The Boardroom Buzz: Grow, Sell, or Exit

The Blue-Collar Twins sit down with Byron Gifford—the “godfather of door-to-door”—to unpack his ground-zero start in summer sales, the Evergreen chapters (launch, rapid expansion, strategic exits), and the operating cadence that lets his team add tens of thousands of accounts without melting down. It’s a masterclass in self-financing hypergrowth, centralizing ops, and developing leaders who can actually carry the load. You’ll hear: Hypergrowth reality: why fast scale feels like self-financing—and why people are harder than cash.Ground zero of D2D: Salesnet → Eclipse → starting a pest company from a marketing engine.Evergreen playbook: launch, densify, sell, reinvest—then rinse and repeat across markets.Centralized backbone: one call center, cookie-cutter ops, and tech/termite cross-sell that de-risk seasonality.Beyond the doors: building non-D2D channels (digital, referrals, tech upsells) until they rival summer volume.Leadership & longevity: morning “elevated state,” systems, and a health comeback that reset the throttle. Show links: From Gym Teachers to Service Leaders: The Julio Twins' Story | Last Bite Mosquito, Viking Pest https://youtu.be/DAYxtzhswxs From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps 00:00 – Cold open: cash for growth vs. developing the right people 00:48 – Intros: the Blue-Collar Twins welcome Byron “godfather of D2D” Gifford 01:42 – BYU mission → first summer selling → top rookie with Salesnet 03:18 – Salesnet bankruptcy, pivot to Eclipse, and launching a pest company from a sales org 06:00 – 2008 crash, reset, and the road back 08:58 – Evergreen launch: Seattle → Portland (sale) → Denver/Albuquerque; a parallel trash-marketing sidecar 14:00 – D2D economics: densification, rising CAC, and the 2–3 year LTV/retention bend 18:58 – “A-Team” cadence: department heads, cash-model precision, people as the limiter 22:00 – Morning routine: elevated state, gratitude, workouts, and living by the calendar 27:00 – Lyme disease detour → stem-cell recovery → throttle back on full 29:56 – Branch-owner model (50% local equity), lessons, and selective sales to strategic buyers 36:52 – Beyond D2D: digital, tech-sales, and termite cross-sell compounding into real scale 40:00 – Ogden, UT hub: central call center and cookie-cutter ops for multi-market control 43:26 – Panels, PestWorld, and a PCT Top-10 goal on the horizon 49:00 – Leadership philosophy: set expectations, kill drama, find solutions, keep moving

Maria Sorrentino started as a tech while studying social work and went on to build Pest Pros in Kalamazoo—plus Hive Nine and the “Lead People Manage Stuff” workshops. The Blue-Collar Twins dig into how she hires, pays, and develops people, why peer groups changed her trajectory, and the faith-driven mission that keeps her scaling without losing the heart of the business. It’s a field-tested blueprint for owners who believe culture and accountability win long term. You’ll hear: The “part-time is a lie” origin story and why pest control is a marketable, problem-solving trade.How she worked every role—tech to termite inspector to operator—and why being a people-first leader beats being a “bug nerd.”Comp & culture: the “altruism base” (paid non-billable hours), commission hygiene, and building a team that actually likes accountability.The Top-100 epiphany that expanded her vision—and how a 100-mile service radius actually works.Peer pressure, the good kind: inside “The Eagle’s Nest” where owners open P&Ls and leave with bruises (and breakthroughs).Why Hive Nine & “Lead People Manage Stuff” were built for leadership benches—not just owners. Show links: From Gym Teachers to Service Leaders: The Julio Twins' Story | Last Bite Mosquito, Viking Pest https://youtu.be/DAYxtzhswxs From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps 00:00 – Cold open: “Pest control is a real marketable skill… it’s problem-solving.” 00:34 – Intros + how Maria connected with the Twins (Pest Cemetery days). 02:00 – Getting in: social work student → office → certified → field (and why “part-time” is a myth). 03:16 – Working every role: tech, termite inspections, then operator. 03:56 – “People person” vs. “bug nerds” at home—owning her lane. 04:31 – Starting Pest Pros (2018) with a home-inspector partner. 19:29 – The “altruism base”: paid non-billable hours that keep teams balanced. 20:22 – Paul Bello: from officiating her daughter’s wedding to training her techs. 22:08 – Vision unlock: seeing Top-100 peers and realizing what’s possible. 23:16 – Service map: running a 100-mile radius out of Kalamazoo. 25:46 – Boundaries, family, and why the business became a shared “fun thing.” 26:21 – Coaching bias: why Maria pushes revenue (and learned to respect margin). 31:24 – Hive Nine Consulting: events that develop teams, not just owners. 31:52 – “Lead People Manage Stuff”: the leadership workshop series. 32:45 – Community: why pest control attracts the “best-hearted” people. 33:04 – Her personal mission—and how faith guides the next bet. 42:49 – Inside “The Eagle’s Nest”: open books, hard feedback, real accountability. 52:05 – Superpower: being a connector—and a final invite to collaborate. 53:09 – Outro & CTA to Potomac and more resources.

