The Catalyst for the Trades

The Catalyst for the Trades.
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  • Marketing

Are you driven to achieve more, push boundaries, and see real results in everything you do? The Catalyst is the podcast for the relentless go-getters, innovators, and leaders who are obsessed with turning vision into action. Join us as we dive deep into success stories, strategies, and insights from industry experts who have cracked the code on what it takes to ignite change and get results. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a business leader, or someone determined to excel, this podcast will fuel your obsession with success. Listen in and become the catalyst for your own results.

  1. Aug 10

    Built by the Trades: AI for Contractors, ServiceTitan Automation & the Future of Home Service Technology

    Artificial intelligence is changing the trades, but the biggest opportunity isn't replacing technicians. It's helping contractors build smarter systems, automate operations, improve profitability, and make better business decisions. In this episode of Catalyst for the Trades, Jennifer Bagley is joined by Paul Wiese and Charlie Vecchio from Built by the Trades to explore how AI is transforming HVAC, plumbing, electrical, garage door, roofing, and home service businesses through practical automation—not hype. From AI-powered pricing and budgeting to ServiceTitan automation, review management, online quoting, and service scheduling, this conversation dives into the technology that's helping contractors operate more efficiently while improving the customer experience. Paul also shares why enterprise-grade AI requires far more than a weekend prototype, explaining the importance of security, infrastructure, SOC compliance, and building software that can scale with growing businesses. In this episode, you'll learn: How AI is changing the future of the home services industryWhy automation is becoming essential for growing HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and garage door companiesThe difference between AI prototypes and enterprise-grade softwareHow Profit Wizard automates pricing using real business overhead and profitabilityHow ServiceDash helps contractors fill technician capacity with real booked service callsHow TrueQuote brings transparent online pricing to contractor websitesWhy Google Reviews and reputation management are becoming even more important in AI searchHow Budget Genius uses historical business data to improve forecasting and budgetingWhy contractors should rely on data, KPIs, and math instead of guesswork when making business decisionsWhat business owners should know before investing in AI software for their companyWhether you're already using AI in your business or you're evaluating where to begin, this episode offers practical insights into the next generation of technology built specifically for the trades. Connect with Today's Guests Built by the Trades Website: https://builtbythetrades.com Paul Wiese Email: paul@builtbythetrades.com Charlie Vecchio Email: charlie@builtbythetrades.com Learn More The Catalyst for the Trades Website: https://www.catalystforthetrades.com Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to "The Catalyst for Trades" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Share this episode with aspiring and established leaders, and stay tuned for more insights on driving business success and personal leadership growth.

  2. Jul 31

    AI, Authority & the Future of Home Service Marketing with Casey Eberhart

    What happens when AI changes the rules of marketing faster than most contractors can keep up? In this episode of The Catalyst for the Trades, Jennifer Bagley is joined by longtime friend, strategist, and business consultant Casey Eberhart for a candid conversation about where the industry is headed, and why most contractors are still playing yesterday's game. Together, they explore why AI isn't just changing marketing tactics. It's changing how homeowners discover businesses, how trust is built, and why your personal brand may soon become one of your company's biggest competitive advantages. They also dive into the evolution from traditional SEO to AI search, why transparency is becoming a business advantage, and how forward-thinking contractors can position themselves several moves ahead of the competition. In This Episode Why AI is a bigger business shift than the early days of the internetThe difference between chasing AI tools and building an adaptable AI strategyHow personal brands influence business visibility and AI search resultsWhy your website, social media, podcasts, reviews, and content all work together as one connected digital ecosystemThe case for transparent pricing—and why hiding prices may be costing you salesHow customer-first website experiences outperform traditional service-page marketingWhy every member of your team can strengthen your company's authority onlineUsing podcasts, local partnerships, and content collaborations to build market dominanceHow AI helps business owners make better strategic decisions using real market data instead of opinionsWhy contractors who think three to five moves ahead will outperform competitors still focused on today's playbookMemorable Quotes "Don't get emotionally attached to any given tool. Get emotionally attached to the process." "Most of your competitors don't know how to play checkers. This is five-dimensional chess." "You can be right, or you can be rich. Pick one." "Your first 50 videos are going to suck. That's okay. Your competitors won't even make it to five." Resources Mentioned Connect with Casey on FacebookJennifer Bagley's book Hands UpJenniferBagley.comConnect with Jennifer on FacebookHydra OSCI Web GroupEnjoyed this episode? Subscribe to "The Catalyst for Trades" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Share this episode with aspiring and established leaders, and stay tuned for more insights on driving business success and personal leadership growth.

