Blue Collar StartUp

Michael Nelson

5.0 (2)
ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Blue Collar StartUp

Our Mission is Simple: To facilitate the growth and development of Blue Collar businesses. We will showcase REAL Blue Collar businesses in interviews, and use these stories to help educate and empower the next generation of trades workers to become Blue Collar business owners.

NOV 15

Episode 58: Catamount Consulting

Your hosts Derek Foster from Daigle Cleaning Systems and Michael Nelson from Five Towers Media sit down with Scott McKenna and Stacy Spector from Catamount Consulting. Learn more about Catamount Consulting on their website https://catamountconsultingllc.com

54 min
NOV 13

Episode 57: Mike Muscolino AMC Construction & Management

Our Hosts, Derek Foster and Michael Nelson, chat with Mike Muscolino of AMC Construction & Management.

41 min
JUN 10

Episode 56: Second-Generation Advances at Cerrone Plumbing & HVAC

In this episode, our hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster interview Joe Cerrone of Cerrone Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning! Joe is the second person to head the operations of Cerrone, after his father... What advances did he bring to the business? What's stayed the same? What did he learn along the way? Listen to this episode to hear the answers, plus much more! Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp, the podcast! Our Mission is Simple: To facilitate the growth and development of Blue Collar businesses. We will showcase REAL Blue Collar businesses in interviews, and use these stories to help educate and empower the next generation of trades workers to become Blue Collar business owners! 00:00 - Introduction 00:15 - What Was That? 00:37 - Show Begins: What’s New at the Farm? 03:30 - Goat Lawn Care 04:41 - Doubling in Size Every Three Years?! 06:02 - Joe Cerrone: A History 07:54 - Coming a Long Way 09:11 - Plumbing is for Plumbers! 10:13 - Cerrone Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning: Entering the Next Generation 12:42 - The Right Way to Scale: It’s All About the Details! 14:39 - Taking the Reins 17:48 - What Changes… And What Stays the Same 19:34 - The Value of the Paper Trail 20:37 - Keep That Product in Stock! 21:58 - A Structured Focus 23:53 - Teachers: The Most Valuable Resource… If They’re Willing! 25:40 - Net Fencing Sure is Frustrating! 26:49 - Becoming an Owner Isn’t Easy! 27:52 - What’s Happening with Work Ethic? Stay Off the Phone! 30:19 - AI as a Professionalism Tool 32:37 - iPads for Technicians: Pull up Data, Record Video, and More! 33:42 - Document EVERYTHING! 34:14 - A Day in the Life of Joe Cerrone: Quality Checking Champ! 36:12 - Curing the “Hey Mike” Disease: Train and Let Your People Problem-Solve 38:46 - Papas Can’t Sleep! 40:15 - The Biggest Challenge… Is the Unending Flow of Challenges! 43:45 - Joe’s Advice: Blue Collar Work Isn’t Easy, but It’s Worth It! 45:32 - Closing Remarks: Shoutout to MLB and Michaels Group! 46:09 - Mike’s Social Media Cycle: Install, Uninstall, Install…

48 min
MAY 20

Episode 55: Cracking Open Cold Ones at Cornell's

In this episode, our hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster talk with Mike Colvett and Casey Cornell of Cornell's Auto Parts! Cornell's is doing something very special... They boast the claim that their auto operation is heavily recycling-based, reusing car oil, parts, metal, carpeting, and more from their cars! How is this possible? How did they get started doing this? Hear the answers to those questions and many more by listening to this episode! Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp, the podcast! Our Mission is Simple: To facilitate the growth and development of Blue Collar businesses. We will showcase REAL Blue Collar businesses in interviews, and use these stories to help educate and empower the next generation of trades workers to become Blue Collar business owners! 00:00 - Introductions: Greenfield Center is Beautiful! 01:12 - Podcast Happy Hour: Tinney’s Tavern Reopens! 02:14 - Thanks, DTGC! Shoutout to Fierro’s! 03:44 - Cornell’s Auto Parts… Not a Junkyard! 05:32 - Second-Generation 06:46 - A Growing Business: From One Employee to 40 07:52 - Insurance by Day, Construction by Night 08:44 - Cracking Open a Cold One with the Boys 09:18 - Hiring: A Tough Decision, But an Important One 13:39 - New Cars Don’t Make Money… Parts and Service Does! 14:49 - A High-Tech, Organized Operation 17:13 - Frustration Hires a GM 19:32 - Strange Noises 20:04 - The Cornell Network: What Collaboration Can Do 24:32 - Mike the Sales Trainer 25:44 - Leave All-Nighters to the Young! 26:41 - EVERYTHING Gets Recycled: Oil, Gas, Parts, and More! 29:30 - Car-Crushin’: Go Watch Pulp Fiction! 31:42 - Finding the Right People 33:29 - Career Hagglers Are Scary! 35:27 - The Part-Cleaning Process 37:49 - There is No Typical Day at Cornell’s! 38:55 - A Versatile, Reliable Staff 41:04 - Happy Holidays 41:49 - Outside of Work… Is More Work? The Pricemaster 44:50 - Snowmobiling, Drag Racing, Pizzamaking, and More! 47:15 - Five Towers Client Appreciation at Dancing Grain! 48:20 - What’s Next? 50:13 - Keeping the Business Fun 52:58 - Close at 5, Go Home at Midnight 53:33 - The Key to Success… Is Patience! 55:29 - How to Get in Touch 56:07 - Is Greenfield Sheep or Cow Country? 57:06 - Closing Remarks: Shoutout to Michaels Group and MLB Construction!