For three decades, Alina Stevens’ family business got “we want to buy you” letters almost daily—then in 2024, she finally said yes. In this candid conversation, Alina walks the Blue-Collar Twins through scaling All Pro Pest from ~25 to ~50 employees, choosing a buyer who kept the team (only one person left), and the emotional gear-shift from making every decision to consulting while the new owner hums along. It’s a masterclass in female leadership inside a family company, statewide routing without extra branches, and knowing when to let the kids “go to college.” You’ll hear: The moment “sell” went from never to now—and why employee continuity was the deal-breaker.How she modernized ops: true-mobile routing, GPS/cameras, and ditching IVR hell to stay customer-first.Lessons as a woman owner winning respect on job sites by knowing the craft cold.Why growth means you’re never “over the mountain,” and how to communicate for buy-in (not just talk).Life after close: the ego hit of “they don’t need me”… and the freedom to ask what’s next. From Gym Teachers to Service Leaders: The Julio Twins' Story | Last Bite Mosquito, Viking Pest https://youtu.be/DAYxtzhswxs From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps 00:00 – “We got buy-your-company letters almost daily for 30 years… then we finally sold.” 00:50 – Intros: Alina’s 2024 exit and the hard art of letting go 02:00 – “Never planned to be the bug girl”: Air Force pilot dreams → family firm roots (1971) 03:45 – Health crises, divorce, stepping in after raising kids—“somebody had to sail the ship” 05:10 – Change management 101: don’t flip everything at once (ask her how she knows) 06:45 – Choosing the buyer: keep the people, not just the book—only one employee didn’t continue 08:40 – Post-close role: retained as a 1-year consultant… but the newco barely needed her 10:10 – Scale at sale: ~50 employees, ~40 trucks; when she took over (~2015) it was ~25 staff 12:00 – Origin story: bank teller → office manager → marrying the boss (plus a $2/hr raise) 14:10 – Earning respect as a woman in a male-dominated niche: knowledge beats assumptions 18:30 – Statewide without branches: “true mobile” ops from home bases across Georgia 19:50 – From proprietary software (“Helper”) to mainstream + mobile; training older techs 22:30 – GPS & cameras: nightmare stories… and the crash video that saved a driver 26:00 – Phones & CX: VOIP, fewer prompts, always a human—because customer-first isn’t a menu tree 27:40 – “FITFO”: figuring it out through hiccups, turnover, and route remaps 30:20 – Leadership reality: 3 a.m. at the office, good people who stayed, and new opportunities under newco 33:00 – Comfort vs growth: the tag that says “AND NEXT” and a Mexico pest-control idea 34:45 – Mentors & marriage: productive conflict that made the business stronger 41:30 – Culture: family and team, where competition never outweighed belonging 44:50 – Communication = buy-in: expect 60–70% of your own intensity; tailor the message to the person 52:30 – Meeting Potomac and what “you’re the best” from an advisor really means

Flint-born mower jockey Sam Gembel went from nights-and-weekends side hustle to founding Atlas Outdoor—a 110-person, two-branch landscape + snow powerhouse now adding a million in revenue each year. In his first Boardroom Buzz appearance, Sam sits down with the Blue-Collar Twins to unpack: Grass-Cutting Genesis – quitting high school, banging stripes, and learning his real job was “making crew leaders,” not mowing lawns.Rapid Ramp – $300 k ➜ $1 M ➜ $3 M in four seasons, then stalling at $5 M until a coach killed the “sell-more” dopamine loop.Pandemic Reset – why losing seven crew leaders on Day 1 of 2020 became the filter that left Atlas with A-players only.Culture Proof – six values, weekly L10s, and year-round salaries that drive a 93 % retention rate despite brutal Michigan winters.Significance over Success – turning deposits into payroll, mentoring operators through the Culture Proof podcast, and building opportunity “big enough for everyone’s dreams.” Stick around for Sam’s take on staying calm in chaos, why A-players force owners to level up, and how Shawshank Redemption explains entrepreneurial self-sabotage. From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps (podcast.co-ready) 00:00 – Cold-open: “We self-sabotage the second life gets uncomfortable.” Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel … 00:35 – Intros: Sam’s Atlas Outdoor story & Culture Proof podcast debut Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel … 02:00 – High-school dropout to zero-turn crew leader; first taste of leadership Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel … 06:50 – Learning his real role: create crew leaders, not stripes Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel … 09:00 – Side-yard hustle becomes Atlas Outdoor; origin of the name & logo Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel … 13:30 – Year-one $300 k, Year-two $1 M; growth by Facebook & word-of-mouth Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel … 18:15 – Cash-flow cracks at $5 M: deposits as payroll and the first business coach Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel … 24:20 – Mentor Blake Crawford’s quiet $14 M shop and 22 % margins Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel … 30:10 – Hiring A-players vs. settling for Bs & Cs; institutionalized mindsets Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel … 38:30 – Pandemic purge: seven crew leaders quit; culture reset & surge ahead Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel … 41:00 – Year-round salaries for crew leaders; 93 % retention win Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel … 45:00 – Snow & ice division: 26 rigs, “air hurts your face” winters, profit center Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel … 50:00 – Vision + culture are the only non-delegables; calm-captain leadership model Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel … 54:30 – Next chapter: five Michigan hubs, million-a-year organic growth, significance over success Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel … 57:00 – Rapid-fire round: mantra under stress, lessons from Tommy Mello, habit for focus Buzz EP 213 Sam Gembel … 1:00:00 – Outro, Potomac Masterclass CTA, and Sam’s invite to audit your own attachment rate

What began as a $4-an-hour summer gig at Western Pest has grown into Hoffman’s Exterminating, a six-branch powerhouse ranked among PCT’s Top 100—and CEO Bill Hoffman is still at the helm. Certified as an entomologist and PCQI, Bill joins the Blue-Collar Twins to unpack how pig-farm discipline, union-shop lessons, and a “coach-not-tech” mindset fueled steady, one-to-three-hires-per-year growth—and landed Hoffman’s as the official pest-control partner of the Philadelphia Eagles. You’ll hear: Door-Knock Origins – mortgaging sweat equity into a one-man startup while moonlighting at a deli and landscaping crew.Coach’s Playbook – shifting from “crawl-space hero” to head coach and writing SOPs that free his team to execute.Eagles & MLS Deals – the referral chain—from a mom-and-pop acquisition to MLS partner to NFL sidelines—that proves community karma pays.Culture Moat – 20-year employees earn lifetime health insurance; paid volunteer hours keep staff and community for life.Seasonality Hacks – 55 % commercial mix, exclusion division, and weather “audibles” that keep 70 techs busy through Northeast winters.Mission Beyond Margins – board seats at two Ronald McDonald Houses, sustainability work at Lincoln Financial Field, and why “quality over quantity” still drives every decision. Stick around for Bill’s blunt advice on moving from technician mindset to $30 million CEO—and why the best companies know when to act big and when to act small. From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps (podcast.co-ready) 00:00 – Cold-open: “A $30 M CEO is a coach, not a tech.” 00:50 – Pig-farm work ethic: discipline, sharpened blades, and early hustle 02:35 – South-Jersey roots & lifelong Eagles fandom 02:55 – How referrals turned a tiny list buy into MLS ➜ Philadelphia Eagles partnerships 05:05 – Acquisitions to “Acquired”: recap of Bill’s first Buzz appearance 07:00 – Buying a $500 K mosquito firm—and learning seasonal economics 09:15 – Northeast seasonality vs. commercial stabilizer (55 % mix) 10:00 – Accidental entry: summer helper at Western Pest, 17 years old 11:20 – Youngest branch manager at 25 in a union shop 14:00 – Culture shift at Western sparks Hoffman's launch (1990) 16:00 – Business plan > job plan: mapping the ladder out of the truck 18:45 – “Head-coach” pivot—training others, not turning wrenches 19:05 – Growth cadence: adding 1-3 people per year to 100 staff 23:00 – Weather “audibles”: rain days become training & commercial installs 25:25 – New exclusion division born from techs’ handyman passions 26:55 – Retention: 20-year techs earn free lifetime health insurance 28:55 – Paid volunteer hours & community pillars (Eagles Youth, Union Pitch, Ronald McDonald House) 31:50 – Board roles & the Shamrock Shake origin of Ronald McDonald House 34:40 – Giving-back philosophy: customers, employees, community love loop 36:50 – Backyard beekeeper, fisherman, grandfather—off-hours balance 40:50 – Advice to one-truck operators: vision first, hire for ambition 46:00 – National-account niche: regional independents vs. the “Big 4” 49:45 – Future of pest control: techs always safe, managers must shine 53:10 – Final coaching wisdom: right people, right seats, Good to Great mentality 55:00 – Book that changed his leadership: Good to Great 56:30 – Flower-shop surprise & new Victorian HQ “Cheerful Dragonfly” 58:00 – Outro & Private-Equity Masterclass CTA

