Trades Talk Podcast

Weekly Update #4 - Midyear Alignment: Clarity, Culture, and Strategic Execution

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin White breaks down why midyear alignment is a non-negotiable for business leaders looking to finish the year strong. He shares a practical framework that includes leadership planning sessions, departmental check-ins, and all-hands meetings designed to align goals, clarify roles, and create momentum across the organization.
Justin also emphasizes the connection between strategic planning and team culture: noting how honest communication, team-building, and goal-setting fuel both business growth and personal fulfillment. From navigating global distractions to resetting metrics and priorities, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to build a high-performance team.
Whether you're running a company or managing a department, you’ll leave with a roadmap for reigniting focus, communication, and accountability for the back half of the year.

Eugene Lee: From Financial Planner to Tech Founder

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin sits down with Eugene Lee, a longtime financial advisor who left a cushy 5-hour workweek to build "Love Your Neighbor"—a startup aiming to revolutionize home repairs.
Inspired by casual “yard beers” with neighbors, Eugene spotted a major gap: when you need a contractor fast, there’s no reliable way to find someone nearby who’s off duty but available. So, he built it. Despite knowing almost nothing about tech, he raised $1.2 million and launched a platform that connects homeowners with local pros for urgent repairs.
What makes Eugene’s story so unique is his willingness to start over. With no coding skills, no tech co-founder, and no playbook, he leaned into community, tapped into his financial network, and stayed committed to solving a real problem. His journey is a powerful example of how trades knowledge and entrepreneurial thinking can collide to create smart, scalable solutions for everyday challenges.

Autonomous Mowers and 90-Day Playbooks: Inside the Kress Next Summit

In this forward-looking episode of TradesTalk, Justin White unpacks his recent visit to the Kress Next Summit in Los Angeles, where top landscapers from across the West Coast gathered to see the future of the industry in action.
At the center of the conversation: the Kress Voyager- a fully autonomous, 48-inch zero-turn mower with a 5000-hour lifespan and cutting-edge level 5 autonomy, capable of mowing 5 acres in just 6 hours. With 360-degree obstacle avoidance and no operator required, the Voyager is a bold look at what landscaping will be by 2030.
But this episode is about more than machinery. Justin breaks down his quarterly strategic planning model, where his team sets 5 non-negotiable goals and 5 KPIs every 90 days. He shares why he's considering moving to a 45-day sprint cycle to stay ahead in a fast-moving industry.
Plus, they talk about what it means to lead with transparency, how the Disruptors peer group is helping companies level up, and why embracing change isn't optional; it's essential.
Whether you’re a tech skeptic or an early adopter, this episode is a roadmap for how to plan, adapt, and win in the green industry’s next era.

Meg Butterly: From Country Radio to Powering the Trades with Kress

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin White interviews Meg Butterly, whose unconventional path took her from a Detroit bar to a career in country radio and now to leading brand communications at Kress, a cutting-edge electric power equipment line by Positec.
Meg shares how she went from pursuing radiology to working with major radio stations across the country, including stints in Detroit, Pittsburgh, West Palm Beach, and Charlotte and what it was like producing shows during major cultural moments like 9/11.
Her passion for storytelling and audience connection eventually led her to transition from broadcasting to marketing, where she now drives social media, PR, influencer strategy, and internal communications for Positec, all while still hosting a morning radio show from her home studio.
She dives into Kress’s industry-disrupting features: like an 8-minute battery charge, gas-equivalent performance, and an industry best 6-year battery warranty and shares how the brand is overcoming long-held skepticism around electric equipment in the trades.
This episode is a lesson in adaptability, reinvention, and what it takes to stay customer-focused across completely different industries from microphones to mowers.

Elevating the Client Experience: Lessons from the Ritz

In this solo episode of TradesTalk, Justin White shares key lessons from a recent stay at the Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida  and how their legendary service philosophy can apply to any service business.
From a dropped fork instantly replaced to a manager personally fetching a guest’s favorite matcha drink, Justin unpacks how Ritz empowers every employee to deliver memorable moments with a $2,000-per-guest service budget. Daily rituals like team huddles, gold standard reviews, and consistent culture reinforcement show how world-class service doesn’t happen by accident  it’s trained, expected, and lived.
Justin draws a direct line to the trades: what would it look like if landscapers anticipated client needs before being asked? What if every team member had the freedom to make a customer’s day?
This episode challenges business owners to go beyond the basics and start delivering the kind of service people never forget.

