Trades Talk Podcast

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin sits down with Eugene Lee, a longtime financial advisor who left a cushy 5-hour workweek to build "Love Your Neighbor"—a startup aiming to revolutionize home repairs.

Inspired by casual “yard beers” with neighbors, Eugene spotted a major gap: when you need a contractor fast, there’s no reliable way to find someone nearby who’s off duty but available. So, he built it. Despite knowing almost noth...

In this forward-looking episode of TradesTalk, Justin White unpacks his recent visit to the Kress Next Summit in Los Angeles, where top landscapers from across the West Coast gathered to see the future of the industry in action.

At the center of the conversation: the Kress Voyager- a fully autonomous, 48-inch zero-turn mower with a 5000-hour lifespan and cutting-edge level 5 autonomy, capable of mowing 5 acres in just 6 hours. With...

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin White interviews Meg Butterly, whose unconventional path took her from a Detroit bar to a career in country radio and now to leading brand communications at Kress, a cutting-edge electric power equipment line by Positec.

Meg shares how she went from pursuing radiology to working with major radio stations across the country, including stints in Detroit, Pittsburgh, West Palm Beach, and Charlotte...

In this solo episode of TradesTalk, Justin White shares key lessons from a recent stay at the Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida  and how their legendary service philosophy can apply to any service business.

From a dropped fork instantly replaced to a manager personally fetching a guest’s favorite matcha drink, Justin unpacks how Ritz empowers every employee to deliver memorable moments with a $2,000-per-guest service budget. Daily ri...

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin interviews Ellen Rohr, one of the most respected voices in the trades industry. Known for her no-nonsense approach to business, Ellen shares how leaders can grow personally and professionally through community, connection, and consistent execution.

They talk about two major industry events happening in Anaheim this September:

• Pantheon (Sept 17-19) — ServiceTitan's flagship event for home ...

In this solo episode of TradesTalk, host Justin White unpacks why trust is the key to building a scalable business.

Justin reflects on his own leadership evolution, from micromanaging to empowering his team. A recent moment stood out: while out sick, his leadership team ran a major meeting without him and crushed it. That kind of success only happens when you trust your people.

He also dives into the challenges of generational tran...

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin and Maggie reflect on the end of an era as Maggie steps away from the mic after more than 60 episodes. What started over steak dinners and shared vision grew into a podcast that’s helped spotlight the fast-changing trades industry, elevate voices, and build a loyal community of listeners.

Maggie shares how her role at Service Titan continues to evolve, balancing career growth and family life, w...

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin dives into the leadership systems behind his $20 million landscaping company (K&D Landscaping) and how lessons from military aviation are helping him raise the bar in the trades. From debriefing strategies that build team accountability to repeatable systems that scale across departments, Justin shares how he's building a company culture that values transparency, learning, and execution.

He...

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin sits down with brothers John and Mark Stephens, co-founders of Stephens Landscaping Professionals, to talk about how two teenagers with a mower turned their passion into a professionally recognized business featured in Lawn and Landscape Magazine’s January 2025 cover story.

The story starts in high school, where their parents handed them a commercial mower. What began as a family chore grew in...

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin and Maggie sit down with Joe Lafigliola, founder of Process Smart, to explore how trades and service businesses can scale efficiently without breaking the bank on overhead.

Joe shares how Process Smart uses a remote team in India and the Philippines to handle critical back office tasks like estimating, AR and AP, lead follow ups, data entry, and more, which is giving owners breathing room to fo...

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin and Maggie sit down with Craig Muirhead, founder of Canopy Insurance Services, to talk about what it takes to build long-term business partnerships and scalable safety programs in the trades industry.

Craig, based in Santa Cruz, started his brokerage in 2020 after years in the corporate insurance world. He shares how he built his book of business from the ground up and why he walked away from t...

In this episode of Trades Talk, host Justin White interviews Michael Ding, founder of Bobyard, a startup focused on leveraging AI to improve the landscaping industry. Michael shares his journey from growing up in Cupertino to building a company that trains AI models to read construction drawings, specifically for landscaping. The conversation delves into the importance of focusing on a niche, the challenges of implementing AI in tr...

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin White and Maggie Wymore sits down with Carlos del Pozo, founder of Team Engine, to dive into how technology can reshape hiring and retention for blue-collar industries like landscaping and construction.

Carlos shares how his background in small business and the military led him to develop Team Engine, a software platform built specifically to recruit, retain, and engage field-based work...

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin and Maggie are joined by Paul Sanneman, founder and CEO of Contractor Staffing Source, to dive into one of the most critical and misunderstood aspects of the trades industry: recruiting.

With over 50 years of experience coaching and working with more than 2,000 contractors, Paul brings a deep, no nonsense perspective on what it really takes to build a winning team. From the early days of pagers...

In this powerful episode of TradesTalk, Justin White sits down with Chris O'Donohue owner of the Great Canadian Landscape Company, to explore how personal transformation can fuel professional success.

With 25 years in business, 50 employees, and $10M in revenue, Chris opens up about the pivotal experiences that reshaped his life—starting with a transformative ski trip organized by LMN founder Mark Bradley. What started as a helicop...

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin White sits down with Mike Loftus, founder of Connor’s Landscape, to break down how he scaled his business from a single truck and $10,000 to a $6 million commercial landscaping powerhouse.

Mike reveals his acquisition-first approach, using SBA 7(a) loans and seller financing to buy small, overlooked businesses that larger companies ignore. He shares how annual price increases, strategic diversi...

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin sits down with Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) and EquipExpo, the industry’s largest trade show for landscape professionals.

Kris shares how EquipExpo, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, has grown into a must-attend event, offering hands-on equipment demos, networking with top manufacturers, and valuable learning opportunities. The conversatio...

In this episode of TradeTalk, host Justin White interviews Derek Derdivanis, a seasoned entrepreneur and Vistage coach, who shares his insights on the seven key principles for building a successful business. Derek emphasizes the importance of accountability, a strong company culture, understanding team dynamics, strategic planning, and the value of having an executive assistant. He also highlights the significance of lifelong learn...

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin White is joined by industry veterans Bryan Mours and Sean Eddy to discuss the role of technology and innovation in driving efficiency and productivity in the trades industry. Bryan, with over 45 years of experience in landscaping and HVAC, shares his journey from helping build Aspire software to advising companies like Top Green. Sean brings his sales expertise and passion for b...