When a life-threatening brain injury sidelined his five-year-old son, David Mulcahy discovered whether the playbook he’d written for O’Deer South Shore & Cape Cod (natural deer, tick & mosquito control) could truly run without him. Spoiler: it did—and the EOS-driven machine now powers 26 spray rigs, year-round revenue and a fast-growing spinoff called Ghost Scoopers. David joins the Blue-Collar Twins to share how franchise systems, profit-share incentives and relentless KPI tracking kept the wheels turning while his family focused on recovery—and why recurring-service operators should fix their P&Ls before they chase the next shiny tactic. You’ll hear: Franchise Reality Check – leaving a multigenerational fuel-oil business to buy the second O’Deer franchise (2014).Door-Knock Data – hose-reel saturation vs. backpack mist blowers, and the all-natural edge in a regulation minefield.Stacking Seasons – adding deer control for winter cash flow and six-day scheduling that boosts capacity 16 %.People Math – commission plans that let top techs earn high-20s/hour, 50 % re-hire rates, and Slack-era training loops.Ghost Scoopers – turning a service-manager partnership into a profitable dog-waste brand (no franchise needed).Crisis Test – the 45-day hospital stretch that proved dashboards, one-page weeklies and empowered managers really work.Next Moves – $10 M infrastructure on a $5 M base, AI phone agents (“Charlie”), and job-description tightening before the leap. From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps (podcast.co-ready) 00:00 – Cold-open: subdural hematoma, emergency brain surgery & a leadership gut-check 00:58 – Show intro: twin hosts frame David’s dual businesses (O’Deer + Ghost Scoopers) 02:56 – Leaving a family fuel-oil company after dad says “no ownership path” 04:53 – Why O’Deer’s hose-and-reel model beats backpack mist blowers for drift & season length 07:00 – Buying full control of South Shore territory; early cash-flow stretch moves 11:00 – Systems vs. hope: falling in love with P&Ls and annual budgeting 13:30 – Six-day routes, 26 trucks, 24 techs: capacity math & burnout prevention 18:15 – Commission structure: base + production %, monthly stretch bonus, low respray requirements 24:20 – Quality-assurance ride-alongs & Slack video feedback loops 27:00 – Son Wyatt’s accident (Jan 2023): 250 ml bleed, 45-day inpatient rehab 30:10 – General manager runs ops on one-page weekly reports; family splits hospital shifts 33:00 – Coaching & masterminds: why recurring-revenue founders must know unit economics first 36:40 – Launching Ghost Scoopers with GM Zach; positioning it as a training-ground equity play 41:00 – Insurance, cameras & the van-driver age dilemma 48:00 – AI agent “Charlie” starts reactivating lapsed customers via calls & SMS 50:00 – Wrap-up: present leadership, future $10 M vision, and living core values after crisis 52:00 – Outro & Private-Equity Masterclass CTA

After losing his first fortune to a Ponzi scheme in his late twenties, Brandon Kraupp didn’t lick his wounds—he grabbed a clipboard. Today, his Utah-based Romex Pest Control spans four states, fields nearly two hundred teammates, and runs on an EOS-powered culture that blends door-knock grit with relentless data-tracking. Brandon sits down with the Blue-Collar Twins to share how maxed-out 0 % credit cards and a “just make more tomorrow” mindset turned a single truck into a regional platform. You’ll hear: FBI Wake-Up Call – why losing everything crystallized a fearless approach to risk and growth.Door-Knock Science – mastering 55-plus communities and turning authenticity into daily deals.Data over Drama – using market analytics, WiseTack financing, and EOS scorecards to steer every expansion.Culture Moat – six core values, weekly L10s, and therapist-mediated exec meetings that keep 180 people rowing.Next Moves – an aggressive Texas build-out, acquisition targets on the Gulf Coast, and AI sliding into every SOP. Stick around for Brandon’s take on “stealth-wealth” margins and a quick CTA to Paul Giannamore’s Private-Equity Masterclass playlist—then audit the numbers that actually move your own scoreboard. From PE Teachers to Pest-Control Owners: The Julio Twins’ POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps (podcast.co-ready) 00:00 – Cold-open: Brandon on San Antonio’s $2 M sprint and ignoring competitors 00:35 – Meet-cute in Denver: Twins recap how Romex hit the Buzz radar 02:00 – Idaho & Utah roots ➜ NC lake life and snowboard obsession 04:00 – Pre-dental student to Yamaha finance wiz; first taste of sales 05:55 – Buying the dealership at 23 amid the 2008 crash 07:50 – The $50 K zero-percent credit-card gamble (dad said “pound sand”) 10:30 – #1 Yamaha dealer award, Hawaii trip & seven-figure exit at 27 12:45 – Houseboat “retirement” on Lake Powell—then the FBI phone call 15:30 – Ponzi fallout: losing everything, choosing bounce-back over bitterness 18:15 – Digital-marketing lessons he’d use to 10x a dealership today 21:30 – Door-to-door debut with Alterra; launching Romex during senior year of college 24:00 – Early offices, small acquisitions & meeting sales phenom JJ 27:00 – High close-rate playbook: 55-plus communities and 10-deal days 30:00 – Golden-Door sellers, mindset of elite reps, and JJ’s natural talent 32:45 – Romex footprint: TX, OK, LA, MS—why every growth dollar points to Texas 34:50 – Data-driven market picks; San Antonio case study 35:35 – Revenue targets: $50 M by 2027, PCT Top-40 climb, margin focus 38:00 – Personal goals: lake-house life, golf bets & the women’s-attire wager 39:55 – Twins invite Brandon to Potomac 100 mastermind in Puerto Rico 40:30 – Dylan Seals outro & Masterclass CTA

