Blue Collar StartUp

Tom Jameson, founder of AstroWatt Electric, joins Blue Collar StartUp to share how he went from apprentice electrician to building one of North Carolina's most people-focused electrical companies. Learn how AstroWatt uses culture, leadership, unlimited PTO, employee benefits, and customer service to attract top talent and scale a successful trades business.Tom also shares lessons on starting a company, finding your competitive advantage, and why saying "no" helped his business grow faster. Whether you're considering a career in the trades or building your own service business, this episode is packed with practical advice and real-world experience.Learn more about Astrowatt Electric at callastrowatt.com or connect with Tom on Linkedin!Blue Collar StartUpWebsite: bluecollarstartup.io Facebook: facebook.com/bluecollarstartup Instagram: instagram.com/thebluecollarstartup #BlueCollarStartUp #Electrician #TradesBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Leadership00:00 Introduction & Welcome03:18 Meet Tom Jameson & AstroWatt Electric05:32 How Tom Got Started in Electrical Work07:01 Leaving Employment to Start a Business09:03 Building a Company Around People First11:30 The Transition from Employee to Owner13:13 Winging It in the Early Startup Days15:02 Work Ethic, Hustle Culture & Leadership16:11 Creating a Strong Team Culture19:09 Building a Family-Like Company Environment20:18 Recruiting & Retaining Great Team Members24:03 Why AstroWatt Offers Unlimited PTO28:19 Trust, Accountability & Performance Standards31:57 Mental Health Benefits in the Trades34:08 Career Advice for Young Tradespeople39:12 Finding Your Niche as a Business Owner41:17 Visionaries vs. Integrators in Business43:15 Learning to Say No and Scale Profitably45:52 The AstroWatt Rebrand Story47:58 Advice for Starting a Trades Business52:03 Why the Trades Are a Massive Opportunity55:04 Balancing Success, Money & Personal Goals59:09 Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up

In this episode of Blue Collar Startup, hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with Lawrence Castillo to talk about scaling an HVAC business through customer service, recruiting, training, and operational structure. Lawrence shares how Brody-Pennell HVAC grew from a legacy company with 250 Google reviews into a dominant Southern California brand with over 5,000 five-star reviews while building a people-first culture focused on long-term growth.Find Lawrence Castillo and Brody-Pennell HVAC online at brodypennell.com and connect with him on LinkedIn.0:00 Introduction and guest welcome3:00 Brody-Pennell HVAC growth story6:25 Challenges of the LA HVAC market10:00 Customer service philosophy11:57 Growing to 5,000 Google reviews16:24 KPIs and technician accountability21:10 Building an in-house training program24:11 Hiring communicators over mechanics29:01 Recruiting systems for scaling33:20 Solving the labor shortage36:01 Service agreements and recurring revenue40:36 Creating a customer service culture44:53 Managing multiple businesses49:28 Advice for tradespeople and owners54:00 Where to find Lawrence Castillo55:29 Outro and sponsors

In episode 127 of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Michael Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with Bill Tansey to discuss bringing structure to a chaotic business and defining the real root of your operational fires. They dive into the critical differences between just being busy and actually being productive, and how to know when wearing every hat becomes a liability instead of a hustle.You can connect with Bill Tansey Jr. on LinkedIn, visit his website at theopexshop.com, or email him directly at bill@theopexshop.com.0:00 Introduction & Welcome 2:49 Introducing Bill Tansey & The OpEx Shop 5:02 What to do when "everything feels like it's on fire" 7:35 Defining the performance gap in your business 10:22 The importance of proper problem definition 12:56 Common examples of small business chaos 14:00 When does wearing every hat become a liability? 16:13 Quantifying the risk of doing everything yourself 18:34 Are you running a business or being self-employed? 20:57 The 3 types of motion: Rotation, Vibration, Translation 23:43 Moving things from point A to point B 26:18 Falling out of your personal operating system 28:40 The "Automate or Delegate" mindset 31:20 Bringing structure to a company with none 33:41 Setting success metrics for standard roles 36:42 The biggest mistake owners make when getting organized 39:49 Leading your team vs. doing the work yourself 43:41 Where to find Bill Tansey 45:20 Wrapping up the main episode

