Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service

Most contractors walk past air curtains every day without realizing how much money they can save commercial buildings.
In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Curtis Rosol from Mars Air Systems to break down how air curtains work and why they've become a powerful solution for energy savings, indoor air quality, and insect control in commercial spaces.
From convenience stores and restaurants to cold storage facilities and warehouses, Curtis explains how air curtains create an invisible barrier that keeps conditioned air inside while preventing heat, humidity, dust, smoke, and flying insects from entering the building.
They also discuss:
How air curtains reduce HVAC energy loss

Why electrification will make energy savings even more valuable

How air curtains help solve cold storage and freezer issues

The difference between strip curtains and air curtains

Why insects and contaminants enter buildings through open doors

How air curtains improve indoor air quality

The ROI contractors can present to commercial customers

Why these systems are becoming more important in high-traffic buildings

Simple installation opportunities for HVAC contractors

Residential applications for luxury outdoor living spaces

If you work in light commercial HVAC or want to offer energy-saving upgrades to your customers, this episode is packed with practical opportunities.

Timestamps
00:00 Energy efficiency in buildings
05:54 Energy savings with protected openings
07:08 Impact of Electric Demand on Costs
12:24 Using air curtains for patios
13:11 Using CallRail for Marketing
16:29 How air curtains work
19:43 Installing above-door units
22:54 Episode wrap-up and closing remarks


Follow the Host and Guest
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Joshua Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/
Curtis Rosol: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtisrosol/

Connect with Us
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmasterypodcast
• Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast

This episode is kindly powered by:
UpFrog: upfrog.com 
MarketStorm is an AI-powered advertising platform. Results vary by market, budget, and campaign configuration: https://marketstorm.ai/ 
Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod
CompanyCam: https://companycam.com/ 
Breezy: Capture 25-30% more clients with Breezy AI Agents. Use code 'SBM' to book a demo and get $500 on us: https://getbreezyapp.com/schedule-demo
PhoneTAP: Your calls hold the key to growing your business. PhoneTAP gives you instant AI analysis, real customer lifetime value, and tools to coach your team. Learn more: phonetap.ai/demo

The skilled labor shortage isn't just a hiring problem.

It's a perception problem.

In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Ruchir Shah, founder of SkillCat, to discuss why home service companies are struggling to attract and retain skilled workers and what the industry can do about it.

Ruchir shares how his background in workforce training led him to build SkillCat, an online trade training platform helping people transition into HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and appliance repair careers.

If your company struggles with hiring, retention, or technician development, this episode offers a practical look at how the future workforce is changing.

What You Will Learn in This Episode
Why the trades are becoming more attractive to younger generations

How white-collar workers are now transitioning into skilled trades

The real reason people are leaving traditional office jobs

Why many technicians feel more fulfilled than corporate workers

The growing impact of AI on career choices

Why training accessibility is critical for the future of the trades

How online trade training and certifications are changing recruiting

Why mechanical aptitude matters more than experience

The role gamification and microlearning play in technician development

How companies can build better apprenticeship and training programs

Timestamps
00:00 Expanding online trade certifications
04:52 Starting SkillCat to help reskill
06:26 Job security concerns in Savannah
09:43 Switching to a paid model
15:01 Relying on social media sharing
17:05 Emphasizing the importance of networking
20:08 Trades job satisfaction and benefits
22:55 The value of trade jobs
25:58 Returning to familiar industries
31:27 Building trade school courses
32:59 Designing bite-sized, interactive courses
Follow the Host and Guest
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Joshua Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/
Ruchir Shah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruchir-shah/
SkillCat: https://www.skillcatapp.com

Connect with Us
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmasterypodcast
• Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast

This episode is kindly powered by:
UpFrog: upfrog.com 
MarketStorm is an AI-powered advertising platform. Results vary by market, budget, and campaign configuration: https://marketstorm.ai/ 
Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod
CompanyCam: https://companycam.com/ 
Breezy: Capture 25-30% more clients with Breezy AI Agents. Use code 'SBM' to book a demo and get $500 on us: https://getbreezyapp.com/schedule-demo
PhoneTAP: Your calls hold the key to growing your business. PhoneTAP gives you instant AI analysis, real customer lifetime value, and tools to coach your team. Learn more: phonetap.ai/demo

The way homeowners search for HVAC, plumbing, and home service companies is changing fast. And most contractors are completely unprepared for it.
 
In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett sits down with Phil Risher from Phlash Consulting to discuss the massive shift from traditional Google SEO to AI-powered search and what it means for home service businesses.
 
Phil explains why AI search is changing how customers find contractors, why conversational search matters more than keywords, and how tools like ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews are disrupting traditional marketing strategies.
 
What You Will Learn in This Episode
 
Why old-school SEO is no longer enough

How AI search actually works

Why Google is moving toward "agentic search" and booking

How to optimize your website for AI visibility

Why pricing pages and online scheduling matter more than ever

How contractors should use call transcripts to create content

Why AI-generated "slop content" can hurt your rankings

How local backlinks and authority still matter

What contractors should be doing right now to stay ahead

 
If you want your company to stay visible in the next generation of search, this episode is a must-listen.
 