From mortgaging his house for a used “bug truck” to commanding Ohio’s slickest 10,000-sq-ft “Beehive” HQ, Jason Carpenter has turned Environmental Pest Management into the Midwest’s apartment-pest juggernaut—servicing 1 million+ units with a patented data platform (“Pest Genius”) and a 3,000-page digital playbook that lets the business run while he’s on the back nine. Sit in with the Blue-Collar Twins as Jason lays out: Door-Knock Origins → $350 K Contract – how a single 50-unit bed-bug job snowballed into a $300 K+ recurring deal and rewired his focus from homes to high-density housing.Pest Genius – the in-house software (and patent) that tracks every unit, photo, KPI and health-department audit across millions of square feet.EOS + Family Power – wife Karen (COO), son Brandon (VP) and daughter Kayla (content chief) running weekly scorecard L10s while Jason stays out of the office—unless he’s eaten or played 18.Net over Vanity – why a Franco Giannamore valuation wake-up call pushed margins from “meh” to mission-critical and reset his eight-year, $20 M/20 % BHAG.Golf, Barter & Brand – converting country-club barters into 100+ clients and why density beats door-to-door for long-term wealth.Exit Options – succession plans, EBITDA realities and the number that makes walking off the course worth it. Stick around for Jason’s candid take on therapy-backed leadership, mastermind ROI, and why every technician needs to read their P&L. Buzz EP 209 Jason Carpe… From PE Teachers to Pest-Control Owners: The Julio Twins’ POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps (podcast.co-ready) 00:00 – Cold-open: Jason on the 3,000-page playbook & “letting the business run itself” 00:35 – Intro at the Beehive; Twins recap Jason’s mortgage-and-a-truck origin story 02:00 – Westerville roots, single-mom hustle & senior-year couch-surfing with Chip 05:55 – Sales chops: from shoe store to car lot to bartending—and gambling pool halls 08:00 – Meet-cute with pest control: father-in-law’s family firm, $50 K salary, first kids 11:00 – Basement startup (2003), door-knocking for residential accounts 12:45 – 2006 pivot: $40 K bed-bug job uncovers $300 K apartment contract 16:00 – Deciding to own the apartment niche; first million-door vision set 18:15 – Building Pest Genius—tracking every unit, photo & treatment across states 22:40 – Patent filed; integrations with PEStack & Outlook; “differentiator” explained 25:30 – Family dynamics: Karen (COO), Brandon (VP), Kayla (social) & twin grand-babies 28:45 – Therapist-mediated exec meetings; Jason allowed in office only after golf or lunch 30:10 – Chasing the PCT Top 100 & Ohio #1 goals; revenue vs. EBITDA reality check 33:00 – Franco’s valuation shock → margin overhaul; net focus pays off 36:00 – Weekly exec L10 cadence; bonus plan ignites management team 38:30 – Golf-course barters to close clients; 220 rounds logged last season 40:00 – Roadmap: $20 M at 20 % by age 62, new HQ, platform density > door crews 42:50 – Advice to solo operators: “embrace small, learn, keep going” 45:00 – Potomac 100 mastermind tease & Puerto Rico invitation 46:30 – Outro & Private-Equity Masterclass CTA

Coleman Spaulding cut his teeth knocking doors for Safeguard in 2005, parlayed that experience into Proactive Pest Management in suburban Chicago, and—after a decade of steady growth—launched Spidexx Pest Control in 2016 with a bigger vision: blend door-to-door horsepower, bolt-on buys, and EOS culture to build a multistate platform. Fresh off selling Proactive this spring, Coleman joins the Blue-Collar Twins to unpack the playbook behind nine tuck-ins, 65-person teams, and why he’s doubling down on Spidexx with a new HQ and more acquisitions on deck. You’ll hear: Door-Knock Roots – Virginia Beach summers that turned 20 straight “no’s” into $10 k days.Proactive Era – bootstrapping 2 000 recurring customers without sales reps.Partnership & Family – why co-founder Ryan upped Coleman’s stake to 40 %, and how brother Taylor makes the trio click.Launch of Spidexx – starting in Des Moines with 380 accounts and grinding through the chaotic first year (yes, those two X’s are intentional).Nine Small Acquisitions – buying 700–1 100-account firms, wiring funds fast, and knowing when to walk away.Door vs. Deal – retention math, capital intensity, and reading the “gut flags” before you sign.Selling Proactive – 60-day process with Potomac M&A, no earn-out, and lessons from the other side of the table.Future Vision – new headquarters, keeping culture tight across nine markets, and invitations to join the ride. From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps (podcast.co-ready) 00:00 – Cold-open: the power of someone believing in you 00:35 – Jason & Jeremy introduce Coleman and his recent Proactive exit 02:00 – First company: Proactive Pest Management launched 2013 in Chicago suburbs 05:55 – Door-knock backstory: Safeguard summers, Brent & Alan Draper connections 11:00 – Partner Ryan bumps Coleman from 10 % to 40 %—“gratitude moment” 13:30 – Proactive’s first year: 700 accounts, one summer team, slow-and-steady growth 16:00 – Why Spidexx was born in 2016 (Des Moines start, two X’s in the name) 19:10 – Chaos tolerance & economics of today’s door-to-door sales teams 24:00 – First tuck-in: buying 1 100 accounts, paying cash, rebranding vs. retaining 30:00 – Potomac relationship, quality-of-earnings, and Proactive sale closing in 60 days 33:30 – Door-to-door customers vs. acquired books—18-month retention rule of thumb 40:00 – Advice to the one-truck operator: “embrace small, learn, keep going” 47:00 – Working with brother Taylor and why family equity is a superpower 53:00 – New Spidexx headquarters coming 2026; podcast invitation for live show there 57:00 – Potomac 100 mastermind rumor & golf talk; wrapping with culture chat 1:00:00 – Outro and Private-Equity Masterclass CTA

