HVAC Leaders

Ashlei Rolloff

You've built something real. But when you add people and revenue, your systems break and you get pulled back in. Scaling means your systems evolve—both how you operate and who you are as a leader. This is conscious leadership. How you show up—your awareness, your decision patterns, your energy—directly impacts your commercial performance. Your reps perform consistently. Your forecast holds. Your team stays because they understand what matters. When your systems evolve, something shifts. You have an engaged team aligned to your values. A business with 10x impact. And you actually have time to f

  1. 16. Building Your AI Operations Plan: What Works in HVAC, What Doesn't, and Where to Start

    FEB 9

    16. Building Your AI Operations Plan: What Works in HVAC, What Doesn't, and Where to Start

    You know AI matters. You know your team needs a strategy. But when you look at your operation and ask "where do we actually start?"—you hit a wall. ABOUT OUR GUEST Colleen Keyworth is VP of Sales and Marketing at Online Access, a Michigan-based HVAC web solutions company. She's built AI into real HVAC operations from both the manufacturing and contractor side, giving her unique insight into what actually works versus what drains resources. WHAT WE DISCUSS The AI framework HVAC executives need first: Identify where time is wasted before you buy any tool. AI replaces wasted time, not people.Internal agentic AI that scales your operation: How to build company-specific AI agents that let employees find answers instantly instead of creating management bottlenecks.The critical difference between chat tools and agentic AI: Chat (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) is a starting point. Agentic AI connects third-party systems to automate entire workflows.Why AI-generated marketing content tanks your campaigns: Contractors using synthetic content consistently underperform. Your competitors will learn this the hard way.Operationalizing AI through EOS frameworks: Use the Delegate & Elevate exercise to identify which tasks can be automated versus which still need human execution.Essential listening for VPs of Sales and Marketing at HVAC manufacturers, reps, and distributor organizations who need to justify AI investments and prove ROI. Email: ckeyworth@online-access.comLinkedIn: Search "Colleen Keyworth"Company: Online Access (online-access.com) Tools mentioned: Wispr Flow, Claude, ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Zapier, EOS Framework

    32 min

  2. 12/15/2025

    15. BEST OF 2025: Voices of HVAC Leadership

    What actually moved the needle in HVAC this year? In this “Best of” episode, Ashlei Rolloff brings together five of the sharpest conversations from 2025, conversations that challenge how we lead, grow, and market in this industry. You’ll hear from: Greg Crumpton on retention, field leadership, and why presence still matters Craig Bunker on how private equity evaluates people, process, and culture and what HVAC businesses can do now to build long-term value Christyn Mueller on generational shifts in workplace communication and how leaders can close the gap Tony Mormino on practical HVAC social media strategy, by channel, audience, and time constraint Zac Engler on AI leadership, shadow tools, and how to support not replace your team This isn’t just a recap. It’s a pulse check. A look at what’s really changing in HVAC and how the best leaders are responding. Full Episode Links: Greg Crumpton - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3c1ZSGu6LDtVXUbMpcPtuo?si=TXKcCe4SRMi539zEn37jmg Tonka Bay - Craig Bunker - https://open.spotify.com/episode/7Fy2v0oi02zyyCOQHlm3PT?si=ZG8kuuT2S3OERmRoy5UU_A Johnson Controls -Christyn Mueller - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5tyauPOkfyqbqQcBdjIqh0?si=iyDAc2w_Q0WWfv-QY382vQ Tony Mormino - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3YKtgtQaoHTrH7GMCBaIfS?si=3JKu63KSSVKPn4XyMxMaPw Bodhi Ai - Zac Engler - https://open.spotify.com/episode/0NpNsKovQ09vZ4aljpMgaF?si=Fwd_Hd2OSJCpR3Jwck5ufw Quote to Remember:"You do not scale a business by scaling people alone. You scale it by building clarity, culture, and systems that outlive the org chart." — Craig Bunker