Timestamps
00:00 Impact of AI on search queries
06:14 Shift in local search habits
09:00 Navigating AI for presentations
12:38 Debating the relevance of SEO
16:13 Using AI for customer insights
18:58 Importance of local backlinks
20:58 Building partner referral networks
24:15 Optimizing for AI search ranking
27:51 Importance of online recognition
32:29 Creating a searchable business database
33:34 Initial struggles with Notebook LM
39:10 Comparing Google and LLM relationships
42:35 Measuring AI visibility metrics
44:37 Navigating the AI search landscape
46:21 Dealing with AI memory glitches
 
Follow the Host and Guest
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Phil Risher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philrisher/
 
Connect with Us
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmastery
Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
 
This episode is kindly powered by:
UpFrog: upfrog.com 
MarketStorm is an AI-powered advertising platform. Results vary by market, budget, and campaign configuration: https://marketstorm.ai/ 
Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod
CompanyCam: https://companycam.com/ 
Breezy: $500 toward Breezy + we'll show you exactly how many jobs you're missing right now. Book a demo here: https://calendly.com/shaun-breezy/30min?month=2026-04 
PhoneTAP: Your calls hold the key to growing your business. PhoneTAP gives you instant AI analysis, real customer lifetime value, and tools to coach your team. Learn more: phonetap.ai/demo

In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Ryan Kiscaden, owner of Kiscaden Consulting and creator of the Next Up Trades children's book series, to discuss how storytelling can reshape the future of recruiting in the trades.
 
Ryan shares how a conversation with his plumber brother-in-law sparked the idea to create books that explain HVAC and plumbing to children in a way they can understand and connect with emotionally.
 
Instead of focusing only on wages, debt, and job security, Ryan believes the industry needs to tell a better story about purpose, problem solving, and helping people.
 
They discuss:
 
Why the trades struggle with perception problems
How recruiting really starts in childhood
The emotional side of working in HVAC and plumbing
Why storytelling matters more than statistics
The disconnect between schools and skilled trades
How contractors can become community educators
Why ADHD and hands-on learning may actually be strengths in the trades
How AI and technology are changing the perception of blue-collar careers
 
If your company struggles to recruit young talent, this episode offers a completely different perspective on building the next generation of skilled trades professionals.
 
Timestamps
00:00 Promoting trades to young kids
04:15 Explaining skilled trades to kids
07:56 Changing perspectives in education
10:35 Changing perceptions around AI jobs
13:48 The gratification of helping others
17:36 Industry collaboration and collective effort
19:33 Interviewing teachers and donors
24:38 Creative uses by contractors
28:19 Challenges for kids with ADHD
32:22 Challenges with traditional schooling
33:34 Learning with technology and AI
36:32 Where to find more info
 
Follow the Host and Guest
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Ryan Kiscaden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryankiscaden/
 
Connect with Us
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmastery
Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
 
This episode is kindly powered by:
 
UpFrog: upfrog.com 
MarketStorm is an AI-powered advertising platform. Results vary by market, budget, and campaign configuration: https://marketstorm.ai/ 
Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod
CompanyCam: https://companycam.com/ 
Breezy: $500 toward Breezy + we'll show you exactly how many jobs you're missing right now. Book a demo here: https://calendly.com/shaun-breezy/30min?month=2026-04 
PhoneTAP: Your calls hold the key to growing your business. PhoneTAP gives you instant AI analysis, real customer lifetime value, and tools to coach your team. Learn more: phonetap.ai/demo

Most home service business owners are excited about automation, AI, and new technology.
But here's the problem… They're implementing tools before fixing their processes.
In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett sits down with Nathan Whittacre, CEO of Stimulus Technologies, to break down what actually works when it comes to optimizing and automating your business.
Nathan shares decades of experience helping companies implement technology the right way and explains why most tech investments fail.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
Why automation without optimization creates bigger problems

The biggest mistakes business owners make when adopting technology

How to identify what processes should be improved first

Why culture and leadership matter more than the tools themselves

The real cybersecurity risks facing home service businesses today

Simple ways to protect your business from costly attacks

When you should handle IT yourself vs hiring outside help

If you've ever bought software that didn't deliver results, or you're trying to scale with automation, this episode will save you time, money, and frustration.

Timestamps
00:00 Implementing technology and cultural change
06:36 Finding technology solutions that fit
08:36 Importance of optimizing before automating
11:12 Optimizing and automating with ERP
14:19 Discussing leadership and habit formation
18:28 Engaging clients with tech solutions
21:02 Addressing leadership communication gaps
27:31 Setting up basic online security
28:18 Managing business growth complexities
34:01 Impact of AI on Technology
35:43 Dealing with a social media hack
40:48 Social media hacker tips
43:39 Protecting your personal information
47:51 Employee bank account changes
49:07 Importance of slowing down decisions
51:59 Checking your spam folder
55:57 Wrapping up with show notes

Follow the Host and Guest
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Nathan Whittacre: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanwhittacre/
Stimulus Technologies: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stimulus-technologies/

Connect with Us
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmastery
Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast

This episode is kindly powered by:

UpFrog: upfrog.com
MarketStorm is an AI-powered advertising platform. Results vary by market, budget, and campaign configuration: https://marketstorm.ai/
Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod
CompanyCam: https://companycam.com/
Breezy: https://getbreezyapp.com/
Your calls hold the key to growing your business. PhoneTAP gives you instant AI analysis, real customer lifetime value, and tools to coach your team.
Learn more: phonetap.ai/demo