Ismael shows how focusing on customer retention can cut marketing spend, boost profit margins, and build a more sustainable business.

• Build a Competitive Culture, Not Just a Team: High performers don’t just want a job—they want to win. Creating a pay structure that rewards performance and encourages healthy competition is the key to recruiting and keeping top talent.

• Simplify Everything—Especially How People Get Paid: Whether it’s techs, CSRs, or managers, if people don’t understand how they’re paid, they won’t stay motivated. Ismael’s formula? Pay well, and make the path to more money crystal clear.

Learn more at sbeodyssey.com

Follow us on Social: Instagram | Facebook

In this episode of The Leading HVAC Podcast, Kymone sits down with industry veteran and SBE Vice President Cory Holman to unpack the mindset and skills needed to go from top-performing technician to transformational leader. With over 40 years in the trades—including sweeping floors, building companies, and shaping hundreds of HVAC teams—Corey shares real talk on how to build trust, lead with clarity, and raise the standard in your company. If you’re a leader (or training one), this episode is full of gold.

Key Takeaways:

• Perspective Shift is the First Step to Leadership: Moving from the field into management requires understanding the bigger machine behind the scenes—and respecting every part of it.
• Don’t Avoid Conflict—Use It to Build Better Teams: Healthy conflict, not silence, is what leads to stronger decisions and unified leadership. Great teams debate, decide, and move forward together.

• Raise the Bar, Even If It Costs You:
  Holding onto underperformers or culture-killers—even if they produce—is short-term thinking. The long-term health of your company depends on maintaining your standards.

Learn more at sbeodyssey.com

Follow us on Instagram | Facebook

In this episode of The Leading HVAC Podcast, we explore what it really takes to transition leadership in a family-owned HVAC company. Tonya and Corey Collins from Universal Heating and Cooling share how they’ve navigated the shift across generations with honesty, humility, and humor. From letting go of control to building trust and respect, this episode is packed with wisdom for any owner preparing someone to take the lead, or stepping into leadership themselves.Key Takeaways:

• Letting Go Is a Leadership Skill: Tonya learned to trust Corey by stepping back and letting him take the reins—first in meetings, then in decisions, and finally in running the business during an extended vacation.
• Leadership Grows in Real Time: Corey didn’t step into leadership with a title—he earned it by solving problems, taking initiative, and proving he could carry the load without being told.
• Family Business Requires Thick Skin and a Big Picture View: To keep relationships healthy and the business moving forward, Tonya and Corey had to separate emotions from operations and focus on the people and families who depend on them.

One of the hardest things for HVAC leaders is learning to let go of control and trust their team. In this episode of The Leading HVAC Podcast, Carrie Ivester from Anderson Heating and Cooling shares her journey from starting as a temporary receptionist to becoming the company's owner.

She reveals how embracing leadership, empowering her team, and overcoming the challenge of delegation have helped the company thrive. If you're struggling to release control and build a strong company culture, this episode is a must-listen!

Key Takeaways:

If you’re a leader looking to scale your HVAC business while balancing work and life, Carrie’s insights will help you rethink how to lead effectively. 

Learn more at sbeodyssey.com

Follow us on social media Instagram | Facebook

In this episode of The Leading HVAC Podcast, we dive into one of the toughest transitions for HVAC leaders—shifting from hands-on fieldwork to leading from the office.

Adam Geerts from Geerts Plumbing and Heating shares his real-world experience navigating this challenge. From battling the urge to jump back into the field to learning how to trust his team, Adam breaks down the mindset shifts and leadership skills that made the difference.

If you’ve ever struggled with letting go of the tools to grow your business, this episode is a must-listen.

Key Takeaways:

1. Why the Field-to-Office Shift Feels So Hard:
   Moving from doing the work to leading the people doing the work requires a complete mindset shift. It’s not about fixing equipment anymore—it’s about developing people.

2. Trust Is the Bridge Between Field and Office:
   Letting go of control doesn’t mean losing control. It means empowering your team to take ownership while you focus on driving the business forward.

3. The Hidden Cost of Wearing Too Many Hats:
   Jumping between roles causes communication breakdowns, team frustration, and stalled growth. Committing fully to leadership creates the stability your business needs to thrive.

Learn more about SBE at ⁠sbeodyssey.com⁠

Connect with us on social media: ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Facebook

In this episode of The Leading HVAC Podcast, Michael Culley and Dustin Kendall, leaders at Kelly Mechanical, share their inspiring journey of growth, trust, and teamwork. They dive into the challenges of starting a business, the importance of finding the right team members, and the leadership strategies that helped them build a thriving company culture. From Michael’s technical expertise to Dustin’s operational insights, their story highlights how complementary leadership skills can drive success in the HVAC industry. Tune in to discover practical lessons on trust, communication, and leadership development.

Key Takeaways:

Connect with us on social media: Instagram | Facebook

In this episode of The Leading HVAC Podcast, Mary Kelly, CEO of StrataTech Education Group, shares her insights on solving one of the industry’s biggest challenges: workforce development. From empowering students to pursue skilled trades to partnering with businesses for custom training solutions, Mary discusses practical strategies for attracting, training, and retaining top talent. Tune in to learn how leadership, education, and workforce innovation intersect to create a thriving HVAC industry.

Connect with us on social media: Instagram | Facebook