Toolbox for the Trades

As we wind up for Pantheon 2026, we're bringing few great episodes back from the past to prep you for the big show and bring you new, amazing conversations. We'll be back on 10/20/2026 with this year's Pantheon breakdown and conversations.

Originally Aired: 9/23/2025

In this episode, Rob Parker, managing director of residential and commercial services investment banking at Piper Sandler, shares tips for partnering with private equity. A former entrepreneur himself, Rob explains how market forces and technological advancements have made the trades an attractive investment for private equity firms. He breaks down the importance of maximizing EBITDA, shares his experience with a successful client partnership, and offers advice for owner-operators preparing to sell their businesses or take them to the next level.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [6:56] The COVID private equity boom and how partnerships have since evolved
• [16:58] Why trades company IPOs may become common in the not-to-distant future
• [23:39] The most important metric that PE firms look at when considering a partnership
• [31:18] How owners can prep their team for a company merger or buyout

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Email Rob at [email protected]

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode, we talk with Ellen Rohr, Brand and Industry Marketing Lead at ServiceTitan, to discuss how to turn post-conference enthusiasm into tangible business results. She shares her practical, old-school strategies for managing big ideas, breaking down overwhelming projects, and effectively delegating tasks without micromanaging. Ellen redefines networking as genuine friendship-building and offers actionable tips on following up, visiting other shops, and keeping your team aligned after major industry events like Pantheon. 

Join us as we discuss:

• [8:34] Balancing low-hanging fruit with long-term goals (and leveraging AI)

• [21:37] How to support your team, set realistic deadlines, and create a space safe to fail

• [33:57] Phone calls vs. texts: How to meaningfully reach out after a conference
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• EOS - Entrepreneurial Operating Systems

•  Traction by Gino Wickman 

• The 7-Power Contractorby Al Levi

• The Weekend Biz Plan by Ellen Rohr

• SendOutCards
  

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. 

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

We welcome back Josh Teekell, founder and CEO of Smart AC, to discuss their Gen-2 HVAC monitoring platform. Built to target the 80% of homeowners who reject traditional memberships, Gen 2 helps contractors drive rapid market expansion. Josh details how Gen 2 improves on their original model with a single sensor, 30-second setup, and non-Wi-Fi connectivity. He also shares insights on leveraging AI, leading teams through product shifts, and using low-cost entry points to convert one-off service calls into lifelong customers.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [2:54] What changed at Smart AC: Announcing the Gen-2 platform launch
• [13:03] Leveraging $5/month pricing to capture the non-membership homes
• [19:56] Homeowner survey results validating low-cost monitoring models.

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Check out the survey data here! 
  

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. 

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Successful navigation around the complexities of family business ownership demands radical honesty and clear boundaries. Brittany Burgess, Senior Customer Advocacy Specialist at ServiceTitan, joins the show to share her candid experience starting and eventually closing a landscaping company with her husband. From the initial excitement of partnering with a spouse to the breaking point of operational chaos and equipment failure, Brittany discusses the emotional toll of trying to save a business for someone else's sake. She provides actionable advice for couples entering the trades together, emphasizing the importance of defined roles, strict boundaries between work and home, and maintaining a growth mindset even when a venture fails. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that success isn't always found in the bottom line, but often in the lessons learned through hardship.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [4:00] Early challenges that led to the breaking point of a couple-owned landscaping company 
• [13:11] Dealing with the immediate fallout of shuttering a business and breaking the news to employees
• [19:34] Why correctly identifying roles and responsibilities is essential to a family business’s survival
  

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Burnout in the trades is often a silent killer, a slow decay that catches business owners off guard after years of relentless grinding. Nate Agentis, VP of Plumbing at BDR, joins the show to share his raw, personal journey through the pressures of inheriting a family plumbing business, navigating a tragic stage four cancer diagnosis in his family, and facing a mental health breaking point during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nate discusses the danger of tying your entire identity to business growth and introduces the “balance wheel” exercise to help contractors audit their personal lives. From the importance of finding a neutral third-party counselor to the power of small daily habits, Nate provides a roadmap for entrepreneurs to build a lasting legacy without sacrificing their health, family, or sanity.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [2:49] Why the grind mentality ultimately leads to burnout and regret
• [13:09] How bringing in a corporate outsider helped Nate 3X his family business
• [21:59] Leaning on others to help alleviate the pressures of business ownership
• [29:07] Why a healthy work culture starts with a healthy owner
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Get Shit Done! by Nate Agentis
  