  3. May 29

    Your Website Site Is an ADA Lawsuit Waiting to Happen

    AI-powered attorneys are now filing automated ADA lawsuits, and the average settlement costs $52,000. Is your website exposed? In this episode of Catalyst for the Trades, host Jazmin Ramirez sits down with Jennifer Bagley for a no-nonsense breakdown of what ADA website accessibility actually means for home service businesses right now. Jennifer shares why most websites—whether built on WordPress, Webflow, or other popular platforms—are a compliance minefield, how Google's AI crawlers and DOJ requirements are essentially the same checklist, why retrofitting old sites doesn't work, and what a future-proof digital strategy actually looks like.She also shares the uncomfortable truth: with 52% of Google searches now ending in zero clicks, the website itself may no longer be the destination, and your compliance and discoverability strategy needs to reflect that. If you're still running a patchwork WordPress site, or assuming a modern web platform setup protects you, this episode is your wake-up call. Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for guidance specific to your situation. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Your Hosts: Jazmin Ramirez and Jennifer Bagley kick off a new era of Catalyst for the Trades00:29 — ADA 101: What it is, who it protects, and why it goes all the way down to your site's code02:24 — The WordPress Problem: Why themes, plugins, and third-party code make compliance nearly impossible to control06:01 — The Branding Trap: How a $60,000 rebrand can fail every ADA color contrast requirement08:10 — ADA & SEO Are the Same Thing: Why Google's AI crawlers and DOJ requirements are nearly identical checklists12:19 — Automated Lawsuits Are Here: How AI lets attorneys mass-file ADA suits — and why the $52K average settlement should get your attention22:07 — The Most Common Violations: Untagged images, broken forms, poor contrast, and third-party integrations that leave you exposed29:38 — Whose Responsibility Is It? Everyone's — from the business owner to the SEO team to the account manager35:01 — Stop Nodding, Start Asking: Building a culture of curiosity and accountability around compliance36:45 — Why Retrofitting Doesn't Work: The R22 refrigerant analogy and the real cost of patching a broken site43:53 — Future-Proofing with Hydra: Why a decoupled, AI-ready platform is the only long-term answerGuest Details: Host: Jazmin Ramirez Executive Director of Growth, CI Web Group  Jazmin leads growth strategy at CI Web Group and co-hosts Catalyst for the Trades, bringing contractor-focused perspective to complex digital topics. Host: Jennifer Bagley  CEO, CI Web Group | Co-founder, Just Start AI  Jennifer Bagley is a digital marketing strategist and one of the home services industry's most forward-thinking voices. She helps HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies navigate ADA compliance, AI-driven search, and the technical foundations of a durable digital presence. Relevant Links: CI Web GroupJust Start AIGet Your Free ADA Compliance Report & Upgrade to HydraDOJ ADA Web Guidance (Title III)Pro tip from Jennifer: Go to Google and search "How does ADA compliance compare to Google AI crawler requirements?" — the overlap will change how you think about both. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to "The Catalyst for Trades" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Share this episode with aspiring and established leaders, and stay tuned for more insights on driving business success and personal leadership growth.

