The FireStarter Podcast

Interview With Billy Stevens

Welcome to the Firestarter Podcast, where your host and Service Excellence founder, Todd Liles, interviews owners and managers in the home services industry about stories of radical transformation. Today, we're pleased to welcome Billy Stevens! Known as the former owner of Berkey’s Plumbing and the driving force behind BillyGo and SERA, his experience is truly commendable. Today, Billy shares unique insights from his time in the home services industry with us, and how they have led him to his latest venture. Currently, he's working on an impressive tech application in SERA that promises to bring innovation to our industry. Tune in to hear how you, like Billy, can ignite the power within! Check in every other Wednesday for a new episode. In the meantime, please leave a review and let us know who you think has an awesome story of radical transformation to share! Go out and Ignite the Power Within!

Interview with Trent Parker

Welcome to the Firestarter Podcast, where your host and Service Excellence founder, Todd Liles, interviews owners and managers in the home services industry about stories of radical transformation. This week, the Firestarter Podcast is thrilled to host an extraordinary guest. Introducing Trent Parker, who has garnered fame as Mr. Fat Cheeto on social media! As of this podcast’s release, Trent has amassed an impressive 1 million likes on TikTok, delighting audiences with his witty HVAC-themed skits. This success has allowed him to retire from the trade and devote himself entirely to content creation. Listen and discover Trent’s remarkable transformation from a 22-year-old HVAC technician to a social media sensation at 38! Tune in to hear how you, like Trent, can ignite the power within! Check in every other Wednesday for a new episode. In the meantime, please leave a review and let us know who you think has an awesome story of radical transformation to share!  Go out and Ignite the Power Within!

Interview with James Walker

Welcome to the FireStarter Podcast, where your host and Service Excellence founder, Todd Liles, interviews owners and managers in the home services industry about stories of radical transformation. This week, Todd is joined by James Walker, a valued member of the Service Excellence team. After four years with the company and many more of experience in leadership and business training, James is now introducing his insightful book, Bent, which focuses on achieving alignment between company leaders and team members. In this episode, James will discuss his personal faith journey, share details about Bent and recount his experiences working with clients across different trades. Tune in to hear how you, like James, can ignite the power within!

Check in every other Wednesday for a new episode. In the meantime, please leave a review and let us know who you think has an awesome story of radical transformation to share! 

Interview with Stacie Feller

Welcome to The FireStarter Podcast, where your host and Service Excellence founder, Todd Liles, interviews owners and managers in the home services industry about stories of radical transformation. This week on the podcast, we have Stacie Feller from KangaRoof in Round Rock, Texas.

In this episode, Stacie shares how a severe weather event doubled the value of their company seemingly overnight — a blessing and a curse. Together, Stacie unpacks for us what lessons she learned from growing a company too fast. Tune in to hear how you, like Stacie, can ignite the power within!

Interview with Landon Brewer

Welcome to The FireStarter Podcast, where your host and Service Excellence founder, Todd Liles, interviews owners and managers in the home services industry about stories of radical transformation. This week on the podcast, we have Landon Brewer from Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing.

In this episode, Landon shares his career journey, including real experiences when success doesn't feel successful. Landon also talks about how he helped Ken, Goettl CEO, acquire small companies and make large acquisitions to build the company into what it is today. Tune in to hear how you, like Landon, can ignite the power within!

Interview with Aaron Wynn

Welcome to The FireStarter Podcast, where your host and Service Excellence founder, Todd Liles, interviews owners and managers in the home services industry about stories of radical transformation. This week on the podcast, we have Aaron Wynn from Hunter Recruiting Agency out of St. Louis, Missouri!

In this episode, Aaron shares a touching story of how tremendous hardship and faith led him to new paths in life. Aaron also talks shop and goes over different aspects of successful recruiting strategies, oftentimes through the lens of a marketing-first approach. Tune in to hear how you, like Aaron, can ignite the power within!

Interview with Steve Egner

Welcome to the FireStarter Podcast, where your host and Service Excellence founder, Todd Liles, interviews owners and managers in the home services industry about stories of radical transformation. This week on the podcast, we have a guest that is near and dear to the heart of Service Excellence: Steve Egner! Steve is the owner Steve’s Plumbing, a growing residential services company based in Seattle, Washington. In this episode, Steve and Todd talk of their history together, Steve’s experience almost selling his business and why he chose not to, and his growth as a person through business ownership. Through this conversation, we can see why Todd wrote his first blog post so many years ago titled, “The gray skies of Seattle have silver linings…” Tune in to hear how you, like Steve, can ignite the power within! Check in every other Wednesday for a new episode. In the meantime, please leave a review and let us know who you think has an awesome story of radical transformation to share!   Go out and Ignite the Power Within!

Interview with Ryan Chute

Welcome to the FireStarter Podcast, where your host and Service Excellence founder, Todd Liles, interviews owners and managers in the home services industry about stories of radical transformation. Today, Ryan Chute is joining us. He shares his understanding of structuring the sales process, and connects that to his work at Wizard of Ads®! In this episode, Ryan unpacks some cerebral, theoretical topics and shares resources to advance your business — if you like learning about DISC profiles and anything else deep-thinking, you won't want to miss this episode! Tune in to hear how you, like Ryan, can ignite the power within! Check-in every other Wednesday for a new episode. In the meantime, please leave a review and let us know who you think has an awesome story of radical transformation to share! Go out and Ignite the Power Within!

