To The Point - Home Services VIP Room Podcast

What does it take to build a successful home services business, and what happens when the founder and the next generation of leadership come together?In this episode of To The Point Home Services VIP Room, we're revisiting an incredible session from RYNOX 2026 featuring Alan O'Neill, founder of Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical, and Tony Patino, the company's current CEO.Alan and Tony share the story behind Abacus, how their paths crossed, how they went from competing to working together, and the lessons they've learned along the way. From building a strong company culture to developing leaders, retaining employees, and improving profitability, they break down what it takes to build and sustain a successful home services business.Whether you're growing your company, building your leadership team, or trying to take your business to the next level, this conversation is packed with insights you can put to work.In this episode:The story behind Alan and Tony's relationshipLessons from the founder and current CEO of AbacusBuilding a company culture that attracts and retains great peopleDeveloping leaders who can help your business growFinding opportunities to improve operations and profitabilityWhat contractors can learn from an established home services businessIf you enjoy the episode, make sure to like, subscribe, and share it with another home services business owner.Thank you to our sponsors!Affiniti: Get a $1,250 bonus at affiniti.com/card. Mention To The Point. Terms apply.Avoca.ai: Special Offer for Podcast Listeners: 4% Rebate, Your First 12 Months - https://avoca.ai/r/tothepointYelp: https://business.yelp.com/homeservicevipSend It! Email Marketing: https://www.withsendit.com/Can’t Stop The Growth: https://cantstopthegrowth.com

Most home service contractors are focused on generating new leads. But what if the next stage of growth is already sitting in your customer base?Joshua Warner, Owner of Maverick Electric, Heating and Air, joins Chris Yano, Chad Peterman, and Aaron Gaynor on the To The Point Home Services VIP Room to share how he grew his overall business to a projected 16M–17M in annual revenue, including a $5M HVAC operation built by leveraging his existing electrical customer base.Josh breaks down how he uses memberships to create long-term customer relationships, why he offers free memberships to veterans, teachers, and seniors, and how his team turns those relationships into opportunities across multiple trades.He also shares his approach to electrical sales training, giving customers ballpark pricing over the phone, using AI to estimate electrical jobs, and building a team of electricians who can deliver a better customer experience.00:00 - Intro & Meet Joshua Warner03:30 - Building Maverick Electric From the Ground Up07:30 - Expanding From Electrical Into HVAC09:30 - Growing HVAC Through Existing Customers10:30 - Turning Free Memberships Into More Revenue14:00 - Marketing to Existing Customers20:30 - Giving Customers Ballpark Pricing Over the Phone24:20 - Building an AI Estimating Tool for Electrical Jobs30:00 - Hiring and Training Electricians37:30 - A Different Approach to Electrical Sales40:00 - Educating Customers & Bundling Electrical Services44:00 - Setting Customer Expectations After the Sale49:50 - Would You Rather? Business Edition53:00 - Final Thoughts & Lessons on GrowthIf you're looking to grow your home services business, get more from your existing customers, or expand into additional trades, this episode is for you.Thank you to our sponsors!Affiniti: Get a $1,250 bonus at affiniti.com/card. Mention To The Point. Terms apply.Avoca.ai: Special Offer for Podcast Listeners: 4% Rebate, Your First 12 Months - https://avoca.ai/r/tothepointYelp: https://business.yelp.com/homeservicevipSend It! Email Marketing: https://www.withsendit.com/Can’t Stop The Growth: https://cantstopthegrowth.com 👍 Like the video, subscribe to the channel, and let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments.