In episode 125 of Blue Collar StartUp, guest host Stacy Spector sits down with Sarah Patrie to explore her journey from growing up in a construction family to becoming Executive Director of PCI Northeast, highlighting the power of mentorship, industry involvement, and embracing nontraditional career paths. They dive into workforce development, innovation in concrete, and the critical role of relationships and associations in long-term success in the trades.You can find Sarah Patrie and learn more about PCI Northeast at pci.org and by following her on LinkedIn.Discover more in-depth trades business insights and exclusive Patreon-only segments by subscribing to our Patreon for just $5/month.https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink0:00 Intro to Women in Trades format2:40 Meet Sarah Patrie5:20 Growing up in construction8:00 Discovering engineering and BOCES impact10:40 Clarkson decision and education path13:20 First role at D.A. Collins16:00 Early career challenges and mindset18:40 Transition into AGC21:20 Policy, advocacy, and DC experience24:00 Power of networking in trades26:40 Moving into PCI Northeast29:20 Workforce development challenges32:00 Educating the next generation34:40 Telling the story of construction37:20 Passion for the industry40:00 Lightning round and personality42:30 Wrap-up and key takeaways44:55 End of episode

In episode 123 of Blue Collar Startup, host Derek Foster welcomes back guest Josh Jewett for an in-depth conversation on his path from a Hudson Valley Community College auto-body student to owning Lazzaro’s Autobody and acquiring a second shop in Saratoga—all within six months. Josh shares hard-won lessons on perfectionism, implementing shop processes, mentoring his team, continuing education, and the mindset required to scale a blue-collar business. Connect with Josh by emailing him at jj@lazzarosautobody.com and check out Lazzaro’s Autobody in Green Island and Saratoga Springs, New York, or on their website at lazzarosautobody.com.Subscribe to our Patreon for a full bonus Q&A with Josh and exclusive Blue Collar insights after every episode. https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink00:00 Welcome to Blue Collar Startup 00:29 New episode formats, sponsors & Patreon reminder 03:28 Introducing returning guest Josh Jewett04:21 Josh’s early spark for cars and Hudson Valley Community College 08:09 From technician to business owner: when the goal shifted 09:58 The perfectionist mindset that drives Josh 12:32 Advice for young tradespeople: self-education & YouTube 18:31 Owning Lazzaro’s Autobody – one year in 20:27 Taking over a 50-year shop: first-year challenges & observation 24:43 Creating & rolling out new processes with the team 29:33 How processes built culture & staff retention 32:29 What Josh looks for when hiring today 35:06 iCar training, continuing education & staying sharp 38:54 Future vision: becoming the go-to shop for anything on wheels 41:42 How Josh bought a second shop in Saratoga in just six months 42:08 Introducing Patreon exclusive segment, and episode closure

In episode 121 of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with Jim Sasko, founder and president of Teakwood Builders, to discuss his 30-year journey from a hands-on 26-year-old carpenter to leading a premier design-build firm specializing in luxury homes. Jim shares hard-earned lessons on saying no, building strong company culture, and focusing on exceptional client experiences and team development.Connect with Jim Sasko and Teakwood Builders at teakwoodbuilders.com, or find Jim on LinkedIn.Discover more in-depth trades business insights and exclusive Patreon-only segments by subscribing to our Patreon for just $5/month.https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink0:00 Intro and welcome to Blue Collar StartUp0:40 Shoutout to sponsors1:25 Introducing guest Jim Sasko and Teakwood Builders overview2:00 Explaining design-build remodeling and luxury custom building3:45 Celebrating 30 years in business and Jim's origin story5:00 Early hands-on days, learning the craft, and organic growth7:30 Transitioning from fieldwork to project management and scaling9:20 Evolving from general remodeling to luxury-level projects organically11:50 Lessons learned from overcommitting14:00 Knowing when to say no to projects16:30 Building a true "company" vs. personal business19:00 Implementing systems, processes, EOS, and leadership team development22:30 Proving the systems work24:50 Material/labor price escalation and long sales cycles27:00 Overcoming staffing hurdles in recent years30:00 Upside-down org chart and production-first mindset33:30 Secrets to long-term employee retention36:00 How to connect with Jim and Teakwood

In episode 119 of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Michael Nelson and Derek Foster sit down with William Day, project manager at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. William returns to the show to break down his transition from field construction to owner’s project manager for a regional healthcare network, overseeing capital projects across multiple hospitals. From high-end builds to fast-track commercial projects, he shares how every stop in his career sharpened his leadership and commitment to quality.Connect with William Day on his LinkedIn or learn more about Bassett Medical Center at bassett.org/locations/bassett-medical-center.Check out our Blue Collar StartUp Patreon for exclusive bonus content! https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink0:00 Show intro and Derek’s major life update2:15 New episode formats, Patreon, and listener engagement4:10 Sponsors and the tools & tuition mission5:13 Introducing William Day and his new role6:30 What an owner’s project manager does in healthcare8:00 Capital planning, compliance, and prioritizing hospital projects9:45 The scale of Bassett Healthcare’s multi-county network11:15 Why hospitals are building in-house construction teams12:30 Bidding process and selecting specialized contractors14:00 Managing surgeons and stakeholders during construction15:45 William’s path: English degree to Marine Corps to construction18:00 Lessons from residential, millwork, and fast-track builds20:00 The trade-off: 90-minute commute vs. family life21:30 Career paths in the trades beyond swinging a hammer23:30 What each job taught him: quality, speed, scale27:30 Teaching construction management and mentoring the next generation32:00 Opportunities inside healthcare facilities (200+ trades roles)38:30 Saying “yes,” figuring it out, and the six-week imaging room turnaround