Louisiana native Jared LaJaunie went from quitting school at 17 to leading 65-plus employees, 72 trucks, and four branches of LaJaunie’s Pest Control—now tracking $12 million in annual revenue. In this candid sit-down with the Blue-Collar Twins, Jared breaks down the sales grit he learned at Orkin, the mindset shift that doubled his vision, and the family-run EOS machine that keeps it all humming.Buzz EP 207 Jared L MAS… You’ll hear: Door-Knock Roots – joining Orkin’s late-’90s “Splat” crew and turning 20 straight “no’s” into $10 k days.18-Year Overnight Success – nine years to hit $1 M, then a rocket to $12 M by combining EOS with acquisitions like Skeeter Force.Finance Hacks That Sell – why Wise Tack 0 % financing closes termite & wildlife jobs that competitors lose.Culture as a Moat – six-value framework, extreme ownership, and weekly L10s that hold 65 teammates accountable.Family Integration – wife Skye as certified EOS Integrator, sons learning P&Ls before swapping sprayers for spreadsheets.Mastermind Leverage – how groups with Luke Lewis & Maria Sorrentino expanded his vision—and spawned the new Eagles Nest peer network.Future Playbook – doubling again via Gulf-Coast acquisitions, 40 % Poop-Scoop margins on his radar, and grooming the next-gen CEO. Stick around to catch Jared’s take on “profit over vanity” and an impromptu debate on the emerging pet-waste gold-rush. From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps (podcast.co-ready) 00:00 – Cold-open: Jared on culture and integrity 00:35 – Intro & Louisiana roots 01:15 – High-school dropout, early hustle, marriage at 18 02:50 – Joining Orkin as a $10/hr termite tech 05:55 – Door-knock “Splat” team lessons & mindset shift 08:05 – Branch-manager years, then running a $3 M independent firm 11:00 – Launching LaJaunie’s on Jan 1 2008 13:30 – Solo-op to first admin hire; seven trucks by Year 3 18:15 – Self-financing termite jobs; switching to Wise Tack 0 % plans 24:20 – Nine years to $1 M; doubling vision with mastermind help 28:30 – BHAG: Gulf-Coast expansion & doubling again by 2025 29:50 – Acquiring Skeeter Force; lessons in mosquito markets 32:45 – Family salvage-yard backstory & entrepreneurial DNA 33:25 – Today: 65 staff, 72 trucks, $12 M top-line 36:40 – Running EOS—Jared as Visionary, Skye as Integrator 38:00 – Conferences, Ascension Leadership, and constant up-skilling 42:00 – Side ventures (Stereopure, CAT 4) and why poop-scooping tempts him 45:55 – Differentiator: living the core values every day 48:00 – Eagles Nest mastermind launch with Skye & Maria Serraino 50:05 – Main Street Mogul podcast and giving back 52:45 – Rough Stuff reveal: twins’ own pet-waste startup 54:00 – Wrap-up & Puerto Rico invite 59:00 – Outro & Masterclass CTA

Third-generation dealer Paul “PS3” Sansone III joins the Blue-Collar Twins to share how Sansone Jr’s Auto Group balances 67 years of family tradition with social-media hustle, deep-subprime financing, and a brand-new Keyport Kia store. From rent-to-own experiments that became New Jersey Auto Lending to “Motivational Mondays” that fire up 25 salespeople, Paul explains the systems—and the mindset—that keep customers, staff, and community in his corner. Buzz EP 206 Paul Sanson… You’ll hear: Subprime Mastery – why PS3 built an in-house “lease-here, pay-here” bank that boosts FICO scores by 140 pts on average.EZ Referral & TikTok Lives – turning marathon streams and a debit-card referral app into steady showroom traffic.Rent-to-Own Origins – the 2008 light-bulb moment that reshaped the family’s finance model.Keyport Kia Dream – taking an 11-year college project from paper to grand-opening on June 9th.Motivational Mondays – money-green pants, weekly goal-setting, and the “trust the process” mantra.Giving Back – 400-meal Basket Brigade, Hope-for-a-Ride car giveaways, and why single moms stay top of mind.Next-Gen Vision – ten rooftops, nationwide DMS software, and keeping the Sansone name alive for 100 years. From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps (podcast.co-ready) 00:00 – Cold-open: beach-club memories and the “hot lifeguard” origin story 00:50 – Lifelong car passion & selling hot dogs at the dealership as a kid 03:35 – Sansone family tree: 67 years, three generations, five rooftops 05:55 – Breaking the “snaky car-sales” stereotype with relationship selling 07:00 – Daily training: every up is a coaching moment 08:35 – Presidents-Award Kia store & handing the desk to a new GM 11:00 – Rent-to-Own concept after the 2008 crash 12:45 – Birth of New Jersey Auto Lending: turning renters into owners 14:40 – Hope-for-a-Ride car giveaways to single moms 16:55 – Inside the lease-here, pay-here model and 75 % repeat business 19:10 – Building the Keyport Kia project first dreamed up in college 22:30 – Dealer-Controlled Solutions: exporting their DMS & finance playbook 25:20 – COVID’s inventory roller-coaster—down to four cars on the lot 29:20 – Basket Brigade: 400 Thanksgiving meals in Neptune 30:35 – Motivational Monday videos & money-green-pants culture 33:00 – Social media plans with a full-time content team 35:25 – AI’s future role in lead follow-up and CRM speed 38:00 – Family dynamics: clear lanes for dad, brother Michael, and cousin Steven 41:00 – Driving the 2025 Kia Telluride vs. a Range Rover—value breakdown 43:40 – Keyport Kia soft opening June 9 and summer car-giveaway promo 47:00 – Final advice: love your employees, community, and customers—success follows 50:00 – Outro and Masterclass CTA