Shane Viggiani went from serving time in prison at 20 years old to building one of Las Vegas’ fastest-growing electrical businesses.Today, Shane is the owner of Ampere Electric, a primarily residential electrical company that has grown from its first full year of roughly $700K in revenue to pacing $15M in 2026.In this episode, Shane opens up about his unconventional journey, from growing up in a family of electricians, to finding himself in prison, earning his degree, trying multiple businesses, and eventually returning to the trades through a handyman business before getting his electrical contractor’s license.Shane also breaks down how he’s scaled Ampere, including:• Why hiring managers was critical to scaling past $2M• How Ampere became one of the highest-reviewed electrical companies in Las Vegas• Why Shane embraces sales in an industry that often pushes back against it• How he recruits electricians and positions Ampere as the place to work• The commission model helping his electricians generate millions in sales• How he develops apprentices into lead installers and technicians• The marketing channels driving growth, including LSA, PPC, SEO, Yelp and branding• Why Ampere is investing heavily in billboards, radio and other brand-building strategies• How referral partnerships with HVAC and plumbing companies have become a major growth channel• Why Shane believes electrical could be a massive standalone opportunity in home services• Why Ampere joined Nexstar and how the organization is helping them prepare for the next stage of growth• His goal of building a $30M electrical business in Las VegasShane’s story is a powerful look at what can happen when you combine sales, systems, marketing, training and relentless focus on growth.Thank you to our sponsors!Avoca.ai: Special Offer for Podcast Listeners: 4% Rebate, Your First 12 Months - https://avoca.ai/r/tothepointYelp: https://business.yelp.com/homeservicevipSales Ask: Ready to turn conversations into predictable revenue? Book a demo with SalesAsk and mention To The Point to access the exclusive listener offer: https://www.salesask.com/Send It! Email Marketing: https://www.withsendit.com/Can’t Stop The Growth: https://cantstopthegrowth.comContractor Commerce: https://www.contractorcommerce.com

What does it really take to take over a family business, expand into multiple trades, and build it into a $20M home services company?In this episode of the To The Point Home Services VIP Room, Chris Yano and Chad Peterman sit down with Mandie Hagan, owner of Rowell Services, a family-owned home services company in New Hampshire offering septic, drain cleaning, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, excavation, and pipe relining.Mandie shares the story of stepping into the family business after the unexpected loss of her father, moving back from Colorado, and helping her mom continue the company. From starting with just a small operation to building a team of nearly 90 employees and pacing toward $20M in revenue, Mandie opens up about the decisions, challenges, and leadership lessons along the way.The conversation covers adding multiple trades, finding the right leaders, moving from top-line growth to focusing on profitability, building an organizational structure, generating leads with a strong local brand, cross-trade referrals, and the personal pressure that comes with running a growing company.Mandie also talks about why Rao Services has remained independently owned, her plans to preserve her father's legacy, and what she's focused on as the company enters its next stage of growth.Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to the VIP Room01:30 – Meet Mandie Hagan & the Rao Services story04:15 – Losing her father and returning home to the family business08:10 – Moving back from Colorado and taking over the company11:30 – How Rao Services began expanding beyond septic15:00 – The lesson Mandie learned from adding multiple trades at once18:00 – Finding the right people for the right seats21:00 – Mandie's role as owner and Ian's transition out of the field24:00 – Building the leadership structure at Rao Services27:00 – Visionary vs. Integrator: Knowing your role as an owner30:30 – Marketing strategies behind a $20M home services business33:30 – The power of cross-trade referrals36:00 – What's actually difficult about growing a larger company39:00 – Dealing with criticism and the pressure of success42:00 – Preserving her father's legacy and the 2027 vision45:00 – What's next for Rao Services?47:30 – Planning for the next stage of growth49:00 – Final thoughts with Mandie HaganThank you to our sponsors!Avoca.ai: Special Offer for Podcast Listeners: 4% Rebate, Your First 12 Months - https://avoca.ai/r/tothepointYelp: https://business.yelp.com/homeservicevipSales Ask: Ready to turn conversations into predictable revenue? Book a demo with SalesAsk and mention To The Point to access the exclusive listener offer: https://www.salesask.com/Basic Capital: To The Point Podcast listeners get $0 employer fees for 12 months. Claim the offer and give your team a real path to retirement: https://basiccapital.com/tothepointSend It! Email Marketing: https://www.withsendit.com/Can’t Stop The Growth: https://cantstopthegrowth.comContractor Commerce: https://www.contractorcommerce.com

