HVAC CHATS
Welcome to “HVAC Chats,” a series of HVAC podcast episodes by Contracting Business and Endeavor Business Media, hosted by Nicole Krawcke, editor-in-chief of Contracting Business magazine. “HVAC Chats” offers industry and business insights to help heating and air conditioning contractors grow and manage their businesses. In every episode, Contracting Business explores the topics and trends impacting HVAC contracting businesses and considers strategies for success in the ever-changing HVACR market. For more information on Contracting Business, visit www.contractingbusiness.com.
Episodes
In this episode of "HVAC Chats," Janal Reid, co-owner of Serveway Heating and Air Conditioning, shares her unconventional journey from cosmetology to HVAC business ownership and discusses opportunities for career changers entering the skilled trades. Reid discusses how transferable skills such as communication, customer service and emotional intelligence can help nontraditional candidates succeed, while offering practical advice on...
In the latest episode of "HVAC Chats," Noelle Henry, general manager and comfort advisor at Hesse Heat & Air, discusses her family’s experience rebranding the company after more than 50 years in business. Henry explains why the company returned to the Hesse Heat & Air name, how it introduced its new visual identity and mascot, and how it communicated the changes to customers. She also shares lessons from the roughly 2...
In this episode of "HVAC Chats," Nicole Krawcke speaks with Brady Jolly, owner and CEO of Jolly Heating, Air, Plumbing, Electric, about using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve contracting business operations. Jolly discusses how AI-powered dispatch helps match technicians with jobs based on performance data, while also sharing his company’s experience with call answering, customer follow-up, and review requests. The con...
In this episode of "HVAC Chats," Derek Aarstad, owner of DNA Heating and Cooling in Richmond, Virginia, discusses how building science, diagnostics, performance testing, and customer education have shaped his high-performance HVAC business. Aarstad explains why more than half of the comfort complaints he encounters are not actually equipment problems and how heat load calculations, Manual S, commissioning, duct leakage testing, and...
In this episode of "HVAC Chats," Nicole Krawcke, editor-in-chief of Contracting Business, talks with Lauren Acosta Huckleberry, president of Acosta Heating, Cooling, and Electrical, about modernizing the HVAC sales process through online pricing and greater price transparency. Acosta Huckleberry explains how her company uses online pricing to meet changing homeowner expectations, generate leads, and provide customers with pricing i...
"HVAC Chats" host Nicole Krawcke, head of content of Contracting Business, sits down with Chris Roth, HVAC contractor, educator, and co-owner of Quality Training Centers, to discuss how contractor-led education can reshape the industry's workforce pipeline. Roth explains why traditional trade school models often fall short of preparing technicians for real-world field performance and outlines a contractor-centric approach focused o...
In this latest episode of "HVAC Chats," Contracting Business Head of Content Nicole Krawcke welcomes Jane Sidebottom, president of Women in HVACR, for a conversation about the growing number of women entering the HVAC industry and what it means for the future workforce. Sidebottom discusses the factors driving increased enrollment in HVAC training programs, the importance of mentorship and professional networks, and practical ...
In this episode of HVAC Chats, Nicole Krawcke, head of content of Contracting Business, speaks with Erica Leonor, founder and CEO of Voxa, about elevating the role of customer service representatives (CSRs) in HVAC businesses. Leonor explains why CSRs should be viewed as an extension of the marketing team, shares strategies for improving customer interactions through tone and communication skills, and discusses the importance of vo...
In this episode of "HVAC Chats," Nicole Krawcke, head of content for Contracting Business, speaks with Julian Scadden, president and CEO of Nexstar Network, about what Chick-fil-A’s entry into home services means for HVACR contractors. The conversation explores customer experience, branding, workforce development, technician communication, and the concept of “reverse hospitality” as a competitive advantage in home...