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Renee Richardson, Director of Philanthropy at All Within My Hands Foundation, joins the show to share how heavy metal icons Metallica are helping close the skilled labor gap across North America. Renee details the origin story of the Metallica Scholars Initiative, sparked by frontman James Hetfield’s passion for supporting blue-collar trades and hands-on workforce education. What began in 2019 as a $100,000 grant to 10 community colleges has exploded into a $19 million-plus investment spanning 93 schools and nearly 18,000 students. Renee discusses the transformative power of these scholarships, from breaking generational poverty cycles to encouraging women in male-dominated trades, and explains how organic corporate partnerships with brands like Wolverine, Carhartt, and ServiceTitan amplify the foundation's reach.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [1:52] How a love for music and nonprofit work led to helping Metallica advance the trades

• [9:43] Why the band decided to lean into workforce education and scholarship opportunities

• [13:06] School sponsorships and inspirational student success stories

• [21:18] ServiceTitan’s partnership and how you can help amplify the foundation’s cause
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Metallica Scholars Initiative
  

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Adrian Fadini, founder of TradesFormation and one of Australia and New Zealand's top trade business coaches, returns to the podcast to dissect the key findings of the Australian State of the Trades Report for 2026. Surveying over 1,000 senior decision-makers across Australian trade businesses, the report highlights a critical shift: while demand remains steady and over 40% of businesses continue to grow revenue, contractors are redlining their capacity and turning their focus inward. Adrian breaks down why fixing business model root causes beats putting out operational fires, how to solve the surging 57% accounts receivable pain point by transitioning from hourly billing to upfront pricing, and why adopting AI requires a clear business vision rather than tactical chasing.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [1:57] Why cross-shadowing between departmental roles is critical to your business
• [7:31] Identifying blind spots and fixing your business model instead of patching symptoms
• [10:42] Achieving a holistic view of your operations and the number one pain point for Aussie contractors in 2026
• [17:27] How a tailored Pricebook can save you from hidden costs and hourly vs flat rates
• [26:14] Why your business needs a clear vision before adopting AI tools and what NOT to do when managing rising fuel costs and interest rates
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Check out the Australian State of the Trades Report for 2026 here!
  

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Leila Rookstook, Senior Industry Advisor, and Evan Smith, Group Product Manager at ServiceTitan, join host Amanda Salvatore to unpack the transformation of the commercial trades from reactive maintenance to predictive service. Drawing from Leila’s four-generation trade legacy and Evan’s expertise in enterprise AI, the pair outlines how a central shared data foundation bridges sales and operations to prevent equipment failures before they happen. They break down the three structural layers of predictive service: serial-level equipment history, make/model statistical context, and physical IoT sensor connectivity. They also share how tools like Atlas empower technicians to deliver speed, precision, and proactive solutions in the field.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [6:22] The trades’ evolution from reactive to predictive service and what that looks like in practice

• [13:27] How ServiceTitan is helping move the industry closer to predictive services through as shared data foundation

• [19:45] Confronting existing data gaps that prevent contractors from utilizing true predictive analytics

• [25:07] Why the future of the trades will focus on uptime as a service over repair

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Ryan Nelson, Senior Operations Manager of Integration at Visterra Landscape Group, joins the show to unpack how landscape businesses can scale by choosing simplicity over complex configuration. Drawing from a unique career path that spans construction, field management, branch operations, software implementation, and corporate leadership, Ryan shares the harsh realities of software adoption. He outlines why over-engineering estimating kits and tracking every micro-cost causes teams to fail, advocating instead for streamlined metrics and a realistic three-year timeline for total system mastery. Additionally, Ryan addresses the pervasive management training gap in the trades, giving actionable advice on shadow programs, asking “annoying” questions, and maintaining a grounded perspective on emerging technologies like autonomous mowers and AI.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [3:23] Why adapting to new software never truly stops after implementation
• [10:44] Keeping software setups simple versus over-engineering your operations
• [17:05] Why manager training is one of the trades’ biggest opportunity gaps
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Aspire
  

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Chad Colony, CEO at TrussPoint Roofing & Exteriors, joins the podcast to unpack the operational leverage points that turn regional roofing contractors into national platforms. Drawing on his extensive background across 13 states and multiple trades, Chad details TrussPoint’s disciplined growth strategy across organic expansion, greenfield locations, and selective acquisitions. He shares why his team prioritizes retail-focused businesses with strong, active leadership over simple financial roll-ups when making an acquisition. Chad also breaks down takeaways from TrussPoint's L40 Leadership Summit, stressing the critical need for mid-level management training and transparent “Day One” communication after an acquisition.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [3:47] The three pathways to achieving business growth: organic, greenfield, and acquisition
• [12:07] What role a company’s tech stack should play in evaluating a potential acquisition
• [17:42] The key to gaining employees’ trust after acquiring a new business
  

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox for the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.