    37 min

  3. 12/01/2025

    14. Tech That Buys Back Time: James Hatfield on AI, Exit Multiples, and the Power of Video

    You can’t sell tribal knowledge—but you can document it. In this episode, Ashlei Rolloff sits down with James Hatfield, CRO of Live Switch and a trades veteran turned tech founder, to talk about the real operational edge HVAC firms need to scale—or sell. They discuss: A $750K virtual sales win with no truck rolls How AI can turn a field video into a documented SOP or a ready-to-send contract What private equity firms are really buying—and why it’s not just clean books Why resistance to digital tools is often about trust, not tech If you’re a contractor, owner, or operator trying to grow sustainably, this episode gives you tactical, real-world insights. Quote to Remember: "The most powerful tool you have is in your pocket—it’s your phone. The question is: are you using it to grow your business or just run it?" – James Hatfield Referenced Links: James Hatfield: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hatfield/Book: Making Money is Killing Your Business by Chuck Blakeman - https://a.co/d/0Ffg5uTFree trial: https://liveswitch.comFollow Ashlei on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleirolloff/

    39 min

  4. 11/17/2025

    13. M&A Series – Part 3: Build Wealth, Not Just the Valuation: Brian Adamek on Planning Beyond the Sale

    Selling your HVAC business isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of a far more personal, often more complex, financial chapter. And if you're not planning ahead, you're likely leaving money (and legacy) on the table. In this final episode of our three part M & A series, Ashlei Rolloff sits down with Brian Adamek, certified financial planner and founder of E Wealth Partners, to map the three phases of smart exit planning: pre-sale, transaction year, and post-sale wealth strategy. They cover: The difference between cleaning up your books and actually planning for a saleWhy reinvesting in marketing and operations can drive your valuation higherWhat business owners need to do the year before the sale to reduce their tax burdenWhy your spouse, not your CPA, should be the first person you talk toHow to build your “exit bench” of trusted advisors to avoid missteps after the deal closesWhether you're a founder with an exit in sight or a marketer supporting executives through this transition, this episode offers both strategy and sanity. Referenced Links: E Wealth Partners: https://www.ewealthpartners.com/ Brian’s Podcast: https://youtube.com/@e-wealthpartners MN Paid Leave Webinar: https://youtu.be/qC2eRQHv2SY?si=90QOfjLWhcLQKbim Part 1 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/7Fy2v0oi02zyyCOQHlm3PT?si=ZG8kuuT2S3OERmRoy5UU_A Part 2 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ApkRxuqHgvtrAHyOLwarg?si=9K3FpCT5SCmsPqsZhuq11g Quote to Remember: “Most founders think exit planning is about valuation. It’s not. It’s about protecting what comes next.”

    41 min

  5. 11/03/2025

    12. M&A Series – Part 2: The Hidden Legal Landmines That Kill HVAC Deals Mary Ellen Reihsen on Employment Law Mistakes

    This is Part 2 of our 3-part series The Exit Blueprint: M&A Strategy for HVAC Leaders. You think your business is sale-ready because the P&L looks clean? Think again. In this episode, Ashlei Rolloff sits down with Mary Ellen Reihsen, Partner at Hellmuth & Johnson, to reveal the legal traps that kill HVAC M&A deals during due diligence—and the people-first legal strategies that actually protect your valuation. They discuss: Why employment shortcuts resurface (and cost millions) during M&A due diligence What “instant unemployment” means when your company sells—and how to structure retention The real math behind turnover vs. retention during private equity deals How to legally protect institutional knowledge ("The Bob Problem") What goes in a well-drafted employment agreement in today’s post non-compete world Mary Ellen brings both legal insight and grounded perspective to the process—and breaks down exactly how HVAC business owners can prepare for a clean, confident exit. Referenced Links: Mary Ellen Reihsen – Hellmuth & Johnson Email Mary Ellen Reihsen: mreihsen@hjlawfirm.com Women in HVACR: https://www.womeninhvacr.org Quote to Remember: " Everybody is unemployed for that instant. It feels jarring, but it’s a legal reset—and you have to prepare for it." – Mary Ellen Reihsen