In this episode of HVAC Chats, Nicole Krawcke speaks with Angie Snow of ServiceTitan about findings from the company’s 2026 Residential State of the Trades Report. The discussion explores how HVAC contractors are shifting from lead-volume growth strategies toward operational efficiency, customer retention, and faster response times to meet evolving homeowner expectations. Snow also shares insights on artificial intelligence a...
In this episode of "HVAC Chats," Nicole Krawcke, head of content for Contracting Business, speaks with Scott Pierson, vice president of HVAC and market strategy at Parts Town, about how contractors can prepare for an expected high-demand summer service season. The discussion explores rising repair-versus-replace trends, parts inventory planning, technician efficiency, smart HVAC technology adoption, and the growing importance of pr...
"HVAC Chats" welcomes Carlos Aponte, business coach with Nexstar Network, for a practical discussion on how HVAC contractors can grow revenue through value-driven sales. Hosted by Contracting Business Head of Content Nicole Krawcke, the episode explores why contractors should rethink “add-on sales” and instead present Indoor Air Quality, filtration, humidification, water treatment, and surge protection as core homeowner...
In this episode of HVAC Chats, Nicole Krawcke, head of content of Contracting Business, speaks with Peter Capuciati, CEO of Bluon Inc., about the evolving service landscape in the HVACR industry. Capuciati shares insights on the industry’s shift from replacement-driven revenue to repair and retrofit strategies, driven by rising equipment costs, new regulations, and financing challenges. The discussion also explores the growin...
In this episode of "HVAC Chats," host Nicole Krawcke, head of content at Contracting Business, speaks with Jay Villegas, vice president of Frontier Air Conditioning, about leveraging technology to drive business growth. Villegas shares how his team transitioned to a CRM-based operational system to improve efficiency, streamline workflows, and enhance the customer experience. The conversation explores how automation, consistent comm...
In this episode of HVAC Chats, host Nicole Krawcke, head of content for Contracting Business, sits down with Colleen Keyworth, director of sales and marketing at Online-Access, to unpack how AI-driven search is transforming digital marketing for HVAC contractors. The conversation explores how tools like Google's AI Overview and large language models are shifting consumer behavior, what that means for local search visibility, and wh...
In this episode of HVAC Chats, Nicole Krawcke speaks with Danielle Putnam, CEO of The New Flat Rate, about pricing strategy, mindset, and profitability for HVAC contractors. Putnam shares insights on resetting pricing through accurate billable hour calculations, overcoming technician discounting habits, and using menu pricing systems to reduce objections. The conversation also explores how branding, scripting, and structured custom...
In this episode of "HVAC Chats," host Nicole Krawcke, editor-in-chief of Contracting Business, is joined by Lori Tschohl and Barbara Pfeiffer from the Women in HVACR Navigator program to discuss how mentorship builds confidence and strengthens leadership pathways in the HVACR industry. Tschohl shares her journey from business ownership into the trades and her long-standing experience mentoring professionals, while Pfeiffer reflects...
In this episode of HVAC Chats, host Nicole Krawcke, head of content at Contracting Business, sits down with Dustin Guyton, coach and industry expert at Business Development Resources (BDR). The conversation explores how HVAC contractors can recognize early signs of a softening market, set realistic revenue goals using historical data, and stabilize operations through proactive planning. Guyton also discusses why maintenance agreeme...
"HVAC Chats" Host Nicole Krawcke, editor-in-chief of Contracting Business, is joined by Gage Donovan, director of account services at Johnson Media Group, to discuss how HVAC contractors can evolve their marketing strategies for 2026. Drawing on Johnson Media Group’s deep experience in the trades, Donovan explains the growing role of streaming television, targeted media, and data-driven planning in building trust and improvin...
In this episode of "HVAC Chats," host Nicole Krawcke, editor-in-chief of Contracting Business, speaks with Tony Cooper, owner of Cooper’s Plumbing and Air in Bainbridge, Georgia, and Tallahassee, Florida. Cooper shares how leadership development, employee incentives, and phantom equity have supported retention and growth in his HVAC and plumbing business. The conversation explores workforce challenges, hiring leaders from out...
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