The Blue Collar Trades Show

The Blue Collar Trades Show is where hard work meets real talk and a little controlled chaos, usually held together with duct tape. Hosted by Troy, Jim, Chad, and Marissa (four very different personalities who somehow make it work), the show brings together business owners, tradespeople, veterans, and everyday folks from a wide range of industries and backgrounds. Expect honest conversations about building careers, businesses, and lives, along with real stories, practical lessons, occasional sarcasm, and plenty of laughs- without the corporate buzzwords or polished nonsense. It’s all about doing great work, treating people right, and having some fun while we’re at it.

The Blue Collar Trades Show is a business podcast hosted by Troy Latuff, with 27 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Troy Latuff hosts The Blue Collar Trades Show, a business show with 27 episodes published.

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  The Blue Collar Trades Show

  The One About Turning an Unexpected Career Change Into an HVAC Success Story

  Sep 29, 20261h 11m

  Summary Janal Reid shares her inspiring journey from Detroit to becoming a successful HVAC business owner in Dallas, Texas. She discusses the importance of community, customer service, and strategic growth in building a lasting business. Janal shares her insights on building a strong company culture, empowering women in trades, and balancing family and entrepreneurship. Discover practical strategies for leadership, diversity, and growth in this inspiring conversation. Key Topics Janal Reid's early life and entrepreneurial spirit Transition from cosmetology to HVAC Building a business through strategic planning and community focus Lessons learned from rapid growth and setbacks The importance of culture and leadership in scaling a business Company culture development and values Strategies for attracting and mentoring women in trades Balancing family life with entrepreneurship Leadership and communication in a family business Industry insights on trades education and diversity Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Janal Reid and her story 00:01 Introduction to Janal Reid and her business journey 02:00 Early influences and entrepreneurial mindset 03:53 Transition from cosmetology to HVAC 04:09 Building a company culture aligned with core values 08:02 Moving to Texas and starting fresh 08:09 Strategies for attracting women to the trades 12:12 Launching the HVAC business in Dallas 12:32 The importance of mentorship and industry collaboration 16:04 Challenges of rapid growth and managing culture 16:07 Balancing family life and entrepreneurship 20:01 Building community and customer relationships 20:30 Leadership lessons in a family-run business 24:04 Strategic partnerships and training programs 24:19 The future of trades education and diversity 28:00 Advice for women considering careers in trades 32:09 Closing thoughts and key takeaways 33:00 Current state of the business and future plans Connect with Janal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janal-reid/ https://ngtf.co/ https://servewayhvac.com/about-us/ Connect with Us: https://thebluecollarrecruiter.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-blue-collar-recruiter-virtual-trade-school/

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  The Blue Collar Trades Show

  The One About Breaking Through Your Business Plateau

  Sep 22, 20261h 5m

  Summary In this episode, Adam Skorstad shares his extensive experience in the trades industry, from technical roles to leadership and coaching. He discusses the importance of systems, leadership development, and strategic growth for contractors aiming to scale their businesses successfully. Key Topics Adam Skorstad's background and journey in the trades industry Importance of systems and processes in business growth Leadership development and team management Strategies for overcoming business plateaus The role of coaching and mentorship in contractor success Financial management and reinvestment strategies The value of training and continuous learning Insights on franchise opportunities and startup capital Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Adam's background in the trades 01:58 Adam's journey from college to trades 03:59 Early career and transition into management 07:00 The importance of continuous learning and growth 09:53 Leadership development and reinventing yourself 15:03 Common pitfalls in contractor business management 20:07 Managing growth and overcoming plateaus 25:03 Financial fundamentals and reinvestment strategies 29:56 Starting a new business and startup capital 34:58 Franchise vs independent startup considerations 39:57 The importance of training, systems, and processes 45:00 Building a strong team and retention strategies 50:11 Coaching, mentorship, and continuous improvement 55:01 Final advice and closing thoughts Connect with Adam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-skorstad-5530b98a/ https://www.bdrco.com/ Connect with Us: https://thebluecollarrecruiter.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-blue-collar-recruiter-virtual-trade-school/

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  The Blue Collar Trades Show

  The One About Finding the Profit Leaks in Your Business with Ben Hansen | Ep. 26

  Sep 15, 20261h 15m

  In this episode of The Blue Collar Trades Show, Troy Latuff, Chad and Jim sit down with Ben Hansen, known as the Profit Doctor, to talk about what really drives profitability in a blue collar business. Ben shares practical insights on identifying and patching profit leaks, understanding the numbers behind your business, tracking project profitability, and making smarter decisions about the customers, projects, and markets you pursue. Troy, Chad, Jim and Ben also dig into common misconceptions about profit margins in the trades, the impact of owner compensation on the numbers, and why generating more revenue doesn’t always mean making more money. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Profit Doctor and his background 04:07 The importance of understanding profitability in blue-collar trades 06:07 The three buckets of profitability: top, middle, and bottom thirds 08:03 Debunking profit margin myths in construction and the trades 09:59 Average net profitability in trades businesses and industry benchmarks 11:55 The importance of accurate financial data and accounting methods 14:56 Common profit leaks and how to patch them 17:59 The impact of owner compensation on perceived profitability 21:12 Customer selection and its effect on business profitability 23:51 Strategies for improving profit through leak detection and patching 27:00 Project and customer selection as key profit drivers 29:53 The importance of choosing the right projects and markets 34:06 How to evaluate project profitability and avoid costly mistakes 37:00 The significance of project selection and its impact on the bottom line 37:56 Final thoughts on improving profitability in trades businesses Connect with Ben Hansen Website: https://profitdoctor.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benhansen/ Follow The Blue Collar Trades Show Website: https://thebluecollarrecruiter.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-blue-collar-recruiter-virtual-trade-school/