  4. Apr 22

    Last Chance to Register | The Trades Event That Builds Your $10M+ Plan | May 5-7

    Last Chance to Register | Climb to $10M+ | May 5-7 | Houston, Texas Are you a trades business owner stuck under $10M? This is the event that changes that.  Join host Jennifer Bagley alongside Chuck & Dana Staszkiewicz, Craig Wendel, Crystal Williams, Lindsey Beckstrom, and Paul Childers — six industry experts covering every cogwheel of your trades business — for a 3-day war room style workshop designed to find the holes, fix the gaps, and build your real plan to climb to $10M and beyond. This is NOT another conference. No PowerPoints. No stages. Just hands-on, in-the-weeds work on YOUR business. 📍 REGISTER NOW → https://climbtoriches.ciwebgroup.com/ 📅 May 5-7 | Houston, Texas | Limited Seats 🛠️ WHAT HAPPENS AT THIS EVENT: Hot seat sessions where experts dig into YOUR specific business problemsVIP Day with M&A advisor Craig Wendel (VIP day only — don't miss it)Hands-on war room workshops — you leave with your actual plan builtBranding & digital strategy deep dives with Crystal WilliamsHR, recruiting & onboarding breakthroughs with Lindsey BeckstromCapital, credit & lending clarity with Paul ChildersM&A, deal structure & exit strategy with Craig WendelBusiness operations & growth strategy with Chuck & Dana StaszkiewiczA 356-data-point entity platform — released for the FIRST TIME at this eventOptional hog hunt on Day 3 for networking and adventureSmall intimate setting — real conversations, real results 💡 WHO THIS IS FOR: ✅ Trades business owners doing $500K–$50M+ in revenue ✅ HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, pest control & more ✅ Owners who are stuck in the day-to-day and can't break through ✅ Anyone who wants to sell, scale, or future-proof their business ✅ One ticket = 3 people can attend (bring your GM or manager!) ⚠️ TOP PROBLEMS WE SOLVE AT THIS EVENT: Cash flow & budgeting issuesOwner dependency & key man riskRecruiting & hiring in today's marketPredatory lending & bad deal structuresBranding & marketing that actually moves the needleSOPs, KPIs & financial visibilityExit planning & M&A preparationNot knowing what you don't know🎯 WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT: Most conferences leave you with a notebook full of ideas you never use. This event leaves you with a plan you built yourself, surrounded by experts who helped you build it. Small pockets. Real conversations. Actual application. "Walk in stuck. Leave climbing to $10M+" 📲 CONNECT WITH OUR EXPERTS: 🔹 Jennifer Bagley 🔹 Chuck & Dana Staszkiewicz 🔹 Craig Wendel 🔹 Crystal Williams 🔹 Lindsey Beckstrom 🔹 Paul Childers 📌 REGISTER BEFORE SEATS CLOSE → https://climbtoriches.ciwebgroup.com/ Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to "The Catalyst for Trades" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Share this episode with aspiring and established leaders, and stay tuned for more insights on driving business success and personal leadership growth.

  5. Apr 15

    Climb to $10M: Inside the Workshop Event That Will Transform Your Business

    Sick of conferences that pump you up but don’t move the needle? Jennifer Bagley welcomes guest Chuck Staszkiewicz for a candid, behind-the-scenes look at Climb to $10M—the high-accountability, workshop-driven event hosted by The Opus & Golds Group. Jennifer and Chuck unpack what makes it different: capped attendance, curated experts, real implementation time, and a strict no-selling environment. You’ll hear how the agenda flows like a business supply chain—connecting marketing, sales, operations, HR, and finance—so you leave with clarity, content assets, and a plan your team can execute immediately. They dig into identity work for CEOs, adventure-based learning that cements lessons, and practical frameworks for maximizing any event before, during, and after you attend. If you lead a home service company and want results you can measure—not just motivation—this episode is your roadmap.  Seats are capped for maximum access and accountability. Bring your leadership team and leave with a plan, content assets, and systems you can execute immediately. Register now at climbtoriches.ciwebgroup.com Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and catch-up 01:32 - Rethinking events: fixing what’s broken 02:52 - Small groups, big impact 04:23 - The expert lineup and session themes 07:22 - VIP Day and identity shifting 08:43 - Adventure learning in the field 12:47 - Bring your leaders, multiply results 15:07 - Strategic flow: supply chain logic for growth 16:40 - War-room style, real conversations 18:18 - Leave with marketing assets 20:13 - How to maximize any event 24:45 - High-Leverage Actions (HLA) 28:06 - Cross-industry insights 32:33 - The promise of Climb to $10M 33:07 - VIP ticket giveaway 35:35 - 2024 growth mindset. 40:18 - Event details and registration Guest: Chuck Staszkiewicz Founder, The Opus & Golds Group A serial entrepreneur with deep home service operations experience, Chuck focuses on practical systems and implementation that break plateaus and drive scale. Host: Jennifer Bagley Founder & CEO, CI Web Group; Featured Speaker at Climb to $10M A leading strategist on AI, marketing, and scale, Jennifer helps home service businesses implement systems, content, and tech for measurable growth. Relevant Links: Register for Climb to $10M (May 5-7): https://climbtoriches.ciwebgroup.comCI Web Group: https://www.ciwebgroup.comFind Chuck Staszkiewicz on Facebook for VIP ticket giveawayEnjoyed this episode? Subscribe to "The Catalyst for Trades" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Share this episode with aspiring and established leaders, and stay tuned for more insights on driving business success and personal leadership growth.