Interview with Brian Porch

­Welcome to the FireStarter Podcast, where your host and Service Excellence founder, Todd Liles, interviews owners and managers in the home services industry about stories of radical transformation. Today, Brian Porch is joining us. He is the owner of Norman Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing from Norman, Oklahoma! In this episode, Brian talks about his early years jumping into business and spinning his wheels just figuring things out, and how that transformed into recently creating substantial traction by intentionally focusing his company’s efforts. Tune in to hear how you, like Brian, can ignite the power within! Check-in every other Wednesday for a new episode. In the meantime, please leave a review and let us know who you think has an awesome story of radical transformation to share! Go out and Ignite the Power Within!

Interview with Ben Hubbert

Interview with Al Levi

­Welcome to the FireStarter Podcast, where your host and Service Excellence founder, Todd Liles, interviews owners and managers in the home services industry about stories of radical transformation. Joining us today is Al Levi, the author of the 7-Power Contractor, creator of the signature operating manual and staffing systems, current contractor consultant and former business owner. In this episode, Al tells the story of systemizing his family-owned HVAC business early in his career and does a deep dive on why it’s so important to implement these systems in your business to leverage growth. Tune in to hear how you, like Al, can ignite the power within! Check in every other Wednesday for a new episode. In the meantime, please leave a review and let us know who you think has an awesome story of radical transformation to share! Go out and Ignite the Power Within!

Interview with Stephen Moore

­Welcome to the FireStarter Podcast, where your host and Service Excellence founder, Todd Liles, interviews owners and managers in the home services industry about stories of radical transformation. Joining us today is Stephen Moore, the owner of Comfort Masters based in Fort Worth, Texas. In this episode, Stephen tells us about how his vision for his business and company culture played a significant role is Comfort Master’s recent growth. Tune in to hear how you, like Stephen, can ignite the power within!   Check in every other Wednesday for a new episode. In the meantime, please leave a review and let us know who you think has an awesome story of radical transformation to share!   Go out and Ignite the Power Within!

Interview with Mike Hyde & Chris Loudermilk

Welcome to the Firestarter Podcast, where your host and Service Excellence founder, Todd Liles, interviews owners and managers in the home services industry about stories of radical transformation. Today, Todd is interviewing Mike Hyde, the owner of Hyde’s Heating and Air Conditioning based in Palm Springs, California. Mike’s SET coach and co-host of the Windshield Tim podcast, Chris Loudermilk, will also join us today on the podcast. In this episode, Mike tells us about his company’s 50-year history, difficulties taking over the family-owned business, and then growing it to nearly $20 million in yearly revenue. Tune in to hear how you, like Mike, can ignite the power within! Check-in every other Wednesday for a new episode. In the meantime, please leave a review and let us know who you think has an awesome story of radical transformation to share! Go out and Ignite the Power Within!

Fun with New Team Members

Welcome to the FireStarter Podcast, where your host and Service Excellence founder, Todd Liles, interviews owners and managers in the home services industry about stories of radical transformation. In this episode, however, Todd talks with Leti Deaver, Tiffany Benjamin, and Paul Packevicius, some of the newest members of the Service Excellence team. You’ll hear them discuss different aspects of the HVAC industry and how it relates to their clients, and also catch glimpses of the group’s camaraderie along the way. Tune in to hear more about how you, like the Service Excellence team, can ignite the power within. Check in every other Wednesday for a new episode. In the meantime, please leave a review and let us know who you think has an awesome story of radical transformation to share! Go out and Ignite the Power Within!

Interview with Tommy Mello

Welcome to the FireStarter Podcast, where your host and Service Excellence founder, Todd Liles, interviews owners and managers in the home services industry about stories of radical transformation. Today, Todd is interviewing Tommy Mello, the Founder and CEO of A1 Garage Door Service based in Phoenix, Arizona. In this episode, Tommy tells us about the roots of his expanding $150 million empire, creating employee buy-in through equity incentive programs, growing without private equity money, and much more. Tune in to hear how you, like Tommy, can ignite the power within!

Interview with Martin Pamensky

Interview with Kevin Doran

Welcome to the FireStarter Podcast, where your host and Service Excellence founder, Todd Liles, interviews owners and managers in the home services industry about stories of radical transformation. Today, Todd is interviewing Kevin Doran, the sales manager at NextGen Air and Plumbing of Anaheim, California. Kevin discusses a variety of topics, including NextGen’s astronomical growth, curating healthy and productive company culture, effective branding and marketing strategies, and beyond. Tune in to hear more about how you, like Kevin, can ignite the power within!  Check in every other Wednesday for a new episode. In the meantime, please leave a review and let us know who you think has an awesome story of radical transformation to share!    Listen to our very own Chris and Chris on their podcast, Windshield Time!  Go out and Ignite the Power Within!   

Interview with Mike Drenk

In this episode of The FireStarter Podcast, your host Todd Liles interviews Service Excellence’s very own coach, Mike Drenk. Mike Drenk has spent over 25 years coaching, teaching and leading in one form or another.

Interview with Steve and Rachel Egner

In this episode of the FireStarter Podcast, Todd Liles interviews Steve and Rachel Egner, the dynamic duo behind Steve's Plumbing. The pair talk about their failures and successes and their plans for the future. Check it out!

Interview with Billy Bostick

In the second episode of the FireStarter Podcast, your host, Todd Liles, interviews Billy Bostick of Pioneer Plumbing out in Houston, Texas.

Interview with Toby Tippets

Welcome to the first-ever episode of The FireStarter Podcast, where your host, Todd Liles interviews owners and managers in the home services trades and discusses stories of radical transformation.