58 min
MAY 13

Episode 54: Taking the "Side" out of "Side Hustle"

In this episode, our hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster interview Josh Brown and Zach Moore of Brown Design & Construction! Both of them have other full-time jobs that they still take part in... And yet, the side hustle they started up out of curiosity has taken off like wildfire! What's their secret to success? How do they balance work responsibilities? What's their training? Find out the answers by tuning in to this episode! Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp, the podcast! Our Mission is Simple: To facilitate the growth and development of Blue Collar businesses. We will showcase REAL Blue Collar businesses in interviews, and use these stories to help educate and empower the next generation of trades workers to become Blue Collar business owners! 00:00 - Show Starts 01:11 - Flippin’ Like a Burger-Man 03:47 - The Corporate Life… Just One Thing? No Thanks! 05:43 - Back to Construction: Everybody Needs a Contractor! 08:18 - The Sickness of Not Saying No 09:32 - Trade Training… Is on the Job! 11:15 - Howdy, Partner: Two Sides of the Same Coin 15:03 - Social Media Tells a Story… So Tell a Good One! 16:39 - Every Piece of the Puzzle: Quality Systems 20:03 - Processes Take Time to Implement 20:44 - The One and Only Chad Beatty! 21:18 - Visuals Make a Difference 23:41 - Creative Projects are the Best! 24:26 - The Biggest Side Hustle Going 26:20 - Insurance Interactions 28:45 - Self-Employed vs. Business Owner 30:01 - The Trades Mean BIG Money! 33:56 - “He’s a Welder” 36:25 - Job Placement is Askew: Think About Those Degrees! 39:27 - Don’t Be Scared to Be Scared: Go All In 41:55 - How to Get in Touch: browndesignandconstruction.com 442:26 - Closing Remarks: Shoutout to Michaels Group and MLB Construction!

44 min
APR 15

Episode 53: One Man, One Plan - Zay Gets It Done

In this episode, our hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster interview Zay DuPree, the one-man mastermind behind DuPree Heating & Cooling! When people think of a one-man operation, they typically picture an old dude with a beat up truck and a couple fans in the truck bed... But Zay couldn't be further from that vision. Fully insured and thoroughly professional, Zay proudly stands by the quality of his process and results. If you need HVAC work done, Zay is the best one-man band in town! Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp, the podcast! Our Mission is Simple: To facilitate the growth and development of Blue Collar businesses. We will showcase REAL Blue Collar businesses in interviews, and use these stories to help educate and empower the next generation of trades workers to become Blue Collar business owners! 00:15 - Show Starts 01:09 - An Introduction to Zay DuPree 02:17 - Getting Started… Thanks to YouTube?! 05:25 - Shoutout to the Blue Collar College! 06:15 - A Man of Many Hats 07:13 - The First Step… Was a Leap 10:10 - Get Comfortable with the Uncomfortable 12:49 - Let the Equipment Tell You 14:24 - Sales & Marketing: The Achilles’ Heel 16:40 - Feeling the Seal on the Deal 18:02 - The Value of Learning 19:07 - The Heartiest Crumbs: Big Business is a VERY Sloppy Eater! 22:16 - Answering the Call 24:06 - The Man with the Plan 27:18 - HVAC Becomes a Passion 29:33 - A Day in the Life of Zay DuPree: From Dawn ’til Dusk 31:27 - Learning to Let People Down 32:40 - A Scheduling Dream 35:29 - Bet on the Long Game 39:34 - Reach Out: A Learning Opportunity 41:12 - He’s Got Folders! 41:40 - Be the Means to Their End 43:49 - I’m Going Digital… But Not Completely Digital 45:51 - If You’re Thinking About It… Do It! 49:33 - How to Get in Touch 50:00 - Shoutout to Michaels Group, MLB Construction, HVCC, and BOCES! 51:09 - Take Your Social Media Seriously!