Former Rutgers heavyweight Sean DeDeyn turned a hard-charging wrestling mindset into The Axel Group, a niche staffing firm that now supplies talent across every stage of major construction projects. Sean joins the Blue-Collar Twins to unpack the six-year sprint from a two-desk office to a 30-person team, a tech-driven recruiting engine, and side ventures ranging from tiki party boats to college-wrestling commentary. You’ll hear: Fired on Monday, Founder by August – how a commission dispute became the push to launch Axel in 2017.Why “One Rep, One Book” Beats 10 000-Person Firms – the boutique model Sean uses to out-serve national agencies.Cold-Call Wrestling – translating mat grit into 100-dial days (and why the phone still wins).Culture & Careers – dinners with every employee, internal promotions, and watching teammates buy their first homes.Multiple Streams – co-building Belmar Tiki Party Boats, announcing Rutgers matches, and keeping a 5 a.m. workout streak.Vision Check – growing a place where his kids’ friends want to work “because they make a ton of money.” Stick around for a quick CTA to Paul Giannamore’s Private-Equity Masterclass playlist—and see how far your own work ethic can take you. From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps (podcast.co-ready) 00:00 – Cold-open: Sean on high-school “job names” and chasing income 00:35 – Show intro; Axel Group overview (construction-lifecycle staffing) 01:40 – Rutgers wrestling story: walk-on grind, partial scholarship, mindset lessons 03:30 – Linking mat toughness to sales success 05:55 – First staffing job, early wins, and Monday-night firing that changed everything 07:50 – Launching Axel Group (Aug 2017) and naming it after his son 09:40 – Father-in-law’s driveway challenge: “So—what do you actually do?” 11:30 – Scrappy first year: 500-sq-ft office, four months of runway, living with an employee 13:50 – Building culture: tattooed logo, dinners with every team member, internal promotions 15:30 – Sean’s current role: still running a book, mentoring recruiters, protecting culture 17:20 – Boutique edge vs. mega-firms; the “cheeseburger” service analogy 18:50 – Cold-call philosophy and reviving lost prospects 21:00 – Daily routine: 5 a.m. lifts, weekly run + sauna + cold plunge 22:45 – Side hustle: Rutgers wrestling commentary and network dividends 24:50 – Belmar Tiki Party Boats—building (not buying) 45-passenger floating lounges 27:00 – Common headaches: sales slumps, coaching wrestlers-turned-reps, keeping tech a tool not a crutch 28:45 – Wrestlers on staff and why grit hires win 29:15 – Long-term vision: a company graduates dream of joining—and constant self-improvement 30:10 – The “I made it… then got fired” lesson on staying humble 31:20 – Outro, Masterclass CTA, and closing credits

Serial entrepreneur Dom Williams sits down with the Blue-Collar Twins to reveal how a kid running county-wide candy routes now leads a 200-employee cleaning company, owns drive-thru “drink barns,” flips HUD rentals, and is launching a lounge—while coaching other service-business owners past the six- and seven-figure ceiling. You’ll hear: Early Hustle → Corporate Wake-Up – the Wall Street layoff that pushed Dom full time and helped CNC Cleaning hit $1 M in six months.Play Business for Life – treating strategy like a game and using daily “pulse meetings” to keep the scorecard honest.Systems over Self – Sears-inspired SOPs that let a 200-person team run without him on site.Numbers that Matter – cash-flow detective work, margin targets (25 % residential; 15 % commercial), and the bank-balance myth.Diversifying the Right Way – acquiring Lexi’s Drink Barn, scaling HUD duplexes, and threading Indiana’s liquor-law maze to open Demure Lounge.Coaching Corner – the common blind spots for $500 k–$1 M service firms and Dom’s framework for moving owners from operator to architect. Stick around for a quick CTA to Paul Giannamore’s Private-Equity Masterclass playlist—and start “playing business” on a bigger board. From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps (podcast.co-ready) 00:00 – Cold-open: Dom on systems that let owners step away 00:35 – Jason & Jeremy introduce Dom, the serial entrepreneur 01:40 – Fast rundown of CNC Cleaning, Lexi’s Drink Barn, real estate & Demure Lounge 02:30 – Candy-bar syndicate at 12: first taste of leverage 03:50 – High-school expansion: five schools selling for him 05:00 – Dropping a clothing line; choosing cleaning for low entry & recurring revenue 06:50 – Year-one grind: two day jobs + night QC on homes 08:50 – Cash-flow crises and selling his way out 11:00 – Corporate layoff → full-time leap; $1 M revenue in six months 14:00 – Chrysler-300 moment: “I’ll never work for anyone again” 15:30 – SOPs inspired by Sears, Avis & Verizon 17:30 – Power of industry conferences and peer networks 18:50 – Manifestation & mindset: believing before scaling 19:50 – Coaching clients: testing belief, fixing data first 20:25 – Reading P&Ls correctly; COGS-to-revenue benchmarks 21:30 – Buying a duplex (the “dupy”) and house-hacking advice 24:00 – HUD rentals, vetting tenants, and guaranteed checks 25:30 – Cleaning margins: 25 % residential vs 15 % commercial 26:50 – Acquiring Lexi’s Drink Barn; lifting average ticket size 28:10 – Launching Demure Lounge under Indiana’s beer-and-wine rules 29:50 – Economic headwinds: residential leads dip, commercial steady 30:30 – Monday pulse meetings: KPIs, accountability, real-time fixes 31:20 – Future vision: build, exit, repeat—never stop “playing business” 32:00 – New coaching program: from in-the-business to on-the-business 32:50 – Contact Dom at domwilliams.com; socials 33:20 – Outro & Masterclass CTA

The Blue-Collar Twins sit down with Scott Nelson, founder of Central-Jersey’s iconic Oceanside Service—the turquoise-truck HVAC firm he bootstrapped for 36 years before handing the keys to private equity earlier this spring. Scott unpacks the branding bets, “golden-handcuff” culture, and 20 %-margin playbook that turned a $600 van into a top-1 % contractor (and a life-changing buyout).Buzz EP 203 Scot N Mix … You’ll hear: Branding on Wheels – why he painted every truck Caribbean blue (and wrapped the last two).25-Minute Rule – slashing windshield time to keep service profit-positive.Earn While You Learn – duct-cleaning crews as a talent farm for techs and installers.Golden Handcuffs – split-dollar life insurance that locked managers in for 15 years.Pricing for 20 % Net – escaping the HVAC industry’s 1.5 % average.PE Negotiations – walking from the table until the acquirer funded his staff’s benefits.Life After the Sale – why he turned down a six-figure consulting gig to just be “Grandpa Scott.” Stick around for Dylan’s quick CTA to Paul Giannamore’s Private-Equity Masterclass playlist—then audit your own “billable hour” before the next heat wave hits. From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps (podcast.co-ready) 00:00 – Cold-open: “I never worried a second about competition—just do me.” 00:35 – Jason & Jeremy welcome 36-year HVAC veteran Scott Nelson of Oceanside Service 01:40 – One-man startup to 24 trucks & 32 staff: the scale story 03:00 – Turquoise trucks, spotless wheels: branding that sells before you speak 04:50 – The 25-minute territory rule and killing windshield waste 06:20 – Community roots: firefighter networks & word-of-mouth growth 08:15 – Mindset: “The world’s easy—people make it hard.” 10:30 – Relationship > transaction: serving three homeowner generations 12:00 – Air-duct crews as a paid training academy (“Earn while you learn”) 14:20 – Recruiting from vo-techs; achieving near-zero turnover 16:25 – Golden Handcuffs: $500 k split-dollar life policies for key managers 19:10 – Overpaying staff & investing in real estate instead of raises for himself 21:30 – Grooming his son to take over; stepping back from fire-service leadership 24:00 – Private-equity courtship, the NDA era, and negotiating staff benefits 27:40 – Charging for value: hitting 20 % net vs. industry’s 1.5 % 30:50 – Crushing costs: $500 k in insurance & healthcare, total transparency with crew 33:00 – Advice to a $500 k contractor: know your P&L and ditch new-construction work 35:15 – Tech stack: why ServiceTitan (at $7 k/mo) was worth every penny 37:00 – Recession-resistant revenue: maintenance plans & premium system sales 40:30 – Post-exit life: “Most of my hair, half my sanity—and all my family time.” 42:00 – Parting shot: watch your kids grow up and work on (not in) the business