In episode 117 of Blue Collar StartUp, Mike Nelson and Derek Foster break down the pros and cons of scaling your business using cashflow versus debt, including trade lines, loans, and credit cards. They also discuss how to think through major purchases like equipment, overhead, and hiring so you don’t overextend yourself chasing growth.Subscribe to our Patreon for exclusive Blue Collar bonus content! https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink0:00 Introduction0:15 Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp0:40 Mike talks about adversity-filled business owner mornings1:36 Taking Accountability - “Every issue was created by me”2:39 Mike talks about selling pork from his farm3:42 New episode formats and upcoming show plans5:04 What we do on Patreon6:35 Scaling at the speed of cashflow7:05 Derek explains building business credit early8:29 Don’t buy equipment without a plan9:44 Mike shares experience with trade line debt11:53 Renting vs owning equipment discussion14:10 A major company that rented everything for years17:10 Using debt to float payroll while waiting for payment18:58 Keeping overhead low: garage vs big lease mistakes20:26 “Be cheap as possible for as long as possible”25:16 Use debt only if the asset produces returns27:34 “Don’t get excited by the shiny object”28:35 Wrap-up and transition to Patreon

In this episode of Blue Collar StartUp, host Derek Foster sits down with Scott McKenna, Stacy Spector, and Jason Spector of Catamount Consulting for a roundtable discussion on leadership development, mindset mastery, and the personal growth tools that help blue collar teams perform at a higher level. They break down the “Three Truths,” explain why psychological safety and vulnerability matter, and share actionable strategies like journaling, micro-habits, and building discipline over motivation.To learn more about the guests and their work, visit catamountconsultingllc.com and connect with their team.Check out our Blue Collar StartUp Patreon for exclusive bonus content! https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink0:00 Derek opens the show solo and introduces the Catamount roundtable1:00 Recording at Milton CAT + facility shoutout3:15 Catamount Consulting origin story4:30 Safety as a byproduct of strong leadership5:10 Professional vs personal development6:00 Stacey’s career shift from attorney to leadership training6:50 Jason’s background in education, behavior psychology, mindset mastery8:10 How do you get non-competitive people to buy into development?8:55 Why coaching isn’t optional10:20 The “Three Truths” explained11:05 Truth #1: everyone is flawed12:05 The 3 most common organizational struggles13:10 Why brain science helps people stop being defensive15:05 How long does it take to shift mindset?18:05 Infinite game mindset and levels of buy-in21:10 What if you want to grow but don’t have a leader/mentor?23:15 Brené Brown, Carol Dweck, Ryan Holiday, Amy Edmondson25:10 The 4 most deadly words: I’ll do it myself27:10 Feed your mind like your body30:00 The “two easies” habit strategy: easy to do / easy not to do32:30 How much time per day should personal development take?36:45 Pillow test and well/better/how framework through journaling40:50 Manifestation explained42:20 Can discipline be developed?

In episode 113 of Blue Collar StartUp, host Mike and Derek chat with Shenar Wood, who shares his remarkable journey from Apache helicopter pilot to founding Dynetek Solutions, a niche underground utility conversion company that he successfully sold to private equity. In this raw conversation he reveals the financial discipline, leadership mindset shifts, and strategic decisions that allowed him to scale fast, break through bonding & debt ceilings, and exit profitably.Check out our Blue Collar StartUp Patreon for exclusive bonus content! https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLinkYou can find Shenar Wood on LinkedIn or his company Dynetek Solutions at dyneteksolutions.com.0:00 Intro & welcome back after the break0:34 New 2026 episode formats & Women in Trades segment3:00 Guest introduction: Shenar Wood, Dynetek Solutions3:57 From broke college kid → military → buying first directional drill6:07 Burned bridges & bought the drill: quickest path to cash7:51 The mindset shift: build to sell, not to own forever8:39 Why utility/power work is somewhat recession-proof9:46 Leveraging old trade & military contacts for early subcontracts11:21 First years reality: drilling all day, books all night12:30 When & why he finally brought his wife in for HR13:56 The $200k mistake: waiting too long for proper books & fractional CFO15:22 Bonding & surety as the biggest glass ceiling in trades19:52 The Friday leak check system that stopped revenue bleed25:18 How the weekly revenue delta meeting works & why it matters29:53 Discovering $75k in unbilled work the hard way31:28 Beginning with the end in mind: planning the exit from day one32:59 Why EBITDA growth flattens after ~year 5–6 in many trade businesses34:49 Main episode wrap & sponsor thanks