Ellen Rohr: On A Mission To Connect and Grow The Trades

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin interviews Ellen Rohr, one of the most respected voices in the trades industry. Known for her no-nonsense approach to business, Ellen shares how leaders can grow personally and professionally through community, connection, and consistent execution.
They talk about two major industry events happening in Anaheim this September:
Pantheon (Sept 17-19) — ServiceTitan's flagship event for home service pros
Ignite (Sept 15-16) — a landscape-focused conference during the same week
Far from just software demos, both events offer actionable content around building better sales systems, improving operations, branding, and leadership. Ellen and Justin stress that these events aren’t just educational—they’re transformational when you show up ready to learn, connect, and implement.
Ellen breaks down her philosophy of reciprocity, the value of shop tours with other contractors, and why sharing your playbook doesn’t make you weaker—it makes you better. She encourages trades professionals to adopt a mindset of abundance and reminds us that information is everywhere, but execution is everything.
Justin shares how attending Pantheon in 2024 helped reshape his thinking and business trajectory. They both agree that being in the room with high-performing peers is the ultimate unlock for growth.
📚 Recommended Reads:
Traction by Gino Wickman
Build Your Dream Team by Howard Partridge
🎟️ Use code: white50 to get $50 off tickets to either Pantheon or Ignite.

Justin White: Trust Is the Foundation for Growth

In this solo episode of TradesTalk, host Justin White unpacks why trust is the key to building a scalable business.
Justin reflects on his own leadership evolution, from micromanaging to empowering his team. A recent moment stood out: while out sick, his leadership team ran a major meeting without him and crushed it. That kind of success only happens when you trust your people.
He also dives into the challenges of generational transitions in founder-led businesses. Letting the next generation lead means letting them make real decisions and sometimes fail. He shares how that kind of trust helped Dylan Whitlow grow his concrete company into Santa Cruz’s #1 provider.
Justin emphasizes the need to trust your partners and lean into vendor relationships. Whether it’s software like Aspire or business coaching, outside support can drive big breakthroughs.
And at the heart of it all: trusting yourself. Justin opens up about his own journey from self-doubt at 23 to bold vision at 35,  with a goal to build a billion-dollar company by 2035.
This episode is a reminder that trust creates momentum and without it, growth stalls.

Maggie Wymore: A Bittersweet Farewell to Trades Talk

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, while still supporting contractors navigating change. Justin opens up about what’s next for TradesTalk; from weekly solo episodes and entrepreneurial insights to behind-the-scenes stories from The Disruptors and K&D’s journey.
The conversation is both emotional and energizing, filled with mutual gratitude, behind-the-scenes moments, and a clear message that while the chapter is closing, the mission continues.
Whether you’re new to the podcast or have been with them since the start, this episode captures the heart, growth, and future direction of TradesTalk.

Justin White: Leadership Lessons from Aviation

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 breaks down his 10-minute debrief framework: Fact, Focus, Root Cause, and Forward; then explains how it drives continuous improvement. He also discusses the power of “process over personality,” how to create safe environments for teams to learn and fail, and what it takes to build infrastructure that supports long-term growth.
Whether you're leading a crew or scaling a company, this episode offers practical insights into leadership, accountability, and culture-building in the trades.

From Mowers to Magazine Covers: The Stephens Brothers' Rise in Landscaping

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 into an entrepreneurial drive; John took a business class project seriously, designing early flyers with tear-off tabs, logos, and door-to-door marketing. Together, the brothers combined grassroots hustle with a long-term vision.
They discuss their bold decision to pitch themselves to Lawn and Landscape years before getting featured, their standout branding (black trucks, polished logo), and how media exposure helped expand their reach and attract top talent. They also share how annual planning, strategic storytelling, and professional branding set them apart in a crowded industry.
This episode is about more than landscaping, it’s about vision, follow-through, and building a company that gets noticed.