Lifeguard buddies turned blue-collar founders Jason & Jeremy Julio reconnect with longtime friend John Majeski—once a Manhattan finance analyst, now the force behind four thriving SERVPRO franchises across New Jersey. John breaks down the gritty first three-year slog, the culture playbook that powers his team, and the BHAG that keeps everyone rowing: “Be the #1 SERVPRO in the Northeast by 2034. You’ll hear: Career 180° – ditching Wall Street for sewage back-flows and never once looking back.Buying, Not Building – why acquiring an eight-month-old franchise beat starting from scratch.The ‘World’s Strongest Man’ Analogy – John’s trick for pushing past those brutal year-one cash-flow dips.Decentralized Command – Jocko Willink–inspired leadership that lets techs solve problems in real time.KPIs That Matter – estimate-conversion, labor spend, and the charity challenges that magnetize talent.Road to #1 – four territories in Monmouth, Bergen & Hudson Counties—and the expansion filter he uses before every new deal. Stick around for Dylan’s quick CTA to Paul Giannamore’s Private-Equity Masterclass playlist—before you sprint, paddle, or pedal to your own big, hairy, audacious goal. From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps (podcast.co-ready) 00:00 – Cold-open: John on culture (“You’ve got a culture whether you admit it or not.”) 00:35 – The Blue-Collar Twins’ welcome their “lifeguard brother” to the Buzz 01:40 – 28-year friendship recap: beach stands to boardrooms 02:30 – Finance burnout & the call to entrepreneurship 04:00 – Picking SERVPRO over Rainbow & PuroClean: brand power wins 06:00 – Mentor Larry Levy’s push: “Quit, build something of your own” 08:00 – Year-one reality check: 7-day weeks, $1.5 k left in the bank 11:00 – Acquiring an eight-month-old franchise (father bails sons out) 12:00 – Fire, water, mold 101—explaining restoration to homeowners 14:00 – Delegation pains and the first full-time hires 15:30 – Sandy & other storms: moments that forced scale-ups 16:10 – Learning on the fly: history major → KPI geek 18:30 – Athletics → entrepreneurship: training, planning, grit 21:00 – Community marketing: beach clean-ups, charity paddles, Eli Manning match 22:45 – Extreme-challenge rundown: 17-mile paddle, 216-mile bike, next 100-mile ultra 27:00 – Four-franchise footprint; city-versus-suburb logistics 29:30 – Building culture: decentralized command & trust lattices 33:40 – BHAG revealed: #1 SERVPRO Northeast by 2034 38:00 – Exit philosophy: build it right and every option stays open 39:00 – Most fulfilling metric: techs who go from basement to first home 40:30 – Core KPIs: estimate conversion & labor as % of sales 41:40 – Wrap-up, Paul's Masterclass CTA & closing credits

Meet Jason & Jeremy Julio—the Blue-Collar Twins—as they trade gym whistles for board-room banter and join producer-turned-host Dylan Seals behind the mic. In their debut as co-hosts they unpack: Side-Hustle Genesis – the late-night kitchen-table brainstorm that birthed Last Bite Mosquito & Tick.Scaling While Clocked-In – juggling lesson plans, beach-club shifts, and 55 techs by reinvesting every dollar.The Potomac Playbook – how CIMs, buyer psychology, and a discipline 90 % of sellers flunk drove an eight-figure deal with Viking Pest / Anticimex.Seller Blind Spots – retention metrics, seasonality traps, and the DIY mistakes that leave millions on the table.Round 2: Ruff Stuff – their new dog-waste start-up, why it’s today’s mosquito moment, and the five-year path to another flip.Level-Up Rituals – ultra-marathons, charity paddles, and mindset hacks that keep their teams resilient and hungry.Coming Up – teaser for next week’s Servpro deep-dive with restoration king John Majeski. Stick around for Dylan’s quick CTA to Paul Giannamore’s Private-Equity Masterclass playlist—then fire up that 100-mile mindset of yours. From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com http://www.ruffstuffnj.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps 00:00 - Cold-open – Jason Julio on fear & resilience 00:35 - Dylan Seals grabs the mic & introduces the Blue-Collar Twins 01:40 - First meeting in San Juan, karaoke-loving “Mexican,” and Potomac memories 03:10 - Humble beginnings: Long Branch childhood, teaching careers, twin dynamics 04:15 - Multiple side-hustles & the light-bulb moment: “What about mosquito control?” 05:00 - Rejecting the franchise route; deciding to build Last Bite from scratch 06:50 - One truck to statewide: early scaling playbook & brand evolution 07:25 - TCNJ football days & how college camaraderie shaped their operator roles 14:40 - Level-up charity challenges: 217-mile bike ride, Eli Manning match, next 100-mile ultra 24:20 - What happens after you call an M&A advisor—Potomac’s diligence process demystified 26:40 - Yin-and-yang leadership: Jason’s strategy vs. Jeremy’s operations 28:50 - “90 % of owners aren’t ready”: systems, books, and timing the peak before you list 31:15 - SIMs, buyer meetings, and Potomac’s gatekeeping of your calendar 33:00 - Strategics vs. Private Equity 101 & the lure of the “second bite” 35:20 - Exit revealed: Viking Pest (Anticimex) acquires Last Bite; why seasonality mattered 36:55 - Navigating the 12-month earn-out and protecting customer retention 41:25 - Rough Stuff launch: why dog-waste is today’s mosquito moment & barriers are low 42:35 - Is America too lazy to scoop poop? Market adoption math & service pricing 44:30 - Five-year plan: grow Rough Stuff to $4–5 M and flip again 50:55 - Boardroom Buzz community shout-out & podcast mission going forward 52:45 - “Episode 201—big shoes to fill” – official hand-off & next-week teaser 53:20 - Dylan’s outro, CTAs to Potomac & the Private-Equity Masterclass playlist 54:00 - Closing credits & final reminders to connect with Potomac M&A

