AI Trade Talk is the newest series on Can’t Stop the Growth, created for home service business owners who want to lead at the edge of innovation. Hosted by Brad Scruggs, founder of ZyraTalk, this series highlights the tools, trends, and transformations that are reshaping how HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies grow.

The series kicks off with industry powerhouse Katie Donovan, CEO of Camp Digital. and host of the Around the CAMPfire series. In this episode, Katie breaks down how AI and data-driven digital marketing are changing the game—from smarter ad strategies and real-time call board tracking to AI phone answering that saves lost revenue.

Subscribe to Can’t Stop the Growth to follow this powerful series built for future-focused leaders in the trades. Growth is changing, and this is where to stay ahead of it.

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• Why trades businesses need to stop chasing impressions and start tracking call board data
• How dynamic, real-time offers are boosting conversion rates
• Where AI is making the biggest impact—on the phone, on the site, and on the bottom line
• What every owner should know about tapping into Bing, Reddit, and evolving search trends
• The shift from customer acquisition to customer retention—and why it matters more than ever

Most home service businesses are losing money in the one place they least expect it—their call center. Brigham Dickinson reveals how industry leaders like Tommy Mello use proven CSR training strategies to hit 90%+ booking rates and generate millions without spending more on leads.

Learn how to turn your CSR team into a leadership pipeline, create a culture that drives results, and transform your call center into the most profitable department in your business.

Hosted by Chad Peterman on Can't Stop the Growth—a podcast built for leaders in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and other home service industries who want to lead better, grow faster, and build lasting impact through people-first leadership and proven business strategies.

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• Your call center has untapped profit potential. When properly trained, CSRs can dramatically boost booking rates and drive top-line revenue.
• Hitting 90% booking rate on bookable calls should be the standard. Every percentage point below that is costing real dollars.
• Your CSR team can be a leadership pipeline. With the right culture and coaching, the call center becomes a place where future leaders emerge.
• Flat compensation beats percentage-based incentives. A clear, daily dollar amount per membership or upsell keeps CSRs motivated and focused.
• AI has value, but it can't replace human connection. Use it for support, but don't let it take over the customer experience unless you want to risk sameness.

🎙️ Get ready for part 2 of Chris and Chad’s episode with Scott Man!

They’re unpacking what it really means to connect with your team. From battlefield wisdom to business wins, they dive into the power of seeing the “pictures in people’s heads,” being an empathetic witness, and leading with trust.

If you're serious about people-first leadership, this one hits different!

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• Empathetic witnessing builds deep, lasting trust between leaders and teams.
• Influence begins with understanding your people’s pain and goals.
• Today’s leadership challenge lies in overcoming distraction, disengagement, disconnection, and distrust.
• Frontline perspectives provide critical insight leaders must actively seek.
• Storytelling is a powerful tool for influence—especially when it’s real and vulnerable.

Stop missing the calls that fill your board. In this episode of Can’t Stop the Growth, Chad Peterman is joined by Brad Scruggs, President and CMO of ZyraTalk, to talk about a simple but powerful idea: when you stop missing calls, you stop losing jobs.

Brad breaks down how HVAC and plumbing businesses are using AI-powered customer service representatives (CSRs) to capture more leads, reduce missed calls, and grow without hiring more people. Whether it’s after-hours coverage, overflow, or lead aggregator response times—AI is helping high-growth companies optimize their call centers and maximize every opportunity.

This episode is packed with tactical insights for leaders serious about growing their home service business. If you’re focused on building a culture of excellence, booking more jobs, and staying ahead of the curve—this conversation is for you.

Watch now to see how top operators are filling the board faster, without relying on more ads or more staff.

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• Most service businesses miss 15–35% of their inbound calls. That’s real money walking away.
• AI-powered CSRs can respond instantly—nights, weekends, and during peak hours.
• Use AI to handle simple requests and free up live reps for high-value leads.
• Integration is simple, with many teams live within two weeks.
• Real-time data allows for continuous CSR coaching and improved conversion rates.
• Speed-to-lead with aggregators like Angi, Thumbtack, and Modernize is crucial—AI helps you get there faster.
• Many companies use AI as overflow backup, while others have made it their front line.
• Growth doesn’t have to mean more leads—it starts with booking the ones you already have.

What do Green Berets and business leaders have in common? More than you think.

In this featured episode of “To The Point,” Chris and Chad sit down with retired U.S. Army Green Beret Scott Mann—author, actor, TEDx speaker—for a raw and riveting convo on trust, leadership, and human connection.

From war zones to boardrooms, Scott shares stories that’ll make you think, laugh, and maybe even cry. This one’s deep, but packed with golden leadership nuggets you won’t want to miss.

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• Trust isn’t built in chaos—it’s banked ahead of time and drawn on when things get tough.
• Real results happen at the local level—supporting your frontline is everything.
• Be relatable and relevant; that’s the winning combo for true influence.
• Your hardest struggles can become your most powerful leadership tools.
• Stop thinking you need all the answers—ask better questions instead.

In this episode, Andrew Hasty takes us from the skies of World War II to the heart of modern leadership. 🎯

Using the story of B-17 bombers and survivorship bias, he shows why focusing only on the numbers can make us miss what really matters — grit, resilience, and those unmeasurable “intangibles” your best team players bring every day. 🎙️🔥

It’s data meets heart in the most unexpected way.

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• Survivorship bias impacts leadership when we only evaluate those who "return" or succeed visibly.
• Focusing only on KPIs limits our view of performance and potential.
• “Missing bullets” are the unseen efforts and values that contribute to team success.
• Recognition should extend beyond numbers to include resilience, grit, loyalty, and effort.
• Promoting solely on quantitative performance may overlook future leaders.

Michelle Micheletti went from painting walls with her grandpa to leading marketing across multiple home service brands 💪—and she’s got the stories (and lessons) to prove it.

In this episode, she joins Katie Donovan for a convo full of laughs, real talk, and big takeaways. From snow cone stands 🍧 to SEO fails and AI experiments, Michelle keeps it real about what it takes to lead with heart, data, and a whole lot of grit.

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• Local branding is essential, especially in a PE-backed environment
• Community involvement not only feels good—it boosts SEO and earns trust
• CRO and SEO are non-negotiables when launching a website
• Data-driven marketing enables agile, informed decision-making
• Strong vendor partnerships are critical for innovation and growth
• Testing is essential, and failure is part of the learning process

Think your customer service reps are “just answering phones”? Think again.

In this game-changing episode of Can’t Stop the Growth, Chad Peterman sits down with Liz Patel, Manager of Customer Service Coaching at Ryno Strategic Solutions, to reveal how your call center can drive explosive growth—without spending a dollar more on marketing.

From handling pricing objections like a pro to converting one call into multiple booked jobs, Liz shares real strategies that HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies can implement immediately to boost booking rates, improve customer experience, and create lifelong customers.

📈 Whether you’re a business owner, dispatcher, or CSR looking to level up—this episode is your new playbook.

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• How to handle price shoppers on the phone as a CSR
• What’s a good booking rate for home service call centers?
• How AI can help HVAC and plumbing CSRs book more jobs
• Why your CSR should know the cost per lead
• How to train CSRs to sell service memberships and upsell add-ons