  6. Apr 1

    AI, Leadership & Next-Level Growth: Cameron Herold’s Playbook for Contractors

    Most contractors are either ignoring AI or getting distracted by flashy tools they don’t actually need. In this episode, Jennifer Bagley talks with Cameron Herold, the operational expert who helped build 1-800-GOT-JUNK and mentored industry leaders like Tommy Mello. They discuss why the "old-school" basics—like answering the phone and having branded trucks—matter more than ever in an automated world. You will learn how to identify which AI tools actually increase your profit margins, how to hire a team that embraces technology, and why your leadership style is the one thing that can't be replaced by a bot. What You’ll Learn The Revenue Filter: Why you should only use AI for tasks that directly increase sales or gross margins.The 3-Tier Growth Path: Why a small shop shouldn’t try to use the same automation as a $50M company.Hiring for the Future: A simple "Laptop Test" to make sure your next hire can actually use technology to save you time.Beating "Price Shopping": How to use ChatGPT in the house with the customer to upsell maintenance agreements and air purification.The Leadership Gap: Why delegating AI is smart, but "abdicating" (ignoring it and hoping someone else handles it) will kill your business.Timestamps 00:00 – Jennifer’s experience: Moving from a 320-person team to a 47-person AI-first company.04:10 – Cameron’s background: Scaling residential painting and junk removal to billion-dollar levels.08:27 – The Danger Zone: Why moving too slow—or too fast—with AI can hurt your business.11:00 – The Interview Secret: How to see if a candidate is actually tech-savvy in 5 minutes.18:44 – Customer Savvy: How to stop clients from using AI to talk you down on price.21:20 – Bronze, Silver, Gold: A realistic roadmap for contractor technology.33:16 – Easy Wins: Automating Google reviews to win more local jobs.40:03 – Performance Reviews: Using AI agents to give your team unbiased feedback.51:14 – Soft Skills: Why being a good boss is still your most valuable skill.56:38 – The Big Picture: Taking care of your people and your customers first.About Cameron Herold Cameron Herold is a world-renowned business coach and the founder of the COO Alliance. He specializes in helping "second-in-command" executives run the day-to-day operations of high-growth companies. He has authored seven business books and has a deep history in the home services industry. Free AI Mentor: AskCameron.aiWebsite: CameronHerold.comTraining: InvestInYourLeaders.comNext Steps Organize Your Tech: Visit Cameron’s websites and bookmark them for your next leadership meeting.Review Your Reviews: If you aren't using an automated system to get Google reviews, make that your priority this week.Subscribe: Follow Catalyst for the Trades on your favorite podcast app for more interviews with industry experts.Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to "The Catalyst for Trades" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Share this episode with aspiring and established leaders, and stay tuned for more insights on driving business success and personal leadership growth.

  7. Feb 18

    AI-First Growth for the Trades: Builder Market with Louis Vierra and Brett Taylor

    Most contractors know the feeling: you pay for leads that five other companies get, you chase calls late, and your software stack keeps growing—but not your margins. Builder Market’s Founder Brett Taylor and Co-Founder Louis Vierra come from the trades. They built an AI-first platform that keeps things simple: a free listing that customers can trust, pro-to-pro networking, a built-in CRM and pricebook, financing, and access to exclusive leads. You choose your zip codes and categories. You pay only for the real leads delivered. You get support when you set it up. Pair that with speed-to-lead automation and AI-first websites and content and you’ve got a system that responds in seconds, shows proof the customer can see, and builds visibility in both search and AI assistants. Less noise. More booked jobs. Timestamps 00:00 – Why the old model hurts contractors   01:16 – Brett and Louis: from jobsite to software   06:07 – What’s broken with Angie/Yelp and fragmented tech   10:24 – What Builder Market actually does (in plain English)   14:19 – Pricebooks, templates, and financing that don’t slow you down   15:23 – Find subs and GCs fast; work together in channels   17:16 – Claim your listing; setup in minutes; live help   20:21 – Consumer tools: AI planning, renderings, DIY guidance, product recs   22:04 – Becoming a trusted data source for AI assistants   25:50 – How exclusive vs. shared leads work; real-time auctions   28:36 – Speed-to-lead: reply in under 5 minutes (or in seconds with AI)   32:30 – Training and the Hydra ecosystem: content, agents, automation   36:09 – Third‑party validation + AI content = more visibility   40:04 – Why AI‑first beats legacy SaaS   42:00 – Using AI instead of adding office headcount   43:21 – Value-first approach and open feedback   44:44 – Costs: free to join; category-based lead pricing   47:19 – Disputes and refunds that respect pros   48:27 – 641,000+ pages indexed; tight geo coverage   50:07 – Brand mentions and content built with partners   53:29 – Final steps: claim, configure, connect Guest Details - Louis Vierra, Co‑Founder, Builder Market — Veteran GC; patents in construction project management; built Struxure, the engine behind Builder Market.   - Brett Taylor, Founder, Builder Market — Entrepreneur focused on fair, open pro-homeowner communication and smarter lead distribution. Relevant Links  - The Builder Market   - Just Start AI   - Catalyst for the Trades Podcast   - OnePath AI   - Hydra (CI Web Group)   - Pulse (CI Web Group)   Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to "The Catalyst for Trades" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Share this episode with aspiring and established leaders, and stay tuned for more insights on driving business success and personal leadership growth.