Meet Jason & Jeremy Julio—the Blue-Collar Twins turned eight-figure sellers— as they step in as your new co-hosts of The Boardroom Buzz. In their maiden voyage they flip the script, putting mentor Paul Giannamore in the hot seat to uncover the back-alley hustle that took him from inner-city Chicago to building Potomac M&A into a middle-market powerhouse. You’ll hear: How the twins scaled a New Jersey pest-control roll-up while teaching full-timePaul’s early days flipping farm gear, tech-banking in the dot-com frenzy, and spotting gold in fragmented service marketsWhy CEOs should obsess over root-cause thinking (and Paul’s daily “thinking walks”)The inside story of hiring Franco “The Mexican” and building a 25-deal pipelineWhat makes fire-suppression, lawn, and niche res-service verticals today’s M&A greenfield Stick around for Paul’s blunt take on leverage, buyer psychology, and the mindset shift owners need three years before an exit. From Gym Teachers to Service Leaders: The Julio Twins' Story | Last Bite Mosquito, Viking Pest https://youtu.be/DAYxtzhswxs From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd 00:00:00 Cold-open – Paul on “no pep-talks, only strategy.” 00:00:56 Jason & Jeremy Julio frame the episode’s purpose. 00:02:56 Teacher-to-$15 M exit – twins recap scaling while holding day jobs. 00:04:53 Paul’s childhood: Chicago schools → Italy & Spain. 00:09:10 Cornell years, full scholarship & skipping community college. 00:11:55 First deal – buying a combine attachment at a farm auction. 00:18:20 Dot-com boom: Lehman → Credit Suisse tech-M&A under Frank Quattrone. 00:24:40 Private-equity at American Capital → founding POTOMAC (2003). 00:27:05 Discovering pest-control M&A; the Orkin/Terminix duopoly era. 00:31:05 Philosophy: “Put the seller first—profit follows.” 00:34:50 Shift from deal-maker to “psychodynamic” CEO coach. 00:38:00 Legacy talk – “Play the hand you’re dealt better than anyone.” 00:40:55 Enter “the Mexican” — Franco’s gladiator-style interview story. 00:46:25 Daily routine & thinking leverage (25 k steps, no morning calls). 00:54:00 Smashing limiting beliefs: four-minute-mile analogy for owners. 00:59:40 What’s hot in M&A: lawn-care roll-ups; fire-protection next. 01:06:05 Advice to 18-year-old Paul: guard health, seek balance. 01:08:10 Top travel picks – Istanbul, Switzerland, Japan keep calling. 01:12:50 Dylan Seals outro – CTA to POTOMAC M&A Masterclass playlist.

Brian Gottlieb, author of Beyond the Hammer, joins Patrick Baldwin in The Boardroom to share his inspiring story. From launching his home improvement business with just $3,000 and a folding table, Brian built a thriving organization with 600 employees. He attributes much of his success to a people-first leadership philosophy, emphasizing the importance of developing employees and fostering a strong company culture. How can leaders ensure their people are set up to achieve their highest potential? Brian dives deep into the idea that businesses grow only as much as their people do. He explains the value of becoming a training organization, creating an environment where every team member feels invested in the mission. With tools like his Sphere-Center-Sphere feedback framework, he highlights how effective communication and belief can motivate employees to improve and contribute at their best. What would happen if leaders focused on inspiring belief in their teams every day? Finally, Brian discusses how business discipline—simplifying processes, forecasting growth, and setting clear goals—can help companies avoid complexity and achieve sustainable results. He stresses that building a great business requires more than good ideas; it takes focus, consistency, and trust in the team. What steps can you take to simplify your business and create a culture of growth and accountability? Tune in to discover actionable strategies to transform your leadership and your organization.

Fred Wingate, owner of Noosa Pest Management, joins Nick Bartolo and Patrick Baldwin to share his inspiring journey from professional water skier to thriving entrepreneur in the pest control industry. His story is rooted in discipline and resilience, values that have guided his approach to both sports and business. Fred emphasizes the importance of a people-first philosophy, demonstrating how strong relationships with customers and employees alike are the cornerstone of lasting success. By fostering trust, valuing contributions, and encouraging collaboration, he has cultivated a company culture that drives growth and loyalty. How can businesses effectively balance meaningful relationship-building with the demands of operational efficiency to achieve sustained success?   Noosa Pest Management’s growth strategy under Fred’s leadership prioritizes refinement over rapid expansion. Over the past year, Fred made strategic decisions to raise prices for certain services and eliminate less profitable offerings, resulting in a significant boost to net profits despite modest overall growth. His disciplined focus on quality over quantity underscores the impact of thoughtful decision-making in driving sustainable success. Looking ahead, Fred plans to launch an inside sales program to broaden outreach while maintaining exceptional service standards. What role does strategic risk-taking play in achieving sustainable growth while preserving a company’s core values?   Fred’s vision extends beyond business operations, with a deep commitment to community impact. Fred and Ellen Wingate founded the Logan Jett Research Foundation, to help improve the lives of everyone touched by epilepsy, fund research for treatment options while working toward a cure, and provide a network of resources and support. As Noosa looks to the future, Fred remains focused on innovation and customer service, ensuring the company continues to grow with integrity and care. How can organizations weave social responsibility into their business strategies while staying true to their core objectives? Learn more about the Logan Jett Research Foundation here: https://www.loganjresearch.org/

An audio rebroadcast from POTOMAC.TV. Nick Bartolo turns the mic on Paul Giannamore to discuss his strategy for selling fire protection businesses. Paul reveals how a formal sell-side process, combined with competitive leverage, drives transaction multiples to new highs.  Learn how you can maximize the value of your fire protection business in the growing M&A market and cut taxes on the transaction.  Recorded at NFPA 2024 in Orlando, Florida. In this episode: Importance of competitive auctions in fire protectionWhy sell-side representation mattersTips for preparing years ahead of saleCommon challenges in M&A dealsSuccess stories in raising multiples