    36 min

  6. 10/20/2025

    11. M&A Series - Part 1: What PE Actually Values: Craig Bunker on Building a Scalable HVAC Business

    This is Part 1 of our 3-part series The Exit Blueprint: M&A Strategy for HVAC Leaders. In this opening conversation, Ashlei Rolloff talks with Craig Bunker, Director of Business Development at Tonka Bay Equity Partners, about what private equity firms are really looking for when evaluating HVAC businesses. This episode is built for owners preparing for succession, growth partnerships, or a potential exit in the next 2 to 10 years. They cover: How founder dependency can limit your business valuation Why people and processes matter more than just financials The three strategic investments HVAC owners should prioritize What PE firms look for in team structure and culture How early preparation can create better outcomes Next up in Part 2: The Legal Landmines That Can Kill A Deal Before The Numbers Even Matter Referenced Links: Tonka Bay Equity Partners Connect with Craig Quote to Remember:"We're in the human capital business. If we get the culture wrong, we lose the business." — Craig Bunker

    38 min

  7. 10/03/2025

    10. Most Teams Aren’t Misaligned. They’re Misunderstood. Peter Ockuly & Dr. Randy Smasal on Reworking Team Dynamics

    What really causes team misalignment in HVAC? Ashlei Rolloff sits down with Peter Ockuly and Dr. Randy Smasal of LiftTeams.com to reveal a smarter way to look at burnout and underperformance. The problem is not effort. It is workflow. They introduce the Working Genius framework, which shows how work flows through six stages—and why skipping steps leads to misfires, fatigue, and disconnect. In this episode: Why your best performers may be stuck in the wrong zoneHow team maps reveal invisible gapsWhat your meeting structure says about your leadershipHow to shift from blame to clarityWhy your system, not your strategy, might be the problemThis is for leaders building resilient teams and smarter execution systems. Referenced Links: Death by Meeting, Patrick Lencioni - https://a.co/d/dNTKIVe Atomic Habits, James Clear  - https://a.co/d/5Sd8r3a Lift Teams - https://liftteams.com/the-working-genius-gpthttps://liftteams.com/ Quote to Remember: “We don’t rise to the level of our goals. We fall to the level of our systems.” – Dr. Randy Smasal

    41 min

  8. 09/22/2025

    09. Work-Life Integration Is the Future: Christyn Mueller on Leading Multi-Generational Teams

    How do you lead when four generations are working side by side—and each expects something different from leadership?  In this episode of HVAC Marketing Leaders, Ashlei Rolloff talks with Christyn Mueller, Associate Director of Global Learning & Development at Johnson Controls, about what Millennials and Gen Z are demanding from work—and how HVAC leaders can adapt without losing productivity.  They cover:  Why communication breaks down across generations and how to fix it.  What younger talent values most from employers—and why salary isn’t at the top.  Real examples of HVAC companies reshaping culture to retain the next generation.  Why work-life integration, not balance, is reshaping leadership expectations.  This conversation is a playbook for executives and marketing leaders who want to attract talent, retain teams, and lead with authenticity in today’s workforce.  Referenced Links:  Connect with Christyn on LinkedIn Johnson Controls Careers  Quote to Remember:  "Authenticity in the workplace means bringing your whole self to work—and giving others the grace to do the same." – Christyn Mueller

    33 min
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About

You've built something real. But when you add people and revenue, your systems break and you get pulled back in. Scaling means your systems evolve—both how you operate and who you are as a leader. This is conscious leadership. How you show up—your awareness, your decision patterns, your energy—directly impacts your commercial performance. Your reps perform consistently. Your forecast holds. Your team stays because they understand what matters. When your systems evolve, something shifts. You have an engaged team aligned to your values. A business with 10x impact. And you actually have time to f

Information

  • Creator
    Ashlei Rolloff
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ashlei Rolloff
  • Show Website
    HVAC Leaders