Through the Noise with Trevor Steel

Guests: Jeremy Jennings & Craig Neil | Founders of Nser.ai

In this episode, I sat down with Jeremy Jennings and his business partner Craig Neil, the visionaries behind Nser.ai, an AI-powered voice answering service designed specifically for the home service industry. We explored how they're using cutting-edge voice technology to solve one of the biggest pain points for service businesses—missed calls and inconsistent customer communication.

Jeremy and Craig broke down how Nser.ai works, the real-time benefits for business owners, and the surprising ways AI can enhance—not replace—the human experience. We talked about the future of business where automation and personalization intersect, and how tools like this are becoming the new standard, not a luxury.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone in the home service space or any entrepreneur curious about where AI is taking us. Whether you’re ready or not, the way we do business is changing—and companies that embrace AI early will be the ones who lead.

🎙️ Episode 18 - Subcontracting, Systems, and the Future of Service Businesses: Jeremy Jennings of Washed Out Pressure Washing

In this episode of Through the Noise, I sit down with Jeremy Jennings, founder of Washed Out Pressure Washing, to break down a radically different way to build and scale a service business — without trucks, without babysitting employees, and without burning yourself out.

Jeremy shares how he built a subcontracting-first model, leaned into automation, and designed his business around freedom, efficiency, and profit — not chaos.

Most recently, he’s diving deep into tech with a new venture: NSER.ai, a voice AI receptionist that’s already handled over 1,000 calls and is actively managing live calls for service businesses. The platform will be available by subscription soon, and it’s built to help business owners streamline customer calls without losing the human touch.

But this conversation goes deeper than systems and software — we dig into how business owners need to rethink control, branding, and growth in a changing industry:

• Why subcontracting can outperform traditional employee models

• How to scale without owning more trucks, payroll, or headaches

• The real role of branding when subs show up to the job

• Using automation and instant quoting to raise average tickets

• How AI phone agents are changing customer communication

• The balance between personal touch and systems

• Why most owners are stuck in self-imposed bottlenecks

• Designing a business that supports life outside of work

If you’re overwhelmed by hiring, struggling to scale, or questioning whether the traditional service-business model still makes sense, this episode will challenge how you think about growth, leverage, and the future.

👉 Listen closely, rethink your systems, and decide what you’re willing to let go of.

Check out www.NSER.ai.

#ThroughTheNoise #JeremyJennings #ServiceBusiness #Subcontracting #BusinessSystems #Automation #AIInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #HomeServiceBusiness #Scaling

Michael Hinderliter is a Mobile Fleet washing contractor, Kitchen Exhaust Cleaner, Environmental Power Washing Specialist, and Power Wash Educator based out of Fort Worth, Texas.

Michael Hinderliter held his first pressure washing wand at the age of 12 when he began working summers and weekends for his father, Robert Hinderliter, who was president of Rahsco Cleaning Systems, now known as PowerWash.com. Michael started off repairing and building pressure washers, and by the time he was a senior in high school Michael had started his own power washing business, Steamaway Mobile Power Wash. Steamaway’s revenues paid his school tuition and living expenses while Michael earned his accounting degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. In 2010, Michael purchased Rahsco Cleaning Systems from his father and changed the name to PowerWash.com in 2011. PowerWash.com is a complete resource for power wash systems, parts, repair services, and training for professional, commercial and industrial cleaners.

In late 1992, I was a founding board member of Power Washer of North America, an nonprofit association that helps advance the power washing industry, later serving as the president from 1999 to 2000.

🎙️ Episode 9 — AI, Hiring Funnels, and What’s Coming Next: Michael Grigery of ClickCallSell

In this episode of Through the Noise, I sit down with Michael Gregory, founder of ClickCallSell, co-owner of Hire Lead Chill, and long-time Conquer coach for home service owners. Michael has spent years behind the scenes helping companies scale with smarter marketing, sharper hiring systems, and a relentless focus on brand and profitability. Today, we get into what’s really changing in the home service space and what it’s going to take to stay in the game.

We get into:

• How AI is rewriting the rules of marketing, recruiting, and operations.
• Why franchising, PE money, and tech will shake up the home service landscape.
• What a real hiring funnel looks like, from job ad to culture fit to working interview.
• Why your brand, not just your website, will decide who survives the next wave.
• How to balance lead flow, capacity, and recruiting so you stop riding the roller coaster.
• Why creating consistent content and building community matters more than “hacks” or tricks.

If you’re a home service owner trying to scale in a noisy, AI-powered world, this conversation will challenge how you think about growth, systems, and what’s coming next for our industry.

🎧 Tap play on this episode of Through the Noise with Michael Gregory and start rebuilding how you market, hire, and lead.

#ThroughTheNoise #MichaelGregory #ClickCallSell #HomeService #AI #Marketing #Hiring

🎙️ Episode 8 — Sales, Systems, and Staying Alive in a Saturated Market: Jared Chanowsky of Patriot Illumination

In this episode of Through the Noise, I sit down with Jared Chanowsky aka JC, founder of Patriot Illumination and co-creator of Sales Boost Live, for a real, unscripted conversation about what it actually looks like to run a service business when the phones slow down, competition explodes, and pressure is real.

We talk openly about the messy middle most owners won’t post about, and the systems, mindset shifts, and sales strategies required to push through it.

We get into:

• Slow seasons, cash flow stress, and carrying your team

• Why systems and checklists prevent expensive blind spots

• Commercial work realities, invoicing cycles, and delayed payments

• How dryer vent cleaning and add-on services stabilize revenue

• Sales vs. service mindset, and why value beats cheap pricing

• Building confidence through bundles, packages, and communication

• Why Sales Boost Live changes how owners think, sell, and lead

• Collaboration over competition, and why helping rivals pays off

If you’re feeling the weight of saturation, questioning your pricing, or realizing what used to work no longer does, this episode will challenge how you think about sales, leadership, and growth in today’s market.