In this episode of Blue Collar StartUp, Mike and Derek break down Part Two of the Cashflow Quadrant, focusing on the difficult transition from being self-employed to becoming a true business owner. They unpack leadership, systems, vision, cashflow realities, and the mindset shifts required to stop owning a job and start building a business.Check out the Blue Collar StartUp Patreon for exclusive bonus content!https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLink0:00 Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp0:29 Introductions and kicking off the new year1:29 New episode formats and what’s coming in 20262:32 Patreon overview and why the bonus content matters3:47 Sponsorships and supporting the next generation of trades5:00 Episode topic: Cashflow Quadrant, Part Two6:10 Defining self-employed vs. business owner7:57 What a “real business” actually looks like9:38 Can a business truly run without its owner?12:20 Growth creates new problems at every level15:36 Hiring, delegation, and leveraging strengths18:05 The risks and realities of business ownership21:13 Letting go and trusting your team23:12 Vision, mission, and values as leadership tools27:01 Why most self-employed owners never scale31:17 Culture, buy-in, and decision-making frameworks37:39 Cashflow myths, payroll pressure, and sacrifice44:24 Patreon topics, wrap-up, and where to find the show

In this episode of Blue Collar StartUp, hosts Mike and Derek sit down with Korey Chapman, owner of Little Moose Prints, to break down the realities of running a low-margin, labor-intensive business in a highly competitive market. Korey breaks down ten years of lessons in screen printing and embroidery, including pricing in a race-to-the-bottom market, managing production labor, investing in equipment, and building systems that keep jobs moving out the door on time.Check out our Blue Collar StartUp Patreon for exclusive bonus content! https://patreon.com/BlueCollarStartUp?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=copyLinkYou can learn more about Korey Chapman and Little Moose Prints at littlemooseprints.com and across their social platforms.0:00 Cold open and welcome0:15 What Blue Collar StartUp is all about1:03 Sponsors and supporting the trades1:31 Introducing Korey Chapman and Little Moose Prints2:08 Ten years in business and team size3:19 From fourth-generation farming to entrepreneurship4:54 Discovering screen printing and moving to Idaho6:01 Starting as a side hustle and going all in7:18 Competing in a race-to-the-bottom industry8:49 How farming prepared Korey for business reality10:18 Saying yes before knowing how to deliver11:57 Manual presses, brutal hours, and automation13:49 The biggest challenge over ten years: labor15:47 Letting go of the wrong people sooner16:32 Learning to track numbers and run a scorecard18:23 Leadership, decision-making, and accountability21:59 Pricing, margins, and firing the wrong clients33:00 Patreon preview, where to find Korey, and wrap-up

In this episode of Blue Collar Startup, hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster explore how robotics and automation are being used in real-world trade businesses to solve labor challenges, improve efficiency, and deliver better results. From commercial cleaning to healthcare facilities, we break down what the technology actually does, where it works best, and why robots are becoming tools—not replacements—on the modern jobsite.Check out our Blue Collar StartUp Patreon for exclusive bonus content!https://www.patreon.com/posts/how-robots-help-14601109900:00 Intro and welcome to Blue Collar Startup01:30 Snowstorms, winter work, and life in the trades03:10 The real cost of vacations for business owners04:40 Setting up the episode: robotics in the trades06:00 Derek’s background and growth of Daigle Cleaning Systems08:20 Introducing robotics and automation in cleaning10:45 Business acquisition and scaling during COVID13:30 How cleaning robots actually work (mapping & programming)16:45 What robots can and cannot replace19:10 Safety, sensors, and robots working around people21:30 Productivity gains and reallocating human labor24:00 Using robotics to open doors with new clients26:20 ROI, cost savings, and efficiency benefits28:45 Where robotics works best: healthcare, offices, schools31:15 Residential vs. commercial cleaning differences34:00 Franchising, systems, and avoiding costly mistakes36:30 Labor shortages and the future of automation39:00 Industry standards, certifications, and audits44:20 Advice for business owners considering robotics50:09 Episode wrap-up and sponsor acknowledgments