53 min
APR 1

Episode 52: Dancing Grain - From Field to Glass

In this episode, our hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster interview Rachel McDermott, the second-generation proprietor of Dancing Grain Farm Brewery! Dancing Grain runs a special operation - fully family-owned, they source every ingredient that goes into their brews at their own farm, without using any pesticides... This is as Blue Collar as it gets! Listen to this episode to hear their incredible story - recorded on site! Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp, the podcast! Our Mission is Simple: To facilitate the growth and development of Blue Collar businesses. We will showcase REAL Blue Collar businesses in interviews, and use these stories to help educate and empower the next generation of trades workers to become Blue Collar business owners! 00:15 - “On the Farm” with Mike Nelson: Bokashi Greens 01:38 - Mushrooms Will Save the World! 03:42 - The Show Begins: An Introduction to Dancing Grain’s Own Rachel 05:15 - Let’s Go to the Hop 06:16 - Wild vs. Domesticated Hops 09:29 - Anatomy of a Brew 11:49 - Dog Attack! 12:26 - Sheep Yield 13:25 - Sourcing Every Single Ingredient! 15:05 - A Pesticide-Free Operation 21:15 - The First Generation’s Story 25:14 - Finding Her Way Back Home 27:53 - Building a Brewery: It Takes Serious Skill! 30:45 - Knitting Together the Supply Chain 34:12 - The Name “Dancing Grain” 35:05 - April 8th: Total Dankness Makes its Debut 37:18 - Bar-ley Hopping 39:07 - There is No Day-to-Day 40:26 - Tiny Farms… Prop Up a Big Society 41:56 - Something Very Special 43:51 - Doing Better Than the Farmers’ Markets 44:39 - Do Something You LOVE 48:24 - How to Get in Touch: dancinggrain.com 49:00 - Closing Remarks

50 min
MAR 18

Episode 51: A Family Foundation, Built Right

In this episode, our hosts Mike Nelson and Derek Foster interview Paul Lachar, owner and mason at Top Course Masonry! The whole family's in on this foundational construction dream... But there's no dysfunction here. Paul and his crew have served the region with pride for over 20 years, and there's no end in sight! Listen to this episode to hear about his experience, how he keeps the family in harmony, how he got back to school after an injury, and more! Welcome to Blue Collar StartUp, the podcast! Our Mission is Simple: To facilitate the growth and development of Blue Collar businesses. We will showcase REAL Blue Collar businesses in interviews, and use these stories to help educate and empower the next generation of trades workers to become Blue Collar business owners! 00:15 - Mike’s Feeling Well Again! 01:47 - An Introduction to Paul, and Top Course Masonry 02:55 - A History You Can Count On 05:01 - Finding the Best Solution for You 06:37 - Resolving an Issue… Truly 07:37 - A Family Business 10:13 - Welcome Back 11:12 - A Little Bit of Everything 12:22 - 100% On-the-Job 13:39 - Make Your Choice 15:19 - No TV Drama Here! 16:51 - Mike’s No Mason… But He Does His Best! 19:50 - Paul’s Biggest Challenge: Finding a Balance 22:35 - Picking and Choosing 25:14 - Maintaining the Work-Life Balance 27:49 - What’s Next: The Offsite Location 28:51 - It’s Your Choice 30:12 - The One-Hour Radius 30:54 - A Jiu Jitsu Brotherhood 33:11 - Small World! 34:25 - An Injury Provides an Opportunity: Back to School 36:09 - Knowledge is Power… But it’s All About How You Use It! 38:07 - Paul’s Advice: Don’t Ever Quit! 40:00 - Stick it Out: Hardships Just Make You Stronger! 41:38 - How to Get in Touch 43:17 - Closing Remarks

44 min

5

out of 5

2 Ratings

Our Mission is Simple: To facilitate the growth and development of Blue Collar businesses. We will showcase REAL Blue Collar businesses in interviews, and use these stories to help educate and empower the next generation of trades workers to become Blue Collar business owners.

Creator

Michael Nelson
Years Active

2022 - 2024
Episodes

57
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Michael Nelson
Show Website

Blue Collar StartUp