👉 Lean in, take notes, and decide what you’re going to implement next.

#ThroughTheNoise #JCChanowsky #SalesBoost #HomeServiceBusiness #SalesSystems #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #PressureWashing #BusinessGrowth

🎙️ Episode 7 - Systems, Scale, and Service Beyond Expectations: Mickey Lyles

In this episode of Through the Noise, I sit down with Mickey Lyles — a serial entrepreneur, home service growth consultant, and systems-first operator who’s built businesses through grit, strategy, and relentless execution. From humble beginnings in small-town South Carolina to helping teams scale into multi-million-dollar operations, Mickey’s story is a masterclass in leadership, process, and resilience.

But this conversation goes deeper than business — we talk about what it takes to keep pushing when the pressure is heavy and the noise gets loud:

• How Mickey went from small-town beginnings to building and exiting businesses
• Why systems and efficiency are the real foundation of scale
• Lessons from growing teams from 35 people to 250
• What “service beyond expectations” actually looks like in home services
• Why performance pay, accountability, and culture are harder — but worth it
• How faith and discipline help you stay focused when the noise is in your head

If you’re building a company, leading a team, or trying to scale a home service business the right way, this episode will challenge the way you think — and push you to tighten your systems, raise your standards, and lead with purpose.

👉 Don’t miss Episode 7 of Through the Noise with Mickey Lyles.

#ThroughTheNoise #MickeyLyles #HomeServices #BusinessSystems #Leadership #Scaling #Entrepreneurship

Andrew Miller the founder of Blue Renegade Agency will share insights on "no-code" automation and how his Service Ally program is creating recurring revenue streams for home service businesses

Trevor Steel discusses leadership and accountability with 2 legendary leaders in the home service space. Eric and Larry from Super Tech University share their insights into managing and developing a strong team. Special guest and relationship marketing genius Jim Bardwell brings some comic relief as well!

Education:

Berry College (Rome, GA)- Full Basketball Scholarship

University of NC Greensboro- B.A. Biology; B.S. Physics

   Graduated Magna Cum Laude; Phi Beta Kappa; Beta Beta Beta Biological National Honor Society

University of Pennsylvania -College of Optometry (Phila, PA)- B.S.; O.D. Doctorate of Optometry; Highest Clinical Honors

Residency- Southeastern Eye Center (Greensboro, NC) Glaucoma/ External Ocular Disease

Professional Practice:

Aug 1987- Dec 1989: Carolina Eye Associates Surgical (Charlotte, NC)- Staff doctor.

Dec 1989- Dec 2008: Owner/ President Yadkin Vision Centers O.D., P.A. (Yadkinville, NC); President New Vision Management Group, LLC

Jan 2009- Retired at age 47

Have continued to lecture extensively throughout the southeastern US.

Board member of the NC Board of Examiners in Optometry for 30 years.

Began practice in 1987 as a salaried staff doctor (employee) for a large outpatient medical/surgical facility that, per surgical volume and gross revenues, was the second largest ophthalmological practice in the country. Annual salary $50k/yr. Had very little prospects of any percentage ownership. But learned much about how to build and run a successful practice (business) during my tenure there. It was the best (and only) financial education I ever received. Implemented many of the management principles I learned there into my own practice.

In 1989, after creating my own template for practice evaluation, I decided to go into ownership. I literally evaluated dozens of the most successful eye care practices in NC and SC and looked for common threads (business patterns, location, etc...) that each possessed. I was able to identify 3 things that linked each of these businesses. Then I set out looking for available practices to acquire that met all 3 criteria. I settled on a solo, private practice with a retiring doctor in Yadkinville, NC (pop. 3,000), a rural town just west of Winston-Salem in the foothills of the mountains. It was a relatively small practice grossing $200k/yr on routine eye care and retail optical services (glasses and contact lenses). But little medical services (glaucoma, cataracts, etc...) were offered. I paid $180k for the practice with half down and half owner financed in 1989. The practice doubled in gross revenues each of the first 3 years of ownership with almost no increase in overhead. In 20 years of ownership, both our gross and net incomes increased by no less than 13% every fiscal year. I opened a second location from scratch in a small town, that also met my criteria, in 1993. It grossed $250k in tthe first year of existence. I also hired my first associate that year when I realized that I was the limiting factor in growth. I went on to hire 7 additional associates over the 17 subsequent years. All were physician employees. When the practices were sold in 2008, they produced gross revenues of 2.5 million and 1.5 million respectively. Each sold to associates in excess of annual gross revenues.

In this episode Trevor Steel interviews his CFO Justin Boyd and discusses his business Boyd Executive Consulting. Justin Boyd is a career financial professional with over 20 years of experience across personal, small business, and corporate finance and accounting. He has extensive experience with bookkeeping, budgeting, forecasting, pricing strategy, business partner management, market analysis, tax, controls, and asset financing with a strong passion for process simplification and automation. He backs this experience up with an undergrad in Business Finance and an MBA with an emphasis in Finance and International Business.

Justin loves to see new places, meet new people, taste new foods, and experience new adventures. He's been backpacking across Europe, fishing in Canada, and most recently traveling across the US in an RV with his wife and three kids. Justin also enjoys anything sports and aviation related. Justin's ultimate purpose and passion is helping business owners reach their personal, professional, and financial potential. Let him help you take your business to the next level today!

https://boydexecutiveconsulting.com/