  8. Jan 14

    Women in Charge: How AI and Automation Are Powering Home Service Growth

    How do women in the trades go from underfunded marketing and clunky tech to dominating their local markets with AI and automation? In this episode of Catalyst for the Trades, host Jennifer Bagley sits down with three powerhouse home service entrepreneurs—Courtney Van Delden Supplee (Van Delden Wastewater Systems), Amanda Casteel (Cherry Blossom Plumbing), and Stephanie Allen (AirWorks Solutions). You’ll hear real stories of growth from women-led businesses in HVAC, plumbing, and septic services. The conversation dives into hard-won lessons on failed marketing investments, the leap from WordPress to Webflow, and how embracing AI content, dashboards, and automation turned their marketing from a liability into a lead machine. These women get candid about tech transitions, brand control, data-driven decisions, and how being first to adopt AI-powered web platforms gave them a 12-month head start on their competition.  Timestamps: 00:00 – Meet the Guests: Women Redefining the Home Services Industry 01:20 – Business Beginnings: Legacy, Pivots & Pandemic Launches 09:42 – Marketing Lessons: Tracking ROI, Attribution, and Broken Promises 20:28 – Why They Left WordPress: Moving to AI-Driven Web Platforms 29:33 – The 120-Day Ramp: Planning for Momentum and SEO Visibility 32:24 – AI vs. Human Marketing: Dashboards, Control & Training Smart Agents 35:00 – Trial and Error: Teaching AI, Managing Risk, and Staying Agile 40:33 – Content Repurposing at Scale: Blogs, Social Media & Link Building 45:00 – Brand Control: Managing Digital Assets and Image Guidelines 50:13 – Future-Focused: Compliance Automation and Smarter Processes 57:40 – Final Thoughts: Leadership, Feedback, and Scaling Together Guest Details: Courtney Van Delden Supplee Co-owner, Van Delden Wastewater Systems Fourth-generation owner of a septic services company in San Antonio, Courtney modernized a legacy business through AI-driven marketing, CRM tech, and deep customer trust. Amanda Casteel Co-owner, Cherry Blossom Plumbing Launched during the pandemic, Amanda helped scale Cherry Blossom Plumbing with smart digital strategies, strong client relationships, and a relentless focus on tech and transparency. Stephanie Allen CEO, AirWorks Solutions HVAC and plumbing leader from Alabama, Stephanie blends law and business acumen with grassroots and AI-based marketing to run a fast-growing, family-focused service brand. Relevant Links: Van Delden Wastewater SystemsCherry Blossom PlumbingAirWorks SolutionsCI Web GroupCatalyst for the Trades PodcastEnjoyed this episode? Subscribe to "The Catalyst for Trades" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Share this episode with aspiring and established leaders, and stay tuned for more insights on driving business success and personal leadership growth.

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About

Are you driven to achieve more, push boundaries, and see real results in everything you do? The Catalyst is the podcast for the relentless go-getters, innovators, and leaders who are obsessed with turning vision into action. Join us as we dive deep into success stories, strategies, and insights from industry experts who have cracked the code on what it takes to ignite change and get results. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a business leader, or someone determined to excel, this podcast will fuel your obsession with success. Listen in and become the catalyst for your own results.

Information

  • Creator
    The Catalyst for the Trades.
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    58
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Catalyst for the Trades
  • Show Website
    The Catalyst for the Trades

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