Most contractors spend thousands of dollars every month generating leads, but what happens after those leads become customers?This week in the VIP Room, Chris Yano, Chad Peterman, and Aaron Gaynor sit down with Zac Garside, Founder and President of Send It Email Marketing, to discuss one of the most overlooked growth opportunities in home services: staying connected with your existing customer base.The group breaks down email marketing, customer retention, CRM strategy, lead generation, offer creation, automation, and why so many contractors focus on acquiring new customers while ignoring the opportunities sitting inside their own database.Zac also shares practical examples from some of the largest home services companies in the country, including how contractors are using email to generate service calls, maintenance appointments, sales opportunities, and additional revenue without increasing their advertising spend.Whether you're running a small local shop or a multi-million-dollar operation, this episode is packed with actionable marketing and business insights you can apply immediately.Topics discussed:• Why email marketing is still one of the highest ROI channels in home services• The biggest mistakes contractors make with customer communication• Creating offers that actually generate demand• Using email to reduce dependence on paid leads• Sales estimates, maintenance, and customer retention strategies• Automation opportunities most companies miss• How AI is changing marketing and content creation• Why branding and customer relationships matter more than ever• The importance of staying top-of-mind with past customers• Marketing lessons from some of the industry's fastest-growing companiesFREE RESOURCE FOR TO THE POINT LISTENERSWant to put these strategies into action?Zac Garside and the team at Send It Email Marketing created a free swipe file featuring 20 proven email templates contractors can use to generate more demand, stay top of mind with customers, and drive additional revenue.withsendit.com/top-secret00:00 - Intro02:15 - Meet Zac Garside & Send It Email Marketing05:30 - Why Most Contractors Ignore Their Best Lead Source09:45 - The Biggest Email Marketing Mistakes Contractors Make14:20 - How To Get Customers To Open Your Emails18:40 - Why Branding Matters More Than Subject Lines22:15 - The Difference Between Google Leads and Email Leads26:50 - Creating Offers That Actually Generate Demand31:10 - The Customer Database Most Contractors Ignore35:45 - Retention vs Lead Generation40:20 - Marketing Automation Opportunities You're Missing44:30 - AI, Marketing, and the Future of Customer Communication49:10 - How Top Contractors Stay Top of Mind53:20 - Zac's Best Marketing Advice for Contractors56:15 - Free Email Marketing Swipe File for Listeners57:30 - Final ThoughtsThank you to our sponsors!Avoca.ai: Special Offer for Podcast Listeners: 4% Rebate, Your First 12 Months - https://avoca.ai/r/tothepointYelp: https://business.yelp.com/homeservicevipSales Ask: Book a free sales visibility session with SalesAsk and mention To The Point to access the exclusive listener offer. https://www.salesask.com/Basic Capital: To The Point Podcast listeners get $0 employer fees for 12 months. Claim the offer and give your team a real path to retirement: https://basiccapital.com/tothepointSend It! Email Marketing: https://www.withsendit.com/Can’t Stop The Growth: https://cantstopthegrowth.comContractor Commerce: https://www.contractorcommerce.com

What does it take to lead a $100M home services company?This week in the VIP Room, Chris Yano and Aaron Gaynor sit down with Bubba Thurman, President of Baker Brothers Plumbing, Air & Electric, one of the largest and most respected home services companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.Before leading a business with more than 400 employees and over $100 million in annual revenue, Bubba spent 22 years in ministry. In this conversation, he shares lessons on leadership, culture, integrity, AI, marketing, customer trust, and what it takes to build a lasting reputation in today's home services industry.The group also discusses private equity, peer groups, transparency, AI-driven search, reputation management, and why great operators are focusing more than ever on community relationships and customer experience.If you're an owner, operator, manager, or leader looking to grow your business and develop your people, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.Topics discussed:• Bubba's transition from ministry to home services• Leading a $100M company with 400+ employees• Building culture and trust at scale• AI's impact on home services marketing• Customer sentiment and online reputation• Private equity and industry perception• Leadership lessons from decades of experience• Why transparency matters more than ever• The importance of peer groups and relationships• Non-negotiables for building a great company00:00 - Intro02:55 - Meet Bubba Thurman05:10 - Becoming the First Non-Family President of Baker Brothers08:45 - Leading a $100M Home Services Business12:30 - Building Relationships With Competitors17:20 - Peer Groups, Trust, and Industry Collaboration22:15 - The Biggest Challenges Facing Home Services Today25:40 - AI, Search, and the Future of Marketing33:15 - Why Community Presence Matters More Than Ever38:30 - Customer Sentiment and Brand Reputation44:10 - Private Equity, Transparency, and Trust49:00 - What Is Broken in Home Services?53:00 - The Hill Bubba Is Willing to Die On55:20 - Advice for the Next Generation of Leaders57:15 - Final Thoughts Thank you to our Sponsors!Basic Capital: https://basiccapital.com/tothepointChiirp: https://chiirp.com/Bluon: https://www.bluon.com/get-demo?referral_code=ToThePointAvoca.ai: https://avoca.ai/r/tothepointYelp: https://www.yelp.com/ Sales Ask: https://www.salesask.com/