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  The Blue Collar Trades Show

  The One About What’s Beneath Our Cities with Matt Fishbune | Ep. 25

  Aug 26, 20261h 4m

  In this episode, Matt Fishbune, CEO of Duke’s, shares his journey from sports to underground infrastructure, the importance of character in hiring, and the fascinating world of trenchless sewer repair. Discover how innovative techniques are transforming city maintenance, what it takes to build a successful business in this niche industry, and how AI, sensors, drones, and other emerging technologies could shape the future of underground infrastructure. Key Topics · Matt Fishbune's background in sports and transition to infrastructure · The importance of character in hiring for trades · Techniques and innovations in trenchless sewer repair · Challenges of aging infrastructure and solutions · Building a successful business in underground infrastructure · The role of technology in city maintenance · Character over competency in team building · Historical insights into sewer systems and materials Underground water and sewer systems · The role of gravity and pump stations in water flow · Infrastructure maintenance and capacity issues · Impact of AI on inspection and assessment · Future technologies like drones, sensors, and laser lidar · The importance of skilled trades and workforce development Takeaways · Character and attitude are more important than technical skills in hiring. · Always be hiring to stay ahead and avoid scrambling for talent. · Ask specific questions about past failures to assess accountability. · Most of the sewer infrastructure in the US is past its useful life. · Innovative trenchless methods can fix infrastructure without digging up streets. · Understanding the history of infrastructure helps appreciate current challenges. · Building relationships and reputation is key in niche industries. · Technology and proactive maintenance extend the life of infrastructure. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and guest background 02:02 Matt's sports background and transition from athletics 03:56 Introduction to trenchless sewer rehabilitation 06:58 Character in hiring and team building 10:57 Interview questions to assess accountability 14:59 The importance of always being in hiring mode 19:59 Matt’s family and their athletic achievements 21:59 History and evolution of Dukes and trenchless technology 25:03 Chemical solutions and service offerings 28:02 Service areas and industry growth 29:59 Longevity of infrastructure and historical systems 34:00 Water quality, safety, and infrastructure challenges Connect With Our Guest Learn more about Duke’s and connect with Matt: Duke’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/duke's-root-control-inc./ Matt Fishbune on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattfishbune/ Duke’s Website: https://www.dukes.com/

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  The Blue Collar Trades Show

  The One About Selling, Scaling, and Starting Again with Jamie Gerdsen | Ep. 24

  Aug 18, 20261h 13m

  Jamie Gerdsen, founder of G5 Ventures, shares his path from third-generation HVAC roots to sales leadership, business ownership, private equity, and building his next chapter with G5 Ventures. We dig into what actually drives growth in the trades: hiring, lead flow, culture, cash flow, and putting people first. Jamie also breaks down why great sales still comes back to trust and follow-up, what owners underestimate about scaling, lessons from a near payroll crisis, and why he ultimately chose Main Street entrepreneurship over corporate life. Timestamps 00:00 - Opening and women in the trades 01:52 - Why technicians underestimate business ownership 04:07 - Jamie’s third-generation HVAC roots 07:18 - Residential sales and lead generation 09:32 - Building a systematic sales process 13:42 - Hunger, responsibility, and sales performance 15:06 - Authenticity and trust in selling 18:12 - Making it easier for customers to buy 21:55 - Growing up in the trades 24:36 - Hiring, apprenticeships, and scaling 29:11 - Fixing culture and putting employees first 33:04 - Leadership lessons from rowing 36:51 - The cash flow scare 38:50 - Why Jamie sold his company 41:45 - Moving into private equity and Turnpoint 45:40 - Launching G5 49:44 - From operator to systems architect 53:24 - Why perceptions of the trades are changing 59:06 - G5’s five-year vision 63:03 - Wealth, freedom, and defining “rich” 65:11 - Advice for young people 68:12 - Giving back and learning from failure 69:24 - Apprenticeships and the future of the trades 72:16 - Closing remarks Connect with Jamie Website: https://g5ventures.com/ https://www.jamiegerdsen.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiegerdsen/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/g5ventures/ Connect with us Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebluecollarrecruiter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbcr_vts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-blue-collar-recruiter-virtual-trade-school Have a question, an idea for the show or know someone we should have on? Reach out, we’d love to hear from you! Key topics · Why field experience alone doesn’t prepare you to run a business · Old-school sales habits that still work: curiosity, objection handling, notes, and follow-up · Why authenticity beats pushing the most expensive option · Hiring ahead of growth and building a people-first culture · The cash flow mistake that nearly created a payroll crisis · Lessons from selling his company and moving into private equity · Why Jamie returned to entrepreneurship and launched G5 · The growing career opportunity in the skilled trades · Building businesses that create long-term opportunity for employees and families

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