Trades Talk Podcast
Trades Talk Podcast is a captivating and dynamic program that is led by Justin White. He’ll delve into the triumphs of various trade industries, showcasing the successes of those who have made a significant impact. With his extensive network of industry connections, Justin provides an unparalleled view into the world of visionary leaders. Prepare to be inspired and enlightened with the trade secrets, career advice, and business tips that are shared. Make sure to have a notepad on hand, as this show promises to be an unforgettable journey!
Episodes
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...
Disruptors Link: https://www.skool.com/disruptors/about
In this episode, Justin White underscores how a clear vision and consistent communication keep teams aligned and motivated—especially important as businesses brace for the challenges of 2025. He points out that many companies, particularly in the landscaping sector, struggle with profitability due to inadequate pricing structures that fail to account for true costs. By focus...
Interested in Joining the Disruptors?! Link Here: Join Here
Co-host Maggie Wymore and Justin White have on special guest John Pajak, host of the Profits with Paycheck podcast, discuss John’s journey in the lawn care industry and the challenges he faced starting his own business.
John shares invaluable lessons on understanding business financials, setting profitable pricing, and managing overhead to build a successful contracting bu...
In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin and Maggie sit down with James, founder of Yard Dawgs Lawn Care, to explore how he turned his Calgary-based lawn care company into a thriving business. James shares how niching down to fertilizer, weed control, and soil enhancements helped accelerate growth, and why their customer-first approach, with guaranteed 48-hour response times, is a game-changer.
In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin and Maggie are joined by Chase Gallagher, a 23-year-old entrepreneur who turned a lawn-mowing gig into a 7-Figure landscape construction business in the Philadelphia suburbs. Chase shares his journey from mowing lawns at 13 to transitioning into project-based landscaping, highlighting the importance of understanding pricing, overhead, and profitability.
Chase also runs CMG University, an online...
In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin and Maggie sit down with John Vlay, a seasoned leader in the landscape industry, to explore his impressive career and his vision for the future. Starting as an assistant estimator at Jensen Landscape in 1983, John worked his way up to CEO, where he helped transition the company to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). He shares the benefits and challenges of ESOPs and why Jensen ultimately s...
A special episode drop, with some exciting news!
In this episode of TradesTalk, CEO and co-founder Mark Tipton and Senior Product Owner Whitney Griffin take us through Aspire’s incredible 11-year journey, from a small startup to a powerhouse serving over 1,500 customers in the landscape industry. They reveal how Aspire’s partnership with ServiceTitan has fueled growth, tripling investment in new features like estimate revisions, equipment scheduling, and enhanced ...