In this episode, Chris Yano, Aaron Gaynor, and Chad Peterman are joined by John Waldorf, Vice President of Estes Services, a third-generation family-owned home services company that has been serving the Atlanta market since 1949.Today, Estes Services generates more than $45 million in annual revenue across HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services, all while remaining independently owned in an industry increasingly shaped by private equity and consolidation.John shares the company's growth journey, the importance of culture in a multi-generational business, why Estes has chosen not to sell, and what it takes to scale a home services company while staying true to its values.The conversation also covers leadership development, profitability versus growth, technician recruiting, training programs, marketing, service agreements, operational scaling, management infrastructure, AI, customer relationships, and preparing a business for its next stage of growth.The crew is also joined by a surprise VIP guest who jumps into the conversation to share insights on branding, market share, marketing strategy, and the advantages independent operators still have in today's home services landscape.If you're a contractor, operator, or business leader looking to grow your company without sacrificing culture, this episode is packed with practical lessons from leaders building long-term success in home services.00:00 – Welcome Back to the Home Services VIP Room02:00 – Introducing John Waldorf & Estes Services04:00 – The History of Estes Services Since 194907:00 – Growing Into HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical10:00 – Building Leadership From Outside the Trades14:00 – Why Estes Has Chosen to Stay Independent18:00 – Culture vs. Private Equity22:00 – Maintaining Culture While Scaling25:30 – Profitability vs. Growth29:00 – The Road From $45M to $100M33:00 – Building Future Leaders & Internal Training Programs37:00 – Scaling Management Teams41:00 – Surprise VIP Guest Joins the Conversation43:00 – Marketing, Branding & Independent Advantage47:00 – What Hill Would You Die On?50:00 – What's Broken in Home Services?52:00 – AI, Customer Relationships & The Future54:00 – Final Thoughts Thank you to our Sponsors!Basic Capital: https://basiccapital.com/tothepointChiirp: https://chiirp.com/Bluon: https://www.bluon.com/get-demo?referral_code=ToThePointAvoca.ai: https://avoca.ai/r/tothepointYelp: https://www.yelp.com/ Sales Ask: https://www.salesask.com/

In this episode, Aaron Gaynor officially joins Chris Yano and Chad Peterman as the newest co-host of To The Point Home Services VIP Room alongside VIP guest Hugh Joyce, President of James River Air Conditioning Company.The group dives into what it takes to build and scale a multi-location home services business while staying independently owned. Hugh shares lessons from growing a second-generation family business started in 1967 into a company with more than 250 employees across HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and commercial services.The conversation covers acquisitions, maintenance agreements, private equity, marketing, ServiceTitan, AI, call centers, scaling operations, leadership, family business dynamics, and why human connection still matters in home services.The crew is also joined by a surprise VIP guest co-host who jumps into the conversation to talk technology, AI, and the future of the trades.If you're a contractor, operator, or leader in the home services industry, this episode is packed with real conversations and actionable insights from some of the top minds in the space.00:00 – Welcome Back to the Home Services VIP Room01:00 – Aaron Gaynor Officially Joins as Co-Host02:20 – Introducing Hugh Joyce & James River Air05:00 – Building a Family Business Since 196708:10 – From a $5K Loan to a $67M Company11:00 – Why Hugh Calls Himself a “Marketing Guy”14:00 – Growing Through HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical17:15 – The Challenges of Working in a Family Business21:00 – Preparing the Next Generation to Take Over25:00 – How James River Air Approaches Acquisitions29:00 – Why Hugh Keeps Acquired Company Brands Intact33:00 – What Private Equity Gets Right About Home Services36:00 – The Biggest Problems With Home Services Technology40:00 – Why Human Connection Still Wins in Business44:00 – AI, Marketing & the Future of Customer Experience48:30 – The Power of Membership Agreements & Lifetime Value53:00 – What Most Companies Still Get Wrong About Scaling56:00 – Final Thoughts on Leadership & the Future of Home Services Thank you to our Sponsors!Basic Capital: https://basiccapital.com/tothepointChiirp: https://chiirp.com/Bluon: https://www.bluon.com/get-demo?referral_code=ToThePointAvoca.ai: https://avoca.ai/r/tothepointYelp: https://www.yelp.com/