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 sold to Monarch Landscape in 2015.

John’s post-Jensen career is just as inspiring. He discusses his work promoting battery-powered and robotic equipment with Garden Land and his latest venture with Cold Bore Capital, where he’s building a platform to acquire and grow landscape companies using cutting-edge technology like AI, robotics, and battery power. Throughout the episode, John emphasizes the importance of partnerships, innovation, and staying connected in the industry.

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 site audits. Whitney dives deep into how customer feedback drives innovation, while Mark shares the company's vision for the future amidst an evolving industry and economic uncertainty. Mark's LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-t-tipton/

Whitney's LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-griffin-phd-acspo-01357040/

In this episode of Trades Talk, Justin sits down with Jason and Tony Batallan, the founders of Property Works, a $35 million commercial landscape empire. The Batallan brothers share their remarkable journey of leveraging their real estate expertise to build one of the most successful landscape businesses in the industry.

Listeners will discover how Property Works scaled quickly through strategic acquisitions, while maintaining a focus on professionalism and operational excellence. The Batallan brothers explain how they expanded into complementary services like janitorial and painting, creating a one-stop solution for commercial property management.

With a goal to hit $50 million in revenue in the next two years, Jason and Tony break down the systems they’ve developed to ensure sustainable growth while keeping employees engaged and clients satisfied. They share insights on balancing rapid expansion with maintaining company culture and profitability.

If you're looking to grow and diversify your business, this episode is packed with actionable strategies from the Batallan brothers’ playbook, offering a roadmap to take your company to the next level.

Tune in now to learn how Property Works became a $35 million success story—and how you can apply the same principles to your business!

How to find Jason and Tony:

https://propertyworksonline.net/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-batallan-47957385/

In this episode, TradesTalk welcomes Matt Budnick, Director of Key Accounts at Cam Property Services, to discuss his role in managing key clients and Cam's strategic growth. Matt explains how Cam has evolved since its founding in 1987, offering eight service lines and focusing on commercial and multifamily properties. He highlights the company's shift in strategy following the Aspire Ignite conference, including changes in compensation programs, leadership rebuilding, and a focus on high performance and retention. The episode also covers Cam's hiring strategies, accountability, and the importance of networking.

If you want to reach out to Matt you can fine him on LinkedIn here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-budnick?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin and Maggie sit down with Greg Herring, founder of The Herring Group, to reveal the secrets to boosting profits and work-life balance for landscape and trade businesses. Greg breaks down why tracking operating profit margins is essential for success and how tools like Aspire can unlock powerful data insights. Learn how early financial expertise and empowering key employees can transform your business, giving owners more freedom and control. If you're ready to maximize profits and reclaim your time, this episode is a must-listen!

Click here for or more information on The Herring Group

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin and Maggie sit down with Barry Schulman to explore the transformative power of the Predictive Index (PI) in the hiring process. Barry, drawing on his extensive experience in executive search, explains how the PI tool delves into key behavioral drives—like dominance, extroversion, patience, and formality—to ensure candidates are matched with roles where they can excel. Through real-world examples, the discussion highlights how PI can optimize team dynamics, uncover hidden talent, and drive business growth, offering a fresh approach to talent management.

In this insightful episode of "Trades Talk," hosts Maggie and Justin delve into the unexpected obstacles facing the trades industry, providing practical advice and expert insights. They cover seven main areas:

Supply Chain Disruptions:

• The hosts discuss challenges with irrigation supplies and materials, such as long lead times and the need for substitution approvals.
• They emphasize planning ahead, maintaining strong vendor relationships, and leveraging buying power for priority access to materials.
• Plant shortages and quality issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic's surge in demand are also highlighted.

Skilled Labor Shortages:

• While not detailed in this excerpt, the hosts acknowledge the significant impact of skilled labor shortages on the industry.

Technology Integration:

• This episode briefly touches on technology integration, indicating a deeper discussion in future episodes.

Client Expectations and Communication:

• Identified as a key challenge, with more insights expected in upcoming discussions.

Economic Fluctuations:

• The importance of adapting to economic changes is noted, with further exploration anticipated in future talks.

Regulatory Changes:

• Ongoing regulatory changes affecting the trades industry are acknowledged, promising detailed analysis in subsequent episodes.

Weather-Related Challenges:

• Discussion on the impact of extreme heat and hurricanes on business operations, emphasizing the need for businesses to be prepared to pivot and adjust accordingly.

Tune in for a comprehensive exploration of these challenges and learn how to navigate the complexities of the trades industry with strategic planning and expert advice